| 05 September 2010
Defensive End and Outside Linebacker Connor Cree is one of the many commitments to Sarkisian's growing recruiting class of 2011 and is primed for a stand-out senior season for Skyline this year. Along with Washington, Cree was gaining some interest from other colleges including Boise State. We got a chance to ask Cree a few questions about the upcoming football season and his future at UW. Check out the interview after the jump!
How did you off-season go, any stand-out moments?
It was good. I've been working out and getting bigger for the season. Our team had five workouts a week until the season started. This offseason our team has been dedicated to becoming bigger, faster, and stronger.
Who are some players on Skyline that are poised to have break-out seasons in your opinion?
Besides our returning starters, I think Jordan Simone has potential to have a really good season. With all the double teams Kasen will be getting, Jordan should be left wide open. I also believe that Max Browne should have a great season, he has impressed alot of people during this summer whether it was at spring ball or at the UPS camp.
What's it like playing with Kasen? Are you guys pretty close?
It's fun playing with Kasen. He is an insane athlete and we've been friends since we were 8 playing basketball and youth football together.
What is this team's biggest strength going into this season?
I think we will catch a lot of teams off guard with our speed. Everyone thinks we won't be as good since we lost 18 starters, but the people filling in for them are just as good as the players we had last year.
Who do you think will be your main competition in league play this year?
Definitely our rival Issaquah.
Any areas of the team that need improving as the season progresses?
As of right now I'd say our linemen only because they are all new. We lost 6 out of 7 linemen from last year, but the guys filling in for them are just as good.
Why did you choose to commit to UW, what was the main reason?
I picked UW because it was close to home, it's Pac-10 football and I liked the coaches a lot. It was a really difficult choice to pick between Boise St. and UW, I liked both schools a lot but what it mainly came down to was staying close to home and playing in the Pac-10.
What are you working on this year to prepare yourself for the next level? Will you enroll early?
I'm just trying to win state again this year. I'm not even thinking about college. I will not enrolling early.
Who's your favorite football player and why?
Ricky Williams. I just like the way he runs the ball. He can run through the tackles and run over guys and pound it up the middle. He can also bounce it out to the side and use his speed.
What's it like playing in such a great program like Skyline? Does the team enjoy having a lot of publicity or can it be a distraction at times?
I honestly don't know any better. I've been in the skyline program since I was 7. I am kind of used to always playing for a team that expects to win. And as for the publicity, it doesn't affect us. We just try to focus on the games, but I'm not going to lie, it is cool to hear all stories and talk to journalists about our team and program.
