Here's what Clay Matthews III had to say tonight after the Packers traded up to select him with the 26th overall pick:

Q: Is it gratifying for a team to move up to get you?

Matthews: "Absolutely. That was one of the things we talked about was having a team move up in the draft. It really shows that they have an interest in you and they want you on their team and they're looking forward to you making an impact. I'm very much pleased to end up in Green Bay and for them to move up. I've already apoken to Kevin Greene and fortunately my dad knew a great amount of people out there. I'm just looking to get started. I believe I'm headed out there Thursday and I'll put all these four months of training to rest and start going with an NFL team. I'm going to be looking forward to it."

Q: Did you have any idea the Packers had a strong enough interest to make that move?

Matthews: "I think the Packers were interested because they were one of the most fun teams to meet with at the Senior Bowl and Indianapolis and everywhere else for that matter. They were a team that showed great interest. They didn't fly me out, so obviously I was looking for those teams that had shown greater interest, but at the same time I met with all 32 teams. I knew it was going to be a crapshoot and I was just hoping to (inaudible) sooner than later. Like I said, I'm pleased to end up in Green Bay."

Q: What are the keys in going from walk-on to first-round pick?

Matthews: "Really, it's just perseverence. It truly is a remarkable story in the fact that most walk-ons just don't have enough determination and grit and hard work within them to be in the position I am today. I just kept plugging away. It would have been easy for me to quit and walk away from it or just succumb to it, but I wanted it so much more. I think that's why I'm in the position I am today is because I walked on and it put me in this position and this mindset that I have to be the best and gain respect. Although it's not your typical college career, especially at SC with all the five-star and blue-chip athletes, but it defnitely put me on this platform to succeed and I'm looking to continue to do so at the next level."

Q: Were you destined to play football?

Matthews: "Absolutely. It's just something that even when I was young I thought I was going to grow up and do. Obviously, I didn't realize the hard work you had to put in and the sacrifice, but at the same time I feel it's something I'm destined to do and something that my family's been so fortunate in that I'm lucky enough to keep this tradition alive. I'm looking to start making a name for myself and be known as Clay Matthews III and not Junior."

Q: What are your impressions of Kevin Greene?

Matthews: "He's intense. He's an intense guy. He let me know what the expectations are of me and once I get there what their plans are for me and what they want me to do. I bought into it and I loved what he had to say. Obviously, watching him play back in the day, he's an outstanding player and my dad obviously spoke highly of him and obviously from watching film, but at the same time he sounds like a terrific coach. It looks like he's got his boys right. I'm looking to come in there and start getting under his program, under his wing and start developing into an outstanding player."

Q: What are his expectations for you?

Matthews: "He said, we're going to rush like we're a big (inaudible), we're going to drop like we're a safety, we're going to hold the point of attack at the line. He was just pretty much going down the list of what outside backers need to do and that's just overall dominate their opponent. That's how I live each and every game and practice out there in Southern California. I'm looking forward to continuing this over and to being under such a great coach and just start plugging away at it."

Q: Do you see yourself winning a starting job as rookie?

Matthews: "I'd sure like to think so. I think I'm a terrific athlete. I definitely have confidence in my abilities. Right now you just start learning the playbook and getting in there and start working out and letting them know that I'm here to stay and that I'm here to win a starting position."

Q: Where were you recruited to go out of high school and why did you go to USC?

Matthews: "I ended up SC, it's plain and simple, I didn't have any offers coming out of school. I was undersized as a junior and I didn't even start and my dad was the D-coordinator. So alone should speak volumes about where I've come from. But as a senior I put on some weight and grew a couple of inches, but I was only recruited by JCs and I-AA schools. There were Division I schools that were interested, but none offered me. So I just had to walk on obviously because of my family history and everything else that Pete Carroll had been doing over there. Here we are five years later and I'm sitting here as a first-round draft pick. Like I said earlier, maybe (inaudible). It's not your typical career path, but at the same time I think that's why it makes it such a unique story."

Q: What do they call you?

Matthews: "Just Clay Matthews is just fine, but if you're differentiating between myself and my dad, I'm the third and he's junior. Although I'm sure most people will refer to me as junior and he'll be senior. Either way, Clay Matthews III, Junior, whatever you guys want to call me."

Q: What was the bond between your fellow USC linebackers, and can you talk about the competitiveness of that unit?

Matthews: "It was a terrific bond that we had. Obviously, being such terrific athletes and players and being able to share the joys and excitement of winning all the time and being successful at SC, we have a unique bond. We're the greatest of friends but at the same time we competed with one another. I know that when I saw Cush's name come across at 15, I was excited for him and happy for him, but at the same time I wanted to be the first one picked. We competed each and every day. That consisted of in the weight room, in the film room, on the practice field and in games for most tackles, most everything for that matter. I turned away from the draft right now, but I'm that if Rey hasn't gotten picked that he gets picked up soon enough. We're all pulling for one another but at the same time we're trying to be the best. It's a very unique bond, but at the end of the day we're all friends."

Q: How did you injure your hand?

Matthews: "In 2007? I actually broke my thumb against Nebraska and I ended up starting the next week as well. I healed fine. Then I broke my left foot, metacarpal, against Cal, both just making routine tackles. I guess i just had a streak of bad luck, but they healed up fine."

Q: What is your committment level in the weight room?

Matthews: "It's terrific, I think. I love being in the weight room and putting on size and lifting heavy weight and just getting better. Obviously, coming from where I've been, I understand the importance of lifting. Although it's not everything, it does mean a great deal to. Me and Cushing are fortunate enough to have won (inaudible) special teams lifter of the year at SC, so I think that shows our dedication and I'm hoping to continue that at the next level."

Q: Do you have a passion for special teams?

Matthews: "Obviously, that's how I had to contribute as a young freshman walk-on. That's how most walk-ons get their start is through special teams. I intially started with kickoff, then I worked my kickoff return, punt and punt return. I told myself, 'If this was all I'm going to be doing rather than playing linebacker, I'm going to make a name for myself and I'm going to be the best,' and I held true to that and won the special teams player of the year award for a few years straight. I think that goes to show my ethic toward weight-room lifting and special teams and just the overall person that I am and why I want to be the best. It's something that I take close to heart and I look forward to making an immediate impact on special teams in Green Bay. I'm just looking to overall get in there and start making an impact and making them proud of their first-round selection."

Q: Who is your agent?

Matthews: "David Dunn of Athletes First."

Q: What advice did you get from Pete Carroll?

Matthews: "Just battle each and every day. That's what he bases his pilosophy in his program is compete and, like I was saying with Cush and Rey earlier, that all we ever did with one another. It wasn't just with them, it was against the offense, it was againt the running backs, it was against the tight ends. It's just something that we hold true to our heart. I think that's why SC was so successful and why we've been fortunate enough to be in the position we are today is because of that and the mentoring and the philosophy he taught us. He's had great advice throughout the years and I think overall it's just, 'Enjoy the time you're at now because it's not going to last forever.' I think everything going throughout the program has helped us handle this so professionally and continue to be professional at the next level."