Tag: Northern Iowa football

Expert score prediction: Nebraska v. Northern Iowa

Who will win on Saturday evening?!

The No. 24 Huskers conclude their non-conference portion of their season Saturday night against FCS foe Northern Iowa. 

From a glance, this should be a similar outcome to UTEP. However, numerous non-Power 4 teams showed last week that anything is possible. 

The Panthers come into Lincoln with a heavy-running offense, eclipsing its passing game almost three times over with 614 yards on the ground. Quarterback Aidan Dunne, meanwhile, stands with 23 completions off 42 throws for 215 yards and three touchdowns for Northern Iowa.

The Panthers’ heavy run game faces the toughest challenge this week: Nebraska’s defense. This challenge comes after escaping St. Thomas 17-10. Northern Iowa won off a rushing touchdown from a recovery by their running back, who lost the football but still managed to score. The Panthers got in position after a fourth-down stop on Thomas’ 25-yard line.

Northern Iowa held the Tommies to 168 passing yards and 129 rushing yards. In its win over Valparaiso, the Panthers kept the Beacons to just 108 passing yards and 16 rushing yards. 

This is similar to Nebraska’s defense, which also allowed just 17 points while surrendering 72 total rushing yards and 393 passing yards through the first two games. But Colorado scored all 10 points late in the second half when Nebraska started easing its foot off the gas. Even the touchdown allowed against UTEP was due to a slip-up on one drive. 

Nebraska’s offense is well-balanced, with quarterback Dylan Raiola throwing 423 yards and three touchdowns, while the run game has 372 yards and five touchdowns. 

However, while Northern Iowa has faced two FCS schools, Nebraska is a different animal for the Panthers. With it being another Saturday night under the lights for the Huskers, this should be another big outing. 

Score Prediction: Nebraska 45, Northern Iowa 6

Mountain West Football: Examining Each Opponent’s Week 1 Depth Chart

What stands out in the depth charts released by each of the Mountain West’s 11 Week 1 opponents?

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Mountain West Football: Examining Each Opponent’s Week 1 Depth Chart

What stands out in the depth charts released by each of the Mountain West’s 11 Week 1 opponents?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

What to keep in mind before kickoff.

Cal Poly (link to game notes, depth chart on page 11)

What stands out: The Mustangs have a couple of solid defensive pieces, most notably defensive end Eljiah Ponder, and they’ll hope that sophomore Robbie Greer can bookend Ponder’s production at the other edge spot.

Why that could be important: Cal Poly’s pass rush wasn’t a particularly strong one in 2021, as the team had just 22 sacks, tied for tenth among teams in the Big Sky. Ponder had eight by himself, so the 6-foot-6, 250 pound Greer, who got his first taste of action as a true freshman in the spring season last year but redshirted during the fall, will be expected to do his part in taking down Jake Haener.

Portland State (link to game notes, depth chart on page 13)

What stands out: Dante Chachere is tasked with replacing Davis Alexander, one of the best quarterbacks in Portland State football history.

Why that could be important: Alexander had a lot of moxie and, more importantly, knew how to produce, doing so to the tune of 294.5 yards of total offense per game last year. The sophomore Chachere, after winning the competition over Jaden Casey, is a Fresno native who has earned a lot of praise throughout the offense for his growth as a potential dual-threat quarterback. His homecoming will be a test of how true that is.

Texas State (link to depth chart)

What stands out: As the Bobcats already return more than half of last year’s starters on both sides of the ball, there weren’t a ton of roles for players to step up and claim but nickelback Jarron Morris, who’s actually reclaiming a spot, could be the rare exception.

Why that could be important: Texas State’s secondary got picked on quite a bit last year, allowing a completion rate of 65.4% while interceptions just three passes all season. It could be in part because they missed Morris, a second-team all-Sun Belt defender who played in only one full game before a hip injury cost him the entire season. If he’s back in form, the Bobcats will be that much better for it.

Michigan (link to discussion of depth chart)

What stands out: The Wolverines will have work to do in replacing Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, but one surprising entry that will be part of the cohort to do so is true freshman Mason Graham.

Why that could be important: A two-way player who also wrestled at California’s Servite High School, Graham won’t have to do everything by himself with veterans like Mazi Smith and Kris Jenkins back, as well. At 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds, though, Graham could disrupt Colorado State’s best laid plans from the point of attack if the Rams aren’t ready.

Northern Iowa (link to overview of team depth)

What stands out: The Panthers found themselves having to replace a first-round NFL Draft pick this summer, but Matthew Vanderslice emerged as Trevor Penning’s successor throughout the off-season.

Why that could be important: Vanderslice isn’t completely new to the starting lineup, having made two starts in 2019, three in spring 2020 and three last fall, but you could make a reasonable case that no one else mentioned in this article has bigger shoes to fill.

The upside? Vanderslice is a pretty big dude himself, listed at 6-foot-8 and 318 pounds on the UNI roster. If he can protect Theo Day’s blind side half as well as Penning did, Air Force could be in for a much tougher fight than expected.

Arizona (link to depth chart)

What stands out: The Wildcats aren’t wasting any time throwing true freshman Tetairoa McMillan into the mix, starting opposite UTEP transfer Jacob Cowing and sophomore Dorian Singer.

Why that could be important: McMillan is the highest-ranked recruit that Arizona has ever landed, a five-star prospect according to some sites, and at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, it’s not hard to see why. We know that Cowing is one of the nation’s premier deep threats, but it’ll be interesting to see what kind of role Jedd Fisch carves out for his off-season’s biggest prize.

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Air Force Football: First Look At The Northern Iowa Panthers

The Air Force Falcons start 2022 against a very dangerous FCS opponent in Northern Iowa.

Air Force Football: First Look At The Northern Iowa Panthers

The Air Force Falcons start 2022 against a very dangerous FCS opponent in Northern Iowa.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Don’t look past this team.

In Troy Calhoun’s tenure as head coach, the Air Force Falcons have typically coasted against an FCS opponent to open their football season. Lafayette, Colgate, Stony Brook, the list of victims goes on, but this year’s opener is a much different animal.

That’s because the Northern Iowa Panthers have long been one of the nation’s top FCS programs, earning six playoff appearances in the last eight years while competing in what might be the toughest overall FCS conference. In other words, the elevation might not be the only danger present in this game.

Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa

Conference: Missouri Valley

2021 Record: 6-6 (4-4 MVC)

Head Coach: Mark Farley (22nd year at Northern Iowa, 167-92 overall). UNI has been a beacon of stability in the FCS for a good long time now, as Farley is now has the fifth-longest tenure of any head coach at that level. Last year didn’t end the way that he or anyone else hoped, but his Panthers made opponents work for every win they got.

Not content with a first-round exit from the playoffs, Farley went to work this off-season retooling the team with a new quarterbacks coach, Bodie Reeder, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Utah State in 2020. Will it be enough to spur the team’s first run to the semifinals since 2008? We’ll have to wait and see.

Key Players

Jared Penning, G

His brother Trevor was just selected as a first-round NFL Draft pick back in April, but Jared’s first full season as a Panthers starter seemed to hint he could find himself on that same stage in a few years. That’s because Phil Steele tabbed him as a first-team All-American after he accrued an overall PFF grade of 63.7, so while it remains to be seen whether he’s kicked outside to tackle or remains on the interior, expectations are high.

Dom Williams, RB

Ever since he stepped on the field as a freshman at Kansas in 2017, Williams has steadily improved year after year and 2021 was no exception. He led the Panthers with 723 rushing yards last fall, which included a school-record scamper, and scored four touchdowns, and could very well be the focal point of the offense in his final year.

Theo Day, QB

After transferring to UNI from Michigan State, Day made the QB1 job his own. He was named to the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-newcomer team after completing 56.2% of his passes for 2,316 yards and 16 touchdowns. If he can cut down on last year’s 4% interception rate, it’ll only make the Panthers offense that much more potent.

Spencer Cuvelier, LB

Jared Brinkman might have received some serious accolades last year, but Cuvelier has been pretty good himself over the last three seasons. He finished third on the team in tackles back in 2019, then led the MVC in tackles per game during the spring 2021 season and earned a first-team all-conference nod after collecting 75 tackles and 4.5 TFLs in eight games. If he’s back to 100% from the injury that shortened his fall campaign, Cuvelier could be one of the best FCS defenders in the country.

Matthew Cook, K

Is Cook the best FCS kicker in the country? Phil Steele has already tabbed him as a preseason All-American ahead of 2022 after he connected on 19-of-22 field goal attempts last fall, which included successes on 11-of-13 tries from 40 yards and beyond. In three years at UNI, he’s made 80.3% of his field goals and he has the range to be as surefire as any specialist out there.

Overview:

Offense

By a lot of measures, the UNI offense was adequate but not great in 2021. They put up 5.6 yards per play, which ranked in the top 50, but only mustered 24.9 points per game, which was tied for 63rd in the FCS, and had 22 giveaways. There are reasons to think they’ll be better in 2022, but they’ll have to do it while replacing Trevor Penning and Isaiah Weston, who made the all-MVC team as a wide receiver and an all-purpose player.

Much will depend on improvements from Day, but head coach Mark Farley has already noted that he’ll get pushed by others like sophomore Matt Morrissey. The good news for whoever ends up under center is that there is a wealth of talent in the backfield behind them, not just Williams but also redshirt senior Vance McShane (61 carries, 344 yards, five touchdowns).

Weston’s production might be harder to replace, but Quan Hampton (39 catches, 430 yards, two touchdowns) and Deion McShane (35 catches, 408 yards, two touchdowns) are both back to shoulder most of that load.

Defense

It’s difficult to blame the defense for last year’s win-loss record because this unit was one of the best in the FCS ranks. The Panthers finished in a tie for tenth by allowing 4.44 yards per play and also gave up just 18 points per game, which ranked 13th nationally. They made life miserable for everyone from Iowa State and Eastern Washington, but must now deal with inevitable turnover.

MVC defensive player of the year Jared Brinkman is gone, but the good news is that Cuvelier and cornerback Benny Sapp III (52 tackles, four interceptions) were both first-team all-conference defenders, too, and are back for another round. Defensive lineman Caden Houghtelling also had a breakout year (51 tackles, ten TFLs, 5.5 sacks) and should be a major player in run defense.

He won’t have to do it alone, though, since the Panthers’ havoc was by and large a team effort. Junior Devin Rice and senior Bryce Flater also had 6.5 and six TFLs, respectively, so they have a collective nose for finding the football in the backfield.

Early Prediction

Air Force doesn’t typically have too much trouble with its FCS opponents, but Northern Iowa has the toughness to potentially turn this game into a defensive slog if the Falcons aren’t careful. The biggest problem at present for the Panthers is that they may not be able to generate enough explosive plays to keep up if the cadets are able to assert their will.

Air Force 31, Northern Iowa 20

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2022 NFL draft: Trevor Penning scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning

One of the meanest offensive lineman in the 2022 NFL draft, Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning looks to maintain that same level of physical play as he makes the jump to the next level.

Here is everything you need to know about UNI’s dominant blocker:

Former Michigan State football QB Theo Day headed to Northern Iowa

Former 4-star quarterback Theo Day will be transferring to Northern Iowa after spending the first three seasons of his career at MSU.

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Theo Day has been a member of the Michigan State football program for the past three seasons. A member of the 2018 recruiting class, the former 4-star quarterback decided to transfer out of the program this offseason.

A transfer destination for Day has been decided, as he will be attending the University of Northern Iowa, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference in the FCS.

Day was presumably passed on the depth chart by Payton Thorne, transfer Anthony Russo and Noah Kim, resulting in his decision to transfer.

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Northern Iowa vs Youngstown State Prediction, Game Preview: FCS Spring Football

Northern Iowa Panthers vs Youngstown State Penguins prediction and FCS spring football game preview.

Northern Iowa Panthers vs Youngstown State Penguins prediction and FCS spring football game preview.

Northern Iowa vs Youngstown State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 27
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH
Network: ESPN+

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Iowa (0-1) vs Youngstown State (0-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why Northern Iowa Will Win

The Panthers played well against South Dakota State, owned the game after a big second quarter, and then collapsed late giving up a touchdown with 19 seconds to play and doing nothing on a last gasp drive.

On the plus side, the team was able to get into a position to win even though the offense struggled, there weren’t a slew of mistakes, and QB Will McElvain wasn’t awful as he spread the ball around a bit.

Yeah, Youngstown State had to play North Dakota State in the opener, but the offense struggled with just 171 yards and no running game to count on, but …

Why Youngstown State Will Win

The Penguin defense did a decent job agains the defending national champs.

New head coach Doug Phillips had his D working, giving up yards in a bend-not-break sort of way. The secondary allowed just 74 passing yards, but that’s because the defensive front was hit hard by the Bison rushing attack.

On the other side, the UNI offense struggled. There wasn’t much for the running game with just 28 yards and no big dashes, and it was a struggle to keep things moving.

What’s Going To Happen

Which team will overcome the disappointing start? Youngstown State wasn’t all that bad considering who it was playing, while Northern Iowa needs this win to avoid a disastrous start.

Which offense will work? Neither one – at least not all that well – but after the late collapse, the UNI defense will make amends and hold up to stuff the YSU ground attack.

Northern Iowa vs Youngstown State Prediction, Line

Northern Iowa 23, Youngstown State 16
Bet on college football with BetMGM
Line: Northern Iowa -6.5, o/u: 38.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
1: Clarice

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Northern Iowa EDGE Elerson Smith declares for 2021 NFL Draft

Northern Iowa edge defender Elerson Smith is skipping a potential spring season to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft

Amid the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the college football landscape, another top FCS prospect is making the early jump to the pros.

Norther Iowa edge defender Elerson Smith is opting out of a potential spring season and will instead enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

It’s rare to see FCS prospects leaving school early, but Smith certainly has the talent to turn some heads among the NFL scouting community. Smith was dominant as a redshirt junior in 2019, racking up 14 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.

Instead of padding his college resume this spring, Smith will instead try to impress NFL decision-makers throughout the predraft process, which could solidify him as a Day 2 selection when next year’s draft rolls around.

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Meet Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa’s gem of an OT prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Northern Iowa offensive tackle prospect Spencer Brown

Every NFL team knows the key to winning the draft is matching value with need, and mining the later rounds for underrated prospects from smaller programs who may have fallen through the cracks.

One small-school prospect who should be getting plenty of attention this season is Northern Iowa offensive tackle Spencer Brown, who recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the challenges of COVID-19, the best defenders he’s faced in his career, and what fans can expect from him in 2020.

JM: This is a big season for you. The spread of COVID-19 has brought many challenges. How are you finding ways to work out and improve your game with so many restrictions in place?

SB: When the virus started to really make its impact, it was right after Spring Break. We were on our break anyways. I was back home and I ended up converting my mom’s garage into a weight room. She’s a local principal so she had access to a weight room when no one else did (laughs). I was able to take advantage of that. We took some things out of there and I set myself up in the garage. I did that for about a month and a half.

My roommates’ parents wound up getting me a squat rack for my garage. I came back here to Cedar Falls and set up in the home gym. I have all the weights and equipment that I need. I’ve been doing my lifts out here ever since. I really can’t complain.

JM: What are your hoping to achieve individually and as a unit this season?

SB: For myself, I just want to contribute to the offense as best as I can. I just wanna be the best player that I can be within our scheme. There are various areas of my game that I can improve on. I’m well aware of that. I accept that and I’ve already began to work on my craft. As an offense, we’re looking to improve. We were rock solid last year and the plan is to be rock solid this year as well. We should be able to get on a roll. We have some great talent coming in. As long as we’re playing hard, things should go well for us.

JM: What can you tell me about the scheme?

SB: We run a lot of multiple tight end sets. We have some different personnel groups. We can run some power, we can spread things out, we have different reads. It really doesn’t matter. We have a great quarterback in Will McElvain. He can throw the football and he can also take off and run with it. It’s a fun offense to be around. We have a lot going on. We’re versatile and we have some fun with it. As an offensive linemen, it’s fun to run inside zone one play and outside zone the next. It keeps you on your toes and it can be challenging in a good way.

JM: What are a few traits that an offensive linemen must possess in order to be successful?

SB: For one, you have to be nasty. You have to be able to take another man and put him on the ground. You have to be smart about it though. I’m learning how to be a smarter player. You have to eliminate the holding penalties and the personal fouls. There’s no room in the game for stuff like that. I didn’t fully understand that coming in. As I started to get around the older offensive linemen, you start to gain some clarity. I’ve also realized how important it is to understand where and how a defensive linemen lines up. I have to know where the linebackers are.

You also have to be genuine. As an O-linemen, you have to know who you are and what your role is. You don’t get a lot of glitz and glamour playing this position. You’re doing the grunt work. You might be banged up all season long. Nobody cares. You have guys falling into your legs on just about every play. You have to know your role and be genuine with it.

Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing in the trenches?

SB: Everybody in the trenches knows that we’re going to be hitting each other all day long. That goes for both the offensive and defensive linemen. I can look at the D-linemen in front of me and tell him, “Hey, we’re running inside zone and we’re gonna double team you” and he’s gonna respond like, “Yeah, I already knew that” (laughs). There’s not a lot of smoke and mirrors to what we do. We know what’s at stake. I have to move that man from where he is to where he doesn’t want to be. It’s that simple.

JM: Who are some of the best defensive linemen you’ve done battle with up until this point?

SB: I remember playing against Iowa two years ago. I went up against Anthony Nelson. He was playing defensive end for them. He’s with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever gone up against. Justus Reed from Youngstown State is a handful. I have a teammate at Northern Iowa, Elerson Smith. I get to go up against him every single day. I can’t take a day off with that guy (laughs). In my mind, he’s the best defensive end in the country. I’ll stick by that.

JM: Funny, I recently interviewed Elerson. He’s a heck of a player.

SB: Oh yeah, he really is. He’s definitely made me a better player. I’m always ready to go up against him 1-on-1 in scrimmages. We’re always going at it. Once it’s over, it’s over and we’re good friends again (laughs).

JM: Do you feel like you’re more developed in pass protection or as a run blocker at this point in time?

SB: At this point in time, I would say that I’m a little more polished in pass protection. I’m obviously a lot smaller than most defensive linemen so people expect me to have a tough time getting underneath them but I always find a way to get it done.

JM: You believe you’re a little more polished in pass protection. How do you handle speed differently from power?

SB: With speed, you know exactly what to expect in those obvious passing situations. The quarterback has to make a long drop and I know those speed rushers are coming into the game. I just have to run those speed rushers right up out of there. If I can get on them early and win at the line of scrimmage, I can run them past the quarterback and allow my QB the space and time to move up and toss a dime. With those power guys, you have to be able to stop them in their tracks. I have to lower my base and win with technique. If I get my hands on their chest plate, they can’t generate a whole lot of power.

JM: Do you have a preferred pass set?

SB: When I was a little younger, all I really knew was a vertical set. Now that I’m a senior, I’ve definitely taken some strides. I like learning new sets and incorporating them into my game. I really enjoy a jump set, a quick set. I usually don’t do it right away but maybe I’ll mix that in. A lot of guys don’t expect that quick set. I like using it on third-and-15 for example. They’re expecting me to go straight backwards. If I give them a quick set and get my hands on them right away, it really throws them for a loop.

JM: What can Northern Iowa fans expect from Spencer Brown this coming season?

SB: They can expect me to do the best that I can. I’m one of 11 guys on offense and I’m going to do my part to the best of my ability. I’m confident that we’re going to win a lot of football games.

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Meet Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa’s gem of a pass rusher

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Northern Iowa edge defender prospect Elerson Smith

Every year, NFL teams look high and low for the best college football prospects, often finding diamonds in the rough at smaller programs who end up making a huge impact on Sundays.

If your favorite team is looking for that kind of player on the edge of their defensive front in the 2021 NFL Draft, Northern Iowa’s Elerson Smith should be on their list.

A versatile rusher with a knack for making the big play, Smith recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his expectations for the 2020 season, the challenges of navigating offseason preparations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and what he’s working to improve this year.

JM: This is a big season for you. The spread of COVID-19 has brought many challenges. How are you finding ways to work out and improve your game with so many restrictions in place?

ES: I’m lucky enough to have a squat rack in my garage. Actually, I have a full Olympic lifting set and squat rack. That’s how I’ve survived the pandemic. A teammate of mine, one of his family member’s actually hooked me up. I’m extremely thankful to the family. Its kept me in shape and working hard. I’m also getting onto the field whenever I can. I’m trying to stick to a “normal” schedule despite everything that’s going on.

JM: What are you hoping to achieve as a defense this season?

ES: We have very high expectations for our defense this season. We really got things going as a defense towards the end of last season. We were holding teams to 10-14 points a game. We were playing really good defense out there. Almost everybody from last year is returning. We only lost a handful of guys. I’m looking forward to taking things week-by-week. We’re going to do everything we can to help our offense. If we can hold teams to about 10 points, it should be enough for us to go out there and win some ball games.

JM: What can you tell me about the scheme that you guys are running on defense?

ES: We’re a pretty versatile defense. We’ll switch from a four-man front to a three-man front quite often. It just depends on the personnel of the offense. Sometimes we’ll roll with six defensive backs on the field. We do some things with our linebackers. Most of the time, we line up in a 4-3 defense. We run that more than anything. We’re very versatile. We can line up all over the place.

JM: What are three traits that an EDGE rusher must possess in order to be successful?

ES: A good first step is huge. You want to put pressure on the offensive tackle right off the snap. You want to get them on their feet and attack them really. You don’t want them to comfortably settle into their stance. A good first step is huge. You need to be physical. You want to be physical and be able to incorporate a bull-rush into your game, you want to be able to come inside. You can’t let the offensive linemen get a hold of you. That’s never a good thing.

Lastly, you have to be savvy. You have to be savvy with your hands. You have to find ways to win with your hands. Every offensive tackle is different. Each game is a new game, and you have to approach it that way. You have to find ways to win. Whether that means going around a guy, going inside or going underneath him, it doesn’t matter; just find ways to win. Being savvy means finding ways to win.

Syndication: DesMoines

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the EDGE position?

ES: I love getting a good strip-sack. That’s probably my favorite part. That’s always fun. Creating a turnover and having a big impact on the game is fun. It can be a huge turning point. When you’re rushing the passer, you’re sort of on an island with the offensive tackle. I love that. It’s often a one-on-one situation. It gives you a chance to show what you’ve got. I enjoy doing whatever I gotta do to win.

JM: Who are some of the best offensive linemen you’ve gone up against?

ES: This past year, I would definitely say Dillon Radunz from NDSU. He’s a good player. He’s physical and moves well for his size. He definitely comes to mind. If I think back a little further, I played against Iowa a few years ago when they had Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson. They were both very good. Those three guys come to mind.

JM: Do you feel you’re more developed as a pass rusher or run stopper at this point in time?

ES: I’d have to say that I’m a better pass rusher at this point. I’ve been looking at the film from my past few seasons. I can admit that some of my run fits need some work. I have room to improve in the run game. I think I’ve taken some strides there, but there’s still more work to be done. I’m definitely a better pass rusher at this very moment.

JM: What can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?

ES: I’m a versatile rusher. I can rush from both inside and outside. I can beat guys around the edge. I have some power to my game, I can use a bull-rush and come inside. I honestly just use whichever move I think will work best in that very moment. I’m pretty versatile and can win with a variety of moves as a pass rusher.

JM: You’re a multi-sport athlete. You’ve participated in track and field, basketball and wrestling, just to name a few. How do you think playing all of those sports helped you become a better football player?

ES: I think it’s huge. You can attribute any of those sports to some aspect of football. You can look at the straight line speed of track or the leverage of wrestling and see how those things have made me a better pass rusher. It’s been huge for me as a defensive linemen. I’m really glad that I spent my time in high school playing as many different sports as I could. I built so many relationships and developed so many skills that way. I had a lot of fun being placed in so many different situations, and I learned a lot.

JM: I find that kids are sometimes encouraged to specialize in one sport too early. They think they need to focus on one sport, but don’t realize how playing multiple sports in high school can actually help you once it’s time to specialize.

ES: Yeah, that’s very true. I totally agree with you. I don’t know what the kids are doing nowadays, but I would definitely encourage anybody that’s interested in pursuing professional sports to play as many different sports as they can handle growing up. It will only help you in the long run.

JM: What are your personal goals for this upcoming season?

ES: I don’t really keep track of any personal goals. I’m trying to get better every single day. Every practice gives you an opportunity to get better. As a team, our main goal is to win a National Championship. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.

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