Have you played any pranks on certain teammates?

Here? I didnt do too many pranks here. I just do small jokes. I feel like in our D-line group, we like to make fun of each other so I guess just doing that, giving each other a hard time. But we all laugh. Its no hard feelings, everyone knows were playing around.

It sounds like you guys are a little family on the D-line.

What about your family at home? How many brothers and sisters do you have?

I only have one brother and one sister.

When did football start for you? Do they play sports, too?

I followed my brother into football. He played first. My mom only let him play football. I was the youngest so I didnt really have that freedom. She was too scared to let me play. Then when

I did play, I was too big to play in my class. So I was fifth grade playing with the eighth graders and high schoolers. But I didnt play though because everyone was older than me and I hadnt developed and matured and they had been playing for a while. I didnt really understand it like they did so I didnt play much. I did that for two years and then middle school, I stopped playing pop warner. Just went to school. I got into basketball because I was taller than everybody. Thats what I played. I didnt really get big until after high school. The closest thing I got to football was flag football in middle school. That was fun. They were letting me play tight end and running back.

Do you have any of that in your background because I feel like youre so agile.

I feel like part of it is genetics. My moms side, all of her family are into sports. They all play rugby. My dad played soccer, so he was the quick feet guy. But then at a young age, I started to play tennis. My first sport was tennis.

Ive heard that! Ive heard people say listen, if you want your kid to be a good athlete, start them in tennis.

Thats what it was. I started off in tennis and I played for eight years.

Yeah, it was a program where we grew up in our neighborhood. Our parents were working nonstop so it was an afterschool program. They did tutoring. You go over there and theyd give you tutoring, theyll feed you and then you get to play tennis. For young kids, you just go out there and they teach you the fundamentals. As you grow older, you start competing against each other and then in the summertime you start competing in tournaments. Some were better than others.

I was all right. I was good, I was good. But I never really took it serious because I knew I wasnt going to go far in tennis. I knew it was just a temporary thing because my parents had to work so I knew I had to be there. But now I look back at it and it was really helpful because it helps a lot with agility, hand-eye coordination, acceleration, being explosive. Especially playing singles. Doubles not as much but when youre playing singles, you have the whole court to run around and hit the ball, then they hit the ball back and you have to hit it back.

Do you still pick up a tennis racket every now and again?

I havent in a while but I feel like playing it for eight years, its just like riding a bike for me now.

So what else do you do for fun then away from the field? Whats your happy place?

I feel like my happy place is just being on the water or just being with friends and family. Since weve been back, I feel like its been really cool just hanging out with the D-line. When we have time off, we just all link up and have a good time.

What do you guys do when you hang out?

We do a lot of stuff. Weve picked up a lot of hobbies.

The main hobby were into right now is fishing.

Everyone in Florida fishes!

We fish. Youll see theres bumps all over my arm because we went to this place, I think its called Upper Tampa Bay Park and they have these canoes you can rent out. We just took our fishing poles on there. And you couldnt see these mosquitos, that was the thing. Beau told us that theyre called this what Beau said dont quote me, this is Beau. He said those mosquitos are called cant see em.

Thats what theyre called. Im telling you. You cant see them, so theyre called cant see ems.

How different is Florida then? Because you grew up in California.

Shoot. The humidity and the heat. Thats the biggest thing. I grew up in Northern California so it wasnt as sunny. If you go to California for weather, you go to San Diego or LA. Everyone comes to Northern California to network. Everything is in the Bay Area.

Are you all Yay Area as far as music goes?

Thats what I grew up on. E-40, Mac Dre, who else? Theres a lot of them. Theres an up and coming artists, Kamaiya, Keak Da Sneak. The Governor. You heard The Governor?

Damnnn. Theres an up and coming dude named Stunna June. Hes a Tongan guy. Hes representing for the culture. Theres a lot of them. Theres Cookie Money. BRBE. Youve probably heard of them.

Its this whole microcosm of rap. Its its own little world.

Tupac said it the best. The Bay Area got their own little style. We have our own little style of music. Its different. Thats the biggest thing. I feel like people come to the Bay Area to network. People come to the Bay Area to get put on game with their business or whatever theyre seeking. Whatever theyre looking for, its in the Bay Area. Thats where its at. People dont come to the Bay Area for weather. Its probably raining over there right now to be honest. Its very similar to Seattle, because thats where I went to college. Theres similarities but Seattle, it doesnt rain as much. It sprinkles. Its beautiful in Seattle.

You guys and Autzen (in Oregon) were the toughest places to play. And Pullman, that was a tough place to play for our guys - I went to Arizona State.

U-Dub is top of the line of the Pac-12. Were on the water. People come sail gate. How many stadiums can you say that you went to and were sailgating? They say U-Dub is the best setting in college football

Original post:
Behind the Buccaneers: Vita Vea - Buccaneers.com

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