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Greg Camarillo
GREG CAMARILLO
Dolphins fans forever will remember the dramatic 64-yard overtime touchdown reception by wide receiver Greg Camarillo last December that gave Miami a 22-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. It was the team's only victory in a 1-15 season, and that meant Camarillo was the biggest hero of 2007.
This year the Stanford grad, who was accepted to Harvard University out of high school, has emerged as a go-to receiver for veteran quarterback Chad Pennington. Camarillo is tied for the team lead with tight end Anthony Fasano with 11 receptions, and his 146 receiving yards is second on the team behind Fasano's 150. He surprised just about everybody by earning a starting spot opposite 2007 first-round pick Ted Ginn Jr. in the base offense from the get-go.
Camarillo wears the same jersey number (83) as former Dolphins receiver Wes Welker and has taken a similar path as the New England Patriots stalwart. In fact, when he first arrived in South Florida from California last year Camarillo almost rented Welker's place in Plantation, complete with a framed No. 83 jersey on the wall. But he decided to live closer to the beach.
The engineering major and former high school basketball player discussed how he has dealt with being asked repeatedly about that memorable touchdown catch, why he thinks he won the starting job, and what he likes to do away from the football field among other things during an exclusive one-on-one interview with Andy Kent for this installment of First-and-10.
1. How often do you still get reminded of your touchdown catch against Baltimore?
At least twice a week, I'd say. Anytime I make a public appearance. The fact that it's still happening while we've got a whole new season going on and some new wins is a little bit surprising. But whatever makes the fans happy, I'm cool with it.
2. Will you ever reach a point where you're tired about it or tired of watching it?
I don't think I'll ever get tired of it because it's a positive, but it's time to create new highlights.
3. How difficult will it be for you to come up with a bigger play than that at any point in your career?
If I could just make that kind of play to win a playoff game, a championship, something that meant more than just one win, that's what would trump it. That has to be your mindset on every play. I need a play like that and really the receiver group needs a play like that.
4. Had someone told you at the start of camp you'd be starting at wide receiver, what would you have said?
I would have said, "That's a good one." I mean, I didn't see it happening, didn't really expect it. I mean, my goal was just to play my best and to earn playing time. We just had a lot of talent and I haven't started in ages, so it wasn't like my first mindset. My mindset wasn't, "Let me go out there and earn the starting job." My mindset was, "Let me go out there and play the best football I can."
5. Can you put into words the sense of accomplishment you felt considering your entire rookie season in 2005 was spent on San Diego's practice squad?
It's a sense of ongoing accomplishment. I mean, it's a huge step to be named a starter and to go out there and play a whole game, but you can't get complacent. That doesn't mean anything if you don't produce. I get reminded (about where I began) often from people surrounding me, but it's been a long road for me since walking on to college. It's like each step is a new level, a new accomplishment, but there are more steps to achieve.
6. Why do you think you won the starting job?
Consistency, I would say. The coaches trust that I'm going to do the right thing all the time. I feel like I can get open and most of all I feel that I'm going to catch the ball. If the quarterback can put it somewhere where I can touch it, I'm going to catch it.
7. You were student body president in high school, along with being a member of the National Honor Society. How smart are you?
School has always been stressed first. In high school and college I was a student and then a football player. I like to consider myself one of the smarter guys on the team. I'm willing to take a "Jeopardy" challenge from pretty much anyone in the league.
8. You were actually accepted to Harvard. Why did you choose not to go?
Harvard was one of my top considerations for where to go to school. I wasn't highly recruited anywhere, so I went there in the spring to check out the school and check out practice, and they have spring practice in the morning. The trip was California, Boston, Philadelphia and then I came down to Miami for vacation, so I packed lightly. I packed like a sweater maybe, like a sweatshirt and so I go to Boston. I wake up for a practice at 6 a.m., and I'm outside in April, in a sweatshirt. Not a good move. The ground's frozen, I'm frozen. I just couldn't imagine getting up in the morning and practicing in the cold. That was kind of a deterrent for me. From an education standpoint, it wasn't much of a drop-off to go to Stanford. The whole thing really came down to, would I rather be a backup and be on a team that goes to a Rose Bowl or play more and be on a team that goes to an Ivy League championship? That was my mindset, just the chance to play in the Rose Bowl - the opportunity obviously didn't happen - that outweighed playing in the Ivy League.
9. There have been lots of comparisons between you and Wes Welker, and of course you wear the same number. Do you welcome the comparisons, and how closely have you followed his career?
I welcome all those comparisons. It's an honor. He is a hell of a football player, set records as far as the amount of catches he had and he probably should have made the Pro Bowl. So I love stuff like that, that's great. If I can take those comparisons and turn those into a reality, then that would be a hell of an achievement. I've followed his path so far. It's a huge step to get to. I have 11 catches this year and he had 112 last year, so I've got a long way to go, but it's a path I'd love to follow.
10. What is Greg Camarillo like away from the football field? What are your hobbies and interests?
He likes to sleep. He likes to watch movies and he likes to travel.
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