Aug. 16, 2011
Five to Watch: Matthews | Garnham | Tate
In a series titled: Five to Watch, VUCommodores.com takes a closer look at players to keep an eye on during preseason practice. The fourth installment of the series features sophomore safety Kenny Ladler.
As a true freshman last season, Ladler burst onto the scene and earned Freshman All-SEC honors. Ladler made nine starts and ranked fifth on the team in total tackles. Eric Single recently spoke with Ladler to discuss the upcoming season.
How much of a surprise was the early action you saw as a freshman last year?
It was more of an expectation of what I wanted to do when I chose this school. Coming in, I wanted to get myself prepared. That’s why I decided to enroll early, so that I could get a good feel of the game and how the system works. I’m just taking every day as another day, trying to get better every day. I still have a lot to learn because I’m still young, but there’s a lot that I want to do this year.
What’s your comfort level with your position right now, having been on campus for over a year and a half?
I feel more comfortable out there with knowing what to do and knowing how to play fast in college. It’s been really helpful, coming in early like I did.
You’re part of a secondary that is viewed as one of the strengths of this team coming into the season. What expectations do you guys have for yourselves as a unit?
We want to force a lot of turnovers this year, we want to get the ball back and score on defense. It’s been really good playing with guys like [Casey Hayward and Sean Richardson] because they have a lot of experience. It’s been a real joy playing with them.
Back in the spring during a scrimmage, you scored a touchdown after Casey Hayward intercepted a pass and tossed it to you on a lateral in the open field. How much do you think the big play will factor into the mentality of this year’s defense?
Plays like that, those are the kinds of plays Coach Franklin wants us to make. I feel like we’re building that every practice, building our team chemistry, and we’re getting better at making plays like that. It’s going to show on Saturdays.
What has Sean Richardson meant to you as an experienced veteran and leader at that other safety slot?
He’s the leader of the safeties, so I’m still learning from him. He’s been a big help since I’ve been here. I learned a lot from him because he has a lot of experience. I’m glad I have someone like that to work with so I can help the younger guys like he helped my teammates and I out so we all can get better.
How much did you feel the pressure of playing at the level of guys like Casey and Sean as a freshman last year?
I really didn’t think of it like that. I didn’t think they saw me as a young guy, I think they just saw me as another player, so I felt like it was my duty to not let anybody get past me. I’m the safety, so I had to do my job. That’s how I looked at it. But having them in the secondary with me is really good because I pick up on the things that they already know. It’s been a big help.
