Getting to Know: Dexter McCoil
6/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 24, 2010
Leading up to the start of the 2010 football season, TulsaHurricane.com will run profiles on football student-athletes. Today's feature is sophomore safety Dexter McCoil.
Summertime is supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation for college students.
Not for Dexter McCoil.
"A typical day is from 7:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m.," McCoil said. "I wake up early in the morning around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m., and get to workouts around 8:00 a.m. and finish up around 10:00 a.m. I then take a shower and head straight to class from 10:20 a.m. to Noon. After that I have an hour lunch break and another class from 1-4:00 p.m. Then there's skill development practice after that."
It's a sacrifice that McCoil and the rest of the Tulsa football team is more than willing to make to succeed at the highest level of collegiate football.
For McCoil there is also another reason - His mother.
"She has always been my inspiration," McCoil said. "She's my biggest fan and my best friend. She means everything to me. She went through a lot and made me into the man that I am today. She was always there for me, regardless of who wasn't there. I always want to keep her happy and make her proud."
The sophomore from the tiny town of Lutcher, La., surely made his mother proud after turning in a stellar freshman season in which he played in all 12 games, earning six starts.
McCoil was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team after recording 85 tackles, one interception and six pass break-ups.
But what some fans may recall most about McCoil's freshman season is seeing his lanky 6-foot, 4-inch and 175-pound frame play a position usually occupied by much shorter and bigger athletes.
"I've played both free safety and strong safety really my whole career," McCoil said. "I had to learn how to get down and backpedal, because my first love was basketball and I wasn't used to doing that. But I just kept doing it and worked at it. I surprise some people with how tall I am and that I can get down there and do it with everybody else."
Dexter takes some grief from his teammates about his weight, but its something that he's trying to change.
"I work hard and even though it may not look like it, I eat a lot...a lot," McCoil laughed.
More about Dexter:
Favorite movie: Love and Basketball
Favorite TV show: Family Guy
Favorite Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Shoe size: 13
Favorite food: Red beans and smothered pork chops
Favorite drink: Strawberry limeade
Songs on iPod: 1,000
