Bears' Ruben Hyppolite II details his desire to continue proving people wrong by competing for an open spot at the linebacker position

Hyppolite took full advantage of his Maryland Pro Day to put his name on the map with a blazing 40-yard-dash that matches the level of speed he plays with on tape.

Following the event, teams around the league starting showing real interest in Hyppolite with Chicago being the one making the strongest push to draft him.

"I went on like 15 visits took 30 flights in two weeks, back and forth across the country, doing my meetings and stuff with like that," Hyppolite said. "All of that is just a combination of me getting the opportunity now. I definitely don't take it for granted. I'm very grateful to everybody upstairs for believing in me and in my ability."

In regards to the open linebacker position, Hyppolite explained how he believes he can fit anywhere on the Bears defense given his ability to cover sideline-to-sideline and matchup with faster players down the field.

"The No. 1 thing is he can run, and the thing that we're going to ask our backers to have to do, they've got to be able to match up with tight ends, with running backs, at times they've got to be able to match up with wide receivers," Allen explained. "Sometimes that's carrying things vertical down the field, so we we're looking for guys that can run. And then we're looking for guys that have a physical mentality and a physical demeanor. I felt like he exhibited those things on tape."

The speed was a key factor in taking Hyppolite so early in the draft, but Allen mentioned multiple times now that he was impressed by the rookie's intelligence and mentality as well.

It's one thing to be fast and react faster than everyone else in the field. It's another thing to diagnose the play beforehand and understand where to fit on a given play.

"It's all about knowing where I'm supposed to be and then what I'm supposed to do, and the speed comes after that," Hyppolite explained. "I feel like I have a great ability to react before everyone else on the field. So, that's where the speed comes into play. It all comes by knowing what to do first and then everything else comes after that."

Working in the Bears' linebacker room will be key for Hyppolite's development. At best, the rookie will be the team's third linebacker behind T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, giving him the opportunity to watch and learn as opposed to being thrown straight onto the field.

"I'm just going to learn. Looking forward to being in the building with them come next week. I'm just going to learn man," Hyppolite added. "I got great vets in the room. I'm grateful for that and I just want to pick their brains and have them coach me up."

Even still, Allen's scheme will call upon a third linebacker to step up on the field and so far Hyppolite is giving the team all the confidence that he could be the one to step up and continue proving himself.

"I'm very grateful to everybody upstairs for believing in me and in my ability," Hyppolite explained. "It's time for me to put it together. I love my story. For anyone who's out there who thinks that they need things like the combine, an invite the Senior Bowl, who thinks that they need that to get drafted, you don't...

"You’ve just got to put your best foot forward. You’ve got to run fast and be your best self every day. I feel like I'm showing that. I got a lot of messages, a lot of love, a lot of hate too, but that's what comes with it. So I'm all for it."