Bears rookie diaries with Ruben Hyppolite II, Kyle Monangai | Week 2
As told to Gabby Hajduk

Bears fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II — a linebacker from Maryland — and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai — a running back from Rutgers — share their training camp experiences exclusively on ChicagoBears.com. This series will feature both players giving first-person accounts once a week throughout training camp.

Week 2 of camp felt great.

We were out there in pads pretty much all week, so it was just very physical and the energy was high. I felt like it was really about getting comfortable back in the pads, making a lot of plays and preparing for the preseason games we have coming up.

The high point of the week was definitely going to Soldier Field for Family Fest Sunday. It was my first time in the stadium and when I walked in, I just felt ready to go. It was honestly really fun practicing in the stadium, and I felt like I could really get in that gameday mode where it was time to just go have fun and showcase my skill set.

I really only have one rule when it comes to game day and that's, "no more thinking." And by thinking, I mean anxious thoughts or second-guessing anything. There's no room for that. That's my only rule — just get to the game and go play. If you mess up, you mess up. If you make plays, you make plays. But don't be hesitant either way. I tried to bring that same mentality to Family Fest and I feel like it paid off for me.

It was cool to also just envision what a game day would be like. As I was walking through the tunnel when we first got off the bus, I texted one of my friends who helps me with my game day outfits and I said, "we're gonna be able to put a lot of good things together this year."

That's one of those little things that is exciting to think about — just walking through our tunnel on game day with a nice fit on and just feeling good going into the day. I'd describe my style as minimalistic with pops of accessories or colors. I like wearing things where people ask me, "where did you get that?" so I'm definitely looking forward to putting some fits together this season.

I also had the chance to see my mom at Family Fest, which was nice. She came from Fort Lauderdale with two of her friends and they all had a great time. I saw her for a couple minutes after practice and then got to hang out with her later that evening. She'll be back this weekend for our preseason game, too.

She's definitely still in shock a little bit about me being in the NFL. I know she's just so excited and happy for me, which I appreciate. But right now, I'm just viewing this as the next step for me. It still hasn't really hit me yet that I'm here and about to play my first NFL season.

I mean, we've been on go since May after the draft, so I haven't really had time to sit down and let it sink in. I'm really just locked in on playing football right now, so I think it'll actually settle in once the season is over.

Thinking back on these first couple weeks of camp, I'm really proud of just being available. Every time I step on the field, I'm proud. Obviously the plays are the plays and I'm focused on making as many as I can, but just getting to this moment, continuing to put good things on the tape and making the evaluation of me undeniable is my biggest success so far.

As far as challenges, I think it's less about the difficulty of things and more about being consistent every day — just the daily grind of it all. Consistency and staying ready is easier said than done, but I feel like I've done a good job of staying on the details and not taking a day for granted.

While the majority of our time has been spent at Halas over the last couple weeks, I got to spend a little solo time in the city recently and I needed that time to myself. I drove down to Michigan Avenue for the first time and it was crazy. I drove down to the lake and it was just nice scenery. I was able to see the city a bit during OTAs earlier this summer because I have a few friends from Maryland who live here now, but going down there by myself, driving and listening to music was probably more fun than anything.

I needed that drive and that day to really clear my head and just re-center. Moments like those are definitely essential for me, so I'm excited to continue exploring the city when time allows.

Looking ahead to this next week of camp, I'm definitely ready for these joint practices and preseason games we've got coming up. It starts against the Dolphins this week and I actually have a couple former teammates from Maryland that are in Miami — Jordan Phillips and Dante Trader — so it'll be cool to see them.

I'm just excited to play someone new and hit someone that isn't my teammate, so I'm ready to go.

I missed the feeling of being in pads and playing in a game-like atmosphere. I feel like that's where I'm at my best and I got to experience that for the first time in awhile over the weekend at Family Fest.

Being at Soldier Field Sunday definitely felt like the best part of camp so far. We had gone live a little bit in practice earlier last week, but we definitely amped it up a bit at Family Fest. We had more scrimmage-type situations and it just felt like real football. It felt good.

The entire experience was cool — staying at the team hotel, busing through the city to the stadium, walking in the locker room then out of the tunnel. It was really my first experience of what game day in the NFL will feel like. Obviously not identical, but close enough.

I had been to Soldier Field once this summer for a Chicago Fire game, which was nice, but this was my first time seeing the locker room and I was surprised to see that it really mimics Halas Hall with the training room, tubs, equipment room, just on a smaller scale.

I really got to imagine what my game day routine will be, which was fun. In college, we would only have about an hour between arriving at the stadium and having to be ready for kickoff, so your routine had to be really bang-bang in terms of changing, getting taped, stretching out and warming up. Now it feels like we have a lot more time so I'm excited to really take my time, get more stretching in, walk on the field beforehand and really zone in.

I don't have specific pregame rituals I have to follow or anything, but one thing I almost always did in college was call my parents the night before a game. It definitely wasn't a superstition, like I wouldn't think I'd have a bad game if I didn't, but it just became routine for me. We wouldn't even talk about football, just more so checking in and talking about whether they'll be at the game or watching at home.

And then in the morning, it was just a lot of prayer, then go do what I gotta do. So we'll see what my routine ends up being for my rookie year.

I was kind of surprised with how many fans came out to Family Fest. You could definitely feel the crowd's energy. When big plays happened or the pads popped, you could hear the crowd roar a bit, so it was a fun sneak peek into what game day will really be like. I wasn't too stunned by the atmosphere overall just because I was focused in on what I had to do that day, but looking back on it makes me excited for what Soldier Field will feel like during the season.

We got a lot of good work in during Sunday's practice and I was able to get in the end zone a couple times as well. It felt good to be back there. It really made me feel like my old self again. I really felt comfortable with the speed of the game and working on those game-like scenarios. It was fun.

I feel really good about where I'm at in my playbook. That's one of the little successes that I take the most pride in because I know how much time I've put in to learn it and translate it onto the field.

Still, I know I've got to keep going because there's a lot of camp left. It's been cool to hear some of the coaches speak positively about me, but it's not something I can take and run with, because I feel like I still have a lot to prove. There's still so many opportunities and I'm just honing in on being consistent. Their words help assure me I'm doing the right things, but it won't change how I've been moving. I've got to keep pushing.

This weekend will be a big one with the joint practice and my first real NFL game. I can't wait to hit somebody that's not my teammate.

I also think I'll be able to take in the experience aspect of being at Soldier Field after the preseason game more than I did with Family Fest. Just it being my first game in an NFL uniform, playing football on TV again, I think I'll be able to reflect more on it.

I'm definitely not someone who feels those types of emotions in the moment, but once I have time to reflect on big moments, I'm able to realize how cool or exciting it was. But this Sunday, I expect to just be focused and solely concerned with what I've got to do on the field. I'll be locked in, hyped, energetic and getting myself ready to play football.

I might look back later that night, like, "wow I just played my first NFL game," but right now, I'm just focused.