Like a few of his teammates, Mississippi State offensive lineman Luke Work was thrown to the fire last year as a true freshman. Naturally, Work encountered struggles in the SEC as he got used to a new level of competition. But Work feels better for that experience and he now has a season of experience […]
Like a few of his teammates, Mississippi State offensive lineman Luke Work was thrown to the fire last year as a true freshman. Naturally, Work encountered struggles in the SEC as he got used to a new level of competition.
But Work feels better for that experience and he now has a season of experience under his belt. Last weekend Work talked of the changes on the offensive line and touched on other topics of training camp:
Q: How different is camp on the offensive line compared to how it was in the spring?
Work: Oh, yeah, it’s definitely changed. We’ve got some new guys in the room and better competition, for sure. Everybody is just working hard every day, just working together as a group to become the best.
Q: You look different this camp in a good way. Have you added some weight?
Work: So I probably gained 15 pounds since last season.
Q: Do you feel different with that added weight?
Work: Yes sir, I feel way different. Stronger, faster.
Q: How different is it for you this year after getting last season under your belt?
Work: I mean, it got me going on the right path, just learning about college football, being in the game and how fast it is. I’ve still got more learning to do but I’m on the right path.
Q: What’s it like working with Phil Loadholt?
Work: Oh, it’s been great. He gets after us, makes us work hard every day. So, a great coach.
Q: You talk about Loadholt getting after you guys. What are his points if emphasis?
Work: Just work hard, finish, don’t be soft and just get after somebody.
Q: What have you seen out of the running backs so far in camp?
Work: Oh yeah, Davon (Booth), Fluff (Bothwell), Johnnie (Daniels), X (Xavier Gayten), and Seth (Davis), I mean, they’re all great. I believe we’ve got some of the best backs in the country. So it’s good to have them.
Q: Watching the way the backs work does that make the offensive line raise their game?
Work: Yeah, no doubt. I mean, just blocking for a few seconds, and then do more if you can and you’re going to look up and they’re going to be down the field.
Q: You’ve played multiple positions, where are you working most at now?
Work: Guard, left guard and right guard.
Q: How different is that for you after playing mostly tackle last season?
Work: It’s good. It’s a little change but no, it’s been good.
Q: With more bodies on the offensive line, are there more rotations taking shape already?
Work: Oh yeah, I mean we’ve definitely got more depth. So it’s been good.
Q: Who’s your main competition on the other side of the ball?
Work: KJ (Kedrick Bingley-Jones) is pretty good. Dink (Kalvin Dinkins) is pretty good. A bunch of good guys are in there.
Q: How much better is the defensive line this year?
Work: They’ve gotten way better. They added a bunch of new guys so way better competition, and getting us better. So when we go into the SEC or first game down in Hattiesburg we’ll be better.
Q: How does that push the competition on both sides?
Work: Oh yeah, we definitely do.
Q: Have you noticed a difference in the team this year in terms of chemistry?
Work: Yeah, I think our chemistry is a little better. Everybody in the room, I think we communicate better. We do stuff off the field and stuff like that. So I think it’s been better.
Q: How has Blake Shapen taken over this team now that he is back full strength?
Work: Oh it’s been good having Blake back. Blake’s a leader so he’s going to get after us and it’s been good.
Q: How eager are you do get back on the field?
Work: Very eager. I’m ready to go, just finish fall camp as strong as we can and get going.
Q: You grew up a Mississippi State fan and your first season ended with a loss in Oxford. How much does that motivate you going into this season?
Work: I mean, I hate them, the whole family hates them, this whole facility hates them. So yeah, we don’t like them.
Category: General Sports
