MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football offensive lineman Steve McKenzie recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss how the offseason conditioning program has helped him, what he wants to do with his degree and what he sees as his role on the team, among other things.

McKenzie, a senior from Lithona, Ga., has been a member of the South Alabama roster since signing with the Jags out of Stephenson High School prior to the 2012 season.  Over the last two seasons, McKenzie has played in 15 games and has started six of his seven games this season.

After having limited time on the field your first couple of seasons, how did the eight games you played in last season help prepare you for this season?
"I think that time on the field helped a lot.  I believe the game against Arkansas State was the first game that I was able to play a lot of meaningful time and that showed me that I could compete at this level.  That game went a lot towards building my confidence coming into this season."

As an offensive lineman, do you prefer pass-protection or run-blocking?
"I guess I would say run-blocking since it is more aggressive by nature.  At my high school we didn't throw the ball much and ran the ball.  Coming from a scheme like that, I guess I would say run-blocking."

What are some strengths that you feel bring to the team?
"I'm just somebody who tries to do what I'm asked to do every day.    I didn't play a whole lot my first couple of years and I've worked hard to get on the field.  Now that it's here, I don't take that opportunity for granted and I just try to do my job and get better at it each day."

How have you feel the offseason conditioning program here at South has helped you in prove?
"It has definitely helped me out a lot.  When I came in to South back during the 2012 season, I was around 320.  The most I've been since I got here was around 335.  The last couple of seasons though, I have been able to get down to 305 and from a conditioning standpoint that has helped a lot.  Conditioning is a big part of being able to play, especially in a no-huddle type of offense."

What factored into your decision to come to South Alabama?
"When I took a visit here, I loved the campus.  I'm a mechanical engineering major and they had just built Shelby Hall, the engineering facility.  I loved it and saw they were putting money into their engineering program.  I also loved the coaching staff and everything about the place."

Being a mechanical engineering major, what do you want to do with that degree?
"I want to be able to go back to the Atlanta area where I'm from and work in that field, ultimately working on airplanes and things of that nature.  Just somewhere close to home in that field would be great."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I'm a mechanical engineering major so by nature I guess I'm kind of a nerdy guy.  I'm kind of opposite of what most people think of a football player.  I like Japanese manga and anime.  Anime is Japanese cartoons and Manga is Japanese comics.  The most famous example of that would be "Dragon Ball Z".  
I also play video games and watch wrestling.  I'm into some different things I guess.

What are some challenges the offense faces this week versus Georgia State?
"I feel Georgia State has a good defensive front.  They move around a lot and use a lot of twist.  We are going to have to be solid in our pass protection and solid in getting vertical in the run game and not allowing their movement to affect what we are trying to accomplish."

What do you feel will be a couple of key areas for you guys in order to come out with a win on Saturday?
"We are going to have to run the ball effectively.  We are going to have to be good in our pass protection from an offensive line perspective.  We are going to have to create lanes in the run game and keep the quarterback up right."

Being from Atlanta where Georgia State is located, will you have family at this weekend's game?
"My mom should be coming and if she is able to then my little brothers and sister will be coming.  My dad might also be able to come."

Is there a little more motivation in this game for you being that your opponent is from you hometown?
"I guess you could say that.  I know a lot of my high school class mates that went to Georgia State and it might be a little bit of fun to poke at them if we beat them."

What do you see as your role on the team?
"I'm one of three or four guys on our team who have been here for five years.  I'm not trying to call myself old since I'm only 22-years old, but I am one of the older statesmen of the team.  I'm not necessarily a vocal leader, but I'm just one of the guys who has been here a while and I try to lead by example and show the others on the team how things are supposed to be done."

How have you improved since last year?
"I feel I've improved a lot in terms of my footwork, technique and conditioning.  I feel like I played alright last season in the games that I played in and when I went down with an injury, it kind of motivated me to come back and be better this year."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"That would definitely be my mom.  She's always been there for me.  She was the one driving me up and down the road to all the camps when I was trying to get recruited.  She was the one after practice that made sure I did my homework and didn't let me fall asleep."

What other sports did you play in high school?  
"My senior year I threw shot put and discus for the track team.  I wasn't great at it, but I did qualify for the state meet in the discus, but that was just because of my raw strength.  I wasn't really a technician in it because I had only been doing it for a couple of months."

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