Catching up with former Texas A&M pass-catcher Ricky Seals-Jones

A Sealy native, Ricky Seals-Jones spent four seasons at Texas A&M and scored 10 touchdowns throughout his career as a 6-foot-5 weapon in the passing game. Seals-Jones joined Wednesday's edition of TexAgs Live to look back on his football career and much more.

Key notes from Ricky Seals-Jones interview

• I can't complain about life after football, and I now live in the Houston area. I retired last year and am getting into real estate and enjoying life. I have three kids and am a dad, and I can't wait for this upcoming season.
   
• During my recruitment, I was going to go to Texas and was a big Longhorn fan when I was younger. They kept trying to get me to play defensive end, but I wanted to score touchdowns. I decommitted and opened my recruitment back up. Kevin Sumlin came in, and Texas A&M was going into the SEC. It was everything you could ask for, and I ended up staying in the state of Texas. I narrowed it down to A&M and LSU, and I came to the 2012 Florida game. Kyle Field was rocking. I would have moved in then. A&M ended up losing that game, but the fan base and the atmosphere while meeting the fans and team made it feel like heaven and home.
   
• Coming into a spread offense and moving from quarterback to receiver was difficult. Getting in shape and doing different workouts, I grinded and had good teammates like Mike Evans and even the younger guys around me. We were a tight-knit bunch. Over time, I started to get better with the playbook and made plays. Once the season came, I had my opportunities to shine.
   
• We saw glimpses of Mike Evans and his greatness here. If you had said 11 years he's in the league with a 1,000 yards, we would say that's impossible, but he has done it. Evans is a hard worker and a big family man. He was destined for it. The work he puts in and his community impact, it’s a blessing that he's getting this success.
   
• I think the older guys showed us the way. They made a blueprint, and we followed it. That was our motto. We want to be as good as the older bunch. It speaks for itself. Turn on any tape from 2012 to 2013, and the receiver room was highlight after highlight. It was in small and big games. The receivers were special, and they put in the work day in and day out and showed us what it's like to wake up every day and be a college athlete.
   
• Sumlin was a great coach. He recruited me and got me to the ultimate goal of making it into the NFL. While we were here, the goal was playoffs and the national championship, and we fell short of that, but overall, he's a great coach.
   
• My favorite college football memories were the two games I got kicked out for blindside blocking. I looked at it as I was helping my teammates, and that’s who I strived to be. If I could help spring an extra 20 yards, I'll do it. For me, it's not about always catching the ball. It's blocking too. Over time, I adopted a different mindset to when I get the ball, I'll get it, but how else can I be a factor? It is how can I be the best blocker for my other guys to go off? If I'm going off, it's easy to game plan, but if you have four, it's harder.
   
• For me, I was the biggest in the receiver room. I knew I wasn't the fastest, but how could I help stay on the field? For me, it was blocking. We were a spread offense, and we wanted to get up the field. When plays come, I'll make them, so that's what I used to help me stay on the field and be great.
   
• The battles were rough with Nick Saban and Alabama. Honestly, all the games are battles, but I think Alabama was the biggest. In 2012, we came in and knocked them off, and then it was a rivalry. I enjoyed the atmosphere and fan base when we’d go up there to play. It's a different feeling on the road, and all you have is your teammates. I enjoyed it a lot.
   
• We were on Alabama’s radar, and they had to prepare for us. We were coming to shock the world. We took every game as if nobody respected us. One reason is because we came from the Big 12, and everyone thought we were the little brother. We were trying to make our own noise. We were trying to make A&M what A&M is today. We can be a powerhouse too. Saban had a game plan for us.
   
• LSU at night is the hardest place to play in. You have fans drinking all day. The atmosphere, the music and even the chants they have... It's a different spark. No matter how much energy you bring on the road, that's the toughest place. You have to win early because, if you make it a game, it makes it tougher. LSU and Arkansas were always big games, even when playing at home. Night games, your fans can build up the animosity all day. I think night games are way harder on the road because you’re sitting all day and feeling the build-up.
   
• I played in the NFL for seven years, but you look up and it's gone. I enjoyed it and went undrafted and started in Arizona. I had a great coach with Bruce Arians. I had great veterans with Jermaine Gresham and Troy Niklas. When I got to Arizona, I didn't know the left and right stance. They showed me how to be a pro and a tight end. If it weren't for them, my career wouldn't have lasted that long. They showed me how to be a pro, and that's how I am to be with the next young guys.
   
• Once I left Arizona, I went to Cleveland and Kansas City and lost to Tom Brady in Tampa. I went to Washington and had a stint with the Giants in New York. I remember the great times, but where did it go? I enjoyed it and had fun. I met great people and coaches, and it is an experience I wish a lot of guys have. The stadiums aren't like here in College Station, and a lot of guys get shy in the bright lights in their first game. Playing in front of 70-80,000... That's our spring game. Going to A&M, that's what's nice because you have those big moments.
   
• I watch A&M football here and there. I like what Mike Elko is doing. The guys he got out of the transfer portal and the tight ends are coming here. I'm excited and leaving my options open. I don't want to predict anything, but I feel we got a shot to be a dark horse. Off of last year, everyone is sleeping on us, but there's a wave coming. There's going to be a rude awakening.
   
• It's the SEC. You can wake up and have a knock on Vanderbilt, and then they could beat you. It's the SEC. Everyone is good, and everyone will give you your best shot. I'll tell our fans it's coming and stay patient.
   
• Since the rivalry with Texas is back, yes, I feel the hatred now. Back when I played, we didn't care about them. When I went to the game last year, there was a deep hatred. For me, it's LSU. I lost all my games with LSU. For me, that's one place I wish I could have one game under my belt. It's a rivalry, and that's what you want.
   
• I'm done playing football. My body is beat up. I enjoy watching, and I’ve got my seven-year-old son. That's as far as I get with my cleats on. I enjoy watching and coming back here to support my Ags. I enjoyed it, but I had my time. I'm beat up, and I'm enjoying life.