Rising sophomore Stonka Burnside discusses move to safety
Stonka Burnside got his feet wet as a true freshman in the SEC and started his college career on the offensive side of the ball along with special teams’ duties. But this spring the former On3 four-star prospect has switched to the defensive side of the ball.
On Saturday after practice, the Starkville native met with the media to discuss his change of scenery along with other topics:
Q: What’s it been like for you at safety?
Burnside: It’s been pretty tough, kind of hard just transitioning from offense straight to defense. Just trying to learn the playbook, for real. But it’s been pretty good. I’m playing fast and just playing ball like I know.
Q: Are there still plans for you to play some on offense?
Burnside: Most definitely. We call it speed series and it’s a few players where i come in on the offense and do my thing. Then I head back over to defense.
Q: You are also on punt coverage. Do you get tired doing all that work?
Burnside: They try their best to keep me in shape and make sure they take care of my body and I take care of my body, as well. So just trying to make sure I take care of my body right now and build my stamina up.
Q: What do you feel like you learned from playing offense that you can use on defense?
Burnside: To be able to read the whole defense. Not just the offense, but you have a quarterback on defense, as well, telling everybody where to go when you are at safety.
Q: You seemed pretty comfortable at safety in high school. How comfortable is that move for you?
Burnside: I am pretty comfortable. I played it in high school and I had that mindset, a physical mindset. So I just come down physical at all times.
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Q: How much did last year’s work on special teams give you experience in the SEC?
Burnside: It prepared me pretty good. Last year just coming in from high school to college, it is a different type of speed. So just coming in and learning how to play fast helped me get to this level that I’m at right now.
Q: What is your playing style at safety?
Burnside: Physical, mean. That is the best I can give you.
Q: How much of a difference did the winter conditioning months make for this team?
Burnside: It is a total difference from last year to this year. It’s a better team, a better mindset, better players. It’s just a whole new vibe around here now.
Q: What was the process like with you moving to defense? Was it a mutual thing?
Burnside: It was just being a leader on the team. Coming in and bringing in guys that we know and showing them the way around.
Q: You ever pick up the wrong jersey in practice?
Burnside: No sir. They make sure they got a white jersey on my loop at all times.
Q: How is the vibe around practice and the goal of making it better than last season?
Burnside: The vibes around practice are good. Coach (Coleman) Hutzler always makes sure that the defense, as he says, always turnt. Bring the juice to the defense. That is what I’m trying to do, bring the juice to the defense.
