Orange's preparedness a testament to HC Campbell
Connor Rogers and Joshua Perry sit down with Domonique Wilkins to discuss the origins of "Big Citrus", where he feels most comfortable on the line, the influence of coach Matt Campbell, and more.
Video Transcript
Connor Rogers here at the NFL Combine, alongside Joshua Perry and Dominique Orange, the man with the best nickname in the draft, Big Citrus.
Can you give us the origin story of this?
I, I love this nickname.
So the origin story ain't really, like, a story, for real.
It was one of those, like I came in the facility one day, my nutritionist, she said, "What's up, Big Citrus?"
And I looked at her crazy, like- "Uh, who told you that?"
Like, "I ain't, I ain't never heard of it."
But then she was like, "Yeah, they're calling you that all over Twitter."
And I'm like, "I'm not on Twitter, for real."
So I'm like, "All right, cool."
Next thing you know, like, next game, "Big Citrus!"
You know what I'm saying?
It's so good.
Stuff like that.
So I'm like, "All right, cool, whatever."
Yeah.
I just been rocking with it ever since.
I love it.
So, I mean, it stuck.
ain't no real story to it.
It's where the best nicknames come, though- is just the ones that don't have a great story.
Right.
And, you know, Big Citrus, obviously it's your size, but you've got this quickness and this explosion to your game.
So tell me how you use that combination to your advantage.
I mean, most teams, you know, when they look at me, they expect I'm just some, you know, big, heavy guy that can't move or whatnot.
So when I pop off the quickness, it's like, "Oh," like, "There's nothing we can really do, you know, to h- handle him with."
So it's like, it brings a real advantage, 'cause teams not really expecting me to do You know, run off the doll- run off the ball, you know, do speed rushing and stuff like that.
You know, be as quick as I am for, you know, as- how big I am.
So, you know, it comes with a real advantage, honestly.
What I love watching about your tape is you play every alignment on the defensive line.
Like, you're just not just a nose tackle- Yeah or just a three-tech.
Is there a place where you feel the most comfortable, and have teams been kinda giving you an idea of where they wanna use you?
Yeah.
I mean, you know, for me, I feel most comfortable, you know, around, you know, nose tackle, zero tech.
But I'm gonna be honest, like, I really been wanting to, you know, kinda play that three-tech a lot more, play that two-eye a lot more.
But I'm gonna be honest, like, right between the guards, guard to center area, like, I feel like I'm most best, you know, violent and, you know, destructive around that range.
You started a ton of games in college, and the, I think the experience shows up in your tape.
In what ways do you think your experience gives you an edge over some other guys in this class?
I'm gonna be honest, you know, me being in the pile four years, you know, my freshman year, you know, I was going against, you know, draftable, draftable players every year.
You know, coming from Big 12, you know, played against, like, teams like TCU when they went on a national championship run, you know.
And I h- I held my own against them, so you know, I played against NFL talent my whole career, so it's not nothing new I've been doing.
So, you know, most guys, you know, playing guys that work 9 to 5s now, compared to me.
But now I'm, you know I been experienced.
I didn't, I didn't play against NFL guys before, so going into this, I'm not You know, this, this ain't new to me compared to these other guys.
We see so much pro talent going to the league from Iowa State, on both sides of the ball.
Both the receivers last year, Will McDonald was a first-round pick.
What is it about this program that just has you guys ready to roll?
I'm gonna be honest, I wouldn't even say it's, it's something within the program.
I think Coach Campbell's philosophy has truly been instilled within all of us.
You know, Jay e, J. Higgins, Will McDonald, Darien Porter, T.J. Tampa.
I mean, the list go on.
Yeah.
And it's really a thanks to Coach Campbell and what he's done to be able You know, he's a real program changer.
Like, if you'd be able to have, like, a graduation at Penn State, you know, for them to pull him, I mean Man, if I had another year, I'm not gonna lie, I might follow him.
Just 'cause the fact it's Coach- That portal life.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just 'cause it's Coach Campbell, you know.
He's a big reason why I didn't even leave.
He's a, he's a big reason why, you know, all the guys that went to the league stayed because of Coach Campbell.
You know, like I said, what Coach Campbell been able to do for us, you know, has been tremendous, you know, from developing us from little pups to, you know, grown men now, you know.
like I said, Coach Campbell is one of the greatest coaches out there, if not the best.
Have you been able to talk to any of those guys that you mentioned who are now in the league about this process, and what kind of advice have they given you?
Yeah, I mean, it's, it's one of those, like It's a real cutthroat business, you know?
Yeah.
They basically told me, "If you can't do your job, you won't play."
It, it like, you know, it's simple as that.
these guys ain't paying you a million just to be mediocre, you know?
Right.
It's simple as that.
Yeah.
I mean, I've been, I've been asking 'cause I'm curious, you know.
I'm not gonna lie, like, it's a new experience for me, so, you know, me having those guys in my corner be able to tell me, you know, how, how business is over there, you know, even how this process went You know, I reached out and was able to ask them, like, "Yo, what am I gonna expect?"
You know, everything they said, you know, is true so far.
So, you know, I'm gonna keep reaching out and keep talking to them, you know, get as much advice as I can.
Yeah.
So yeah, them boys ain't been wrong yet.
So I'm gonna keep going.
You're on Feldman's Freaks list.
We know there's gonna be a show here.
What's the training like been, though?
'Cause this is different from football training.
Yeah.
I mean, it's more like This stuff has been more like, I guess from a 40 standpoint, I'm going from chasing people to learning how to be a track star.
Right.
So, you know, it, it's different.
The technique's different.
I gotta run different.
I can't run how I usually run.
I ain't gonna lie, it's been hard, man.
Yeah.
It- 'cause it's like, it's something I guess linemen don't do.
Right.
So, you know, adjusting to that high frequency of running is just something that we not normally doing.
Like, I ain't never ran 40 yards in a game before, but, you know, I got- Guess what?
You probably won't when you get to the NFL.
You know, if we do, it's a problem.
I'm not gonna lie.
Right.
Yeah, yeah.
But, you know, at the end of the day, you know, it's a great experience.
You know, what we've been doing at EXO has just been crazy, you know.
I, I honestly love it.
Tell me the biggest thing you wanna show off while you're here.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm gonna show off my bench, you know?
Yeah.
Let the, let the people know I'm strong, so- How many reps are you gonna get?
I'm shooting for 33.
Okay.
Wow.
All right.
I'm shooting for 33.
He's a big, strong dude.
Yeah.
That's, that's a big total.
Yeah.
I'll be cheering you on- Shooting for 33 for that.
What do you get to do off the field when you have some downtime?
I ain't gonna lie, I play the game, and I sleep.
I'm a real homebody.
I don't like going out or nothing like that.
I'm in the house as much as I can.
If I gotta leave, so be it, but I'm in the house playing a game mostly.
I ain't gonna lie.
What game do you play?
What system?
PS5, all the way.
Okay.
All right.
Yeah.
If you not on PS5, you suck.
You know what I mean?
I'm with you on that.
Yep.
But, you know, 2K, I play 2K, I play Madden.
that's really about it.
I ain't gonna I'm a regular dude, man.
Yeah.
I keep, I keep, I keep it simple.
I like that.
A dude with a great nickname- Yeah but a regular dude.
Big Citrus, Dom Orange.
Man, we can't wait to watch you at the, at the league, man.
Yes, sir.
Thanks for stopping by.
Good luck this week.
Yes, sir, appreciate it.
