SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 17, 2023

Fadil Diggs

Texas A&M Aggies

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Fadil here. He is ready for your questions. I'll start it.

Every time team in every season there's chatter going on. How is the chatter for the offseason coming into this year?

FADIL DIGGS: Can you repeat that one more time?

THE MODERATOR: The chatter, the fan noise, how do you deal with that, and how has it been this season?

FADIL DIGGS: The noise outside of the facility, I don't really see it because I don't really deal with social media during the offseason. Just try to stay away from the noise. But really everything that I've been hearing, it's been fine, I guess. Nothing negative.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How did you become a team captain as a young player?

FADIL DIGGS: Just learning from the guys that came before me, learning how to lead. Just watching guys like Micheal Clemons and DeMarvin. How they was leading, I took it and used it and tried to add more things to it, and I guess Coach just respected it and liked it. That's good to know.

A. What are your favorite things about playing in your stadium?

FADIL DIGGS: Just playing in front of the 12th man. Kyle Field, it gets loud, and just knowing that we have the support of the 12th man is great and just having a chance to show them and give them a chance to watch us play football.

Q. The last recruiting cycle, you brought in two of the top three highest rated defensive lineman, Shemar Stewart and Walter Nolen. From what you've seen from the end of last year to now, how much have they improved, and what should Aggie fans expect?

FADIL DIGGS: I just see the confidence rise for them. Those guys got a lot of snaps last season, and they get a chance to go into this season to show the things they worked on, and they're working very hard right now.

The 12th man should just be ready to watch those guys get after the quarterback, make a lot of plays.

Q. At the end of the season you beat a team like LSU, highly ranked. How did that happen? What was the difference from some of those earlier games in your view?

FADIL DIGGS: Just the whole week of practice, those guys, they was -- I would say they really got used to playing a lot of games because it was a long season for the young guys.

You look out at the young guys, the ones that showed up made a lot of plays in that game, so it was a great way to end the season and take it into the next season, honestly.

Q. So playing in the SEC you go against some of the best talent in the nation, and as far as being an edge rusher, I want to know is there one quarterback that you have faced that maybe just -- what is a quarterback that you have faced that gave you as an edge rusher the most trouble?

FADIL DIGGS: The most trouble, honestly, I would say -- I would give respect to all of them, but a guy I would say that I had trouble, like, taking down and he was moving around a lot is the guy from Ole Miss, Dart whatever. I don't know.

Yeah, he is a good quarterback. He understands -- he feels, like, the pressure when it comes, and he is good at moving around.

Q. Is there a particular SEC opponent you enjoy facing, and then also, which SEC teams do you think your fans get into the most?

FADIL DIGGS: It's not really a favorite, but the SEC -- I actually do have a favorite. Going against Arkansas just in the Cowboys Stadium. I've been a Cowboys fan growing up, so that's just a great opportunity to play in that stadium.

Q. From a defensive perspective, how have you kind of seen A&M's offense maybe change this spring with the addition of Bobby Petrino at offensive coordinator?

FADIL DIGGS: I'm going to start from the offensive line. The offensive line is just working better as a unit, getting used to Coach Petrino's offense. They're just working better as a group. The whole offense overall, they just are making more -- they're making more plays and just adjusting to his offense the right way.