EXCLUSIVE | LB Keylan Moses previews his Freshman Season with LSU Football and MORE

All right, welcome in here to a special edition here on Tingler Coas. We have a very, very special guest. Keelan Moses, LSU linebacker, former U High standout, has joined us today. Keelan, thank you for coming in. Any time. Appreciate you making the time for us. But yeah, we'll get started just with the offseason. How's everything going? Transitioning from high school to university, even though it's not a very far transition. How's everything going? Honestly, for me, everything's going pretty good. Like I said before, honestly, I'm making sure I'm really just taking it all in. It's different. I'll say that it's definitely different from high school. You can't just be athletic. You've got to, like I said, learn the technicalities of the game and understand that everybody's good. So you've got to push yourself and wake up with it on your mind every day because there's somebody out there, no matter if it's on the team or somebody else in the SEC willing to take your cheese. So personally, I don't want nobody to take my job or take my money away from me. So I'm going to work the hardest of my ability to do what I can to save my job or take somebody else's. Yeah, and I mean, from everything we've seen on social media, whether it's LSU putting it out or y'all putting it out, where it's these weight room videos of everybody getting after it, you got Bordelon banging his head against a weight bar. People are bench pressing or something. Energy seems contagious, and that's part of that. It's a little bit different than the high school weight room to the college weight room. What's that been like? It's been extremely fun looking up to those guys. And obviously, like you said, the energy is contagious, and you can't do nothing but want to win. Everybody's on the same page. And Coach Flint, our strength and conditioning coach, actually said this is our closest team we've ever had. And looking at it from a freshman standpoint, it definitely sets the standard for the future. But right now, we're in the present, and we're focused on the national championship, being still around in January. And that's all we've been praising, 1-0 each day. And I live by that. I want to become 1% better at least each day. And like I said, the energy is contagious. And being around those guys, you want to do nothing but work hard and work your butt off. So it just feels good to be around people who really just genuinely want to win. Yeah, no, I mean, it's been awesome seeing your growth from seventh or eighth grade to now. Yeah. I don't know if you know this, and I didn't tell you beforehand, but one of my younger cousins played for Parkview, the same class as you. And when y'all ran, I think, seventh grade. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. About took his head off. No, I remember that game. He's on the huddle? Yeah. I remember that game. I think I had scored both touchdowns. Me and one of my best friends, Alec, he was on Parkview at the time. But when he came into high school, he transferred to U High. But they tried to make it a rival, but it really wasn't. I don't know. I remember that was the first time I was introduced to you, because obviously, we had known about your older brother. You took his head off, and I looked at my grandfather, and I was like, I think that's the most he knows. He was like, yeah, yeah. If I didn't know, I know now. But so that was your, my cousin's, welcome to big boy football moment was when he met up with you on the field. But you're seeing your growth from then to now, where you were always the best athlete on the field, or you were Dylan Moses' little brother to now you making your own name, being the four star, one of the top linebackers in the country, and now getting to LSU, and just seeing where that maturation for you, where it's no longer just your name or being the best athlete. It's, I want to be the best football player and the best person that I can be. What's that been like for you? In this past month, it's definitely been ups and downs, really. You really have to have the mentality to go into it, to attack the day each and every day. Because the mental health aspect, not too many people realize it's real. There's been plenty of times I sat in my room alone. I mean, obviously I'm from here, but actually being alone, being in college, it's different. And being around guys that are actually good, you start to question, well, dang, do I really belong here? Is it really meant to be? So you really just have to think positive thoughts, have it on your mind each and every day, and understand your time is going to come. You're on God's timing, not your time, and you just have to be patient. And look at the little wins. You made it through the workout today, you got 1% better today. You got the plays right, you're confident on defense when you're going through play-around practice. You just got to look at the little things and maximize them to the best of your ability. And I'll say, yeah, it's been hard for me, because like I said before, going from one of the top linebackers or top players in the country to just another number, it's hard. It really is hard. It's definitely a humbling experience. And I've been trying to gather my faith and really realize that considering I'm here by myself, that you're not entirely by yourself. You have the Lord next to you. He's always going to be there no matter what. And I've been going to Bible study recently, and one thing that still resonates with me today, which also happened like, what, three, four weeks ago? Got to minimize you to maximize your glory. And like I said earlier, I've been feeling so little compared to these All-Americans. They definitely set the standard for LBU. And I feel like, well, this is off topic, but I feel like we have the best linebacker court in the country. In the country. Going on down, whether it's Harold, Witt, Wes, we got Devon. We got Tylan. We got Zach Weeks, Jaden Brinker, Charles Ross. It's guys on top of guys on top of guys. I mean, all of us are together. And it gives a family aspect to it. And honestly, it definitely was a deal breaker. It made me realize this is the reason why I came there this year. It's exactly what I thought it was going to be. But going back to what I was saying, it's hard. It is. Not everybody wants to do it. Not everybody wants to wake up every morning at 7 AM and have a schedule, do right by their schedule, be disciplined. Not everybody wants to do that. And that's why not everybody plays football, especially makes it to the college level. So like I said, I want to do enough to keep my job and stay on the football team and make the most out of my opportunity. And by doing that, I got to stay disciplined. I got to stay consistent. And I got to have a good head on my shoulders. It's hard, but you got to just keep going. And for somebody like you that's so mentally talented, it'd be so easy for like, I mean, I'm going to get by. Like you were able to do it, obviously, in high school. Yeah, exactly. If you didn't work, you'd have been all state. Exactly. Getting whatever offer you wanted. No, like to go on to what you said, I was hurt. And I still made all district. I still made all metro. Like, yeah, I did enough to get by. But that doesn't fly here at LSU. You can't just get by, especially considered everything's recorded. Everything. You cannot skip reps. You cannot lack. You cannot be lackadaisical. You can't do any of that, because it's all recorded. I could show you the app on my phone, the last workout I had. It will tell you, oh, you went 80%. Oh, you did this. You maxed. I'm like, well, dang. That's federal. That's really federal. You're really telling me like, oh, I'm not going as hard as I was. I was going 100. Yeah, I felt like I really was, but you're telling me I'm going 80. So I'm like, yeah, I leave. Yeah, there's something in there. And then, like, no, it's live. So like, the coach will pull me over. He'll be like, is something wrong? Like, what's going on? And I mean, I'm thinking, like, was he watching me? Like, yeah, like, how'd you know? Like, he was like, yeah, I realize, like, you weren't going as fast or hard as you usually do. So like, are you good? And I'm like, well, I mean, my hamstring is a little tight. You know, I don't feel that good today. He was like, well, if you need anything, I mean, try and see how this feels. If it doesn't feel as good as you need it to be, then, you know, such and so, you know, we'll make adjustments. But that's the benefit of it, though. Yeah, that is the benefit of it. But like, it's hard because you've got to bring it every single day. And you can't lack, so, because everything's recorded. Yeah, because the catapult's cool to us. Like, we'll see, like, you know, you get the information. We're like, oh, this is awesome. You get it real time. And you're like, damn, this catapult's got everything. Yeah, and then, like, it's the heart. Exactly, yeah. I know exactly what you're talking about. Exactly, so even in the weight room, they have this little, like, iPad thing. And then they have a little camera set up. I just realized that you can see everything on our workout, like, everything. Like, I just realized that was a camera recording the whole time. And I was like, oh, man. Also, you've seen me mess up. I hope Coach didn't watch today. Yeah, I hope he didn't watch today. So I'm like, oh, yeah, I got to bring it every day because everything's recorded. But yeah. But for you, I mean, you have one of the cooler dynamics where you've got an old brother that's gone through this and was able to kind of lay the groundwork for you and talk you through some of these things. And then you also are able to do that same thing for your younger brother. Talk about that dynamic between you three and just how that's all been able to work for you. Now, a lot of people, and I mean a lot of people, when I was younger, a little bit younger than I am now, everybody used to say, oh, you only got your offer because of your brother, this and that. But honestly, looking at it, I was a little upset because they're discrediting my work and the work I put in because the coach isn't going to say, oh, you're dealing with Moses' brother. I just know you're good. What? No. Like, I'm big, I'm fast, I'm versatile. Like, obviously I have the traits of a collegiate player and they see my potential, so they're going to offer me. You know, and obviously what people don't understand is that these offers really aren't real. They're not committable until they send you the letter. So if I'm being honest with you, towards my senior year, I really only had three. Oregon, Texas A&M, and LSU, those were the only schools that sent me letters. So out of all the 30 plus schools I had offers from, yeah, it looks good on social media, but they aren't real. So at the end of the day, with my brother, it was definitely, I'm definitely grateful, extremely grateful to see that he was before me because a lot of people don't know, like, he's one of my biggest influences. Like, without him, I don't know where I would be because he's what got me into football, you know, watching him and his process. And honestly, he taught me just watching. You know, he didn't even have to say anything. Now, obviously we would have our talks and, you know, our sit downs and our walkthroughs and our workouts, but just sitting there watching him, like, everything he does, like, I want to be just like him. You know, when I was younger, I felt like he was a superhero. I felt like he could do anything. And I was like, dang, I want to be just like this dude, like, just like him from the T. And it got to a point where I started to dress like him. I started to play like him. I started to do his celebration, like everything he did. I wanted to play linebacker and running back, just like him. So watching him and his process definitely helped me, you know, make my way and make my own path because it allowed me to do, know what to do and what not to do. And Emmanuel, he has no room to mess up. Like, no, no excuse. Like, you have two, two stars as brothers to really show you what to do and what not to do. This path works. Yeah, it definitely works. And obviously you can see, like, he has offers from Ohio State, Florida State, Vanderbilt. Like he has, like, and at first he wasn't like me and Dylan. You know, he was the, he was Pequeno. Right. He was petite and he wasn't, you know, he's just now starting to get, you know, ripped. And I'm like, I'll be looking at him sometime. Like, oh, you think you big? Cause like the thing with him is his body is like real defined so he looks bigger than he actually looks, you know? Like he doesn't realize how big he looks. And obviously he's a DB, but the bigger he gets he might just turn into a linebacker because of how ripped he looks and how strong he is. So, you know, the dynamic between us three is really just following the same path but not necessarily the wrong doings. Cause like, obviously you've seen what we did and not to put his business out there, but like there's this one school that he really, really liked and just like me, he wanted to commit early. But why do that when in this day and age, NIL is- Right, so much can change. Yeah, so like you can negotiate, you can, you know get your worth because I feel like in Dylan's day and age he didn't have that. In my day and age, it was getting started, but like- Cool. Man, you get bagged, bro. Like you could literally get a bag in high school. So like, do you bro, like have fun with the process and go wherever you want. And I told him, considering I'm making what I'm making I will continue to help you whatever you want. I will send you money for plane flights, whatever. You can go all across the world if you want to cause I want you to have that experience. Cause with me, I only traveled down South cause honestly, it was just me and my mom just riding around. There was one weekend we went to Houston, Texas and Texas A&M. The next weekend we went to Florida, Florida State, FAMU. There was another school, but I forgot. Yeah, Miami. Like we went all over the place in one weekend but there was only so many places I could go cause like, honestly, I didn't have it like that for real. But like, considering I can help, I will because I want you to experience everything I didn't experience. So the dynamic is pretty good. And I feel like, you know, the path works pretty well. So I think you should use it. What's, what was it like getting to play with your brother last season? Your senior season, his freshman year. Yeah. What was that like? It was great. Like you can't, you think you're running away from me whole time you running into him. Right. Like there's been plenty of instances where people will try and run towards him and not know like he will hit you. Like he's not scared. And that's what makes him different from any other DB. Right. Like he likes to hit. He actually wants you to run to him. Well, that's credit to you and Dylan. That's the youngest brother. He got bullied. Yeah. He wants you to do that. So like, there's been times where like teams will try and pick on him and do that. But like, I don't think you want to do that because he's just as bad as me. Yeah. So like, you know, getting a chance to experience that having him on the field is, it was really good. And that's why I told you, like I told you before I wanted to come back from my injury and play that. Yeah. Play that or finish that season because I knew I wasn't going to get that back. Because honestly, if I'm being completely honest I don't think he's coming to LSU. So like, I mean, I can't speak for his rookie presence because like, he wants to be different. He wants to do what he has to do to, you know be different and not be labeled as Dylan Moses and Keeley Moses' little brother. Right. Which from that aspect you have to do things that are different, which is, you know obviously you got BAM, you got LSU and those are two great offers to have but why not go up North? Why not make a name for yourself and go out West? Or maybe even go toward the East. Like there's nothing wrong with that. Just make your own story, be your own person and nothing's wrong with that. And I'm sure it was pretty awesome for your mom last year to get to sit there and watch you all. A shirt with both of our names on it. I was about to say the split jersey. Yeah, the split jersey. She could have three. Exactly. So like, it was really cool. And you know, whenever he, I ain't gonna lie it was aggravating though. It was really aggravating. Cause like, I'll tell him what to do. He'll mess up and mind you I'm a hothead, but like I can control myself. He's way worse. He is way worse. So like having him on the field, I'll talk to him and honestly, I'll say this as sometimes he will have problems dealing with confidence because of, you know, me being on the field with him and you know, me, you know, overtaking the light at times. And sometimes he would doubt himself. And you know, there's this one picture I have of me talking to him because like I'm telling him you could play your own game. You know, I'm always here for you. If you need something, if you have a question to ask like just be you, be yourself and play your game. And that's really what it is. And I actually have that picture. I don't know where it is, but I'm gonna find it. And I'm gonna probably send it to y'all. It's, I just wanted him to play his game and not live up to, you know, me or Dylan. Like just have fun, bro. At the end of the day, it's football. And a lot of people start to let social media play a real big role in how they play. Now, obviously social media does play a big role. You know, they got some guys that are just ranked because of their social media status. And that's facts, like genuinely. But you know, as for social media, it helps with your marketing and NIL and this and that but it doesn't mean nothing to the game if you're not having fun. So like I wanted him to have fun because I feel like I told him, we've had plenty of talks. And my sophomore year was one of my hardest years. But I feel like I wasn't necessarily having fun that year. I was trying to live up to being a five star or the number one linebacker in the nation. Now I did become the number one linebacker in the nation but I wasn't necessarily having fun because I was so worried about being at my best or being the best on the field. But you can do that while having fun. So that's really what I was trying to reiterate to him that you can have fun. It's a game. Yeah, it's just football. We grew up playing this game for fun and now that money's getting involved, oh, it's getting serious. That should be even more of a reason to have fun. You're getting money to have fun. To play the game. So that's just really what it is. And I'm just telling them, if you overthink it, you're gonna mess up. So if you just do what you have to do and have fun, everything's gonna come, I promise you. From y'all's perspective, it does. It's such an interesting dynamic because the Moses name does bear weight in Louisiana. Exactly. What your brother did, what you've done, and now how your brother is playing at that level already. And it does feel like there's an added level of pressure when you talk about the mental part of football or trying to have the mental health of it all. But for you, I think you'd be a great advocate for it. And I saw you did a podcast on it. But who else would you rather listen to than somebody that's been through it from a totally different dynamic than anybody else? You've seen it through both lenses because of the way that your brother's recruitment played out where he's on the cover of ESPN, the magazine, in eighth grade, and he's committed to LSU. And then you see the flip to Alabama and you see how the state can react, like even to you whenever you were like, oh, I've got LSU offer. And then they say stuff like this about you. He's like, bro, he's a kid. And he's trying to have fun with his recruitment commitment. Like you only get to do it once. And I just don't understand how people can react that way. But from your perspective, how much do you think that helps with Emmanuel? I know it helps him a lot. I know he relies on me and Dylan to really just tell him certain things. Like there's been some instances he'll come stay at my dorm and just after practicing, just talk about his 707 that day. And I'll break down the film and ask him why are you not coming to your D3? Why are you not doing your job? Like, what'd you see here? And he'll tell me and break it down. And I'll be like, okay, I have a better understanding of why you did this, but next time just do your job. And I definitely know it helped because like there's been plenty of instances I felt the way he felt. I mean, I was behind the number one player in the nation. Like Dylan was astonishing. Like, especially like, bro, if you seen dude take his shirt off, he looked like Superman. And I had to live with that every day and like looking at how hard he worked and his work ethic and, you know, he lived, breathed and just everything was- Ate football. Football. So like looking at it, you're like, dang, am I really enough for that? Can I really do that? Can I mimic that? Can I even be him? Can I replicate that? But my thing is I wanted to make my own name. I wanted to have my own story. And obviously in our games, you could definitely tell there's a huge difference. Like, I'm gonna be honest, out of all the brothers, I feel like I'm the most fun to watch because I genuinely enjoy the game and I play the game with full emotion. Like whenever I make a huge play, the crowd goes wild and they wait for me to go freaking crazy. Like I go crazy. And like, that's one of the main reasons I came to LSU because I know I could be myself and be that animal that we can definitely so-called use. Like a lot of people fuel off my fire and I didn't realize that until like what, my senior year where like, I would say I was more in my head about doing everybody else's job instead of mine. And like, towards the end, before I got hurt, like one of the last games of the season, I genuinely just let it all go. I took a deep breath and I played the game for fun. But, and I realized like, if you're in your head thinking like- You're slow. Yeah, you're gonna be slow. You're gonna misread. You're gonna hit the gap slow and you're gonna overthink. Like there's this one play that really, I'm not gonna lie, pisses me off every time I look back at it. We had, we was playing Catholic and I don't know what I was thinking. I know exactly what I was thinking, but I was at linebacker and they ran a stretch play. I think the offensive lineman misread or did something wrong, but the gap was wide open. I could have killed the running back in the backfield, but I don't know what I was thinking. I think- About to injure this man. I think I tried to beat him to where he was gonna be because I thought he was gonna be afraid to go into the gap. So I went diagonal instead of straight into my gap. He cut right under me, but luckily the D tackle cleaned my mess up. But like, it's just little stuff like that. Like I would overthink instead of like doing my job genuinely. And it also didn't help that I didn't start at linebacker until my junior year. You know, I didn't play linebacker my whole high school career. I played D-line. I played D-end. I played what in this day and age, I played star. I played what? Running back. Yeah. So like I played everything- Quarterback, kick returner. Exactly, quarterback, kick returner. I played everything but my main position. So how can I have, you know, some sort of practice or knowledge of what I can do besides me watching the game of football and understanding the game of football when I haven't played the position until my junior year? So the thing with Emmanuel, I'll take what I've learned and what I've done throughout high school and what I felt throughout high school and I pour it all into him so he doesn't make the same mistakes, so he can be his best self. And he listens. There's been plenty of instances, not to get all emotional and stuff, but like while I'd come in his room, even my senior year, I felt like I was having a down year. Like that was probably one of my worst years of my high school career because I was overthinking, because I was in my head, because I wanted to, I felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted this to be my biggest year and I wanted to, I had certain goals for myself, so I wasn't necessarily having fun trying to exceed those goals, but I feel like if I had fun and played free and did my job, I would've been, once again, I would've stayed the number one linebacker in the nation and I would've stayed, what? Top three in Louisiana. I would've stayed top 100 in the country. But things happen for a reason and I learned, I lived and I learned and I pass it down to Emmanuel so he doesn't make the same mistakes as me. And I say this to him all the time and it pisses him off. I'm like, dude, you can try too hard. Yeah. Because I'm very relaxed about how I'd like, how we go about our business. He's very much a planner, but there are times you can overstep where you're thinking about something so much that you actually end up doing the one thing you don't want to do, which is make a mistake. Exactly. If you go out there and play free and have fun, then the game kind of comes to you a little bit. Exactly. That's what I'll try and tell Emmanuel every time or every chance I get to and I just really don't want him to mess up and overthink his way out of making plays. But that's where the athleticism helps. Exactly. You are gifted. Exactly. He's extremely athletic. And if you've seen him now, you would think he's in college. Right. He's a really, he's getting bigger. The genetics thing is starting to hit. He's starting to get his growth spurt. The Moses is kicking in. Exactly. The Moses is starting to kick in. He's starting to actually look like a Moses. And like he, the mindset he has, he's hungry because he feels disrespected. I think they have him at what, a three star right now. He's aiming to get his fourth, what, maybe even fifth star. But like, I tell him like, That don't matter. Exactly. It really doesn't matter. Cause when you get to college, all that stuff goes out the door. And I've thought about that. Like, oh, he's a five star, this and that. No, he came in as a, I don't care, bro. I really don't. Put the pads on. Exactly. Right. Like, I ain't gonna lie, I be talking my stuff to Bower Shark every day. He talks back, no doubt. No, he does. But I tell him, I'm like, I hope you ready for fall camp. Like, excuse my French, but I'm on that ass. I want you. Even, even Caden Durham. I'm like, oh yeah, I want you too. Cause like, even before he committed to LSU, I feel like I was a, I wasn't a huge part, but I played a part in him committing there. Cause I was like, you know, it would be great for you to come here. Cause when I come, you know, the practice is going to be great. You know, I'm going to always challenge you. I'm going to always bring the best out of you. And now that it's here, I mean, it's only a matter of time that I could be on your trail. So like, I'd be on, I'd be talking to him, and you know, my guys on the offensive side, like I'm a real competitive person really. And considering, like I said, I haven't put on pads since October. Right. I am so hungry. I'm so hungry. Itching. Like I said, I'm itching. I'm itching to put the pads on and just, just tap somebody. That's all. Just love. Let them know. Yeah. Just look, just let them know like, oh, he the real deal. He here for a reason. He not BSing. Like he actually knows what he's doing. Like there've been instances where I'm in my room, just watching the game of football and understanding things I can, things that I can do to better my game. Now I'm not going to lie. When I was, before I came here, I used to watch perk highlights, wit highlights over and over and over again, to really just vision myself making those plays like, and understand like, at the end of the day, they just playing football. Right. They're just having fun and doing their job to the best of their ability. And I had envisioned myself like, to be honest, looking at it, I can do that too. All I need is an opportunity. And I still do it to this day. Like there was a couple, like a couple of nights ago, I was in my room watching, you know, the overshown guy from the Cowboys. He was a rookie, but like the way he played, he played like a maniac. Like he played having fun. Once again, perk highlights, wit highlights, you know, those guys are killing because they're having fun with the game. And if you truly love this game, like you're gonna like, you're gonna kill, you're gonna do whatever you want to do because at the end of the day, you're having fun. So honestly, I'm just waiting on my opportunity to show the coaches and really myself to prove to myself, like I'm really capable of doing whatever I can do. And, you know, I'm really capable of doing like, I never seen one in here before. I'm really doing, I'm really capable of doing what I can, you know, I'm all, I just want to prove to myself that I'm, yeah, I am who I say I am. So I'm just waiting on my opportunity. Yeah. And you talk about, I mean, first off, if you're talking about players, having fun on the field, what weeks is like the poster boy for it. Cause he's smiling the whole time. Yeah. And it's kind of like crazy. Like you just kill him and you smile. Like I'll be yelling, screaming, you know, beating on my chest, thumping on the ground, but like, he laughing at you ear to ear. He's laughing at you like the Joker. I'm like, Oh yeah. That's what crazy crazy. That's what I'm about to say. You're talking about learning the position of linebacker. Yeah. You're in a room with guys like wit West perk where it's like you're going to get to soak all that information in all that knowledge from those guys. What's it like being in a linebacker room that's built like that? Oh, it's a blessing because like I said, I'm legit behind two future buckets award winning finalists. And it means so much because they've been in the program. They know the standard and they've made plays and they're both all Americans. So like they understand what it takes to get there. And I tell them, I actually asked perk the other day, like, you know, how was your freshman year here? And how'd you get on the field? Like, what did you do to maximize your opportunity? He was just telling me like, bro, take special team serious first off. Cause a lot of guys overlooked that, but when your opportunity come or whenever you do get on the field, make sure you make it known that they can't keep you off the field. Right. So like do whatever you can to like kill, yeah. Kill your opponent in front of you. No matter what it is, no matter if it's kickoff punt, punt return, kickoff return, like kill at least you get on the field. Right. And then like, they'll understand like, Oh, he, he got that fire in him. We got to make a package or we got to do this. And we, and then with that, you got to understand the playbook and this and that. But like I said before, the playbook is not hard. Yeah. Now it's a lot. Yeah. It's definitely a lot from high school, but with my knowledge of the game and understanding my keys as a linebacker, it's really not that hard. Yeah. You just got to know your job, especially with me playing Will linebacker. Like the thing with me is I don't necessarily want to play Mike linebacker. Like, yeah, you get paid a lot by, you know, because you're the quarterback of the defense and you got that green dot, but ultimately I want to do my job selfishly. Like I don't want to have to worry about what, what, what little Jimmy got going on over there or how to set the front. I want somebody else to do that so I can just go see ball and get ball. And I told coach, coach Baker that like, you want the full potential out of me, put me at Will. And he was like, okay, you're playing Will. And I'm like, thank you. There you go. I really appreciate it. And yeah, that'll take it right into this defensive coaching staff feels like a, like a dream team with Blake Baker, Kevin Peoples, Kyle Williams, Corey Raymond, Jacob, the whole crew like feels like a dream team of coaches on the defensive staff. Yeah. Talk about those guys and kind of what they've meant so far while you've been on campus. So far, I mean, we haven't necessarily seen them because like it's summer right. And I'm, I think it's illegal. I think so. Like, you know, I don't think they've really gotten the chance or I, me personally, I haven't necessarily seen the full potential of their coaching, but from what I've seen and what the spring practices, right. You know, a little bit of last year, like I feel like offenses like coming up to this year should be really scared, like really, really scared for what's going to come. Yeah. Especially Clemson. Like that's going to be a crazy game to experience, especially with me actually being there. Like I'm actually on the sideline. I'm actually going to be there. I might actually get a chance to play like running down. I'll kick the first time. That's going to be like a crazy moment. So like hang that thing up for a second. I'm going to be like really visualizing like, bro, I'm here. Yeah. And then like, it's actually like in my eyes, I thought first game was supposed to be a neutral site. Why are we playing? Why are we playing in South Carolina? Which I mean, I'm not scared or anything. It's just like, I feel like that's a little unfair. Like, yeah. Like who would want to play at LSU their first game? They have to next year. Exactly. Yeah. And that thing was scheduled in 2015. Nobody thought of it. And it's like, oh, it's here. Yeah. It's a future problem, but now it's here. But I mean, BK puts the flame on the fire too. Yeah. So I feel like honestly, offenses should be scared for what's going to come because we have the guys, obviously the transfer portal guys coming in and fitting in very well. Like, you would think like they're from Louisiana, the way they are now. That's been the craziest thing, seeing it. Like, it seems like everybody's met like Pieburn. Yeah. Like they've all meshed. Barry Brown. Yes. I had to look up where he was from. I was like, that guy screams Louisiana. Yeah. Like we're all, like you would think he's from like Lafayette or something or like up North from in Louisiana, but like we're all together. And I'm sitting here like taking it all in. Like, oh yeah, this might be a good year for us. Now, obviously we all have to be on the same page, you know, coaching wise and you know, player wise, but I feel like we got the guys to do it. We just have to believe in our coaches and believe in the plan and understand that the leaders can only take us so far. We all have to come together and mold together as one and be a rolling stone. And I've heard you talk about leadership before on previous podcasts. And this is before kind of LSU was kind of wayward defensively and you were watching from the, you know, from the stands. Oh yeah, definitely. And you're like, I just don't feel like there's a real true leader on this team. And I think that's what they were lacking last year, especially when Witt got hurt, when Perk got hurt, nobody necessarily stepped up, but looking at it now, we have guys, a lot of guys that are hungry, that are willing to kill for the purple and gold and really willing to die on the field. You know, like I ain't gonna lie. I'm gonna tell y'all this story. We're running, we're running our, 110s. You know, our 110s, you know, we're naturally you get tired, but for me, I run next to Perk and Wes on purpose because I want to push them. But I also want to push myself because I know they're gonna, they're gonna be, you know, the leaders of the run. So I'm, you know, it's kind of hard. The coaches at first, when we weren't really around the players, the summer enrollees, the coaches would tell us, get our hands off our hips or get our hands off our knees. Ain't no air down there. Yeah. The players tell you the same thing and it's hard. You gotta twist around, act like you not tired. I do this. I try and do this. I swear, I lift my hands up and just, it look like I'm praising the Lord, but I'm really trying to get some breath because I can't have my hands down here. I'll sometimes grab my shorts. He'll still hit my hand. I'm like, God, damn it. I'll act like I'm tying my shoe whole time. I'm getting the breath. So like, there's definitely ways to it. But like, to get back onto the story, it's, we're on, we're on like 10 and at this point you starting to feel it. Right. And, Wes says something, he like, man, I'll die out here for this ----. I look at him, I'm like, you got it. You got it bro. At that very moment, I knew what type of player he was. And definitely he continues to not only push me, but the people around him. And I think what, he's a fifth year. Yeah. Like he's hungry. He wants to get a national championship. Everybody wants to get a national championship. And to do that, you have to push yourself past the limit. You have to break that comfortability and that you have to make that edge. You got to make, you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Exactly. And you, you know, like when you go camping and you're trying to make like a spear or something, you've got to make that edge. You got to carve it until it's sharp. And I feel like we're not at our sharpest point right now, but as fall camp begins, I feel like we'll understand what we can do and can't do. And we'll continue to get sharp until, you know, August 30th come. You got a spear. Yeah. It's time to hunt. The funniest thing, like now I've just, I just thought of this, like the dynamic between the Weeks and the Moses's isn't that different. It really isn't. So like, you know, Zach will come over to my crib sometimes. We'll talk, you know, and honestly looking at it from his perspective, I understand you, I mean, we in the same position. Obviously he's the baby, but like, you know, Wits, the middle child, you know, sometimes I'll talk to him. It's a little hard to understand what his country accent, but like, yeah, he understands like they all understand because they understand, you know, the dynamic between the brothers, you know, and coming together as one and understanding like, I mean, you're your own person. Like Wes, I feel like is, well in my eyes, really vocal. Wit is a playmaker. I mean, he's vocal, but not as vocal as Wes. It's what I've seen. Obviously I haven't been there before what, like a month and a half, but Wes will get on your tail. He will tell you. Big brother. Yeah. He, he really is. And Wit, you know, he, he has that edge, but like, I think he kind of lets Wes do all the talking until it's his time. So like, I mean, I kind of understand that because I'm the middle child. I want to, I want to have fun. Yeah. I just want to play the game. You know, I want to prove to you that I can do it. I don't want to just say it. So like, yeah, with that, I feel like it's kind of cool because like, y'all understand why I'm coming from. So. And I feel like the next question I was going to ask you about the defense's mindset. And I feel like that quote you just gave from Wes is like the exact replica of what the defense's mindset is going to be. That's old LSU. Yeah. Like the defensive mindset is to attack, you know, kill each and every bot, every person in front of you, no matter who it is. Now, obviously do your job, but like do it to your best ability, because at the end of the day, our main goal is the main goal, national championship, be able to play what in January, be still around in January. So like to do that, you have to have this mental edge to attack the day each and every single day, you have to attack your workouts. You have to be intentional with a lot of things, especially on the defensive side. Like we carry the team. We're like the heart, but the offense is the soul. You can't move or think without your soul, but you can't love the game or do this or have a feel for the game without your heart. Yeah. So like, obviously we need each other to win the game, but like, you know, you have your significant roles as to one another. So like there's, there's a way of saying it, but like with, with our mental edge, I feel like day by day we're attacking it. And I'm starting to understand, like, we really do have guys that are willing to like, I said, dive for this game. And to be honest, Parker told me like, man, you really got to love it. Like you really do. Like no matter if you tired, no matter if you fatigued, you got to love that. Cause a lot of people don't have the opportunity to get up and run. A lot of people don't have the opportunity to have people around them. So that loves a certain aspect of life. Just like them. A lot of people don't have what we have in general. So you should be grateful and really just love the game for what it is. Because if you love the game, no matter how hard the work is to get to where you want to be, it doesn't matter. It, it never mattered. Ultimately it's just football. And if you love football, you're going to get far. So I took that from what he said and I applied to my life each and every single day. Like, obviously I love the game, but it's to a point like, I ain't gonna lie, it's hot out here. I ain't gonna lie, these elements getting to me. Now, obviously I don't say it, but your body language shows it. So like you're on your knees or like hands on your knees, hands on your hip. You can't show any weakness at all because our mental edge shows that we're ready for anything. We're ready for war. And to be a warrior, you can't show no necessary weakness at any time. But so. Because you're going to go up against other elite athletes. If you see that, like, oh, they're done. Exactly. If they see that, like. You get an edge. Yeah. If I see that you tired, I'm like, oh yeah, one last blow, I got him. Oh, are you tired? All right. Now I'm finna give you my best. Oh, you tired? Make him quit. Now I'm finna kill you. Oh, you thought that, you thought you was, you thought that was it? Oh no. I'm finna come with some extra. you really can't show any weakness. Cause like, in the SEC is different. Like, it ain't the big 10. Now the big 10 has some good teams, but the SEC South football, is different. It's a monster. Exactly. They run around 110 degree heat. Exactly. It's 85 up there. It's different. It's different down South. No matter where it is, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida. Like, we have dogs, no matter what it is. And, if you love the game, you're going to be a dog regardless. Yeah. Well, I'll tell you one thing. You, you are like impressive, just from a maturation standpoint. Like I hope you know, it is not normal. The maturity you have, the mindset that you have. And I think we are all very, very excited to see you in the purple and gold. Yeah. This coming season. You feel like it's the right choice, right? Oh, definitely. Like actually being here, like I said, it definitely feels good to know, like I made the right choice in being here. Now I've told this to like a couple of people, like, man, I could have went anywhere and been guaranteed a starting, a starting job. I could have been anywhere and guarantee what a loads amount of money, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna get real close. It is different when you really from here. Yeah. It is different when, you earn what you want instead of just having it. I feel like if it was given, if it was given to me, I would have the chance to get the big head. I would become complacent being here around these guys. You're nothing but hungry because ultimately you want what they have. Oh, you want, you got all American, you got this and that. Damn. I dreamed of that. And it makes you nothing but hungry. So like, obviously, like I said, I could have went anywhere, but it just hits different when you earned it. You earned it. It's even better when you could take it from somebody. And like, the thing with me is, like I said, I haven't played a down a football since October. And it gets me real anxious to know, like I get to hit somebody. So, and it becomes real like in a, in a week. So like, man, like I might just hurt myself with like the feelings I'm feeling like I'm really amped up because like dog, I haven't played the game I love and so long. And like, it was nearly taken from me and nobody understands how that feels like knowing that, Oh, I was this close, like so close, maybe one inch from like cutting to ruin in my career and becoming what not medically retired, but like messed up for real. Like looking at how my brother was after his knee injury, it changed him. And I can say like, it changed me. Like I wasn't myself when I was hurt. I stopped eating like that stuff is real. Right. Like the mental, the mental aspect of it is real. Like without football, I felt like I was nothing just sitting on the side, on the sideline. I felt worthless. And like, considering I was a big part of the team, I felt like I needed to be there. Now, obviously I could have been what coaching the guys up, which I was doing, but like actually being out there is different. I want to be out there. I want to make plays. I want to do what I was destined to do, what I was born to do and not doing that. I felt like nothing. So getting a chance to do that again and thinking somebody could actually take that from me. Oh, like I said, excuse my French. Fuck no, no, no. You're not taking that from me. Cause I lived, dreamed and breathed this game and like growing up, seeing it like it just hit different, bro. Like when you're from here and being able to be, go around and be kids, a inspiration, like for instance, I have this tatted, be the different in the boot right here. I never thought I would be an LSU football player ever in my life. When I was younger, I wouldn't, I never thought I could fulfill the dream, fulfill the shoes of Dylan Moses. You know who Dylan Moses is, right? You know, the name he carried the weight of his name and to say, I'm, I can even get close to that. I was like, no, what? So for that, it, like I said, being from here, that quote, I live by that quote. You can be the difference. You can be different. You can go to the, you can go be, you can go take the other route rather than being like everybody else. The world is so big and so many people trying to be the same person. Like you can be different and nothing's wrong with being unique and you can do whatever you want. And I mean anything. Cause like I said, I never thought I would be here, but it took obviously me gaining confidence, me having fun with the game, me attacking anybody in front of me with a hundred percent will like, Oh, you in front of me. Oh, I'm going to kill you. Cause I know I'm better. You ain't nothing to me because I feel that. And considering I feel that now I got to show you. Cause like you even lined it up in front of me feeling like you could do something with me. Like that's disrespect. And like, that's a disrespect I don't take lightly considering you can even compete with me, man. No. What? Is that even a question? I'm better than you. And that's, that's not cockiness. That's me being fully confident in my ability of being able to do this over and over, play and play after play again. And considering it's a college level that just fuels the fire even more. Yeah. You a grown man finna lose your job to an 18 year old and you have to become undeniable. Exactly. And now that's not me saying, Oh, wait weeks and now I'm a look up to them. I'm definitely gonna, you know, take, take accountability and, you know, their jobs and understanding their leaders, their spots are solidified. That's like, that's just what it is. But you pushing them is going to take them to the next level. Exactly. So like coaches are going to see that and allow me to get on the field. They're going to see how hungry I am. Like, I don't think people understand, like I'm an animal being like waiting to be unleashed. Right. Like I've been in chains for almost close to a year. Yeah. Like I say, what six, seven, maybe eight months of me not playing football, just running around better than myself. I'm a whole lot better than when I was a senior year. Yeah. A whole lot better, faster. I'm running 21.8 miles per hour, 22. So I rounded up personally, personally, I rounded up. So almost miles per hour, 22, 22 miles per hour as a freshman linebacker, some DBS aren't running it. Some receivers aren't running it. So like, I'm a lot bigger, stronger, faster than I was my senior year. So like, there's only a matter of time for me to show that I can, that I'm capable of making plays and that I am who I say I am. A damn dog. That's just what it is. In a room full of them. Exactly. In a room full of them. Exactly. So like, not only am I ready for this, but like, I'm ready to show the world, the city, exactly who I am and exactly why I stayed. Yeah. It's hard, but like, who cares? I knew what I signed up for and I knew what it was. Like I said, I could have went anywhere and it could have been given to me and they could have been kissing my tail, but I don't want that. I want to get it out the mud. Cause when it's all said and done, I can feel accomplished. Right. Now with me, I'm really hard on myself. Like after, after a workout, if I don't feel like I'm tired enough or I didn't get it in enough, man, I'm in there doing abs. I'm in there doing extra curls, extra pushups. Like I said, extra abs. If I feel like I didn't have the best player in practice, like I didn't know or feel confident with the plays. I got the VR headset on my head, reenacting the plays, reenacting being there. What is it? Virtually. So like, I'm doing what it takes to be the best version of myself because I know what comes with this game, especially in the SEC level. So like, ain't no games to it. I want to be the best version of myself. And to do that, you got to be a dog each and every single day. That's just what it is. And ain't nobody, ain't nobody going to take that from me. It's so interesting because I feel like a lot of that, like mentality where you don't feel like you're good enough, but like everybody would say the opposite. Like, I swear, like everybody says like, oh, you're doing good. Oh, you're in the right. You're, you're, you're just right. I don't feel that at all. I'm not comfortable with where I'm at at all. If anything, I'm still what? Fourth string. Yeah. If anything, I'm still not fat, not as fast as I want, not as strong as I want to be. My body doesn't look up to par to what I want it to be. So like, I can't be comfortable with where I'm at because if I feel comfortable, I'm going to play comfortable. And if I play comfortable, I'm going to get smashed each and every single time. You can't be comfortable. Cause once you become comfortable, things start getting hard. You start to realize, oh damn, it's hot. Oh, my leg's starting to hurt. Oh, maybe this weight is a little too high. Like what? No, you can't be comfortable because once you become comfortable, you become a victim of your own success. Exactly. And I think a lot of that, like your motivation of like proving yourself, I feel like a lot of that comes from like the family, like what your brother did. You were always looking up to that and like, damn, I'll never get there. It's like, no, I can be that. I feel like that changes you. Like I said, I'm hungry, bro. Yeah. I'm hungry and I'm ready to show and put everybody on notice. Like no matter what it is, no matter where I'm at, no matter what time or chance I get my opportunity, I'm going to make full, full throttle. I'm going to make it what it is. Like, I'm going to, I'm going to maximize my opportunity because you only get one. Yeah. If you mess up, you over with it. And if you talk about like, you thought like it could happen like that. Like you probably have the same mentality as like Harold Perkins, probably the same thing. Witt Weeks thinks the same thing. Exactly. What Harold last year was supposed to be his money year. And it was taken from him just like that with week season. I mean, obviously what it was the last game of the season, but what your off season, you spring to your whole dynamic. Exactly. Like you got to work back up to where you were and now you got to worry about what mentally, like when you're hurt, when you get hurt, you got to. The mental ground. Yeah. You have to restart not only physically, but mentally. That's what many people don't understand. Like whenever I got hurt, I didn't think I would like be as fast as I would. I didn't, obviously I was a lot smaller. Like, I think I went from like, it got to a point where I went from like 215 to like 190. So like getting back up to where I am now, I ain't think I was ever going to be like as big as I am now. Now obviously having a PNC, it definitely helps. It definitely helps. But like, especially being on like the meal plan I'm on, shout out to Morgan for helping me. But, it's just, you got to want it. Yeah. Each and every day. And like, if you don't want it each and every day, if you slack one time, obviously you don't love the game like you say you do. Everything's like, you're a fraud. Yeah. You're faking it. Like you acting like you so-called wanted, you so-called want to be this and that, but you got to have the mentality of, I got to go get it. If I don't, who will? Somebody else will. Exactly. And I'll be damned if somebody else take my shine. And I don't think there's any bigger testament to this than somebody who just retired. Obviously probably the best defensive player I've ever seen. Right. Ty Matthew, he did get it taken away from him. And there, that's a moment in life where you can go this way or that way. Exactly. And he worked it. He came back from the mud. Exactly. So like, that's a prime example. Like, whenever the game you love is almost taken away from you. It was taken from him. Yeah, it was taken from, when the game from, the game you love is taken from you just like that, you start to realize like, who am I without this game? What am I really going to do? Get a job, work a nine to five? Like nothing's wrong with that, but why fall victim to this so-called matrix of the world? I want to be different. I want my own story. And I want to work for it, obviously. Only you can write it. Yeah. We are excited to watch you write it. It's just, I'm ready. I'm ready to start this new chapter of my life in this new chapter. I mean. And you got all the LSU fans behind you. Yeah. It's all right in front of you. Everybody's ready to watch you take the full advantage of it and write that story. But we appreciate you coming in, hanging out with us, talking to the ball. And we'll talk again soon. Best of luck this year. And let's have fun. Let's do it. All right. Go have fun.