NFL rookie wide receiver and B.C. native Chase Claypool is back home visiting family in the off season after etching his name into the Pittsburgh Steelers history books.
Claypool sat down, virtually, with the 91原创 Advance Times on Thursday to talk about his rookie season, plans for the offseason, and his predictions for the Super Bowl, which features a gripping matchup between quarterbacks, Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Chase Claypool wins Joe Greene award
Drafted by the Steelers in the second round 鈥� 49th overall鈥� in the 2020 NFL Draft, Claypool finished the regular season with 62 receptions with a total of 873 yards, nine receiving touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns.
Claypool鈥檚 nine touchdown receptions 鈥� the most for any rookie in 2020 鈥� are tied for the most touchdown catches by a Steelers鈥� rookie in a single season, and his 62 receptions are the most by a Steelers鈥� rookie in a single season.
He became the first Steelers rookie in franchise history to score four touchdowns in a single game.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 crazy,鈥� the 22-year-old said about his record-breaking season.
Year 1 in the books.. been a hell of a ride full of obstacles and blessings. For the ones who have been in my corner throughout this journey, I truly do appreciate you and hope I can meet some of y鈥檃ll next year. Until then, 11 out. 馃挍馃枻
鈥� Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool)
鈥淏reaking a couple of records, breaking some rookie records and some franchise records is insane to think about, [but] it鈥檚 not all you play for, you know, the records probably won鈥檛 be talked about that much.鈥�
Instead, Claypool has his eyes on a Super Bowl victory.
鈥淗opefully we can stack some pretty good seasons together and head to the Super Bowl one of these years,鈥� he said.
The 6鈥�4鈥� 238-pound wide receiver has been in White Rock for the last month with his family, where he purchased a townhome for his mom.
He would previously stay in 91原创 when he was visiting from college.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Celebrating homegrown football star Chase Claypool
Claypool said he鈥檒l be heading to California in three weeks time, where he鈥檒l be starting his full time training program.
When asked which defensive back in the league proved to be a challenge for him this past season, Claypool was quick to note the talents of Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby.
But Claypool says the program down south will get him game ready; He admits the weather is not prime to be training outdoors here in B.C.
鈥淢ost of that game preparation, game day readiness, will be done in California, where I鈥檒l be training with a Hall of Fame receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen I鈥檒l be training [in a] weight room program鈥� so I鈥檒l be doing weight room stuff and field stuff, and then I鈥檒l be doing treatment afterwards just to keep my body in tiptop shape.鈥�
But before packing his bags Claypool will be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday.
鈥淚 think Kansas City is going to win,鈥� he predicted.
鈥淚 think Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill and [Travis] Kelce are too 鈥� are too good together. But I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if Tom Brady puts together one of his Super Bowl performances that we all know鈥� and pulls out a win.鈥�
Claypool says he will be watching the game in White Rock.
鈥淚鈥檒l be watching on DAZN Canada,鈥� he noted.
DAZN Canada is a sports subscription video streaming service.
The service will provide Super Bowl programming all week long, including a special Super Bowl preview and predictions show with Claypool.
The former Abbotsford Senior Secondary School student says it鈥檚 been special to represent Canada in the NFL and he hopes his journey inspires others.
鈥淗opefully [it] provides an outlet for athletes鈥� maybe a sign of hope that they can play professionally.鈥�
READ MORE: Abbotsford鈥檚 Chase Claypool scores 10th touchdown
Although Claypool will be heading back to Pittsburgh, it鈥檚 unclear yet whether quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster will return for the 2021 season.
鈥淚 know JuJu for sure wants to come back, and I think Ben is just a matter of how his body鈥檚 feeling,鈥� Claypool said.
鈥淚 know [Ben] got beat up pretty good this year, so [it鈥檚] just [a matter of] how his body鈥檚 feeling, and how he鈥檚 feeling, he鈥檚 been in the league for a long time. It鈥檇 be nice to get both those guys back for next year.鈥�
While the league awaits the news about Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster returns to the Steelers, local fans this season can keep an eye out for Claypool鈥檚 touchdown celebrations as he hopes to give a nod to the hometown crowd.
But Claypool it still waiting for the creative spark to hit.
鈥淚 was honestly trying to think of something, but I don鈥檛 know what I would do that would be clearly Canadian,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we鈥檒l have to figure that out.鈥�
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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