MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football cornerback Quinton Dent recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss what he likes about playing in South Alabama's defensive scheme, what challenges the Jaguar defense can expect from San Diego State and what factored into his decision to come to South Alabama, among other things.

Dent, a senior from Haines City, Fla., has been a member of the South Alabama roster since transferring from Laney [Calif.] Community College prior to the start of the 2014 season.  Last season, he played in 11 of the Jaguars' 12 games, recording six stops and a forced fumble.  This season, he has started USA's first four contests, posting eight total tackles – four solo and four assisted.

How has your previous experience prepared you for this season?
"Last season, I was able to get used to the speed of the game.  At first, it was moving too fast, but after a while I was able to pick things up and going at the same pace as everyone else.  I didn't play a lot last season, but I was still able to get into games.   This year when I got more playing time, it wasn't that hard for me to get accustomed out there."

What do you like about playing in defensive coordinator coach Kane Wommack's scheme?
"I like the simplicity of the scheme most about playing in coach [Kane] Wommack's defense.  You don't have to alter your play off something else that happens out on the field, you just have one call and you go with it."

Were there any similarities in what you did defensively in high school and junior college?
"I used to do press coverage a lot in junior college and this season, I'm able press more.  In our scheme last season, we mostly played off of the receivers.  I'm good in that coverage, but I feel I play better when I'm able to use press coverage."

What are some that you bring to the defense?
"I can just lock down a receiver.  I'm real good at playing the ball when it's in the air.  I also can use my hands to mess with receivers' routes and push then off their landmarks."

What factored into your decision to come to South Alabama?
"Coach [Brian] Turner played a big role in my decision to come to South Alabama.  He's from the same area that I'm from.  It was also my closest offer coming out of JUCO to where my home in Florida is.  I wanted my family to be able to drive and watch me play."

Did you set any personal goals for yourself this season?
"One of my main goals coming into the season was to get onto the field and I was able to do that.  Another goal of mine is to not be scored on and I feel I'm doing a good job in that area right now, so we'll see how far that goes."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"What I love to do in my spare time is to play video games.  I mainly play sports games.  The only other that I play is Call of Duty."

What are some challenges the defense faces this week at San Diego State?
"San Diego State runs a very traditional style of offensive out of the 'I'.  They have a great running back coming back from last season.  He's very explosive.  He plays bigger that what he is.  We've got a big challenge of trying to stop him."

Will you have family at this weekend's game?
"My mom and all of my aunts usually show up to all of the home games."

How did junior college help prepare you for Division I football?
"My time in junior college taught me how to grow up.  You have to do everything by yourself, pay your own way to school and all of your other bills.  JUCO helped me grow up quicker so that by the time I got here, I knew how to handle certain situations."

How did you benefit from playing in junior college?
"Junior college is where I really learned how to play cornerback.  The coach I had played at California and had played in the NFL, so he taught me all of the basics about playing the position.  I didn't play cornerback before junior college.  I was a receiver in high school.  He taught me how to play the position, and all that I know today is because of what I learned from him."  

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—