In his return to the SEC last year, Mississippi State’s Brylan Lanier encountered some struggles on the field. Due to injuries and lack of depth, the Alabama native was asked to play multiple positions in the secondary a year ago. Now heading into his senior season, Lanier has settled in at safety, which most feel […]
In his return to the SEC last year, Mississippi State’s Brylan Lanier encountered some struggles on the field. Due to injuries and lack of depth, the Alabama native was asked to play multiple positions in the secondary a year ago.
Now heading into his senior season, Lanier has settled in at safety, which most feel is his more natural position. Earlier this week after practice, Lanier talked about that move back to safety along with other topics:
Q: How prepared do you feel like everybody is heading into game week?
Lanier: Compared to last year to this year, it’s a major difference. Offense, defense, up front, I feel like the preparation of fall camp was much more aggressive, much more intense, much harder. So I feel like we’re prepared.
Q: Players have said the locker room is more together this year. What does that mean in your opinion?
Lanier: That’s something that the leaders – Isaac (Smith) and Blake (Shapen), we had a meeting before camp started, just about bonding outside of football so that it will help us on the field. So we did a lot with our groups and people hanging out outside of football and it helps us on the field.
Q: Last year you moved around a lot. Do you feel you have settled in at one spot now?
Lanier: I feel like I am more settled at safety. But if they need me at corner, wherever, I am ready to play.
Q: What safety spot are you at?
Lanier: I play free and boundry.
Q: What do you feel makes you more comfortable at safety?
Lanier: I just feel like I have added more weight. I’m a rangy guy and I can see so far back. I can make a lot of plays on the field, make a lot of tackles, can catch and just fly around.
Q: What have you seen from Tony Mitchell and his transition back to the SEC?
Lanier: Tony Mitchell is a guy. I grew up with Tony Mitchell. He did the same thing (as me), went to Alabama, went to juco then came here. His progression has been great, added some weight. He’s at the sam position, the nickel, and can fly around and make nice tackles and can cover. Tony is going to be a great player for us.
Q: Have the scrimmages this year also been more intense?
Lanier: The scrimmages are more physical. We got guys flying around, back and forth, offense scoring, defense scoring. I feel like it is way more different this year up front. Those guys compete way more than they were last year. So up front is going good, everyone is going good and we’re going to be a great team.
Q: The defense did well in the scrimmages and the offensive guys said it’s because y’all know their plays. What do you say?
Lanier: I would say we’ve just been playing hard. Offense has been playing good. We’ve been flying around and Coach (Coleman) Hutzler as been preaching to run to the ball every play. That is getting us interceptions and fumbles. So when we step on the field it’s just running to the ball.
Q: How different does this defense seem to you this year?
Lanier: I feel like it’s a whole 180. It is way different, way more aggressive. Like I said, we are running to the ball, got way more energy. It feels like we got way more stamina and we are way more together now. We are no longer just a team, we are family. So we are out there playing for each other.
Q: Having more depth this year, how much easier does that make it for you to lean on those guys?
Lanier: It just makes it way easier. You can go out there and go hard for 4-5 plays and you know you got a sub that is going to go as hard as you would. So makes you more confident out there.
Q: How much are y’all ready to play somebody different?
Lanier: We are ready. We’ve been preparing since the spring. We’ve been battling the offense every day and we are ready to go against someone else. So we can’t wait.
Q: Coach Hutzler shows a lot of juice on the sidelines. Does it seem like the players are doing more of that this year?
Lanier: It’s definitely a mentality shift. With our leaders like Isaac, he’s been preaching that aggression and showing aggression. That is what we are going to bring to the field this year.
Q: How’s it been adding Stonka Burnside to that safeties’ room after he moved from offense?
Lanier: Stonka is going to be great. He came from the offense. So he sees the plays different. He is one of those guys so he is expecting those routes. So he moves fast and je just has to keep showing up. He is going to be a great player for us.
Category: General Sports
