DeKALB | The life of a Huskie football player involves long practices, trips to different cities and locker room jams — from themed music days to celebratory songs, the players have their favored choices of music.

On game day, the Huskies will listen to music while they get ready in the locker room.

“Everybody gets ready for football games differently,” said Kenny Golladay, redshirt senior wide receiver.

Golladay said one of the players will usually hook their phone up to the auxiliary cord and play music over the big, locker room speakers. Some players, such as Golladay, listen to what is being played over the speakers, however, others will listen to their own music through headphones.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Graham is one of the players who does both.

“In the locker room I usually listen to what’s over the speakers,” Graham said. “But on the bus ride over here, I’ll listen to my own stuff.”

Most of the music the players listen to over the speakers in the locker room is rap music. Rappers the team likes to listen to include Young Thug, YFN Lucci and Gucci Mane, Golladay said. He said many of his teammates like the same kind of music and artists.

However, not all of the players have the same taste in specific artists. Senior tailback Joel Bouagnon said he likes to listen to rappers Boosie Badazz and Jay Z.

There are also players on the team who listen to genres other than rap, specifically on Wednesdays. He explained on these days the players who listen to country put on music from that genre and play it through the speakers.

“We have country Wednesdays sometimes,” Graham said.

Graham said when he listens to his own music before a game, he listens to alternative artists like Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot and NEEDTOBREATHE.

The Huskie’s locker room music hasn’t changed much in recent years. The artists the team listens to have stayed stagnant, but the songs change throughout the seasons, Golladay said.

“Since I’ve been here at least, we listen to the same people, they just come out with new music, you know, as the season’s going,” Golladay said.

The team tends to listen to the most recent and popular songs by their favorite artists, said Golladay.

Some of the music that the players listen to helps them concentrate for practice, while other music helps them get excited for a game. The mood of the music that gets played on the speakers in the locker room changes as it gets closer to the game.

“When it comes down to game time, like you need some good songs,” Bouagnon said. “They [are going to] be just the right touch of concentration and like getting you pumped, getting you ready to go.”

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Graham will be the starting quarterback for the Huskies home opener 2:30 p.m. Saturday against San Diego State University (2-0) after season starter Drew Hare injured his ankle and knee, Head Coach Rod Carey said in a Northern Star article published Tuesday. The Huskies will be looking for their first win and if they win, they have a celebratory song. The team likes to play “Grove St. Party” by Waka Flocka Flame featuring Kebo Gotti, in the locker room, Graham said.