Devin Farrior, a former Wayne County standout, will officially kick off his senior season at Southern Miss on Saturday afternoon when the Golden Eagles play host to Kentucky. Farrior, the Golden Eagles’ starting center, talked with the media Monday ahead of the season-opener. Here’s some of what he had to say:
You’ve played in 41 games total and started 27. Is there still an excitement about the new season?
“For sure. Mainly the uncertainty of each game,” Farrior said. “Not knowing what to expect from each team and how they’re going to play, especially for the first game. That’s always an excitement.”
This Kentucky defense you’re going up against, do you see any wrinkles coming your way or are you expecting to face the same kind of group you faced last year?
“Obviously they’re going to change something up because we kind of put it on them last year,” Farrior said. “They’re going to have to change something up. We have to change things up, as well.”
What’s the chemistry been like with new guys coming in on the line?
“There’s a lot of youth on our line this year,” Farrior said. “I’m really the only experienced guy coming back with a couple of years. Got Ty [Pollard] back from last year, so that’s good. The chemistry, we’re brothers. We act like brothers, and nobody gets their feelings hurt if somebody gets onto them. At the end of the day, it’s just a job.”
Looks like you’ll be at center this year. What kind of difference is that compared to what you’ve been playing?
“Guard was a lot less stressful,” Farrior said. “You had Cam [Tom] telling you what you were supposed to do and where to be. This year, playing center, you have a little more stress. You have to step up your game. But I like it. I like playing center because I know what’s about to happen before it happens. That would be the easiest thing to do, putting me at center. So I’m embracing it and doing my job.”
Do you have to call certain things from the center position?
“All the time,” Farrior said. “Our front, our calls, everything. I have to look at the safeties and make sure we ain’t getting a blitz from unexpected spots. Little bit more stressful there.”
Can you describe the atmosphere in the locker room now that it’s finally game week?
“They’re all excited,” Farrior said. “We’re definitely excited to be out there. Finally getting out of camp and getting in the game week routine. We’re ready for it.”
Looking at the game last year with Kentucky, what do you think the difference was in that second half for y’all to come back?
“Going into halftime, we knew we made mistakes. Many mistakes. Interceptions and things like that,” Farrior said. “At halftime, we were like, ‘We have to pick our stuff up and do everything right’. We were a lot more conditioned than they were. You started seeing them go down with cramps and stuff, even though it was cool from being down here to up there. We were a lot more conditioned, even from last year.”
Kickoff of the highly-anticipated rematch is slated for 3 pm at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
