Los Angeles Rams

Q&A: Todd Gurley on rookie life, running fast, playing against legends and more

Published Nov. 6, 2015 10:00 a.m. ET

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Brett Smiley

The Buzzer's Brett Smiley recently chatted with St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley, who appeared in a tutu in his first television commercial for Jolly Ranchers candy this week. Gurley also talked St. Louis' season, running really fast, the WWE and playing against Adrian Peterson in the Rams-Vikings game on Sunday.

FOXSports.com: You've had a heck of a month -- becoming the first rookie since 1932 with four straight games of 125-plus rushing yards, and despite making your debut three games into the season you're in the top five in rushing yards with 575 total. What were your actual expectations and goals coming into this season -- especially coming off the knee injury?

Todd Gurley: My expectation was just to get back in and play like myself again, and play with some confidence. I feel like I've been able to do that the last month. My offensive linemen are doing a great job helping me have the great games I've been having.

FS: NFL fans are pretty excited to see you "facing" Adrian Peterson this Sunday. What's it going to be like for you being on same field as AP -- a nine-year vet who entered the league when you were about 12 years old?

TG: It's going to being cool to watch him. I had that kind of experience when we played the Packers. I'm from North Carolina, so going up against Julius Peppers it was crazy just to be on the field at the same time as him [Ed. note: Peppers played for Carolina from 2002-2009]. Hopefully Peterson doesn't have a good game against us.

Peppers during his Panthers days.

FS: Did Peppers tackle you at all in that game?

TG: Yeah, I'm pretty sure he did.

FS: Some fans may not be aware of your background in track and field -- a former hurdler and sprinter at the University of Georgia. We saw you hurdle defenders in college. Is that something you'll be bringing to the NFL?

TG: Yeah, it's just a reaction. A lot of guys definitely try to dive at the legs so it's instinct, it pops in your head right then and there.

FS: Here's some Next Gen Stats courtesy NFL Network: On your 71-yard rushing TD against the 49ers last week you achieved a top speed of 21.70 mph on the play -- the highest by any RB in Week 8. Do you have any idea what your max speed is in mph?

TG: You said 21.7? Oh man, that's pretty fast. I think I can go a little bit faster... maybe 22, max.

Gurley (30) runs past free safety Rashad Johnson (26) of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the Rams' 24-22 win on Oct. 4.

FS: Besides "speed of the game," what's the biggest difference you've observed between college football and the NFL?

TG: Guys are a lot smarter and they react a lot quicker. There's still just 11 players on each side but they're the best guys in the world.

FS: Is there a specific rushing play that's your favorite? Off tackle? Toss?

TG: I like the scheming that we're doing -- the outside zone. I'm still getting used to it but it's been good. Whatever plays I've scored on, I love them.

FS: How often do fans ask you about/talk to you about fantasy football?

TG: Oh, all the time. That's all I hear now. 'Thanks for winning me that game.' 'Thanks for getting me those points.' [Laughs.] Don't even hear 'good game' half the time.

FS: You mentioned on Twitter that you picked Undertaker over Brock Lesnar in their recent "Hell in a Cell" match. Do you watch a lot of WWE?

The Undertaker.

TG: Yeah, me and my teammate at Georgia, Amarlo [Herrera], we're big wrestling fans. We watched Rock's WrestleMania this past year and I'll probably end up going to the next one in Cowboys Stadium next year.

FS: So who's your guy?

TG: Oh, I like Undertaker. I like everybody though, maybe back in the day I'd root for that one guy but now I just like to watch them all.

FS: You don't really have a nickname yet. How about the suggestion out there "The Toddfather"-- do you endorse that one?

TG: [Laughs] The specialists gave me that name -- Johnny [Hekker, punter], Greg [Zuerlein, kicker] and those guys. "The Toddfather."

FS: When did you first start eating Jolly Ranchers?

TG: When I was a kid I just loved candy and ate it all the time, so it was pretty cool to actually do something with Jolly Rancher.

FS: Did it become a thing for you like it did for Marshawn Lynch with his mom giving him Skittles as "power pellets" to help him play better?

TG: No, not like that. [Laughs.] I was just having them at school one day and I took a liking to them.

[Interview continues below video.]

FS: The Rams haven't reached the playoffs since 2004. You guys have had two straight wins now to get to 4-3, what's the vibe in the locker room as far as reaching playoffs?

TG: Everything has been positive. The only thing standing in our way is us -- as far as making mistakes. We know we have a great team. Everybody loves each other. There's just a great bond in the locker room. We know we have something special so we just have to keep it going, keep improving every week. Just because we won two games in a row and three in the division, we still have to keep moving forward.

FS: You suffered that knee injury last Nov. 16. In the past year you've successfully rehabbed, got drafted 10th overall, moved to St. Louis, got a late start but have become a leading rusher. It's been eventful and you're just 21 years old. What's one thing that hasn't changed at all for you since last November?

TG: My friends and family are doing a good job of not changing, or me not changing. I still have strong relationship with everybody. You know life's still the same, I'm just kind of in the NFL and just getting a lot more attention than in college.

LIGHTNING ROUND:

FS: Favorite flavor Jolly Rancher?

TG: Watermelon... and sour apple.

FS: Favorite place to eat in St. Louis?

TG: LongHorn's. That's my favorite restaurant period.

FS: Name two members of the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense:

TG: 28 and 80. And 13... and 81. [Ed: That's Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. And Kurt Warner... and Torry Holt.]

FS: Which member of the Rams defense would you least like to get tackled by?

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates with teammates after sacking Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

TG: Oh, I can't name just one. I'll say Aaron Donald, though. AD is scary.

FS: Favorite sport to watch besides football?

TG: College basketball.

FS: This one's adapted from a popular Reddit question: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized Kam Chancellors or one elephant-sized Kam Chancellor?

TG: Just one elephant-sized Kam Chancellor. I'd rather worry about just one than 100.

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