The Syracuse football team is lucky to have a guy like Airon Servais on the squad. Here are all the details and some snippets from an exclusive interview.
The Syracuse football squad got a serious bite from the injury bug before the 2019 season even started. That bite has led to several infections leading to multiple players missing several weeks of the season.
Which has shined a light on a slew of players who have been forced to step up to the plate-like versatile offensive lineman Airon Servais.
Over the first two years of his career, Airon was the starting center for the Orange. When the team needed him to switch positions this offseason, he had no qualms, anything to help the team.
In an exclusive interview, he shared some insight on the season thus far and answered some burning questions.
You guys have dealt with a ton of adversity from injuries to guys graduating, how have y’all handled it?
"“I think it’s really important that we stay together, we stay tight as a unit. Us five on the offensive line have to maintain really good communication with one another, it’s very important that we’re able to do that.”"
Over the last two years, you played the center spot for the Orange and now you’re playing tackle, has it been a hard transition for you?
"“No not at all I actually came to Syracuse as a tackle. I’m very used to playing that position. I’m a tall, long, athletic guy so being on the edge isn’t that difficult.”"
But even still with the uncertainty with Sam Heckel’s status, you’ve been forced to play tackle and center this season, is it tough to keep bouncing back and forth?
"“I don’t think so. For the last two years, I’ve played a lot of tackle during spring ball and then played center during the season. I’ve logged a lot of time at both positions so I feel pretty comfortable, jumping from tackle to center on a weekly basis hasn’t been difficult.”"
For a lot of the fans reading this, they don’t understand the difference between playing tackle and center. What are the different responsibilities for each?
"“As a tackle, I have to be more of an athletic player. I can kind of turn my brain off if that makes sense? I don’t have to think and I can just use my abilities and things like that. Whereas at the center spot I really have to focus in on the mental side of things. I have to make all the calls and make sure everyone is going to the right guy and we’re blocking the right people and the protections are correct. I have to prepare a lot differently at both positions. Let me say it this way I have to be more of a quarterback at the center spot and then at tackle I can hype myself up and get some more energy going.”"
Speaking of center, how special is the relationship between the quarterback and the center on a football team? Especially considering Tommy DeVito is a young guy without a ton of experience?
"“It’s paramount. Tommy (DeVito) has to trust me that I’m doing my job up front and I have to trust him. That is so important on offense. We’ve really developed a great bond.”"
You’ve had the special pleasure of working with both Eric Dungey and now Tommy DeVito, is it different playing upfront for both of those guys? If so how?
"“Both of them have very different styles of play and they attack defenses in different ways. But when it comes to us upfront, we have to be consistent and do what we have to do regardless of who is playing quarterback.”"
One last question, you guys haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher on the hill since 2012, will Syracuse finally end the drought in 2019?
"“Yeah, that’s definitely something we’d like to see happen. We have a ton of talent in the backfield and we hope we can get one of those guys over the top.”"