Erik Highsmith: the perfect WR for the hurry-up

_Erik Highsmith is a sophomore wide receiver from Vanceboro. As a freshman last season, Highsmith was second on the team in receiving yards with 425 yards and two touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3 wideout grabbed three passes against LSU last weekend, including a clutch touchdown catch late in the game.
Highsmith took some time to talk to Assistant Sports Editor Mark Thompson about the LSU game, his nickname and his secret that everyone should know about him._

*Mark Thompson:_*With the LSU game, I know it was a tough loss, but did you guys expect it to be that close?

8Erik Highsmith:* I mean, we all came in there with the mindset that we were going to win. But it just started off slow for us. I mean at halftime the coaches still told us that we could win, because we know we’re the better team, we just got off to a slow start. Special teams kind of killed us, but I kind of expected it to come down to the end anyway from jump street.

MT: Very few of us play college football. On that second to last touchdown, the one you had in the end zone, take us through that moment when you’re running ahead of the defender and you see the ball in the air. What’s going through your head at that point?

8EH:* I did a double move. The first move I kind of set, looked (quarterback) T.J. (Yates) in the eye, then rolled out, and he bit on my fake. When I spun out, I just saw the ball in the air, and I went, “Oh shoot. There it goes.” And I just had to catch it, man.

MT: On those final two snaps, you guys are six yards out of the end zone. How fast is your heart racing at that point?

EH: Oh, man. I can’t even explain it. I mean, it seemed like I was the only person out there. I just felt my heart beat so fast. I mean, I know I probably wasn’t the only one out there, but I was like, “Oh, throw me the ball.” I was ready for it, but unfortunately, we lost.

MT: I read that one of your pet peeves is when people do things slowly. Does that make you the perfect wide receiver for the hurry-up offense?

EH: (Laughs). Um, yeah. I kind of … yeah, I would say. I mean, I like going fast and I’m very impatient. I think I got that from my mom, but yeah, I think that would make me the perfect receiver for this offense.

8MT:* If you were in the NFL, I read you would like to play for the Colts. I mean, they run a lot of hurry-up. Is that part of the appeal?

EH: Oh, yeah. I love their offense. Peyton Manning, he throws it fifty times a game, so he makes his receivers look good.

MT: Tell me about your nickname, “Mookie.” Where did that come from?

EH: I had it all my life, since I was a young, little boy. I think my mama gave it to me; I really can’t remember. But, yeah, I’ve had it all my life. As I grew up, they started calling me “Mook” instead of “Mookie,” so I guess like Lil Bow Wow did, they just call him Bow Wow.

MT: Sure, it’s a little more masculine.

EH: Yeah.

MT: So your favorite show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Do you relate more with Will Smith or Carlton Banks?

EH: Will Smith. He’s just funny. I like him. He’s a great actor. Every movie he played in. He’s one of my favorite actors, so I just like watching everything he’s in. He’s a really funny guy.

MT: So if you’re Will Smith, who would be the Carlton Banks of the football team?

EH: (Laughs) Probably Todd Harrelson. He’s very cornball. He’s funny too, but probably Todd Harrelson, (No.) 82.

MT: I read that your mom is a really influential person on your life. Why is that?

EH: My dad and my mom separated when I was young, like elementary school. After that, I seldom saw him around much, except for holidays, maybe. But then, as I got older, I rarely saw him, even on holidays. I mean, my mom really taught me everything I know in life. She went outside, played catch with me, taught me how to throw a ball really, so it was just me and her and my brothers and sisters.

MT: Does she make it out to any of your games?

EH: Oh, yeah. She comes to every game she can, away or home.

MT: Was she at the game in Atlanta?

EH: Yep.

MT: Did she say anything to you about that touchdown?

EH: Nah, I talked to her after the game and she was like, “Good job.” They told us we played a good game. I think we played a good game, but we lost so that’s still in the back of my mind.

MT: What’s the one thing that people should know about Erik Highsmith?

EH: Um, I think everybody knows I’m a cool, laid-back dude. I probably think people don’t know about me, that I like animals.

MT: Just as pets or do you like to go to the zoo?

EH: Nah, I just like pets. I watch Animal Planet every night, me and A.J. Blue.

MT: Do you have any pets, yourself?

EH: Not right now, I can’t.

MT: What kind of pet would you get?

EH: I’ll probably get a dog pretty soon. I don’t know where I’m going to keep it though, but I’m probably going to get one.

MT: Do you like big dogs or little dogs?

EH: Big dogs.

MT: Just because they are bigger?

EH: Yeah, they’re more aggressive looking. Yeah.

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