Elliott Porter is Motivated to Finish Strong
As the Tigers gear up for the final stretch of SEC play for the 2014 season, not one person in the locker room is more motivated to succeed than senior offensive lineman Elliott Porter. The LSU center has been the backbone and motivator this season for a veteran group, and Porter is ready to make a statement as the team prepares for the final stretch of games.
“It’s the most important part of our season, big men win big games,” Porter said. “The offense has to go off our lead and finish strong.”
During his time at LSU, Porter has shown nothing but appreciation and hard work on and off the field.
“It has been the best experience of my life. I have really grown up over the years,” said Porter, who is a native of Waggaman, Louisiana.
Porter has started 18 of LSU’s 21 games over the past two seasons and has been a valuable contributor since arriving to the Tigers before the 2011 season.
Porter knows from past experience at LSU that anything can happen in these upcoming two months of football, and it’s up to the senior leaders to motivate the talented underclassmen each week.
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“The season is not over, we have to keep fighting till the last game,” Porter said. “In the SEC, anything can happen. We can have some positive things come out as long as we keep fighting like Tigers, everything will be just fine.
Porter also is very blessed and fortunate enough to be playing in front of his family each week. Since his time at LSU, Porter has used his newborn son as motivation towards his play each week.
“My motivation is my son, Elliott Porter III, one the greatest things that has happened to me was having him while at LSU,” Porter said. “He made me focus and appreciate how great life really is.”
Porter has plenty of faith in his young quarterbacks. When everyone is playing their role and sticking to their task, the Tigers are a tough team to compete with for four quarters.
“I have plenty of confidence in our team. We all make mistakes, and we’re all young,” Porter stated. “We are going to get through the road bumps like we always have, we just need to communicate constantly and all stay on the same page. I have plenty of trust in our coaching staff, and I know that it is up to us to perform well and win each play.”
Les Miles and the coaching staff have full trust in Porter and the rest of the offensive line to be the leaders and to control the pace of the game.
“When everyone is following their assignments and making the right blocks, that opens up opportunities for our young skill players to contribute and make big plays,” Porter said. “In turn, that motivates our whole team to keep fighting throughout the game. Coach Miles and I have an understanding of who needs to be leaders out there. That it is not just me, but all of our seniors as well.”
With only four games left in the regular season, the Tigers understand the task at hand and will look to their seniors to lead them on to the field for the exciting final stretch.
“We can give up now and call it a good season, or we can fight it out and see what we are really capable of doing this year,” Porter said. “I know we can do it, we just need to be clicking on all aspects of the game.”