Colts' KJ Hamler Excited to 'Regroup, Rebuild' Himself
New Indianapolis Colts wide receiver KJ Hamler is excited for the clean slate in Indy to "regroup" and "rebuild" himself after his career didn't get off to the start that he hoped. He likes what he sees from Shane Steichen's offense so far, is looking to take rookie Josh Downs under his wing, and knows he has a lot to learn from his new wide receivers coach, Reggie Wayne.
Transcript
00:00 >> All right, so you were an early round pick.
00:03 I know there was some health stuff that caused you to kind of be in the middle
00:06 here.
00:07 How did it wind up being here in Indy that you landed?
00:10 >> Just kind of wrote down the pros and cons, prayed about it and
00:15 kind of made a decision on what would be best for me.
00:19 I think a fresh new start for me would be the best.
00:21 I talked to my family about it and now I'm here, so I'm blessed to be here.
00:26 I'm blessed to be back playing football from the heart issue and
00:28 stuff like that.
00:29 So that was a scary moment for me, but I'm honored, I'm blessed, and
00:34 I'm still getting adjusted to my new home.
00:38 >> Do you view this as just like a fresh start?
00:40 Cuz second round pick is probably a little bit of a whirlwind in Denver there.
00:43 Is this just a clean slate you get to start over or how's that going?
00:46 >> Yeah, I think it's just a clean slate.
00:47 I think last year I wasn't fully healthy and
00:51 I tried to fight through a lot of stuff.
00:53 And my career hasn't went how I wanted it to go so far.
00:58 And but it's all God's timing.
01:01 I'm trusting his process.
01:02 Maybe he didn't want things for me to go that fast.
01:05 So I think a fresh new start and just to rebuild and
01:09 regroup myself in my mind and I think it's gonna be good here.
01:13 >> What do you think of it here in Indy so far?
01:15 I mean, they've obviously got an exciting young quarterback and
01:18 then McKenzie and Downs are a couple nice slot receivers.
01:21 How are you acclimating to things here so far?
01:25 >> Good so far.
01:26 I'm picking up the playbook pretty well.
01:27 It's really when you're years in the league, it's my fourth year.
01:33 Still young, so I'm 24 year four.
01:35 Picking up the playbook, it comes easier.
01:39 It's not as hard as coming into your rookie year and things like that.
01:42 So I'm trying to help out JD a lot.
01:47 Just trying to be, kind of take him under my wing as well,
01:52 cuz I think we're kind of similar in certain aspects.
01:56 But I love the receiver room.
01:58 I love Coach Reggie Wayne.
01:59 And I'm starting to get to know the guys around here, so it's gonna be good.
02:03 >> What's that like?
02:04 I mean, did you grow up watching Reggie playing here for the goals?
02:07 >> Yeah, I for sure did.
02:08 So I was excited when I didn't know he was the wide receiver coach here at first.
02:12 >> Okay.
02:13 >> And my agent was like, no, Reggie Wayne's the receiver coach.
02:16 And I was like, man, just getting a chance to get coached by a Hall of Famer is
02:19 always a plus, so for sure.