Quotes about Leon Wright-Jackson

JJ said that LWJ had only played in the I formation before joining UH, and in that system:
"the play is already dictated." (HA)

"He came out of an I-formation where it's already defined. Now he has got to read the trap (blocking). And our screen's a little different. Once the light comes on, he'll be unbelievable." (HSB)


About how their RBs need to learn how to run the Tampa, their base running play, JJ said:
"It's reading the trap, where you put yourself, see where you're going before it happens. There are some reads and keys he can do." (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors' base running play — Tampa, in which the backside guard becomes the lead blocker on the strong side — has a menu of options for the running back."


JJ said that once LWJ learns the ofense:
"he'll be a different speed. It's like the receivers. Until they understand what they're doing, they're not fast, because they're thinking. When he gets in space, he's not thinking, and you can see the speed," Jones added. "Right now when we hand him the ball, or he does something, he's thinking and not reacting. Once that light comes on, he'll take it to another level." (HA)


About how he is ready to improve his performance as he learns the offense better, LWJ said:
"I'm taking it step by step, learning by practicing. ... I think I can kick it up a notch." (HA)


Asked if he has eyes in the back of his head to be able to sense defenders behind him, LWJ laughed and said:
"I try to." (HSB)


Asked how he avoids tacklers in the open field even when he can't even see them, like what he did in his 47-yard TD run vs. La Tech, LWJ said:
"I kind of got it built into me when I was little. I had a coach who told me to keep my head on a swivel. I don't know, but I knew if I went to the right, there'd be no one on the right." (HSB)


About how nobody can teach the type of instincts LWJ has, RB coach Wes Suan said:
"No, that's God-given, natural instincts. He's been in situations where people are chasing him, but he knows to take away the angle. The thing is he's got the speed that he probably would've made it anyway. But that's the sense that quality backs have. He knew that the guy had the speed and the angle that might catch him." (HSB)


About LWJ's instincts, LB C.J. Allen-Jones (who played RB in high school) said:
"Some runners just know. They sense it." (HSB)


About his TD run, LWJ said:
"I hadn't been in the end zone since high school." (HSB)