Justin Sorrell talks Tulsa, Navy

[PonyPride]

JC transfer safety Justin Sorrell said he was comfortable Saturday against Tulsa in his first start at strong safety.

"I felt good," said Sorrell, who started in place of the injured Ryan Smith. "I try to always be ready to get back in there, so I was ready Saturday."

In Smith, Sorrell replaces the team's leader in interceptions (Smith had two before getting hurt), but Sorrell said he expects to fare well in Saturday's game at Navy.

"I'm pretty aggressive back there, and I like to come down to play the run," he said. "Against Navy, with the triple-option offense ... I'm pretty compatible to playing against that kind of offense."

Saturday's game in Annapolis will not be Sorrell's first against an option-based offense, and he said that he and his teammates on the SMU defense face more challenges than merely getting the Navy ball carriers to the ground.

"My (Pflugerville) high school team ran the Wing-T, which I guess is related to the triple-option offense," Sorrell said. "The biggest thing you've got to do is protect yourself against all of their chop blocks. You can't be too keyed in on the guys in the backfield, because they're going to chop everyone all day."

When Sorrell replaced Smith in the starting secondary, he was removed from the Mustangs' kickoff coverage and punt return teams, and admits that as glad as he is to be starting on defense, he enjoyed playing on special teams, too.

"That (playing on special teams) was my role, and I like hitting," Sorrell said. "But I'll do whatever is best for the team."

[SMU 86]

Best wishes this week Justin.

[Mestengo]

go Stangs