Anytime you've got a back listed at 265 who's probably 280 and still has nimble feet like a 225-pound guy, it's going to take more than one guy to take him down. He's got great size and great feet. That's the combination that makes it so difficult. That's what makes him so special.

I had to learn to avoid stepping on (her) toes, and that made me more nimble on my feet,

has probably come on a little quicker than anticipated.

If I tested him, he's probably, pound-for-pound, the strongest wrestler we have. He's able to make that leap. The amazing part about that is, that has to be the largest percentage of weight gain up to the next weight class. That's a nine-pound jump . . . you're talking about eight percent of his weight. That's a pretty good leap.

He's got great feet and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. He's got good size and he has a nose for the football.

When I first got here, he was coming off the injury and being hurt every year and hearing all the things about himself, so yeah, his confidence was a little bit down. But it's back up there, and he knows he's having a good year. I think if you ask any team we've played, he's the first guy on our defense that they would mention.