University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Erik Williams
Tigers Football Q&A: Sean Dykes
Sep 12, 2018 | Football
Junior tight end looks for a big season in 2018.
Note: The Sean Dykes Q&A feature appeared in the Tigers Football GameDay program Sept. 1 when Memphis hosted Mercer.
Q: It's a year after Hurricane Harvey went through your hometown of Houston. How's your family doing now?
A: Everyone is recovering really well. Since I'm not there a lot, I can't say if the hurricane still mentally affects those that went through it. However, everything else looks like it's getting back to normal.
Q: Is the area back to normal as much as it can be? Have you had a chance to visit since the storm?
A: I would say so (city back to normal), and I've been back home twice since Harvey hit. To me, it looks the same. I can't tell where it got flooded, where most of the damage was. During the storm and most of the time since, I've been here at Memphis with school and football. Everything there looks ok to me.
Q: What was it like for you being here while your family was in Houston going through the storm?
A: As long as I knew my family was ok, I was ok. It was hard knowing that my family and friends were struggling, and they could be losing stuff they worked their whole lives for.
Q: How great was it going back home to play Houston last season and catching the game-winning touchdown pass?
A: It felt like it was meant to be, with everything that I had been through. Then, even during the game, all the adversity that me and my teammates had to go through. That was a perfect finish for me since I'm from there.
Q: A little extra celebration after that touchdown?
A: Yes.
Q: What was it like growing up in the football-crazy state of Texas?
A: It was crazy to see how competitive it was, even at an early age. The pee-wee games were intense, from a crowd standpoint. Then, to see middle schoolers being recruited to play at certain high schools. It is very competitive.
Q: Did you just play football growing up or did you play other sports?
A: I played all sports growing up. I played football, basketball, baseball. I stopped playing baseball in sixth grade. But, all the way up to my junior year in high school, I played football and basketball.
Q: Did you enjoy playing other sports than football?
A: To be honest, I like basketball more than football. I guess I liked it more because we played indoors out of the heat (laughing). Even now, I enjoy watching the NBA more than the NFL. The NBA is more entertaining.
Q: How have you improved at the tight end position the past two years?
A: The main area I wanted to improve was my blocking. I wanted to become a better blocker. Coming here out of high school, I had the receiver skills having played that position. I knew once I improved my blocking I would become more of a weapon and create mismatches for the defense. Then, the coaches could rely on me in both the passing and run games instead of just sticking me in certain situations.
Q: As a tight end, what do you enjoy more: a knock-down block or a touchdown catch?
A: I like catching touchdowns more. But, blocking does set up the touchdown opportunities. I am a team player, so when I'm called on to block, I take pride in helping open up holes for our running backs to score.
Q: What attracted you to Memphis?
A: Coming here from Texas, I didn't go through a lot of culture shock, but there were some different things I had to get used to. Here, they like barbecue a lot, and that took some time for me to adjust to that. Now, I see Memphis as home. I love it here. I love the people, the food. I couldn't ask for a better place to be.
Q: What do you like most about being a Tiger?
A: I like that Memphis is a place where you work for what you want. That's my life – working hard for everything I have. That's what being a Tiger is, going out every day and working hard.
Q: It's a year after Hurricane Harvey went through your hometown of Houston. How's your family doing now?
A: Everyone is recovering really well. Since I'm not there a lot, I can't say if the hurricane still mentally affects those that went through it. However, everything else looks like it's getting back to normal.
Q: Is the area back to normal as much as it can be? Have you had a chance to visit since the storm?
A: I would say so (city back to normal), and I've been back home twice since Harvey hit. To me, it looks the same. I can't tell where it got flooded, where most of the damage was. During the storm and most of the time since, I've been here at Memphis with school and football. Everything there looks ok to me.
Q: What was it like for you being here while your family was in Houston going through the storm?
A: As long as I knew my family was ok, I was ok. It was hard knowing that my family and friends were struggling, and they could be losing stuff they worked their whole lives for.
Q: How great was it going back home to play Houston last season and catching the game-winning touchdown pass?
A: It felt like it was meant to be, with everything that I had been through. Then, even during the game, all the adversity that me and my teammates had to go through. That was a perfect finish for me since I'm from there.
Q: A little extra celebration after that touchdown?
A: Yes.
Q: What was it like growing up in the football-crazy state of Texas?
A: It was crazy to see how competitive it was, even at an early age. The pee-wee games were intense, from a crowd standpoint. Then, to see middle schoolers being recruited to play at certain high schools. It is very competitive.
Q: Did you just play football growing up or did you play other sports?
A: I played all sports growing up. I played football, basketball, baseball. I stopped playing baseball in sixth grade. But, all the way up to my junior year in high school, I played football and basketball.
Q: Did you enjoy playing other sports than football?
A: To be honest, I like basketball more than football. I guess I liked it more because we played indoors out of the heat (laughing). Even now, I enjoy watching the NBA more than the NFL. The NBA is more entertaining.
Q: How have you improved at the tight end position the past two years?
A: The main area I wanted to improve was my blocking. I wanted to become a better blocker. Coming here out of high school, I had the receiver skills having played that position. I knew once I improved my blocking I would become more of a weapon and create mismatches for the defense. Then, the coaches could rely on me in both the passing and run games instead of just sticking me in certain situations.
Q: As a tight end, what do you enjoy more: a knock-down block or a touchdown catch?
A: I like catching touchdowns more. But, blocking does set up the touchdown opportunities. I am a team player, so when I'm called on to block, I take pride in helping open up holes for our running backs to score.
Q: What attracted you to Memphis?
A: Coming here from Texas, I didn't go through a lot of culture shock, but there were some different things I had to get used to. Here, they like barbecue a lot, and that took some time for me to adjust to that. Now, I see Memphis as home. I love it here. I love the people, the food. I couldn't ask for a better place to be.
Q: What do you like most about being a Tiger?
A: I like that Memphis is a place where you work for what you want. That's my life – working hard for everything I have. That's what being a Tiger is, going out every day and working hard.
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