Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Football is everything to me, I feel like you have to be invested in the game and understand your worth and value in which football can bring so much out of you as a person. As young kid being introduced to this game opened my eyes that not all sports are about a single individuals success but about the success of a group/team in which everyone succeeds together.
Joe Gaiter: Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I was born in Louisville KY, I eventually moved to Shelbyville KY for better opportunities and to show me a different environment that I was not use to in which I had to grow and meet new people. I grew up with my father teaching me everything about life and for awhile it was just me and him but eventually he married a woman in which played the role as my mother and opened my eyes to a lot of different things in life. As well as growing up with four sisters and being the only boy for awhile was a tough situation.
Joe Gaiter: How were you back in high school years at Shelby County High School?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Honestly, throughout high school my main focus was never football and it grew on me throughout my years as I continued to grow and get better. Shelby County was a perfect for me and helped me grow as a person although I was a little off the wall as a freshman as any high school student is, I continued to grow and become humble and charismatic wanting to see others succeed before myself.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Morehead State after going to KCU?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: KCU was a blessing in which I wanted to attend college at Savannah State, Kennesaw State, Morehead State and EKU. Due to the ACT and me scoring the score needed late all others schools interested had closed their recruiting but KCU in which Steve Barrows worked with me in such a way that I was able to still have the opportunity to play football and go to school. After seeing a few other Shelby County athletes such as Lawson Page, Kris Jones, Nathan Sames and Kyle Goss they influenced me to take a chance and transfer to Morehead State and compete at the Division I level that they felt I was capable of.
Joe Gaiter: What sets you apart from any running back in the country?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: My mindset and determination sets me apart from any back, I refuse to let anyone outwork me and therefore I let my game do the talking. Being undersized, I understand I have to be a dog and when a dog wants something it continues to go after it until it gets it. I feel I have the talent to make any play a big one and as a running back you have to have good vision, in which I feel is my number one asset along with speed and strength.
Joe Gaiter: Next season will be your senior year on the field. What have you learned about yourself over the years?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I have learned a lot of different things about myself including how to use my size to my advantage. I learned that the key to being successful on the field is all about confidence and if you have great confidence every time you step on the field, that is hard to beat every time. As well as understanding that the little things matter, if you cheat the little things you are more than likely going to take the easy way out with anything.
Joe Gaiter: Explain the football culture at MSU?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Our football culture is different than your average team, we are all about each other rather than an individual. We have five essentials in which we live by and we hold each other accountable at all times. While we continue to build each other up and grow as a team we make sure we are a family off the field first because the closer our bond is the better we know each other are going to do their job when it matters.
Joe Gaiter: What do want your legacy to be as a player?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I want to be remembered as a leader in which I am not the stand up guy to give you a speech but I try to leader others through my work ethic and helping understanding that it is always bigger than you. As well as leaving behind a legacy of love and respect to show that football can take you so far but it is about who you are off the field that really matters.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I actually was scared to play football as a young kid, and my dad forced me into playing pewee. I started out as a lineman, then moved to a linebacker. Eventually, I was threw in to run the ball and scored on my first run in middle school and every since that day my dad continued to push me to be a better player on the field.
Joe Gaiter: Where do you visualize yourself in the next 5 years?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I visualize myself playing at the next level providing for my family as well as using my business degree to start a clothing line and a business for younger athletes to grow and be successful understanding their struggles and being able to help them achieve their goals as well. There are many options to play at the next level but the overall goal is to be able to compete at the top-level by any means which is the NFL.
Joe Gaiter: Where are you training and what are you working on during the off-season?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: As of now I am training at Corey Taylor Sports Performance starting in May, as well just finished winter workouts at Morehead State with our strength coach, I plan to continue working on my explosiveness and being able to become a more powerful runner while using great speed as well. The more I am able to understand how to run powerful and strong while driving my legs and being able to break more tackles it will help me as a better runner.
Joe Gaiter: You are 5’9, 200lbs. How do you use your amazing strength to your advantage?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Being able to stay low when running and explode through tackles and using speed to beat defenders to the edge helps me as a runner. I am able to use my vision to set up blocks and get a lot of one on ones with people I feel I can make miss and being able to understand how the defense is playing and thinks, allows me to know who to attack and who to make miss.
Joe Gaiter: What game are you looking forward to the most next season?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: PFL Championship @ Jayne Stadium
Joe Gaiter: You played wide receiver, now you are a running back. Which do you prefer or can you play both equally great?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I have played running back throughout my whole career, at KCU I was moved to slot receiver due to me being able to be versatile and could play both positions. I just want to play football and be used where my team needs me at but being able to play running back has always been my go to but the team is always first for me.
Joe Gaiter: What is your relationship like with your coaches and teammates?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: My teammates are like my brothers, at the end of the day I would lie down for anyone of my teammates whenever needed. My coaches are special, we connect on another level beyond football and being able to grow with them on and off the field is special. We are all a family here at Morehead State so I see them like my immediate family and anything they need or I need I know they are there for me.
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: My motivation is my family, being able to be the first in my family to go to college and play sports is a blessing as well as a accomplishment but that is not where I want it to end. My dad is my motivation being able to see him overcome so much throughout the years and show how people will try to tear you down but it is all about how you respond shows me how life actually works. The more I understand him the better I grow as a person on and off the field.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: I do not regret anything I have done because I feel it has made me who I am today.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Anyone out there who feels like they are down and out, things are getting hard you just have to put your head down and keep pushing. Put your faith in the man above and he will continue to work miracles in your life and accomplish things you never expected.
Joe Gaiter: Shoutouts?
Earl Stoudemire Jr: Shoutout to my Morehead State Family could not be successful without you’ll. As well as shoutout to my family, my sisters for helping me grow and understand life, my pops and my mother for bringing me into this world. As well as shoutout to my close friends Michael Perry and Malik Manica for motivating me to take a different way and believing in me when I did not believe myself. Shoutout DeAndre Farris for giving me the best advice when needed and showing me what it takes to be successful, My granny and grandfather for being a inspiration and believing in me more than anyone else and last but not least my coaches for giving me an opportunity to play this game I love so much.
Instagram @iamearlstoudemirejr
Twitter @estoudemirejr
