Tony Conty: You are listed as being from Morgantown. Do you always want to be a Mountaineer?

Marc Magro: Yeah, but I didn’t think about it that much. When I was a little boy, we would always buy tickets. I was always playing football, so I wasn’t watching that much.


Tony Conty: You packed on a lot of muscle more quickly than most, going from 207 to 240 as a freshman. Describe your workout regimen.

Marc Magro: Yeah, you have the numbers right. I started at 207 and now I am pushing 250. I might have put it on a little too quickly. Our Conditioning Coach then was Mike Barwis and he had an intense workout and, most importantly, a diet that would get us ready to play football.


Tony Conty: Describe your leadership style.

Marc Magro: First of all, I learn by example. I always try to conduct myself like I am going to work and approach the game as a business. I am a good leader and I can be vocal. You get to the point where you have to tell guys what they are doing, if they are slacking off. I got more vocal as a senior. When you are in those shoes as a veteran, you have to tell people what’s going on.


Tony Conty: How do you think that the Big East compares to other conferences?

Marc Magro: The Big East is very versatile, from a defensive and an offensive standpoint. On Offense, you have teams that are very fast like us who also have power guys who can run the Power-I like Owen Schmitt. Rutgers had humongous Offensive Linemen that were anywhere from 300-320 lbs. We had smaller Offensive Linemen from 290-300.


Tony Conty: Describe the emotions of you season, being poised for a potential national championship game and dropping a game to Pittsburgh at the Backyard Brawl.

Marc Magro: Look at the season and you’ll realize that we were accomplishing a lot, but it was a roller coaster. We lost to South Florida, but that was only one game. We went into the Backyard Brawl, and, when you lose that game when you could have played for a National Championship, it’s tough. That was my last time playing on Mountaineer Field and it was a loss. I had some great memories. I was glad to finish the season with a win at the Fiesta Bowl.


Tony Conty: Talk about the environment at West Virginia after Rich Rodriquez left town.

Marc Magro: When he first left, it was confusing. We were like, “Who’s going to coach us?” This guy that I had been following for 5 years was gone. Our leaders had to step up. That’s the kind of game where you find out the type of person that you are. Some guys would have kicked the bucket and said, “Screw it”. We had guys with bad attitudes like that when I got there, but not my Senior Year. Coach Stewart did a great job as Interim Coach.


Tony Conty: Any thoughts on the future of the program so many starters leaving and J. T. Thomas moving into your spot?

Marc Magro: National Championship next year: that’s my prediction. Coach Stewart put together an amazing coaching staff. I have been in town working out. I have watched the Defense a lot, but haven’t seen the offense. Remember my prediction.


Tony Conty: Your injury history might give some teams pause, but you looked healthy at your Pro Day. How do you feel right now?

Marc Magro: I feel pretty good. There are some of the best workout sessions that I have ever had. Without having to play Spring Ball, I have just been concentrating on working out. I am just getting ready to make that jump.


Tony Conty: Did your knees ever get you to consider leaving the game behind?

Marc Magro: I had some injuries, but it never got to that point.


Tony Conty: After completing workouts, what is the next week going to be like for you?

Marc Magro: Teams have been in contact with me and I look forward to talking to them more. I look forward to the Rookie Mini-Camp. We don’t have control over things now, so there is no need to be anxious. We’ve already been through a lot. We just need to relax and stay in shape.


Tony Conty: Describe your experience at your Pro Day.

Marc Magro: I’ve been at the West Virginia Pro Day. When I was a Freshman, I went to watch Grant Wiley and went every year after that. I had a good feel for what was going to happen. I just approached it like a game and a career. I “studied for the test”. I was in Florida training. I was nervous and I couldn’t sleep. I never had problems sleeping before games. It’s hard because you know that it has a large impact.


Tony Conty: Do you have the preference regarding the type of scheme in which you will play?

Marc Magro: Most teams have been running 3-4s that have contacted me. My body could adapt to any scheme. As an Inside Linebacker in the 3-4, I would need to be thicker and bigger. I would be 2-gapping and probably better at 260, but I could slim down to 240 if they needed me to be more athletic and more to 4-3 Inside Linebacker.


Tony Conty: Does playing in a rare base scheme like a 3-3-5 make you approach NFL defenses differently?

Marc Magro: I’ll worry about that if I end up as a Free Agent. Then, my agent and I would be looking at the scheme to best fit my skills. My position coach always stressed that we needed to watch NFL films to see how those defenders approach the game.


Tony Conty: Rumors have the Patriots linked to you. What teams have shown you interest?

Marc Magro: The Patriots have given me the most attention. The Jags position coach spoke to me the other day. The Browns have called. The Steelers…I spoke to Mark Lorello, a friend of mine who played with me here, said that his position coach was very impressed with my Pro Day and that he doesn’t BS much.


Tony Conty: Did you have a team that supported growing up that you wanted to join?

Marc Magro: Not really. We were Steelers fans. I knew Dan Mozes, who is with the Vkings know and we were Steelers fans.


Tony Conty: I have done two interviews with members of your defense: Keilien Dykes, Ryan Mundy, and Johnny Dingle. Have you had a chance to discuss the draft process with any of your teammates?

Marc Magro: Not any of the guys that you have taken, but (Owen) Schmitt and I have talked about things and it is interesting to see what he is going through.


Tony Conty: What currently pros at your position to you admire?

Marc Magro: Shawne Merriman from San Diego. I would love to be with the Patriots receiving mentoring from Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau, and Mike Vrabel. Their philosophy is similar to ours at WVU, which is all about efficiency and knowing what you are supposed to do and what the offense is going to do.


Tony Conty: Who are the toughest offensive players that you have faced in your time at WVU?

Marc Magro: Ray Rice, Running Back from Rutgers, and Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver from Georgia Tech.


Tony Conty: What do you think about the NFL’s stance on off-the-field conduct?

Marc Magro: It’s something that they have to do. If they are going to put their foot Down, they need to let guys know that they shouldn’t get arrested. We are blessed to be here. In our society, you are a role model, which is a true blessing. In our culture, it is so important to take the opportunity to mentor our youth.


Tony Conty: Self-promote. Why should teams consider you higher than you are predicted to go?

Marc Magro: Coach Rodriquez said it at the beginning of the year: I was the hardest-working guy in NCAA. I am never satisfied. I have a good attitude and my character is unmatched. I have the drive to compete and to make plays.