MOBILE, Ala. – Student-athletes Deonta Moore, Coller Smith, Sean Grayer and Nigel Lawrence with the University of South Alabama football program participated in the team's annual media day Friday at the football field house.
Highlights from the press conferences include:
Senior running back Deonta Moore
-On changes to the offensive scheme this year:
"We're really focusing on the run game more. As we know, we struggled with that last year. This year, we're trying to focus on our base plays; just getting to know them and starting the real foundation for our offense so we're not one-dimensional when it comes down to airing the ball out."
-On the team's response to Coach Steve Campbell's style:
"I feel like everybody has really responded to it well. Everybody is buying in and getting to work. In the past, we wanted to be a tough team, but at the end we never really knew how to be a tough team. We're really putting in the work now so that when the season gets here it's a lot easier, because that's what we've been doing the whole time. Ever since February we've really been preaching adversity and the fact that things are going to go wrong, but it's about how you're going to respond to it. We've been really pushing through being hurt or playing through it. Anything that can go wrong, we try to play out so that when it happens in a game we're ready for it."
-On the maturity of quarterback Cephus Johnson since spring practice:
"There's definitely a difference. In spring, I felt like he wanted to be a starter, but he didn't know his true ability. He started playing in the spring and we started to see his ability coming out. He's so talented and really young, and that position comes with a lot of studying. I feel like he's gotten into the studying. Some of the busts he had in the spring we aren't seeing now, so he's really progressing."
-On the excitement surrounding a new era of South Alabama football:
"I would also say just the whole mentality and energy in the room. Especially speaking from the offensive side, all of our coaches coach with a lot of energy. There's never a dull moment in practice or meetings. Everybody is ready to be here and everybody wants to be here. We want to get the plays right, have fun and win games. At the end of the day, executing is the most important thing. We want to be very competitive this year and win every game that we show up to."
Senior tight end Collier Smith
-On a more physical style in practice:
"Practice has certainly been a lot more physical than it's ever been since I've been here, and I'm going into my fourth year. It's certainly making us all better football players. We're able to take on a lot more and go through a lot more. We've been working on that since February, making sure that everything we do is as hard as it can possibly be so on game day it's easy."
-On what fans can expect from the offense this season:
"They can expect to see the offense really trying to bring the pain with the run game and then every now and then taking that deep ball shot with our receivers and letting them have a one-on-one chance, throwing the ball up to them and letting them leap."
-On the excitement surrounding a new era of South Alabama football:
"We've been very blessed with Coach Campbell coming in and from day one changing the entire mood. Coming off a not-too-good season, it was easy at first to feel down and try to figure out what we were going to do in the spring when we came back from Christmas. Walking around and seeing the new coaching staff, their eyes were lit up and they had a great attitude. They were ready to be here. Seeing our new coaches wanting to be here and wanting to be a part of South Alabama football really gave us a boost."
Senior defensive lineman Sean Grayer
-On how camp has been heading into Saturday's scrimmage:
"It's been solid and we've been working hard. We are trying to be physical, play hard and play fast. We've been trying to learn the scheme."
-On Bull Barge's leadership:
"Bull has always been the vocal guy. He's always been a leader. With this year, he's pushing it and trying to make sure everybody gels from the defensive line to the linebackers to the secondary. He wants to make sure everyone comes together as one unit."
-On what is needed to do better in conference play:
"For us, our biggest focal point has been to be consistent. There were times like against Troy and Arkansas State that we dominated on the defensive side of the ball. Then there were times, like against Georgia State and Georgia Southern, where the execution wasn't there. We need to make sure we stay consistent because we know we have the talent."
Senior safety Nigel Lawrence
-On what can be expected from the defensive side of the ball:
"We are trying to play hard, play good football, play fast and gel as a team."
-On what Coach Steve Campbell has brought to the team:
"Coach Campbell is a hard-nosed coach. We are taking that on, trying to be more team-orientated and trying to push through."
-On stepping into a leadership role this season:
"That's one of my roles this year. I am trying to embrace a leadership role and become more vocal. I am going to let my play on the field talk for me."
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).
Join the Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/sports/2013/3/13/Gridiron Club.aspx?id=22
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