Q: What are you expecting your first full year on varsity to be like?

A: “It’s going great, but I’m still learning. So far, everything’s been going good.”

Q: What are some goals you have for the team and yourself

A: “Keeping a high standard, while staying high in effort rates.”

Q: How different is varsity compared to JV?

A: “It’s very different. I would say the environment is a whole different ball game. JV1, when I played, there weren’t a lot of people in the crowds—not a lot of fans out there watching. But on varsity, if I mess up, I’m not messing up in front of two or three people; I’m messing up in front of a bigger crowd. So I feel like it’s way more tough; the game speed is fast.”

Q: How do you plan to prepare for district?

A: “Keep working. Keep watching films, focusing on the small details, on the small techniques and stuff like that. Keep working [on] power moves, fast moves. Stuff like that.”

Q: Describe how you feel when you’re on the field.

A: “I would say on the field, I am very free. In school, you feel like you’re not as free as on the field. Football takes me away from a lot of things. Growing up, it was very tough. I had bad anger issues and stuff like that, but football really takes me to like a different planet.”

Q: Who inspires you, and or, who do you inspire to be like and why?

A: “Professionally, I would probably say Micah Parsons. He inspired me to be a better pass rusher. With my speed and my size, we’re about the same. Technique-wise, I’ll say Cameron Jordan; he’s very heavy with the power moves and stuff like that.”

Q: When did you first start playing and how was your experience?

A: “When I first started playing, there was a team called the Carrollton Eagles and they came to my apartment. We were playing a little pickup game of 11. They were watching me play and they saw that I had potential in football. So, it was very different for me because I grew up as a basketball kid. But when I first hit somebody, like a tackle, I knew that defense was what I loved. I love hitting, and it relieves a lot of stress.”

Q: What motivates you?

A: “Waking up in the morning and looking at my mom. I grew up with my mom as a single parent. My dad wasn’t always there. So just looking at her, I wanted to build a lot. My grandmother passed recently, and she told me that she wanted a house and stuff like that. So it motivates me to be a better person and be that person in the family that’s going to help my family succeed.”

Q: What do you like most about the team?

A: “I will probably have to say the brotherhood. Coming into Lewisville, we welcome anybody, any color, and I love that because not a lot of teams welcome people due to how they look, how good they play or how bad they play, so I love the team. Because we are way more welcoming and stuff like that, they welcomed me into their family.”

Q: What was your year on JV like?

A: “My year on JV was very fun. Like I said, varsity is all a different ball game and they look more into details and stuff like that, but JV was very fun. It was very free, and I can do whatever I want. Even if I messed up, they didn’t take it personally, but I still have fun out there. Playing with those boys, growing up with them, it’s very fun.”