Exclusive interview with Idaho State WR Tanner Conner: NY Jets interest, playing TE, and more
By Justin Fried
Former Idaho State wide receiver Tanner Conner is an athletic physical freak on the football field and a self-described analytically-driven geek off of it.
At 6-foot-3, 226 pounds, Conner offers a unique blend of size and speed that has garnered the interest of quite a few NFL teams, including the NY Jets. There's even been some talk of the former track star making the switch to tight end at the next level.
From his humble beginnings as a track-first athlete to following in his father's footsteps in the NFL to his gaming and anime interests away from football, our most recent interview with this man has something for everyone.
Special thanks to Tanner for taking the time out of his undoubtedly busy schedule to chat with us just prior to the 2022 NFL Draft. Below is a full transcription of our conversation.
The start of Tanner Conner's NFL dream
Justin Fried: "Growing up you played a few different sports: basketball, track, and of course football. It seems like you focused extensively on track, even into college. Obviously now, though, you're on the verge of the NFL. When did the NFL become a dream for you? Is that something you've wanted since you were a little kid, or did you discover those aspirations as you got older?"
Tanner Conner: "The NFL was always a dream for me, but it wasn't really a reality until I got to college. Coming out of high school, I didn't have a lot of offers for football, but I had a lot of track offers. I went to a bunch of different schools asking to play football, and Idaho State was the only one that let me. Even when I got there, I was still a very raw athlete. I got there at around 180 pounds. I left at like 230 pounds, so I put on quite a bit of weight there. I didn't really start to develop into a true receiver until my junior year. That was my breakout season and when I realized I could play at the next level. Between my junior and senior seasons is when it really started to become a reality for me, but it was always a dream I've had since I was a kid."