Ronnie Stanley Set On Displaying Passion At NFL Combine
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Irish left tackle Ronnie Stanley seemed as if he had to get something off his chest at his media interview at the NFL Combine on Wednesday.
He several times brought up his desire to quash any doubts about his passion for football as teams consider using a top-10 pick in April’s NFL Draft on the former Notre Dame standout lineman.
“My passion for football,” Stanley replied when asked what he is trying to sell to team executives this week. “I don’t think people know how important football is to me and how big of a role it has played in my life.
“I think there’s a big core of people that think that I’m lackadaisical I guess, and I don’t know. I’m just really trying to show people how much football means to me and how much I really do care about it.”
Stanley started the final 39 games of his Irish career, the last 26 of which were at left tackle. He said Wednesday he does not care whether a team prefers him at right or left tackle in the NFL.
The Las Vegas native, however, made it clear that his emphasis this week is on changing people’s perception of him.
“I’m not sure of the exact source,” said Stanley, who noted he considers himself the top tackle in the NFL Draft. “I just heard a few different things that people think I’m a laid-back guy that just relies on his talent and doesn’t really love the game like he should.
“I’m trying to show those people what football means to me.”
Stanley passed up his first chance to turn pro last offseason when he decided to return to Notre Dame for his senior year, a decision that paid off with an elevation of his draft stock. He was already in strong position following his junior season as a likely first-round pick.
“I really think I improved as a leader and also as a run blocker as well,” Stanley said. “It’s something I really tried to focus on.
“[I’m trying to prove] that I can translate from what I did in college to the NFL. Also I’m going to try to keep getting better. I never feel like I’ve made it to a certain point where I don’t think I can get better. That’s something I always do is try to improve.”
Stanley’s teammate of four years, running back C.J. Prosise, said Stanley’s passion was evident to his teammates.
“Ronnie loves the game,” Prosise said. “He might not show it off the field, and I feel like that’s kind of a downfall for a lot of Notre Dame guys. We kind of have that nonchalant feeling off the field, but on — like Coach [Brian] Kelly always says — we’re tough gentlemen. Once we get on the field our whole mentality changes.”
Now Stanley is set on changing the minds of others.