‘Freakishly strong, freakishly fast’ Uar Bernard is relishing the ‘learning process’ of his NFL transition
Bernard, whom the Eagles drafted in the seventh round as an international pathway program player from Nigeria, says being in Philly "is like a dream come true" as he embarks on his football journey.
Uar Bernard has been in Philadelphia — a world away from his small village in Nigeria — for nearly seven weeks now. He visits restaurants, goes sightseeing, and even took in a Sixers playoff game.
But nothing compares to his favorite spot:
The Eagles’ practice facility.
“I hardly go out,” Bernard said after Day 2 of Eagles mandatory minicamp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. “I just focus on my playbook and my teammates, so coming into the building is fun for me and I love it here. I want to grow every day, so I keep my focus in the building and keep the main thing the main thing.”
On the rare occasions he does go out, Eagles fans typically flock to the novice defensive tackle who, up until last month’s rookie minicamp, had never participated in a football practice. The towering 6-foot-4, 306-pound became an instant fan favorite when the Birds drafted him in the seventh round in April. His impressive physical traits and status as a player from the international pathway program — from which the Eagles have greatly benefited with tackle Jordan Mailata — make fans bullish about his potential.
So, how is he adjusting to life in the NFL? Off the field, Bernard said it’s a “home run” to be in such a passionate football city.
“The fact that I can’t even go out without taking pictures with the fans outside, it’s amazing,” Bernard said with a smile. “Being here is like a dream come true to me because I’ve never experienced that before. I just came into the town from Nigeria and it’s amazing.”
As for life on the field, Bernard called it a “learning process” — which makes sense given he went from not playing football to the NFL.
“It’s good,” Bernard said. “I don’t see anything hard if you keep working out. If you have passion for what you do, you’re going to progress every day. So, I believe that the process is going smoothly.”
His teammates and coaches agree. Speaking with reporters last week, Mailata — who had a relationship with Bernard before the draft thanks to their IPP ties — called him a “freak of nature.”
“He’s just freakishly strong, freakishly fast,” Mailata said. “And I can’t even compare him to me just because he’s just again, not of this world just by like metrics and numbers-wise. … Once he puts it all together, I think it’s a wrap.”
» READ MORE: How Eagles rookie Uar Bernard prepared for the NFL before playing a down of football
Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, who nudged general manager Howie Roseman to draft Bernard, has been “like a father” to Bernard. Like Mailata, Hurtt believes that, if the team is patient enough with him, he can become a force in the league.
“I’m not putting my stamp on everybody,” Hurtt said last week. “If you don’t have a great work ethic, if I don’t believe in your character and who you are as a person, I’m not putting my family’s well-being in anybody’s hands.
“But when I saw the kid’s work ethic and character, he’s an unbelievable human being. I know as people get a chance to spend some time with him, he’s a great kid. So I felt good about doing that.“
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