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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To know the Cougars student athletes get a player profile
second here on one oh three, nine ninety eight three,
ESPN The Fan, Welcome back to Couger Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right here on one on through nine ninety eight point three,
ESPN The Fan, Ronald the three man Weaver here gonna
get into a little player profile segment.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We've been doing all the interviews of fall camp, finding
out who is gonna be, filting out the depth chart.
We know who RB one and RB two are gonna be.
Who's gonna be RB three, RB four? Not a lot
of depth in the room. Running back is an important position.
I don't want to say the most physical position, but
you get beat up a lot. You're in past game
blocking in the past game scheme, the pass game offense, running,
(00:44):
towing the ball. I don't necessarily know if you're gonna
be able to say yeah, you can just fully rely
on LJ Andcone and say yeah, they're gonna go the
whole year and not get dinged up. Hasn't happened the
last couple of years. He'll just been nicked up at times.
Sione came onto the scene, had a breakout game, and
then he got hurt in that same game. It's a
game of attrition, right, So who's gonna be RB three,
(01:06):
RB four. We've seen Joe Vesse Demoni. He had some highlights.
Over the weekend, BAU had another scrimmage. They practiced in,
said Lavel a couple of times and it was some
oohs and ohs and shout out to the BAU social
media team. The trainer looked like it was mouth was open.
Chase Roberts, I think was like, everybody's going on over
to be able to hurdle the guy like that. Now,
I don't recommend hurtling. I know Isaac Rex did it
(01:27):
a lot, and obviously he was bigger. Mason Wick was
the king of hurdles, right. VIC gotta be careful with that,
but if you pick your time, it's a highlights taping.
He caught a little bit of a highlight as well.
But I caught up with the guy that made a transition.
He was in that Safeti's room, a guy that I've
said by stock by stock on this guy right now,
because I said, at some point during the season, you're
gonna need him.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
He's an athlete.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
A lot of people forget that he played slot wide
receiver when he was in high school.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
It's the guy that was out last season. Do a
little bit of injury.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He told me in the interview that we're gonna hear
from in just a minute about the transition the Kalani
and a Rod approaching them. Yes, that's right, it's Preston Rex.
We're gonna get to know Press and Rex in this segment,
but before we do, we gotta pay some bills. Gotta
show love to our sponsors. Can't do our show without
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(02:18):
certify Financial plane Blan Anderson and his crew. This segment
gonna be brought to you by Orthorprosoutah dot com. That's sorry,
Orthropos of Utah dot com. If you're dealing with an
injury or muscular skeletal plane. At Orthroplace, we provide an
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We know the high school season has started. You could
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call today at eight zero one, four hundred five through
one eight. That's eight zero one, four hundred five through
and eight for an appoyment, or go to orthropros of
Utah dot com. Without further ado, let's get to my interview,
the one that I have last Friday with Preston Rex,
who has converted over from safety to the BYU running
back room.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Ron. We were here with Cougar Sports. We got Preston Rex.
P Rex.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I don't know if that's a nickname that guy, but
I'm gonna take it. Preston, How was practice today?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Practice was good, man. The the offense is looking good.
We're putting everything together, man, and we're really excited for
the season.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So I think you made a switch.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
You were in the safeties Roomly correct me if I'm wrong,
and now running back talk about that change?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
When did that occur?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, so coach Roderick, he he asked me, if I
can make the switch. There's a lot of really great safeties,
you know, and I'm coming off in ACL so I
haven't played since two thousand and three on the defense.
So coach Roderick. He approached me with Klanney, asked if
i'd make the switch because I'm very comfortable with ball
my hands. I've played offense my whole life, come from
an offensive family, so Coach Rodick he wanted me to
(03:43):
do it. And you know, I've just been taking it
one step at a time and learning the offense and
trying to make some plays out.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I feel what has been the most I guess not
difficult part because you said you did play offense. As
we know, you switched the defense, not backed offense. Any
transitions that had been you know, difficult to justin.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Right, there's a there's a lot of mental work that
comes with it, you know, reading the defense, and luckily
that hasn't been too difficult because I played on the defense,
so you know, I think the physical aspect is comes
natural to me. I've done in my whole life. And
you know, my pops, my older brother, they're they're definitely
helping me with learning the offense too. So there's a lot,
(04:21):
but uh, it's nothing I can't handle for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
How did it being on the defense that help you
learn the playbook for the offense?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Right, I'm just stealing signals. Now I'm saying, humb playing
with you.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It's a coach, Coach Hill. He's a great coach man.
He taught me how to be just a hard working
and determined and tough guy. And I'm trying to bring
that mentality that Coach Hill taught me on the defense
to the offense.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Your name's been missing a handful of times in fall camp.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Know? Have Kalani Aron mentioned your names as a guy
you know now newly in the running back room.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It means a lot, for sure. But I owe that
credit to the other running backs and coach Harv. They've
helped me a ton just to learn the ins and
out of this new position. Hinckley, Uh Falow, he's been,
He's been helping me a ton man. He's he's a
great mentor. Enick l Jon all the older guys. Man,
they've been helping me out of ton. So when you
hear my name, it's really the other guys that are
helping me. It's not me talk about that.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
We know Falow still waiting on the waiver, but a
guy that's been I think at practice, you know, here
and there. What is it like to have a guy
you know that has done it at the highest level.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I was coaching you a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, he's uh, he's got a lot of experience. You know,
he's a father. I see him. It's kind of a sage.
You know, a lot of wisdom comes from that guy. Man.
So I know that I can always ask him a question.
He's gonna know the answer. He's gonna help me out,
and he wants best for this team just like everybody else.
So follows the man.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What is it like being coached by you know, coach
harf now.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Coach Harve Is He's done it at the highest level. Man,
He's been a baller. You know. I've watched his tape
before I made the move and I was like, dang,
this guy can he can move even though he's he's
a big dude. Still, So Coach Harve, He's taught me
a lot. He knows the offense really well. He knows
every single position. So if I ever have a question,
if I need anything from him, Harves, He's always got it. Man.
(06:00):
He's on top of this. Sure.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I want to get into your injury a little bit.
How did that bring you closer? You know in your
faith to Christ?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Your relationship with the people around you when you go
through something like that.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
All right, man, that's a that's a great question. You know.
I've I've had my fair share just like everybody else
of hardships, you know. And I have a very blessed
life too. So if a torn ACL is my biggest
issue in life, I have a pretty best life, right. So,
you know, I just took that time to grow my
relationship with Christ, you know, rely on his atonement to
(06:30):
heal my body really so help me be better physically.
I feel stronger. Both my legs are great, they feel good,
and it helped me spiritually as well.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I want to stop it right there. Normally I
don't stop. I let the interviews play all the way through.
But I think that's just super impactful of what he
just said, and I really wanted to highlight that because
we've seen this with Elie Wallbrook, Ali Dixon. You know,
people are going through their fair share injuries.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
B Yu. It's bigger than sports, you know, igor and faith.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
You know, he said, if a torn ACL is the
biggest thing, then I'm going through than to have a
pretty good life, right And they always tell us in
the journalistic quorl with that in the media world that
if they say, oh, that's a really good question, then
you know you're really thinking about it. And sometimes we
don't always I don't always ask maybe the best question.
I'm not going to get into that tangent, but that
was one question right there that really stuck out the Preston,
(07:19):
you know, talking about his injury, and I think that's
just a good perspective. And already you can hear in
the interview just stuff how humble of an individual that
he is and coming off of injuries. In my heart,
it's a lot of mentally tax and stuff in a
position switch that he's mentioning already. I just really wanted
to to stop it and highlight it right there about
that because I just thought that was super impactful that
(07:40):
sometimes you go wise me and we don't turn outward
instead of inward right, And sometimes it's difficult because what
we're going through we think that the sky is all
the sky is falling chicken little not really funny, right,
but you think of of the hardships that you go
through and how that's brought him closer to to Christ
(08:00):
and his family.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Let's get back to the interview.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Pressing Rex b why you running back, discussing getting to
know him and fall camp for the twenty twenty five season.
Some good perspective of having not a lot of people
have that after injury, and your brother also went through
something similar.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
What advice did he shed maybe when you were going
through that?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Right? Yeah, Isaac, he uh, Isaac's devey. He was so
excited that I switched to the offense and yeah, he well,
a lot of people don't know that. Me and Isaac,
even though I'm six feet in Isaac sixty six, we
run exactly the same. It's just you can't tell because
I'm so much shorter. So he was giving me some
stuff or rehab. He gave me a lot of tips.
He got me with the right people too. So yeah,
(08:39):
Isaac's helped me a tone as well.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
You're gonna have to touchdown celebrations like him.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
I know.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
He likes to do the little you know.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Back, I act like you've been there before, Isaac. Isaac,
if you're listening to this, come on, man. The cabbage
batch that was a week but uh, I got a
couple moves, But stay tuned, you know, hopefully I find
the end zone so I can you know show coregrenations.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Talk about your reps in fall camp, who you've been
running with. They've seen you with the ones, the two's
a little bit how the rep's been.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Right, uh, you know, and J they've really been taking
the one rep. So I'm trying to learn, you know,
from them. Those guys are both the man man, So
I'm learning from them, you know, just been trying to
work my way in wherever I can man with the twos,
with the ones, it doesn't matter. I've I've done a
little bit of both. But as I've learned the offense
(09:20):
a little bit more, I'm I'm still learning from those
guys ahead of me, and so there they've been good
help for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Give me the outside perspective looking in because you weren't
on the field, you know, due to the a c L.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
But the season last year was phenomenal, double.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Digit wins, the spanking in the Ali Mobile against Colorado.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
What was it like from your perspective?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Well, I wasn't on the field, but you know, I'm
a team player. I won what's best for this team,
and that's why I ultimately moved to running back so
I could help the team. I want to you know,
not just win eleven games this year, but we want
to go to the college football We want to go
to the playoffs, and we want to go to the championship. Man.
So I'm I'm willing to do whatever it does to
help this team. So we loved last year. We learned
(10:01):
a lot from last year. There's a lot to improve.
So just as a group, we're collectively trying to, you know,
just raise our goals and be better than last year.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Gimme the first touchdown.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
As a running back, cave you envision scoring it is it,
you know, right through the middle, through the guards and
the tackles, or is it catching the ball in space?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Hopefully it's catching the ball in space. I played a
lot of slot receiver, you know, I can work my
way through gaps. Man, I've been I've been definitely learning
by reading the line, the D line, all that. But
I feel like, truly inside, I'm still a little bit
of a slot receiver. I still got that those rec
gings in me. Man, they're coming out. So hopefully it's
in space making a move and getting the crowd hyped. Nice.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I know you're still new to the position, but what
do you like about Aaron Rodicks soften so far.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
It's very versatile Coach Roderick, he he is the master
of the game, and so we can up the tempo,
we can you know, cram it down some one down
their line, and we can play physical. So it's very versatile.
And you know, for a versatile offense, you need versatile players.
So I think that's where a lot of the running backs,
not just myself, but the other guys in the room.
(11:13):
You know, we can all we all bring something to
the table. So that's what I like about his offense.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
What from your skill set, what do you bring it?
You mentioned obviously plan wide receive with the slot. What
skill set do you bring into the running back room.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
I'm good in space. I can make a move, I
can make someone miss, I can set it up and uh,
you know, get out in space. So a lot of people,
actually they didn't tell me how fast I like, dang Rex,
I didn't know you're fast because I'm always backpedaling. But
you know, I can use my speed to make a
guy miss. And you know, big plays make big plays.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
You need to know are you part of that four
four you know category four five? What's the speed? Apt
to ask?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Actually, we so at b y U. We run our
zero through ten and ten through Tony Gates, and I'm
there with some of the fast guys. You know Smith,
if he's getting interviewed over there, that guy's fast. I can't.
I can't compete with him. Bro, he's faster than me.
But uh, you know, actually not sure, but you know,
I feel like I'm faster with the ball in my
hands for sure. It's just one of those things.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, speaking of Smith, who would you like to highlight
from the defensive side of the ball that stuck out
to you this all season?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Shout out to my boy, Volatile Sala, all the safeties. Actually,
they're the best players on the field. They're the field generals.
I still love them. I still love Coach Hill and
gav So you know, even though we're on different sides
of the ball, Guys, if you're watching, uh, Volatile Fall
has been he's been balling out for sure. So he's
had a lot of highlights this camp and he's gonna
(12:33):
do the same this season.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, that's a deep room.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
You got him, Raider, you know, Tommy prasss Tanne Wall.
I know I'm forgetting somebody.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
I'm sorry, but Jo said he's got to get a
package just to get all of those.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Guys on the field at once. That speaks to how
deep that room was in yourself that was there. Offensively,
who would you like to highlight?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I think Bear and Tiger they're bringing a lot of energy.
Those guys are really funny, they're always positive. They bring
a lot of energy to the offense. So all the receivers, Uh,
they've been doing a good job, and especially the old line.
The old line, they're the ones that are working in
the trenches to block for guys like me and Uh
and the other running backs. So honestly, the whole offense,
(13:08):
everyone's been working really hard so that we can put
together and even better season than last year.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
You we know there's a quarterback competition. Only you mentioned Bear.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What is it about Bear that has stuck out to
you personally in his short time in Provo.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
He's he's really physical. I like the way that he
can step up in the pocket. The other quarterbacks they're
all they're all solid, man. So whatever ends up happening,
we're gonna be good. Gregrenation, we're gonna be all right.
And all the all the quarterbacks they're they're super solid.
And they're all gonna slink it. They're gonna do their
things for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Let's go off the field. Now, what do you like
to do?
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Obviously, you know you're from California, you know, not Cali.
People that said that are not from California. I know
how you feel about that. Exactly before he's that silent.
What do you like to do outside of football?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I like to surf. Actually, I got home from my
mission and I'm terrible. Now I'm a total kook, That's
what they say. I'm California. But I like to surf
a lot. I love to hanging out with my brothers,
hanging out with my roommates. I'm just a chill guy, man,
I'm just I'm just kicking it. So yeah, but one day,
when I can live in California again, I'll pick up
surfing again. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Two part question. Where'd you serve your mission? First of all,
if you speak any languages? Second, where's the best place
to surf at in California?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
All? Right, sant and No Free, Old Man's It's called
Old Mans. It's in Santa No Free, by a little
north of the power plant. That's the best place. Coregnation
if you ever want to go surfing down and you
can come with me. You can come with me and
my pops. Well, we can all go together. Open invitation,
anyone can come through. So I serve my mission in
Chile and in McAllen, Texas. I was a COVID missionary.
(14:36):
I got to learn Spanish and I only spent about
six months in Chile and then finished in Texas, but
still got to use the language that I learned in
Texas and I loved it. Man, it's a great time.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Last couple of things here with Press and Rex. By
you running back? Uh, Preston, what are you excited for
most of the season.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I'm excited for us to win games, man. I'm just
excited for us to, you know, take the hard work
that we've know, we've been putting out in the on
the field, in the practice field, in the weight room,
all this hard work that we've been we've been grinding,
grinding that as a team. I'm excited for it to
just pay off and to go win some football games.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Last messages for Cougar Nation.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Love you guys, thank you for your support.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Let's go Pres and Rex, everybody, thanks pretty much.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
We're gonna be all right, Yeah, we're gonna be all right.
I think Kensere Lamar said that, uh presson Rex, Yeah,
we're gonna be all right. I had asked him, let's
start with the quarterback before we move and finish up
with him. I said, who is stuck out to you offensively?
You know, I always want to ask the guys who's highlighted.
Guys aren't going to talk about themselves, right, can't do that.
And he said Bear and Tiger, you know, they bring
(15:43):
the energy. And then I had to follow it up
and ask what about Bear, right, guys don't go out
our way.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Just to mention that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
And he's doing a good job right, Vic mentioned in
the old line blocking for me.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You know he's a running back. Now.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Got to always give love to your boys up front.
Those are the boys that are highlighting you, and they
regard you. I don't want the longest yard type of
situation where they just stopped blocking and hit you.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I'm just kidding. That's the joke.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
That's why it's a movie. Anyway, back to business, he
said he's really physical. He steps up in the pocket
and then he says, all the quarterbacks do their things.
Are gonna be all right. Cougar notion just wait. But
I love how he mentioned Bear. There's been talks around that,
a guy that's come in in the last one you
can say, two months, three months and has taken by
(16:25):
storm was called brilliant. Now you got Press and Rex
highlighting him. Other people have highlighted Bear and Tiger. I
thought that was pretty interesting. Then another guy follow tal
Satuala Jay Hill mentioned him, so you gotta have him
on the field. Tommy Prass's Tannel Wall Rady, the Mooney packages.
All those guys are great, and safety room is deep.
(16:46):
Gave a lot of left to the safeties, so fallatow
I see a lot of time. Actually they're gonna rotate,
they're too good not to. But yeah, and then I
got to the Aaron Roddock offense. Right, he's a running back.
Now it's very virtatile. He's a master of the game,
a versatile offense. And so you need versatile players, virtuatile players,
(17:08):
versatile offense, versatile players.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
He said, I'm good in space.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
People don't understand how fast I'm because I'm always backpedaling.
I think that's something that people might miss. Yeah, when
you're playing a different position, sometimes people don't understand how
fast you are because of the technique and how you're
running things. And I love how he's a team guy,
very humble. I want to do his best for the team.
That's why I moved a running back. They needed depth,
there was a need at running back. They saw that, Okay,
(17:32):
who's the guy that's athletic enough, that's played offense and
maybe before a guy that's sip slippery that can make
the move. Preston coming off an injury, him and they
Rod and Coloney sit down to have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
He makes the move.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Everybody's been able to help him, and I know that
lgency only like you said, we're running with the run ones.
Excuse me, But he's also been out there. Blaine Fowler
said in the interview last week that we had him
said pressing Rex has looked great. Excuse me, Preston Rex
has looked great. Phenomenal, That's what I'm saying. By Stock,
that's a guy I've seen out there for the most
(18:06):
part every day. Yes, there's been different groups, but I
think there's a chance you can see a heavy dosage
of press and Rex. He can catch the ball in space.
A lot of people don't know you play wide receiver.
Nicce Gol played slot. The only difference is Isaac is
six to six. A lot of people just think because
he's six foot they forget about that. I thought it
was funny too that he, you know, poked Isaac A
the Cabbage Patch says you're better than that. Act like
(18:27):
you've been there, Brett Hammoner. I was talking about act
like you've been knee and zone before anyway. But I
think sometimes a and no player wants to get injured.
You don't wish injury upon any player, but sometimes a
big trial that happens or an unexpected injury is the
best thing that can go for your career. Adversity I
think really shows a lot about who players are, and
it's shown a lot about who Press and Rex is.
(18:48):
You know, he's a good, funny dude, humble kid, and
I really hope he has an opportunity to play this season.
I think that's gonna be your RB three. I really
think so. I think you're gonna have LJ and C on.
They're gonna do that. But I think you can see
a nice dosage of Press and Recks in Heaven forbid.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
You knock on wood right now, that I'm knocking.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
But LJ and Hinckley last year went down in the
SMU game and that gave guys like only an opportunity
to break out. Could that be Press and Rex's opportunity
if somebody were to get hurt or couldn't go and
he steps up next, No mentality, It's a team sport.
You don't know if Falal if Hinckley's gonna be able
to get that waiver that's up and down. They sound
extremely confident a Rod he should be able to get
(19:28):
it from what I I believe in what I see
on paper, but I'm not the NCAA. We know that
that's that's been a problem in CIA given BYU waivers.
I don't think so. Kayleb Bet couldn't get his Darius Lassiter.
But at the same time, if he does, that just
only adds to your room. But until then you have
to look at other people on the roster that can
make the move.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
And I like Press and Rex.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I'm buying stock into Press and Rex p Rex, not
t Rex P Rex.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm buying stock in it. But get to know him.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
If you missed the interview, you can follow it on
my Twitter, on my ex account at Ron the Three Men.
We that's where the interview is, or you can download
on the podcast when it's post at on Itube, Speaker,
Google Play, iHeart Radio, Spotify, give us a rate and
give us a review. But that was your player profile
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dot com. Guys, it's football season or if you're dealing
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(20:36):
a few days away.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
From football season. Not too long.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
We're getting down to the single digits of Cougar Sports
right here on one O, three point nine and ninety
eight point three
To know the Cougars student athletes get a player profile
second here on one oh three, nine ninety eight three,
ESPN The Fan, Welcome back to Couger Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right here on one on through nine ninety eight point three,
ESPN The Fan, Ronald the three man Weaver here gonna
get into a little player profile segment.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We've been doing all the interviews of fall camp, finding
out who is gonna be, filting out the depth chart.
We know who RB one and RB two are gonna be.
Who's gonna be RB three, RB four? Not a lot
of depth in the room. Running back is an important position.
I don't want to say the most physical position, but
you get beat up a lot. You're in past game
blocking in the past game scheme, the pass game offense, running,
(00:44):
towing the ball. I don't necessarily know if you're gonna
be able to say yeah, you can just fully rely
on LJ Andcone and say yeah, they're gonna go the
whole year and not get dinged up. Hasn't happened the
last couple of years. He'll just been nicked up at times.
Sione came onto the scene, had a breakout game, and
then he got hurt in that same game. It's a
game of attrition, right, So who's gonna be RB three,
(01:06):
RB four. We've seen Joe Vesse Demoni. He had some highlights.
Over the weekend, BAU had another scrimmage. They practiced in,
said Lavel a couple of times and it was some
oohs and ohs and shout out to the BAU social
media team. The trainer looked like it was mouth was open.
Chase Roberts, I think was like, everybody's going on over
to be able to hurdle the guy like that. Now,
I don't recommend hurtling. I know Isaac Rex did it
(01:27):
a lot, and obviously he was bigger. Mason Wick was
the king of hurdles, right. VIC gotta be careful with that,
but if you pick your time, it's a highlights taping.
He caught a little bit of a highlight as well.
But I caught up with the guy that made a transition.
He was in that Safeti's room, a guy that I've
said by stock by stock on this guy right now,
because I said, at some point during the season, you're
gonna need him.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
He's an athlete.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
A lot of people forget that he played slot wide
receiver when he was in high school.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
It's the guy that was out last season. Do a
little bit of injury.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He told me in the interview that we're gonna hear
from in just a minute about the transition the Kalani
and a Rod approaching them. Yes, that's right, it's Preston Rex.
We're gonna get to know Press and Rex in this segment,
but before we do, we gotta pay some bills. Gotta
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(02:18):
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gonna be brought to you by Orthorprosoutah dot com. That's sorry,
Orthropos of Utah dot com. If you're dealing with an
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offense in Lineman and you want to get braced up.
We know the high school season has started. You could
(02:39):
still get braceed up the right way. Give us a
call today at eight zero one, four hundred five through
one eight. That's eight zero one, four hundred five through
and eight for an appoyment, or go to orthropros of
Utah dot com. Without further ado, let's get to my interview,
the one that I have last Friday with Preston Rex,
who has converted over from safety to the BYU running
back room.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Ron. We were here with Cougar Sports. We got Preston Rex.
P Rex.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I don't know if that's a nickname that guy, but
I'm gonna take it. Preston, How was practice today?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Practice was good, man. The the offense is looking good.
We're putting everything together, man, and we're really excited for
the season.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So I think you made a switch.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
You were in the safeties Roomly correct me if I'm wrong,
and now running back talk about that change?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
When did that occur?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, so coach Roderick, he he asked me, if I
can make the switch. There's a lot of really great safeties,
you know, and I'm coming off in ACL so I
haven't played since two thousand and three on the defense.
So coach Roderick. He approached me with Klanney, asked if
i'd make the switch because I'm very comfortable with ball
my hands. I've played offense my whole life, come from
an offensive family, so Coach Rodick he wanted me to
(03:43):
do it. And you know, I've just been taking it
one step at a time and learning the offense and
trying to make some plays out.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I feel what has been the most I guess not
difficult part because you said you did play offense. As
we know, you switched the defense, not backed offense. Any
transitions that had been you know, difficult to justin.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Right, there's a there's a lot of mental work that
comes with it, you know, reading the defense, and luckily
that hasn't been too difficult because I played on the defense,
so you know, I think the physical aspect is comes
natural to me. I've done in my whole life. And
you know, my pops, my older brother, they're they're definitely
helping me with learning the offense too. So there's a lot,
(04:21):
but uh, it's nothing I can't handle for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
How did it being on the defense that help you
learn the playbook for the offense?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Right, I'm just stealing signals. Now I'm saying, humb playing
with you.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It's a coach, Coach Hill. He's a great coach man.
He taught me how to be just a hard working
and determined and tough guy. And I'm trying to bring
that mentality that Coach Hill taught me on the defense
to the offense.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Your name's been missing a handful of times in fall camp.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Know? Have Kalani Aron mentioned your names as a guy
you know now newly in the running back room.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It means a lot, for sure. But I owe that
credit to the other running backs and coach Harv. They've
helped me a ton just to learn the ins and
out of this new position. Hinckley, Uh Falow, he's been,
He's been helping me a ton man. He's he's a
great mentor. Enick l Jon all the older guys. Man,
they've been helping me out of ton. So when you
hear my name, it's really the other guys that are
helping me. It's not me talk about that.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
We know Falow still waiting on the waiver, but a
guy that's been I think at practice, you know, here
and there. What is it like to have a guy
you know that has done it at the highest level.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I was coaching you a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, he's uh, he's got a lot of experience. You know,
he's a father. I see him. It's kind of a sage.
You know, a lot of wisdom comes from that guy. Man.
So I know that I can always ask him a question.
He's gonna know the answer. He's gonna help me out,
and he wants best for this team just like everybody else.
So follows the man.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What is it like being coached by you know, coach
harf now.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Coach Harve Is He's done it at the highest level. Man,
He's been a baller. You know. I've watched his tape
before I made the move and I was like, dang,
this guy can he can move even though he's he's
a big dude. Still, So Coach Harve, He's taught me
a lot. He knows the offense really well. He knows
every single position. So if I ever have a question,
if I need anything from him, Harves, He's always got it. Man.
(06:00):
He's on top of this. Sure.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I want to get into your injury a little bit.
How did that bring you closer? You know in your
faith to Christ?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Your relationship with the people around you when you go
through something like that.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
All right, man, that's a that's a great question. You know.
I've I've had my fair share just like everybody else
of hardships, you know. And I have a very blessed
life too. So if a torn ACL is my biggest
issue in life, I have a pretty best life, right. So,
you know, I just took that time to grow my
relationship with Christ, you know, rely on his atonement to
(06:30):
heal my body really so help me be better physically.
I feel stronger. Both my legs are great, they feel good,
and it helped me spiritually as well.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I want to stop it right there. Normally I
don't stop. I let the interviews play all the way through.
But I think that's just super impactful of what he
just said, and I really wanted to highlight that because
we've seen this with Elie Wallbrook, Ali Dixon. You know,
people are going through their fair share injuries.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
B Yu. It's bigger than sports, you know, igor and faith.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
You know, he said, if a torn ACL is the
biggest thing, then I'm going through than to have a
pretty good life, right And they always tell us in
the journalistic quorl with that in the media world that
if they say, oh, that's a really good question, then
you know you're really thinking about it. And sometimes we
don't always I don't always ask maybe the best question.
I'm not going to get into that tangent, but that
was one question right there that really stuck out the Preston,
(07:19):
you know, talking about his injury, and I think that's
just a good perspective. And already you can hear in
the interview just stuff how humble of an individual that
he is and coming off of injuries. In my heart,
it's a lot of mentally tax and stuff in a
position switch that he's mentioning already. I just really wanted
to to stop it and highlight it right there about
that because I just thought that was super impactful that
(07:40):
sometimes you go wise me and we don't turn outward
instead of inward right, And sometimes it's difficult because what
we're going through we think that the sky is all
the sky is falling chicken little not really funny, right,
but you think of of the hardships that you go
through and how that's brought him closer to to Christ
(08:00):
and his family.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Let's get back to the interview.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Pressing Rex b why you running back, discussing getting to
know him and fall camp for the twenty twenty five season.
Some good perspective of having not a lot of people
have that after injury, and your brother also went through
something similar.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
What advice did he shed maybe when you were going
through that?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Right? Yeah, Isaac, he uh, Isaac's devey. He was so
excited that I switched to the offense and yeah, he well,
a lot of people don't know that. Me and Isaac,
even though I'm six feet in Isaac sixty six, we
run exactly the same. It's just you can't tell because
I'm so much shorter. So he was giving me some
stuff or rehab. He gave me a lot of tips.
He got me with the right people too. So yeah,
(08:39):
Isaac's helped me a tone as well.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
You're gonna have to touchdown celebrations like him.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
I know.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
He likes to do the little you know.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Back, I act like you've been there before, Isaac. Isaac,
if you're listening to this, come on, man. The cabbage
batch that was a week but uh, I got a
couple moves, But stay tuned, you know, hopefully I find
the end zone so I can you know show coregrenations.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Talk about your reps in fall camp, who you've been
running with. They've seen you with the ones, the two's
a little bit how the rep's been.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Right, uh, you know, and J they've really been taking
the one rep. So I'm trying to learn, you know,
from them. Those guys are both the man man, So
I'm learning from them, you know, just been trying to
work my way in wherever I can man with the twos,
with the ones, it doesn't matter. I've I've done a
little bit of both. But as I've learned the offense
(09:20):
a little bit more, I'm I'm still learning from those
guys ahead of me, and so there they've been good
help for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Give me the outside perspective looking in because you weren't
on the field, you know, due to the a c L.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
But the season last year was phenomenal, double.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Digit wins, the spanking in the Ali Mobile against Colorado.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
What was it like from your perspective?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Well, I wasn't on the field, but you know, I'm
a team player. I won what's best for this team,
and that's why I ultimately moved to running back so
I could help the team. I want to you know,
not just win eleven games this year, but we want
to go to the college football We want to go
to the playoffs, and we want to go to the championship. Man.
So I'm I'm willing to do whatever it does to
help this team. So we loved last year. We learned
(10:01):
a lot from last year. There's a lot to improve.
So just as a group, we're collectively trying to, you know,
just raise our goals and be better than last year.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Gimme the first touchdown.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
As a running back, cave you envision scoring it is it,
you know, right through the middle, through the guards and
the tackles, or is it catching the ball in space?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Hopefully it's catching the ball in space. I played a
lot of slot receiver, you know, I can work my
way through gaps. Man, I've been I've been definitely learning
by reading the line, the D line, all that. But
I feel like, truly inside, I'm still a little bit
of a slot receiver. I still got that those rec
gings in me. Man, they're coming out. So hopefully it's
in space making a move and getting the crowd hyped. Nice.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I know you're still new to the position, but what
do you like about Aaron Rodicks soften so far.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
It's very versatile Coach Roderick, he he is the master
of the game, and so we can up the tempo,
we can you know, cram it down some one down
their line, and we can play physical. So it's very versatile.
And you know, for a versatile offense, you need versatile players.
So I think that's where a lot of the running backs,
not just myself, but the other guys in the room.
(11:13):
You know, we can all we all bring something to
the table. So that's what I like about his offense.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
What from your skill set, what do you bring it?
You mentioned obviously plan wide receive with the slot. What
skill set do you bring into the running back room.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
I'm good in space. I can make a move, I
can make someone miss, I can set it up and uh,
you know, get out in space. So a lot of people,
actually they didn't tell me how fast I like, dang Rex,
I didn't know you're fast because I'm always backpedaling. But
you know, I can use my speed to make a
guy miss. And you know, big plays make big plays.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
You need to know are you part of that four
four you know category four five? What's the speed? Apt
to ask?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Actually, we so at b y U. We run our
zero through ten and ten through Tony Gates, and I'm
there with some of the fast guys. You know Smith,
if he's getting interviewed over there, that guy's fast. I can't.
I can't compete with him. Bro, he's faster than me.
But uh, you know, actually not sure, but you know,
I feel like I'm faster with the ball in my
hands for sure. It's just one of those things.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, speaking of Smith, who would you like to highlight
from the defensive side of the ball that stuck out
to you this all season?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Shout out to my boy, Volatile Sala, all the safeties. Actually,
they're the best players on the field. They're the field generals.
I still love them. I still love Coach Hill and
gav So you know, even though we're on different sides
of the ball, Guys, if you're watching, uh, Volatile Fall
has been he's been balling out for sure. So he's
had a lot of highlights this camp and he's gonna
(12:33):
do the same this season.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, that's a deep room.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
You got him, Raider, you know, Tommy prasss Tanne Wall.
I know I'm forgetting somebody.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
I'm sorry, but Jo said he's got to get a
package just to get all of those.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Guys on the field at once. That speaks to how
deep that room was in yourself that was there. Offensively,
who would you like to highlight?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I think Bear and Tiger they're bringing a lot of energy.
Those guys are really funny, they're always positive. They bring
a lot of energy to the offense. So all the receivers, Uh,
they've been doing a good job, and especially the old line.
The old line, they're the ones that are working in
the trenches to block for guys like me and Uh
and the other running backs. So honestly, the whole offense,
(13:08):
everyone's been working really hard so that we can put
together and even better season than last year.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
You we know there's a quarterback competition. Only you mentioned Bear.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What is it about Bear that has stuck out to
you personally in his short time in Provo.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
He's he's really physical. I like the way that he
can step up in the pocket. The other quarterbacks they're
all they're all solid, man. So whatever ends up happening,
we're gonna be good. Gregrenation, we're gonna be all right.
And all the all the quarterbacks they're they're super solid.
And they're all gonna slink it. They're gonna do their
things for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Let's go off the field. Now, what do you like
to do?
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Obviously, you know you're from California, you know, not Cali.
People that said that are not from California. I know
how you feel about that. Exactly before he's that silent.
What do you like to do outside of football?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I like to surf. Actually, I got home from my
mission and I'm terrible. Now I'm a total kook, That's
what they say. I'm California. But I like to surf
a lot. I love to hanging out with my brothers,
hanging out with my roommates. I'm just a chill guy, man,
I'm just I'm just kicking it. So yeah, but one day,
when I can live in California again, I'll pick up
surfing again. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Two part question. Where'd you serve your mission? First of all,
if you speak any languages? Second, where's the best place
to surf at in California?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
All? Right, sant and No Free, Old Man's It's called
Old Mans. It's in Santa No Free, by a little
north of the power plant. That's the best place. Coregnation
if you ever want to go surfing down and you
can come with me. You can come with me and
my pops. Well, we can all go together. Open invitation,
anyone can come through. So I serve my mission in
Chile and in McAllen, Texas. I was a COVID missionary.
(14:36):
I got to learn Spanish and I only spent about
six months in Chile and then finished in Texas, but
still got to use the language that I learned in
Texas and I loved it. Man, it's a great time.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Last couple of things here with Press and Rex. By
you running back? Uh, Preston, what are you excited for
most of the season.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I'm excited for us to win games, man. I'm just
excited for us to, you know, take the hard work
that we've know, we've been putting out in the on
the field, in the practice field, in the weight room,
all this hard work that we've been we've been grinding,
grinding that as a team. I'm excited for it to
just pay off and to go win some football games.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Last messages for Cougar Nation.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Love you guys, thank you for your support.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Let's go Pres and Rex, everybody, thanks pretty much.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
We're gonna be all right, Yeah, we're gonna be all right.
I think Kensere Lamar said that, uh presson Rex, Yeah,
we're gonna be all right. I had asked him, let's
start with the quarterback before we move and finish up
with him. I said, who is stuck out to you offensively?
You know, I always want to ask the guys who's highlighted.
Guys aren't going to talk about themselves, right, can't do that.
And he said Bear and Tiger, you know, they bring
(15:43):
the energy. And then I had to follow it up
and ask what about Bear, right, guys don't go out
our way.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Just to mention that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
And he's doing a good job right, Vic mentioned in
the old line blocking for me.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You know he's a running back. Now.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Got to always give love to your boys up front.
Those are the boys that are highlighting you, and they
regard you. I don't want the longest yard type of
situation where they just stopped blocking and hit you.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I'm just kidding. That's the joke.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
That's why it's a movie. Anyway, back to business, he
said he's really physical. He steps up in the pocket
and then he says, all the quarterbacks do their things.
Are gonna be all right. Cougar notion just wait. But
I love how he mentioned Bear. There's been talks around that,
a guy that's come in in the last one you
can say, two months, three months and has taken by
(16:25):
storm was called brilliant. Now you got Press and Rex
highlighting him. Other people have highlighted Bear and Tiger. I
thought that was pretty interesting. Then another guy follow tal
Satuala Jay Hill mentioned him, so you gotta have him
on the field. Tommy Prass's Tannel Wall Rady, the Mooney packages.
All those guys are great, and safety room is deep.
(16:46):
Gave a lot of left to the safeties, so fallatow
I see a lot of time. Actually they're gonna rotate,
they're too good not to. But yeah, and then I
got to the Aaron Roddock offense. Right, he's a running back.
Now it's very virtatile. He's a master of the game,
a versatile offense. And so you need versatile players, virtuatile players,
(17:08):
versatile offense, versatile players.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
He said, I'm good in space.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
People don't understand how fast I'm because I'm always backpedaling.
I think that's something that people might miss. Yeah, when
you're playing a different position, sometimes people don't understand how
fast you are because of the technique and how you're
running things. And I love how he's a team guy,
very humble. I want to do his best for the team.
That's why I moved a running back. They needed depth,
there was a need at running back. They saw that, Okay,
(17:32):
who's the guy that's athletic enough, that's played offense and
maybe before a guy that's sip slippery that can make
the move. Preston coming off an injury, him and they
Rod and Coloney sit down to have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
He makes the move.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Everybody's been able to help him, and I know that
lgency only like you said, we're running with the run ones.
Excuse me, But he's also been out there. Blaine Fowler
said in the interview last week that we had him
said pressing Rex has looked great. Excuse me, Preston Rex
has looked great. Phenomenal, That's what I'm saying. By Stock,
that's a guy I've seen out there for the most
(18:06):
part every day. Yes, there's been different groups, but I
think there's a chance you can see a heavy dosage
of press and Rex. He can catch the ball in space.
A lot of people don't know you play wide receiver.
Nicce Gol played slot. The only difference is Isaac is
six to six. A lot of people just think because
he's six foot they forget about that. I thought it
was funny too that he, you know, poked Isaac A
the Cabbage Patch says you're better than that. Act like
(18:27):
you've been there, Brett Hammoner. I was talking about act
like you've been knee and zone before anyway. But I
think sometimes a and no player wants to get injured.
You don't wish injury upon any player, but sometimes a
big trial that happens or an unexpected injury is the
best thing that can go for your career. Adversity I
think really shows a lot about who players are, and
it's shown a lot about who Press and Rex is.
(18:48):
You know, he's a good, funny dude, humble kid, and
I really hope he has an opportunity to play this season.
I think that's gonna be your RB three. I really
think so. I think you're gonna have LJ and C on.
They're gonna do that. But I think you can see
a nice dosage of Press and Recks in Heaven forbid.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
You knock on wood right now, that I'm knocking.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
But LJ and Hinckley last year went down in the
SMU game and that gave guys like only an opportunity
to break out. Could that be Press and Rex's opportunity
if somebody were to get hurt or couldn't go and
he steps up next, No mentality, It's a team sport.
You don't know if Falal if Hinckley's gonna be able
to get that waiver that's up and down. They sound
extremely confident a Rod he should be able to get
(19:28):
it from what I I believe in what I see
on paper, but I'm not the NCAA. We know that
that's that's been a problem in CIA given BYU waivers.
I don't think so. Kayleb Bet couldn't get his Darius Lassiter.
But at the same time, if he does, that just
only adds to your room. But until then you have
to look at other people on the roster that can
make the move.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
And I like Press and Rex.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I'm buying stock into Press and Rex p Rex, not
t Rex P Rex.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm buying stock in it. But get to know him.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
If you missed the interview, you can follow it on
my Twitter, on my ex account at Ron the Three Men.
We that's where the interview is, or you can download
on the podcast when it's post at on Itube, Speaker,
Google Play, iHeart Radio, Spotify, give us a rate and
give us a review. But that was your player profile
segment that was brought to you by Authorpros of Utah
dot com. Guys, it's football season or if you're dealing
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(20:16):
we provide an array of orthopedic and sports medicine devices
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(20:36):
a few days away.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
From football season. Not too long.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
We're getting down to the single digits of Cougar Sports
right here on one O, three point nine and ninety
eight point three
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