Q&A: Byron Jerideau - Swamp People, Big Boy Relays, and more
We caught up with defensive lineman Byron Jerideau to get to know the senior Gamecock better. Check out the conversation below and learn more about this self-proclaimed country boy:
BL: What was it like growing up in the Lowcountry?
Jerideau: It was fun, I kind a stayed in the country so me and my granddad always doing yard work and fishing and cutting up wood in the winter time. Growing up by the water was cool because me and my dad would go fishing a lot and being able to go right to the beach was cool.
Tell me a little bit more about your family - who you grew up with and what they are like?
I grew up with my mom; she raised me well. Single mom, working hard, always told me to do what I believe in, keep the dreams up there. I love her. My granddad stays right next to us. He kept me busy in the yard and I used to love to help him, right after school. Even when it got time for high school I still wanted to help him because I knew that he was getting older and needed someone to help him.
What are some of the other things you liked to do, when you were a kid, for fun?
Rifles, hunt, fish, country stuff.
So do you consider yourself a "country boy"?
Yeah, definitely. If you saw where I stay, you'd say that too. Green Pond is in the woods. I had like a 17 minute drive to school every day. ... It's about 35 - 40 miles from Charleston. It's in between Charleston and Beaufort.
When did you first start playing football?
I started playing football when I was in sixth grade. A lot of people told me I had a good size. I really almost didn't make the weight limit because for sixth grade rec league you had to be 150 lbs and I was like 140 lbs or something like that. So I almost didn't make it. I played D-line, O-line, and tight end.
What's your favorite part about playing defensive line?
Tackling. Tackling and hitting. Hitting every play, hitting offensive linemen, hitting the quarterback, hitting everybody and just tackling. I love tackling!
I know you don't get a lot of free time, but when you do what are some of your favorite things to do off the field?
I kinda just like to relax. Sit back and watch TV, watch football, NFL and watch some of the shows I like, Swamp People and Family Guy.
Who are you closest with on the team? Who are some of the other players you hang out with and what do y'all like to do?
Me and Aldrick [Fordham] like to play 2K, it's a video game, and Madden. I beat him all the time. Me and Devin are like best friends and our parents are really close.
Did you and Devin know each other before coming to Carolina?
Yes, we know each other from track and field in high school and football. So every weekend, we'd be at the same track meets and I said, "You play football don't you?" "Yeah, Devin Taylor." "Oh, Byron." We just grew close from there.
What events did you do? Were you a field athlete or were you a track athlete?
I did both. I did shot put and discus. Then at the end of every track meet we did something called a Big Boy Relay and it was for all the "big boys" that did shot put and discus, then they got to run a relay, like the 4 by 1. And Beaufort, they'd always cheat because they had Devin. He was skinny but because he did shot put and discus he qualified to run in the Big Boy Relay. Devin always beat us and we would get second. And he always won in discus because he's so long and lanky.
You guys have to do interviews all the time. Is there any question that you wish people would ask you, that you normally do not get asked?
I would say, "How am I doing today?" Most people don't ask you how are you doing, or how your day is. They just go straight to the questions about whatever they want to find out.
Quick Hits with Byron Jerideau:
Favorite food? Lima beans and neck bone
Song on repeat right now on your iPod? Tim McGraw- Live Like You Were Dying
Favorite kind of music? Country, a little R&B. I'm not a big rap person.
Favorite TV show? Swamp People. We all used to meet up at my house and watch it every Thursday. The new season doesn't start for awhile.
Favorite TV show you're embarrassed to admit that you watch? Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but it's only because my girlfriend makes me watch it!
Favorite video game? Madden, NCAA, mostly sports games
link: http://www.gamecocks...s-and-more.html
We caught up with defensive lineman Byron Jerideau to get to know the senior Gamecock better. Check out the conversation below and learn more about this self-proclaimed country boy:
BL: What was it like growing up in the Lowcountry?
Jerideau: It was fun, I kind a stayed in the country so me and my granddad always doing yard work and fishing and cutting up wood in the winter time. Growing up by the water was cool because me and my dad would go fishing a lot and being able to go right to the beach was cool.
Tell me a little bit more about your family - who you grew up with and what they are like?
I grew up with my mom; she raised me well. Single mom, working hard, always told me to do what I believe in, keep the dreams up there. I love her. My granddad stays right next to us. He kept me busy in the yard and I used to love to help him, right after school. Even when it got time for high school I still wanted to help him because I knew that he was getting older and needed someone to help him.
What are some of the other things you liked to do, when you were a kid, for fun?
Rifles, hunt, fish, country stuff.
So do you consider yourself a "country boy"?
Yeah, definitely. If you saw where I stay, you'd say that too. Green Pond is in the woods. I had like a 17 minute drive to school every day. ... It's about 35 - 40 miles from Charleston. It's in between Charleston and Beaufort.
When did you first start playing football?
I started playing football when I was in sixth grade. A lot of people told me I had a good size. I really almost didn't make the weight limit because for sixth grade rec league you had to be 150 lbs and I was like 140 lbs or something like that. So I almost didn't make it. I played D-line, O-line, and tight end.
What's your favorite part about playing defensive line?
Tackling. Tackling and hitting. Hitting every play, hitting offensive linemen, hitting the quarterback, hitting everybody and just tackling. I love tackling!
I know you don't get a lot of free time, but when you do what are some of your favorite things to do off the field?
I kinda just like to relax. Sit back and watch TV, watch football, NFL and watch some of the shows I like, Swamp People and Family Guy.
Who are you closest with on the team? Who are some of the other players you hang out with and what do y'all like to do?
Me and Aldrick [Fordham] like to play 2K, it's a video game, and Madden. I beat him all the time. Me and Devin are like best friends and our parents are really close.
Did you and Devin know each other before coming to Carolina?
Yes, we know each other from track and field in high school and football. So every weekend, we'd be at the same track meets and I said, "You play football don't you?" "Yeah, Devin Taylor." "Oh, Byron." We just grew close from there.
What events did you do? Were you a field athlete or were you a track athlete?
I did both. I did shot put and discus. Then at the end of every track meet we did something called a Big Boy Relay and it was for all the "big boys" that did shot put and discus, then they got to run a relay, like the 4 by 1. And Beaufort, they'd always cheat because they had Devin. He was skinny but because he did shot put and discus he qualified to run in the Big Boy Relay. Devin always beat us and we would get second. And he always won in discus because he's so long and lanky.
You guys have to do interviews all the time. Is there any question that you wish people would ask you, that you normally do not get asked?
I would say, "How am I doing today?" Most people don't ask you how are you doing, or how your day is. They just go straight to the questions about whatever they want to find out.
Quick Hits with Byron Jerideau:
Favorite food? Lima beans and neck bone
Song on repeat right now on your iPod? Tim McGraw- Live Like You Were Dying
Favorite kind of music? Country, a little R&B. I'm not a big rap person.
Favorite TV show? Swamp People. We all used to meet up at my house and watch it every Thursday. The new season doesn't start for awhile.
Favorite TV show you're embarrassed to admit that you watch? Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but it's only because my girlfriend makes me watch it!
Favorite video game? Madden, NCAA, mostly sports games
link: http://www.gamecocks...s-and-more.html
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