Athlete stays inspired thanks to grandfather

EDITOR’S NOTE: During the semester, The Volante will be featuring a variety of students and their unique stories for a campus dynamic feature. If you or someone you know has an interesting story, contact [email protected].

Name: Keyen Lage

Hometown: Sioux Falls, S.D.

Year: Sophomore

Major: Business finance

Position: Outside linebacker

No. 33

Kelsey Kroger: Who is your favorite opponent?

Keyen Lage: “South Dakota State University, because growing up in South Dakota, I knew the big rivalry between USD and SDSU.  Finally being a part of one of the programs makes the rivalry so much better.”

KK: Who is your favorite NFL team?

KL:  The Minnesota Vikings.

KK: What are some of your hobbies?

KL: Hanging out with friends and working out.

KK: Do you have any hidden talents?

KL: I can do the one eyebrow raise.

KK: Why did you choose USD?

KL: I’m majoring in business, and SDSU and other schools didn’t really have the options that USD has for its program.  I also really like my position coach Marquice Williams.

KK: What is your favorite part of USD?

KL: The community is really small, so the students are really tight knit together. You get the Division I feel, but as far as how close everyone is I enjoy how close we are.

KK: Who is your favorite coach?

KL: Coach Marquice Williams.

KK: What does a normal day look like for you?

KL:  Waking up at about 6:15 a.m., going to film at 7 a.m. and after film going straight to lifting at 8 a.m. I try to get a meal in real quick and head to class, and after class, eat lunch because then I have practice for about two to two-and-a-half hours. Then it’s straight to the books.  It’s a pretty strict schedule, no free time.

KK: If you could play any other sport, what would it be and why?

KL: Soccer, because before, I was on the fence between soccer and football growing up.  I really enjoyed it. I love how physical it actually is.

KK: What inspired you to play football?

KL: My grandpa. He was an inspiration to me. To play and see his accomplishments, the way he had in life — I really admire that — so I wanted to model myself after that.

KK: Who is your favorite football player?

KL: Chad Greenway, a middle linebacker for the Vikings, and he is from South Dakota, so he is an inspiration for that, too.

KK: What do you enjoy most about playing football at USD?

KL: The camaraderie between all the players. We had 65 guys come into this season, and everyone has gotten to be really close. We’re together all of the time.

KK: What motivates you to play your best?

KL: The guy next to me, knowing that he is working just as hard as I am. Playing as a group and as one motivates me to play as hard as I can.

KK: Do you have any pre-game routines?

KL: I switch it up each week.

KK: Do you have any personal goals for football?

KL:  As a team, to win a championship.

KK: What are you most looking forward to this season?

KL: The opportunity to play the competition that we are and to play next to the guys we have on the team.  We’re pretty much in the SEC of the FCS, so it’s awesome to play against the competition that we are.