Carl Nassib

I just always wanted to prove to myself that I was a good player.

I always like to represent Walk-On University.

I want to be one of those people who can look at myself in the mirror and know I did everything I could to be the best that I can.

People work hard for a while and expect results to come out like that. And it's difficult to work hard every day for long periods of time and not really see the fruits of your labor until later in life. But those are the really lucky people that strive to be the best they can be and, one day, they look at themselves and they are.

The only stats that matter to me are the wins and losses every week.

Personally, I don't think about stats very much.

I just wanted to show that it really doesn't matter, your sexual orientation.

I do not know all the history behind our courageous L.G.B.T.Q. community, but I am eager to learn and to help continue the fight for equality and acceptance.

It's just the most rewarding thing ever - being of service to other people. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, of self-worth, as opposed to looking at social media all day, which is just so crippling to your self-esteem and self-image.

We really just want to encourage grassroots movements. And we want to make it cultural, where it's part of society to get up and do something.

I want to get people out and giving back to their communities - making it a popular thing to do.

I get along with kids and dogs really well.

I never cared what other people thought of me.

I love winning.

I've had people tell me, 'Don't lose your head,' and I think that's kind of insulting, when people are worried that I'm going to change who I am.

That's why you go through life, to try to help people as much as you can.

I just want to normalize things. I really don't think too often going through life as a gay man. I just hope one day that won't even have to cross your mind, because it barely crosses my mind.

The NFL went out of their way to support me, to support the Trevor Project, and to show how the impact of how one person doing something for others can be compounded.

I'm not built for public transportation.

When I decided to come out, it was not easy. Personally, for my life, I didn't want to do it. But I felt a huge obligation to my community, to all the young kids out there who are struggling with their sexuality. If I could help just a few of them out, then I could sleep better at night.

I mean, I hope I've helped people.

When people come out, they're coming out of the closet because they're afraid. They fear that they're going to have a negative impact on their life, on their relationships, on their job. I just hope that one day we don't have those fears - that's the society I hope for one day. And I hope I can be a positive push in that direction.

If you have a walk-on's mentality - just grinding every day, just earning your keep every day - it's just the way to do it.

One of my biggest fears was that I would only be remembered for being gay.

When I first got to Penn State, I walked by all those all-Americans and that was my main goal, to be an all-American. Every day, that's all I wanted to be. I never expected everything else going on with it. But that was the one thing that was my goal, and I'm very proud to achieve that.

On the sidelines, I'm the one yelling.

If there is anything I don't lack, it's energy.

I encountered Coach Paterno a few times. Every time he walked by, I was like: 'He's the guy.' I respected him so much, I kind of wanted to keep quiet around him.

I think I'm hilarious.

I laugh at my own jokes way too much.

I mean there's some satisfaction in proving any person wrong. But I don't hold anything against coach O'Brien. Without his motivation I don't know if I would be here. He's a big part of my success at Penn State. I'm thankful for him and thankful for what he taught me.

I was always confident in myself.

Success or stats, whatever, that doesn't really make me feel like I'm on the right path.

I thought 'I've got to be funny' so I just kind of developed a sense of humor.

I always thought it was a good talent if someone was down or sad to make them laugh and brighten their day. I always thought that was pretty awesome.

I like making people laugh and I like making people happy.

I think football's the most competitive sport. The whole business is very cutthroat. And it can lead you to ultra competitiveness. And that toxic competition trait, it can bleed into other aspects.

I just followed in the footsteps of Jesse Della Valle and Ryan Keiser, who are great role models for me, to try and represent walk-ons.

You want to get better every single day, compete every day.

Every day you've got to work hard and earn your keep.

Every day I'm excited to be a part of Penn State football.

Coach Shoop is a very smart guy.

Anybody I ask who spends a week in Happy Valley understands why it's called Happy Valley.

Penn State has made me into the person I am today. I've been surrounded and taught by so many people there. That university makes the best people.

Every day I wanted to be the best. My mom will tell you that I called her and I didn't know if I wanted to play football anymore, and she told me I didn't have to. All I said was 'I just want to be the best.'

Awards never meant that much to me until I got them.

I just think that representation and visibility are so important.

I really have the best life, I've got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for.