Rae Juan Marbley talked to reporters today. Here's what Tulane's starting middle linebacker had to say:
What does it feel like to be Tulane's starting middle linebacker for the opening game of your senior year?
"It's a great opportunity. I'm ready to go out and show what I'm capable of. It's a shot I've been waiting for for a long time. I'm ready to go out on the big stage and make it happen."
How long has it seemed like this wait's been?
"It's been forever, but I'm a person that believes in trusting the process. I feel like everything happens for a reason, so I feel like it's my time to shine and make it count."
Will you try to copy Nico Marley or be your own man?
"I'm definitely going to be my own guy. I'm a hustle, work-hard player in everything I do."
Nico had the lion inside of him. What about you?
"I've definitely got to work on something. In the fourth quarter when everyone's tired, I'll have to find it deep in myself to pull through and grind it out."
What's it like calling the defensive signals?
"It's been great training. I've always been in a leadership role since high school. I was the captain of the wrestling team in my freshman year, so I've always been in a leadership position. It's just something natural for me. I'm glad I can take my leadership position to this big stage and bring it to Tulane University and the national level."
How did wrestling help football?
"It's definitely helped a lot. Wrestling has a really gritty mentality. A lot of the success is based on yourself. I had to bring that aspect to me. I had to work on my game and improve myself. I also have to bring that work ethic to my teammates and bring the joy and the attitude so it rubs off on everyone else. I know if I come with the work-hustle mentality, it pulls over to guys like Rod Teamer and Donnie Lewis and Parry Nickerson. A lot of us are work-hustle guys, and we all bring that mentality together."
Can you talk about cleaning 400 pounds?
"That was actually a goal I had since my sophomore year of high school. I hit 315 in my sophomore year of high school, and I told my coach before I graduate from college, I want to hit 400. He was like you have to work hard to do it. I told coach (Kyle) Speer the vision I had when he first came in here, and we got it done."
Did that win the players' respect?
"I think a lot of people respected me before that, just from my leadership role. A lot of guys followed me. Sometimes I like to talk, but a lot of times I like to lead by my actions. A lot of guys had seen my actions before that and were really proud I was able to accomplish that goal?"
What was it like turning on SportsCenter and seeing yourself?
"It was crazy. I was going out for my mom's birthday, and I had a message from Bleacher Report and it was like, hey, can we use your video. When it hit SportsCenter, I was like this is the craziest thing that ever happened to me. It's been pretty amazing."
What does it feel like to be Tulane's starting middle linebacker for the opening game of your senior year?
"It's a great opportunity. I'm ready to go out and show what I'm capable of. It's a shot I've been waiting for for a long time. I'm ready to go out on the big stage and make it happen."
How long has it seemed like this wait's been?
"It's been forever, but I'm a person that believes in trusting the process. I feel like everything happens for a reason, so I feel like it's my time to shine and make it count."
Will you try to copy Nico Marley or be your own man?
"I'm definitely going to be my own guy. I'm a hustle, work-hard player in everything I do."
Nico had the lion inside of him. What about you?
"I've definitely got to work on something. In the fourth quarter when everyone's tired, I'll have to find it deep in myself to pull through and grind it out."
What's it like calling the defensive signals?
"It's been great training. I've always been in a leadership role since high school. I was the captain of the wrestling team in my freshman year, so I've always been in a leadership position. It's just something natural for me. I'm glad I can take my leadership position to this big stage and bring it to Tulane University and the national level."
How did wrestling help football?
"It's definitely helped a lot. Wrestling has a really gritty mentality. A lot of the success is based on yourself. I had to bring that aspect to me. I had to work on my game and improve myself. I also have to bring that work ethic to my teammates and bring the joy and the attitude so it rubs off on everyone else. I know if I come with the work-hustle mentality, it pulls over to guys like Rod Teamer and Donnie Lewis and Parry Nickerson. A lot of us are work-hustle guys, and we all bring that mentality together."
Can you talk about cleaning 400 pounds?
"That was actually a goal I had since my sophomore year of high school. I hit 315 in my sophomore year of high school, and I told my coach before I graduate from college, I want to hit 400. He was like you have to work hard to do it. I told coach (Kyle) Speer the vision I had when he first came in here, and we got it done."
Did that win the players' respect?
"I think a lot of people respected me before that, just from my leadership role. A lot of guys followed me. Sometimes I like to talk, but a lot of times I like to lead by my actions. A lot of guys had seen my actions before that and were really proud I was able to accomplish that goal?"
What was it like turning on SportsCenter and seeing yourself?
"It was crazy. I was going out for my mom's birthday, and I had a message from Bleacher Report and it was like, hey, can we use your video. When it hit SportsCenter, I was like this is the craziest thing that ever happened to me. It's been pretty amazing."