JONESBORO -- Robert Mondie trudged off the Arkansas State practice field Wednesday a little sore and covered in sweat.
The defensive tackle's shoulder "popped out" during a competition drill that day, defensive line coach Brian Early said, and in heat that approached 100 degrees, the senior's still working his way back into playing shape. But at least he's on the field, a prospect that seemed slim at best just a couple of weeks ago.
As grueling as fall camp can be in the August heat, Mondie wouldn't want to be any place else.
"I was missing it from Day One," Mondie said. "I just wanted to be out here."
There was a time this summer that Mondie's mind had moved past football and onto the real world. He and ASU had filed paperwork to the NCAA not long after its New Orleans Bowl loss in December to apply for a sixth year of eligibility based on family situations that occurred when he first enrolled at Coahoma (Miss.) Community College. But by spring, they had yet to hear from the NCAA, so he missed spring practice and moved home to Memphis in the summer, preparing to move on with his life.
He started working with his father, who owns a cleaning service, and as an apprentice in a tattoo shop.
"I always had hope and faith and was praying about it," he said. "But, life goes on. So I did go on and started working and just focused on other parts of my life."
He made one last call in late July, but Coach Blake Anderson told him he hadn't heard anything. Then, a few days later, he got the news: the NCAA had granted his sixth year and he was good to go. Anderson said during ASU's media day Aug. 3 that Mondie still had an academic hurdle to clear before being eligible for games, but Mondie said Wednesday that's been taken care of, too.
On Sept. 2, he'll be on the field with ASU when it opens the season against Toledo, a reality that causes a wide smile to spread across his face as he considers playing one more season with his younger brother, ASU center Devin Mondie.
"Excited," said Robert Mondie, who helped ASU trim 50 yards off of its opponents' per game rushing total from 2014 to 2015. "As soon as they told me, I was here the next day."
Early spoke with Mondie at times during the summer, and said he could tell the process was frustrating. But now that Mondie's returned, Early senses a positive attitude sparked by the gift of another senior season.
"He feels like somebody who had just been in prison that was accused of something he didn't do and he's been let out," Early said. "He should have a really good perspective."
Defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen said he moved on, thinking he wouldn't have Mondie as part of his line this season. Cauthen said he had no choice but to prepare as if Mondie was done, but he is excited to have another unexpected playmaker.
"He's hard to block, now," Cauthen said. "All you have to do is ask Missouri. He had a great game against Missouri. We're going to be really good inside."
Now, the real work begins.
While not on scholarship, Mondie couldn't work out with his ASU teammates through the winter, spring or summer. He said he tried to stay in shape by working out by himself at home, but it didn't have the same effect. He's not as far behind as he thought he would be, but he's not near game shape.
"We're going to have him ready to go," Early said.
It'll be easy considering who he'll be working with.
ASU lost only defensive end Chris Stone and tackle Chuks Ota off last year's line. The Red Wolves added Dee Liner, a tackle who sat out last season after transferring from Alabama. Mondie, who had 24 tackles and 4½ for a loss in 10 games last year, knows he'll have to compete for his old job, but that's fine with him considering he has one more year in a uniform.
"It's just part of it," he said. "Competition, that's the best part about football. It's just going to make us better. I'm working to get where I need to be, and I've got some good guys around me that I've got to compete with."
Sports on 08/12/2016