Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?
Carder Yurgaitis: Football means everything to me. I truly have gained so much experience in life from this game. I hope and pray that I continue to have more lifelong experiences in the near future. This game allowed me to attend a great school like Shenandoah University. I don’t know where I would be today without this game.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories playing at Liberty?
Carder Yurgaitis: From winning the bird bowl every year to running out of the tunnel on Friday nights in Bealeton Va was the best time I had in high school. I miss playing with my teammates and wish we could have another game together. I still keep in contact with few of the guys today.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment process?
Carder Yurgaitis: I was not heavily recruited out of high school. The only schools that were looking at me were ODAC schools. I just knew that I would find a place to call home and I ended up at Shenandoah University.
Joe Gaiter: What is the football culture like at Shenandoah University?
Carder Yurgaitis: It’s a puzzle once it gets put together it will be a beautiful picture. When I came in as a freshman we just came off of a third straight 4-6 season. I still remember to this day being in the weight room doing finishers and our offensive lineman coach, Coach Oakley was screaming at the top of his lungs with his face turning red as a tomato. He was yelling and stressing out that a 4-6 record is not going to cut it and we better buy into where we’re trying to go or go home. I told myself that I was not going to let that happen and I had to get on the field to make sure that I would have a winning record all throughout college. The class that I came in with was the second winningest class in program history. We ended each season with a winning record. I truly believe that Shenandoah Football has its best day ahead of them and I am excited to watch it all unfold.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you such a dynamic Defensive Lineman?
Carder Yurgaitis: I have played multiple positions throughout college. I played tight end, defensive line, and long snapper. I mainly played long snapper and will be playing long snapper at the professional level. I truly believe that playing multiple positions has helped me round myself into a much better football player.
Joe Gaiter: How did you face adversity this season?
Carder Yurgaitis: After we came off a loss to Emory and Henry I felt spaced out in my head and I kept asking myself how do I overcome this feeling. I told myself that everything will all workout and to just stay focused only worry about improving yourself.
Joe Gaiter: What were some of your stats this year?
Carder Yurgaitis: I did not have any this year because 95% of our punts were fair caught.
Joe Gaiter: How was your proday?
Carder Yurgaitis: I did not have a proday due to COVID-19. Once this global crisis ends I’ll look to have my proday and improve my numbers from The Dream Bowl.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have an agent??
Carder Yurgaitis: I am in the process of searching for an agent. I want to make sure the agency I sign with is legit. What I look for in an agent is they understand the level of passion that I have playing this game and to help out on the business side of the game.
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation on the field?
Carder Yurgaitis: My motivation every time I step on the field is that I am the best on the field and I will show you why I am the best with all of the work I put in during the off-season and in season.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
Carder Yurgaitis: I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Criminal Justice. I will use this degree to get myself into law enforcement someday.
Joe Gaiter: How hungry are you to make it?
Joe Gaiter: I have wanted to play in the NFL since I was 9 years old. The only person who is going to stop me from going into the NFL is myself. I have been clawing and scratching to get where I am today. I want to put myself and the people around me in a different position in life a year from now. I hope and I pray that I continue to play as long as I possibly can.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Carder Yurgaitis: When I was growing up, people in my class told me that I would never play in the NFL. Matter of fact I was told that I would never make it through high school. I was told that I was not good enough, too small, too slow, and what have you. I always told myself that I will make it and everything will work out. I just had to keep pushing myself everyday and to never quit on myself. Amazing things happen in life when you don’t quit on yourself.
Joe Gaiter: What is your message to any NFL/CFL/XFL coach looking to add you to their roster?
Carder Yurgaitis: To any coach out there seeing this. You will not be disappointed in getting yourself a player like myself. You will get a guy that will come into work everyday ready to work and also wants to get better everyday while bringing the juice. I am very passionate about what I do and will let my actions speak for itself. I will come in and compete for a roster spot on the team.
Joe Gaiter: Who are some athletes we should look out for?
Carder Yurgaitis: Some guys to look out for on Shenandoah are Ethan Bigbee, Jake Wallace, Brant Butler, Mason Caldwell, Jordan Rice, Daquan Pridget, Jahquan Collins, Pat Ritchie. These guys all make a magnificent impact in the games on Saturdays.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Carder Yurgaitis: I want to be able to look back on life and say that I did everything that I told myself I was going to do what I said and did it.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Carder Yurgaitis: This whole Draft process has been a true life experience. From playing in The Dream Bowl to getting myself invited to tryouts with CFL teams and getting interviews. I truly have enjoyed this whole experience and will continue to strive to the top of my game. I thank God for everything that he has blessed me with in my life and all the abilities for me to be great.
Joe Gaiter: Shoutouts?
Carder Yurgaitis: I just want to give a shout out to all my family and friends back home.
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