Aggie Flashback with former DB Toney Hurd, Jr.

Key quote from Toney Hurd, Jr. interview

“I went to four or five elementary schools, we bounced around a lot because we didn’t have a lot of stability. It was just my mother and I. We became very close and created a great bond and continued to grow. I had a tough past but nobody would ever know by the way I live my life now, I keep a smile on my face and push on.”

“Football was my escape. When I was on that gridiron, I got to do what I love. I didn’t have any stresses or worries and growing up it just became something that was a part of my everyday life. Coming to A&M and being a part of that team was great for me. I could watch film and play against the best players, it was great. Football is an integral part of my life.”

“When I was in high school I didn’t think I was really good. We had a ton of athletes come out of Marshall, so I felt like I was ok but I just wanted to give it everything I have and hoped for the best. One day, I talked to the guy that changed my life, Van Malone. He told me, 'You have some traits and things in your game that can translate to the next level.' After that, I worked harder because I knew I had a shot not many people had.”

“My mom had back surgery and at that point I was committed to Notre Dame. Charlie Weis got fired and that made me step back from the process. I had to look at the grand scheme, I wont be able to help her at Notre Dame but at A&M I can go back and forth if she needs me. That is ultimately what led me to be a Fightin' Texas Aggie.”

“The only thing I could do after the coaching change was be the best leader, go to the meetings, and work my tail off in practice and the weight room. I did what I could do and those last two years at A&M are something I’ll never forget in my life.”

“The first defensive meeting we had, I asked coach Snyder, 'How much nickel do we play?' I wanted to play nickelback in his system. When I asked that question, we clicked from there. He started teaching me the defense and I picked it up and started teaching the defense to the secondary. I’m very grateful for that."

“Before I got the interception at Ole Miss in 2012, Coach Sumlin told me right before that I was going to get that interception. He looked me in the eyes and told me, 'Be patient, keep your eyes where they’re supposed to be, read your keys and he is going to throw it right to you.'"

“Our confidence was at an all time high at the end of the regular season in 2012. Going into the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma, we had Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart leading us on defense, on offense we had all kinds of weapons. If we would have been part of a playoff, it would’ve been fun.”

“The biggest thing in Tuscaloosa in 2012 was watching Johnny Manziel grow up in that one game. I loved watching how he silenced all the critics. He came up when the lights were on and played well. As a team we were just gelling.”