"We are just trying to
get to the big show," added Willie Packer.
"We have never won the ring since I have been here, and we want to change
that."
Willie has added 20 pounds since the end of the Spring and
he can attribute it to two factors.
"I am up to 270 now. Really, I
can thank my grandma (laugh) and hitting the weights hard for the added weight.
I feel a lot stronger out there."
Packer has also seen one more improvement
in his game.
"I have become a better leader, for sure. I think
it has helped my game out too. I have 86 tackles this year."
But not
all has been smooth in Packer's life as of late.
"I was kind of shocked
a little bit because it was Coach Orgeron, but it really does not mean anything
about where I stand with Ole Miss. I was not going up to Ole Miss just because
of Coach Orgeron, I was going up there because I love it so much up there. But
yea, I was looking forward to him coaching me on the defensive line."
Packer
had some additional things to say about the former staff.
"I want
to thank Coach Orgeron, Hughes and just all of those guys for putting me back
on the right path with my books. If it were not for them, I would probably have
to go to some junior college next year. They really looked after me, and I will
always be grateful for that."
What will Willie do now?
"I
am still solid with Ole Miss right now. I am still thinking about Tennessee a
little bit, but I am still solid with Ole Miss."
Did Tennessee's interest
come before or after the coaching change at Ole Miss?
"I was thinking
about Tennessee a bit before Orgeron got fired."
Has Packer had any
contact with Willie since Orgeron was let go?
"Coach Hughes called
and told me about the new coach that came in. He told me that Coach Nutt was going
to be calling me soon to answer all of my questions."
How familiar
is Packer with the new boss at Ole Miss?
"Arkansas did not recruit
me so I have never spoken to Coach Nutt, but I have always enjoyed watching him
coach on TV. He has a lot of spunk like Coach O, so I think it is going to be
a good fit."
When Willie meets Coach Nutt he has one question in mind.
"The
question I am going to have for Coach Nutt is what kind of defense is he going
to bring in and will they swarm to the ball better than what (Ole Miss) did this
year. They just were not swarming and that concerned me"
To listen
to Packer's video interview about the coaching change at Ole Miss that was conducted
by WLOX, click
here.
Watch Video