USC defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow arrived on campus with high expectations. The former five-star prospect just hasn’t lived up to them yet. But after recovering from torn knee ligaments, dealing with weight issues and coaching changes, Bigelow now seems like he’s in a stable place in his career.
Were you nervous about your career after tearing knee ligaments?
KB: “There was a point I got low just because of injury, it just sucks that it happened. I got low but I was never scared, my future was never in doubt because I never saw the injury as a setback. I saw it as something I’m going to have to bust my ass to come back from and something I’m going to have to go as hard as I can to get myself better from. And I did that.”
How are you dealing with high expectations early in the summer?
KB: “Honestly, I don’t feel the pressure. I feel like this is the year for me to finally be what I know I am, and be what everyone expects me to be.”
What do you expect of yourself?
KB: “I plan to go out and dominate the Pac-12, do that as much as I can. I’m going out here and going as hard as I can in PRPs and as hard as I can in these workouts. I’m in better shape than I have been since I’ve been on campus. And I feel it. I feel like this year I’m definitely going to have a great season.”
Why should everyone expect so much from you?
KB: “I feel like where I am right now, mentally, is a whole different world from my freshman year. I feel like I’ve grown into a much more mature and different person. My surroundings and my teammates and this injury has elevated me to whole different mental status.”
What changed since your freshman season?
KB: “All of it, my understanding of the game, my respect for the game, this injury has humbled me in so many ways. I went from not being able to walk to now, I’ve shedded so much weight and I feel like the old me. And I definitely feel like there are guys on this team that’s going to help me reach my potential. I feel like this team is definitely going to be special this year. We have guys out there, we have athletes from the back to the front of this defense and the offense is going to be explosive as hell. I’m excited.”
What are the details about your weight loss?
KB: “My first day on campus I was 333 and I’m about 289 now. So I definitely feel it. I feel quicker and faster and I don’t feel like I’ve lost any strength. So I still keep my strength and my aggression. All those things are going to help make me a great defensive player.”
In a 3-4, why do you want to be under 300 pounds?
KB: “In high school I never played over 295. The change for me was I was so big when I got here. And that was originally why they moved me to nose. I was so big and I couldn’t really move. But I definitely feel like with the loss of weight, I’m able to move around again, I don’t get as tired as fast, I’m able to go out there and play harder longer.”
Does the weight loss change your position?
KB: “In the ideal world, three is the perfect position for me. But I’m prepared for me to go out and play wherever I have to play in this defense, I don’t care if it is the nose, taking on double teams or on the edge rushing against tackles. I’ll do whatever this team needs me to do to win.”
You mention a lot of factors in your growth as a player. Did the change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 also help?
KB: “When Coach O (Ed Orgeron) and Monte (Kiffin) were here that’s what I was brought in to do, play the 4-3. The 3-4 is a change and I’m ready for it. I love this defense, this is a great defense. Coach (Justin) Wilcox definitely has some special things coming and we’re going to be a dominant front this year. We have five seniors up front, we have some talented young guys and we’re going to be dominant.”
How comfortable are you with this 3-4 defense after missing last year?
KB: “I’m extremely comfortable. I took the time to pay attention and learn different things about the defense, learn the little intricacies of it. I talk to some of the linebackers every now and again, and me and Antwuan (Woods), we’ll just sit down and rap about the defense and stuff like that. I’m prepared. We have a lot of leadership on this defense, a lot of older guys, a lot of experience coming out. Su’a (Cravens) is going to be a guy who has a great season. Jabari (Ruffin) is coming back over there off an ACL, he’s going to have a great season. I’m excited to play with all of these guys, quite honestly.”
What will we see from the front three?
KB: “I think Leonard (Williams) was such a presence that people tended to focus on him more. So I think we’re going to attack. We’re going to have a great rotation this year, we have a bunch of guys that are ready to get after it. Like I said, we have a lot of older experience. We’re going to be dominant. You won’t be able to key on one player this year. It’ll take consistent O-Lines to key on all of us.”
Were you nervous about your career after tearing knee ligaments?
KB: “There was a point I got low just because of injury, it just sucks that it happened. I got low but I was never scared, my future was never in doubt because I never saw the injury as a setback. I saw it as something I’m going to have to bust my ass to come back from and something I’m going to have to go as hard as I can to get myself better from. And I did that.”
How are you dealing with high expectations early in the summer?
KB: “Honestly, I don’t feel the pressure. I feel like this is the year for me to finally be what I know I am, and be what everyone expects me to be.”
What do you expect of yourself?
KB: “I plan to go out and dominate the Pac-12, do that as much as I can. I’m going out here and going as hard as I can in PRPs and as hard as I can in these workouts. I’m in better shape than I have been since I’ve been on campus. And I feel it. I feel like this year I’m definitely going to have a great season.”
Why should everyone expect so much from you?
KB: “I feel like where I am right now, mentally, is a whole different world from my freshman year. I feel like I’ve grown into a much more mature and different person. My surroundings and my teammates and this injury has elevated me to whole different mental status.”
What changed since your freshman season?
KB: “All of it, my understanding of the game, my respect for the game, this injury has humbled me in so many ways. I went from not being able to walk to now, I’ve shedded so much weight and I feel like the old me. And I definitely feel like there are guys on this team that’s going to help me reach my potential. I feel like this team is definitely going to be special this year. We have guys out there, we have athletes from the back to the front of this defense and the offense is going to be explosive as hell. I’m excited.”
What are the details about your weight loss?
KB: “My first day on campus I was 333 and I’m about 289 now. So I definitely feel it. I feel quicker and faster and I don’t feel like I’ve lost any strength. So I still keep my strength and my aggression. All those things are going to help make me a great defensive player.”
In a 3-4, why do you want to be under 300 pounds?
KB: “In high school I never played over 295. The change for me was I was so big when I got here. And that was originally why they moved me to nose. I was so big and I couldn’t really move. But I definitely feel like with the loss of weight, I’m able to move around again, I don’t get as tired as fast, I’m able to go out there and play harder longer.”
Does the weight loss change your position?
KB: “In the ideal world, three is the perfect position for me. But I’m prepared for me to go out and play wherever I have to play in this defense, I don’t care if it is the nose, taking on double teams or on the edge rushing against tackles. I’ll do whatever this team needs me to do to win.”
You mention a lot of factors in your growth as a player. Did the change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 also help?
KB: “When Coach O (Ed Orgeron) and Monte (Kiffin) were here that’s what I was brought in to do, play the 4-3. The 3-4 is a change and I’m ready for it. I love this defense, this is a great defense. Coach (Justin) Wilcox definitely has some special things coming and we’re going to be a dominant front this year. We have five seniors up front, we have some talented young guys and we’re going to be dominant.”
How comfortable are you with this 3-4 defense after missing last year?
KB: “I’m extremely comfortable. I took the time to pay attention and learn different things about the defense, learn the little intricacies of it. I talk to some of the linebackers every now and again, and me and Antwuan (Woods), we’ll just sit down and rap about the defense and stuff like that. I’m prepared. We have a lot of leadership on this defense, a lot of older guys, a lot of experience coming out. Su’a (Cravens) is going to be a guy who has a great season. Jabari (Ruffin) is coming back over there off an ACL, he’s going to have a great season. I’m excited to play with all of these guys, quite honestly.”
What will we see from the front three?
KB: “I think Leonard (Williams) was such a presence that people tended to focus on him more. So I think we’re going to attack. We’re going to have a great rotation this year, we have a bunch of guys that are ready to get after it. Like I said, we have a lot of older experience. We’re going to be dominant. You won’t be able to key on one player this year. It’ll take consistent O-Lines to key on all of us.”
