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Alex
Khvatov: What are
your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Brian
Winters:
I am about 6’4 ½, 317 right now and I run a fast 4.9
to a 5.0 flat.
Alex
Khvatov: What schools
recruited you when you were coming out of high
school?
Brian
Winters:
There were a couple of Big 10 schools like Indiana
and Illinois. Syracuse, Cincinnati and most of the
MAC also showed interest.
Alex
Khvatov: Why did you
eventually choose Kent State?
Brian
Winters:
I figured that it was a good thing for me. It is
right in my backyard. I am a family person, so I
wanted to stay close to home. It is nice having my
family always come to the games. My dad always says
that it doesn’t matter where you go, they will find
you wherever.
Alex
Khvatov: Describe
your career at Kent State to us.
Brian
Winters:
It has been a long ride. I started as a true
freshman at right tackle. My sophomore year, I
started at left tackle. I made the All-MAC team as
a sophomore. Then coming into my junior year, I
also started at LT. I got All-MAC as a junior as
well. I am a LT right now as a senior. It has been
a long ride, but I have had a chance to start every
game since I have been here.
Alex
Khvatov: Your team
has a 6-1 overall record right now, how great does
that feel?
Brian
Winters:
It’s awesome. It is a lot different than what we
have had in the past. We usually start out slow.
We have never broken the five win mark since I have
been here. We are already over that, so it is
awesome.
Alex
Khvatov: What are
your expectations for the rest of the senior season
from a team and individual standpoint?
Brian
Winters:
I want us to be MAC champions. I think that it is
totally possible. We are looking to get into the
bowl game which we haven’t done in a long time. I
also think that it is possible. My goal is to be
All-MAC again and to do everything that I can to
help the team get to the next level.
Alex
Khvatov: You have a
tough game coming up against Rutgers, how have you
prepared this week and what can we expect from Kent
State?
Brian
Winters:
They have a really good defense. They have good
linebackers. We are preparing. Our motto is to be
great. Right now we are good, but coach wants us to
be great. It is obviously a big game for us. It
can make us or it can break us. But we are
confident going into this game.
Alex
Khvatov: What are
your strengths on the football field?
Brian
Winters:
I am a physical player. I am football smart. I
know the game really well. I feel that I bring both
of those things to the table which is definitely
something you need for the position that I play.
Alex
Khvatov: What areas
of your game do you need to improve upon?
Brian
Winters:
I need to improve on the little things. I overset
sometimes and it takes awhile for me to recover. It
happens sometimes.
Alex
Khvatov: What is the
highlight of your football career up to this point?
Brian
Winters:
It is definitely this season. This is the best year
since I have been here. It is absolutely awesome.
I am so happy to be a part of it. We are doing so
well.
Alex
Khvatov: What
separates you from all of the other players at your
position?
Brian
Winters:
I finish blocks really well. It is the one thing
that my coach always told me. He told me that you
need to finish blocks. That is my biggest thing. I
do that really well. I am a really aggressive
player.
Alex
Khvatov: What is your
favorite NFL team?
Brian
Winters:
I am a Browns fan. I am from this area.
Alex
Khvatov: Are you
tired of the Browns’ losing ways?
Brian
Winters:
It is not always the best. I am used to it. But I
have been around it for awhile. It is not always
easy to be a Browns’ fan. I got to stick with
them.
Alex
Khvatov: Who is your
favorite NFL player?
Brian
Winters:
I like watching Joe Thomas. I always watch the
offensive line. I watch what Joe Thomas does and
learn from him.
Alex
Khvatov: What do you
enjoy most about playing college football?
Brian
Winters:
It’s just awesome being in the atmosphere. The
atmosphere of the games is just so awesome. You get
to travel everywhere. You get to play against the
best competition. It is just great.
Alex
Khvatov: What does it
take to be a leader?
Brian
Winters:
I am not much of a talker. I am the kind of guy
that leads by example for the offense. I do things
the right way. I always finish plays. I always run
a little extra to show everyone that I am the type
of leader by example.
Alex
Khvatov: What is the
greatest lesson that you have learned in life so
far?
Brian
Winters:
Never to give up. My dad always told me that no
matter what you do, you have to be successful at
it. It is what he told me from day one. Be the
best that you can be at whatever you do.
Alex
Khvatov: What makes
you a unique individual?
Brian
Winters:
I am really young if that counts. I am about two
years younger than everyone else that is my grade.
Alex
Khvatov: What are
your hobbies?
Brian
Winters:
I like fishing and hunting. I like hanging out with
family and friends.
Alex
Khvatov: What do you
plan to do with your life after football?
Brian
Winters:
I haven’t really decided on that yet. Maybe I will
open a gym to help offensive linemen in high school
or college to get better.
Alex
Khvatov: Is the NFL a
dream or a reality at this point?
Brian
Winters:
It has been a dream of mine for a long time. I
always wanted to be a football player. It is more
of a reality at this point. It is something that I
want to do.
Alex
Khvatov: Finish the
sentence, Brian Winters is….
Brian
Winters: I am a
hard-working kid. I grew up always having to work
for what I want. I am a family person. I care
about a lot of people. I always want to do the
right thing. |