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Bowl Bound Q&A: Joe Giles-Harris
12/19/2017 12:10:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – With the Duke football team in full preparation mode for the Quick Lane Bowl, redshirt sophomore linebacker Joe Giles-Harris spoke with GoDuke.com about the upcoming trip to Detroit and his All-America year with the Blue Devils.
Giles-Harris leads the Blue Devils in tackles (117) and tackles for loss (15.0) while adding 4.5 sacks, one interception, four pass breakups and seven quarterback pressures. He has been named to four All-America teams, including second team selections by the Walter Camp Foundation and CBS Sports.
GoDuke.com: We're approaching National Signing Day, which has shifted to December 20. What are some of your National Signing Day memories that stand out?
Joe Giles-Harris: “I think the biggest one was waking up excited about the opportunity that I was going to have being able to come to Duke. Just seeing my parents' faces and how excited they were was another big one.”
GoDuke.com: What is one of the biggest differences you've experienced on the field between last year and this year?
JGH: “My confidence. It definitely rose. I can thank the 10 other guys on the defense for that. They helped me develop that confidence and that helped me get it better. Being out there and being able to play with people like them, it just made it easy to play football and be myself.”
GoDuke.com: You were recently named the Duke Carmen Falcone Team MVP. What does that award mean to you?
JGH: “It was definitely special. But like I said, it could have been any other person on this team. The guys on defense helped me out a lot. We play off each other well. I say all the time I was the lucky one this year. I made a couple more plays than other people, but I thank them for it.”
GoDuke.com: With the team departing this week for the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, what is one thing you're looking forward to seeing in Detroit?
JGH: “I've never been to Detroit so I'm just excited to take it all in. I just want to take in the city and see what it has to offer.”
GoDuke.com: What is the most exciting part about playing the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field, an NFL stadium?
JGH: “It's an NFL stadium. You don't get to play in those too much. That's definitely one of the things I'm excited for. See what it's like. Just being able to look up, look at the lights, look at the stands. It's going to be an exciting experience.”
GoDuke.com: What are the differences playing indoors?
JGH: “It's no different. You just have to show up and play. Whether you're indoors or outdoors, or on top of a roof somewhere, you've got to show up and play football.”
GoDuke.com: This will be the first bowl game you have started. What are you most looking forward to about getting that start in a postseason game?
JGH: “The excitement around it. I was a redshirt the last time we played in a bowl, so it's exciting to finally get there and play in one and see what it's about. It's almost like a rivalry game; it has that much excitement around it.”
GoDuke.com: What does it mean to be spending the holidays on the road with the team?
JGH: “It's fun. It's not my first time so I know how things work, but it'll definitely be fun. We're a family here so it's like being at home a little bit. We're a family so I'm going to enjoy it.”
GoDuke.com: What does it mean to have this time and one more game with this group of seniors?
JGH: “It's definitely exciting. We worked hard for it, we had our backs against the wall. Everybody locked arms and fought tough and now we have another game with them. All of the seniors, I've learned a lot from them these past couple years. It's definitely going to be an exciting time.”
GoDuke.com: How important are these bowl practices to you and the team?
JGH: “It's definitely a very good experience. You start to get reps. For most of the season, you might not get a lot of reps, being a redshirt, being on scout team. But these extra practices, you get more reps and you get to see how you've developed over the year. That's the biggest thing. Then you get to look at what you need to work on for the upcoming spring.”
GoDuke.com: What have you been filling your time between the regular season and the bowl game with?
JGH: “I've been studying for finals and watching movies.”
GoDuke.com: What is a favorite holiday memory you have with your family?
JGH: “It's too hard to just pick one, but I enjoy our Christmas dinners. Christmas dinner and Christmas breakfast. It's always a good time. Everybody's around, everyone's smiling and everyone's happy.”
GoDuke.com: Who is going to receive your Fat Head gift from the bowl game?
JGH: “My mom already claimed that. I didn't have a choice, she already said that's hers. It'll be nice. She already has one of my younger brother so it'll go right up next to his.”
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