WATCH: Mississippi State defensive end Deonte Anderson updates spring progress
With each passing season in the Maroon and White, defensive end Deonte Anderson has increased his games reps and his production. Entering his junior season, the Florida native is looking to continue that trend for the Bulldogs.
This past season Anderson totaled 38 tackles with three tackles for loss, four PBUs, one sack and one fumble forced. Following Thursday’s spring practice session, Anderson met with the media to share his thoughts on spring practice among other topics:
Q: How has spring practice been going so far?
Anderson: For me it’s been going smooth. I’ve been having to adjust to many things but I had a couple of errors sometimes. But I am doing real good out there and everything seems like it is coming together.
Q: What is defensive line coach David Turner harping on this year and what’s his point of emphasis?
Anderson: He wants me to get bette at consistency. I will be making strides and plays but then sometimes I fall back. So I just have to keep going.
Q: You have the same defensive line coach but a new defensive coordinator and a new scheme. What differences have you seen from this defense?
Anderson: The defense from this spring to last spring is many more components. I will be inside, outside, middle a lot of times but I wasn’t doing that last year. I have to get used to that and everybody has to get used to that. It’s a good scheme, though.
Q: Do they have you working at defensive end?
Anderson: Yes sir.
Q: Since getting to campus you have steadily added more weight to your frame. How is that process going and where are you now with that?
Anderson: I weight 270 as of right now. It’s helped me a lot and I have more power but I still have speed. So it is better now than it was last year.
Q: What’s it been like for you going against the offensive line this spring?
Anderson: I wouldn’t say it’s been easy but it’s been competitive. All of the tackles give me good looks and the guards. But I mainly go against the tackles. They are doing good, we are doing good so we really help each other.
Q: On the defensive line, who has been standing out to you?
Anderson: Who I see the most is (Sulaiman) Kpaka and the other named KJ (Kedrick Bingley-Jones). And then Tre (Trevion Williams). All of them are making strides.
Q: After they got hurt last year, how big of a boost is it for the defensive line to get Trevion Williams and Kalvin Dinkins back?
Anderson: It’s really a blessing, I’m not gonna lie. It’s big for the whole line and they bring energy to the whole defensive side.
Q: How have things been for you and the new strength coaches?
Anderson: They bring more energy to the whole weight room. We will be having fun but working at the same time. They get our focus so we can get better out there (on the field).
