"I've not played since high school," Sykes said. "I've practiced some, but I messed up my right knee and had a slight tear of my MCL. I also had real bad tendinitis, but all that has healed up and everything is good now. I'm ready to go."
"I knew I had to go out there and handle my business," Sykes said. "I didn't want to be out there and I wanted to get back as soon as I could. I studied hard and when I got my grades back after my first semester, I was like is this all I had to do back in high school? I realized where I messed up in high school. It was good because it showed me what I have to do to be successful off the field."
"He thinks that if I come in and do what I need to do then I could possibly see the field a lot," Sykes said. "He told me that he could notice that I'm hungry and I am. He doesn't really know me and for him to say that says a lot."
He's also really excited that Kiffin's father, Monte is heading north and will be leading up his side of the ball.
"I'm real excited," Sykes said. "Like you said, his name is very big. He obviously knows his stuff and I'm honored to be a part of this."
Sykes says that he weighs between 255-260 pounds. And just because he's not been on the field doesn't mean his body has went down hill. He worked hard in the weight room during his time away.
"I've worked out hard since I've not been playing," Sykes said. "I've been in the weight room five days a week. I've put on more muscle mass and gained more strength."