Redshirt sophomore running back Jay Pearson discussed his reasoning on switching from a quarterback to a running back and how his experience has helped him develop throughout his football career.

Q: When did you start playing football?

A: “I started playing football when I was around 5 or 6 years old.”

Q: Did you start as a running back?

A: “No. I played quarterback my whole life. I stopped playing quarterback going into my junior year of high school. I came to the realization I wasn’t going to play in college as a quarterback because of my height. I thought I was going to stay short my whole life. After I stopped playing quarterback, I played safety. The first year I played running back was my senior year [of high school].”

Q: Do you think being a quarterback for that long helped you as a running back?

A: “Oh yeah. I can still read a defense. I can see what coverage they’re in, I know what blitz they’ll do and I’ve played defense in high school, so I can figure out what’s going on.”

Q: Pancakes or waffles?

A: “Pancakes.”

Q: Do you put anything on your pancakes?

A: “When I make them, I put cinnamon in the batter.”

Q: Why did you choose to play at Eastern?

A: “When I first got here, it was different from where I’m from. I felt the atmosphere and how the people are and the coaches and the team, and I felt good. I’m from Pittsburgh, and coming from the city to here is a big difference.”

Q: What’s your favorite NFL team?

A: “The Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Q: Is the Earth round or flat?

A: “It’s round in my opinion.”

Q: What are your goals for this season?

A: “My goal is to ball out. This would be my first year playing real college football, so I want to see how well I’ll do this year. One of my goals is to try to beat any running back record at Eastern. I’m trying to get into the [record] books.”

Q: Which teammate are you giving the aux to?

A: “Jay Burt, hands down. He has a crazy playlist.”

Q: What are you most excited about this season?

A: “The play and being back with my brothers again. I’ve been out for two years due to injury, and being able to come back and play to be another part of the team to help out, it’d be great.”

Q: How did you get injured?

A: “I tore my meniscus freshman year, but I messed it up my senior year of high school without knowing. I played football, basketball and track during my senior year on a torn meniscus, and I never knew about it until I got to college. When I got to Eastern, we had a scrimmage, and I was running the ball and fell on my knee first and I couldn’t get up. I went to the hospital, and they told me they tore my whole meniscus. The doctor told me that was the worst tear he’s ever seen in a meniscus.”

Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team?

A: “Jamal [Jeffers]. Every time you see him, he’s always joking.”

Q: What’s your favorite pregame meal?

A: “If it’s available, jerk chicken.”

Q: What’s your favorite postgame meal?

A: “After the game, I’m hungry, so it can be anything.”

Q: Who inspired you to play football?

A: “My dad. I remember I went to one of his games when I was about 6 years old. My dad was a quarterback too, and when I learned he could throw with both of his hands, I really wanted to play football so I could do the same thing he was doing.”

Q: Knowing everything you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you?

A: “I would tell him to keep your head in the books, focus on the most important things, and be you because at the end of the day, you’re going to be the GOAT.”

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.