What are your official size andspeed? I measured 6 foot, 197 pounds at pro day and the scale of my forties was
from a 4.44 to a 4.56.
What was the biggest adjustment
transitioning from Coach Golden to the current regime? Coach Golden was very
strict because he knew he had to turn the program around and move it in the
right direction and he did a great job. Both he and Coach Addazio are very
intense and focus highly on your character and mental toughness more than physical
ability because that is what wins games late in the season.
With the NFL focusing so much on
player safety and changing the kickoff what are your feelings about playing
special teams? The kickoff is really the
only thing that has changed and it provides teams with less returns but when
the opportunity comes and they do return the kick you have to be ready to make
a play because that is what can potentially win and lose games with field
position. Also the rest of the special teams have stayed the same where you can
make big plays and change the momentum of games.
You saw action starting your
freshmen year, what advice would you give incoming freshmen who are about to
start the journey of college football that you are ending? I was fortunate
enough to play as a freshman but what I was even more blessed with was an
outstanding coaching staff and older players who really took their time to
teach me not only the playbook but also how to balance school and football.
Coming out of high school a lot of players don’t know how to manage their time
with school work and the off the field preparation it takes to be great playing
on Saturdays with film study. I would say just ask as many questions as you can
and learn from the veterans and you will have a successful career.
What was your toughest loss in
college and why? The toughest lose in college I would have to say was losing to
Buffalo on a last second Hail Mary pass to lose the game in 2008 to not be able
to make it to the MAC Championship game or Bowl game for that great group of
seniors.
Do you think having played some QB
in high school gave you additional insight when going to play in the secondary
full time in college? Yes I think it has helped me a lot to know how offenses
think and to see quarterback tendencies more easily. It puts me in the position to make plays on
the ball in the secondary.
What is something scouts can’t
learn about you by simply watching game tape? Every since high school I have
had to work harder than anyone to earn a scholarship to play at the division 1
level. That attitude and mindset has been with me all throughout college and I
know that I will put in the dedication and work it takes to be successful at
the next level. No one will outwork me!
What were your 2 best games in
2011? I would have to say the home opener vs. Villanova where I had two
interceptions to start the season off and also my last game as an Owl in our
Bowl game vs. Wyoming, where I had a few PBU’s and an interception.
Where are scouts projecting you at
the next level, Free Safety or Strong Safety? Different teams want me to play
different positions based on their scheme and how they run their defense so it
is tough to tell where I will be playing.
What part of your game do you feel
has improved most from your junior to senior year? I would say my open field
tackling. When you play free safety you are the last line of defense when the
ball carrier breaks lose so our secondary coach Coach [Chuck] Heater and I
worked extremely hard all preseason to correct some minor flaws I had and it
paid off dividends in the season.
Growing up who was your favorite
college football team? When I was growing up I loved the Texas Longhorns when
Vince young was the QB and led them to the national championship.
Who was your role model? My father
is my role model because he has worked so hard to get to where he is at today
and is such a positive influence in my life and constantly pushing me to be
great.
What are a few words to describe
yourself? I would say I was blessed to have a great family who taught me to be a
morally sound gentleman who is very smart and educated and also has that blue
collar hard working mentality that is never satisfied and always is looking to
improve.
Whenever you’re playing days are
finished where do you see yourself? Because of the amount of work our football
team does in North Philadelphia I either want to open up a recreation center
where I can provide underprivileged kid a positive place to go place sports and
get away from harmful lifestyles that will ruin their futures or I will use my
Kinesiology degree and become a sport specific trainer so I can push athletes
to their full potential and live out their dreams like I was so blessed and
fortunate to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for checking in.