Billy Atterbury
Offensive Guard – USF
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Billy Atterbury: 6’4 ¾, 305 and 5.1 or 5.2 range in the forty.
Alex Khvatov: Where were you training for the NFL Draft?
Billy Atterbury: At USF with one of my strength and conditioning coaches. I have been finishing up my master’s degree at the university.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Billy Atterbury: I had 13 or 15 offers out of high school. They were all D-I schools. I had some power 5 schools like Syracuse and Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale. I had a lot of schools in my AAC conference.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose USF?
Billy Atterbury: I was drawn to this university. It is in my hometown. I was able to stay close to home. I took some unofficial visits. I liked the coaching staff. I liked coach Taggart’s philosophy. They wanted me the most. I had an opportunity to play early. I was a four-year starter at USF. The team was ranked in four out of the five years.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Billy Atterbury: My mental capacity. I take a lot of pride in it. Being methodical and knowing the playbook. I take pride in never going in the wrong direction on a play. I like pass blocking. I enjoy the one on one’s.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Billy Atterbury: There are plenty of USF players in the league. I have worked with Bruce Hector and Eric Lee who has been with the Patriots. I have noticed how much their technique is refined. There is no wasted movement.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your overall career.
Billy Atterbury: I started 39 games over four years. I have started every game the last three seasons, minus the first game of my sophomore year. I have a lot of snaps under my belt. I was a RG most of the time. I have played some RT and LT a bit. The biggest disappointment for me was never winning the conference. It was our number one goal. The win and loss record was good. We went to four bowl games. We beat South Carolina and Texas Tech in those bowl games. We were ranked in the top 25. We were part of the movement that made our conference competitive along with UCF.
Alex Khvatov: What was the biggest difference between coach Taggart and coach Strong?
Billy Atterbury: Their philosophies were a bit different. Coach Taggart is an offensive minded coach, and coach Strong is a defensive guy. They stayed on their sides of the ball. Coach Taggart was a friendly guy. But coach Strong went out of his way to be friendly. He was a great person.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Billy Atterbury: As an OL, we don’t get the glory. When those players around you like Quinton Flowers and Jordan Cronkrite succeed, you feel great about it. We had the longest streak for scoring 30 points in consecutive games. We had 24 straight games with over 30+ points a game.
Alex Khvatov: What was the biggest thing that you took away from your coaching staff?
Billy Atterbury: In general, it was a carousel here. We had four O-line coaches in five years, two head coaches and three offensive coordinators. You have to adapt to each coach. The faster you adjust, the more success you will have.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Billy Atterbury: Forgetting the previous play. If you lose a rep, you have to have a short-term mindset. It is all repetitive when you play on the offensive line. It is like playing the outfield in baseball. You never know when the ball will get hit to you, but you prepare for any situation.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Billy Atterbury: I am a Redskins fan. My parents met and lived in DC for a couple of years. They were Redskins fans before they moved to Florida.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Billy Atterbury: I like to watch the TE’s. They are kind of an extension of an O-line. I am a big fan of Travis Kelce fan and Gronk fan. I am always watching guys who are similar in stature who get to have fun. I was also a Joe Thomas fan. I tried to emulate my game after him.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the defense?
Billy Atterbury: I started 35 games next to my RT Marcus Norman. We know each other very well. When I was at tackle, I looked at the safeties rotating over the top and linebackers. At guard, I looked at 3-tech or NT. You always look for those details.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Billy Atterbury: CB KJ Sails was a transfer who made a huge impact. He should be a captain for the team next year. He will be one of the guys leading the way. We have three guys returning on the O-line. C Brad Cecil is a true junior. Donovan Jennings is a junior and LG Demetris Harris. Jordan McCloud was a starter after Blake (Barnett) got hurt. He is now the number one QB who can develop and flourish.
Alex Khvatov: Who was the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Billy Atterbury: Ed Oliver. He was a five-star recruit. He had the explosiveness and power.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Billy Atterbury: Team work and camaraderie. I like having and working towards a common goal.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Billy Atterbury: As an OL, I like eating. I like trying different restaurants. We liked Japanese food at USF. I am also an advocate for other sports. I like to go to other sporting events at the university.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Billy Atterbury: I got my undergraduate degree in business and finance. I am getting my masters’ in entrepreneurship. I have been studying for a life insurance exam. I want to become a financial adviser for athletes and tell where to sign on the dotted line and where not to sign.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Billy Atterbury: Competitive, perfectionist, goal-oriented, team-oriented and aggressive.
