Senior Roundtable

DENTON – As the 2020 season approaches, the senior class looks ahead to their final ride together here in Denton. MeanGreenSports.com had the opportunity to speak with several members of the current senior class about a couple of topics regarding their goals for the 2020 campaign and the legacies they hope to leave on the program. As a hint, the answer to all of their 2020 goals had a nice ring to it.

Receiver Jaelon Darden, defensive lineman Dion Novil, running back DeAndre Torrey, cornerback Cam Johnson, tight end Jason Pirtle, linebacker Joe Ozougwu, receiver Deion Hair-Griffin and safety Makyle Sanders comprise this senior roundtable.

MeanGreenSports.com: Heading into your final season here with the program, what would you want to accomplish the most? And then, what would it mean to accomplish that goal?

Darden: "I'm taking this opportunity and running with it. As far as my leadership role, I've been more involved in coaching and hands-on with the younger receivers trying to teach them what I know and things I'm still learning. I want to pass it on so that when I leave, they can be better than they were before I left. Aside from that, my focus is on bringing home a championship."

Novil: "Winning a championship. That's something that I haven't done here that's always on my mind. Winning a championship here would be huge. I'm going to be giving it my all – it's my last year. I want to make as big of an impact as I can, and doing that with the guys I trust and love."

Torrey: "What I really want to accomplish the most this season is to win a championship. I think it would mean a lot for the fans especially coming off a rough season, and for me it would feel like everything I put in was worth it."

Johnson: "I'd just like to win a ring in my final season in whatever way we could get it. Earning that, it would mean that we would have achieved everything us seniors wanted to achieve since we got here. That's been the goal for us ever since we came in and something that we've always talked about achieving."

Pirtle: "Honestly the only thing I care to accomplish is winning the conference and a bowl game. I can go on and on about winning an award or being named to some watch list or something about stats, but all that takes care of itself when you focus on winning and doing what you're supposed to do."

Ozougwu: "I want to win a conference championship and a bowl game with my Mean Green family. It would mean so much to us because we've been with Coach [Seth] Littrell since 2016. And the love he has for his team is so strong you can feel it. So winning one and accomplishing the mission would be the best way for us to go out."

Hair-Griffin: "One word – championship. That's the goal we have been working toward. A championship has eluded us thus far. Words cannot express the emotions I'd feel, but for sure to win would be the ultimate accomplishment [for us]."

Sanders: "In my final season I would like to get a ring, no matter what it takes. Getting a ring for my teammates would mean everything. We've worked too hard and put in a lot of work. It's only right that we go out with a bang and get a ring for the seniors and the coaching staff."

MGS: What would you want your legacy to be after your time here in Denton?

Darden: "My legacy to be honest is that I want to be remembered as a positive role model and a positive guy. I'm always thinking about the younger players and even the guys on the defensive side of the ball. I want to be able to give my knowledge to them, because I know I would be less of a man if I didn't. That's my teammate and I would want them to do the same for me and I want to show them that respect."

Novil: "I want people to remember that I'm somebody that comes in every day and works hard and that I'm someone that tries to be an example for younger guys to look up to."

Torrey: "I just want my legacy to be that of a hard-worker and someone who never quit. I want people to remember that I'm someone who refused to fail."

Johnson: "I'd like to be known as someone who worked hard to earn whatever it was that I got and that I was also a great teammate."

Pirtle: "First and foremost I'd love for my legacy to be about helping this team win a conference championship. It's been a long time and there would be no greater feeling than being on the team to bring that back to Denton. Personally, I just want to be known as a guy who works hard, does all the right things, and gets the most out of my abilities, as well as being a good teammate and passing all my knowledge to those younger guys to keep the success going. To me a legacy is more than what you accomplish while you're here, but where you help leave the program when you are gone."

Ozougwu: "I want to be remembered as someone that is hard-working, and cares about others in a positive light, along with being a hell of a pass rusher."

Hair-Griffin: "I desire for my legacy to be that I loved my teammates and that I was faithful by pursuing them with the gospel."

Sanders: "I want my legacy to be remembered as someone who was a great demonstration of our standard and also that I was a good teammate who was always there for my teammates on and off the field."

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Players Mentioned

Jaelon Darden

Deion Hair-Griffin

Cam Johnson

Dion Novil

Joe Ozougwu

Jason Pirtle

Makyle Sanders

DeAndre Torrey

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