I need the workout program because I could stand to lose 30 mah-damn-self. copied and pasted from the al to the .kum
Ben Bradley arrived on campus far too heavy, nearly 30 pounds above his playing weight at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. After the Blue Dragons' season ended, Bradley started the recruiting process, and the combination of travel and eating a lot of meals started pushing his weight northward. Bradley arrived on Auburn's campus at 331 pounds, far heavier than his playing weight of 305 at Hutchinson.
Auburn's coaching staff didn't let Bradley stay at that weight for long. Three months into his career at Auburn, Bradley has already shed 30 pounds, down to 300, and he feels like the weight issues are behind him. "I'm already in playing shape right now," Bradley said. "They worked me hard."
Bradley was one of the nation's highest-rated junior college defensive tackles after making 43 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks as a nose guard for Hutchinson last year.
Brought in to push Auburn's experienced, deep rotation at defensive tackle, Bradley knew he faced a long road to playing time alongside players with starting experience in Jeff Whitaker, Gabe Wright and Angelo Blackson. That's why Bradley chose Auburn in the first place. "The easy way out was to go somewhere I know I'd be a starter and wouldn't have to work for it," Bradley said. "If all of us do well, we're all going to do good as a defensive line."
Bradley's progression has pleased the coaches. A slow starter in spring camp, Bradley has come on strong as the pounds come off and he gets more comfortable at the collegiate level. In Saturday's scrimmage, Bradley flashed his ability to get in the backfield, making a pair of tackles-for-loss. "Rodney’s been overall pleased with him. What I have noticed is, when he came in he wasn’t in very good condition," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "He's probably improved as much as any defensive or offensive lineman we had.â€
Bradley's inauspicious start hasn't hurt him in practice. What stands out to the coaches has been the way Bradley has improved, along with his junior college teammate, offensive lineman Devonte Danzey.
"You've got to get used to playing and used to the new offense, used to the new defense, used to the new coaches and everything that goes with that, but they've both had very good attitudes," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "We've seen a lot of promise out of both of those guys. Bradley can feel the difference in his play.
Being able to finally show his ability to get in the backfield last Saturday confirmed what he's been thinking all along. Being locked in competition with the rest of Auburn's interior linemen is bringing out his best. "I feel like I’ve come a long way, especially from the first day," Bradley said. "It was just a big improvement from winter workouts, to bubbles to the first day of spring. Now I feel like I’m getting closer to where I want to play at."
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