Aug. 18, 2008

SAN DIEGO -

The 11th in a daily series during fall camp, get to junior transfer defensive back Davion Mauldin (Compton, Calif.).

GoAztecs.com: What have been your overall impressions of camp so far?
Mauldin: It started off kind of crazy because we went to Camp Pendleton. I wasn't really sure what to expect when we got there, and we ended up sleeping in the barracks and eating in the mess halls. But so far it's been pretty good and I'm just working hard right now.

GoAztecs.com: How was your experience at Family Day?
Mauldin: Family Day was a lot of fun. The best part for me was signing autographs for all the little kids there and seeing how happy they were just to see San Diego State players no matter what our previous record was or who we are playing this year. They were just happy to see us.

GoAztecs.com: What has been the biggest adjustment you've had to make in the transition from junior college to Division I?
Mauldin: It's a little bit faster. Some teams in the junior college ranks can keep up a little bit, but the biggest thing is learning a new system. This is the fourth school I've been to in four years, so it's something different for me every year and one of the adjustments I've had to make is learning the new terminology.

GoAztecs.com: What did you do on your day off from practice?
Mauldin: Slept. I got a lot of extra sleeping and eating in.

GoAztecs.com: Talk about your situation growing up in southern California, but going to high school in Las Vegas (Cimarron-Memorial HS).
Mauldin: I'm from Compton, Calif., originally. I moved to Las Vegas when I was a sophomore and graduated from high school over there. My mom and my brother are in Vegas now, but the rest of my family is still in Compton.

GoAztecs.com: Who is the best player you've either played with or against?
Mauldin: One of the best players I've played with is our defensive tackle who is (at San Diego State) now, Neil Spencer. I went to high school with him. He was the same way he is now in the weight room and on the field. The best player I've played against is DeMarco Murray, a running back at the University of Oklahoma.

GoAztecs.com: Do you have any superstitions?
Mauldin: I don't know if it's really a superstition, but every game I tape my wrist and I write 'rest in peace' to my uncle Dante Brown who passed away in 2005. I dedicate every game to him.

GoAztecs.com: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Mauldin: I'm really family oriented. Back home I like to spend time with my cousins and my little brother, so whatever they want to do I just go along with them, whether it be playing basketball or going to the movies. I like to do everything with them.

GoAztecs.com: What did you do over the summer?
Mauldin: I actually spent my summer here. I came to SDSU in the beginning of June to work out with the players. We got in some 7-on-7 and some work in the weight room.

GoAztecs.com: What is your major? Career aspirations?
Mauldin: Right now my major is business. I want to stay in business accounting where I can pursue my CPA, but I still want to help people so I may look into being a part-time or volunteer firefighter.

GoAztecs.com: Did you play any other sports in high school?
Mauldin: I ran track in high school. My sophomore year I ran the 400 and 800 and my senior year I ran the 100, 200 and 400.

GoAztecs.com: Who was your role model when you were growing up?
Mauldin: My grandmother and my mother. Both of them raised me together and they are the reason I am where I am today. They taught me respect and I learned everything from them.

GoAztecs.com: What is your most memorable high school football moment?
Mauldin: I would say my entire senior year. Before that year, my uncle passed away and I dedicated the whole season to him. I ended up moving to quarterback that year and we went 12-2, which was the best record the school had in a couple years.

Stay tuned for another question and answer session later today featuring freshman offensive tackle Brian Milholland.