July 5, 2012
Why did you choose to attend the University of Texas? I chose Texas because it's a great place. They treat you like family. We have a great group of guys coming in for the 2012 class. I want to be with all the competition. So this was a great place for me. This is where I fit in. I'm just ready to hit the ground running with my teammates.
What are your short-term goals? Right now it's just getting bigger, faster, and stronger during this off-season in the summer. Just getting better chemistry with the team. Doing the little things that make the big things great. Working on my techniques and things. Getting to know the campus. Getting that college lifestyle in me.
Do you feel prepared for the transition to college? Oh yes. This is what you get prepared for. They prepare you during the summer. You either get up or lay down. So I'm getting up, and I'm ready to play with my teammates and hopefully go win some [games.]
How do you think you'll be able to handle the demands of football and academics? It's going to be a lot of stuff thrown at us. Football is like your job, and school is like your job. So you're doing two jobs at one time. It's overwhelming for a little bit, but if you fight through it and study and do what you need to do to be on the field and in the classroom, then everything will pan out.
What is your relationship with co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Major Applewhite? It's a great relationship. [Sophomore RB] Malcolm Brown and [sophomore RB] Joe Bergeron, they joke and they say, "Your [father] is Applewhite now!" So we kind of laugh about that. But our relationship is great. I'm just ready [and I'm] getting the techniques down, and whatever they throw at me, I'm ready for it.
What are your thoughts on head coach Mack Brown? He's a great coach. He's similar to the coach that I had in high school. He doesn't play. If you practice [hard] you play, and if you don't then you don't play. He's ready. He's happy that we're here. He's ready to get this thing moving.
How will it feel to finally have a Texas jersey with your name and number on it? It's going to feel great. It's going to make me play even harder to keep my name on there. I'm doing anything to get on that field and play.
What advice did your parents give you before you arrived at Texas? Having two great parents that went through this process, they just told me, "The number one thing is to keep God in you. Go to class. Do all the little things that count." So that's what I'm trying to do, and keeping God by my side. So we'll see.
Do you think that it helped you in this process that your father played football at Texas Tech and knows what is it like to be a student-athlete? Oh yes, it helped. Watching him when I was younger, and watching film on him, and now that I'm here... and he knows the process. He taught me little things. He said, "You know you have to go to class. You have to get your academics. If you don't get anything [else], you have to get your academics." And that's my goal right now - to focus on academics. All the things on the field will pan out.
What are your thoughts on the Texas facilities? I like everything - from the player's lounge, to the locker room. I just fell in love with this place when I saw it. I love everything about it. I love the town. I love the stadium. I played in the stadium. So it's going to be great.
What are your thoughts on playing at Texas with its tradition of producing outstanding running backs? They've had some great running backs. And that's what I want to be. I want to be on that top list. Doing anything to work hard and be on that top list. I'm going to do [whatever it takes] to get up there. The sky is the limit.
What do you think it will feel like running out of the tunnel for the first time? It's going to be overwhelming. I'm just anxious to play because of the thousands of fans in the stands cheering your name. It's going to be great. I'm just ready.
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