Interview: Knee Injury is not Diminishing 4-star 2018 DT DAndre Litaker Optimism or Recruitment

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

After a standout sophomore season, everything in the world seemed to be going D’Andre Litaker’s way. The Tennessee talent had seemingly every other school in the SEC dropping offers in hopes of landing the impressive defensive tackle. As most perspective recruits do, Litaker hit the college football camp circuit hard leaving with a firm hold as one of the best in his class impressing next level coaches at each and every stop.

All of that momentum was built up after the 6-3, 285 pound, lineman helped Oakland High School to a 12-2 record in 2015. Litaker’s reel shows upside and dominance getting great push off the line knocking back the opposition as a run stuffer and is that rare player who can rush the passer from the interior with speed and quickness.

In the off-season, Litaker transferred from Oakland to Riverdale (Murfreesboro) ready to help his new team make a push for a state title. Just eight plays into his junior campaign, in a game against Franklin, what could easily be construed as highly questionable play, a left tackle for Franklin rolled up on Litaker’s leg taking him out for the season with an ACL injury.

In sports, an injury can be an albatross around a player’s neck. Litaker had his surgery on Sept. 13 but is already on his way back and upbeat about his return to the field eagerly ready to shed any doubts the opposition or college coaches may have about his talents in the trenches.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Litaker getting an update on his recovery and an overview on his recruitment to date.

Interview

D’Andre, tough question first, how is your recovery coming along from your knee surgery?

“It is going pretty good. I am recovering well and headed in the right direction.”

Any chance you will be back on the field this season or is it a wait and see kind of approach?

“Yes, sir, it is a wait and see approach. I don’t want to rush it. I want to see where I’m at once I am fully healed, but there is a possibility I will return this year.”

When you are a full-go, what are some of the things you feel you do well on the field as a defensive tackle?

“Most great defensive tackles always get off the ball well. That is important to me. I think my explosion and quick hands are strengths. That’s the main thing I focus on.”

Before your injury, you were busy this summer hitting up various college camps. Which camps did you attend?

“I went to Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, and Alabama.”

Which camp did you turn in your best performance?

“I’d say Tennessee. When I was there, I had a break in between all the other camps. At all the other camps I was there at each one for about a week at time. I had time to rest before the Tennessee camp. I tweaked my right leg at the LSU camp. I did not do my best there or at A&M after the LSU camp.”

What are some of the things you learned from the various camps that you were taking with you into your junior season?

“Same thing I preached about before, being explosive, no plays off, and finishing people off. I was ready to make my junior year the best.”

Did you max out on any of the primary football lifts this off-season?

“We did but I can’t remember all of my numbers.”

What is your best guess estimate?

“My best guess on bench, I think I was around 260, power clean was 285 or 295. I know it was close to 300.”

Just because you are injured does not mean you cannot help contribute to Riverdale’s success and season. Are you helping your team win even though you are not on the field with them?

“Yes, sir. I give them motivation every day. I tell them to play for each other and for the man next to you. I help coaching up the defensive line when I can. They are down one without me. This is my first year with Riverdale, I have trust in them that they’ll keep fighting and find ways to win games.”

By my count you have 11 offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Is that list accurate?

“Yes, sir.”

Are there any schools showing interest in you right now but have not offered?

“Actually there are, Ohio State and Nebraska.”

Are you going on any visits coming up or is everything kind of touch and go because of your leg?

“Everything is touch and go. I might go to the Tennessee-Florida game this weekend.”

Are you going as a fan or on an unofficial?

“I don’t know yet, but I am excited to see that game.”

D’Andre, thanks for your time today and good luck on a quick recovery.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: twitter.com; D’Andre Litaker (left) with Tennessee head coach Butch Jones (middle).

Photo credit: twitter.com; No. 99 D’Andre Litaker with Riverdale (2016).

Photo credit: scout.com; D’Andre Litaker works at camp.