HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Fifth-year seniors are the bread-and-butter of leadership and skill on any college football team. Devin Farrior is less than four weeks away from beginning his final lap as a Golden Eagle, and he is embracing the battle of playing a huge position for his team: center.
Not only that, he will be following up the legacy of multi-year star and current New Orleans Saint Cameron Tom, as well as his own challenge of playing a position in which he's had three game snaps since elementary school.
Farrior has remained a cool customer.
"Any guy that's spent five years in a program is gonna say confidence," he said regarding the one thing he's improved on the most at Southern Miss. "He's gonna have confidence in what he's doing and what the coaches are telling him. The older you get, the more confident you get, and the easier things will develop."
Farrior describes his style as lead-by-example, and his watchful eye has also caught on to how "every young guy that has stepped up into their role has taken it on, full-force and done real well."
That too is something that Farrior knows of well from his long college career, especially considering his personal most memorable games.
"I'd have to go with my first start, against Middle Tennessee [2014]," he said. "I had a big edge and was just trying to start for four years. I think I graded out the highest that week as well. My most fun game would be Rice last year, just scoring a lot and it just came easy being an older guy with older guys around me."
Southern Miss against Rice treated that Saturday night crowd in The Rock to all kinds of shattered records. The 702 total yards were the most in school history, as well as Nick Mullens' 591 through the air and Allenzae Staggers' 292 on the receiving end.
Farrior went on to start the last seven games of that 2014 redshirt-freshman season. He had also taken some reps at center that spring, and while Tom eventually beat him out for that spot, he credits the former star with building his mental strength.
"Playing center in 2013 and spring of 2014, it helped me really understand every position," he said. "With Cam being out there and seeing what he sees, we communicated real well between left guard center and right guard and got on the same page. We won't change anything [this year] and just keep going."
What else can the Waynesboro, Miss., native do to ensure the best possible results for his last hurrah?
"Execute, just like Coach Hop says. Do our job. When we do our job, it's hard to stop us."
Not only that, he will be following up the legacy of multi-year star and current New Orleans Saint Cameron Tom, as well as his own challenge of playing a position in which he's had three game snaps since elementary school.
Farrior has remained a cool customer.
"Any guy that's spent five years in a program is gonna say confidence," he said regarding the one thing he's improved on the most at Southern Miss. "He's gonna have confidence in what he's doing and what the coaches are telling him. The older you get, the more confident you get, and the easier things will develop."
Farrior describes his style as lead-by-example, and his watchful eye has also caught on to how "every young guy that has stepped up into their role has taken it on, full-force and done real well."
That too is something that Farrior knows of well from his long college career, especially considering his personal most memorable games.
"I'd have to go with my first start, against Middle Tennessee [2014]," he said. "I had a big edge and was just trying to start for four years. I think I graded out the highest that week as well. My most fun game would be Rice last year, just scoring a lot and it just came easy being an older guy with older guys around me."
Southern Miss against Rice treated that Saturday night crowd in The Rock to all kinds of shattered records. The 702 total yards were the most in school history, as well as Nick Mullens' 591 through the air and Allenzae Staggers' 292 on the receiving end.
Farrior went on to start the last seven games of that 2014 redshirt-freshman season. He had also taken some reps at center that spring, and while Tom eventually beat him out for that spot, he credits the former star with building his mental strength.
"Playing center in 2013 and spring of 2014, it helped me really understand every position," he said. "With Cam being out there and seeing what he sees, we communicated real well between left guard center and right guard and got on the same page. We won't change anything [this year] and just keep going."
What else can the Waynesboro, Miss., native do to ensure the best possible results for his last hurrah?
"Execute, just like Coach Hop says. Do our job. When we do our job, it's hard to stop us."
