TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

Prior to this season, you were converted from a strong safety into an outside linebacker. What are the primary differences between the two positions?
When I played safety, I didn’t have to deal with the linemen coming at me as quickly as they do now. At safety, you sit ten yards off the line and play pass first. When it is a run, while everybody else is getting blocked, you get to come up clean and put on a good hit. Sometimes you get those big hits because you get to run ten yards up to make the tackle.

Playing outside linebacker requires a lot more patience. You’ve got to be willing to deal with all of the “mess” up front. I used to hear the linebackers whining about it, but now I deal with it firsthand. It is a lot more of a physical position than safety is.

At only 200 pounds, you are generally considered an undersized linebacker. That characterization hasn’t seemed to hinder you at all, though. What enables you to be successful at your size?
I try and use as much quickness as I can to stay away from the linemen. They seem to be particularly good at holding me – when they get their hands on me they are effective in pushing me away from the running back. Basically, I try and use my quickness to avoid them. I also hustle at all times, and put out maximum effort.

After undergoing off-season surgery on your shoulders, you have bounced back well. Discuss the process of undergoing those surgeries, the rehab, and confidently returning to the field.
During my first three years of college football, I was used to my shoulders popping out in and out. I finally got that taken care of. Coming back from the surgeries required a lot of rehab at the UB Sports Medicine Clinic. I had a lot of people working with me, helping to get my shoulders stronger. I was unable to play spring ball because I was still going through the therapy process. Then, in the summer I was able to lift with the team and get a little bit stronger. I also pray a lot as well, hoping that God takes care of my shoulders.

The new staff at UB now marks your third set of coaches in three seasons. How difficult have those transitions been?
There’s not really a problem with that. It is tough at first – learning the new defenses, and going about it the way the way your coaches want you to. But, it’s just football. You listen to your coaches and try and do exactly what they say. It’s not really a problem – it’s just something you go through when you play football.

What types of relationships do you have with your linebacker coach Antonio Goss, your defensive coordinator Thurmond Moore, and your head coach Jim Hofher?
I am with coach Goss everyday. He’s works with us on technique all the time. He’s an ex-NFL player, so he has a lot to offer. Even though I am stubborn and try and do things my way, he makes sure I know that things need to be done his way. He’s a great guy and I’m really enthused to have him as my coach. I have a lot of respect for him.

The linebackers deal with coach Moore a lot, too. During practice, he’s always with us telling us what defense we’re running, etc. He’s the type of guy who won’t hesitate to get up in your face and be vocal. In that sense, he’s different than coach Goss, but he commands the same level of respect.

Coach Hofher and I don’t often talk too much, because he deals primarily with the offense at practice. I have a lot of respect for all of the coaches – it’s great to be able to have such a personal relationship and be comfortable with all of them.
Coming from a junior college in California how did you wind up in Buffalo, and how much of a change is that for you?

I had a couple of schools looking me at me, but Buffalo was willing to offer the scholarship right away and I was looking to sign. I did that instead of dealing with the recruiting process – I just signed and got it over with. You can’t beat going D-I. There’s a big difference in temperature, the people, and everything. But, you get used to it.

What are your responsibilities in the run defense as an outside linebacker?
When the run is away, I have “over-the-top” coverage – meaning I am responsible for the running back if he makes a cut back. We play a gap defense, so if the play is coming to me, I just fill my gap and try to make the play. I just make sure I stay in my gap, and know I have a good chance of making something happen if the ball comes to my side. It’s not a special role, it’s just one of the multiple parts of the defense. We all work equally hard.

You now lead the team with 53 tackles, and have had 27 in the past two games (Central Michigan, @ Miami). What have the keys been for you in getting so many tackles?
When I’m out there I just play hard and run to the ball. I try to be wherever the ball is. Things have just fallen into place this year; they’ve had a way of working out for me.

UB’s pass defense is allowing less than 150 yards per game and ranks first in the Mid-American Conference. What types of coverage duties are you assigned on passing plays?
It all depends on the situation. Sometimes I will be on the tight end side. But on other plays I will be away on the weak side. I don’t play a whole lot of man coverage, unless the defensive play calls for that. So, I am usually dropping into zone coverage. I often wind up playing a lot of the hook and curl patters, as well as routes in the flat.

What is your team’s approach for the remainder of the season?
We still have a positive outlook on the season. We play it game-by-game. Sometimes you get breaks and sometimes you don’t. We are playing teams tough, and nobody is running over us.

There are six more games left and we are heading into the remainder of our conference schedule with an upbeat attitude. When we go into a game, we go in confident that we can win.