Nolan Smith emotional speaking about Devin Willock: 'I love him'
Nolan Smith spoke about the passing of Georgia teammate Devin Willock for the first time at the NFL Scouting Combine. And he spoke from the heart, as tears streamed down his face at the podium.
“That’s my guy,” Smith told reporters at his press availability.
“That’s one person that never did anything wrong. I get sensitive talking about it just because I love him. He never did anything wrong in his three years. He was supposed to graduate. His brother passed like that. I’m sorry to his mama. No one should live like that.”
Smith has the opportunity to show his physical skills and professional skills at the Combine’s interview and workout sessions.
He showed his character as a teammate and a human with his passion for Willock’s life.
Smith shared his message to Georgia football players: ‘Do it for Dev’
If you’ve heard Nolan Smith speak, you know he doesn’t hold back how he feels.
The pain of losing Willock and team assistant Chandler LeCroy in a car wreck the night of Georgia’s National Championship celebration hasn’t left his heart.
“No one should deserve to die like that. He never did s*** wrong. I’m sorry for my language, he never did anything wrong. Three years in a row, that man showed up worked in day in and day out,” Smith said, as he hit the podium.
“He’s a two-time Natty Champ, man. It’s written in stone. 77, you’re living forever. ‘Do it for Dev,’ that’s what I tell them boys at Georgia. ‘You lost a brother, do it for Dev.’ I’m sorry to get emotional, I’m the ‘juice’ guy. This is my first time talking about it. Cincinnati (Bengals), they brought it up and I got emotional, too just because I care.
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Smith shared that his connection with Georgia will last long beyond his NFL Draft fate
“Most people think it’s just a game, those are my brothers that I go out there with. We eat together, we’re in the locker room together. We shower together. We’re in the hot tub together. It’s more than a game. Especially at Georgia, man. That connection piece is real,” Nolan Smith said.
Even in heartache and a time of transition, ‘The Juice Guy’ isn’t going anywhere for the players still at Georgia.
“When you sit in a skull session with somebody and learn their life story, you will give them an extra inch. You will come pick him up during a workout. And that’s what we do at Georgia. Any kid that goes there, they call me or ask me for anything, they know 4 is always gonna be there. That’s what I tell them. ‘Come lean on 4.'”
