University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Questions With Kyler Kerbyson
November 18, 2015 | Football
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
Kyler Kerbyson had one of the shortest drives to campus from his hometown, they’re in the same town. The local product from Knoxville Catholic High School reflects on his five years on campus, the o-line meeting room and other sports he would love to try in this week’s Five Questions.
1. Why did you choose 77?
A: 75 was my number in high school, so I didn’t choose it. When I got here, Hawk (Assistant Equipment Manager Allen Sitzler) gave it to me. At first, I didn’t like it because I wanted 75, but I took it and went with it. It’s actually how crazy it fits with me. By birthday is July 7, so I wondered why I didn’t think of that before. It seems like it’s meant for me
2. Being a Knoxville native, what has it meant to you to play for the University of Tennessee?
A: It’s a huge thing for me. I’ve never been one to boast about my accomplishments, but being able to play at this place, it’s crazy. You don’t expect yourself to be here when you’re a little kid when you’re dreaming about playing and all these famous names that you grew up with. You don’t think that you’re going to be in their shoes and then, when you’re there, it’s a very surreal process of how it works and what all goes into it.
Does it mean even more when someone like Peyton Manning is hanging out on the sideline?
It’s definitely cool, especially when he’s just on the sideline at the game and you can just talk to him. It’s not a weird thing to just ask Peyton a question. Other guys too, Jason Witten comes back, Chad Clifton came and talked to us as an o-line. Its weird to see those guys, you think of them as superstar athletes, untouchable as NFL players and they come back here and are regular guys. They want to give you anything they can. They offer up their numbers and say ‘If you need anything, call me.’ That’s the definition of VFL.
3.If you can only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what is it?
A:“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by Toby Keith. I love that song, I know every word. I feel like it’s the most American thing that I’ve ever heard. I would not mind listening to Toby Keith get after it forever.
4.Other than watching film, what goes on in the offensive line meeting room?
A: It’s a joke-filled place until it’s time to get serious. Before the meeting starts, that’s when all the antics happen. That’s when you hide drinks, hide snacks for guys. We’re ragging on each other. Then the meeting starts and it gets serious until Coach Mahoney makes a joke or gets into one of his sayings. It’s serious when we need to be and fun and loose when we need to be.
5. If they came to you and told you that you had an extra year of eligibility at Tennessee and had to use it to play a sport other than football, what sport would you choose?
A: I would probably pick golf. I’m a very bad golfer, very, very bad. But there’s no stress on the body, we’re good there. You’re not taking any hits in golf. I’ll go out there and stretch a little bit and swing some clubs. I wouldn’t mind that.
