Tigers Football Q&A: Josh Perry

NOTE: This Tigers Football Q&A on Josh Perry first appeared in the Sept. 7 Memphis Football GameDay program when the Tigers hosted Southern.

Q:  Talk about your position change from defensive back to linebacker.
A:  I got a call from Coach (Adam) Fuller, and he told me to give it a thought because it could make our defense a lot faster than what it has been. With the game changing to where there are more speed guys on the field, teams are trying to get more defensive backs in the game. This was a way for us to get another defensive back type of player in the box with the linebackers.

Q:  Did Coach Fuller's phone call surprise you?
A:  It kind of surprised me, honestly. But after a few weeks of being in the film study room with the linebackers, I picked up on the position quickly, and it was an easy transition.

Q:  What is the difference in the two positions?
A:   The biggest difference is dealing with 300- pound linemen instead of 180-pound receivers. That's honestly the biggest change. I had to put on a lot of weight this summer, so I could get in the box and play with those guys, and still be agile enough to cover wide receivers.

Q:  How much weight did you gain?
A:  Eight pounds over the summer, and it's helped me a lot.

Q:  Has the weight gain affected your speed?
A:   If I had gained two or three more pounds (than what I had already put on), it may have taken away a little bit of speed. With the weight I gained, I've been great in the box and on the perimeter.

Q:  Do you feel comfortable in your new role?
A:  I made the change during spring practice, so I've had since then to learn the ins and outs of being a linebacker. I'm just ready to play.

Q:  You're a Tiger Scholar, so academics are a priority. How do you manage being a student-athlete?
A:  Just staying focused. Without an education, there are limitations in what you can do in life. I've remained focused all four years, on the field and in the classroom.

Q:  What is your major and what do you want to do after football?
A:  My major is sports management. I've had thoughts of being a professional sports agent. I've been doing a lot of research on it.

Q:  How did you get recruited being from a small town?
A:  My little town, we were always known for football. It (football) was something the whole town was centered around. But it was hard in the early stages of my football career to get recruiters to come. Once we started winning games and going to championships, the coaches from the smaller schools started to come. We then started to pick up offers (from larger schools). I got my first offer from LSU. That started a trend where our high school now has multiple athletes going to Division I schools.

Q:  Why did you choose Memphis?
A:  I was first committed to Alabama from my sophomore year of high school until four days before signing day. There were staff changes, and some of the coaches left to go to Georgia and some of those coaches came to Alabama. They were trying to get me to grayshirt. I would have had to sit out a year and come in the next year as a freshman. I wasn't really feeling that, so I decommitted. (Former Memphis assistant coach) Dan Lanning was here then, and that relationship started because he was once at Alabama and that's where I met him. Now I'm here, and it's all worked out.

Q:  Talk about growing into a leader for this program?
A: When I first came here, the team had a lot of leaders. The upperclassman showed us the ropes. We learned the Memphis Tiger way. There's a lot to learn once you get here because Memphis is a city with a lot of history. To become a part of it, you have to learn the history. Learning the history has put me in a position where I can teach the incoming freshmen and transfers.

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