Safety Marcus Ratcliffe made 12 starts in his first season as an Aggie, but he is making positive impacts both on the field in the SEC and off it with his charitable initiatives. In an exclusive sit-down, Ratcliffe spoke about his offseason focus, his "Mission 3:12" project and much more.

Key notes from Ratcliffe interview

• I think a year with Mike Elko and Coach Tommy Moffitt was the biggest jump. I came from a smaller school. The time with Moffitt elevated my ability. I got 100 times better. I knew I needed to work on that with the missed tackles or plays I could have made if I were stronger or faster. I made that happen this offseason.
   
• I was committed to UCLA out of the portal. A&M and Florida had offered. I'm a big competitor. To compete against the best, I had to be in the best conference. I came on the visit and loved it.
   
• Mentally, I can understand football and the schematics. I can set a defense and know the pieces. I think I'm strong in the run game. I can fill any gap. I think it was shown last year. I want to do anything a safety can do. That is something I have been focusing on is being more versatile.
   
• I really do think it was the offseason workouts, getting faster and stronger, to do everything across the board. I put my mind to it that I would go hard in the offseason. Those gains will allow me to be more versatile on the backend.
   
• It was three weeks into the portal when A&M offered me. When I went on a visit to UCLA, I committed. A&M offered one day, and Florida was an hour later. I visited A&M the week after. I visited and didn't visit Florida after. This is where I wanted to be.
   
• Jordan Shaw is definitely a really good nickel. He can play man, zone or play in the box. Corner-wise, Julio Humphrey is a great portal addition. Even some of the freshmen, like Rashad “Tom Tom” Johnson Jr., they have been grinding with us.
   
• The safety room, me, Dalton Brooks and Bryce Anderson, we are taking it to a whole other level. We prided ourselves on doing that with Ish Aristide. There is stuff we all left on the table. Will Lee III is going to do his thing and have a great year. Dezz Ricks is poised to have a great year as well.
   
• Cashius Howell is the leader of the defensive line. He is an absolute dawg. He gets back there so quick. He has some moves I've never seen. DJ Hicks, on the interior, will have a great year. The entire defense, we have everything it takes to be the top five in the country.
   
• The portal changed my college career. I was at Mountain West school. My goal is to go to the NFL. Starting in the SEC as a true sophomore, it was a true blessing.
   
• Elko has always been involved. He is a big safety guy. He is always around the defense. He has always been super involved.
   
• Elko is a funny guy. He will crack his jokes and get one in. He can seem very serious, but then he will make a joke at you.
   
• This is an elite group of receivers. Starting with KC Concepcion, I don't think there is anything he can't do. He can catch the 50-50s. His route running is really good. Mario Craver, off the top of my head, too... I didn't have to cover him last year. I am glad he is on my team.
   
• With Terry Bussey, you can put him anywhere. He is a fast, physical and complete weapon on offense.
   
• Amari Niblack causes a lot of problems for a defense. He is fast. He is also a tight end. You can't put just anyone on him. He is definitely a matchup problem.
   
• The tight ends are a variety. The transfer tight ends have been great. They are competing day in and day out. The safeties and tight ends are making each other better.
   
• The biggest difference with Marcel Reed is he knows it's his job and his team, and he can take it wherever we want to go. We support him, and we are behind him, and we are going to go far.
   
• The way we finished is personal. We were first in the SEC. We got chance after chance, and we didn't capitalize. I don't think there is a workout or practice where the end is not worth more than the beginning. Elko is trying to get our mind that the end is as important as anything else.
   
• Last year, I did Mission 3:12. For every turnover we force, there is a donation of $312 I send to World War II veterans to send them back to Normandy and visit there. I got to meet some of them, and they just took a trip there. I am planning to do that this year as well.

Click here to learn more about Mission 3:12