By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 5, 2005
Looking through our library, we called you Theodoric, Thederick, Theo and Theodrick back in your basketball days, helping Lakewood to a state championship. And the recruiting folks called you Rick when you committed to USF last winter. To set it straight, it's Theodric - pronounced thed-rick - but you go by Thed. Right?
Everybody has so many different names for me. When I played basketball, nobody wanted to call me Theodric, so they cut it short to Thed.
What's been a key to you stepping in to big-time college football so seamlessly?
Coach (Greg) Frey has good methods of teaching players to stay focused. I've changed so many things in my lifestyle to focus on football. Getting sufficient rest, no phone calls, nothing like that.
Where else did you look at coming out of Northwest Mississippi Community College?
I actually committed to South Carolina, then they changed coaches from Lou Holtz to (Steve) Spurrier, so I backed out of that. It came down to USF, South Carolina, Memphis, Ole Miss and UAB.
Your apartment might be the most talented in the Big East, with you, running back Andre Hall (his cousin), receiver Amarri Jackson and receiver Amp Hill.
There's room. We've got four bedrooms.
You played tight end as a freshman in college. Are we going to see any tackle-eligible plays on the goal line?
Nah. I like tackle better. I feel like it's easier for me to make an impact at tackle. But I had like 36 catches as a freshman at tight end.
