So I recently secured a rare interview with Penn State’s incoming juco DT Tyrell Chavis for a feature story that’ll run in our upcoming magazine, and eventually here as well. But first I want to pass along a couple quick notes that Chavis shared, as I’m sure many of you are interested in where he stands as he gets closer to graduation day at Nassau (N.Y.) Community College.
First, as a quick summary, his status for enrollment at PSU this summer is currently on schedule, he said, but it still hinges upon him receiving his associates degree in May. Once that occurs, he’ll be set to make the transfer and after that, he’s aiming to make an immediate contribution on the field. “I only have two years to play,” said the three-technique DT. “Let’s just put it that way. I’m coming and I’m ready to make an impact.”
But until then academics are his top priority. He’s been on Dwight Galt’s strength and conditioning program since about two weeks after signing day and weighs between 295-305. Other than that, however, it’s his course load at Nassau that gets most of his attention.
“My main goal is to graduate right now before anything else, because I have to graduate in order to (reach his goals)” he said. “So my main focus is class right now. Football is really secondary. It’s just the weight room and stuff like that, but my main focus is just to graduate.”
Studying liberal arts now, Chavis is set to major in African-American studies at PSU. While he became one of the higher rated juco DTs during his two-year stay at Nassau, he said he’s “developed mostly mentally” during his tenure, crediting defensive line coach Antonio Anderson (a former Syracuse lineman who was drafted by the Cowboys) for the one-on-one attention. “Coach Anderson has helped a lot with that,” he added.
Anderson has also emphasized academics with Chavis and it’s something Chavis said he’s embraced, especially in this final year at Nassau. That means with one month remaining until graduation, Chavis is making sure all of his ducks are in a row, so to speak, to ensure there are no hiccups with the upcoming transfer to PSU.
“That's why I’m just trying to hunker in and make sure everything's set for me to arrive on time and on schedule,” he said.
First, as a quick summary, his status for enrollment at PSU this summer is currently on schedule, he said, but it still hinges upon him receiving his associates degree in May. Once that occurs, he’ll be set to make the transfer and after that, he’s aiming to make an immediate contribution on the field. “I only have two years to play,” said the three-technique DT. “Let’s just put it that way. I’m coming and I’m ready to make an impact.”
But until then academics are his top priority. He’s been on Dwight Galt’s strength and conditioning program since about two weeks after signing day and weighs between 295-305. Other than that, however, it’s his course load at Nassau that gets most of his attention.
“My main goal is to graduate right now before anything else, because I have to graduate in order to (reach his goals)” he said. “So my main focus is class right now. Football is really secondary. It’s just the weight room and stuff like that, but my main focus is just to graduate.”
Studying liberal arts now, Chavis is set to major in African-American studies at PSU. While he became one of the higher rated juco DTs during his two-year stay at Nassau, he said he’s “developed mostly mentally” during his tenure, crediting defensive line coach Antonio Anderson (a former Syracuse lineman who was drafted by the Cowboys) for the one-on-one attention. “Coach Anderson has helped a lot with that,” he added.
Anderson has also emphasized academics with Chavis and it’s something Chavis said he’s embraced, especially in this final year at Nassau. That means with one month remaining until graduation, Chavis is making sure all of his ducks are in a row, so to speak, to ensure there are no hiccups with the upcoming transfer to PSU.
“That's why I’m just trying to hunker in and make sure everything's set for me to arrive on time and on schedule,” he said.
