Dominique Easley Interview Notebook

HOOVER, Ala. — Dominique Easley has become known for his antics both on and off the field. Off the field, you can normally find Easley with a Chucky doll, which he carries with him during Gator Walk. The doll – a character from a horror movie – embodies the attitude Easley brings with him on to the football field. On the field, you can find Easley dancing to the music that blares through the Swamp’s speakers.

There must not have been enough room for Chucky on the plane from Gainesville to Hoover because Easley was laid back and playful with the media throughout the circus that is SEC media days. He joked with media members and even tried his hand as a media member, when he interviewed Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel.

    • Dominique Easley walked into his first interview of the day and was greeted by more than a dozen cameras and more than 50 members of the media. He was asked if he felt weird being in front of the cameras, to which he responded by leaning back in his chair and saying, “I’m cool man. I’m good.”
    • Easley said the main motivating factor to return to Florida was his mother.
    • Speaking about Georgia, Easley said, “One game. One game determined our whole season. So we can’t let that one game determine our next whole season.”
    • Easley said he feels old being a senior now but relishes the opportunity to be able to teach and help the younger players develop.
    • Easley said he has no interest in joining his quarterback on any hunting trips. “See, I’m from New York,” Easley Explained. “Bugs, fishing, hunting, I don’t step in that domain. I don’t do that”
    • Easley was frank when asked about the expectations for this season. Win a national championship.
    • Easley said the thing he misses about home the most is the food. His mom sends him Chinese food from back home every month.
    • Easley said Muschamp went through some growing pains as a first-time head coach in the SEC but that he got comfortable pretty quickly.
    • Easley said that Jeff Driskel has yet to play up to his potential or the expectations that Driskel has set for himself.
    • Easley said that he thinks about the two losses from last year every day. They have motivated him and the team throughout the offseason.
    • Easley said that while he hasn’t seen much of Vernon Hargreaves this offseason, he was impressed with what he saw of the freshman cornerback during the Under Armour All-American Game.
    • Speaking of the Under Armour game, that is where Easley said he decided to attend Florida. The bond he created with all the Florida commits that week was enough to seal the deal on his recruitment.
    • Easley said he made life long friends in Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and Matt Elam (all members of the 2010 recruiting class).
    • Easley said he is stoked to get Ronald Powell back this season. He said that Powell is hungry to get back on the field and that he talks about it with Powell every day.
    • Easley doesn’t think the defense will take a step back in 2013. The younger players who are being asked to step up this year all had a chance to see the veterans play last year and they were able to learn from them.
    • Easley said that the Gators “took a game off” in the Sugar Bowl. He said it was an eye-opener and something that will never happen again.
    • Easley said that Jon Halapio is the best offensive lineman he has ever gone up against – and he’s played against some pretty good offensive linemen.
    • Easley said that he has grown up, but don’t expect the dancing to stop. “That’s just me.” Easley said.
    • Easley thinks the stable of running backs will be able to fill the shoes of Mike Gillislee.
    • Easley said he is a little jealous that Loucheiz Purifoy gets to play offense and defense. He said he could play tight end or maybe even option quarterback.
    • Easley said his only goal for the season – and his whole football career – is to be able to provide for his family and give them a better life than he had.
    • Easley said that without Sharrif Floyd on the line with him, that he will need to step up and be able to communicate more with the whole defense.
    • Easley is not a fan of the new targeting rule in college football. “They’re basically making us play flag football.”
    • Easley said that he has never seen two young players have the mentality and play with the hunger that Jon Bullard and Dante Fowler play with.
    • Easley said he enjoys playing multiple positions because it makes him a more intelligent person.
    • Easley believes that the offensive line will be a “special group” this season.
    • Easley said he loves the challenge of playing LSU every year.
    • Easley said he has already learned a lot from Brad Lawing.

 

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC