On his fit: Oh, nothing too crazy. We go all black suit, we go black forces, we go rose gold crew, nothing too crazy, sound like.
On how he is soaking in these moment: Taking everything in slow, honestly. Like, I'm really just savoring every moment and enjoying it, you know, taking it one day at a time. Like, like you said, I've been in this game a long time, so it's like, I understand this is my last one. So it's like just really taking my time to kick it with my guys, spend time with them, enjoy this last year with them, because I know what's on the way. I know what's on the way. You know, just enjoying it now, not looking too far ahead, just enjoying the moment.
On having a more normal offseason focused on linebacker development: Yeah, honestly, it's been amazing, especially being able to, like, just having the time to take care of my body fully. Like, last year, I was coming off of that ACL, the second ACL, so it was like, that was my first season back from the second one, you know. So it was like, Notre Dame, that was my first time actually playing a full live game since I tore my ACL the second time. So just having last season, as you know, behind me now, and being able to go through this offseason and get my body right. And Coach Cristobal just giving me the time to make sure that I get to 100%. Last year, I didn't fully feel like me the beginning of the season. Like you said, I played at a higher level towards the playoffs and started to feel more like myself. I started to play more like myself. My body started to move more like myself. So, you know, just being able to continue to add to that, you know, doing a lot of mobility, a lot of all types of stuff. We're doing everything, all the modalities that you can offer, we're using them to our fullest extent.
On part of his game that he is ready to showcase: Honestly, everything, but for sure rushing passer. I feel like last season we had two, we had two of the best pass rushers in the country. Number one and number two, every 1A, 1B, however you want to put it. But like, learning from them, you know, because pass rush was a big part of my game before I got here. So, you know, just learning from them this last season. And I kind of understood that coming into the situation that I wasn't going to get too many opportunities to pass rush. But it's like, these two guys are elite, so it's like, I can learn a lot from them. And I did learn a lot from them, you know, just being able to utilize that a little bit more this season, you know.
On playing alongside Chase Smith: Honestly, I love it. I love it. Seeing Chase gain his confidence, you know. I feel like that was the only thing with him. Like, Chase is, he's an elite athlete, 6'4", 240, he can move, sideline to sideline, he can run, he can jump, he can do it all. But I feel like for him it was just gaining confidence at that linebacker position. And I feel like he got it now. And I feel like he's just continuing to grow. Like, he's growing as a leader, he's growing as a backer, he's just growing in general. And I can't wait to see what this season holds for him.
On the young guys: My pups are elite. Like, I got some fresh, some youngins that are dogs. They're dogs. And like you said, just teaching them how to do it the right way, teaching them how to understand the game, teaching them, you know, how to go about certain things, teaching them, you know, just how to set a routine and stay consistent with it. Because those are all things that are going to help them later on in life. Like, you got a GQ, you got, come on, you got Bobby Pruitt, Cameron Pruitt, you know. You got Kellen Wiley, you got J.J. Edwards, you got Jordan Campbell. Like, all of those guys, they're sponges, and they all just want to learn, they want to grow, you know, they just want to be elite. And I love that about them. Like, I don't got to force them to do anything. If I'm getting extra work in, they want to come along with me. If I'm doing something extra, they want to come along with me. Like, it was kind of frustrating yesterday, we had to leave a little early. Like, I do Taco Tuesday with my youngins, and we watch film after. I had to miss that yesterday. But it was like, you know, just being there for those guys, and that helps me stay at my standards as well, because, like, I've been in this game a long time. Like, I've been going at it a long time. It's easy for me to say, oh, I understand this defense, I can just go home and chill. No. Like, they force me to continue to look over it, to continue to teach it, and to really know it like it's the back of my hand, because when you can teach something, you really know it. You can't teach you don't really know, so.
On learning from veteran Miami players who have returned: Every tip and every tool they try to give me. Like, if I like it, I add it to my tool belt. Like, the way they attack things, the way they watch film, you know, the way they work out, the way they attack certain things. Like, even the way they lead. Like, understanding, like, I had to get used to a different kind of people. Like, I was in New Jersey. New Jersey and Florida, totally different places, you know what I mean? So it was, like, definitely different. But a lot of, it was older guys, like, they helped me. They gave me tips, they gave me advice, you know, that I still use to this day, so.
On seeing Miami legends on the field: Man, O-State. He came up to me before a drive. I think I snapped his drive too. I had, like, three tackles in one. He said, bro. Giving a little speech, man, that had me ready to run through a brick wall. Like, having guys like that come back and be on the sideline and talk to you before you go out there is honestly a blessing, because that's somebody that, like, I grew up looking up to, you know? Like, that's somebody I had, I pictured him on my wall as a kid, you know? Like, when I used to think of being a linebacker, I wanted to be like Ray Lewis. I don't want to hit like Ray Lewis. I wanted to go sideline to sideline like Ray Lewis.
On how he feels as a carrier of The U brand: I wear the U with pride. You know, like, talking, when I talk to a lot of the alumni and the vets that came through the U, like, they show me, they tell me more and more why I should wear it with pride, you know. And I understood, like, I always knew about the U growing up, like, everybody knew about the U. But it's like, when you get here and really being in it, it shows you, it shows you like, the culture behind it, you know, the standard behind it, like, how they used to carry back in the day. It's like, it's elite, and I love it, because it forces me to be elite, it forces me to be great. It helps me chase greatness. It helps me try to be the best version of myself every single day.
On how he is soaking in these moment: Taking everything in slow, honestly. Like, I'm really just savoring every moment and enjoying it, you know, taking it one day at a time. Like, like you said, I've been in this game a long time, so it's like, I understand this is my last one. So it's like just really taking my time to kick it with my guys, spend time with them, enjoy this last year with them, because I know what's on the way. I know what's on the way. You know, just enjoying it now, not looking too far ahead, just enjoying the moment.
On having a more normal offseason focused on linebacker development: Yeah, honestly, it's been amazing, especially being able to, like, just having the time to take care of my body fully. Like, last year, I was coming off of that ACL, the second ACL, so it was like, that was my first season back from the second one, you know. So it was like, Notre Dame, that was my first time actually playing a full live game since I tore my ACL the second time. So just having last season, as you know, behind me now, and being able to go through this offseason and get my body right. And Coach Cristobal just giving me the time to make sure that I get to 100%. Last year, I didn't fully feel like me the beginning of the season. Like you said, I played at a higher level towards the playoffs and started to feel more like myself. I started to play more like myself. My body started to move more like myself. So, you know, just being able to continue to add to that, you know, doing a lot of mobility, a lot of all types of stuff. We're doing everything, all the modalities that you can offer, we're using them to our fullest extent.
On part of his game that he is ready to showcase: Honestly, everything, but for sure rushing passer. I feel like last season we had two, we had two of the best pass rushers in the country. Number one and number two, every 1A, 1B, however you want to put it. But like, learning from them, you know, because pass rush was a big part of my game before I got here. So, you know, just learning from them this last season. And I kind of understood that coming into the situation that I wasn't going to get too many opportunities to pass rush. But it's like, these two guys are elite, so it's like, I can learn a lot from them. And I did learn a lot from them, you know, just being able to utilize that a little bit more this season, you know.
On playing alongside Chase Smith: Honestly, I love it. I love it. Seeing Chase gain his confidence, you know. I feel like that was the only thing with him. Like, Chase is, he's an elite athlete, 6'4", 240, he can move, sideline to sideline, he can run, he can jump, he can do it all. But I feel like for him it was just gaining confidence at that linebacker position. And I feel like he got it now. And I feel like he's just continuing to grow. Like, he's growing as a leader, he's growing as a backer, he's just growing in general. And I can't wait to see what this season holds for him.
On the young guys: My pups are elite. Like, I got some fresh, some youngins that are dogs. They're dogs. And like you said, just teaching them how to do it the right way, teaching them how to understand the game, teaching them, you know, how to go about certain things, teaching them, you know, just how to set a routine and stay consistent with it. Because those are all things that are going to help them later on in life. Like, you got a GQ, you got, come on, you got Bobby Pruitt, Cameron Pruitt, you know. You got Kellen Wiley, you got J.J. Edwards, you got Jordan Campbell. Like, all of those guys, they're sponges, and they all just want to learn, they want to grow, you know, they just want to be elite. And I love that about them. Like, I don't got to force them to do anything. If I'm getting extra work in, they want to come along with me. If I'm doing something extra, they want to come along with me. Like, it was kind of frustrating yesterday, we had to leave a little early. Like, I do Taco Tuesday with my youngins, and we watch film after. I had to miss that yesterday. But it was like, you know, just being there for those guys, and that helps me stay at my standards as well, because, like, I've been in this game a long time. Like, I've been going at it a long time. It's easy for me to say, oh, I understand this defense, I can just go home and chill. No. Like, they force me to continue to look over it, to continue to teach it, and to really know it like it's the back of my hand, because when you can teach something, you really know it. You can't teach you don't really know, so.
On learning from veteran Miami players who have returned: Every tip and every tool they try to give me. Like, if I like it, I add it to my tool belt. Like, the way they attack things, the way they watch film, you know, the way they work out, the way they attack certain things. Like, even the way they lead. Like, understanding, like, I had to get used to a different kind of people. Like, I was in New Jersey. New Jersey and Florida, totally different places, you know what I mean? So it was, like, definitely different. But a lot of, it was older guys, like, they helped me. They gave me tips, they gave me advice, you know, that I still use to this day, so.
On seeing Miami legends on the field: Man, O-State. He came up to me before a drive. I think I snapped his drive too. I had, like, three tackles in one. He said, bro. Giving a little speech, man, that had me ready to run through a brick wall. Like, having guys like that come back and be on the sideline and talk to you before you go out there is honestly a blessing, because that's somebody that, like, I grew up looking up to, you know? Like, that's somebody I had, I pictured him on my wall as a kid, you know? Like, when I used to think of being a linebacker, I wanted to be like Ray Lewis. I don't want to hit like Ray Lewis. I wanted to go sideline to sideline like Ray Lewis.
On how he feels as a carrier of The U brand: I wear the U with pride. You know, like, talking, when I talk to a lot of the alumni and the vets that came through the U, like, they show me, they tell me more and more why I should wear it with pride, you know. And I understood, like, I always knew about the U growing up, like, everybody knew about the U. But it's like, when you get here and really being in it, it shows you, it shows you like, the culture behind it, you know, the standard behind it, like, how they used to carry back in the day. It's like, it's elite, and I love it, because it forces me to be elite, it forces me to be great. It helps me chase greatness. It helps me try to be the best version of myself every single day.
