Everything Alabama WR Jermaine Burton said on Monday

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Monday, Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton spoke to the media for the first time since transferring from Georgia back in January. The talented pass-catcher had a lot of interesting things to say, including his reasoning for leaving Athens for Tuscaloosa.

Below, you can check out everything Burton said during his press conference.

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On what motivates him after winning a national championship…

“What motivates me is the way the guys treated me, honestly, when I came into the program. I couldn’t thank these guys enough. Regardless of the outcome of last year’s game and me being on the other side of the ball, I’m here now, and I think that’s what I really need to focus on, focusing on this team and what we can do this year.” 

On why he chose Alabama…

“I’m just trying to make the best decision I can for me and my family. Like I said, again, I couldn’t thank this program enough for the way they welcomed me and brought me in and treated me like one of their own. From this point on, I’m just focusing on this team and what we can do to get better.”

On what he remembers about Alabama’s defense from last year…

“These guys work together. These guys work day in and day out. They go over film. They watch a lot of film. They put in a lot of work. They got a lot of great leaders. They’ve got a lot of great players at each position. At the end of the day when you correlate that all into the field, it’s just a great team.” 

On how he’s improved since joining Alabama…

“Honestly, my entire mindset when I even came into this program was to work and try to understand the offense, get it down with Bryce and work with a lot of the players that had just came in with me because there’s freshmen players who came in with me as well, another transfer as well. My main focus is on those guys, making sure our bond is all good and together and everybody is on the same page regardless of what grade you’re in because whoever’s on the field is gonna have to produce.”

On how much Bryce Young influenced his decision…

“My relationship with Bryce is great. I mean, it’s a guy I’ve also known since high school as well. I did my last years out in California, so our relationship is pretty there as well. Pretty much when I came in here it just clicked on. We just both wanted the best for each other. He wanted me to learn the offense as quick as possible. It’s just as far as me trying to learn anything I can do or any little tips I need or anything I can work on as far as being just an overall better receiving corps and quarterback room.”

On how Alabama’s wide receiver room has gelled…

“The group has gelled together because we honestly don’t worry about the competition part. Honestly, our competition is the people that’s lined up across from us as receivers. We know that we just need to learn the offense and learn everything about the offense so whoever’s out on the field can get the play right and anything like that. I don’t feel like it’s any sort of competition between any of the  receivers. We’re all close. We’re all brothers at the end of the day, so we all want the best for each other. If anybody’s missing any part of the offense here, we all make sure we can sort of settle down on the same page.” 

On if he’s stepping up as a leader in the WR room as an older guy…

“Definitely as an older player you want to take on a leadership role and help the younger players coming in, give them an example to look up to. As far as that goes, I am one of the older players in the room so I want to influence the younger players. We don’t care who it is, so an older player coming in can be a leader in the room.”

On Coach Saban calling him the most consistent receiver and how he does it…

“Honestly, keep to the script, come in, do what they tell me to do, take care of my body so that I can perform to my best. It’s honestly not something I worried about; I just focus on the team and where I can be better and help anyone else.”

On if anyone brought up the national title game when he came in…

“Yes it was, but honestly I thought it was going to be about the game, kind of envy or any kind of animosity. But there was no problem here. It was unbelieveable, welcomed me, no issues about that. I got more congratulations than anything. The guys who brought me in wanted me to work with them. I honestly forgot about that. I wanted to work with them, too.”

On if he was surprised by that…

“Yes. Everybody was patting on me.”

On how coming in the spring helped him and Young…

“I was able to meet with Bryce a lot and my position coach a lot and meet with our offensive coordinator a lot. The meetings went well, but I think it’s better to get the repititions, so getting out there for practice.”

On if he remembers his last drop and how is he so consistent with his catching…

“Our coach really trains us, hop on the JUGGS machine, or do whatever you can to make sure to get your hands right. I like to pay attention to that, something I don’t really plan to pay attention to, but at the end of the day how does a receiver make the catch. You know you have to warm your hands up, get into that rhythm  of catching the ball.”