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Inside the Den
Inside the Den provides a high-access look at the daily grind and academic growth of Arkansas State student-athletes. The series demonstrates the direct link between the Red Wolves Foundation and the resources that drive player success. This is a transparent look at how your support provides the scholarships and professional tools necessary to build a championship culture in Jonesboro.
Inside the Den
Beyond the Talent: Why Mental Toughness Wins Games With Wil Paxton and Ryan Reese
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Standards don’t magically appear on Saturdays. They’re built on random Tuesdays, in meeting rooms, in the weight room, and in the way we talk to each other when nobody’s watching. Justin Parks sits down with Arkansas State football players Wil Saxton and Ryan Reese for a real look at how a program creates buy-in, protects its culture, and pushes players to grow up fast.
Wil shares his journey from a tiny high school in Yazoo City, Mississippi, where he did everything on the field, to Southern Miss, to taking the transfer portal leap that brought him to Jonesboro. Ryan breaks down what it’s like coming up in Birmingham’s high-competition football scene, how training resources shaped his approach, and the wild recruiting twist that moved him from offensive line to defensive line. We also talk about what sealed the deal on their official visit, and why “football is valued here” isn’t just talk when the whole building lives it.
Then we get into the stuff that decides seasons: leadership and mental toughness. What do you do when you’re new and don’t have the pull yet? How do you hold teammates to the standard without crossing lines? Justin lays out the difference between leaders and enforcers, and the guys explain how connection makes effort easier. We also dig into the true student-athlete schedule, the pressure of performance, the pain of limited snaps, and how perseverance changes your story.
We close with the bigger college football picture: NIL benefits, transfer portal consequences, donor impact, community pride, and the goals we’re chasing this year, from all-conference to championships. If you care about Arkansas State, college football culture, leadership development, and what players actually live day to day, this one is for you.
Subscribe, share the show with a Red Wolves fan, and leave a review. What part of football do you think most people still don’t understand? @Arkansasstatemedianetwork
0:00 Welcome To Inside The Den
0:45 Will Saxton’s Road To A-State
2:37 The Daily Standard And Culture
4:21 Ryan Reese’s Birmingham Foundation
7:05 Switching Positions And Getting Recruited
10:57 Learning To Lead With Respect
16:03 Managing Life As Student Athletes
19:25 Best Moments And Mental Toughness
24:37 Who Brings The Most Energy
25:35 Unseen Work In The Trenches
29:19 Community Pride And Donor Impact
31:50 NIL Benefits And New Problems
35:37 Season Goals And Big Expectations
37:28 Fourth And One And Team Connection
39:01 Thanks, Advice, And Subscribe
We are Arkansas State Football.
Welcome To Inside The Den
SPEAKER_03All right guys, welcome to the second episode of Inside the Den with your host Justin Parks. I'm joined by two of our incredible athletes, one Will Saxton, one Ryan Reese. Will?
SPEAKER_02Justin, I thank you for letting us come here today. My name is Will Saxton. I'm from Yazoo City, Mississippi, and this is my senior year.
SPEAKER_01So same thing. Just appreciate the opportunity. My name's Ryan Reese from Birmingham, Alabama, and I'm a sophomore. D tackle. Will, so um, Yazoo, Mississippi.
SPEAKER_03So you know, well, obviously you played with Ruckett last year. Did you know Corey Rucker before Arkansas State?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's a question I get asked a lot. People ask me that a lot. And uh yeah, I didn't know Ruck. I didn't know, like, I didn't know Ruck personally, but I knew of Ruck. You know, he was a big name guy in Yesu City, and Yesu City's so small.
SPEAKER_03So it was kind of Yeah, I remember Ruck uh when I first got up here, man. He was one of the first ones, you know, introduced himself to me, you know, real down to earth guy just coming off his 300 and whatever yard game he had first ULM's freshman year. So I was in early in Role Lee, just trying to, you know, keep my head above water, you know, and that was one of the first people who introduced me, uh introduced himself to me, talked to me, made made it feel A stayed at home, right? You know, so you know, normally guy like that, you know, you have the conception, oh, he's gonna have to be kid and not taught me, but he's one of the down most down-to-earth humans, you know.
Will Saxton’s Road To A-State
SPEAKER_03So, like, can you you know tell me about your story leading up to here? You know, I've obviously played you before uh in Southern Midst. So like just the whole dynamic of everything.
SPEAKER_02Well, the high school, I'll start with my high school. The high school I went to, I think we had around 200 people in the whole school. And I played offense, defense, special teams. I even kicked field goals at some point, and uh I kicked off. No, yeah, I know people don't believe me when I say that. But if uh I think my senior year, we had 19 football players. Got 19?
SPEAKER_03Wait, 19. So you were playing offense, defense, I was playing everything you can think of.
SPEAKER_02God, I played, I had a tight end package. I even played one time, but uh leaving Ben Academy, I went to uh Southern Miss and I was there for three years, you know, met a lot of good people, had a had a good time down there, I enjoyed it, and then entered the transfer portal, and you know, Butch reached out to me, and like Ruck, he reached out to me. And it I knew some people down here, and you know, we have Kenyon Clay and Ethan Crawford that came here too. So it was it was an easy transformation from coming from Southern Messi to here and uh glad I made the choice.
SPEAKER_03So like being here now, like seeing how we operate on a day-to-day basis, how has that like you know, helped you, I feel like, elevate your
The Daily Standard And Culture
SPEAKER_03game?
SPEAKER_02Right. Well, I just feel like football is taken very seriously here. And you know, we have a standard and our coach puts it, you know, four to six A to B every day. So I feel like that's something that you know, if you can push yourself to be four to six A to B every day, it'll make you a better player.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, I feel like the thing I respect the most, to be honest with you, like I obviously came in like a little later last year, obviously, but uh, you know, like it's just you know, the passion that you have for a program. You don't see a transfer usually come in and like show that type of passion, you know. It's all about me, me, me. You get what I'm saying? But just to see, like even now, just the consistent like, just the energy you bring to practice, just like just the love of the game, you know. I feel like, you know, you may not know it, but like that truly inspire others. Like, I'm obviously I'm coaching defense, I'm all about defense success, but like, you know, see you just you know, talk, talk a little bit, you know what I'm saying, just having fun, expressing emotion, bro. You don't see that too too much, you know, nowadays. So like I like I truly respect it. I feel like I don't coach a whole lot, you know, obviously, but I feel like you're just easier to coach, you know what I'm saying? You like you said, that high standard you was talking about, I see on the sidelines. Hey, let's go when you're not in, like coaching the young guys, bro. You don't understand like how much value I feel like that brings to the program.
SPEAKER_02So well, it makes it easier when you got guys like this that you you know you compete with every day and make you better.
SPEAKER_03And 205.
SPEAKER_02We have a great defensive line that pushes us, and you know, I think this is one of the best offensive lines that Arkansas State's had in a few years. I think we're I think we're three deep, and we all three deep could play on Saturdays, and but we wouldn't be that way without a really good defensive line. So I appreciate that, Ryan.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I agree. That's real. Yeah, Ryan. So
Ryan Reese’s Birmingham Foundation
SPEAKER_03obviously, you know, Ramsey High School, you know what I'm saying? Birmingham, Alabama. So like can you just talk to us about your you know journey here, you know what I'm saying? Like recruiting, you know. Obviously, I played in Birmingham area as well, Gardener High School, even though you're gonna be like, that ain't Birmingham, but you know what I'm saying. It ain't Birmingham Flying Jade. I 65, but uh so like you just told me. Oh my god, here you go, bruh. All right, go ahead, go ahead. But no, but so like you just like you know talk to us about you know your journey, you know what I'm saying? Like one thing people don't realize about Birmingham, just the level of competition. I feel like that firmly got me ready to play in college, you know what I'm saying. Playing against, you know, Kool-Aid McKinstries, you know what I'm saying? Mike Sharp before he got here, just uh squirrel right white. He was at Tennessee when the Florida State, you know what I'm saying, like the constant competition that you play on a week basis. How did that, you know, get you prepared to get here? You know?
SPEAKER_01Well, I just say like it's a lot of competition in Birmingham, but it's also like a lot of resources. So like it's hard when you're playing against Parker. They got Naeem Offer, who was at Oregon, Jordan Crawford, who's at Auburn right now, and they got all these big names, but also it's like you got so many resources to get better. Like, for example, you got Coach L, who like a lot of people go to. Right. Uh I I used to go to Coach Mike as well, and like he's just a big guy, like real mental part of the game. Like, he's gonna get you better, yeah. Like waist and stuff, but like he real, like, really helped me like mentally as well. Yeah, but I just feel like with like Birmingham, I really appreciate just like end up going there because you know, I was really zoned for Gardendale at first. Yeah, I know, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, you want to talk about me.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, I just really appreciate just end up going to Ramsey uh inner city school and just like learning how to play ball.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Now I feel like um, yeah, speaking of Mike, I seen Mike work out with Jeremiah Alexander, uh Alabama one day, and I just seen him because I worked out with Coach Jet, same gym, and it was funny like seeing how Mike, you know, pushed Jeremiah, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's one thing I do as time went on. Like before I got to high school, we didn't have that many now, is like every part of the city got a personal trainer or whatever. So that's facts. So like I had that. Yeah, I know it. It's crazy. Like a lot, see, that's how I felt about Atlanta before I got to high school. Atlanta had all the resources. Now we're starting to get some of the resources that Atlanta got, but Atlanta's still like kind of light years ahead of us right now.
SPEAKER_02In the summertime, we were flipping hay bells for conditions. Flipping hay bells, that's crazy. Haybells and tires. Our practice field was in the middle of a hay field. We'd be practicing and they'd be cutting hay around us.
SPEAKER_03That's crazy, right? So they make it tough. You got to get it how you live. That's right. But you probably don't know. I had a I got a goat for him, right? Like COVID, we was I wasn't. There we go. Everything. Y'all got a whole goat for him, work on tackling, go out there and catch a goat and catch a chicken. Yeah, it was crazy. That was like the all the work that you can get. But it's crazy looking back on that time, man. COVID was crazy. COVID was like, can y'all got to take OVs, then get take one official visit. It was just like at home, you know what I'm saying, doing Zoom visits. Like they got so old, so fast. Like that was that was like insane. But um, so like, so talk to me about your story here, like kind of like how your recruitment process went throughout the whole my like recruiting process was low-key
Switching Positions And Getting Recruited
SPEAKER_03crazy.
SPEAKER_01So I started off as an old lime in high school, which is crazy. I was like 220, like coming in. And so I played O line my freshman year, sophomore year, and my junior year. Well, my dad was the D-line coach. My junior year, my dad like wanted me to like just play like D-line just a little bit, not much, but like big packages, like goal line stuff. And so I played a little bit. And then my first uh defensive line oh actually did not come like from a coach watching me play football. Yeah, it came from like I was playing basketball. Troy was recruiting my brother, uh, and they came to one of our basketball games, and they just seen me, they really did see me who and threw me an offer D-line. He's not hooping career. You're right, I wasn't, but I know you feel what I'm saying? And then I was like, okay, so this might this might be where I need to be at D-line if this is what the coaches want to see. So I started I started just like working O-line and D-line, like in the spring, summer, and then come to season. I I was playing both, and then in second to last game of the of the season, we played Carver High School, and I ended up going crazy that game. I had seven sacks, eleven tackles, seven sacks. No one lie. Nah, nah. No one lie. But then I was real like I think the only school that really wanted me right then was like Jacksonville State. And I think a week before my no, actually a day before my OV at Jacksonville State, I got a call from Arkansas State, Coast Kwan, and he was like, we just love the way you play, and like we want to offer you, and don't sign no papers yet, but but I want to like we want to take you on the OV here. And once I took the OV, I was like, yeah, this is all.
SPEAKER_03That's a good question. So, really question for both of y'all what made you fall in love on your official visit to Arkansas State?
SPEAKER_02For me, it was kind of like the love of like I kind of brought it up earlier, like how much football is valued here. And like there's a standard to play here, and not a lot of people can play here. And we got a hard-nosed football coach, and you know, I love to be pushed, and he pushes everybody every day. And you know, I kind of seen the culture that we had here and the connection, that was a big part of it. And uh, I was like, I can I can definitely play here for sure. So it was pretty easy.
SPEAKER_01No doubt. For me, it's kind of crazy, like, yeah, the culture, but like the person who really showed me the culture is uh, do you remember Jack Muller? Yeah, yeah. He he showed me the coach, like real deal, like when he's showing us the recruits and stuff, like he's real deal, like showing energy, and I'm like, like, not even just like the players got it or like the coaches got it, like it's going all the way down to him. Like, it's real deal, like love for the game, right? Around here, not even just for the players, right?
SPEAKER_03It's crazy. Yeah, now Jack, I wanted to, I felt like he could have been like a great, if he was just staying, I felt he'd been like a great coach, like one of people that could just break down safety to me, my sophomore year. When he was like just analyzing the game, you know, safety play. Like, I feel like he, you know, he did a lot of good things for us, you know. So it's it's funny you say that, like, but it does trickle down all the way to basically AT, a lady trainer. You got to define the screen. Like, exactly. Like, it's it's real deal.
Learning To Lead With Respect
SPEAKER_03Um, so what like what leadership qualities have you gained, like being here? Like I was saying, like, because obviously you leave the old live room. Like, how like, you know, but do you feel like that was like natural, or do you feel like you kind of had to be pushed, then it became like second nature?
SPEAKER_02Well, for me, I felt like, you know, when I first got here, I wasn't a leader because you know, I didn't feel like I had the pull to be a leader when I just got here, and I didn't want to come in here and overstep my boundaries. And uh I feel like for me, I got to know everybody real well, and uh I got I started playing really well, and people started to see, you know, what I was doing, and I was able to take over that leadership role and be a leader for the guys. Uh, I mean, I feel like, you know, at the end of the day, it was kind of like, you know, about how like we play. Like I know Ryan's the leader of the defensive line, and everybody's gonna do what Ryan Reese does. And you know, I feel like me being a leader, I want everybody to play with the same energy that I have.
SPEAKER_03Correct.
SPEAKER_01Uh for me, it's like when I got here, it was pretty much the same. I'm a freshman. I ain't I ain't trying to just go over here and just like go crazy, like you need to do this, you need to do that, because like no one gonna really like people gonna listen to me, but it's like as a freshman, it was like but like coming into this year, I was like the only returning defensive tackle, and we got some guys in my class who still return. But like now, I understand the standard more than like mostly everybody else in the room, and so like I realize like some people like understand like what like they look at my my play and realize like how they're supposed to play now, but also just like with leadership, just learning like how to lead and like how to connect with everybody else, because like I ain't gonna lie at Ramsey, like all black school, like if you if you didn't uh understand like what was going on, if if you was like messing around and like not doing what you're supposed to do, we're putting hands on you. It wasn't no talking, it wasn't a lot of talking. Like you get like a couple words out of me and then you get in these hands. Yeah, but but now I'm just like I'm I'm not finna just keep putting putting my hands on everybody just because like not everybody can respond to that, and that ain't gonna help everybody. So you gotta learn how to like just have like a man-to-man conversation with somebody, like, hey, like on some real, on some real on the real, you need to pick it up, you know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03I feel like that's the biggest thing, like that nobody understands that leadership is just so hard. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, because like obviously as a freshman, I came in, you know, he made me a special teams captain, you know, just the hard work ethic, the care I took in it. I wasn't really working anything on defense at the moment. I'm only 175 pounds this time as a freshman. But you know, I had to, you know, I led my position, I led my class. Like, I agree with you. As a freshman coming in, then you come in as a transfer, it's hard to lead when for me, it's hard to lead somebody that's 25 years old. You know what I'm saying? Like, they ain't gonna listen to me. You know what I'm saying? They got more with not wisdom, but they older than me. Some people don't have more wisdom because they got losing habits. But um, I feel like one thing like I challenge y'all, especially, is just like y'all doing a good job leading. It's just like y'all can lead, but it's also good to bring the people up around you because it's gonna be hard. Like, I feel like I'm one of the best leaders, you know. But I I can admit some of my downfalls. There's some days I came out there and like, you know what I'm saying? I didn't operate, I did what I needed to do, but I didn't like bring nobody along or like somebody didn't, you know what I'm saying, run to the ball. I ain't say nothing because I'm tired. Like, you know what I'm saying? I'm running to the ball, but I'm too tired to say something. But it's good to have leaders, but it's also good to build people up around you and have enforcers, you know what I'm saying, in the room. So it's gonna be a leader and an enforcer. I tell somebody all the time, they be like, I'll be like, bro, why you didn't tell me to tuck your shirt in? Well, coach, I ain't the leader, but no, you enforce the culture. It's leaders and enforcers. You know what I'm saying? The more enforcers you have on the team, you good. You're gonna have, it's gonna be one or two leaders. Everybody not built to be a leader, but one thing you gotta have is enforcers. Like, you know, and I always had that mindset. And one thing I could go back and do is I could like, I wish I could go back and be like, hey, bring some more people to enforce it. You know what I'm saying? We were good, but I felt like we could have been a championship team. When I play, it's just having enforcers. That's in life. You're gonna own a company, you're gonna have the the head guy, and then you're gonna have a vice president. You know what I'm saying? Your vice president, he's still a leader, but he's more of the enforcement, reinforcing everything you say, you know what I'm saying? But you gotta live by what you preaching every day.
SPEAKER_02Unless kind of like what you said, like lead by example. Like you can't say you can't get on to somebody for doing something that you're not doing. Yeah. Like, and that's that's not that's not what a leader does.
SPEAKER_03Right. It's not, it's not, you know, people, one thing about a leader, they're gonna find any little thing that you do wrong and they're gonna pick it up. Any little thing, like, and they're gonna try to like make something big out of it, you know what I'm saying? So you gotta like always be on your 10 P's and Q's every day.
Managing Life As Student Athletes
SPEAKER_03So now transition to you know, day-to-day life, you know, being this being a student athlete obviously ain't easy, you know what I'm saying? Like you gotta do the demands of the work in the classroom, but then you're gonna end up having more work on the field with film studies. So, like, how do y'all kind of like you know, operate on a day-to-day basis? You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_02Like, well, I feel like for me, you know, we you know, we don't get out till late. So uh I try to go home and you know, if I have a lot of homework, I try to get two or three assignments done before I go to bed. And I I try to keep it up, like keep up with it through the week, just so you know, when it's Sunday and everything's due, you know, with film and practice and everything else, you don't have to rush to get it done. Uh, you know, I'm a grad student, so I'm not in class anymore. So that's a that's a big thing for me. It's a blessing. That's a little bit harder, but yeah, it's it is a plus though once you get them done. But you know, I like to I wake up every morning and drink a cup of coffee and get ready for my lift and then go to lift, and as soon as lift's over, you know, we're straight into meetings. And like I said, when I get home, I do all my homework and make sure I stay on top of that stuff.
SPEAKER_01Uh for me, it's like like with football, it's kind of like early in the morning and like in the evening. So I try to get all my class stuff done like in between that time. So like right now I got a class at 8, 10, and 8, 10, and 1. So like I'll get done with that 8 o'clock class and try to get the work in like that 9 to like 8, 9 to 9:30, 9.45 type range, get to my 10, you know, like kind of work like that, and then go to go to practice, stuff like that, get some treatment, probably watch a little bit of film afterwards, and then as soon as I get home, like it ain't no playing game no more. It's time to go to sleep.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it'd be so funny, man. I like sometimes I want to go and play that game when I was a player, and then it'd just be like I don't have one. Yeah. For real? I don't have one. It was me up until my sophomore yeah. I had to get one though. I was I was driving myself crazy, like in the summer, be bored. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I don't mind double workshop though, which because y'all say that all the time. It's real though. You do some crazy stuff when you're uh bored, bro. You get bored, you just do stuff you have and do, yeah, whatever. But uh yeah, one thing I like kind of how I went here, undergrad, like I said, undergrad, like especially my first two years, like you're hearing all this like spooky stories about college. So you're just like, man, I ain't gonna even bring my game up here. Like two years, I'm up here doing my work. You know what I'm saying? If I get some free time, I get some extra work in, you know what I'm saying? I like to go to a movie, kind of like seeing what Jonesboro is really like about like knowing the different places, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I was I won't consider myself country because I came from a city, but I have a country family, so I have a lot of country habits. But like just going out hunting, you know, fishing, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I really want to go. I haven't been I've been deer home once, didn't see a deer at all. If I probably would have seen, I probably would have missed too. You know what I'm saying? Back then, I won't miss now. But uh I won't miss now.
SPEAKER_02But uh like shooting videos at the range.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm shooting. I'm legit, I'm legit, I'm legit now though. But um, no, like it's definitely I say one thing about college that nobody really like, you know, understands on the outside, especially college athletics. You meet so many people from so many different parts of the United States, and then like you just bring all that together, and then like you just learn so much, even not even in the classroom, but just in life, like how certain people operate. Like, I know if you go to New York, some people are kind of like mean up there. Like you just hear stories about like you can't hold the door for people in New York, yeah. People southern hospitality, they come up north, come down here and get some southern hospitality. They just like they just ain't never seen nothing like that. So I think it's truly like, you know, amazing to see that though, like in college athletics.
Best Moments And Mental Toughness
SPEAKER_03So, you know, obviously you playing a thousand over a thousand snaps last year for us, you know what I'm saying? Did you have like what was like your greatest moment last year?
SPEAKER_02Uh greatest moment last year was definitely Texas State. Uh we scored on the last play of the game to win it. Yeah, well, it was like eight seconds left and won that game. And I think that kind of flipped our I mean, I don't think it did. It did flip our momentum because I think we won five straight after that. And then uh bowl game was a special moment too. Now, I mean, yeah winning the bowl game. I was at Southern Miss my freshman year. We won one bowl game, we won the uh Linden Tree Bowl, and then we didn't make it the next two years, and then my first year here, we could go to a bowl game, so that's kind of special to me.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember the ventures, man. That that was special to me, bruh. Especially the first time. We lost the one the year before the Camellia was in Montgomery, and then like that. You just had that whole offseason of going two and ten, you know, then three and nine, then losing the bowl game after getting there. I think like that meant so much they at least let me get one before I left. I'll never forget that. I know you're finna say the sack. The sack and the bowl guy.
SPEAKER_01For real, though. But for real though, like just like being able to like ball out in the bowl game, like it really meant something to me because like going throughout the season, like I played a lot, like for the first four games, and then once we got the conference play, it was like I was getting like four, four plays, three plays, no, no plays. And so like I was trying to like understand like what I could do to get on the field. And like I re couple nights just going going home just crying. Like, I call calling my dad, like, what do I need to do? But he was just like, just put your head down, keep working, like just be just keep being around. And that's all I really could do. And then we got to the bowl game. I remember I think the second practice, Wheels and Scout team, Coach Pitt, hey Reese. He was like, You know your place? I was like, Yes, sir. He was like, Alright, just making sure. And then once we got in the ball game, it was all from there.
SPEAKER_03It went that far. Yeah. No, that's one thing, you know, just that one decision of like, I think a lot of people give up so easy. Like, that's one thing, you know, y'all boys can attest to it, but like, you know, me being here playing four years, you know, coaching going on year two now, it's just the mental, bro. Like, I don't think people talk about that enough. Mental, mental, mental. Like the ability to, you know, just persevere through, you know, adversity. You know what I'm saying? Like, I've seen some of the most talented people like just tap out mentally. Like, cause you could have think about life just gives us so many scenarios. You could have gone the whole opposite way of, man, I'm not playing, you know. I'ma just go out, you know, just being honest. I'm gonna go out and drink, you know, doing what I ain't supposed to do, you know what I'm saying? Every day after practice, not looking my plays, and then coach, you know, coach Pitt coming ask you, hey, you know your plays. You you might lie, you might end up lying and be like, yeah, coach, and then you know, you run into different stunts, you run the wrong stunt. We supposed to be just sitting there, and then now you just loop it all around, like just doing crazy things, you know what I'm saying? You miss I miss ideas and stuff. Like, I don't think people understand, like you just can't give up. Like, it's been times where you know I could have injury, like injury kills so many people in the game of football. Like, you know, like me, I could have been done after my second shoulder surgery, like mentally. I'd be like, man, I'm tired of football. But like I never experienced that ball game if I don't persevere through it. So it's like like that's what goes along with that like leadership thing, you know. Like when you got like a testimony or you're hearing somebody giving the testimony, like just being able to spread that knowledge, bro, that's gonna help y'all too. Cause like a lot of teammates are quit from injury. Like, I had to save a lot of teammates from quitting from injuries, bro. Like, um, when y'all go through, you just like I think the biggest thing about injury is just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and just taking it day by day, you know. So you're gonna have some good days, bad days, but you know, you gotta like just make every day count. Because you wish your life away, then one day you're gonna be out of college into the real world, and it's like man, it's so it's so different.
Who Brings The Most Energy
SPEAKER_03Um so who brings the most energy on staffs? It's taking y'all too long.
SPEAKER_02Justin Park.
SPEAKER_03There we go.
SPEAKER_02Nah, legit, legit, though. I mean, staff. Uh I'll always see you juiced up on the field. Uh offense, Omar. I gotta go with Omar. Omar's a juice guy on offense.
SPEAKER_03Omar do be jumping around, you know what I'm saying? Sometimes I think it'd be faking it. Omar, shout out to Omar. I mean, yeah, of course I'm gonna say you.
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_03Of course, y'all better say me, bro. I'd be out there with a headache every day. You do? I'd be having a sort of thing. Swearage, I was sweating. I had to rub my head like this during the scrimmage after all that yelling, you get lightheaded.
SPEAKER_01It's like but the only person I say like other you is like is Coach Mount. Yeah. Like I love Malcolm Show. I love Malcolm Sheers, too. I I literally like like I see us making plays, and I literally see Malk like running, jumping, and everything. Yeah, everything like you could think of just showing energy.
SPEAKER_03I think the funniest thing I think it was like a uh spring scrimmage, or I think it was just a practice, spring practice. This man, somebody catches a pick, runs out of the side, and Flair knocks him out. I see that. We watched the whole film. That was the funniest thing I seen them out. Oh my god, that was so funny, bro. I was like crying. We was in D staff crying tears. Like, that was funny, man. He gets right back up, though. The one thing he got up. Grip just got knocked over in the uh scrimmage too. For real? Yeah, he just got knocked over. Uh, I think they caught a ball. Trey had taken him out of back. Grip like, yeah, I missed that one. I didn't see that one.
Unseen Work In The Trenches
SPEAKER_03So obviously, offensive line, probably one of the most, you have to be kind of, you know, it's a testament to your character, like just hearing you talk now, but it's definitely one of the most unselfish positions. Because you're not gonna get none of the glory, you know what I'm saying? You're not gonna get a Heisman, none of that. You're not probably not gonna all conference player of the week, all conference all American. You're gonna get all American, but I'm just saying, like conference player of the week, you're probably not gonna get it, but you dictate so much of the success. Like, so how do you like, how do you, you know what I'm saying, like operate, you know, knowing that, you know what I'm saying? Like, right.
SPEAKER_02Well, Coach Grimes, uh, he kind of he makes jokes all the time. It's called the Mushroom Society.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know, uh, you just don't get any love. And I mean, which it's it's not a bad thing because you know, if you're if you're wanting love for the game, then you're not in it for the right reason, you know. And uh for me, you know, I love to see when a running back comes off my hip and takes it for 60. I mean, I feel like I have more joy for for that than people have for you know him scoring the touchdown. And uh, I'm the first to get down there and celebrate. But you know, at the end of the day, it's for my for my brothers, you know, and uh no offense to the defensive line or or Ryan or anything, but you know, uh you hear about an offensive lineman giving up two sacks, you know, he's you know, yeah, people think he's not worth anything, but you have 80 snaps a game, and you know, the other part of the game, he's getting, you know, he's locking people up. But you know, it's just like goes back to the mushroom society, you know. We're you know, we're just like the little mushrooms on the bottom of it.
SPEAKER_03It's crazy. Yeah, it's funny is like D-Line. I feel like O-line and DB is kind of like operating the same because you you just mentioned 80 plays, I give up two snaps. Right. Nobody's gonna remember those 78 78 plays. Like Corner, for example. Corner go out there and lock down Jamar Chase, 79 snaps. He gets a one D ball, now he sucks. You know what I'm saying? He could be for games, so it's just like you gotta constantly really any position, especially y'all as well, but like, like any position you play, like especially offensive line DB, like you gotta have a snapping clear mentality for real, as Coach Jones always say, and then you just gotta have like, you know, you just gotta like treat every play like a life of his own, bro. Cause like you go out there and you know what I'm saying, you think about the last play on 10-yard catch, and then you give up uh 80-yard touchdown, it's like it's just it's like it's really kill it be killed, like survival out there. Yeah, that's why I love it though. That's one thing that kept me in playing DV, like sometimes that keeps you going, like make you live a life on edge a little bit. But obviously, D Lie, I feel like you're a little bit more critic than the offensive lineup. But how's it like, you know, feel just taking pride and like stopping the run?
SPEAKER_01You know what I'm saying? Oh, like I ain't gonna lie, like I love pass rush, but like I love I love like going to team run. And like it's uh it might sound weird, but like if I if I'm able to take on like two people, like I'm I'm happy because I know my linebacker should be filling that gap. You know what I'm saying? But if I take on two people and he busts a run, yeah, oh I'm T. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03Yeah. No, that's definitely, you know, it all it always starts up front though, I feel like. Yeah.
Community Pride And Donor Impact
SPEAKER_03So now I really feel like just like one of the bigger things is just like the community, you know what I'm saying? Like I've had multiple, you know, I have still have a great relationship with most of our donors, you know, on campus, you know what I'm saying, in the community. Like, how big has, you know, all the outside, like the golfing tournaments, you know what I'm saying, just the community service, how big, you know, how big of an impact has that had on you guys, you know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, you know, for me, like I like I met some, my family met some people down here like before I even got to Jonesboro. And uh they knew those people, and those people ended up being, you know, really big donors for Arkansas State. And, you know, like they see you out in public, they love on you, you know. You you see anybody, people see you out in public and they know you're a football player, and they they want to talk to you and they want to love on you, and that's awesome. And like you said, with the community service, going to the schools and seeing all the kids and how excited the kids get to see us, it it's a big impact just for me, knowing that I made an impact on the little kids' life.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I just feel like like it's like a sense of pride, like playing at Arkansas State. Like, I I barely wear clothes that's that's not like this, right? You know what I mean? So it's just like going out and people recognizing like you as like an Arkansas State football player, it's like it really means something to you, you know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03No, I absolutely agree though. Like, I don't think people, you know what I'm saying, especially this community, like you got so many people in the community, especially people that come up and cook for us on Thanksgiving, that provide meals over the weekend in the summers. I feel like, you know, it's one of the biggest things, you know, the donor impact, you know what I'm saying? Obviously, you guys, you know, benefit from NIL. We're gonna get into that topic here in a second, but just like I feel like the community, you know, the impact they have on us, like it drives so much success, you know, a lot of behind the scenes stuff, you know, be able to have food in the weight room, you know, snacks after nutrition, you know what I'm saying? Like providing that new, what, $20 million uh indoor, I think. Yeah, they provided as well. So like agency what's so cool about it, like not that many people know about it either. But I had somebody who won't me, you know, did the tour for me and all those names, like on the I guess the opposite side on that wall, those people that contributed to building the indoor and it's one of the better ones in the conference. I think we like one that has the true like indoor.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so it's like I don't think I really really shout out to y'all though. I think they they help us out a lot, though. It's it means a lot.
NIL Benefits And New Problems
SPEAKER_03So how do you so just transition kind of like NIL? So how how big of an impact, you know, does you feel like that had has it had for you guys? And then just like you know, college football, you know, in general?
SPEAKER_02I feel like it's had a great impact on me, you know, uh coming from a school where I didn't really make anything, and then I came here, and you know, we're not gonna get into none of that. Yeah, but it's uh you know, it's it's beneficial, and you know, it helps me in any ways, many ways, you know, paying rent for houses and uh, you know, I know a lot of people that didn't have NIL like several years ago. I mean, people worked and you have to pay for everything, and it's been beneficial because people really and truly in the outside world don't know what we go through every day. And uh it it means a lot to players that we get this, and so yeah, I absolutely agree.
SPEAKER_03Like, I just think a lot of people don't understand just the dynamics of hey, like, you know, like you mentioned, like I was born before NIL, like, especially my first year, I had to go work a job in the summer just to provide because you gotta think about it. You're in a whole nother state, you know what I'm saying? You're expected to gain weight, then you know, you're gonna run a lot. And then, you know what I'm saying. So, you know, to gain weight, I gotta be able to have money and cooking and like us college athletes, you know, like back in the day, we weren't making no money. So it's just like you had to go get it on your own. You had to go from conditioning to go work a job and like to go do it all over again in the summer. And so I feel like it's a true thing because NCAA really makes a lot of money on college football. Like, you know, I just did, like we said, I'm in grad school as well. So we just did a whole like fiscal year for you know, athletics for let's say an SEC school, and you see, hey, football is making this, and then every other sport is making this, and then just the the revenue it generates, like I feel like, you know, athletes deserve, you know, turkey jersey sales, you know what I'm saying? Like just the br your brand that you make. I feel like athletes definitely deserve it.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, I definitely feel like it's I definitely feel like it's deserving though, just because like like Will said, like we go through a lot. Like it ain't it ain't easy being a it ain't easy being a uh college athlete, like like waking up at six o'clock, going to sleep at like 10, you know what I'm saying? You're up that whole whole time, like no breaks, like it's hard. And I feel like like the stuff that we do get, like it is deserving for us. Now I do feel like as a whole, it kind of tore college football apart. Now I heard that they trying to get like a appeal to like you only get like one transfer now. Yeah. But like when you got kids that's just not in just because they love football, they end it because they lose money. You feel what I'm saying? And it's like you gonna you're gonna transfer here and there just because like you're trying to figure out like where can I get the most money, not like what's gonna really develop you the best. Right.
SPEAKER_03Chasing logos. Right, yeah. Yeah, no, that's legit, though. Like, I feel like the unless they get under control though, you kind of like you losing a relationship since, but I feel like we do a great job of like just like you know, creating new ones though. You know what I'm saying? I feel like you're gonna lose a lot of friends, you're not gonna really lose it, but you it's not gonna be the same, because obviously they transferred, then you create new ones though, but you'll still have those old ones because you still share blood, sweat, and tears from the past, though. But um, no, that's it goes either way. But I hope they get like under control though. I'm all for it, you know, making money like we do, like I said, we definitely deserve it. Just like having like just some structure here. Yeah, just find the model, just to have some structure.
SPEAKER_02Instead of just money everywhere.
SPEAKER_03Because it can go, it can get so much worse than people don't realize, but you know, it's definitely, I'd say, a blessing. You know, it's just good to see, good to see
Season Goals And Big Expectations
SPEAKER_03it. But um, so what are like, you know, the goals, you know, that you guys have for yourself this season and just really for yourself and also, you know what I'm saying, the team as well.
SPEAKER_02Uh for myself, you know, uh, I want to be first team all conference, you know. That's a that's a big thing. I haven't been selected on any teams, and I've started for the last three years. So I feel like, you know, that's a big goal of mine. And uh for the team, of course, you know, win a conference championship. And uh I think we have the team to do it. Yeah, I think we've got a really good team on both sides of the ball. And uh for the you know, just for everybody is just I won't, you know, I won't win a conference championship and go to a bowl game and get two rings.
SPEAKER_03So that definitely be lovely. Yeah, that be number three for me though.
SPEAKER_01And I remember like talking to a coach, oh, like in fourth and what meetings, and he was like, he feels like we had a team to like go to the college football playoffs, like JM, you did it last year, like why not us? You know what I'm saying? And I ain't gonna lie, at first, like when he first said that, I'm like, like, what are you talking about? But like now, like like it kept on replaying in my mind of like what he said, I'm like, we can actually do this, like and especially practicing with my phone, especially practicing with like everybody, and I'm like, man, we're really, we're really good this year. Like, I feel like we can really like go to the college football playoffs and just some personal goals for me is like, of course, like all conference. I want like I want I want to at least have like 10 sex, well, tis tis a little OD, but I do want to have 10 sex this year. Yeah, like that's just one of my big goals that I always wanted.
SPEAKER_03So speaking, you brought up four for one, which is great.
Fourth And One And Team Connection
SPEAKER_03Like, I feel I was one of like the most, you know what I'm saying? A lot of guys, you know, you have guys that don't really like open up in it, but like, you know, not me just being a leader, but the person that I am. Like, I kind of like always like say, hey, this is what I got going on in life. This is some of the things I did in the past that then, you know, help me on the field or off the field. Or some days I just go strictly off the field because you know what I'm saying, like you, if you don't do what you're supposed to do off the field, you know what I'm saying, you you ain't gonna have a chance to get on the field, you know what I'm saying? So how do you feel like that's impacted you, y'all two, since y'all been here? You know, obviously you talked about just the realization that hey, like I could really go to a college football playoff, you know what I'm saying? Like just playing it over and over again. Like, how's it been, you know, for you guys?
SPEAKER_02Oh, like I'm I'm Coach Griff, and you know, Coach Griff, he's a big energy guy, likes to talk. And he uh, you know, he kind of makes it feel like you can say whatever. And I feel like doing the small groups that we do in fourth and one, everybody has a chance to open up and connect with your teammates. And that's kind of I mean, that's a big deal because just like you kind of talked about the mental health thing. Like if somebody's going through something and we're in a fourth and one and a question or something pops up, it'll slip out of somebody's mouth, and you see it, and you're like, okay, you know, I can go talk to that guy, I can I can help him if he needs help, you know. And uh you kind of just hear everybody's story, and I feel like that's a good thing knowing everybody's story. Like Butch said the other day, we have 107 people on our team and we have 107 different personalities.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So like, there you go. Who are you gonna say? Um, really, just I think like in going through four for one, like it allowed me to play so much. I don't know if y'all can attest to it, but it allowed me to play so much harder for my teammates, though. Like saying like what love for your teammates, knowing their stories. Right. So much more love. It's like, all right, hey, I'm sacrificing this, my mama going through this, my dad going through this. But then you're saying, like, oh, like oh, his parents, like, you know, died at an early age, and he's still I'm complaining about, you know, this little thing going on in my life, you know, and he going through this. Right. All right, like, you know, forget how I feel today. Like, I gotta go harder for him. And like I that's one thing I respected about the program. It just teaches so much about just on-the-field scenarios, how hard football can be with just off the field. Like, hey, like, you know, in my life, you know, like I kind of always piggyback on what other people do. Like, if they say, hey, they wake up in the morning, you know what I'm saying? Like, I think Chelsea last week had a great um just saying, like, of he don't even wake up in the morning, just look at his phone immediately. He just gets his day started, he prayed, you know what I'm saying, called the week, you know, he love, you know, it's like, dang, like, I need to start doing that. I wake up in the morning, I look at my phone and I'm scrolling through social media and it's like, dang, like I it hit me down inside, it's like, dang, like, you know, I gotta I gotta tighten up, you know what I'm saying? I didn't hit up the people I love, you know what I'm saying, before I go check out social media, seeing what somebody else is doing that, you know what I'm saying? I necessarily don't, you know what I'm saying, know or love, you know what I'm saying?
Thanks, Advice, And Subscribe
SPEAKER_03But um, no, I definitely really appreciate y'all being on the show, you know what I'm saying? I feel like, you know, y'all, I'm really looking forward, I expect a lot of things out of y'all boys for real. You know what I'm saying? Y'all know I'm always around and building anything y'all need with leadership, things like that. I got y'all, you know, um, I'm really excited about what y'all finna do this season, what we're gonna do. I just say, bruh, just keep taking it day by day, you know what I'm saying? Keep challenging your teammates, you know what I'm saying? Because your only strongest, your weakest link, you know what I'm saying? Just keep, you know, being a mentor I've seen you guys being. Um, and that's gonna bring us to another, you know, episode of Inside the Den. You know, I want to thank these guys for being here. Um, and obviously follow and subscribe at Arkansas State Media Network. And um, looking forward to seeing y'all back next week.