I talked with Jason Lewis and Jalen Bates for my freshmen standout scrimmage article, but I asked him a few other questions that didn't make it in. Figured I'd share.
Jason Lewis
How does this running back group measure up to any to any group you've been around in high school, on other college visits or at elite camps?
"There's definitely elite competition here. Ballage and Richard might not have been the most high profile recruits, but when you get here and see the way they work, they're definitely elite athletes. At some programs, they feature one back who really takes over, but here you have two guys who are basically starters and can play. So I just hope I can work my way up so that when they go out, I can step right in."
When you see guys on the roster at running back from California, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and you're from Virginia, and you've all got different skillsets, does it give you confidence that they'll find a way to use you in a way that showcases your strengths?
"Yeah, they're going to put you in position to do well. Ballage does everything good. Him and Richard are good at hitting the holes. And me, I can do a lot different things for the team as well, so defensively people are going to have to pick their poison."
What was the best moment of camp for you outside of your touchdown?
That's a tough one. The fans. They know my name, and that's kind of weird. I'm not really used to that. When I'm walking down the hill and they're yelling 'Jason' it's kind of wild.
Jalen Bates
Does left side or right side of the line matter to you?
"No. Left side, right side, standing up, on the ground, doesn't really matter."
I talked to Bo Wallace about being out here instead of in the Louisiana humidity- is there a big difference?
"It felt like Louisiana today. I'm not going to lie. I was sweating. I feel like I've kind of got an upper hand on everybody because I'm used to it."
Are you an outdoorsy person?
"I hunt and fish, but I don't camp."
Any of the guys here showing that they're rookies when it comes to staying out here in the woods?
"Definitely all the guys from New Orleans, and some of the guys from Phoenix too. There was some saying 'oh I don't know if I can stay out here anymore.' I will say I didn't really like that the cabins didn't have any air conditioning, but it was cool climbing Mt. Kush and everything. That was a first for me, and it was one of the funnest things I ever did."
Favorite moment of the camp?
"Sitting around the bonfire, and talking about what football means to us, and our lives. Climbing Mt Kush was symbolic to us because we're climbing toward a national championship."
And what does football mean to you?
"I play football to inspire people, like little kids (Points to autograph seekers)."
Did you have anybody that inspired you when, or if, you were ever little?
"My brother. I'm from a small town, so everybody looked up to the star football player."
Jason Lewis
How does this running back group measure up to any to any group you've been around in high school, on other college visits or at elite camps?
"There's definitely elite competition here. Ballage and Richard might not have been the most high profile recruits, but when you get here and see the way they work, they're definitely elite athletes. At some programs, they feature one back who really takes over, but here you have two guys who are basically starters and can play. So I just hope I can work my way up so that when they go out, I can step right in."
When you see guys on the roster at running back from California, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and you're from Virginia, and you've all got different skillsets, does it give you confidence that they'll find a way to use you in a way that showcases your strengths?
"Yeah, they're going to put you in position to do well. Ballage does everything good. Him and Richard are good at hitting the holes. And me, I can do a lot different things for the team as well, so defensively people are going to have to pick their poison."
What was the best moment of camp for you outside of your touchdown?
That's a tough one. The fans. They know my name, and that's kind of weird. I'm not really used to that. When I'm walking down the hill and they're yelling 'Jason' it's kind of wild.
Jalen Bates
Does left side or right side of the line matter to you?
"No. Left side, right side, standing up, on the ground, doesn't really matter."
I talked to Bo Wallace about being out here instead of in the Louisiana humidity- is there a big difference?
"It felt like Louisiana today. I'm not going to lie. I was sweating. I feel like I've kind of got an upper hand on everybody because I'm used to it."
Are you an outdoorsy person?
"I hunt and fish, but I don't camp."
Any of the guys here showing that they're rookies when it comes to staying out here in the woods?
"Definitely all the guys from New Orleans, and some of the guys from Phoenix too. There was some saying 'oh I don't know if I can stay out here anymore.' I will say I didn't really like that the cabins didn't have any air conditioning, but it was cool climbing Mt. Kush and everything. That was a first for me, and it was one of the funnest things I ever did."
Favorite moment of the camp?
"Sitting around the bonfire, and talking about what football means to us, and our lives. Climbing Mt Kush was symbolic to us because we're climbing toward a national championship."
And what does football mean to you?
"I play football to inspire people, like little kids (Points to autograph seekers)."
Did you have anybody that inspired you when, or if, you were ever little?
"My brother. I'm from a small town, so everybody looked up to the star football player."
