It's your senior year and you have high expectations for your team and yourself. In fact, the college football world and your coaches have high enough expectations that you're preseason all-conference and (in one case) deemed "the best safety in the country".
Then ..... injury. In one case preseason and in the other very early in the season.
Do you sulk? Do you disengage from your teammates and coaches? Do you become a distraction to your team?
In the case of both of these young men, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding "NO!".
Since before the season began we've heard from the young DBs about how Jones has been coaching them up in practice, and you continued to see it during games. Jones is always around the DB huddle - a second voice of experience and expertise along with Donte Williams.
Kalu was the leader on the defense, especially from an emotional standpoint. If you've watched the sidelines during games, he continues to be that guy. He's the first one to greet EVERY Blackshirt coming off the field after a defensive stop. He's also in the huddles like Jones, coaching and mentoring.
Both of those guys should (hopefully) be back soon, maybe by Wisconsin next week. But I like to believe that a lot of the growth of this young defense can be attributed to them as well as the coaching staff. It's sure a refreshing change from what we've seen from "team leaders" in the last two seasons!
#GBR
Then ..... injury. In one case preseason and in the other very early in the season.
Do you sulk? Do you disengage from your teammates and coaches? Do you become a distraction to your team?
In the case of both of these young men, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding "NO!".
Since before the season began we've heard from the young DBs about how Jones has been coaching them up in practice, and you continued to see it during games. Jones is always around the DB huddle - a second voice of experience and expertise along with Donte Williams.
Kalu was the leader on the defense, especially from an emotional standpoint. If you've watched the sidelines during games, he continues to be that guy. He's the first one to greet EVERY Blackshirt coming off the field after a defensive stop. He's also in the huddles like Jones, coaching and mentoring.
Both of those guys should (hopefully) be back soon, maybe by Wisconsin next week. But I like to believe that a lot of the growth of this young defense can be attributed to them as well as the coaching staff. It's sure a refreshing change from what we've seen from "team leaders" in the last two seasons!
#GBR
