“Since I was a kid I feel like I was leading by my actions in the classroom and took that into the weight room: be there early and get in extra work after we’re done and afterwards go to the training room,” he said. “Getting there early and getting your body right while getting in the extra work.”
The coaching staff has asked the upperclassman to have a more vocal presence with his team this season as well.
“I feel like just leading by my actions has done a lot of the talking for me in the past but being more vocal on the field is something I’ve been working on,” he added.
Along with an increased vocal presence on the team, what is also new to Diggs is the fast-paced style of offense the first-year head coach Mack brings to KSU.
“I had never been in an offense that runs tempo the way we do,” he said. “It’s different. It’s hard to explain without playing in it. But we go very fast and defenses are going to be tired.”
With Mack coming to Kennesaw State after being a running backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and bringing running backs coach Aston Walter onto his staff, Diggs sees increased opportunity for his own growth as a player.
“Having Mack and his mind in the building, it trickles down to the position coaches too,” he mentioned. “They know what they're doing, when you're asked to do something you know it's coming from a place of experience. They've been here before and understand what they're talking about. Coach Walter played the position, he understands it from the field and that's huge for us.”
And like seeing 4.0 GPA’s in the classroom, he’s excited about seeing a tired defense on the field.
“When you’re a running back and you’re set, you see the defense with their hands on their knees, tired, still trying to get ready – it’s awesome,” he commented. “You just want to get the ball, hit the hole and go score.”
Scoring is not new to the former Georgia Region 4-AAAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year, who collected 24 touchdowns and over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a senior for the Brookwood Broncos.
“I knew I had to have a big year and I came in and did my thing,” he said. “They needed me at receiver and I led the state of Georgia in receiving yards as a running back.”
Brookwood advanced to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs in his senior campaign, a year after the COVID-shortened 2020 season where he realized playing Division I college football was potentially in his future.
“Before COVID, coaches were talking to me about switching to defense but then going into my junior year I showed what I could do on offense and it was starting to catch on,” he said. “I know what I’m doing and I know what I need to do as a running back and receiver.”
Diggs grew up as a running back and tried linebacker but being on offense was where he found the most joy.
“I love scoring touchdowns,” he added.
His love for football began at 5 years of age, mentioning “I have plenty of pictures of me as a baby holding a football and it’s just been something I’ve always loved to do.”
The running back looks to take another big step forward in his career playing the game he loves in 2025
“I want to win every game and win the conference; I shoot for the stars,” he explained. “I’m not going to sell myself short because I know the preparation I put into myself and my body: it’s just my mindset. We’re in the summer taking it day-by-day, maximizing each day and once we get into the season, maximizing each game. Being where my feet are.”
And that success is built on the principles he applies in the classroom.
