South Carolina junior defensive end Chaz Sutton didn't want to waste a single second in 2012.
When the players went home in May to spend time with family and friends and recharge the batteries for what would be a summer of working out and a fall full of football, Sutton had other plans.
"I went back home and trained every day," Sutton said. "That was one of the main things. I was like, when I come back I want to be one of the strongest players, one of the fastest players on the team."
It was a stark contrast to Sutton's mindset just two years earlier. The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Savannah, Ga., native dealt with numerous injuries and wasn't sure he wanted to continue playing football.
"It was frustrating at first," said Sutton, who was granted a medical redshirt in 2009 because of a hamstring injury. "It kind of had me down at one point. I was asking myself, 'Do I really want to still play football?'
"This year and last year I've tried to put that behind me, and just come out and dedicate myself fully to what I've been doing all this time at Carolina."
That's led to a more complete player who's seeing playing time despite having to rotate with two of the SEC's best linemen — Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor.
Last week against Missouri, Sutton had a sack, two tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. On the season, he's got three sacks and four tackles for a loss in 25-30 plays per game.
"I think (defensive line) coach (Brad) Lawing just really challenged him a little bit in preseason," USC coach Steve Spurrier said. "He said, 'Chaz, you got a lot of ability, but you're sort of standing around watching when you're out there. Turn it loose, go.' And Chaz started practicing a lot better, the last two, three weeks.
"Chaz has certainly worked his way into a rotating situation there with Devin and Jadeveon. So he'll continue to play quite a bit."
When Sutton first arrived at USC in 2009 from Fork Union Military Academy, he had a steep learning curve, according to Lawing.
It took time for Sutton to understand the hard work it takes to play. Once he did that, improvement began to show.
"His fundamentals have gotten better," said Lawing, who named Sutton the most improved defensive lineman in the spring. "He's become a better player simply because of work ethic because he didn't know how to when he first got here."
Now, that's Sutton's calling card.
In the offseason, he said he spent extra time in the weight room, and he constantly did extra push-ups, sit-ups and sprints to be in top physical condition.
"Basically just dedicating myself more in the offseason, doing the extra work that my teammates might not actually see," Sutton said.
Combined with the reps he's received in practice over the last several years, games have become much easier for Sutton, who had 18 total tackles coming into 2012.
"When coach gives me the opportunity I'm just going to go out there and go 100 percent every time because you never know what's going to happen," Sutton said. "The night before, I just visualize myself going out there and making plays. When I get on the field I see myself in the right position at the right time."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/sep/27/work-ethic-paying-off-for-uscs-chaz-sutton/
When the players went home in May to spend time with family and friends and recharge the batteries for what would be a summer of working out and a fall full of football, Sutton had other plans.
"I went back home and trained every day," Sutton said. "That was one of the main things. I was like, when I come back I want to be one of the strongest players, one of the fastest players on the team."
It was a stark contrast to Sutton's mindset just two years earlier. The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Savannah, Ga., native dealt with numerous injuries and wasn't sure he wanted to continue playing football.
"It was frustrating at first," said Sutton, who was granted a medical redshirt in 2009 because of a hamstring injury. "It kind of had me down at one point. I was asking myself, 'Do I really want to still play football?'
"This year and last year I've tried to put that behind me, and just come out and dedicate myself fully to what I've been doing all this time at Carolina."
That's led to a more complete player who's seeing playing time despite having to rotate with two of the SEC's best linemen — Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor.
Last week against Missouri, Sutton had a sack, two tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. On the season, he's got three sacks and four tackles for a loss in 25-30 plays per game.
"I think (defensive line) coach (Brad) Lawing just really challenged him a little bit in preseason," USC coach Steve Spurrier said. "He said, 'Chaz, you got a lot of ability, but you're sort of standing around watching when you're out there. Turn it loose, go.' And Chaz started practicing a lot better, the last two, three weeks.
"Chaz has certainly worked his way into a rotating situation there with Devin and Jadeveon. So he'll continue to play quite a bit."
When Sutton first arrived at USC in 2009 from Fork Union Military Academy, he had a steep learning curve, according to Lawing.
It took time for Sutton to understand the hard work it takes to play. Once he did that, improvement began to show.
"His fundamentals have gotten better," said Lawing, who named Sutton the most improved defensive lineman in the spring. "He's become a better player simply because of work ethic because he didn't know how to when he first got here."
Now, that's Sutton's calling card.
In the offseason, he said he spent extra time in the weight room, and he constantly did extra push-ups, sit-ups and sprints to be in top physical condition.
"Basically just dedicating myself more in the offseason, doing the extra work that my teammates might not actually see," Sutton said.
Combined with the reps he's received in practice over the last several years, games have become much easier for Sutton, who had 18 total tackles coming into 2012.
"When coach gives me the opportunity I'm just going to go out there and go 100 percent every time because you never know what's going to happen," Sutton said. "The night before, I just visualize myself going out there and making plays. When I get on the field I see myself in the right position at the right time."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/sep/27/work-ethic-paying-off-for-uscs-chaz-sutton/