ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 25, 2024

Fadil Diggs

Syracuse Orange

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fadil.

Q. Coming into Syracuse, you still had a familiar face in Elijah Robinson. Having him from Texas A&M, what has it been like to work with him there and here, those consistent pillars of how he is on the defensive side of the ball?

FADIL DIGGS: Just having that relationship, even before Texas A&M, him recruiting me. I just know what type of guy Coach E is, how much he care about his job. Like he want to work on having the best defense in the country. I want to be a part of that.

Him telling me just be the best leader I can be toward the defense, just keep doing my job and playing hard and put that into the guys. Just keep doing that, so...

Q. For you as a player, what has it been like for you to see Coach Brown's growth?

FADIL DIGGS: Just me seeing Coach Fran's growth towards the program, every day he's going to be his-self every day. He trusts in us. We earned his trust over the spring. Just seeing that, pouring that into the guys is big, because you're going to need that from your head coach.

We play for each other. Knowing that our coach trust us enough to go on the field and make plays is big for the team.

Q. You spent four years with one family. Now you're with a new family. How have you approached being the new kid in the family?

FADIL DIGGS: I wouldn't say I'm the new kid in the family (smiling). Just growing up with a lot of guys that's in the locker room, like Alijah Clark, Kyle McCord, Deuce Chestnut. They take me in well. Justin, Marlowe, LeQuint, they brought me in well. We're one big family. We do things on the field and off the field together.

Just built that trust for us. We just a happy family.

Q. When you hook at Juston Barron and the leadership he's brought. Being on the same side of the ball, how does he command the best in you?

FADIL DIGGS: I learned a lot with Justin. Coming in from a different school, bringing a little bit of my leadership, learning how he lead. We just bring it, pour it into each other, learn from each other.

Just getting that from him is big, being another great leader, a vocal guy on the defense. It's great having that from J.B. and I appreciate that.

Q. Your résumé defensively, you've done a lot. What is it you have not achieved that you would like to this year?

FADIL DIGGS: So for me, I'm big on the T and goal. I want to win. I've been in college football for a couple years now. It's just big, I want to win, be the best version of me. Hopefully win a championship while we play together with my team. Just be the best version of me.