MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football linebacker Luke Lanier recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss what he's learned most from his time at South, what it has meant for him to be able to play close to his hometown and what he sees as his role on the team, among other things.

Lanier, a senior from Thomasville, Ala., has been a member of the South Alabama roster since walking onto the program after a prep career at Thomasville High School prior to the 2013 season.  He has yet to appear in a game for the Jaguars during his time in Mobile.

What do you like most about playing in defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's scheme?
"It's a great defensive scheme.  I like the way he coaches us and makes things simple for us.  We don't take the whole defensive playbook into a game.  It's geared more to certain games.  We have certain things we are going to be good at in a game and we are going to execute those things at a high level.  When we go into a game, I feel like we've gone over every possible situation and that we're well prepared.  He and his staff do a great job of getting us ready to play."

What would you say you have learned most from your time here at South?
"During my time here at South, I've learned a lot about college football at this level.  Coming from a small town like I'm from, you don't have many players go play at the Division-I level and make it to the next level.  I've learned a lot about the game and the coaching side of things as well."

What would you say has been your favorite memory from playing football?
"It would probably be when we found out that we were bowl eligible for the first time.  The coaches sent us a text telling us that they had some good news to tell us and to meet them at the student center.  Everyone was there when they told us and it was a real nice feeling.  The bowl game experience was also fun."

How did you end up choosing to come to South Alabama?
"The funny thing about it was that I had never really thought about playing college football until my junior year.  Coming from a small town, people don't really talk about going to play college football as much as they do in bigger places.  I made up my mind during my junior year that I was going to play football.  I came here as a walk on after visiting the school and seeing some videos.  I felt like God brought me here and that I was meant to be here."

What has the process of coming in as a walk on been like for you?
"Going through the walk on process I feel has helped develop me into a great young man.  I have had to work hard and it has shown me more about the game that I can use if I become a graduate assistant coach.  It's just building me for my next step in life."

What has it meant to you to be able to continue playing football so close to your hometown?
"Going to a new place can be a scary thing for some people, but only being about an hour away from home, I haven't had that issue.  During my freshman year, I actually went home a lot, but after a while I got accustomed to it."

Did you set any personal goals for yourself this season?
"I really wanted to just help my team in any way I could.  If I wasn't able to get a starting job, I just wanted to help our starters, whether that is giving them a good scout-team look, talking to players when they are down during a game, or whatever need be.  Everybody has a role in this organization and since my role wasn't being a starter, I wanted just do what I could to help."

What are you majoring in and what are you wanting to do after your football career is over?
"I'm majoring in sports and recreation management.  One day I would like to be a head coach at the collegiate level."

What are some challenges the defense faces this week at Louisiana-Monroe?
"After getting our first Sun Belt win last weekend, we can't come into the game too complacent.  Getting the win was great, but we can do better.  We have to correct the mistakes we made last game and become a better team because of it."

What do you feel will be some keys in order for the Jaguars to be successful against the Warhawks?
"Our energy will be key.  If we bring our energy to the game, I feel like there is nobody else who can compete with us.  Keeping our momentum that we have now and everyone continuing to buy in will also be key.  Everybody has to do their job."

What do you feel is your role on the team and the defense?
"I feel like I am a leader in some respects.  Also I feel that my role on the scout team is important so that it gives our starters a good look in practice.  I also motivate player who might feel that it should be there time to play when they aren't playing because I've been in that same place.  I tell them to just wait their time and their time will come.  If I see a teammate down, I try to give them an encouraging word.  That's what I feel my role on this team is."

How have you improved since you first arrived at South?
"I probably weighed 195 soaking wet when I first got here.  I was a very small and average player.  I feel that I've grown as a player and matured.  I now weigh 230 and my speed as improved some and I've gotten a little bulkier since I got here.  I know a lot more about the game."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"I feel like my mom has had a big influence on my life.  She has gone through a lot throughout the years, but she has always taught me to keep God first.  I didn't grow up in the best situation, but my mom always told me to put God first and we would be alright and we made it."

What other sports did you play in high school?  
"I played basketball.  I love basketball."

What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?
"It means a lot to me.  When the band plays the alma mater at the end of our home games, it's kind of touching to me since I'm now at the end of my time here.  It means a lot to me to wear those colors out on the field.  South is going in a great direction and we've accomplished so much thus far, and we have so much more to accomplish."

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