MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football offensive lineman Troy Thingstad recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss what he wants to do following the completion of his football career, what it's meant to play collegiately in his hometown and where he feels he's improved the most since arriving on campus, among other things.

Thingstad, a senior from Mobile, Ala., has been a member of the Jaguar program since the 2015 season. After redshirting his first season, he saw time on the field along the offensive line and was one of three linemen to start all 12 games last season. This season, Thingstad has played in six games, starting the first three of the season, playing 148 snaps. His best outing came in South's win over Jackson State where he graded out at 97 percent on his assignments and 88 percent overall.

You've been a member of the program since the 2015 season. What is one thing you will take with you from your time at South Alabama?
"Perseverance. No matter how hard things get, no matter how bleak things seem, don't forget your character, don't forget who you are and just keep moving forward. Life hands you some bad things sometimes and you don't have a choice but to carry out your goals."

You received your bachelor's degree in political science in May and you're currently working toward a master's of public administration degree. What do you want to do with that degree after the completion of your football career?
"I want to help other people, be kind. Something I've really taken away from the sport is that there are a lot of tough guys on the field, but all of us really try to make a difference off the field and try to give back to so many that have allowed us the opportunity to play a game we've loved. More specifically, I really hope to go to law school and practice law."

What field of law do you want to go into?
"I honestly haven't made that decision yet. I know I want to help people and help my environment around me. Plaintiff litigation has always been there as an interest to me. Divorce law has always interested me as well. My true passion though would be to work as a constitutional lawyer for a big firm in Washington [D.C.]."

You originally committed to Louisville and had offers from several other programs. What factored into your decision to stay home and come to South Alabama?
"I haven't had to answer that question in a long time. At the time of my recruitment, [former head] coach [Joey] Jones and the program had just played in a bowl game. My hometown was growing, my family was here and it just really seemed like the right thing to do after things didn't work out with Louisville. I'm truly blessed to have been able to play here at South Alabama."

What has it meant to you to be able to continue playing football in front of your hometown and your family?
"Everything. To be able to receive text messages, calls, Facebook post and other social media messages from people I didn't even think thought about me anymore has been really refreshing and shown me that there is a lot of kindness and love out there."

You were one of three linemen to start all 12 games last season. Talk about the payoff of all the work you'd put in over those first three years with the program, especially coming back from a hip injury.
"As a player, it was really coming out of my redshirt freshman year as the presumptive starter and then having that huge injury, which stalled my career a little bit. Too actually comeback from that injury was a lot and it's something I'm proud of. It's not like a knee or shoulder injury. In the bigger picture, it's a life thing about whether or not you'll be able to walk normally again, or squat past parallel again or be comfortable when I sit down. Too be able to persevere through that pain meant a lot to me. It meant a lot for me to have the sports medicine staff that I have here at South like [head football trainer] Chad Stefano, [Associate Athletic Director/Sports Medicine/Senior Woman Administrator/Title IX Coordinator] Jinni Frisbey, [team doctor] Andy Hardcourt and [former team doctor] Josh Jones who is now with the Tennessee Titans. They showed me such tremendous support and helped me get back on the football field and allowed me the opportunity to finish something I started."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I like to be a political activist and get to as many political events as possible. I like to pick up trash on the side of the road and just help out. I became a certified scuba diver and actually worked as a commercial diver for a little bit."

What were some of the things you did as a commercial diver?
"I just handed tools to the guy who was actually down there and doing the dangerous stuff. It was pretty cool to watch. He wasn't able to see anything and they train blind-folded. It's a lot like football; one wrong move and it's over. You've got to know what you're doing."

Being a senior, what type of leadership role have you assumed on the team?
"I've tried to lead by example mostly. I've tried to show the guys to not act like it's the first time they've been here when we get on the plane, when we score, when we win and when we lose to hold themselves to a certain degree and level of dignity

Where do you feel that you've improved the most since arriving on campus?
"I've been tall most of my life and I've done all types of things to try to get my body right in preparation for a season. Every year I've been able to get my body lower, lower and lower. That's something I'm proud of, especially after suffering a hip injury. Anyone who plays Division I football and is above 6-foot-5 will understand that's it's a different game up there; if you get high it's over.
"Off the field, I would say learning how to deal with all types of people. You get things good and bad said to you, and you just have to smile and shake hands sometimes."

How have you benefited from the offseason conditioning program and how did it aid in your recovery from your hip injury?
"I suffered my hip injury and shortly thereafter, [head strength and conditioning] Coach Lance Ancar came in. I've never seen someone who wants to get his players better than he does. I think we have the best strength and conditioning coach in football, and even though he trained under [Alabama's] Ronnie Cottrell, I think we have the best guy. He gets with our doctors and talks things over with them. He makes sure he implements what needs to be done or if things need to be cut back. You better watch out though, because he's going to add on somewhere else. He has played a huge role."

What positions did you play growing up?
"I actually played defensive line every year up until my senior year of high school. I rotated that year at defensive end and tackle. Then I came to South and I began playing offensive tackle solely and that was crazy. I had never kick-slid before in my life because we were a power team in high school; all we did was just run it down your throat. When I played in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game they threw in a pass set and I went from a four-star guy to a three-star guy after the scouts saw my pass-set. If I had played on the other side of the ball there, I could've really shown them something."

How did you get involved in the game and at what age?
"My mom was a single mom and she moved a lot. I didn't really have any friends growing up or a dad until my mom remarried when I was older. I started playing football around the age of five and started to make some new friends and getting some mentors. One that stands out to me is Jodi Foster, he was my head park ball coach. I still talk to him this day. He's an amazing man and he really helped me along the way."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"Outside of my parents, I would say Thomas Smith the offensive line coach at Saint Paul's Episcopal High School. He's had the biggest influence on my life and he might not know that. We haven't always had the best communication relationship and haven't kept up with each other the best, but just watching how he carries himself in and out of football. He has a family and is a really respectful gentleman."

What other sports did you play in high school?  
"I tried to get into basketball and hated it. I couldn't hit anybody back and I would get frustrated. I got bored in track and in baseball I was the kid eating the grass in the outfield. Football finally found me and was a sport where I could do something constant; I was always moving or hitting somebody."

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