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Furman defensive tackle Bryce Stanfield died Friday afternoon, two days after he "collapsed unexpectedly at a morning workout," university president Elizabeth Davis said in a letter to the Furman community. He was 21.
Stanfield died "surrounded by his family and his Furman family" after he was taken to a local hospital and put on life support following his collapse, Davis said.
"We are heartbroken beyond measure with Bryce's sudden passing and ask that everyone, first and foremost, lift up his parents, Fred and Teri Stanfield and their family, in prayer on this day and in the days ahead," Clay Hendrix, coach of the Furman football team, said in a statement.
Stanfield contributed 2.5 sacks to a team total of 38, which ranked as the second-most sacks in Furman program history. The Paladins went on to win a Southern Conference championship and make it to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
He played 35 games for the Paladins over three seasons, amassing 49 career tackles and seven sacks.
Stanfield was named alongside eight other team members to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, as well as the Southern Conference Fall Academic Team. He had hoped to pursue dental school after graduation, Davis said.
Furman conferred Stanfield his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in a "small private ceremony" Friday morning, according to Davis.
Davis added that the school is providing counseling and support for other members of the Furman football team.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced the firing of offensive line coach Chris Malone on Thursday after he posted a racist tweet directed toward political activist and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate for the Democratic Party Stacey Abrams.
Chattanooga athletic director Mark Wharton and head coach Rusty Wright released the following statements regarding Malone's dismissal:
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Malone referred to Abrams, who is Black, as "Fat Albert" in a reference to a Black, male cartoon character. He also accused her of "cheating in an election," as seen in the screenshot provided by Shon Gables of CBS 46:
Abrams served in Georgia's House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 and was the minority leader from 2011 to 2017 before leaving to focus on her campaign for governor.
Although Abrams lost the gubernatorial campaign to Republican Brian Kemp, she has remained a hugely influential political figure in Georgia.
Abrams is credited with playing a big role in flipping Georgia from red to blue in Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
She also campaigned for Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia Senate runoff. Both Warnock and Ossoff won, meaning the Senate is a 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans.
Since Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will break any ties, the Senate is now essentially in control of the Democrats.
Malone spent the past two seasons at FCS Chattanooga after three years as the offensive line coach at Old Dominion. He previously coached at Virginia State, James Madison, VMI and UMass.
Before his coaching career, Malone was a four-year starter at offensive guard at Virginia Tech in the 1990s.
The XFL's inaugural reboot season only began last month, but the innovative league is already making an impression.
Citadel head coach Brent Thompson told Jeff Hartsell of the Post and Courier on Monday that his team will be implementing the XFL's kickoff format for its 2020 spring game Saturday.
"The last two weeks I've been watching the XFL, and I really liked a couple of aspects of it," Thompson said. "One thing I really like is the kickoff. During a spring game, you don't usually do a kickoff, because it can be a dangerous play. But the way the XFL does it is pretty safe, and it was a chance to get a special teams play executed."
The league's official website explains the kickoff rule:
"The kicker kicks from the 30-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone The coverage team lines up on the return side 35-yard line and the return team lines up on the 30-yard line. Each team must have exactly three players outside the hash marks on both sides of the ball and cannot move until the ball is caught by the returner."
Thompson also disclosed that quarterback Brandon Rainey and linebacker Willie Eubanks III will serve as head coaches and draft players to make up the two teams for the spring game.
According to the program's official website, the game's first half will feature a normal format before using a running clock in the second half.
The annual Blue-White game will be at Summerall Field on Citadel's campus in Charleston, South Carolina, while the team's normal home, Johnson Hagood Stadium, is undergoing turf installation.
East Tennessee State football coach Randy Sanders was suspended by the university after allegedly hitting defensive back Tyree Robison during practice.
Joe Avento of the Johnson City Press reported the news.
Sanders allegedly hit Robison during Friday's practice session but was allowed to conduct practice Saturday. He's reportedly been suspended with pay, pending "an investigation of potential violation of university policy."
Sanders, 52, was hired as East Tennessee's head coach last December. He previously served as Florida State's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2013-17 and has been an assistant at a Power Five school his entire career. His hiring was seen as something of a potential stepping stone for East Tennessee into the class of the FCS.
East Tennessee did not have a football program from 2004-14, shuttering the team due to financial reasons. The school brought back football for the 2015 season but has yet to post a winning record.
The Buccaneers will not have a head coach or offensive coordinator for their spring game Thursday. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield left the program for a job at Baylor.
Samford University junior linebacker Deion Pierre proposed to his girlfriend after defeating Virginia Military Institute on Saturday.
Pierre had his teammates circle his soon-to-be fiancee, Jasmine Armani, and dance to some Ed Sheeran. As Pierre dropped to a knee, they placed roses at her feet.
As if there was any doubt, she said yes.
Wofford Terriers linebacker Michael Roach reportedly collapsed on the sideline during Thursday's season opener against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
Continue for updates.
Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports reported Roach was kept overnight at the hospital for observation.
"Roach went down on [the] sideline and needed emergency help," the Spartanburg Herald-Journal's Todd Shanesy reported on Thursday. "They stripped him to [his] bare chest, pumped his heart."
After an ambulance picked up Roach, Shanesy reported the junior was breathing and alert. He added a public-address announcement at the stadium confirmed Roach was answering questions in the ambulance.
A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Roach tallied 28 tackles and one sack as a freshman in 2014 before emerging as a key member of the defense last season.
Over the course of 11 games in 2015, Roach recorded 39 total tackles—including 6.5 for loss—to go with two sacks and an interception.
The Florida Gators have lost five in a row and need a major rebound performance before a date with the No. 2 Florida State Seminoles to close the season.
Georgia Southern makes the trip to Gainesville Saturday with a 6-4 record. The Eagles won their last game in the Southern Conference a week ago over Elon before they make the jump to the Sun Belt Conference next year.
Florida enters the favorable contest at 4-6 after a 19-14 loss to then-ranked No. 10 South Carolina a week ago.
Here is everything fans need to know about the matchup.
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Television: Local
Live Stream: ESPN3
Betting Lines (via Vegas Insider)
Eagles Injury Report
Injury info unavailable.
Gators Injury Report (via USA Today)
| Player | Pos. | Date | Details | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Debose | WR | 08/07/2013 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Jeff Driskel | QB | 09/30/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | broken fibula |
| Dominique Easley | DT | 09/25/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | right knee |
| Chaz Green | T | 08/26/2013 | will miss the entire season | Out | shoulder surgery |
| D.J. Humphries | T | 10/30/2013 | is expected to miss 2-4 weeks | Out | knee |
| Matt Jones | RB | 10/14/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee/leg |
| Tyler Moore | T | 11/06/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | elbow |
| Antonio Morrison | LB | 11/11/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Tyler Murphy | QB | 11/18/2013 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia Southern | Questionable | shoulder |
| Jeremi Powell | LB | 10/20/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Marcus Roberson | CB | 11/18/2013 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia Southern | Questionable | ankle |
| Matt Rolin | LB | 08/17/2013 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Jordan Sherit | DE | 09/30/2013 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Colin Thompson | TE | 11/18/2013 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia Southern | Questionable | foot |
| Nick Washington | DB | 09/09/2013 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | shoulder |
Can Florida Rebound?
A game of this caliber could not have come at a better time for the Gators.
Florida is reeling. Starting quarterback Tyler Murphy is questionable for the contest against the Eagles, which means redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg may be forced into action once more.
The third quarterback on the depth chart coming into the season, Mornhinweg was thrown to the wolves—err, Gamecocks—last week and did well for himself on 10-of-13 passing for 107 yards and an interception.
Much more will be expected of Mornhinweg against inferior competition.
Over the course of Florida's losing streak, the offense has failed to post more than 20 points. Conversely, the defense has surrendered that or more in three of five despite a favorable No. 14 overall rank in scoring defense.
Saturday is a chance to break several negative trends and save the season.
Prediction
The outcome of this game is all but determined.
The Eagles are in the midst of a great season, but they have played just two games against opposition outside of the Southern Conference—Savannah State of the MEAC and St. Francis of the NEC.
Georgia Southern is getting paid a cool $550,000 to make the trip to Gainesville and take a beating per ESPN's Michael DiRocco.
The talent disparity is simply too much. Florida needs to do two things in this matchup—stay healthy and get things back on track.
Jameis Winston and the Seminoles await.
Final Score: Gators 36, Eagles 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C.—The 2013 Southern Conference Media Day is in the books, and the head coaches and media have projected Georgia Southern to win the Southern Conference title.
With their eventual move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are ineligible to win the 2013 Southern Conference title.
Georgia Southern is coming off a 2013 season that saw them make a third consecutive trip to the FCS semifinals last season. They bowed out for a second straight season to the eventual national champions with a 23-20 loss to North Dakota State. The Eagles posted a 10-4 overall record and were 6-2 in Southern Conference play last season, claiming a share of the league title along with Appalachian State and Wofford last fall.
The Eagles amassed 57 points in the preseason coaches poll, while receiving six of the eight first-place votes by the league's head coaches. In the media poll, the Eagles were 16 points clear of Wofford, who was picked second, with 210 points and 15 first-place votes.
The Eagles have 15 starters back from a team that claimed the 2012 Southern Conference title, including starting quarterback Jerick McKinnon and All-SoCon running back Dominique Swope on the offensive side of the football, while on the defensive side of the ball, All-SoCon defensive back Lavelle Westbrooks.
Appalachian State, who is also headed into uncharted waters next season by making the jump to the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference, was selected to finish second in the Southern Conference race, according to both the league's coaches, while the league's media penned the Mountaineers third among the league's hierarchy heading into 2013.
The Mountaineers were also recognized with some impressive individual accolades going into the 2013 season, with senior quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson having been selected as the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Jackson was sensational last season, passing for 3,278 yards and 21 TDs.
Appalachian was knocked out of the postseason in the second round of the FCS playoffs, with a 38-37 setback to Illinois State at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Appalachian State finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in league play, claiming their seventh title in the past eight seasons, and league standard tying 12 conference crown overall since joining the SoCon in 1972.
The Mountaineers amassed 51 points and received a couple of first-place votes by head coaches in the preseason coaches poll while racking up 190 points and six first-place votes in the Southern Conference media poll.
Chattanooga was selected third in the preseason poll. The Mocs are coming off a 6-5 season, and a 5-3 mark in Southern Conference play, finishing tied for fourth in the league's standings.
Chattanooga has claimed four Southern Conference titles in its history and has made one FCS playoff appearance in its history, but the Mocs haven't tasted championship success since 1984 haven't made it into the FCS postseason since 1986.
The Mocs have a league-high 19 starters returning for the 2013 season and placed nine players on the Southern Conference preseason All-SoCon teams.
Five of those nine players selected to one of the two All-SoCon teams by the coaches were members of the Southern Conference First-Team defense, including Davis Tull, who is the preseason co-SoCon Defensive Player of the Year along with Samford defensive back Jaquiski Tartt.
Tull was sensational last season for the Mocs, registering a league-high 19 TFLs and 12.5 sacks, and heads into the season as a member of the Buck Buchanan Award candidate. The Mocs ranked among the nation's top defensive units last season, ranking 10th nationally in total defense (307.9 YPG). Ten starters return from that unit that put up those impressive numbers last fall.
The Mocs amassed 47 points in the preseason coaches poll—including one first-place vote—while posting 176 points in the league's media poll—including two first-place votes.
Samford has been a school that has been on the brink of breaking through to the top tier of the league the past couple of seasons, and many consider the Bulldogs a dark horse for the 2013 Southern Conference title.
The Bulldogs return 15 starters from a team that posted a 7-4 record last fall, and finished fourth according to the voting by the league's coaches while being selected fifth by the league's media.
Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008 and has grown accustomed to exceeding expectations as the Bulldogs finished fourth in their first season as a league member after having been picked eighth.
Among the 15 starters returning for the 2013 season, the Bulldogs have an experienced quarterback in senior Andy Summerlin, who gained an extra year of eligibility after an appeal to the NCAA after the completion of the 2012 season. The Bulldogs will also return running back Fabian Truss and wideout Kelsey Pope, who both garnered preseason All-SoCon status.
Truss has led the SoCon each of the past two seasons in terms of all-purpose yards, and he finished the 2012 season with 1,063 all-purpose yards. Pope is one of the most accomplished receivers in school history, entering his senior season as a Bulldog with 1,402 receiving yards on 130 receptions, including seven TD catches.
On the defensive side of the football, it will be a very green linebacking corps, with three new starters this fall. However, the Bulldogs have a player in the secondary considered to be one of the best in the nation in preseason Co-Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Jaquiski Tartt.
Tartt was one of the most electrifying defensive players in all of FCS football last season, registering 94 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a pair of TDs. He will also enter the campaign as a Buck Buchanan Award candidate.
The Bulldogs were selected to finish fourth in the SoCon preseason coaches poll with 43 points while ranking fifth in the SoCon media poll, amassing 149 points.
Wofford has claimed a share of two of the past three Southern Conference regular-season crowns, but massive losses on the offensive side of the ball—including two-time Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year Eric Breitenstein and quarterback Brian Kass, who has transferred to Coastal Carolina—has the dean of Southern Conference coaches, Mike Ayers, facing one of his tougher assignments.
However, despite the challenges before the Old Gold and Black heading into the 2013 season, it did not deter the media from selecting Ayers' Terriers to finish second in the SoCon, including receiving four first-place votes. The coaches picked the Terriers fifth in the preseason league balloting. Wofford totaled 194 points to go along with those four first-place votes in the media poll, while amassing 40 points in the league's coaches preseason poll.
The Terriers return 14 starters, but just five on the offensive side of the football heading into the 2013 season. The Terriers completed the 2012 season with a 9-4 overall mark, including a 6-2 league mark to tie for the SoCon title.
Wofford won their second-round FCS playoff game over New Hampshire (24-7) before getting knocked out in a hard-fought contest with eventual FCS national champion North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals, with a 14-7 setback in the FCS Quarterfinals.
Seven Terrier players made their mark on one of the preseason All-SoCon teams, with three landing on the First Team while four were selected to the Second Team. Terrier linebacker Alvin Scioneaux is maybe the most recognizable name on that list, as he is coming off a season that saw him lead the team in sacks (7.0) and tackles for loss (14.0).
The player with the unenviable task of trying to replace Breitenstein, Donovan Johnson, was a Second-Team All-SoCon selection heading into the season after rushing for 473 yards last fall.
The Citadel, which was another team that finished with a 7-4 overall mark, which was just their second seven-win season since 1992, is another team knocking at the door of the league's title-contending hierarchy. The Bulldogs' 5-3 conference mark saw them finish tied for fourth in the league's standings.
Wins over a pair of Top 10 foes last season and with 17 starters returning, the expectations are as high as ever in the Port City. The Bulldogs were selected sixth in both the coaches and media polls, amassing 33 points in the coaches poll and 126 points in the media poll.
Head coach Kevin Higgins enters his ninth season at the helm with a veteran signal-caller returning in senior Ben Dupree, who helped lead the triple-option for a fourth-straight season. Dupree's rushing offense was ranked fourth in the nation last fall, averaging right at about 300 yards per game on the ground.
Leading that ground attack will be All-Southern Conference running back Darien Robinson who became the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Bulldogs since Tory Cooper in 2007, rushing for 1,007 yards last fall.
Like The Citadel, Furman was selected to finish the same place in both the coaches and media preseason polls, with the Paladins registering 107 points in the media poll and posting 25 points in the league's preseason coaches poll.
Head coach Bruce Fowler heads into his third season at the helm with a young contingent of returnees on both sides of the ball as he tries to right the ship after a 3-8, 2-6 season last fall, accounting for the worst season for Furman since 1994 when the Paladins sported an identical record at season's end.
Three Paladins were selected to the preseason all-league team, including preseason All-America selection Dakota Dozier, who has been instrumental in helping the Paladins produce a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past two seasons.
Dozier, a first-team selection, was joined by defensive end Gary Wilkins and kicker Ray Early on the two Southern Conference preseason teams. Wilkins, who led the Paladins with 92 tackles last season, makes the move from middle linebacker to defensive end this fall. Furman returns 15 starters for the 2013 campaign.
Elon and Western Carolina were selected eighth and ninth, respectively, to round out the 2013 preseason Southern Conference media and coaches polls.
The Phoenix, who are coming off a 3-8, 1-7 season must find a way to replace quarterback Thomas Wilson and one of the best wide receivers in the history of the Southern Conference, Aaron Mellette. The Phoenix have led the SoCon in passing offense in each of the past seven seasons.
The Phoenix had three All-SoCon selections in the preseason, including two second-teamers on the offensive side of the ball, offensive lineman Clay Johnson and wide receiver Kierre Brown, who looks to follow in the footsteps of Mellette and Terrell Hudgins before him.
Mark Speir enters his second season as the head coach of Western Carolina, and the Catamounts struggled to a 1-10, 0-8 mark last fall. Though it did not show in their overall record, strides were made in Speir's inaugural season in Catamount country. Speir will look to put an end to the Purple and Gold's futility, which has seen Western Carolina drop 22-straight Southern Conference games, dating back to an Oct. 2010 win at The Citadel.
2013 Southern Conference Football
Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Jamal Londry-Jackson, Sr., QB, Appalachian State
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Jaquiski Tartt, Jr., DB, Samford;
First-Team Offense
| QB Jamal Londry-Jackson, Sr. | Appalachian State |
| RB Dominique Swope, Jr. | Georgia Southern |
| RB Fabian Truss, Sr. | Samford |
| OL Kendall Lamm, Jr. | Appalachian State |
| OL Dakota Dozier, Sr. | Furman |
| OL Dorian Byrd, Sr. | Georgia Southern |
| OL Ty Gregory, Sr. | Wofford |
| OL Jared Singleton, Sr. | Wofford |
| TE Faysal Shafaat, Jr. | Chattanooga |
| WR Andrew Peacock, Sr. | Appalachian State |
| WR Sean Price, So. | Appalachian State |
| WR (tie) Kelsey Pope, Sr. | Samford |
First-Team Defense
| DL Ronald Blair, Jr. | Appalachian State |
| DL Derek Douglas, Sr. | The Citadel |
| DL Derrick Lott, Sr. | Chattanooga |
| DL Davis Tull, Jr. | Chattanooga |
| LB Jonathan Spain, Jr. | Elon |
| LB Wes Dothard, Sr. | Chattanooga |
| LB Alvin Scioneaux, Sr. | Wofford |
| DB Lavelle Westbrooks, Sr. | Georgia Southern |
| DB Jaquiski Tartt, Jr. | Samford |
| DB D.J. Key, Sr. | Chattanooga |
| DB Kadeem Wise, Sr. | Chattanooga |
First-Team Specialists
| PK Ray Earley, Sr. | Furman |
| P Ray Earley, Sr. | Furman |
| RS Tony Washington, Sr | Appalachian State |
Second-Team Offense
| QB Jacob Huesman, So. | Chattanooga |
| RB Darien Robinson, Sr. | The Citadel |
| RB Donovan Johnson, Sr. | Wofford |
| OL Cullen Brown, Sr. | The Citadel |
| OL Clay Johnson, Sr. | Elon |
| OL Garrett Frye, Jr. | Georgia Southern |
| OL Kasey Morrison, Sr. | Samford |
| OL Kevin Revis, Sr. | Chattanooga |
| TE Zeke Walters, Sr. | Samford |
| WR Kierre Brown, Jr. | Elon |
| WR Terrell Robinson, Jr. | Chattanooga |
Second-Team Defense
| DL Gary Wilkins, Jr. | Furman |
| DL Javon Mention, Sr. | Georgia Southern |
| DL Jerry Mathis, Jr. | Samford |
| DL Tarek Odom, Jr. | Wofford |
| LB Carson Smith, Jr. | The Citadel |
| LB Justin Shade, Sr. | Samford |
| LB Mike McCrimon, Sr. | Wofford |
| DB Joel Ross, Jr. | Appalachian State |
| DB Brandon McCladdie, Sr. | The Citadel |
| DB Chandler Wrightenberry, Sr. | Elon |
| DB Ace Clark, Jr. | Western Carolina |
| DB (tie) James Zotto, Sr. | Wofford |
Second-Team Specialists
| PK Drew Stewart, Sr. | Appalachian State |
| P Clark Sechrest, Sr. | Western Carolina |
| RS Fabian Truss, Sr. | Samford |
2013 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
| School | First-place votes | Points |
| Georgia Southern | 6 | 57 |
| Appalachian State | 2 | 51 |
| Chattanooga | 1 | 47 |
| Samford | - | 43 |
| Wofford | - | 40 |
| The Citadel | - | 33 |
| Furman | - | 25 |
| Elon | - | 16 |
| Western Carolina | - | 12 |
2013 SoCon Football Preseason Media Poll
| School | First-place votes | Points |
| Georgia Southern | 15 | 210 |
| Wofford | 4 | 194 |
| Appalachian State | 6 | 190 |
| Chattanooga | 2 | 176 |
| Samford | - | 149 |
| The Citadel | - | 126 |
| Furman | 1 | 107 |
| Elon | - | 61 |
| Western Carolina | - | 47 |
Despite coming from a FCS program, Aaron Mellette is turning heads with every stage of the draft process, erasing any doubt that comes along with the small-school label.
Aaron put up video game-like numbers at Elon, totaling 1,408 yards on 97 catches for 18 touchdowns. With underrated speed and unquestionable toughness, Mellette is a player to watch as the draft approaches.
Read on for my interview with Aaron Mellette.
Ryan Alfieri: So you’re less than two weeks away from the draft, what has this process been like?
Aaron Mellette: I take it one day at a time; I try not to get too high or too low over the different phases of the NFL process. I try to stay out of the media, the mock drafts and things of that nature, keep going and keep my eye on the prize.
RA: You’re from Elon, which is a great program down there in Carolina, but it’s not exactly Alabama or LSU in being a big-time football factory. Is it encouraging to see other smaller-school receiver prospects like Brian Quick (who you played against) and Vincent Jackson get drafted early and succeed in the NFL?
AM: I’ve heard a lot about how guys from my level can’t make it to the NFL and that it prevents us [from getting picked] early, but it would be [as] great [of a] reward as if I came from an FBS school.
RA: What do you think is the best aspect of your game that you would bring to an NFL team?
AM: Just my ability to make big plays. Either going across the middle or going deep, a lot of NFL teams look for that, and that’s something I bring to the table.
RA: You mentioned going over the middle—it’s probably one of the best aspects of your game. Does it take a special mentality to go over the middle and be ready to take a hit? Not many guys are willing to do that.
AM: Yeah, it takes a special mentality to go across that middle where you’ve got linebackers waiting for you. It’s part of the game and that’s one of the dirty parts—getting rocked, and a lot of people don’t like that.
It’s just like for a running back, it takes a type of mentality to run between the tackles every other play and whatnot. I pride myself to go across the middle and not worry about getting hit and secure the football.
RA: I look at you and you kind of remind me of Anquan Boldin. Would you agree with that comparison?
AM: You mean a big, physical receiver like that?
RA: Yeah, a guy that goes over the middle like you do.
AM: Yeah, I can see that. I don’t mind comparing myself to Anquan (laughs). I see what people are saying, as far as me being a guy who can catch that ball.
RA: Way earlier in the draft process, a lot of people looked at you, looking to pick apart your game. Some weren’t sure if you had that elite speed like a Tavon Austin, and then you turned around and ran a really nice time at the combine (4.45). Do these outside things put a chip on your shoulder as you go through this?
AM: I definitely have a chip on my shoulder. When people tell me I’m not fast, I hate when I hear that. I know I’m fast, and I know on game day I play even faster than what they think. They see me in person and say, “Wow, this guy’s faster than what we thought.”
I also [keep a chip on shoulder] because of all of the FBS teams that missed out on me when they had the chance. I just want to prove that I can compete with all these other guys.
RA: I read that you didn’t start playing football until your sophomore year in high school, is that correct?
AM: Yep, that’s when I started JV football.
RA: You were actually a big basketball player, right?
AM: Yes, yes I was, that was my favorite sport.
RA: Does you background in basketball help your game in terms of catching the ball, boxing out and getting good position?
AM: What my basketball skill set does is make me a better football player, like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, all these guys that played tight end. The athleticism they get from basketball translates to football very well.
RA: So where are you going to be watching the draft?
AM: I’ll be at my aunt’s house. We’re going to have a cookout on the day of the draft. We’re going to have everybody hanging around together, watching it and [seeing] how it unfolds.
RA: That’s awesome. Thanks for taking the time to talk, Aaron, and good luck the rest of the way.
AM: Thank you.
