Garrett Brumfield, a University High alumnus, is a 6’3, 305-pound Offensive Lineman from Baton Rouge, LA. The former LSU Football starter and recent graduate has entered the 2019 NFL Draft. Brumfield opens up about his journey to the draft, and reflects on his collegiate career as a LSU Tiger.
Now that your career at LSU is over, what have you been up to since earning your degree from LSU?
I spent a couple days you know, just relaxing, trying to get off my feet, clearing my head from you know just college and football as a whole… just wanted to relax and be regular for a while. I’ve been training in Davie, Florida getting ready for LSU Pro Day March 22nd.
What was it like playing in a New Year’s Six game, against a team that had the longest unbeaten record?
Actually I was told by someone that its not the longest unbeaten record, I’m not sure exactly I meant to look it up, but we’ll just say that it is. It was a good feeling of course when you win a football game. It’s a good feeling because we play the game to win. Just going out and playing the tiger football we are known for playing and coming out victorious.
What was your thought process coming in as a freshman, to now getting ready for your pro-day and the draft?
I can say I see the growth in myself throughout the time from coming in as a freshman, being a young guy fresh out my moms house you know, not really wanting to listen to other guys. Going through adversity, I think that [adversity] forced me to learn, taught me a lot about myself throughout my time at LSU. I think overall I am just more grateful for the opportunities that I have. I just attack each day individually and try to conquer each day.
Were you more nervous as an incoming freshman, or now as an incoming rookie?
That’s a good one. You know it’s a little different now because when you’re nervous as an incoming freshman, you’re nervous as to whether you’re going to play, whether people are going to know your name, whether you will be seen on the jumbo-tron and all that. But, now it’s a nervous feeling of hey am I going to have money to support myself? There’s that factor also that I am technically an unemployed adult male in the world right now. But more than anything, like I said, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to play the game and if making a living is a part of that, I’m really excited about it.
When you first got into the rotation, you played a swing role on the line, being able to play more than one position. How do you feel that will show off your versatility to scouts?
I think it will speak for itself. Coming in as a freshman when I got to LSU Coach Jeff Grimes, better yet before I even got there, he would always tell me “make sure you’re snapping, make sure you’re snapping” in my mind at the time I’m not a center. So, I got to LSU and didn’t know how to snap and the first thing he did was put me in CQ Exchange, which is a Center-Quarterback drill. So I’ve been snapping the ball and playing both guard spots pretty much my entire time in college. I don’t have a bunch of film at center but it’s definitely something that I will be able to do or can do in the future and I think people will like that about me.
How did the transition from playing right guard to left guard go for you?
A great coach [Jeff Grimes] once told me that being an offensive lineman is like being a point guard, you have to be able to do everything with your right hand the same way you can with the left hand. So, I don’t say I play left guard. Even the previous season I never said I played left guard for LSU, I just said I played offensive guard. I could play left, right, whatever it was. Being a young guy, as you mentioned before, I did play right and left guard so it’s definitely an asset and I just wanted to have that versatility to be able to play with both of my hands down.
Where do you think you had the bigger impact?
I was just having this talk with one of my guys I’m training with, Derrick Kelly from Florida State (he plays offensive tackle for them). It’s weird because some guys say they are better on the right or they’re better on the left and actually I don’t think I’m better at either one. I think that I’m better at certain things. For instance I think my run game is a little better on the right side, but I think my pass game is better on the left side. But even getting specific like back side cut offs or just like cut blocks or, I don’t know its just little small things I think I have advantages of on either side of the ball. I think they balance out in my play.
Your leadership in the locker room, is highly regarded by your teammates and coaches alike. What do you feel was one of your biggest contributions to LSU Football and your position?
I don’t mean to make myself seem like I’m just some extraordinary guy but my personality, that’s one of my greatest assets. Even as a young guy in the offensive line room being around the other guys like La’el, Hawk, and Big V, those guys would tell me “shut up,” even Pocic. You know some people hate my mouth, but some people respect me for who I am and the things that I do have to say. I think that those things gained more value throughout my time in the locker room. If people feel like my leadership left a lasting impact on the program then I appreciate it. I just try to strive for that everyday and be the best person I can be.
How do you feel about the future of the position itself at LSU?
I think the offensive line is in a great set of hands in Lloyd Cushenberry. He is the future of LSU’s offensive line. Lloyd Cushenberry is the future of the LSU Bomb Squad.
