Santuan McGee, a sophomore running back on the South Alabama football team, recently sat down with USA Athletic Media Relations to discuss the upcoming season as well as life off the field.
What are some individual goals you have set for yourself this season?
“I want to be an all-around back. I want to improve on my blocking, getting to that third level and making bigger runs. Just helping the team out more than I did last year, which I will because I’m on more special teams and that means the coaches believe in me and look to me to be a leader on the field.”
What are some differences between this season and last season?
“It starts with the offensive line. They have some new guys who have added depth and can really help us right now. Our second line is almost as good as our first line, and I feel comfortable working with either of them. As far as skill guys, we’re a little more versatile and that’s going to open things up a little more for us. We have different packages and it will be hard for an opponent to really match up against us, because we can use different guys in different areas and not have them just playing in one spot. We have wide receivers we can throw the deep ball to as well as possession receivers, and that will really open up our game even more than last year.”
What are some areas you feel you have improved?
“I think I’m making moves that I wouldn’t make in high school, and I think it’s because I got in and watched film on my own. I really know now where the line and receivers should be blocking, and it has opened up my vision. Now I’m getting to the third level of defenders, and I’m making moves in the open field. I think I’ve improved in that area a lot.”
How did last season prepare you for this year?
“Going into the first spring we ever had, I was kind of nervous. I didn’t know how I would fit in or what the coaches were expecting from me. But when I finished out the spring and was voted top back, it kind of opened up my eyes and I realized I can do this. The coaches believe in me and I’m going to live up to their expectations. It got the jitters out. I can take the college beating. I didn’t think it was as bad last year – I wasn’t banged up as much, so I know I can play on this level.”
How does playing football at the collegiate level differ from high school?
“Speed. We have linebackers on our team who are almost as fast as us (running backs). When you have linebackers who can play that fast and play the run really well, that’s when you really have to get in and watch film and find their weak spots. At this level everybody is fast, so it becomes a mind game along with who is tougher. But when you want to win, the intensity is the same.”
What do you do in the locker room to prepare for a game?
“Normally I’m by myself just getting my mind right and going over situations and plays in my head. I think about the film I watched that week preparing for the game, and think about what my opponent is going to do. Then I just think about going out and giving my best and helping the team as much as possible. I’m not a guy that wants to be seen. I don’t make a lot of noise and bang on lockers. I usually have my headset on and just listen to some music and relax. I listen to basically the same thing every week, R&B and hip hop. When we come out of the locker room into the tunnel, everything kind of slows down. Then we’re just waiting to get the signal to run out. When we come out and see people cheering for us, it makes us want to go out and play even harder. It gets your heart pumping and it’s just an excitement that’s hard to describe.”
What effect did the offseason training have on you?
“I didn’t get to lift as much because of my (wrist) injury, but I can definitely see that other guys are bigger especially at the running back spot. Last year we were a little more passive in the running game as running backs, but I think this year we’re more aggressive. We have more downhill runners, and that is because of the weight room and our summer conditioning. Guys are much bigger up top, and instead of us taking the pounding we’re delivering it. I was able to do squats, and that built up my legs even more. Coming out of high school I was running a 4.4, and now I’m down to a 4.3 so I just have to keep improving in that area because speed kills in college football.”
How has (running backs coach) Tommy Perry helped you improve since you arrived at South Alabama?
“He has helped me with the little things like bursting at the line of scrimmage and not coming off of my path on stretch plays. But he gets us going in the mornings at practice. He tells us we have to come ready to work, even if we don’t want to. We’ve grown closer to him because we have picked up his mentality – go out there and play hard because that’s what is expected of us.”
Who has had the greatest influence on your football career? Why?
“My dad has always told me to leave coaches with something because that’s how you’re remembered. That has always stuck in the back of my head. He has always kept me level-headed. When I didn’t think I could do something, he would always come in and give me some kind of motivational speech that I could apply to any facet of life. He’s always been there – both of my parents have – but any time I needed to talk to somebody, he was the guy to go to.”
How old were you when you first started playing football?
“I started playing when I was seven years old with the Jaguars back in my hometown. I played center – that was something since I’m a skill guy here – but I was always a defensive guy. In pee wee football I played defensive end, and even in middle school I played defense. I loved being close to the line and making tackles. But in high school I got moved up as an eighth grader, and everyone got bigger than me. The coaches saw my speed and moved me to running back, it wasn’t my choice. My head coach saw something in me, and that’s why he moved me up to varsity as an eighth grader. From that point on, I have always loved the running back position because putting points on the board, getting out in the open field and scoring and having everyone stand up and cheer is an unbelievable experience.”
What benefits have you gained on the football field from running track at South Alabama?
“My time has dropped in the 40-yard dash, and that is due in part to track and our conditioning program by coach (Justin) Schwind. We do a lot of stretches, and that keeps me flexible. I only compete in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100m relay, so it keeps my speed up and allows me to keep competing at a high level even in the offseason."
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“I spend most of my time on Xbox playing “Call of Duty.” I hated it at first, but after I played it I was hooked.”
What career would you like to pursue when your playing days are over?
“I have told our coaches I would like to possibly be a graduate assistant when I graduate, if the Lord’s calling isn’t for me to go to the NFL. I want to coach and give back the knowledge that I have learned over the years. It would keep me in the game and I wouldn’t have to be away from a game I love, so coaching is what I want to do.”
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
“I was a big-time basketball player in high school. I loved basketball more than football before I got to college. I still like to play pickup games in the rec center or when I go back home I play against one of my former coaches who is very competitive. But I started all four years for our high school team. It was something I loved doing, more so because it was an inside game instead of an outside game. I love NBA basketball more than college basketball, but I love college football more than professional football. If I could coach basketball at the high school level, I probably would. But that would be down the road after I finish my career.”
Who are some of your favorite NBA players to watch?
“I like Tim Duncan because he is a fundamental guy, he’s fundamentally sound. A lot of my friends hate on me because I’m a (San Antonio) Spurs fan and they’re a slow-paced team, but what can you say? They’ve won four championships in the last nine years, so I really like the way they play and Tim Duncan is a big part of that.”
