Sabastian Harsh: "It's Really Like A Family"
Defensive lineman Sabastian Harsh met with the media to discuss fall camp, the Wolfpack's defense, his transfer from Wyoming, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
Teague Andersen said you've been giving the offensive line a hard time so far. What have been some of the memorable moments so far in camp with those battles?
I would have to say there was one rep yesterday I remember specifically where T got me. He stood me up and he stopped my pass rush and it was just like a pat on the ass. Like, good job man. I was like, shit. It was just something like that, just being able to battle against each other. Just things like that, being able to work against each other and understand that iron striking is iron. So, just working to get better with each other.
What's been different about being a part of this program or what you've learned so far about being a part of the Wolfpack?
The camaraderie. We're a real tight-knit, real close group. I know I've been working to try and gain a lot of the guys on the team's trust. Just over summer workouts, fall camp so far. So, just kind of seeing how everybody works together. It's really like a family. So, I'm just trying to do my part.
What has the Mountain West influence been like with you and the Utah State guys?
It's been cool. We actually call ourselves the Mountain West group. Even Coach Howard and the strength staff, he's been in the Mountain West school. Coach Eliot, alma mater of Wyoming. And so, just stuff like that. We still talk about each other. Like, game plan for each other last year, season and stuff like that. So, I don't know. It's kind of cool just having something like that to connect about.
Going up to Nebraska and then landing here, what have been the big adjustments to living in Raleigh?
Yeah, it's way different. A lot bigger. Y'all got a lot more trees out here. I'm used to flat plains, being able to see for miles. And so, out here, there's so many trees. Like, I can't even see the street over. But yeah, it's really nice so far. I've been adjusting really well. The guys on the team have been helping me out a lot. Just hanging out with them, doing stuff outside of football. And so, yeah, it's been really nice.
I know you changed your body a little bit this summer with Coach Thunder. What was that like, kind of getting into this program and seeing the results after this?
Yeah, so I came in, I was weighing around, like, 240. At the time, I knew I needed to gain some weight. So, just talking with Thunder, getting a plan right when I came in. I've been able to put on, like, 22 pounds around there. And so, just being able to gain as much mass as I can, get lean mass on me, make sure that my body is able to handle playing 4i, playing on the edge, you know, even going down sliding two or three sometimes, you know. Just being ready for ACC football, what it takes.
I know it's been a small sample size that way. How have you seen that, help you just so far, if you can?
Yeah, I feel faster. I feel stronger. There's times where I might feel it more than others, whether it be just like I'm doing a power on, like, a tackle or I'm holding a gap, like, I can feel it now, you know. Like, it feels a little bit easier. And so, I don't know, I think just that is, like, really encouraging, being able to feel, like, the progression, feel the progress that I'm in. So, yeah, it excites me a lot.
We've heard a lot about how this defense is going to be more multiple this season.
Yep.
How does your versatility as a defensive end and an edge kind of help you with that?
Yeah, so I feel like Coach has been sliding me around in different looks, different spots, whether that be peso or nickel, sliding out to a backer, getting the coverage or rushing the pass rusher or pass rushing or, you know, sliding to a four-eye, three-tech. Just being able to, be versatile, be usable at whatever spot. I mean, Coach tells me to get in there and take on a double team. Like, I'm going to get in there and take on a double team. He tells me to go cover someone on the perimeter. Like, I'm going to go do that, too. So, you know, just being able to have a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things I think is really good for the team.
What would success look like to you this year?
For me, success is what we're doing right now, practicing every single day, getting to work and getting the reps that we need, constantly getting better. I think a lot of people worry about what the games are, the outcome of the games and stuff like that, but I like to be process-oriented. So if I can do what I need to to win today, that's all I need to worry about. And I think games will come after that.
Who in the secondary is kind of impressing you so far?
I really like the way Jaren (Sensabaugh) has been playing well. I even saw just a couple practices ago, he set an edge on a tackle, standing him up, using our technique. And so, like, I think that's really encouraging, too. Seeing some of our techniques on the line, they're using it at DB. So that's been really awesome.
Who's the toughest offensive lineman you've gone against?
I got two, Jacarrius Peak and Teague, for sure. Both of them guys, they've been really working me out there, you know, and I think they've been giving me a lot of different kinds of looks, different pass sets, making me really work on the edge to get to the quarterback. So I think working with those two is probably the best thing that I could ask for. All right.