Tacoi Sumler isn’t very tall — he’s listed at 5-foot-9 @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205238566&Q_SEASON=2012@@, and that might be generous — and when he talks he still embodies the unassuming pose of a college freshman. Yet both on the field and in his personal life, he’s progressed far beyond what he was upon first arriving in Eugene. Though the transition from his hometown of Miami to Oregon was, in his words, “real rough,” he quickly found support in fellow wide receivers like Josh Huff and Eric Dungy. Now, after redshirting for the 2011 season, he’s ready to show off his improvements during Saturday’s spring game. The Emerald spoke with Sumler on Wednesday outside of Autzen Stadium after Oregon’s last spring practice session.
So now that spring practices are over, how do you feel like you’ve improved overall? 
Spring practice was a big step for me. I feel like I stepped up a lot, and so did the whole team. As a receiving crew we got better this spring, and I’m proud of that. So we’re just going to keep moving on.
What do you feel like you personally improved on the most?
Personally, I just got better at being a good blocker, and just being a better team player — making plays for my teammates, setting picks for my teammates, making sure that I’m not the only one open, but I make sure I get the other person open too.
The blocking is obviously a big part of Oregon’s offense. Is that something you had to get used to? It probably wasn’t as much of a focus in high school.
It was still a focus, but then again, you’re not blocking 6-foot-1 corners in high school most of the time. Blocking the best corners here, at the University of Oregon, is just going to get us better for all the other teams, you know? And it just got me better overall.
Having redshirted this year, do you feel like that helped you in your development? 
Yeah, the redshirt year definitely gave me some time to get it all together and get in my college mindset.
Speaking of the college mindset, how has your adjustment to Oregon been? You’re from Miami so it might have been a big adjustment for you coming here. 
It’s been rough. It started out real rough, but when you got teammates like Josh Huff and Eric Dungy, people like that take you in as family, then it makes it a lot better, it makes it easier. It’s just adapting then.
What was rough about it for you? 
It’s a big change from Miami to Oregon. And I’m far from my family, but just like I told you, I’ve got Josh Huff and Eric Dungy; that’s like family — Christian French — people that came from a long ways just like me, and they just treat me like family.
And was that a relationship that got started right away? 
Josh Huff, on my official visit, I knew that was going to be like my big brother figure. And Christian French, as soon as I got here we just started connecting. You know, you just gotta start making connections, and after that, it’s just growing to a family type of base.
Aside from the weather, what’s the biggest difference between living here and back home?
The biggest difference? There is no difference.
Really?
It’s the same thing. I mean, Miami was a high-paced type of environment but besides weather, it’s basically the same thing. You just gotta keep your mind straight.
What do you like doing outside of football?
Bowling. Yeah, I’m actually an all-state bowler. We just had a bowling tournament two weeks ago, and I had the two highest scores: 207 and, like, a 189.
That’s pretty impressive. What about music? What kind of music are you into?
Mostly just rap music. Maybe some old-school hits from my dad. I listen to The Temptations, Al Green and all different type of old-school people my dad listened to.
Any hip-hop you’re particularly into right now?
Not really. When I turn on the radio, whatever’s on, I listen to it.
Besides bowling, are there any other sports you’re into?
Oh yeah. I played basketball. I was a top scorer in Florida for basketball in AAU for like three years, and then I ran track. I was one of the fastest people.