Kentucky Wildcats College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2021

Vrbo Citrus Bowl Day for Kids at Fun Spot America

On his recovery from 2018 open heart surgery:

It taught me that it’s not all about the physical, but about the mental aspects of the game as well. I basically had to start from scratch, just reopening my lungs, taking walks. I couldn’t lift anything over five pounds for the first, like, four weeks. So it definitely an adjustment. And I was blessed enough to be able to just keep consistently working up to about 25 pounds, to about 50 pounds, and so on and so forth to just to where I live with this.

On his appreciation for playing after his recovery:

I just feel blessed that I’m able just be out here with the guys just doing what I love to do. And I learned that this game is not something to be taken for granted. As fast as God gave you something, God can take it away just as quick. So every day is a blessing, every play is a blessing and you’ve just got to operate like that at all times.

On playing in front of his parents:

It’s going to feel real good to play in front of them. My parents have been able to come up to a couple of my games, and they’ve been able to travel to a couple, but this is the first time they’re going to see me play in Florida since I came to Kentucky. So I just feel excited. I feel like I’m ready. I just want to make them proud at all times. They’ve been supporting me through everything. They’ve just kept me strong throughout the whole process.

On giving back to the community through Day for Kids:

Any chance that we have an opportunity to give back as student athletes, I feel like it’s very important to take. Because fans, they pour so much into us, it’s only right that we get back to them as well and we uplift our communities as much as we can while we’re here. Because we have a certain window and a certain platform and a specific amount of time that we need to take advantage of.