Q. How cool is it to have each other here being drafted together in this class, this first round?
JALEN CARTER: It's very cool. Me and Nolan had a great connection at Georgia, and I plan on bringing that to the Philadelphia Eagles and having a great connection out here and balling out.
NOLAN SMITH: I'd say it was amazing for me just because not only one of my favorite, not only the most athletic teammates here, man, we've got a lot of boys, a lot of Georgia Philly Dawgs, and it's going to be great.
Q. We talked about the off-the-field knowing each other, but on the field, how much of a benefit is you guys being together, Jordan, Nakobe, and you know each other's tendencies and how you play?
NOLAN SMITH: I would say 100 percent. JC knows I use him most of the time when I look to my left and shook my head, he knew what I was talking about, and that's just that on-the-field connection from playing with him for two years.
It's only going to be more and more, and the connection is only going to get better and better the more we play with each other.
Q. What about being on a team with veterans like Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham. How much do you think that'll help both you guys?
JALEN CARTER: Just like at Georgia, I looked up to the veterans, just like he's a veteran, and me, Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, all them guys, I looked up to them guys and followed behind them, and they taught me every step of the way and got me where I'm at now.
Q. Jalen, Nick Sirianni was talking last night about playing horse and your windmill dunk on the first one. What's the story behind that game, and is that your go-to for H's?
JALEN CARTER: Yeah, you know, I windmilled when I was in high school, and a lot of people still think I can't windmill, so I had to prove them a little -- I missed the dunk, but I still got it there.
Q. Nolan, you beat him, right?
NOLAN SMITH: Yes, sir, did I beat him, and it was fun. I beat him, and we was asking questions the whole time, so it was a fun activity.
Q. What was the winning shot?
NOLAN SMITH: I probably did a three-pointer from right where that lady with the pink is sitting and walked out on him.
Q. Jalen, I understand you played offense your three first in high school. What were you like as an offensive player, and what was it like when you did switch to defense?
JALEN CARTER: Scary. When I was on defense, it was scary, but when I played offense, it was just more like fun. Running and pulling, going through little small DBs, just pushing them out of the way, opening the lane for those running backs. It was a fun time.
Q. Did you think you would have had a future on the offensive side of the ball if you didn't move?
JALEN CARTER: At like O-line? No, I don't want to play O-line, I'm a D-lineman. I'm a D-lineman. That's it.
Q. There was Jordan and Nakobe last year and now you two. What was it about the Georgia program that you think has the Eagles picking guys from the school?
NOLAN SMITH: I'd say one thing that we show at Georgia is we have a culture program, so we believe in a culture, and they believe in a culture here at the Eagles. You felt that walking in the building. This was one of my favorite top-30 visits, just when I walked in the building, the culture, the people around here, they greet you with a smile, they say hello, and really just the whole city.
It was really fun just going from a good culture to an even better culture.
Q. Nolan, it's our first time speaking with you. What was your experience like last night, and going into the night did you think the Eagles would be a possibility for you?
NOLAN SMITH: Yeah, I did, but I'm blessed just to be here. I'm blessed to be here at any point, to have this opportunity, and I would say I got the best opportunity of them all: I'm playing with three of my teammates, and I just won two back-to-back National Championships with this one. So I'm not worried about no number. I'm just happy that I'm here with my Dawgs.
Q. Nolan, having played with Jalen, what was your perspective on his pre-draft process?
NOLAN SMITH: I just always stood up for him just because it's not him. I know Jalen. I know JC -- I call him JC. I don't even call him Jalen; I call him JC88. JC is just one of those guys that you can really count on, and not only do his job but he's going to do his job plus more and then come daff you up and get everybody hyped up. That's just the type of player he is. He's one of the best guys to be around, to hang around, and I think I can't wait for him to take me to dinner.
Q. Jalen, what does that mean to you to have his support during that time?
JALEN CARTER: It means a lot. Like I said, when I first came to Georgia, I looked up to him. Even before I came to Georgia, I seen a couple highlights of practice where during one-on-ones he's killing them guys out there, and I've just always been looking up to him, and just being able to play with him right now in the league is a dream come true.
Q. Nolan, Kirby Smart had a lot of positive things to say, specifically about your intangibles. I guess growing up and throughout your career, who would you consider your role models or where did you get your leadership style from?
NOLAN SMITH: I just watched Ray Lewis, and Ray Lewis always made people around him better, and he's been one of those players that fired you up from watching his film. You go turn on Ray Lewis' motivational speeches before the game, and that'll get you up to do your work.
That's one of the guys that I watched, and I'd say Von Miller is someone I modeled my game after.
Q. I saw that you keep something in your locker as a reminder for how you grew up in Savannah. What was your perspective last night when you finally got drafted and this moment came to fruition, given what you've gone through to get there?
NOLAN SMITH: Thank God. That's the only thing that I thought in my mind is thank God for this opportunity, and thank God for putting me here. I say God works in mysterious ways, and I'm here with three of my best friends.
Q. Nolan, a lot of people have comped you to Haason Reddick. How familiar are you with his game and what he does, kind of similar size as you?
NOLAN SMITH: I'm very familiar to his game just because he's one of those guys that I turn on my tape because he's my body type. I watch guys like my body type like Von Miller, Haason Reddick and the moves that they use and just the different things that they do, not only with their hands but how they bend the edge and use speed to power and how they set up their moves and play a game within the game.
Q. You mentioned Von; with that bend, he's kind of known for that, and people say you do that really well. Is that what you focused on?
NOLAN SMITH: Yes, sir, so I focused on the bending at the top of the rush in my game just because I think it helped me get to the quarterback quicker and also big guys don't want to get down there and touch you.
Q. Jalen, how about you? (Indiscernible) play style role models?
JALEN CARTER: Yeah, I looked up to Aaron Donald. I've been watching his film a lot. I try to add some of his moves to my toolbox. He's mainly the most guy I watched.
Q. Either one of you, when you look at the talent on the D-line that they have here already assembled with Jordan, with Fletcher Cox, Milton Williams, the edge rushers, BG, Sweat, all these guys, Reddick, you guys are so deep. What's the capability of this defensive front when all you guys get settled in?
NOLAN SMITH: The sky's the limit always. I don't want to set any goals or set anything, but just to be a group that works together and rushes as one unit. I never talked to the D-line coach ever, but I know that's the D-line word amongst everyone, so rushing as one unit, and really I'd love to learn from Haason Reddick and all the old guys. I just can't wait to follow and learn the different things that they do here at Philly.
Q. Jalen, Jason Kelce said he got to spend some time with you during the pre-draft visit. What do you remember about that, and were there other guys you got to hang out with?
JALEN CARTER: No, I was pretty much with Kelce. He was just cool, cool vibes. He's a cool guy to be around. He made it fun for me, just explaining what Philly is about, that it's just a family here, everyone is going to take care of you and you're going to have some fun while being on a business trip playing football.
Q. How long did you get to spend with him?
JALEN CARTER: It wasn't that long. There was a lot going on, so it wasn't long.
Q. The stats don't jump off the page, but you guys obviously win a lot. What goes into that, to have the production but might not be shown on the stat sheet?
NOLAN SMITH: I would say 100 percent just the work and preparation and being selfless. That's one thing that we learned at Georgia is that we're selfless, and everybody is on the same page. I feel like if we take that and bring that here to this type of culture, and from what I hear from Nakobe and J.D., that's what we're going to do here, so I can't wait. I'm excited.
Q. What Georgia player are the Eagles most likely to draft next year?
NOLAN SMITH: That's the real question. I don't know, man. It's going to be somebody from Georgia hopefully.
Q. What went into having Nakobe with you last night?
NOLAN SMITH: Nothing went into it. That's my best friend, and he's my roommate, and that connection piece at Georgia is real. It's not a lip service for us. Like this is really my brother next to me, and I mean that when I say that.
When he was there, it just made me -- got me a little excited. Him and Travon, they were both there, and Travon plays for the Jags.
Q. What made you leave Savannah?
NOLAN SMITH: The real reason is just to better myself and to better myself. We have Big 8A schools in Savannah, but they don't really take football as serious as I wanted to so I just wanted to better myself and go better myself.
Q. Jalen, you and J.D. kind of similar situations in regard to the team traded to get you. How does that make you feel as you arrived here, and also, you mentioned last night that J.D. was talking to you a couple days before or the day before. What pieces of advice did he give you leading up to last night?
JALEN CARTER: Yeah, it feels good, that Philly is putting their trust in me to come in here and put in hard work and do what I can to help the team. Just talking to J.D., he's just a good guy to talk to. I could talk to him any time. I can call him any time of the day, any time of the night. I love that man.
Q. Jalen, you went to Apopka. What is it about you guys from that area where guys had that success, and also, have you talked to Warren at all?
JALEN CARTER: No, I haven't talked to Warren. We've got to set that up. He wants to talk to me and I want to talk to him, too. Apopka got a tradition. It's just hard work over there, and everybody wants to be the best. They have a couple of state rings and stuff and they plan on getting more.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports