THE MODERATOR: Kenneth, congratulations. Welcome to Philadelphia.
KENNETH GAINWELL: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with questions.
Q. Do you prefer to be called Ken, Kenny, Ken?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Kenny.
Q. What was your contact like with the Eagles during the pre-draft process? Do you have any idea how they're planning on using you in their offense?
KENNETH GAINWELL: The contact was really good. I talked to them a couple times. I'm planning on them using me as much as they can offense, special teams, wherever they need me, I'll be ready for that. Wherever they need me on field, I'll be ready.
Q. Yazoo City is famous because of Fletcher Cox, who is your cousin. Has he contacted you yet, said welcome to the Eagles?
KENNETH GAINWELL: No, he haven't contacted me yet. I know the call is on the way. Yeah, we excited about it.
Q. I know you opted out last year. You had a lot of family go through COVID and some deaths. What was that decision like for you? How tough was it? It was about a week before you were getting ready to play. What did you do throughout 2020?
KENNETH GAINWELL: I basically just started training. So basically the next week after that, I've been training. I've been working out ever since. Basically six months for me working out straight, non-stop. I've just been putting in the work, staying down, staying healthy throughout this.
Q. What is it like in Yazoo City with Fletcher Cox? How big of a hero is he down there? You played the one than season at Memphis, really only like one full season. How much do you think that helped you get ready for this moment?
KENNETH GAINWELL: The city is very excited about me and Fletcher. Man, they just excited about us. They're excited that we play ball, and now we playing with each other on the same team. They going to be even more excited.
Just that one year, Coach Norvell taught me a lot. (Indiscernible). Coming in, had to playbook as fast as I can. I kind of did what I had to do. I put in the work, make sure I stayed on top of what I had to do. That kind of gave me the upper hand.
Q. With Fletcher, he's a good bit older than you. Did you know him very well when you were growing up? You said on a podcast that he was big into hunting and fishing, as you are as well. Were you guys close growing up? Were you around him very much?
KENNETH GAINWELL: No, so he stayed in Yazoo City. I stay in (indiscernible). It's all Yazoo. I mean, he was kind of older than me, so he was already in college when I went to high school. I kind of talked to him on the phone a lot. I just watched him. But he was already in college when it was time for me to grow up and to all this.
Q. Is he the reason you were an Eagles fan growing up?
KENNETH GAINWELL: No. I liked Mike Vick when I was growing up. I liked Donovan McNabb, all those guys. Just growing up, I just liked the Eagles.
Q. Even before Fletcher got there?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Yeah, even before Fletcher got there.
Q. I know how you said recently that the bell cow running back, the big back, is almost kind of a thing of the past. When did you start to get it in your mind that catching the ball out of the backfield was going to be a huge thing for you?
KENNETH GAINWELL: I played quarterback. When I went to Memphis, I played receiver. I always had the good hands. Just being utilized like that. Norvell's system, he just put me more or less out there. I got the opportunity to catch as many balls as I can.
But, I mean, the bell cow kind of running back, (indiscernible). I feel like I can carry the load with being a guy that can carry a heavy load. It's all from the heart, so...
Q. Being an Eagles fan, is there any Eagles running back of the past that you watched that you say you could be like him or that you patterned your game after?
KENNETH GAINWELL: I kind of growing up, I mean, I used to love Darren Sproles. My favorite, favorite running back. He kind of put the inspiration on me. Fast guys, that's what they use. So, I mean, that kind of motivated me.
Q. Wanted to ask you if you remember this video clip that's been going around since you got drafted of you putting a really big chip on Micah Parsons? Do you remember that play? Is that part of your game you really take pride in?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Yeah, for sure. The whole game we played, we got to chip block. I was just trying to catch everybody that came off the edge that was giving me a freeway, giving them a chip. I took advantage of that chip. It is what it is.
I'm going to give it whoever else come off the edge. I'm going to give them their chip, let them feel me (smiling).
Q. I looked at your production in 2019. Really tremendous production. I'm kind of surprised you're still sitting there in the fifth round. How about you? Were you surprised you're still hanging on the board there this late?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Yeah, I was surprised. But I'm happy now. I'm happy y'all got me. I'm happy I'm with the Eagles. That really don't matter. It's time to work. It's time to put in the work. Getting drafted first, getting drafted at the end, it don't really matter about all that. I am ready to ball (indiscernible) for the Eagles.
Q. I know you were a quarterback. How is your arm?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Real good.
Q. You can throw?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Hopefully the Eagles fans get a chance to see that.
Q. Your brother is a running back, too. He went to Memphis, as well. How are you different as running backs? What was that like growing up? Did you compete?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Yeah, I'm basically kind of like a straight line guy. I'm kind of just a guy that catch the ball, run the ball, get straight up field. He's the kind of guy give you some moves.
Growing up, we kind of just competed against each other. It was me, him, my older brother always in the yard, throwing the ball to each other, going one-on-ones every day.
Q. You spoke before about being in a shared backfield. What did you learn working with Antonio Gibson? How did you complement each other? Seeing his success last year in the NFL, what did that make you think?
KENNETH GAINWELL: It made me think it's going to be a great one. Just him being back there, helping me out, him coming in late in the end of the season helping me out, it kind of helped. It was great.
Q. Are there players in the NFL you kind of model your game after or compare yourself to as a play style?
KENNETH GAINWELL: Not at all. I'm a rare breed. I'm a different one.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you for the time, Kenny.
KENNETH GAINWELL: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports