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 Langley 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:

Drafted by the Steelers in the second round B次元官网网址� 49th overallB次元官网网址� 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.

ClaypoolB次元官网网址檚 nine touchdown receptions B次元官网网址� the most for any rookie in 2020 B次元官网网址� are tied for the most touchdown catches by a SteelersB次元官网网址� rookie in a single season, and his 62 receptions are the most by a SteelersB次元官网网址� rookie in a single season.

He became the first Steelers rookie in franchise history to score four touchdowns in a single game.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 crazy,B次元官网网址� 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 yB次元官网网址檃ll next year. Until then, 11 out. 馃挍馃枻

B次元官网网址� Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool)

B次元官网网址淏reaking a couple of records, breaking some rookie records and some franchise records is insane to think about, [but] itB次元官网网址檚 not all you play for, you know, the records probably wonB次元官网网址檛 be talked about that much.B次元官网网址�

Instead, Claypool has his eyes on a Super Bowl victory.

B次元官网网址淗opefully we can stack some pretty good seasons together and head to the Super Bowl one of these years,B次元官网网址� he said.

The 6B次元官网网址�4B次元官网网址� 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 Langley when he was visiting from college.

READ MORE:

Claypool said heB次元官网网址檒l be heading to California in three weeks time, where heB次元官网网址檒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.

B次元官网网址淢ost of that game preparation, game day readiness, will be done in California, where IB次元官网网址檒l be training with a Hall of Fame receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hen IB次元官网网址檒l be training [in a] weight room programB次元官网网址� so IB次元官网网址檒l be doing weight room stuff and field stuff, and then IB次元官网网址檒l be doing treatment afterwards just to keep my body in tiptop shape.B次元官网网址�

But before packing his bags Claypool will be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday.

B次元官网网址淚 think Kansas City is going to win,B次元官网网址� he predicted.

B次元官网网址淚 think Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill and [Travis] Kelce are too B次元官网网址� are too good together. But I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised if Tom Brady puts together one of his Super Bowl performances that we all knowB次元官网网址� and pulls out a win.B次元官网网址�

Claypool says he will be watching the game in White Rock.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be watching on DAZN Canada,B次元官网网址� 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 itB次元官网网址檚 been special to represent Canada in the NFL and he hopes his journey inspires others.

B次元官网网址淗opefully [it] provides an outlet for athletesB次元官网网址� maybe a sign of hope that they can play professionally.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

Although Claypool will be heading back to Pittsburgh, itB次元官网网址檚 unclear yet whether quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster will return for the 2021 season.

B次元官网网址淚 know JuJu for sure wants to come back, and I think Ben is just a matter of how his bodyB次元官网网址檚 feeling,B次元官网网址� Claypool said.

B次元官网网址淚 know [Ben] got beat up pretty good this year, so [itB次元官网网址檚] just [a matter of] how his bodyB次元官网网址檚 feeling, and how heB次元官网网址檚 feeling, heB次元官网网址檚 been in the league for a long time. ItB次元官网网址檇 be nice to get both those guys back for next year.B次元官网网址�

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 ClaypoolB次元官网网址檚 touchdown celebrations as he hopes to give a nod to the hometown crowd.

But Claypool it still waiting for the creative spark to hit.

B次元官网网址淚 was honestly trying to think of something, but I donB次元官网网址檛 know what I would do that would be clearly Canadian,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檒l have to figure that out.B次元官网网址�

joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .