Isaac Weaver started all 12 games last season at left tackle for the Monarchs. The redshirt sophomore recently sat down with ODUSports.com to discuss a variety of things, including spring practice, his favorite road game and playing his guitar.
Q: What did you learn from your redshirt season?
A: It’s a long season, a lot longer than high school. You have to go out every single day in practice as hard as you can, it all matters. You get to a point where you’re tired, have a lot of assignments, but you have to power through and make the best out of everything.
Q: How do you balance between school, football and your everyday life?
IW: You have to come up with a plan. You can’t come up and think you’re going to get it done. We have a tight schedule and it helps to have practice in the morning, to get in and get that done. I have a tight schedule but if I sit down and go over the assignments due and lay it out ahead of time you’ll be okay.
Q: What was your redshirt year in 2016 like?
IW: It was fun. It was cool to get the extra year to get practice in, kind of like a nice warm up. It was hard to sit out, especially that year we were so good. You watch everyone else play and they’re all having a good time, you still do wish you were out there, but looking back at it I’m glad it happened and I understand why.
Q: What did you work on during your redshirt year?
IW: I put on about 10-15 pounds of muscle and was really able to catch up to the speed of the game. We have some of the best defensive ends in the country, so to play against the guys as a freshman, I can think wow, this is how fast it’s going to happen and I was able to get acclimated to the game.
Q: What was your first game like – the 2017 season-opener against Albany?
IW: I was really excited. When we were getting ready to run out of the tunnel it just hit me, I started to freak out, I’m getting ready to play in my first college football game. We got the ball first and I’m really glad we got the ball first I don’t know if I would’ve been able to wait. Once we got the first drive down I calmed down and told myself I play football every day, this is what I’m here to do, there’s nothing to freak out about.
Q: You bring a special intensity to the field. What flips that switch once you touch the field?
IW: When I started playing when I was younger my coaches always said when you go out there you have to want to annihilate someone. That’s how I was taught to play. My high school coaches really tried to push a mentality to be the nastiest guy out there and doing that helped me become a good offensive lineman. You can’t play the offensive line passively.
Q: What does it take to be an offensive lineman?
IW: I think it takes a lot. You have to be aggressive, have to have that streak. You have to be pretty athletic, we’re out there blocking guys that are great athletes. Most of the time we might not be as athletic as them but we have to get the job done. The other big thing is intelligence. Preparing for a game, going against other teams, especially with the plays that we have. Making sure you know your plays in and out, make it so you know the calls.
Q: What has been your favorite road game so far at Old Dominion?
IW: UMass was cool. Virginia Tech was cool. I think the travel is always fun. Virginia Tech atmosphere was crazy being there in that well known stadium, but I had a lot of fun on all road trips. FIU was fun, we won that game, in Miami, it was a beautiful night, and it was a lot of fun that game.
Q: What did you work on this past spring?
IW: I wanted to work on my run blocking, another thing I really wanted to work on was my hand fighting. That’s a big part of being an offensive linemen is working with your hands, getting the positioning right. You can take the best steps in the world but if you don’t have a good punch the quarterback is going to be in trouble.
Q: What has Coach Malone (O-line coach) helped you with?
IW: I think Coach Malone is the best coach I’ve ever had, he’s awesome. He has a lot of intensity and he expects a lot from us, but I think it’s a good way to coach. He’s very smart. He doesn’t want to go out and put us in a situation where we’re not going to be successful. He’s definitely a technician. He’s helped me with my set, my hands, getting my steps down.
Q: What was the recruiting process like for you?
IW: Old Dominion was the first to offer me, going into my senior year. I had a few other places contact me after that, but nothing jumped out at me like ODU. This was the place that really felt like home.
Q: Did you play any other sports growing up?
IW: I played baseball, basketball, I swam a lot when I was a kid. In high school I played basketball and threw shot put and discus.
Q: You swam?
IW: I loved swimming, still love swimming. It got a little repetitive, you go to the pool everyday and that’s all you do, but I loved it. I did the year round stuff, it was a lot of fun. I did all the events, butterfly, freestyle, the only thing I didn’t do was backstroke. I started swimming when I was a little kid and competitively in third grade.
Q: Favorite TV Show?
IW: Breaking Bad. I like the science behind it is awesome.
Q: Favorite Movie?
IW: I like a lot of different movies. Anything that gets me thinking.
Q: Favorite Band?
IW: Eric Church.
Q: If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
IW: Peyton Manning, Abraham Lincoln and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Q: What is your major?
IW: Biology
Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
IW: I like to read a lot and I play the guitar. I play a lot of country, some rock and stuff like that. If I hear a song I’ll look it up and see if I can play it. Everyone once in a while I’ll get with Drayton (Arnold) and we’ll play a little bit.