ROCK HILL, S.C. - On this episode of Ever Stand at Home, Alyssa Sconzo is joined by Andreas Jackson, a senior defender on the men's soccer team. The two talk about Jackson's early soccer days, the 2019 season, his decision to enlist in the U.S. National Guard, the best dressed guy on the team and more!

AS: "To start things off, I want to go back to the very beginning. How old were you when you started playing soccer and how did you get involved in the sport?"
AJ: "When I started playing, I was probably around 3 or 4. It wasn't anything too serious, just an introduction to the sport. My dad made sure to keep me involved in a lot of different things – basketball, baseball – the competitive edge that I have with my family and my dad not knowing too much about soccer, kind of drew me in that direction. I felt like I could get one-up on him."
 
AS: "Like I mentioned earlier, you're one of the defenders on our roster. How you always played that position?"
AJ: "Not always. At a younger age, we try players at different positions. So, I started at striker for a little while, then went back to midfield. Me, growing up a little bit faster and stronger than the other kids, it felt right to put me at a defensive position and I grew to love it."
 
AS: "What would you say is your favorite part of being a defender?"
AJ: "Oof, I know I can say this and a lot of my teammates probably would too, I like to get into physical battles. When I know I'm up against a fast striker, I love to let them take a big first touch and put my body in the way. Just knowing that I have control over that situation and knowing that they won't be able to get around me is a great feeling."
 
AS: "What was it about Winthrop and the soccer program that made you know this was the right school for you?"
AJ: "It took some time for me to get accustomed to coming to Winthrop or the idea of it. At first, I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to come. It is a decent distance away from home, being from Atlanta, G.A. On my visit here I had a really great time with Coach Ridenhour, as well as Kyle Kenney. Coach Ridenhour, strangely enough, comes from a very similar background as me. I was living in Memphis, T.N. for some time, about seven years of my early life and then I moved to Atlanta. Coach RIdenhour lived in Memphis for a lot of his early life and went to college there and later on moved to Atlanta for a little bit. I think having someone to understand the area I come from and the people I know there was really nice to have in a soccer program."
 
AS: "This past season was kind of a breakout year for you. You were one of two players to start every game, you scored your first collegiate goal and the team advanced to the Big South quarterfinals. How special was this past year for you?"
AJ: "Extremely special. In the previous years, I didn't get as much playing time as I wanted so to be trusted by my coaches and be trusted by my teammates was already a great feeling. As far as coming out to the field and being nervous, I knew what my ability was, I knew what I had to do and I knew what I had to do for my boys. Obviously a big moment scoring my first collegiate goal here at Winthrop was amazing and the boys let me know they were proud of me as well."
 
AS: "You're a member of the U.S. National Guard. What drove you to enlist?"
AJ: "To be fair, more towards the money. College can be expensive, especially as an out-of-state student. Both of my parents were in the military. My dad was in the U.S. Army and so was my mom – that's how they met. My mom was still kind of against it but my dad was always pushing for me to go because its an experience. There's different people from all over the world that you get to meet. It's the same thing as soccer. We have so many international students from Spain, Germany, Ireland … it's just a different experience to experience culture from people of different countries and all around the states."
 
AS: "With your last year approaching, what are some of your plans for after graduation?"
AJ: "I'm an exercise science major, so if I can pursue something in the field – whether it be strength and conditioning or even personal training – I'd like to do that."
 
AS: "Before I let you go, I want you to rate some of your teammates outfits on a scale of 1-to-10. (First picture is of Marc Carreras.)
AJ: "Marc Carreras! I'm going to have to give my guy a 9."
AS: "Alright, next up. (Second picture is of Jordi Mola.)
AJ: "Jordi Mola! Definitely a 10. He loves to show his chest."
AS: "Alright. (Third picture is of Jayden Mace.)
AJ: "Ooh, Jayden Mace. I think I'm going to give that a 6, only because I know that his style is better than that picture portrays."
AS: "Next up. (Fourth picture is of Coach Daniel Ridenhour."
AJ: "Oh man! He might sit me on the bench a little bit but I'm going to have to give that a 2. It's a bold statement but I'm not entirely sure I'm rocking with it."
AS: "Last but not least. (Fifth picture is of Andreas Jackson.)
AJ: "Oh yeah! That's a 10! That's definitely a 10. That may be the best dressed guy on the team."
 
AS: "I really appreciate your time today and I appreciate you playing along."
AJ: "Thank you so much!"