2016 San Diego CB Daquirae Irby Talks Preparation for Nevada Wolf Pack Fall Camp

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The path forward for Daquirae “Daq” Irby has been set since July 29, 2015. The Morse High School talent verbally committed to the University of Nevada then and has not looked back since. With graduation approaching quickly, Irby is nearing his dream of playing Division-I football.

Irby was a bell ringer for the Tigers in 2015 lining up at cornerback. Official stats were not kept but best guess estimates had him with a minimum of 30 tackles, seven passes broken up, and one interception to close out his senior year. The three-sport athlete helped guide his San Diego area team into the second round of the playoffs before a tough 14-0 loss to Valley Center.

The recruiting process for Irby was cut off after his commitment to the Wolf Pack but he did pick up an offer from University of San Diego and was receiving direct interest from California-Davis, Portland State, and Colorado State at different points along the way but kept solid to Nevada.

All that is left for Irby to do in high school is walk with his peers achieving that big moment when he graduates and then heads off to the next stage in life. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Irby to get an overview on his offseason workouts and all the steps he is taking to prepare for fall camp with Nevada.

Interview

Daq, I may not be the first person to congratulate you on signing with Nevada, but congratulations.

“Thank you.”

I think it is great that you are following your dreams of playing football in college.

“Thanks.”

Catch me up on your senior season. What were some of the things you got better at on the field from your junior year to the end of your senior campaign as a corner?

“My senior year I learned how to be a better leader. I had to make sure everyone else on the defense knew what they were doing. I had to be a vocal leader which was tough for me because I am not much of a talker, but I needed to do it.”

What are your strengths on the field as a corner from a technique point of view?

“I feel like my strengths – I feel like I am a good press corner. I did that more naturally than off-man. My strong suit is playing press. At the next level I have to work on off-man. I know at the next level I cannot press everyone all the time. I’ve been working on that in the offseason a lot.”

How are you working on your off-man coverage this spring?

“I’ve been working on training my eyes and working on my zone coverages. Basically one of them most important things you need to do as a corner is train your eyes. You have to know where to look on every play.”

How do you do train your eyes?

“I do a lot of small technique drills. We make sure I am reading the quarterback while in zone coverage. I make sure my eyes are in the right place when I am back peddling. With my trainer, Coach (Brett) Hudson – I’m working with him a lot, we are always working on zone coverage and my technique. We did a little zone in high school but we mostly played man. Coach (Tracy) McNair helped me a lot in high school with my cover skills. Throughout the offseason I’ve been working a lot with Coach Hudson. He has taught me some new stuff in press man. I’m really taking my game to another level.”

This may be old news but how did the commitment to Nevada come about for you?

“When I went to Nevada on an unofficial, my first offer was from USD (San Diego), I attended a Nevada camp. Nevada came up to our school to visit me and then we went to another one of their camps. At that camp, Coach (Scott) Boone (defensive coordinator) saw my talents. He said everything he had heard about me was true. He said I put on a good show. He also said Coach (Ricky) Thomas (cornerbacks coach) loved what he was seeing too. That day they offered me.

“Then they talked about me coming up on an unofficial visit with my mom. We took it in July. I fell in love with the campus. My biggest thing was going somewhere I could be for four to five years and enjoy it. The coaching staff and all the professors I met were all great. They had a family atmosphere there. I could see myself there. I had a conversation with Coach (Brian) Polian (head coach) when I was there. He was honest with me. Even though it is a business he was honest with me and told me what he needed from me.”

Do you remember what he said he needed from you?

“Coach Boone told me that they need me in Year One to compete with everyone. I told him no worries. I told him I have been competing my whole life. He said they need me to pick up on things fast. I told him that is what I want to do. They told me they want me to play corner.

“The other day I told Coach Boone I think I might be able to play rover or strong safety for Nevada. I have put on some weight since the season. He told me he was thinking the same thing. He said that is where we envision you playing at the end of your career anyway. Cornerback, strong safety, or rover, it does not matter to me where I play. He told me if I am not playing cornerback at the end of my college career he could see me playing the rover position.

“The biggest thing was just for me to compete at all times. Iron sharpens iron kind of mentality.”

You mentioned gaining some weight in the offseason. What kind of offseason weight lifting workouts have you been doing to prepare for fall camp?

“The coaches sent me a package to get me started on things – all the lifts. I’ve been doing it religiously. I’ve gotten a lot stronger already. Since the first time I started I’ve been able to tell the difference. I have put on muscle weight. I weighed 185 during the season, now I am at 195 pounds.”

Have you maxed out in any of your lifts this offseason?

“No, but that’s a good question. I should see what I can do now.”

What was the best 40-yard dash time you posted going into your senior year?

“My best was a 4.6. That will drop with more technique.”

What other sports have you played for Morse?

“Basketball and track. I triple-jumped throughout high school.”

What was your best in the triple-jump?

“My best was 43.2.”

Have you stopped participating in track?

“Yes. My focus is on getting in football shape for Nevada. My track coach understood.”

Makes sense. When do you report to Nevada?

“On June 22.”

Are you getting excited?

“Oh yeah, very excited. I’ve been talking to my little brother (Martell) about it. I’m ready to get up there and see what I can do. I’m ready to get on the field and play with them. I have seen them practice but I want to be in the practice. I’m ready for the games and the college life.”

There are no guarantees when it comes to playing or redshirting but based on the roster do you know if you are expected to contribute right away?

“The coaches have said the best will play. I know there are two upperclassmen starters ahead of all of us. I’m just going to work hard and do my best. There are other guys in the recruiting class that are good and guys like sophomores on the roster that are all working hard wanting to play too.”

Who has been a big motivating factor for you in your football career?

“My younger brother, Martell (Class of 2018). He’s at Morse. He’s a running back/strong safety/athlete type. If it was not for him, football wise, I would not be where I am at now. He pushes me. Football is his passion. He’s going to blow up soon. Coaches are already coming in to see him. He is a monster on the field. He’s vocal and always around the ball. He’s kind of like Tyrann Mathieu on the field. He is a playmaker. I feel like he is more excited about everything going on with me than I am. I know he is proud of me.”

Daq, thanks for your time today and updating us on your offseason workouts. Good luck at Nevada, we’ll be watching for you.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Irby family; Daq Irby with head coach Brian Polian.

Photo credit: Irby family; Daq Irby trying on a Nevada jersey.

Photo credit: sdfnlmagazine.com; Daq Irby on the field.