ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Florida State linebacker Dekoda Watson is finally healthy and ready to hit somebody again. After offseason elbow surgery that kept him out of spring drills, Watson is ready to lead a linebacking corps that will look very different without Derek Nicholson and Toddrick Verdell, the top two tacklers from a year ago. Watson took some time today to talk football, and about what he learned from the academic cheating scandal. Keep in mind -- the verdict hasn't been handed down yet. FSU's appeal is still in progress. Watson, though, learned from his mistake:

Did you mean what you said, and is it still eating at you?

	Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE
	Florida State linebacker Dekoda Watson (36) is eager to return from his elbow injury.

DW: I don't want jeopardize anybody's reputation, especially somebody that has worked as hard as coach (Bobby) Bowden. He's worked his butt off and brought this Florida State team around. I can't really explain it. I've been asked this question over and over again. It's a tough conversation to talk about, when you're dealing with somebody of coach Bowden's stature.

I understand. Well let me ask you this and then I'll let it go: What did you learn from it?

DW: I learned a lot. If anything I've grown tremendously from this whole process. It really seemed like it set me back, but when you look at the big picture it helped me, it made me a better person. It made me see there's a lot of people you can't trust, you have to trust within yourself knowing what's right, what's wrong. If something is a little skeptical, if something seems too good to be true, then nine times out of 10, that's what it is. I don't blame nobody but myself. I've become a stronger person. I don't look back, I don't regret anything now, and the lord blessed me with another year. There's no point for me to sit there and mourn about the situation. All I can do is move forward and make the best of what I have to come.

Great answer. Have you been talking to that Myron Rolle guy? You're starting to sound a little bit like him. Well let's talk Xs and Os. The linebacking corps, what do you guys think you need to work on the most this summer? What's the focus going to be?

DW: I think a big deal is leadership. We're the quarterbacks of the defense. We have to continue to strive for excellence and lead by example. A lot of people look up to us and we have a lot of potential. One thing I know for ourselves, we don't want to get complacent, because we do have a great linebacking corps. But at the same time I don't want any of us to sit around and think we can just sit around and things are going to come to us. We have to continue to work hard. We worked our butts off to get to this point, so why stop here? Let's continue to get better.

How tough was it going through the whole offseason elbow surgery? Tell me a little about how that went.

DW: It was kind of tedious. I hated it. There was a point in time where I hated going to get treatment for it. My elbow wasn't going to practice. I hated going into that training room knowing I had to work and work to try to get my elbow better, and same thing with my knee. It's come a long way, and I've gotten stronger, so I can't really say that it was bad, but at the same time it was tedious. I'm just happy I'm back in the weight room and out there running and interacting with the players.

Have you been fully cleared?

DW: Technically I have, but I kind of like to put it on them. I tried to show them everyday -- I tried to take my wrap off and tell them look, I can extend my elbow. There was a point in time when they would yell at me. I had so many encounters with Mr. Randy (Oravetz, director of sports medicine) when I wasn't wearing my brace or I wasn't wearing my wrap. He's everywhere. For some reason he was just everywhere. I thought I was trying to avoid him. I don't where he pops up from. It was a fun process as far as healing, but I'm just happy to be back.

How much different is the linebacking corps going to look this year without Derek and Toddrick, it seems like there are some young guys there.

DW: A lot of people thought I was crazy with the celebration, but these young guys, they're more crazy than I am. We love to celebrate, we love to talk, show a lot of emotion. You'll hear us out there yellin' and talkin' junk, but at the same time we get the job done. Overall there's going to be a lot more excitement. There may be a lot more focus on the linebackers, but like I said at the same time we can't get complacent and work hard and not let none of this hype get to our heads. Especially with me talkin'. I don't want them to think I sit back and think ok we're the best, because I still don't think I've done anything that I need to be talkin' this much. I want them to know we still have to work hard to get where we want to be.

Well what do you think you need to do to improve your game? You played very well in the bowl game. What can you do to improve upon that, and what are your individual goals for this year?

DW: One thing I know, and that's what I'm trying to do now is keep a close-knit friendship between the linebackers. I just want them to know that, 'Look, I've got your back, and I expect the same thing from you.' That counts on and off the field. It really starts with off the field because I want to show them, 'Look, we may have our differences but at the same time I got all y'all's backs. On and off the field. If you need something, you can talk to me.' I just want to show them that lifting weights and watching film, there's nothing wrong with that. That's where the best players come from. I just want that to continue after I leave. I don't want them to see me as just a now thing. I want this to continue going on, to the next freshmen that come in and carry on and carry on after that.

I talked to one of the Miami players last week and he said they've been looking at you guys since the Emerald Bowl. How long have you guys been talking about the Miami game or at least mentally preparing for this kickoff?

DW: Personally, I've been watching a lot of Miami film. I'm watching some NFL games because I know the new offensive coordinator came from the NFL. I've been trying to get tape of what he's going to try to bring to the table. I think it's going to be an exciting game, especially playing at Doak. It's going to be my senior year, and a lot of emotions on the field, especially during that week of practice. I can't wait.

I might be there, so I'm excited about it, too.