Standing at 6’4″ and 260 pounds, Tucker Sturdivant is an offensive and defensive lineman out of Sterlington Middle School in Monroe, Louisiana and will be going to Sterlington High School. In our Gridiron Football Junior High All-American Bowl Game this past December, he helped Team North on defense with four and a half total tackles (second-most on the team) over the two games the team played. Tucker is a smart leader in the locker room who continually sets the example for his teammates. This past week, I had the welcome chance to speak with Tucker.
Q: Why do you play the game of football?
“I grew up in the game. My older brother played football… I grew up around it and started seeing myself playing football and I fell in love with it. Growing up in Louisiana, you look forward to the LSU games every Saturday. [Watching those,] I just fell in love with it and started playing.”
Q: Where do you see football going in your life?
“I can see it going many places. I can see D1 or D2… maybe even NFL, if it’s God’s plan. I know I gotta put in the work to get there.”
Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned through playing football?
“To never overthink on the field. You have to know what your assignment is; you cant overthink, you just have to roll with it.”
Q: What challenges have you overcome?
“My 7th grade year, I had to learn all the different positions on the line. So that when they needed somebody, I could be one of the first people they needed to go in. I’d get more experience and get better in my game.”
Q: What motivated you to overcome those challenges?
“I listened, learned, and watched the guys who were in front of me. [I also listened] to the coaches on how they taught them. I was observant at practices and learned how those guys functioned and learned their mentality to help me understand how to play those positions.”
Q: How do you balance sports with your other responsibilities in life?
“I always know I have to keep time for school. I make sure to stay a 4.0 student. If I go out and train until eight or seven, I stay up to get all of my school work done. I plan out what to do.”
Q: Do you have a favorite football memory?
“Probably playing with the people I grew up with. We got to experience [the game] together.”
Q: How do you stay trained and in football-shape during the off-season?
“I’m a three-sport athlete, so I’m always in condition. I play basketball, baseball, and football, so I am always doing something. And when I have some off-time, I like to work on my speed and agility or get with a position coach that is from around here.”
Q: How are you looking to improve?
“I’m always looking to improve my game. One of my favorite things to do is watch how Will Campbell plays… I also like to talk to other people who have played my position before to see what they wish they would have done better and implement that into my game.”
Q: On the other hand, what do you think is your biggest strength?
“My mentality and my leadership on the field.”
Q: What are some goals you’ve set for yourself?
“Definitely become a starter early in my high school career and make all-academic team every year. Even make the state championship in the dome multiple times as a high school student-athlete.”
Q: Do you try to model your game after any players, pro or collegiate?
“Will Campbell. I really look up to him because I like how he helps his family and his community [especially].”
Q: Do you consider football to be more physically challenging, mentally challenging, or both?
“Definitely mentally. The game is so fast, you have to always keep your head on a swivel. You always have to stay locked in every single play, because if you miss one blocking assignment… you could ruin the drive and go three-and-out and not score.”
Q: What is an interesting fact about you that the readers should know about you?
“I keep a 4.0 GPA, and I always love to help out in the community and the school whenever I can and able to.”