Squally Canada Breaks Down BYU's Running Back Unit

Former BYU running back, Squally Canada (@Squally_Canada), breaks down the 2019 running back unit with ESPN 960 host, Ben Criddle, as well as breaking down Squally’s six weeks of student-teaching this off-season.

SQUALLY TEACHING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS DEGREE FROM BYU

Squally Canada just finished teaching a six week math enrichment course to fifth graders in San Jose, California.

Ben Criddle - “What are you doing right now? How are you spending your time?”

Squally Canada - “I just finished my little six weeks of teaching. I got some things lined up for a couple of jobs, I'm just waiting to hear back from schools. I'm still working out just in case I get a phone call or anything but I can't just sit down and wait for everything.” 

Ben Criddle - “I love it Squally. One of the stories you told on Twitter about your students actually giving you so much praise and love, saying that you are the best teacher that they've ever had.  How did that impact you? Talk about being an African-American male role model as a teacher in that realm.”

Squally Canada - “The impact is I think what I've done with those kids, to let them see a black male teacher with tattoos and dreads teach them. I have so many student’s from different backgrounds and different walks of life and different religions….and they would say, ’you're a teacher?’ and I'll let them know that you can be anything you want in life if you follow the right path and don't have a record or background.  If I stick to the path and if I listen to my mom and dad, I can do anything I put my head to.”

Ben Criddle -  “I know you're waiting on a call to take your talents to the NFL, are you willing to play in the CFL? Are you willing to play in other leagues as the XFL is starting up, are you open to other leagues as well?”

Squally Canada - “Yeah I'm definitely open.  I just haven't received the call from anybody really.  I'm still working out, still trying to communicate with my agent, seeing what’s going on but I am not too stressed about it either.  I know football may end now or later on and having a degree from BYU has definitely helped me out. That’s how I was able to get that job teaching and this is how I'm able to get other jobs making a lot of money because of my degree. Whether I play football or not, I think I'm going to be set in life and continue to try to touch my community.”

Ben Criddle - “Speak to that education you got at BYU.  It’s already had a positive impact but did you think it would have as big as an impact as what you're experiencing right now?”

Squally Canada - “No I do not. When I didn't get that phone call, I'm sitting here working in a warehouse with my mom again, like in high school, with a degree and I'm like, ‘why do I even have my degree? What does this even matter to have a degree?’  When I started applying to all these different jobs where it requires you to have a degree. It's like, ‘okay you got your degree, we’ll give you a 15% pay increase.’ This piece of paper has really set me up to be successful and I'm glad I stuck in there when things got rough.”

Ben Criddle - “Was it always a dream come true for you to play collegiately?”

Squally Canada - “I didn’t even watch football growing up so I didn't even know I had to go to college.  My high school coaches told me I had to get a college degree before you go to the NFL and I was like ‘college’? I didn't know anything about college football and I didn't really watch too much football so when I thought I had to go to college, I just thought that this would be another stepping stone for me to get to the NFL.”

BYU’s RB 1?

Ben Criddle - “Who do you think's going to step up this year and shoulder the load (at running back) and why?”

Squally Canada - “I would imagine Lopini.  He's been working really hard. He has a grasp of the system and he's been there and he's a grinder. He’s a grinder, we see him working out, doing extra foot drills with Jamal Willis.  I have seen Ty’son Williams, never met him in person but BYU is really excited to have him. He looks like he can step up and do some things as well. But for me right now it’s Lopini unless Ty’son can demonstrate that he's able to learn the playbook and make plays, pick up the block and catch out of the backfield.”

Ben Criddle - “Both are really good. For Lopini, a lot of people slept on Lopini and I think more and more people are coming around to the fact that he's a really good running back and he's a versatile running back.  The only thing that I think he needs to really work on, it would be nice to be a second-level runner, the guy that just breaks away from defensive backs but those are few and far between. I’d say his pass pro. (To Squally) Something that you were really good at, that you developed, was your pass pro.  You became a really good, solidified pass pro running back. I know Jamal probably had a strong influence on you in that regard as well as Harvey (Unga) and AJ Stewart but I think Lopini’s weak spot right now is just his pass pro and he's got to get healthy. His injuries also kind of slowed him down last year as they slowed you down, would you agree with that?”

Squally Canada - “Yeah it definitely did but great things happen out of it.  He’s going to get more time to go back and rework on some things and look at the film.  I know he probably was in his head which I tried to help him get out of it. This is supposed to be one of his breakout years...and he’s young.”

Catch all of Squally Canada’s interview on ESPN 960 at the link below.