Signee Spotlight: Michael Lamothe
New Iberia, LA
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New Iberia High School
Linebacker
6-3, 225, 4.65
5.5
Senior Honors: Class 5A second-team all-state, First-team Academic all-state, First-team all-district, First-team Best of the Teche
Senior Stats: 105 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four interceptions, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
Other schools offering scholarships: Arkansas, Rice, Tulane, McNeese St.
His thoughts and opinions:
Who is your favorite football player of all time? Why?
Peyton Manning. I went to his quarterback camp the summer before my ninth grade year. I got to hang out with him and spend some time talking to him. He's a really good guy on and off the field.
Who is your role model?
My grandpa. He played for the University of Lafayette. He was a Hall-of-Fame running back for them.
What is the best football team you've ever seen?
I really don't know; I can't give you an answer.
An up close and personal look:
Did you ever have an embarrassing moment playing football?
Yes, I did. It was my first game on varsity in high school. I was a freshman and there was a senior that I stepped in for at strong safety. It was the very first play I was in there and they ran a G Tough and the wide receiver back blocked on me. He nailed me. It was an earhole shot. I threw up on the field. It actually made the opposing team's highlight reel that season and the home crowd was ragging on me big time. It was sort of my welcome to high school football.
Do you have a pre-game ritual?
I go over what the coaches ask me to. I don't have anything superstitious or anything like that. I just go over what we went over in the meetings and make sure I have all my responsibilities down pat.
Are you superstitious?
No.
If you weren't playing linebacker, what position would you want to play? Why?
Tight end, because I like catching the ball and running with it. I like playing quarterback on short-yardage situations, too.
A closer look at Texas A&M for him:
What position will you be playing at A&M?
Middle linebacker. That's what coach Kines has me slotted at.
Do you plan to redshirt?
I don't plan on it right now, but I will if they need me to.
What is your strength on the field?
I'm good in pass coverage and I can work laterally well. I can cover the receivers over the middle on pass plays and I play well from sideline to sideline on running plays.
What is the one thing you need to work on to play at the next level?
My speed and my strength.
How often do you work out and what is your routine?
I have a routine, yes. When we were still in school, I was working out three days a week and running the days I wasn't working out. I would do legs and squats on the first day, arms and bench on the second day and explosive lifts like powerclean on the third day.
Personal preferences:
What do you do in your spare time?
Play guitar, hunt and fish, play paintball and stuff like that.
What is your favorite food?
Boiled crawfish.
What is your favorite song or performer?
I'd say Third Day. I really like their concerts. I've been to a few of them.
Do you have a nickname?
"Big Mike" is one of them and, in high school, they called me, "Slash." I played linebacker, slash tight end, slash quarterback.
Do you have a major picked out yet?
Industrial Engineering.
A look at the recruiting process:
What one thing was the determining factor in your picking A&M?
The coaches. They seemed like the kind of coaches I wanted to be around and learn from.
When did you know you were going to sign with A&M?
When I committed. I didn't plan on changing my mind.
If you hadn't have signed with A&M, where would you have gone?
I would have gone to LSU.
Did any schools try to come in and sway you at the last minute?
Not really.
What coach at A&M did you get the closest to?
Coach Turner. He was my area coach and he came over and we cooked for him. We went over to his house on my official visit and visited with him. He's a real funny guy and a good guy to be around.
Did the A&M coaches do anything unique in their recruiting of you?
I got to talk a lot with coach Sherman. I think that was unique because, a lot of other schools, it seems like the head coach is the guy you never see except for game day. That's kind of the impression that I got because I didn't really talk to any of the other head coaches.
What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?
I would say game day against Texas Tech. That was my first game and I got to see what Kyle Field was going to be like when I was playing on it.
Did you really click with any current players at A&M or incoming players during the process?
Yeah I did. Kyle Mangan, he's a real good guy. I also got to know Jerrod Johnson. I got to know Patrick Lewis pretty well because we played in an all-star game together. Jonathan Stewart is a good guy as well.
What was your favorite part of your official visit?
Midnight Yell Practice.
The future and goals for A&M and beyond:
What number would you like to wear at A&M?
I'd like to wear No. 18 or 19. I wore 19 in high school but Eddie Brown has that at A&M. I've never seen a defensive lineman with No. 19.
What is your goal for the 2009 football season?
I want to win a bowl game.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I see myself as a proud Aggie grad with a good job and my Aggie ring on my finger. I just want to be a happy man.
And for the fans:
Would you like to say anything to the A&M fans?
Expect to see more wins.
***For other spotlights, check out the Signee Spotlight Master List