The 19th and 20th (and final) in a daily series of Q&A’s with the 2012 signing class.
Although Brice Butler and Ryan Katz are new to San Diego State, both will play huge role during the 2012 season. They come from similar situations, as both graduated from their previous school and transferred to SDSU to use their final year of eligibility while beginning a graduate school program. Butler played at the University of Southern California before coming to San Diego State, while Katz played at Oregon State University.
With Katz at quarterback and Butler at wide receiver, SDSU was able to add two explosive and experienced players to an offense that lost quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman to the NFL. Both players have been with the team since the spring semester, and they will look to have a breakout senior season for the Aztecs in 2012.
Photo Credit: Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations
Q: How has your experience at San Diego State been so far?
A: It’s been good. It was an experience change because San Diego is a lot more laid-back, while Los Angeles is a really fast-paced life. Being able to come down to San Diego has been great.
Q: What do you like so far about the city of San Diego?
A: Everything is accessible from San Diego State. The beach isn’t too far and nice restaurants are close by. It’s just a beautiful city.
Q: How were the offseason workouts for you?
A: I haven’t worked that hard in my life. It’s great for my last season because I have to put it all on the line. Coach Hall and these guys work really hard and it’s been benefiting me very well.
Q: What is your major and what type of career aspirations do you have outside of football?
A: I graduated with a public policy degree in real estate. Right now I’m starting a master’s program in homeland security. After football I really want to do something with football. I would love to be a reporter or analyst like Keyshawn (Johnson) or Chris Carter on ESPN. I like talking, I like the camera, I love football and I always felt like I would do something towards that.
Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I like to relax and strengthen my spiritual relationship with Christ. He has done so much for me, he has got me this far, and for me to still be alive is unexplainable to me. I also like to play video game and just kick back.
Q: Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
A: Right now I like the Thunder, that’s my team. I don’t really have a specific team in football. I like to watch and see who’s doing well each year and I enjoy watching them play.
Q: Is there any athlete that you look up to or try to model your game after?
A: I really like Calvin Johnson. He’s a bigger receiver with speed. He runs good routes, gets in and out of his cuts, makes tough catches, and for the most part he stays out of the spotlight. I also like the confidence and the moxie of Kobe Bryant.
Q: If you weren’t a football player, what sport would you be playing?
A: Basketball. I’d be in the NBA right now.
Q: What is like learning from a coach who has worked with several NFL receivers like Coach McDaniel?
A: It’s great. It’s always good to get taught by a guy who played in the NFL, especially someone who played the cornerback position. He can teach us how he looked at receivers as a corner. On top of that, he’s coached NFL receivers so he knows what he’s talking about.
Q: What are the most important things you’ve picked up from your father, being that he is a former NFL player?
A: Work ethic, never giving up, and always knowing that you can make it if you put in the work and the time. I was always around the game and he taught me to be a student of the game. You have to know film and be able to read coverage so when you are out there in the game it’s like slow motion.
Photo Credit: Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations
Q: How has your experience at San Diego State been so far?
A: It’s been good, the transition took a little while, but I’m back in southern California and it’s nice to be closer to my family. I’m fitting in well with the team.
Q: What do you like so far about the city of San Diego?
A: Being from the Los Angeles area, San Diego is still a bigger city but it’s slower than Los Angeles. You still have the good weather in southern California so it’s nice.
Q: How were the offseason workouts for you?
A: They were tough. It was the hardest I’ve worked since I’ve been playing football and I think it’s good for our team to be working this hard.
Q: What is your major and what type of career aspirations do you have outside of football?
A: I graduated in the spring with a business finance degree, and I’m working on my master’s in education and sports leadership. Somewhere down the line I’d like to be a financial advisor or something in the financial field.
Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I like to go golfing. I’ve found a couple guys on the team that like to go and we went a few times this summer.
Q: Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
A: The Lakers are the team that I follow the most, and since Los Angeles doesn’t have a football team I’m a Denver Broncos fan.
Q: Is there any athlete that you look up to or try to model your game after?
A: I like Kobe Bryant because I like his determination. Even though he plays basketball, I look up to his work ethic and the way he attacks every day.
Q: If you weren’t a football player, what sport would you be playing?
A: If I could play another sport it would be basketball, that’s what I grew up loving and that’s what I follow the most other than football.
Q: What is it like learning from a former NFL MVP quarterback in Coach Brian Sipe?
A: Coach Sipe has been great. He has a lot of experience, more than the X’s and O’s, and he really relates to the position. He can go through different things that we’re seeing and since he’s actually done it all that’s a big plus.
Q: Have you also been able to learn from former Aztec quarterbacks such as Ryan Lindley and Adam Hall?
A: I’ve talked to (Ryan) Lindley a few times, he’s reached out to me and asked me how things are going. I think it’s great what he’s doing; getting picked up in the NFL. Coach Hall has let me know how things go down here and he has been a big help too.
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