Up close: Evan Landi

Posted Sep 10, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Sep 10, 2012 at 10:24 PM

A continuing series that spotlights the personalities of USF football players. Today, it’s senior TE Evan Landi.

Future Plans: “I want to be a college football coach. I’d like to grab a graduate assistant job somewhere, then work my way up through the ranks, become an assistant coach and go from there. Football has been my life. I’ve had a lot of coaches who have had a major impact on my life. I’d like to do that for another athlete.’‘

Earliest Athletic Memory: “Probably playing pickup football in the cul-de-sac with friends, back in the day. Maybe I was about 7 years old. I got into flag football. I was actually one of the smaller, faster ones.’‘

Favorite Sports Teams: Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, Miami Marlins, Miami Heat. “Basically anything South Florida. That’s where I’m from. I’m a hometown guy.’’

Favorite Athletes: Dan Marino. “Of course, one of the Dolphin greats and I started out playing quarterback.’’ LeBron James. “Amazing athlete for how big he is. I loved seeing him get a ring.’’ Aaron Hernandez. “Not like your traditional tight end. He does a lot of good stuff in space. I try to emulate him.’’

Best Thing I’ve Done In Sports: “You always have doubters coming out of high school. They say, ‘Why you going there? Why are playing this sport?’ Sometimes, they just question your ability. Just coming to USF and contributing the way I have, I’ve been really fortunate. And I think I’ve proven some of the naysayers wrong.’’

Favorite Entertainers: “The whole cast from ‘The Hangover.’ ‘’

Favorite Movies: “Wow, so many. ‘Friday Night Lights’ or ‘The Hangover’ or ‘Superbad’ or ‘The Dark Knight’ or ‘The Hunger Games.’ And I like any kind of funny movie.’’

Favorite TV Show: “Well, if it’s not on ESPN … maybe it’s ‘The Big Bang Theory’ or some of the stuff on the History Channel.’’

Favorite Class At USF: Introduction to Psychology. “It didn’t pertain to my major, but I learned a lot about all the different ways people analyze things and how to read body language. It has been really interesting to see that in a team environment.’’

Favorite Food: Chicken wings.

Favorite Music: Rap, Hip-Hop, Country. “On game day, it’s more Rap and Hip-Hop.’’

Dream Vacation Spot: Hawaii. “I’ve never been.’’

Most Impressive Person I’ve Ever Met: “My sister, Justine. She went to Louisville, played volleyball and got three Big East title rings. Her goal was set on becoming a doctor, going to med school. She took two years off and played pro volleyball overseas. She just got accepted into Louisville’s med school. For her to obtain all the goals she set for herself, that taught me never to get complacent or relaxed. I look up to her.’’

Someone In History I’d Like To Meet: Lee Roy Selmon. “Obviously, a lot of people knew him around Tampa, but I never really sat down and talked to him. That’s a shame. I never really knew the impact he had around here until he was gone. A lot of us wouldn’t even be here at USF if it wasn’t for him. I wish I could sit down with him and just pick his brain.’’

My Parents: Mike and Dee Landi. “I admire the sacrifices they made. My grandfather started a family owned metal spray-painting business. My dad took it and ran with it. But he would drop everything to come and watch my sister or I play sports. Then he’d go back to work. My mom would load us up and run us across town, wherever we needed to go, even if it wasn’t convenient for her. It taught me that they loved us enough to work hard and make sacrifices.’’

Where I’ll Be In 10 Years: “Hopefully, coaching football at a BCS school. That’s my dream.’’

Something People Don’t Know About Me: “It has been talked about before, but I got heavily into hockey, even as a kid who lived in South Florida. I got offered a spot in the Ontario Hockey League (Canadian juniors). There was a time I dreamed about playing in the NHL, but I realized my football dream was bigger. I guess my hockey background is somewhat unusual.’’