Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Q&A with senior defensive tackle Kyonta Stallworth
09/18/2019 | 5:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kyonta Stallworth began his college career as an offensive guard at Michigan State. Four years later, Stallworth has not only switched schools, but also positions, as he is now a starter at defensive tackle for a 2-1 Southern Illinois football program.
How was growing up in Detroit?
It was a pretty good environment with good people. But there were some negative parts about living on the east side of Detroit. My goal growing up was to stay away from the negativity and to not put anything I had in jeopardy. A bunch of my friends knew that I played football and never put me in any situations that could result in being on the news or anything bad like that.
Did playing sports help you stay out of trouble when you were younger?
It definitely helped. My first sport growing up was football. My uncle Steve, who coached little league for around 20 years, placed me in football when I was around seven years old. He was respected in the Detroit community and coached a lot of successful players, so it was a blessing that he saw something in me at such a young age.
Were you always the "big guy" in football?
We had a weight limit in little league since we played with pads, so it was hard for me to play in my age range. Once I was 10 or 11, I gave up and just told them to move me up to play with the older and bigger kids. I was playing with guys two-to-three years older than me once I made that change.
How did you perform against the older competition?
I didn't play a lot my first year, but progressively got better and played more in my second and third year. Going into middle school, that's when I fell in love with the sport and knew that I wanted to play in high school and maybe even college.
Martin Luther King High School (MI) has a reputation for producing college talent. Did you notice that during your lone year there?
It's known as a high school football powerhouse in Detroit. I went to South Lake to start out high school, but ended up transferring to Martin Luther King as a senior. I had a great experience there. They have a great coaching staff and send at least six or seven kids to D1 (Division I) each year. It definitely prepared me for college football.
You started your college career as an offensive guard at Michigan State, but moved to defensive line after your first year. How come that change was made?
My redshirt freshman year was spent entirely on offense. I enjoyed playing on the o-line while it lasted. If anybody would've originally told me that I was going to be playing defense, I would have said no way. I was just on the o-line for a long time growing up. But my old head coach saw something different and I low-key appreciate it now, because I honestly enjoy playing defense a little more than offense.
Was moving to defense a difficult transition?
It was tough when I made the transition to the defensive line. It was kind of hard for me to get adjusted to it because I spent my whole freshman year on offense. I played defense in high school, but playing it in college was never really a thought. It took some training and a couple of months to get fully adjusted to it. I started getting better day-by-day and began picking up tendencies that helped out my game.
What influenced your decision to transfer from Michigan State?
It was just time to start over and find something new. But I had a good time in the three years at Michigan State. The one thing I can relate about Michigan State and SIU are the good people. The people truly care about you at both places. I feel like once you have that bond with 100-plus guys, there isn't anything like it. A lot of these guys are going to be people you invite to your wedding down the road. A big thing I learned at Michigan State was four years for 40. You spend your four or five years playing to set up the next 40-plus years of your life. I don't regret going to Michigan State at all, but it was just time for the next journey.
Once you announced that you were transferring, quite a few schools were likely trying to recruit you. So what drove you to choosing SIU?
It was because of coach Hill (Nick Hill). When I left Michigan State, I didn't have a clue what I was going to do. I had a lot of schools knocking on my door, but the one thing about coach Hill is that he's a loving person. When I first met him, I immediately noticed that he's a players coach. He's given me the same energy and attitude from my first visit to now. He has an open door policy and if I ever need anything, he's there to talk.
What was your first visit to SIU like?
I met with coach Hill on the first visit and he just kept it real with me. He said that he wanted me to play for him and I could tell that he was serious. He called me every day and was on top of everything. If he wanted me so bad, then why not come to SIU. Since arriving here around 14 months ago, it has been a good ride. He works hard for the program and deserves a lot of success. Coach Hill knows what he's doing and sometimes it takes those 2-9 seasons to rebuild. The process can take longer than one or two years in many situations.
Is there anything that sticks out about your teammates this season?
This year, we all have the mentality to win each week, have a good group of seniors, and great leadership as well. Everyone is coming together closely this season, especially on defense. Outside of football, we have quality people. We have guys like Blake Parzych, who are coaches and leaders off the field. That means a lot for the team and guys who are still new to the program like me.
The defensive line has constantly been in the backfield the last two weeks. What has clicked after a somewhat rough opening week to the season?
We wish we could get week one back, but we can't. We're sitting at 2-1 and the goal every week is to go 1-0. The biggest aspect in the last two weeks has been our mentality at practice. The standard around here is high, especially with new coaches. Our coaching staff is one of the best in FCS football. They know what they're doing and bring energy every single day. From the Petrino brother's (Jason Petrino, Jared Petrino), to coach Chuka (Chuka Ndulue) and coach Rodgers (Marty Rodgers), they all bring a ton of enthusiasm and experience to the table. That transitions to the field for us players and we're trying to play to the very best of our ability because of it.
What type of impact has defensive-line coach Chuka Ndulue made?
He's a defensive technician. He has a variety of tools and has seen a lot as a player and a coach. He's another players coach, but when it's time to go to war, it's all seriousness. Overall, he's a great coach and has improved the defensive line a lot. We're playing with speed and confidence each week.
Your squad is likely going to be the underdog on the road against FBS Arkansas State this Saturday. Does playing the underdog role motivate you?
We might be the underdog according to the media, but this is a game we can win if all 11 of us on offense and defense execute and stick together for all four quarters. Each team has great talent, but our players will be looking to take care of business with 100% effort each play.
