On filling Derrick Johnson's shoes: I have to strive to do well. People have expectations for me and I want to live up to them, especially when it is my teammates who are counting on me. I believe Derrick helped me out a lot last year as a senior. Because he has been here since I was a freshman, he has been able to show things that I can pass on to the freshman now.
On being compared to Derrick: It is a huge compliment for people to compare me to Derrick. He was a Nagurski winner and a Butkus winner. Who wouldn't want to be like him? But I am my own person and have my own strengths and weaknesses. There are a lot of things I want to accomplish. I would love to accomplish all that he did, but to do it my way.
On Co-Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik: Coach Chizik is a lot like Coach Robinson was. Coach Chizik has really helped us to understand his new language and philosophy. He really wants players to do the right things and believes in having the right guys on the field to follow his lead and execute the plays he calls. Coach Chizik is a very straightforward kind of guy; he is going to tell you what he thinks and tell you what he believes.
On the defense: The first few practices have gone well. Everyone on defense has been working hard and learning fast. There is not anything in our defensive scheme that we do not understand. We are being very aggressive toward attacking the offense.
On the other linebackers: We have some great guys coming up. We have Rashad Bobino, Scott Derry, Braden Johnson, Eric Hall, and a bunch of other linebackers coming up that have been waiting to get their turns. It is going to be exciting to get to see the linebacker crew as a whole unit. We'll have all three linebackers attacking on the ball this year and you will see us together a lot more.
On being a senior: The time has gone by fast. I have had a lot of fun playing here. It is hard to believe that I am a senior, but most of the guys who were here my freshman year are gone now. Now I have all of the younger guys to take care of and help out on the field.
On his spring break plans: Mike Williams and I are going to have some fun in California. We are going to Los Angeles and to the beach. We are going to try to do some of the things we didn't get to do during the Rose Bowl.
On his friend Mike Williams: Mike is my best friend off the football field. It was really hard not to have him during the season last year, but I am happy he is back. Mike and I have a very close bond because he was my roommate for two years in the dorms. We have a lot of fun when we are together.
On his dogs: I have two pit bulls named Ali and Nemo and I love them to death. Ali lives in Mesquite with my parents and Nemo, who is about seven months old, lives here in Austin with me. I actually breed pit bulls, which is something that not a lot of people know about me.
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