Oct. 15, 2008

The defensive line is likely the unit on the Illinois football team with the most experience, and it is led by three seniors in tackle David Lindquist (#94) and ends Derek Walker (#91) and Will Davis (#91). Davis currently ranks 10th on the career sacks list with Walker just outside the top 10, and Lindquist has risen from a walk-on to a two-year starter at tackle. Jake Klein from the Illinois Sports Information office recently sat down with the trio and got their thoughts on everything from their favorite moment at Illinois to Lindquist's dream of living in a cabin that he made.

Walker: "O-State (Ohio State)... Definitely O-State. We went into a hostile territory, we were playing the number one team in the country and no one would give us a chance. We came out with a big win... It was crazy."

Lindquist: "After the game we were so glad because we were busting our butts for three years and finally we got to that point where we took someone down that we were working so hard for."

What does it feel like to be seniors on campus?

Lindquist: "I feel like an old man... Everyone from my dorm is gone. I only can hang out with these guys."

Davis: "It's all right. Almost everyone you know is gone, but you adjust to it. Your team is like your family, so it's hard to see your family leave. But we can get through it because more people join our little family."

What are your future goals outside of football?

Walker: "I'm into art. I would like to do some illustrations or advertisements. I have always wanted to get into entrepreneurship, too. That's something I've always wanted to do."

Davis: "I want to take some business classes and possibly start a business. I would like to buy houses and fix them up and sell them, real estate. After taking some classes I will see how it goes from there."

Lindquist: "I have been saying this for years: I'm gonna live in the woods. You know, build my own log cabin and relax. But if that doesn't work out, I guess I will try to coach high school football."

How do you feel you have developed as a football player and person through your experience at the University of Illinois?

Lindquist:"I've gained 50 pounds."

Walker: "No one knows what we've gone through. Throughout this experience we have learned how to stick with something. At first we weren't that great of athletes and we weren't sure if this was really worth it. By sticking with football we have seen our potential and I am glad I decided to stick with it."

Lindquist: "Being seniors is a blessing because all of our work finally paid off."

Which athlete on the team are you most impressed with?

Lindquist: "Faze (Jarred Fayson). He is a guy we go up against on the scout team who really makes us work. He has some really good moves and he is going to be a good player."

Walker: "Jerry Brown. He has a lot of talent. He has great mental and physical ability. I have never seen so much natural strength in my whole life. He is going to be playing football for a long time."

What do you think of the freshman class?

Walker: "I think they have solid group of guys who are very talented."

Lindquist: "A lot of them are going to be playing down the road. Over the next couple of years, a lot of them are going to be key guys on this football team."

Why is the defensive line the best squad on the team?

Lindquist: "Because we have been doing up downs since day one."

Davis: "We are really close. The squad and Coach Sims get along really well."

What types of things do you guys do together outside of football?

Davis: "Tea parties. Coach Sims takes us out every Sunday and we have a tea party. Basically, Coach comes out in an apron and a chef's hat and he serves us some tea. We sit down, talk, and drink some tea. We usually talk about what we have ahead of us and things we can work on."

Lindquist: "Coach makes us use these tiny tea cups. It's really weird because we have to sip so lightly and he gets really mad when we drink it fast.

Davis: "He makes sure we take our time and sip our tea. It took us awhile to learn."

Any funny stories about Coach Sims?

Lindquist: "One time Will spilled his tea at the tea party and Coach got mad."

Walker: "I usually drink my tea fast and Coach doesn't like that at all. Also, during tea parties, Coach likes to see your pinkies out when you drink, and I always laugh when I see people doing that."

Davis: "Oh, and just so people know, we don't really have D-line tea parties. As seniors, we felt it was our duty to try to get back at Coach Sims for all the up-downs he's made us do over the years."

What are "Feel-Good Thursdays"?

Walker: "Basically, what used to happen was that we all went out to eat together and it is our last practice day before a game. It was really helpful because it got us all together to talk before we got hyped up for a game."

Out of all three of you guys who is going to get married first?

(Silence)

Walker/Davis: "Lenny!"

Lindquist: "Why me?"

Then who is the ladies' man?

Walker/Davis: "Lenny!"

Lindquist: "Ha ha."

Davis: "I wish I could be more like Lenny. He's the man!"

All three of you took different paths to where you are now. Derek's been on the defensive line from the beginning. David, you started your career as a walk-on. and Will, you came here as a wide receiver. How does all of this experience add to the defensive line?

Walker: "We all come from different backgrounds and have to learn from each other."

Lindquist: "Everyone has something to play for and to prove. Every experience is good and it helps us all become better players."