Press Conference (Dawand Jones) Elite Edition September 3

0:00I ain't bad, yeah, I do, you know, I'm all talking about it but you do y'all think. Hey, my name is Dwarren Jones and I'm here to talk about how my diet impacts my trainer. The philosophy behind my diet is just to have lots of edgies, a big broccoli and spinach. That's a big spinach guy. I would say hot on protein too, you know, lean protein at that. So chicken, grill shrimp, my daily schedule for my diet. I wake up and get to the facility normally, I give me about two eggs or three eggs. Turkey bacon, probably a little bit of wheat toast during the football season. You know, we're doing a hard training in the morning, whether it's lifting and then after no time, we're going to yell in the field, you know, hitting and banging. The next step, you know, after practice, you know, you're most likely starving and so, you know, I feel like I kind of like fill myself up a little bit more. I normally go to see the salad with a little bit of ranch.

1:02I go with a bison burger, you know, it's kind of not the same as a beef patty, it takes off. Like I said, calories off your diet, it definitely has a lot. Dinner, I normally wrap up with grilled chicken, matcha tails and broccoli half a time, you know, it's like one of my go-to's. My pre-workout foods, I try to eat some predsuits, you know, it has a little bit of carbs on there, so it gets my body started. I know everybody's different, but for sure works out for me. And then after, I don't just do a shake, I feel like I took a diet too full before lunch, so I definitely just do a shake, you know, after practice or after lift, you know, just to make sure, you know, I'm getting a protein and just getting everything back that while I'm still working out. All right, it's time for some rapid fire questions. Do I count my macros? I tried to, you know, you're supposed to eat brown, for me, it's like 2,500 to 3,000 calories, so I definitely try to make sure I'm accumulating on every day until, you know, how much I need this day and that day, because you know, sometimes, you know, my appetite's kind of different depending on how I'm on my days. My favorite carbs, for sure, I have to eat one of my favorite foods is french fries,

2:05and so, you know, it kind of definitely plays a hurt in my diet. For sure, breakfast, you know, it's my favorite meal, so it knows the easiest thing to make. If I did my piece of crust to anything, it has to be cheese or, you know, I thought you could go wrong with either one. I eat in bed, yeah, well I do, you know, I'm a big guy, you know, I'm not a friend of you, but for sure, where I'm at, I'm all talking about it, but, you know, you do the whole thing. My dream taco, I think, is just normal bread tacos, you know, it's pretty good. I wanted to say that this guy is in the protein, am I paying? You know, sometimes it gets just a little gritty, and you know, once she makes it that well, I think it really helps out the shake a lot. I just want to say, just work hard to stay dedicated to whatever you're doing, everything is not going to be all right sometimes, but, you know, it's going to be all right half the time, but, you know, it's going to work out at the end. Yeah, and that pissed us off too, they're getting them three points up, but, you know,

3:09we're really excited for the opportunity to, you know, hopefully get one of those this year. Yeah. Jack, how did you see Grown just in the last several months? What do you see about him from this Irish standpoint? I was asking him, it's kind of a boss-last, you have to have a Penn State game everywhere ahead of you. Yeah, I say so. But we're surprised. I mean, we're surprised that, definitely I get going into this season. Yeah, I mean, he's just, you know, JT is just, you know, he's taking that next step. He's super focused in, you know, this whole offseason, we've been really douting and trying to pinpoint stuff that we can get better at, you know, and specifically attacking it and really trying to, you know, focus in and get better on those things. I think that he has. He looks great, you know, this whole fall camp leading up to this game so far, this game prep week. So he's definitely taking, you know, huge strides. And, you know, I think a lot of people would give him unfair criticism too because they do all expect him to have a Penn State game every game, which is, you know, I just want to the best of you for the game to end with ever played. So it's unfair to say that, but he's been consistently one of the best of you for the Call of Football if you turn on the tape.

4:11So I'm really excited to get out there with him this year and, you know, we're going to have a go by that. You move the expectations for both of you guys. You all came in. Yeah. You feel like this is the year it comes to fruition from the standpoint of dominance. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if that word, you know, what's your sense of that? Yeah. I mean, no, that's something that we talked about. I think that's something all four of us and, you know, really eight of us on the D-line talking about is, you know, being dominant. You know, there's no ceiling to how good we can be this year. You know that it's all about us going out there and doing it. You know, we can talk about it all day, but until we go out there and do it, you know, it doesn't mean a damn thing. So, you know, we're all excited to get out there. And we're hungry. And, you know, I've seen this at a different level of determination, you know, to chase greatness. And I've seen this in that bin here. So, you know, like I said, we're just, you know, we just can't wait for Saturday. I know the question. You never know. Yeah. Yeah. You're playing a team here. If you play with your dad, you get a couple of amount of effort. You know, playing Notre Dame this year, definitely. Yeah. What's the challenge when you, you know, we're playing an opponent's coming in our house in the

5:11shoe this week. We only get eight shots left in the shoe. And we got to make everyone of them count and act for it's a good football team. You know, good, good head coach. I believe he was the offensive coordinator for Oregon when they beat us here in my freshman year. You know, so they're going to be well coach. You're going to run their offense well and, you know, play good defense. So, to us, you know, in coach day only says never about our opponents always about us. You know, if we're executing on the high level and playing fast and physical, then, you know, things will take care of itself. So, we got good opponent, Akron, and you know, works out of playing the Saturday. You're on here only on this, actually, felt like, you know, there's a more big issue. It's more of an emphasis on our dynamic play. You know, on the against playing, you guys playing more sound, I guess. Yeah. The sort of thing this year, General just talked about opening up, opening up, again, running more brushes. It's not needed to help you are playing along the beat and defliners. Is there more of an emphasis on attacking the line of experiments playing the rest of the game?

6:13Yeah, and I think that, uh, I think that, uh, you know, huge, emphasis, this fall camp and lead up to this season is to, you know, kind of let us play more downhill, more free with less thinking. So, I think that's been great, honestly, the last few weeks and, you know, in the camp as well. And so, you know, I think that we are going to, you guys are going to see a more downhill team. And, you know, more of us coming off the edge, we're going to have a lot of guys all want to see. So, I think that, you know, we're really excited to go out there and, you know, and, and, and roll it out there and play. So, you know, we're really excited for that. Have you seen science either yet that you walked in on that plane? No, I haven't watched it yet. I got no comment on that. Where do you feel like you've grown the most personally from where you were in your year? Um, I think that this off season was big for me and, and, uh, you know, give my body right. Um, I think that, you know, I don't really like to talk about myself, but I think that I'm a little more exposed than I was maybe in years past. And, uh, I was really excited, um, for the work that we put in. I think all of us have grown so many different areas with our hands and hips across the defensive line.

7:15So, um, you know, like I said, just, just super excited for Saturday. What do you want to do more playing as your body? I just, I just want to get a little more leaner, uh, you know, really work on that and, and I just work on my technique, you know, my stance, my get off and stuff like that of that nature, for the defensive line. So, I think that I have, and I'm, you know, I'm excited to put on put on the field center. Jack, what's the big difference between the guys sitting in the chair right now and fresh face kid that came in four years ago? I don't like on the field stuff that you learned, but off the field that maybe even translated to on the field. Yeah, I think that when you come in here and, you know, you're an 18 year old kid just leaving high school that there's a ton of things you can learn, you know, just as becoming a man and, and on the field and the woody as well. And that's why I tell all these young kids now that, you know, you have to make the main thing the main thing, make people the main thing. You know, and everything else will take care of itself. So, I think that, you know, coming in as we were all highly recruited to, you know, didn't help with our expectations and how it really, how it really goes.

8:15And the first game here. So, I think that, you know, when you get, you're used to starting to plan 80 staffs of games, you're five years old when you first get here. You know, you don't really see the field much as a freshman kind of, it kind of takes you back a little bit. But, you know, the growth that we've all had, you know, we're all just laughing about that. Actually, it's a great question because me and Tyler, you can JT, we watch the field bus from our freshman year, we're like, holy shit. But we came a long way. You know what I mean? So, you know, it's been good. Being able to, you know, grow up with those guys and, you know, see the maturity level that we've all grown to from our freshman year on the football field. And, you know, it's funny that it comes full circle. So, it's been awesome. So, phenomenal. Thank you guys. Have a good one. We're coming back. You were the only one who made that decision before the concert. What was it like from your perspective behind the scenes as all the dominoes are falling on as all these other guys on the defense are coming back from the year? Yeah, I know. That was definitely a weird time, you know, for, I guess, fans. But, you know, I talked with a lot of coaches and I felt like, you know, there was stuff we needed to, you know, come back for.

9:27Like, we had some unfinished business. I know that's the term people use. But, you know, I think everybody realized that, you know, there's more to give here. And, you know, I commend all the players who did come back because I know those are tough decisions. You know, you could be a first round pick and you decide to come back for your brothers. And I think that's, it's spoke to the brotherhood that we have here, you know, the guys are being selfless and they work out suck. Well, like, everything sucks. But, like, you go through that together. And so, that's what really makes that bond between teammates. And, you know, I can't thank my teammates enough because they could have been, they could have been in, you know, Lucas Olis, they named him last week and doing their own things. But, you know, they made a decision to be there for their teammates and the young guys and to carry on the legacy of how to stay. I'm used to, he's super, super athletic and he knows the game really well. So, I think he's coming to the role really well. I mean, obviously we're in practice too.

10:27So, you know, there's a lot more to go, but he's coming into the role really well. We've always joked about it because he's heavier than half the linebackers in the room, but, you know, for him, he can play really any position he wants. He's that dynamic as a player and, you know, really it's for my job as physically just to keep up with him because he's the most athletic on the field. So, he's a super talented player and he works really hard too, so that goes really well together. What do you've waited a long time for this chance to be the guy's daughter? How much do you say bring in, how much do you want to take advantage of us? You know, that's a big thing. You know, you want to appreciate those moments that come because they really are fleeting and, you know, it's only, like, after being here for five years now, it's like, every day goes by so much faster. And, you know, you want to appreciate these moments and, you know, I don't really want to read into it as much because I've prepared every day like I was the guy. And, like, no matter what's anything that can happen in a game, you know, and like all the stuff has come out from last year, but like, guys can get hurt and it's your job.

11:33And, you know, I feel like I've prepared since my freshman year to be able to contribute. And, so right now, I'm not taking it too hard, but like, I understand the moment and I want to embrace it. I think in middle line, that particular special thing about me and that part of it, how much the responsibility part would be, and how much do you, you know, and it really takes seriously, really seriously. No, I love having that on my shoulders. I love being the guy that people look to for help. And, and I want to be able to lead these guys. And, and I can say I've been preparing my whole life, like, even since I was young, like, my brother. Like, we always try to be that first guy in the room that, like, the loudest, you know, the most, the most vocal and the most responsible, you know. And so I think all those little intangibles playing and playing a mic here, and it all helps. When you say unfinished business, what are the biggest things in your mind that you need to accomplish this year that you haven't so far? Yeah, I mean, right now, we don't want to look too far in the future, but our goals, you know, always to beat Tim and North, always to big 10 championship, and we want to win the whole thing.

12:39So those goals have never really changed. And, you know, that we haven't done it in a lot in years. That's why that's the unfinished business for us. Cody, how do you describe your relationship with Coach Knowles? He always says that he kind of wants to be on the field like through time. Yeah. How do you guys kind of go about each other in the rules of training? Yeah, know, Coach Knowles is a great guy, even. He can still contest that. But, you know, I think as we, as I've grown and been here longer with him, you understand his mindset and how he wants us to, he doesn't want us to stress while we're on the field. So he puts that stress on us in practice, and he wants us to get it right. And he knows that we're not perfect, but he knows that as long as we are pushing towards it, and every day we're getting better, and we're working on our new techniques, you know, he's always positive. And I mean, sometimes he can get a little negative, but you take that. It's constructive criticism, you know, and that's something we develop as players. And you take the yelling because you know the message behind it. He wants you to get it right in the game.

13:41So he's going to get on you because at the most important is the game because every play is so important for us. Do you change your server truly, do you replace players? No, never, never. I've never seen the person ever like steel, and I'm happy I don't because he's hilarious. When you looked your, from your bandage point, describe that front four that's at front of you right now, the veterans, hey, how would you describe it? I say all even more than the four, but they're all just dominant. Like the physical hand violence speed. They're probably fast and most align backers, and you know, they're just super physical. And you know, they've gone through so much here too, and I think they're really good players. That's what I'm saying. Does it show up more in the game than they've been around? Oh yeah, yeah. How does that show up front four? You know, experience is definitely like you got guys, it's tough, like playing with, playing strong with your hands is tough. And like it's something you develop in college, and you know, I'd say probably the best in the country we have with our hand violence at upfront and with a knockback.

14:50And it shows up in the games and on film, and I think they're exceptional at that stuff. The first two days, you'll have a really great footballing at it, right? Yeah. You're keeping your eye on, I mean, all the defensive side. Some people aren't talking about right now. On office? No, the defensive side can make a rise. Oh, there's a lot of players. Give me one guy, man. You want a young guy or old guy? I mean, I'm always going to push for my guys from Jersey. I think Bonsu and McLean have played really well these first two days, and I'm really excited for them, because they're really like hometown guys. And I think the competitiveness here has helped them a lot. And you know, they're really coming up in the bucket. You put enough jobs in the bucket and you continue to do it. You'll look back over time and you'll have a full bucket. So it's that kind of mindset that we're coming into practices. You might not see yourself getting necessary to get better. It's like working out. You don't go in the mirror after a workout and see yourself getting stronger. But you have the faith and the trust that you continue to put days in.

15:51You'll look back and nothing will be the same. You'll be a better team. For better or for worse, if you're not putting the work in, you'll look back and you won't be where you want to be. So I believe that I'm confident that this team has put the work in. We show up weekend and week out. We put jobs in the bucket. And we're going to be able to reap that this weekend. Both Brandon and Cody kind of parlaying off the board. She's going to make a change and trying to kind of feel different if you will. Especially when you're on the track with that aspect. They said that you guys have been playing with the work these practice. They have a lot of work to catch this weekend. Coach Cody said maybe that started last week before Iowa. Your thoughts on how you guys move back? I think going back to this foundation, I think going back to this foundation, I think that's another team. We believe that we're built on toughness. It's one thing to say, but I believe that we show up weekend and week out when we show toughness. But to your point last week, I believe there was position groups that were challenged. Not necessarily taking a personal, but just challenged to practice harder.

16:51Let's see how hard can we practice. And so I think ever since then there has been another step that we've taken. But that's the whole goal. I mean, I hope in two, three weeks from now there's even another step that we take forward for where we are now. That's just the evolution of getting better as a team. And I think one thing I've noticed with this football team is I think every single week we play, we've continues to get better. But I mean, that's just life, right? I mean, anything you continue to do, you have the hopes to continue to get better at it. But I think we're seeing that here with this football team as well. I think when we talked to you in camp, you said you were excited about how you guys are going to run the ball this year. And obviously, yeah. Have you done that? At what point did it become clear to you guys were going to be able to kind of hang your hat on the ball the way you are now? I just think we're such a balanced offense. I think this kind of going against our team, especially in specificity against our offense. I think there's just too many things you have to respect. You've got to respect the perimeter and you have to respect the run game. You have to respect the stretch and the inside zone, all the different things that we can do, putting the ball over the field in perimeter or even taking shots down the field.

17:52You have to respect some of the things that just leaves gaps in the ability to gash the ball for six and seven and eight yards. So I guess to answer your questions, the more dynamic wherever to be on the perimeter, the more we're able to connect when we hit on shots, I think the better it's going to be able to open up the run game as well. But I think Coach Kelly and Coach Day they do an amazing job just putting us in the right position and we don't have to think about that kind of stuff. We just awful mindset is 4 to 6, 8 to V plus 2 to play as hard and as violent as we can. And we'll look at the scoreboard at the end of the game and see where we are. Is that balance the best you've had in here? How would you guys characterize the balance of the ball? Yeah, I just think I don't know, I don't want to sum up. I don't want to compare, but I think we're just a very balanced team. I don't, I don't, it's not much weakness. Now, when I say that, we still have the humility to know that we must continue to be better weekend and week out. But when I just look at our team as a whole, I don't just see like, let's go pick on this guy because this guy can't do X, Y, Z or we can leave him.

18:57I think we have 11 guys on both side of the ball that are able to be dynamic and the physical and strong players. And I think we're just a complete team. But again, I say that with humility. We want to continue to weekend and week out be the best team. We know we have to show up because on any given week you can lose. So we show up every week with the intentions that it's a national championship. So today's talk a lot about, especially days of less than two men have this team for the Iowa game. Yeah, congruent. What's going to help you grow as a leader? What's going to help you grow more comfortable, I guess, as being kind of a voice in my team? I would, does it attribute that to my faith? My Lord, David Jesus Christ. I think before you can lead anybody else, you have to have a sense of foundation who you are. Having a sense of self, idea of self. And I think the more that I've been able to be strong in my faith, the more confidence it is given me into being leaders to other people, being able to be a leader to other people. But I think that's where it starts. How can you lead people if you're not really sure where you are?

19:58And then also, when it comes to, you know, practicality of football, I think the more you have an understanding of the often, the more vexing you are in this often, the more that you know, the more ability you can then hand knowledge to the next group of younger guys coming behind you. And so that all helps with leadership. But I would attribute that to my faith, my strong foundation, and, you know, knowing who I am. Maybe some of the better in the last few years that you kind of were able to learn from as well. And notice that they were pretty good leaders as well. You asked who were some others. There were so many. I mean, this is being my fifth year. I've seen, you know, many, many leaders all the way going back to my freshman was just in and. Haskell and Jonathan Cooper, those guys to. Then the next group of guys with Chris and. They are all those different guys going up coming through here. I've seen many great leaders. And I think there's something I would definitely say there's something special with the leaders on this too.

20:59I would say there's not the leaders that we have on this team, but not just leaders due to seniority due to it's just my turn. But I would look at the leaders that we have on this team and say there's sincerely leaders not just by. It's not as handy down the truly we have great leaders on this team. First question. Brand name is saying that feels like will just build the moment. Do you kind of feel that way too? Yeah, I feel like he never. He never gets too high. He never gets too low. He's just he's always locked in and focused. And that's the kind of. I don't know if temperament is the right word, but the right attitude. That's the right attitude that you know from a quarterback no matter what spot we are in the game. We can look to will and who will be able to lead our huddle. And we have we have confidence in that. All right, thank you. Yeah, one on one match up. Obviously we like to take it with our guys. More of the you know, there's quarter safety that steps down. What if what if your thoughts got on the judge people and say it was good.

22:00They've been doing a good job. You know, for the first fall camp, there's a lot of things that go on for a freshman and there's a lot of things to stress about. I feel like they're taking it one step at a time and trusting in coach lock and coach logs. It's done a really good job with them. Have you seen progression from Jeremiah? Obviously the boys in spring and we saw some of those things. But have you seen him take some of the steps you need to see from the younger. Yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously he's very gifted and he has all the abilities to do whatever we need him to do. But you can definitely see that change in mindset from the spring to now, especially with his knowledge and the offense and knowing how to utilize his skills in different co-brages. How does he handle that? It's a lot of us for freshman coaches. He handles it like a pro every day. There's really nothing that affects him. We just kind of steady on and doesn't really think about anything else. Just logs to play ball. The Ryan steady like the name of start in the first couple weeks. Should kind of laugh and walk that back a little bit there. Do you have a sense at the time? I have they communicated to you guys what they want to do. No, they have. They just been rotating us through everything and everybody's in reps.

23:02Running game, offensive line, system, and a lot of other media. A more robust dynamic running game this year. What is that? I just think we're out of the group. I know coach B. God, we need to work on both sides. Yeah. Is that going to change this year? Yeah, for sure. I think we just have weapons everywhere. And with this new offense, we're able to utilize every weapon differently and make it really harder than defense to figure out what we're trying to do. And if they take away one option, there's a lot more options to go after. For sure. Obviously last year, when you were in games or in practice, you had Marv. Now it was kind of a cheat code. But you had all of full practice without him doing much and obviously the part of the game you played. How much does that help when you're getting ready for this season without a doubt? I mean, yeah, obviously, Marv's diamond in dozen, but like there's five other guys in the room. That can do all the same things, you know, with Jeremiah and Carnell and Ameka and Brandon and Bryson Raj.

24:03Like, the list goes on and on. Whoever's in the game, we trust them to do the job. Do you like the helmet car on us and how does that change your plan to do in the huddle? So do you know their opportunity to lead? Yeah, I like it a lot. It makes it a lot more clear for us just to get the full play and not have to look at a signal. You know, we can get the play first and figure out what the defense is doing and then get able to, you know, rally our guys and get them going pre-play. What do you think about Jeremiah Smith just in terms of his ability to be ready when he gets here? Our explosion has been somewhat limited, but we ran the room with him and on the field with him. What's impressive to be about that guy? I said it earlier, just handles everything like a pro, you know, for only being a freshman, how gifted he is, how strong he is. No matter what anybody says about all this hype and all the talent he has, the dude works hard, works really, really hard. And, you know, he's ironbunk guy. That's never happened as a freshman. The first true freshman ever do that. So that's just a testament to who he is as a person and who he is as a player. So like I said, he's taken a huge step even from the winner. So can't wait for him to get on the field. There's more guest zone. There's more guest zone to the run game so far. I mean, obviously five Brexit's in.

25:05You know, you're never really playing for it. What's your sense of what's different about the run game? Apparently, maybe this time of year ago. I feel like there's just a lot more options. I think we've made it a lot harder in the defense to know what we're doing. I feel like we're less predictable. And like I said earlier, we just have so many options to make it harder on the defense and protect our runs. We have to take that team set up there for Jeremiah. Jeremiah is on the line. He's kind of holding his breath. As a poor bag, what's that like? Just give back there and get excited because you know that guy's going to go make a play. Thank you, buddy. Thanks guys. Thank you. How are we going? We all want it now. That's maybe not the case all the time. So for him to get those real reps and show up. So no, I think we've built that with the tackle. I can say I'm naming those guys. We even had change. And Morris had to run out there and play some two reps. It looked pretty good for a guy that's not even been here a year. So I think the positive is that it's been visible.

26:06I'm going to see you in the set from what you guys have done to Joshua. You've got what you've started going to the top of the tackle. How different is that for you? What does that feel like to you to see these guys to go? What do you think? I think it's not for me. It's for them. Like that's what's young guys. They said like you got a guy like Tegris. Like he's put in a lot of time and a lot of work changes body and some stuff. Carson got here at you know, 255, 259. And now he's a 300 pound guy and he's 12 games started on his belt and he's battling and playing and doing some things. So I think for them when it starts bearing a little fruit of the things that you do tell them when you're coaching like you work this technique, you work this fit, you work this communication. And this is going to show you know. And so from a coaching standpoint, yeah, it feels a lot better when you're not looking around like. Oh, hell. You put your right hand down there. Now it gets so we had the sickness going back around and it was taking you slide outside and hey, we're going to you're going to two platoon and go both cards today. You got a coach.

27:06And that was good for both parties as a coach, where we can still practice and then for the kids getting really good reps that way. How much does it? How much does it make this human state this time? Is there a way you can group that to the sort of psychology of the guy? Yeah, just just yeah, just with the calendar of an offensive line unit. And you're going to take the criticism. I think the maturity of these guys is probably what sounded or showed with Donovan I wasn't over there, but like. You had to hold his tongue. Yep. Okay, that's our position. That's who we are. That's when you want to coach this position or play this position like. And you're going to take those. So I think the maturity and the growth of those guys understanding what they need to do, why they need to do it. It's going to pay dividends when we get on the field and start playing in the games. What we're playing more and continue to play more like linemen and not lines on a page. I think as young guys and new guys you get in you're kind of like right. Who do I have? Oh, I got burned.

28:06Okay, I'm going to go get the burn. No blocking you. I want to block you. You're right. I want to block you. Right? You can block me. Thanks guys. But just trying to not screw it up or get there, figuring it out, you know, schematically or whatever. We're now the ownership and we're going to burn. And this is how we're getting here. And this is the technique I'm using. That's showing up a lot more than that. And like I said, that starts burning food because we're not. You're not blocking a pop up them. Like we do pods. We do individuals. Larry's guys and you got good on good and it's showing. And if that's the positive, there's a coach now. I'm sitting there feeling like it's going to be better about it because we're doing it. And they're doing it because they understand it. And I'm not just saying I'm a line on the page. I got to go block the nose. You mentioned Larry's guys. How much is it almost shining a light if you see a weakness on your line going against those guys? I would think it would expose it pretty well. You get a good read on what you have. Yeah, it's another proof though of when you're in a match-up game, Ryan talks about this all the time.

29:10It's you versus you. If you don't take the right step, if you don't communicate or get the right fit to the right identification, then really good teams and really good players are going to take advantage of that. If you give them something that way. So you're playing you. So for us to answer your question, yeah. They expose like, why did I get beat right there? Did he beat me or did I give it to him and he took it? And then Larry's guys can do the same. And all we get, whatever the technique may be on a zone player or a gap player, whatever it may be. And when you hit something big, he can watch it say, hey, did you miss their fit? Did they miss their hands? So that good on good that we're getting to go is going to expose a lot of things, not necessarily how good you are, but when you don't play as good as you are, if that makes sense. Hey, Josh, this might be a general question, but how have you seen your, I guess, recruiting approach, recruiting pitch, mold change over the course of your tournament? It's still all about, in my mind, or in my life, the evaluation. Like you have to be a guy that can come here and grow and perform and play.

30:11The changing has really been with the NIL landscape. And so figuring out what that piece really is, how vested and how far you have to be in that, what's their priorities? So I think that's always, that's going to be a fluid thing. But at the end of the day, like, you know, I'm sound boring and cliche, right? But like if a kid loves football, it wants to be great, wants to get developed, wants to be around and play against Larry's guys and those guys in practice. And we feel like we've evaluated them through camp or through tape and we've offered those guys to, we want to go get those guys. Is that 40 is that 60 is that 90? I mean, that's, that's all far evaluation of what we have. So from a, you know, the game of football hasn't changed recruiting change. Yeah, I know that, but you still got to take guys that you can go and develop because that day one ready made guy in the offensive line set. Point of mind if you find it for me because they're feeling far between. You see a roster full with five stars in the quarter back. Or whatever and it seems like there's been a little bit of a struggle to get those top guys. Do you feel like you're approached with NIL as a part of it?

31:15Do you feel like it's working? Do you feel like the pitch that will hide a state here? Yeah, because we're not done yet. I mean, you know, keep your head on the swivel here. We're not on the December the long way away and the weekends coming up soon. You know, where guys are where they're getting recruited while positioned before me. That's what we have to do. That's, that's my job. That's, that's coaches job as we go together. It's like evaluating guys that we feel can come here and develop and play and help us to continue to win. And so, yeah, stars matter share my wife could point out. That's a, that's a five. That's a really good guy, right? But as I said, those, that pool lineman is not as big as some of the other. I mean, we shouldn't go get him. It doesn't mean we're not working to go get those guys. And like I said, it doesn't mean that we're done either. And that's a long way to December too. How do you turn this thing up? A couple of questions. There's one superstar guy that's going to be in the field. Is that the start of pipeline or is it hard to really get this to be in place where you're getting this guy as an absolute man? Yeah, I mean, I think you just look at the recent history all the way through or all the stickers on the wall in there.

32:19I mean, you know, yeah, we had Paris. He was your national five star guy, right? But then we had other two other draft picks there that the one was in five star guy, right? Luke was in five star guy, good players and they got developed. And they know those guys before. I got here all the guys on the wall. I mean, yeah, that's, you'd love to go get all those guys. But do they fit the next up round guys of the four star guys? Are they really a four star? Are they really fit? Do they really want to do that from a pipeline online? You just look on the wall in the room and you've seen all those guys that have come from all different levels. How would you say you're the evaluation style when you're dealing with so many people wanting to hear before they even play the game as a junior I needed offer from our eyes. It seems like the process is just kind of possible. It's way of being about a valuation, right? It's about attention in all cases. But how much harder does that make you think you're looking at a kid who's gotten the size you've been that you're looking for?

33:22But maybe the film is there. Maybe the camp performance wasn't what you wanted to see. How do you get him to understand that? Yeah, I think you got to feel through the relationship of what the kid, maybe the relationship with the coach. And just being frank and honest with them. I'm not smart enough to tell this guy one thing, this guy the other and circle back and all of a sudden you come back and it's like, what was the message you gave here? Just trying to be as straight and communicative as you can. I still don't think though you get into early junior year first two or three games, which we're going to do on guys that we felt like right there. You need to see that's when the next wave of offers and recruiting stuff goes into. If the kids just looking for a check mark on the internet. Yeah, I've probably failed at that my entire career early on until you know that they're a bug guy. To be clear, you sort of not a pop up dummy. You? Yeah. I would love to block you, burn. With one leg or both. Just in the cool. Just in the cool.

34:23Got you. You got three guys. Last question for coach. Yeah, they're all over the bottom. We got two starts. Josh is a priorim's guy. He's 15. We got one. He's going to have 12 or have not. Where did thought it was? Show up with the fans. Watches day and day. It could be depend on the day. Like you're in the dull germs in the grind of camp. Practice 12, 13, 14. That veteran guy that kind of grabs the guys like fellas we've been here. This is the laptop. We got to pick it up. We got to go. Could be in a situational deal. It's an hour. It's like a. We're going to third down period. Well, it's not just another play. Hey, it's just third down now. They come over walls or butts in. Watch the picks. Watch the twist. Whatever the batters may be. I think it'll show them in the games. When we hit the first real adversity through whatever game or whatever quarter or whatever drive that shows up. Then that's the next time I'm going to show because they as you said there's there's gamesmanship there. They've been in and they know now it's not the first time like whoa what's happening.

35:27It's hey, this is happening. Here's how we get through it. I think I'm super smart. It's one of the things. Is that something that you think that you guys could just kind of listen to last year with a brand new set of two new tackles? Obviously, I don't know. Like do you think that you were missing a little bit of that? Yeah, you just a veteran veteran experienced guys, you know, I mean you had Matt there would play a lot of ball. Yeah, Donnie was coming into it, but then yeah, you're replacing the three new guys. You know, one coming from across the country and the other two guys that were coming into it. So yeah, I mean experience helps the time and what's the experience you've said it. I've started this many games, which means he's played this many thousand reps. I've started this many games. I've had this many reps in the red zone or this many in whatever situation it may be. Hey everybody. Let's say the first thing I call a training camp in like some balls. It's been good. A lot of learning obviously. Just trying to adjust everybody just in this game and see where you fit in that. But it's been good. Can I ask you the other night of the game?

36:28Game action? First time since you play in a bowl game? How did you feel? I felt good. Good. Good way to get your feet wet, especially to do it close to home here. They're special to me. So it was good. I'm glad it happened that way. You know what your family there? Yeah, I had a bunch of family there. I got to see a bunch of people. So yeah, couldn't ask for anything more. I just can't then think for you. I wouldn't think you'd target a lot of stuff. It's been good. I mean, just trying to, it's just a different way of play, different terminology, different, it's a whole different scheme. So just learning how they want things done compared to how you used to do things is really the... So like being in that tight end room, everybody's got different skills. Everybody's different, but y'all do some of the same things. Right. Yeah, no, it's a great room. A lot of really good guys have grown really close with a lot of those guys. So everybody helps each other. A really nice learner from Dalton, revving those guys. I mean, Dalton's done it for a really long time. So he helps me a lot with things that really aren't coachable things. You know what I mean? I mentioned how to family at the game, but what about working out here at this high school?

37:29Are you still in Ohio that you don't feel good? And I don't know what your high school is like this. Man, it's a man's field. What's your different name? I went to Lexington. It's about the eighth of the size of this place. Yeah, this is not like my high school. But this is a healthy place. It's super cool to be home and just be back and give you a little sense of comfort, I guess, for me, especially being my way for as long as I've been. So I was a man and kind of roll around the city. And you've been there. Have you seen a bunch of fuck out fans that have wanted to get your autographs out there? Have you seen a picture of you probably been here? I don't get, I don't go out of the hole. I actually went home yesterday. I went back to the farm for a little bit, which was great for a couple of days. He did all my family and stuff and see my grandparents and everything. So it was good. But I really haven't been out enough to know. So I try and keep her inside. It's good. Yeah. What do you think of your play in that really showcased itself? Oh, that's a good question. I don't think that's for me. I'm just trying to give. I mean, every time I think you can be, you can play this game for 50 years.

38:30And there's always going to be something you leave to feel with. Like, God, I wish I would have been better in that area. I wish I would have been better in some other. You know what I mean? Like, it's never going to be. This is absolutely perfect. So like, to me, that's right. Right now, the hardest part of this is just mental toughness and stuff at all. I mean, physical toughness. I mean, you either have it or you don't, in my opinion. So, I mean, I've always felt like I was kind of bred in that area with things. And that's just kind of way happens naturally. So just play after play. That's kind of how we roll. Okay. Good. Thank you guys. We got to get you on the ball. Get on the roll and then begin the game defense. More sound and those guys are more stiff as this far as giving up yards. As the game goes, it's like, OK, God was harping it up. So, just keep running. But you kind of see it, especially right now. What do you see from Indiana's defensive front? That's the strength of their team. Yeah, undefeated team right now. I think more so sound and, you know, those guys are super disciplined. They like, they want to give up yards. So that's our job to go out there and make a good move. We talked to Trey last week about just kind of how fresh he felt. How about you, obviously? I mean, heavy workload the last couple of years.

39:30But yeah, man, I think right now, you know, I felt the best ever. Especially mentally and physically. I felt great just having a great group of guys around me to go out there and try to go win it all. So, you know, having Trey around as well. He's been a sense of assets of this team. And just supporting each other throughout this whole year. And just trying to go win it all. Quichandr, do you expect the offensive line to pick up work left off? Obviously losing Seth is a huge blow. And Seth, what have you noticed like today from the Espreda Cobra that group? Yeah, I don't know there's anything out of the ordinary. Whoever steps in, those guys are going to execute. I don't have any doubts of anybody on the offensive line. I know they're going in as good and playing their best. Thank you. Thank you. Prior to what I got there. So I just got the information from me. So what was it about a high state staff that may be correlated between what you were going into with Alabama that you felt you could transition over here? I felt like there was really good quarterback development. Coach Day, pretty cool. The quarterbacks they've had just the past five years show them the kind of great numbers.

40:32And I've just really done things the right way. And I wanted to come this off. And it's because by hand, because Coach Kelly, you know, make you just move the line up. Staff it. Staff it. I haven't been in much contact with them. They weren't really. I didn't know that. I didn't know that. I didn't know that. Doing one of the things that Coach Day says is that you don't like Tiger King at health. You can't process. You've played up an age a lot of time. You're football too. What is it about you to drive and want that much virtue? I would say, you know, in high school, I had a coach that, you know, he was giving me a lot of responsibility. And I heard, you know, a lot of other, a lot of responsibility on me, making it all on me. And so I just, you know, I want to do the best for back in the league. And take the need with you. Do things the right way. And I just do things on my own. I love watching Joe Barrow. He makes that adjustment line. He's a really good decision maker. I like Justin Herbert tonight. I charge his fans. I watch him play on some of those guys and other folks.

41:34You know, the decision makers who make things work. I would say I'm a little bit more flat. I'm working on the record side. You know, I've got to try to get the new one. I'm a vocal leader out there with the guys. I think my management is trying to do that. So I'd be a little bit more. I think you're a good player. Definitely, it's definitely quite a confidence. Definitely a confident year of the way it's played. I know a bit about football. I think it's a good experience. I actually, I think I've only been here once in a living process. And I love it. I really good to be places to be, hang out with friends. I think I've visited maybe freshman or sophomore. Yeah, just for the camp, or the visit, just the super-cell of these. I know it was only a few days. But being in the Alabama program, especially as they prepared for football play-off run, what did you take away from that short period of time?

42:34Yeah, it was really good with Coach Rees and Kirsten. They were coach and players hard, and I saw the work that takes to get to the playoffs and then coming here, just seeing the order guys put in the work and throughout the winter. Seeing our older guys and older leaders put in the work and showing them the happenings. How much of a relationship do you have with Aaron, obviously? Coming in, he had been committed. You come in, you're both freshmen. What was it like before and what's your relationship side? We didn't have much relationship prior. We measured it with 11. I knew each other a little bit. And we're back in the room. Everyone here is really close. We're all pushing each other to do better. We're all taking push points from each other trying to get better. Coach Rees, you tried it, you tried it, you tried it, you tried it, you tried it, you tried it, you tried it. I was expecting it. I would say we were taught by surprise. Come back from the game. It was a little bit high-score, because of the team journey. It was kind of taught by surprise. How did you feel when you were playing on the American football?

43:35Did you like the way you were designed to make the football? I was a freshman. I had to try to do all that. There was definitely a lot of emotions, but I'd like to have a lean on it. They helped me through it and make the right decision. I'm not here and I'm working. You know the more, but I'm not saying you're comfortable. I'm not making that. I have the true freshmen appointment because you're a freshman. I can't really explain how that would be. I'm just trying to develop and take Coach Rees today. I can have a great quarter of my course and take Coach Rees Kelly. I just want to develop and run the offense when they want it. And take their coaching points and try to get them on. If you look at your face and your brain, maybe I know this time, but what do you think? What about your age and your training? I think that I can be a really good decision maker for the offense and someone who would be absolutely making trust. It's a great college youth. You have a future for you.

44:35Is that an absolute dream? It's a very long, very difficult day. That's a big, very difficult month for the future. I think it's kind of a lot of things. I was always around football. My bow was a quarterback at Penn. So he used it quarterback and eighth, and I was in high school. I was at the top of my knee, so I was always there in high school. And then I just finished high level offense at high school. And just really just had it on. Who do you want more? Who's your favorite Tayden? Tagger. What do you say, eh? I'm a tagger. I'm a tagger. I'm a tagger. I'm a tagger. And he's certainly making a case to get on the field this fall. So I think it's been a really good spring for CJ. Whenever you have a good day, you've got to follow it up by another good day. You know, and stack days. And I think that's what a pro does. You know what I mean?

45:35You want to be a pro. You've got to keep stacking. That's the expectation. I think he's had some really good days. He's had some days where you're like, you're trying to push him a little bit. But I think CJ, where he is now, where he was last fall, he's a lot better football player. We've heard a lot of good things about it. A lot of good things here. I'm going down the gate, however, with our release. Are you envisioning right now that you want this to be a five six person operation? Yeah, well, I think Coach Day's talked about it a lot, right? It's going to be a long season. And so I think we need to have, I've always been on the opinion. If you have two guys, you have two guys, and you ride with them, right? If you have six, you have six, not the blessing. So I'd say right now we're probably at five. That would feel confident rotating out there on the field. And look, I'm old school, right? So I come from the era. I used to yell at Luke Pickle what he was taking out. Oh, I get so mad. I get so maybe 42, whatever against Youngstown State. I'd be so upset coming out of the game. But seeing how violent this game is from this perspective.

46:38Now you have to say, hey, okay, not only within games, can we keep guys fresh? Right? But can we do that so that when you get to the last few games in the season that act that are the big ones, right? The ones that you're judged off of, when you get to the game, are we healthier? And I think that's, it's kind of a both a both fans, right? So I feel confident with five guys. And that's going to be week to week. You know what I mean? Like these guys know, I think honestly, who starts to be week to week? If you display during the week of practice that you're locked in and somebody else has a bad mental week, well, I can't reward you with starting if you have six mental errors during the week. You know what I mean? Just because you started last week. So I think it's got to be that iron sharpens, iron constant competition through the whole fall. That was something I did for an I was going to play kind of a game. It's just limited to, but is that part of which one has to drive you then? Was it, was it driving you then? Then you just assumed that was kind of the case when you played anyway. I always felt when I was here that they were trying to outrofute me, which is the reality, right?

47:38Yeah. Which is why it prepares you so well for the national football. That's why Ohio State prepares you so well for the league because now it's like they're trying to out-draft you. And so I used that as fuel, but I also thought firsthand, you know, like there was a season where it was John Kerr, Marcus Freeman, certain guys rotating week to week. And so I saw like, should it happen to them that can happen to me? So I just tried to be a certain way in practice. Like I tell the guys all the time, you have to control the things that take no talent. You have to eliminate all the loves. Like if you, if you loaf on the field, you're a trader, like you should just go play for the other team. Like that can't, you can't be coaching effort. And then you can't have mental errors because if you have a mental error, then you can't trust you. So those are the two things I always have the player was like, all right, you're not going to catch me loafing, and you're definitely not going to catch me not knowing what I'm supposed to do. I might get beat, and that's inevitable. Everyone's on scholarship, right? But those two things you can control every single day. What's the next step that you've done in the spring? I think it's just the end, you know, we haven't done like any of my series, you know what I mean?

48:43So we know you can tackle and all that, but I think it's just the repetitive grind of a football game from in the box, the constant. And he's been, he's been willing so far, you know what I mean as far as his hand placement has been good. You can go on the strike, he's tough. So it's just continuing to have him challenged to, there's plays right now where he's seeing it from the first time from the will backer. So the next time he sees it, maybe a throw catch tackle is up in the reception. You don't even mean because he's seen it before from that perspective. Everything he's seen before this has been from top down off the shelf, right? So now it's dropping back, that'll drive him. So he's made great progress and I'm really happy with how son he's done. And I'm just looking at recruiting, it seems like it's going really well for you. Honestly, you can't talk about specific recruits, but just overall how do you feel like that's going and are you enjoying recruiting? I am, I am enjoying it. I think it's fun to build relationships and get to know so many different types of kids, you know? Ohio State presents opportunity, right, in so many different ways.

49:47You're not going to get developed better anywhere else in the country. You have the largest fan base, largest alumni, it measures opportunity everywhere, right? So you try to just like explain your passion for the school that did so much for you, you know, especially being an out of state kid, not being formal Ohio. And then realizing how much Ohio State changed my life. And so now you communicate that to other young kids who kind of see it and try to tell them the vision, like where you can get to. And I think the fun thing for me is that most of the kids I'm recruiting are way more athletic than I ever was. So it's like, I tell them that if I can, the only way I survived in the NFL eight years was the fact that I had football intelligence, like I knew where I was going. And so now if I can impart that information on kids who are extremely athletic, well now you're now you got something special, you know what I mean? How much of you guys have already talked about long season and the need to play more guys?

50:50Well, I think yeah, you're going to have to have depth. That's just the reality, right? It's a longer season, there's more games and there's no excuse to have a place like here. Like if you're playing with a maybe a guy who was third or fourth, that doesn't matter, you know, like you got to be ready to go. So I think depth is crucial at all of the vision. Because injuries are going to happen there's part of football, you know, you never want to wish it upon anyone and you're certainly not. But it's just you can't be naive to think that you're just going to have every single starter healthy for the whole season. You talked about your mentality as a player and then you're recruiting different players than you were. How do you, how do you marry that when they made that same mentality that you need and what you want them to have? Well, you figure that out when you get to know them and there are certainly some kids that you start to recruit to where you see like, you know what? Ohio State might be too big, it might be too big for them, you know what I mean? And so it's not for everybody. You have to want to come in and compete against the best and realize that you have to win every single game to be the best in the world of what you do.

51:55That's the expectation that Ohio State and that's certainly not for everyone and that's okay. But you have to through the process kind of find out who has that mentality, who really craves football, you know, like who craves football versus a lot of the other fluff that comes, kind of comes with it. Who craves ball because when they crave football, then the other stuff will take care of itself, right? And we'll just keep getting better and better and better if they want to be the best. Two more questions for Dave. I mean, I think that's your job as a recruiter is you got to figure out what's the mindset of the kid and are they serious about football? And you have to talk to the people that are around them and you got to figure out how to talk to coaches. You just got to try to figure out like who loves ball and the NFL they do the same thing, right? Now they're attending the massive amounts of money and they're saying, okay, we're going to get this person money as a change their motivation or they still love ball. So now I mean, and college is the same thing, like who actually wants to be the best or who just likes the attention that comes with playing football? James, I've known as a VRT, he talks about it, but he's a little bit of the elevation from our bell from end of the class.

53:01And obviously, Mr. Time last year was the injury, but where he's at now versus the expectation that he had to move this way. Our bell's, I mean, shown a lot of progress, you know, most importantly, you know, mentally with the playbook and everything. I think our bell last year, there was a couple things, right? Because of injuries on the D-line and camp, you know, he moved the end for a little bit, then we brought him off the ball and then he had an injury and he kind of missed some time. He wasn't an early mid-year, you know, so he comes in right in the summer and so he missed some reps there. So the see where he's at right now is extremely impressive. And for a guy of that size and that much power and his ability to run, he's a special athlete. And so our bell's had a good spring. You've got to continue to dive into the playbook and got to continue to learn all the little things. And as you go, right, like week one, week two, you start seeing new schemes, new schemes, things build and it becomes kind of a lot. He's just got to continue to comb through it all because athletically, you know, he's one of the most gifted guys that we have in the room. I know, you know, NIL comes with a big series for like, what has changed the time that you've been recruited to now that you're with me and like, you're there on the mental differences you've noticed in your own area?

54:11No, I think it still comes down for the most part. Like NIL is certainly an aspect for some. For some, it could be the most important thing. It's always a factor. But I think you still just need to find out who are the kids that love football and they want to be developed. And it's about the relationship to an extent like a relationship gets you to the final stretch. For some kids, NIL might do the thing that pushes them over the top. I mean, I don't know like every kid is so different, right? I try to view it as you're just building relationships and are you going to get a young man to trust you to develop them? And to not only the player that they want to be, but the person that they want to be in the future. And you can convince mom and dad that you're the right person to do that. You know what I mean? So I think one of the things that is helpful is my playing experience. I think, you know, when you've played and you've done it and the drills that you're doing, you know that they work. You're not going to waste your time on stuff that doesn't work. And then the fact that, you know, I am blessed to be at my alma mater.

55:13There's no sense of trying to leave here. You know what I mean? I have the question. I get a ton. Where do you see yourself in five years? I'm like, where I'm sitting? It's my alma mater. You know, my kids love it in Columbus. Obviously, I love Ohio State. So I think those are things that can kind of be an advantage. Okay. But I know you've been working with, you know, kick off the club team as well as those books that look like for you and get involved with that thing. Yeah, it's awesome. Maybe I love it because it gives you an opportunity to coach the whole team. You know what I mean? Like special teams in a spot where the whole team probably minus the quarterbacks, right? Is all in one team room and one meeting room. So you get to actually directly impact other positions and just your own. And I think it also gives. It gives a little bit of urgency to your own room. Like when you're in there every single time, you better be making an impact on punts if you're aligned back to you. Better be making an impact on kick return or kick off kick off return. You better be making an impact, right? Because your coach is in there all the time. So it's been nice and there's a lot of stuff that I think our coaches have done to kind of push that sense of team when you're in special teams that we every position matters.

56:22Jared, if someone has been a VNFL, what do you think would be an NFL doing to kick off now? And even if it's like it could be good for college? I mean, the thing that stands to take away like the surprise on side, you know what I mean? But all these rules are changing so much for the safety of the game. I mean, I think it's only a matter of time before it trickles down. It seems like everything trickles down. So we'll see. As of right now, we'll keep things going the way they are. All right, James. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Yeah, I think when you go to a game like this, one of the most important things is to avoid distractions. So I'm letting my wife handle that right now, which is a lot, but yeah, the number one thing for us right now is focusing on this game. And so I said that to our team that we have to avoid all distractions right now. We have a lot of family, a lot of friends, a lot of people who certainly want to come to the game and obviously those things need to get taken care of, but ultimately we have to do our job.

57:29They're all there to see us. And that's what we're going to focus on. So no, it's it's an opportunity, obviously, to be on stage and finish our mission, but we have to make sure we avoid all distractions. It just makes me realize I've grown up a lot since then. You know, again, I feel like our guys are men. We have 145 guys on a team right now, which is, you know, when you when you hear it, it just kind of blows you away. You have that many guys and everybody's job on the team. And it includes coaches and staff is not to be a distraction to the other player as they prepare, but also just in general, you know, avoiding distractions for the for yourself in terms of your focus.

58:40And so when you, you know, the question right there about tickets and all the different things or some of the stuff that you know, the stories that are written, you know, talking about, you know, previous years or previous games or things that make that has nothing to do with what's going on in this game and just being focused on this game and how we execute. And that's been a message without overdoing it, but our guys understand what the message is and I believe they're locked in. Yeah. Well, I know that we need everybody. So, you know, former players, you know, people who are going to be at the game and having a great presence in Mercedes Ben Stadium and being allowed.

59:42Yeah, we'll need them. So we're playing for them. You know, people who are back home in their living rooms, whether it's back in Ohio or, you know, in another country or across the country, you know, just said in great energy. Our guys feel all that. So, you know, we're playing for everybody who's pulling to be a buck guy. We're playing for buck guy nation for sure. We're also playing, you know, for each other and for this team and that's it. I'm not going to get too far into that right now, but that's it. Yeah. Yeah, he's like family. He is, you know, being the first really commit and guy who recruited the other guys, especially on defense, but also on offense.

1:00:42He just, he was a leader from the jump and being a buck I meant even more to him growing up in Columbus and Pickering, Tin Ohio, his family of just great people. And this is a guy who overcame some things. He just didn't come in this freshman year and dominate, leaving three years and going to the NFL to be a first round draft pick. I mean, this is a guy who, again, I say it all the time, you know, where's a hard hat to work every day, brings his lunch, pay all the work and has the respect of his teammates. And you're seeing his play, do his talking, talking this year. So I know who he wants to play at his best, this, this game, being a captain, you know, again, you know, in August having his teammates vote him in was a big deal for him. It was an emotional moment and, and, you know, winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants. You know, he wants to win a national championship more than anything and that I think represents our entire team.

1:01:59No, I just think that this, this year with, with the 12 team playoff, it's just been a little bit different and there's a lot, everyone has their own story and there's a lot of great teams out there and, you know, a lot of things come into play when you make a run like this injuries and, and just different things. So, you know, we'll look at it at the end of the year and figure out, you know, the adjustments that need to be made, I think internally, but I also think that, you know, we all need to look at, you know, how this is playing and what this means, you know, playing 16 games. I think it's a great learning opportunity to see what that, what that's going to look like moving forward, but I know it's been exciting for college football and for their fans. Yeah, I think they do a great job on offense coach Dembrox done a great job wherever he's been Riley Leonard's an excellent leader. Jeremiah Love is one of the most talented backs we've gone against and they have a very good offense align.

1:03:00The heavens is really good at tight end and multiple tight ends receivers are weapons so, you know, they're going to, they're going to challenge us in a lot of different areas and so we have to play big 10 football. That's what it's going to look like and, you know, every play matters when you play in a game like this and certainly against this team, it'll be the same way. Yeah, I think we built, we say this in all the time is that, you know, when you have momentum, you got to keep it when you don't, you got to go get it. And, you know, we didn't have momentum at the end of the season. We had to create our own momentum. And then we started to build some momentum and now we have to keep it. But I think the ability for our guys to sustain throughout the season has been significant here and now it's going to be the best.

1:04:01It's got to ramp up and again, the goal is to play our best game and to finish the mission. But we talked early in the season about building a foundation for down the road and just like anything else, you build a foundation of a building when storms come, it has to withstand those storms. But now we got to finish, we got to finish what we started and that's it. I think again, there'll be time to reflect on some of those things after the game right now. We're just going to continue to look at Monday night and play in our best game. You know, it's been, it's been enjoyable to be able to, you know, start it off with the home game against Tennessee and then went on the road to the Rose Bowl to LA. That was an experience and then, you know, so went through that and then went down to Texas and, you know, played Texas in Texas. Which was very much like a road game and so now we're into Atlanta.

1:05:03And we have a lot of guys on our team from the Atlanta area from the southeast. So for a lot of these guys, it's like coming home. So that's exciting. But it's allowed, you know, our families and team to kind of be on the road together for the last, you know, month. But we just like, I kind of say like we're like train rats. We just come to work and figure out what the next mission is and get back to work that way. You know, that's generally what it is. And every once in a while, you got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. And but now we got to finish it. And so, you know, every once in a while, you take a step back, but then you get refocused on what matters. But to your point, it's about everybody, you know, and certainly it all starts with the players and what they do. And I think, you know, our energy has continued to grow. I think, you know, we talk about like the mental fatigue. I just don't see that with our guys. I think there's, it's only increased the energies increased. The focus has increased. I think our team is fresh right now. You know, I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks.

1:06:03But, but that just shows you the experience, the maturity, the depth that we have. And I think that's all important. But, but we're not going to play anymore. We got one more left. And it's going to be our best. So that again. Yeah, we have, we have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, you can see how important relationships matter. And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes, you got to feel for what that's like at home. And, and you can certainly see how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter.

1:07:05So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab on to the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. So, one more time. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I got you. Yeah. Well, yeah, we're kind of, I guess that that transition has been happening the last few years, but you can see obviously this year. It's really accelerated. And the thing that's hit me is that, you know, we're, we're in the middle to late January. We're still playing. You know, some teams are, you know, starting spring ball in another week or so, you know, and so it's just very, very different.

1:08:06I think it's all things that we have to learn from when we assess what's going on, but it's been hard to take a step back and look at anything because, you know, you know, you have a short period of time to get back and win the next game. And, like every single ounce of your energy has to be to go win the next game. And then you wake up and you realize you're on to the next one. And so, we're not there right now, but I know after the season, you got to wake up, what just happened, you know, and then we'll try to assess it the best we can and make it better. I know there's a lot of things that we can do to make this all better. And I know institutionally, we'll continue to make those adjustments, like you said, and do things the way we've done before, but also adjust, but also, you know, I think in college football, we need to look and see how we can make this even better as it's gone on because every year it has gotten better. And I think it's great right now, but then when you think about the potential and what it can be for the players and these teams, it's pretty extraordinary. Oh, yeah, that's it. That's it. I think our strength coach, Mick Morati really, you know, symbolizes kind of what that means. He has this old school work ethic, you know, because the line's still the line and the cone's still the cone.

1:09:20You still got to have your foot behind the line. You still got to run through the cone plus two, but there's so many other things now. There's sports science. There's GPS. There's a longer season. And so having to be able to adapt with those times is important. And I think it's the same way with our program and how we run things and the tradition is not going to change your house. And that's one of the reasons why these guys come here. It's one of the things we sell and recruiting, you know, is that, you know, just over a hundred years of football and the great teams and players that have come before and what the expectation and, you know, we have an obligation to be the best in a world that what we do. And that's the expectation whether you're a player or coach and we own that we absolutely embrace that and, but then also adjusting with the times. And now we have a new playoff system in place. But all that being said, here we are, a couple more days before the game. And we got a chance to finish our season and finish the mission. And then again, cement ourselves in the history of Ohio State football as the 19th to win an national championship. And the third and over 50 years, a lot of good teams along the way. And that's been a message to our guys. And it's not about how you start. It's how you finish.

1:10:35Try not to get too much into those nostalgic thoughts because it's just it's a distraction. And there when you're in a game like this, it's easy to get distracted players and coaches. So what matters is what we do on Monday night. How we execute, how hard we play. And that's it. And then after the game, I think there's a great opportunity to sit back and think about all those types of things. But yeah, there's a lot that I could probably go into if we were to sit back and talk about what Monday night means. But, but ultimately we have to we have to go win the game. And that's it right now. So 48 hours out. I know a lot of people want to talk about different things. We're just going to focus on executing at a high, high level. Everybody doing their job and find a way to win the game in the fourth quarter. And that's it.

1:11:55I think, you know, in life, you know, you have to work through tough times. And it's how you respond to those tough times. And that's it. And that's been the message all along to our players. And it's not always how, how things happen in your life. It's how you respond. And I think our guys have learned a lot about that. And I, again, I said this before. I think there's some great stories. I think there's some great stories to be told about what went on behind behind closed doors and some of the things that were said and the personal challenges that we had for each other and collectively the story. But the only way that gets told is if a banner gets put up in a hoodie. That's it. And that's the sobering reality of this game that nobody cares about what you go through. And you got to win that final one to finish the mission. And so that's it for our guys. And, you know, as much as some of these, these wins have been great wins for us.

1:12:58You know, to me, you know, it's about winning this final game. And so all that being said, I think our guys have learned a lot about life over the last month. I think it's been a tight group. We've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. And it's a special group of guys that care a lot about each other. And they're going to go on to be very, very successful moving forward because they're strong. They're loyal. And they're very mature. You're going to see, you know, 10, 20, 30 years down the road. These guys making an unbelievable impact not only on their families, but in the community and in the game of football. Yeah, it's football. And, you know, I said to my wife all the time, like that's, we signed up for it. And, you know, it's the highs of highs and the lowest of lows. This game will take you to knees and give you some of the greatest experiences in the world. And that's it. You know, not a lot of people get to experience those highs and lows. And you have to manage the tough times and you got to enjoy the good ones. And that's it. And, you know, the more you're in this game, the more you're going to realize that.

1:14:08And that's it. And those are opportunities to show strength. And that's it. So, you know, we're counting on that to make a difference on Monday night. Yeah, you got it. Yeah, that's it. And set a great example for the younger groups. One of the good things about having 145 guys on the roster is some of these new freshmen and transfers that are coming in. And get to see what it's supposed to look like. Get the C great leadership. If this wasn't the case, they wouldn't have an opportunity to see what you know, a mecca book is like Wil Howard, Travion Henderson, Nathan ransom, Benzel Burke, you to go through the list, Cody Simon. I mean, these, you know, Tyler Williams, you know, what does it look like? How do they prepare not only for one week, but several weeks. And, and these, these guys are, they're men, they are. And the way that they go about their business, not only they love being Ohio State, but they love their teammates and all those things matter. And so again, they want to play their best game here and finish themselves and cement themselves so that, you know, when they come back, they can see that banner up there and have a big ring to show for it. So, that's it. You know, we'll get back to the hotel here, get back to work, get to these meetings and focus on what matters right now.

1:15:35Yeah, hard to put in the words what a mecca's meant to this team or to me or to my family or to Ohio State. It started when he first got here. He had a different look in his eye. He's extremely competitive. No jobs too small for a mecca. He's selfless. He's really made it unbelievable strides in his life, but also just in his faith. And, you know, he speaks people listen. He's very well thought out. He's sitting out and having a conversation with a mecca book or you're going to walk away extremely impressed. And, but then when you talk about his play on the field, he's made a lot of great plays. He's been very clutch. He's been very consistent. And this is a guy I know who wants to finish his fish his career out with a great game one night.

1:16:48I think when you're when you're starting out this season and you're putting a roster together, you have to start from this game and move back. And, and I think when when that happens, you have to build a team. I think now the big 10 has allowed us to do that with with the addition of some different styles of play on the west coast. And then certainly the traditional big 10 play. It's a combination of being able to get big and strong and heavy and stop the run and run the football when it matters, but also being a spread out game where you can be in a little bit of a track meet and have the skill to play with anybody in the country. And I think that's the combination that you need to have. And, and that's the goal every year to do that. When you when you when you need to go get that yard, you get that yard.

1:17:48And when it's time to get that stop, you get to get that stop, but also having the skill to be able to run with everybody in a country. And that's that's how we start. And then as the season goes on, we look to identify the areas where we have to get better or whatever that might be. But, but I think it all starts in the off season with our off season program and what Mick Morati does. And I think our our off season program when and I know it now because when I see players come from other teams, that's you get great feedback. You know, you get you know guys who come in from different programs and say, you know, talk to me about what your program is compared to our program off season during the season, all that. It really gives me confidence no one were doing the right things. I think every year you learn and I think, you know, to be to be, you know, to be honest, I think, you know, every year I learn and grow and figure out what needs to be done to get it fixed and identify the issues and be honest.

1:18:54And call it out for what it is and get it fixed and get it addressed. And that's what leaders do. And you know, they look out in the horizon, see what's coming because the soldiers are fighting right in front of you. That's what they are. And so what's coming down the road. And then obviously what what areas need to get addressed and get fixed. And I always starts with, you know, who's in the right seats, you know, players, coaches and staff making sure that's organized and then building it from there. And so every year you grow to try to get better. And then, you know, identify it the next year and move on from there and keep growing. And we all have to continue to learn. And I think, you know, I've done that as well. Yeah. Yeah. Caleb is mature beyond his years. Is a tremendous player. But he brings a work ethic that's tremendous. He and Latham ran some both in the way that they bring energy to practice every day.

1:20:00And they let their play do the speak, do the talking for them, but they're great leaders. During the recruiting process. I went all the way down to the wire. It's been told before. And we were right there at the end. And, you know, I wish them good luck and understood. I mean coach Sabin is a unbelievable coach and certainly his success speaks for itself, but also just as a defensive backs coach. And I totally understood it was pulling for him in his freshman year. You can tell my family and my wife and kids, we were all pulling for him because he was just such a unique talent and great person and great family. And then when coach retired and, you know, he was in the portal, it was an opportunity to reconnect with him. And I think he had great relationships with players and it's been great to see him this year really flourish within our culture. And you're seeing the best version of him now. And it's going to be a great environment. We know that great crowds on both sides. So it'll be electric. And, you know, different than in the past where you kind of had these, you know, bowl game and then a final game. We, you know, these playoff environments now or something that, you know, we become accustomed to.

1:21:17So we need to focus on what really matters in the execution and find a way to win the game in the fourth quarter. That's it. You know, this is a team that continues to come at you. So we know what's going to take four quarters. It went all the way down to the last play last time we played them. And, you know, we have to be prepared for that. But, but that's it. Great environment. You know, and, you know, it's good to get over there today to have practice just to kind of see it again, feel it again. And I know our guys will be ready. All good. Okay. Thanks. One more question here. Yeah, I think he's built confidence as an offense, Aliam and throughout his career, and especially this year. And he's become a leader for us upfront. And we'll need him to be at his best in this game as well. Thanks. Yeah. Yeah. I mentioned this before that, you know, this is about these players in this game. And it's all going to be about who executes well during the game. That's it. And I think our guys understand that and feel that.

1:22:39And there'll be a lot of conversation, which is great. It's exciting for the fans to talk about. But we know what really matters. And that's what our focus is on is executing at the highest level we possibly can. Thanks. So we're excited to be back home for a couple weeks and need to stack another one. How do you manage your own expectations and you have 14 pressures, but you're not putting in the sack numbers that you'd like to get? I think just stay in the course and continuing to get better, which I think I've done. And then hopefully that day comes where the stats come, but I think I affected the game. Good amount last week. So that's good for the team. Nick, I'm sure it was a super boy. I don't know if you think about. And then, probably, we've done better. But what comes with the fifth in line on the home behind the whole overtime. Is that one particularly? What's with one? So it's not guaranteed to stop them. But is that one particular?

1:23:40Is that like the whole of the ball to get over? Yeah, no, that's tough, especially because we have calls that could negate that. And we just didn't really. Like they ran in the zone read a few times. I mean, just didn't find an answer to it. But yeah, I mean, I definitely thought he was going to hold it or keep it, but I got to do my job, especially in a big moment like that. You can't go out of your job. But we definitely have a plan for the zone read this time. So hindsight's 20, 20. That was, yeah. Okay. But then you like made player kind of like. Yeah. Did a shrug, but not a solid. Yeah. What should have happened? I mean, there's a couple of variables. I think the tight end came across so that changes some things to the guys behind me.

1:24:43So I honestly don't know who it is, but I just tried to make it decisive for the guys. The ideas from that team, just watching in terms of trying to attack them. This time around from your experience. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like any game that you played a team before you watched tape and learned from it. Does this, does this often apply to players to get kind of less, I guess, less in trouble for holding or is it just depending on the last year for sure. Last year they had two of the top penalized guys in the league. But it doesn't look too bad this year, but we'll see. Is there more crews or are there referring crews that kind of let it go more than others? It seems different every week. So let's see. Do you count your steps throughout the day? Is that why you use a scooter? It's kind of how it started. I don't count them. But I just take a little off the legs. Why not? It's a lot of walking from building to building.

1:25:45You've always been a good team. Have you ever seen a person saw back? How did he break things? Good morale boost. Yeah. It's good to have them. And I would say to watch a play. What's it been like to go back and be looking at them on three out of there? It's definitely a little emotional, but at this point it's just a game. So we're just looking at the game, trying to learn from it. A lot of similarities from last year. New guys, but really good defense and offense that obviously has 15 back there. So always dangerous. You said it's a little emotional. Do you try to tap into those emotions or do you kind of want to just put the distractions to the side and treat it like another football game? Yeah. The latter. Yeah. You were good team last year, did you feel, you've run up against an offensive on the field like you feel like you're at a good way from now where you can do things against them, no matter what.

1:26:51But the offensive was. Yeah. I mean, this year is kind of different because I obviously I'm pushing to the ball, but it kind of feels the same. The thing I like being able to play is I like tying the things up and being able to run full speed and be able to hit somebody and catch the month guard. And that's just what I'm able to do now. There's only ball and closer to them. We haven't really talked about like a few guys, but he's talking about I wouldn't begin this. I'd have the chance to work with him my. My junior at the opening, but I was different because I was playing off the bone. Yeah, that's done with guys and no Smith. Let's see the way that he coaches. What is his style? It's very intentional, but he knows that we're human. He knows nobody's going to be perfect and so can mess up.

1:27:52But the thing is being able to learn from that mistake and not do it again. How different is this? How different is your future? How different is your future? It's different, but like I said, I've just been enjoying the ride. I like riding them now, so I'm just going to grow at this fight and get to where I want to go. I'm 100% 100%. It's a nice set. It's very hard. When you just look at our 222 class, we've got a lot of guys. Now we're probably going to have like five or six guys here. Exactly. So being able to just stick it through and just, you know, I feel like he's staying here. Each year, I feel like I was telling him to stay. Because yeah, it was opportunity to transfer, but I just kept telling him like, God, just stay. Let his will be done. Just let his will. You know, what's the center of gravity like when you know you may not make him his position change?

1:28:53You know, I've got a lot of energy here. You know, I try to, every little drill that we do, I try to make sure I'm doing it to the team. You know, I don't like to mess up. And that's why you see me after practice working with Coach Johnson or Coach Patricia because of the fact I know it's very urgent. But I still feel like I have time. I was only spring. Yeah, about 158 days probably to a place. You've been revving there throughout December, obviously. What exactly did you start to make that transition though? And you heard they were hiring an officer at the point of scoring. Um, obviously in December, it was different because we had Coach Knows here. And Coach Knows was more, he was telling me different ways he was going to use me with the Jagged and where he was going to have me line up and things like that. Um, Coach Day, what he was telling me was, we were going to bring in a different coach and just, you know, uh, there'll just be a specific coach just for the position I was playing. That way it could just be easier on everybody.

1:29:53And that probably was just going to be Coach Knows because obviously it's his defense. But, um, with Coach Patricia committing, I feel like it's a lot easier on everybody because of the fact, like I said, his experience and everything that we're doing now, it just feels like everybody can just play fast. You need to be themselves. When you see my last question, 158 days, what was he going to do? We talk about every day. Yeah, Coach Day brings it up every day because of the fact we got to, like, yeah, we have one good day today, but we do have to stack day on top of day on top of day because of the fact that we played Texas, Texas, just in the playoffs, you know, they didn't know I saw it. She even know that they're probably in the same mindset as we are right now because they lost a lot of starters, but it just doesn't mean. I mean, you see guys like the, like, the parts of the little part of they start to get through a time back with the edge. How much does that inspire you to see what kind of success that you guys have? No, I feel like watching those guys, I feel like you can see like, they helped them a lot more, especially with the blue, especially with the blue,

1:30:55especially with the blue last year because of the fact it was, it's the first year on the line, on the line of scrimmage, but, um, you know, obviously I watched those guys, I watched other guys, but I'm on the way. So, trade it. What's it to you about the loss of building that's going into this season? For you, just step up, search. I mean, it doesn't think it can happen really, so. Yeah. I'm going to stand for the learn right now. I lost your sit. Who's it seeing like, it's a big, big blow. I mean, how would you describe it? I mean, I guess you just got to learn everything slowly. Of course, there's a lot to learn, um, but I got a lot of hope. So, you can say that a very unique experience on the oldie early and rollies. You got a chance to go to, you know, semi-final. Some of you went to the Rose Bowl, there's nothing caught in the national championship game. What was like, what was that like? How much did you think that helped you? Uh, that was incredible. You just see how other leaders led in that position and just seeing what they did and how they prepared. That's not helping out with everybody. What was the highlight of that time, other than winning the national championship? Was there something that stands out to you?

1:31:55Uh, just being able to, uh, trouble and get the meat on everybody, meat all the players, um, everybody at one in the 90s, and meat all, uh, early and rollies that early. It's been, it's been a most difficult part, making the transition from places we own. What has been the hardest part? I was really just living on your own. You got to be independent. That's pretty much it, though. And when you feel comfortable on that, are you still trying to get, you know, trying to get the sound of this college? I mean, of course there's adjustment, but I'm getting this for you. How long did you have to sit down for three? Uh, yes sir, one minute, it's 100%. Did you have to answer your very thing? Uh, no. I'm just starting over this time here. I mean, of course it's hard to miss my senior year. I'll last year's time with some of my best friends. What did you do in the game? I think you did my hand right? Uh, it was an empty reality, dude. Sorry, but how did you get your answer in the comments?

1:32:59Uh, let me answer your baby, my dad. I got a monster problem. I was like, I was like, once I was born forever. Why did you invite him like that? Uh, my dad looked up to me and I'm a junior, so I'm just working again. I think you should be your first name in the car, right? Okay, so you could wear eight, too. You know, I'm just wearing a third in the car, yeah. Yeah, you got two choices. It's a desire that can be addicted for people. I think I fell into that, no way younger age, but super class, that's not cool. You're a kid again? I watched the lab last time in the start of the land band on the planet. I downloaded it's a correction. What do you think of that?

1:34:00I don't know that this web seems to be a little bipolar. I'm not going to handle it. It's a ticker show, or I'm not going to be able to see if I can win on the film. I'm going to win on the right. I'm excited to see how it goes. I'm not going to be in a good show. I'm surprised. I'm surprised. It seems like you knew what he was doing. I'm curious. So you put it in question. You say you hit your mom in the salary. You guess you win it all, since mommy gets a pay raise or... I don't know what to talk about that. You sure have a meeting or something? You can see it. I'll figure it out. Everybody talk to him. I'm not going to be in a good show. I'm going to be in a good show. I'm not going to be in a good show. I'm not going to be in a good show. I'm just going to help you. There's other people that I'm trying to find out about you. Yeah. Well, first off, I think I'd be doing this service to my teammates.

1:35:00You know me even think about what's next. What's right in front of us is the opening. That's another thing I got to tell me so much. Who is just being pure as an individual that I'm in. You know, not looking too far ahead because I'm tripping on what's right in front of me. Again, that's too self-insub. I hope that you can be thinking about what's next together. You're at least aware of the good of the law. The speculation out there that people are going for a huge number of people going for a whole season. I'm just not worried about all that stuff. I mean, people can say all they want to say. You know, I'm just focused on. I'm focused on Friday. When you're in front of me, you're just focused on. Nervous? I mean, I still get nervous for sure, but I just don't think. I think I do a good job of just understanding that.

1:36:00At that moment, whatever moment it is that I'm nervous about, the fun who I am as a person, and it doesn't define who I am and God's eyes. Understanding and knowing that has just kind of put this force field of peace around me. I think it allows me to be able to be calm in certain situations, but it doesn't. It doesn't. It doesn't. It doesn't. What's the difference between you and me? I mean, I just love the game so much. And if you don't get nervous or a little bit of work, I don't think you have that same love. I mean, I've got butterflies since, you know, going into football the instance, oh, it's, you know, five, six years old. So I don't know if that feels that. I'm just going to go away. I don't know. You know, football just doesn't mean as much as it did to me back there. I want it to always be that much. That didn't really work. I've been told, but I think so. I'm just going to let you go.

1:37:01I'll stay. I'm just going to go out of state. I'm going to plan as much. So I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt. So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been through a lot of it. One of those younger guys, we're seeing it out here. It's the first time I've heard all these actually. What have you seen from Will? Because I kind of felt like I should have real forgot about him because he was hurt. Now he's running, you know, almost a second man out behind you and tied. What have you seen in the memories of these women? Well, as a workhorse, he's going to stay quiet. He's going to work hard. And that's what I love about him. He focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done. Do a job right. He rarely has any mistakes. What would be a successful season? A national championship? A ring. When all the games we don't want to lose anything, we got a mindset that we can't be beat. And we just got to go show it. That mindset different. It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year. This year, even more so, you guys have all come back for this.

1:38:01You guys have all decided like an opposite way. Does that just keep feeling different? Or is it not really any different? It's just the same work. It's definitely a difference. Everyone working harder. We noticed our last run. Most of us don't have any years after this. So we got to go go bigger, go home, then. We're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan. But when you look at what they did, they won the national championship. And you guys took them down to the final minute. You know what I mean? You were right there. Something goes a little different. You guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that, hey, you guys want to win a national championship? But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year. Like you're that close. So I'm saying, we just work harder. That's kind of coach makes of saying, you know, nobody cares is work harder. Like those, you know, when we played Georgia, it's the same thing. Last, last play, you know, they went on the win in 90. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine.

1:39:01How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. Of course, it's frustrating. But you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year. And hopefully the outcome will change. Is that as you get older, you can't learn. I thought I was working hard and you always find out there's a little more. You could have been doing it. Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought, freshman year, I was working as hard as I could, but now I look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything. If the stamina is a 16, then the answer to what do you need it to be to be your best? Uh, 85. 80, 85. I mean, I can, it's all on me. I just, I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder in shape. It's been a pleasure.

1:40:01The idea of a potential is 16 or 17 or 17. I'm sorry about that idea. There's a making nervous about, can you last that long? You're worried. I'm worried about that. I think, I think we, I definitely can last. I was just, you know, we got to get the young guys that come along with us. We can't play 50 snaps again. That's just too much on our bodies. Uh, just everybody like online, D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the online and everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of life, if you like playing that means after then, I don't know if any of us were really expected to be playing that means. Uh, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought like, there are no moments you know, I can go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games like, you know, Notre Dame, too, or North, those kind of games. Of course, I wouldn't be because I know I can contribute. And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job done. What stands out about Taden McDonald? Is he got a team?

1:41:01You guys in a second? Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac's animal. Y'all, you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows all the time. He's just, he's growing right now. He has a work ethic. He just has to get, you know, in the playbook and things like that. You guys are about the exact same size. Listen, you're both listening to 6th or your 327, he's 326. Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, K-Mac, he's going to be a great player. He's got to develop more and get into playbook. So really a lot on you older guys, there's that large group of young guys, and then there's the senior in your back, is that part of your task for this year to bring those guys along as well? Yeah, definitely. We got to be leaders. Like I said, we got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work. And we got to get them right, earn all season so they can play. And not just play, they want to like contribute, like make plays, tackle the sex. Let's stay down about this pressure. It seems like these guys get bigs. Each one of the freshmen classes is bigger or bigger.

1:42:03Do those guys kind of, does it kind of why you want to solve the first? Yeah, they definitely do. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of some of the day too when I'm passing on. But throughout the workouts, they've been working hard. They're determined to have to say that. And it looks like they're ready to work together. How important this does? It feels like there's a lot of great defenses that you have big athletic defense attacks that you can eat up space, but also move right through this battery. Does that have an inquire that maybe for great defense? I think that is definitely, I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners, like see my North, they didn't know they got two good, two athletic detacles. Look at Georgia, two athletic detacles. I think that's definitely neat if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they want to fight by the defense attack. What's Georgia? What's Georgia Davis and Janet Carter?

1:43:03What's Michigan? It's Chris Jenkins. Tell me more questions. If you find this funny, like how, I mean, you understand it because you play it. But I feel like some time, I don't know, are people realizing how important defense tackles are? A little bit more than they used to? I think so. I think they're starting to develop more and more of these like freakiest detacles. Yeah. Like in the combine, just now you see in like those guys, they're moving four to four, seven, eight, and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think about those freakiest offensive tackles, how do you think you fit into that old of that kind of player? You watch that and say, yeah, that's me. Yeah, definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacles, but I don't want to, you know, get a big head, but you know, I watch it come on. I watch it do the drills. I have a tape here, you like it like in my film. So I think I'm up there with all the time. I mean, it's many as I can have, I think I have more than that, but they may have counseling.

1:44:17I think they may encounter some of them and some of them were like just listed. So, but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's goes big and what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarterfeg is. Any way you can is just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing covered his eye, you know, he might throw it a little bit to the left to our players. So it's something that you really, really have to work on. I think I just have like a eye for the ball counter. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just, I see him like load up. I just try to get in his ways. And sometimes he just throws it to me. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're team, you know, we're just good. I should lot of a lot of different backs, man, they just learn to grow for them.

1:45:19You got to pick your top three backs. I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey. Although he was injured this year, I like McCaffrey. Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all decision. Playing well, Howard. What I'm going to remember most. We're a Howard, man. He's just such a great leader, man. It's just like in moments where, you know, usually a lot of players they fold, man. He was just always calm and relaxed, man. And he just the leader that he was, man, that's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Yeah, he's, he's going to be really good, man. He's on Coach Lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia.

1:46:19Just that one, two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs. And so James people's man, he's smart. The way that he goes about his business, man, he's mature. And so man, he's growing, you know, just as a person and as a player. And so man, yeah, definitely Ohio State, you know, that running back room is in great hands. That was right. I'm looking at the U.S. spot and put on this top of the race and personality and the approach of the federal and so many the same way. Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartline, man. He's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well, you know, I'm just learning from him as well, you know, trying to run more outside the backfield. It was being able to learn from Coach Hartline. And so he's definitely creative at what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think they'll do really good. So what's your answer to this? Just intensity, man. And since he got the playoffs, every game and it's like the intensity got, you know, higher and higher. And so, you know, being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, just every game and intensity, it keeps getting higher and higher.

1:47:23So, yeah, you just, I know you got to bring it, you know, each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State. You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State, they definitely do a good job of preparing us for that. You know, I just remember even before going through this process, I'll talk to a lot of players before that. And they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know, for the NFL. And so, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know I took a couple days off after the national championship and then shoot right after that. I'm writing right in sample Florida and I'm right to it. And so, yeah, I think while trained, I trained at your birth performance. I think it's called the House of Athlete or the Compound now. They did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us, man. They did a really good job. And then, what do you think of the Buccaneers? The Buccaneers. No, I haven't. What do you think of the city Tampa? Tampa, Tampa.

1:48:23Tampa, nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. I think of the city. The 40, the broad and the vert. You've been on races and awesome lockers. You've been here with the quality of life when you've got online hackers, the staff, the figures that you and you're in ready to swear on them. Yeah. Yeah. No, man. It's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well. And so, I say, you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of Will Howard. It's for the love of the receiver. It's who I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get sacked. And I told Will, I think it was before the first game. I was like, I got your brother. It's, I said, man, I'm not going to let you get hit. You know, and so I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that, but I know if I did, I haven't given up too many. And so, man, it's for the love of my brothers, though, man, making sure that the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You know, you have to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now when you need to play?

1:49:23In my game. You can't really work on this, you know, in all season, I feel like it's more so. You know, you got to put the pads on. You got to go through some things. You know, maybe it's really just continuing to run through tackles. And so that's, I feel like that's one of the areas in my game. You know, I want to continue to get better at it. I feel like I did a good job of that in my senior year. And so I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So people say you look like now that you are out there. You get back to nursing. I think that would be more. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera. Sure, yeah, man, I have a Camera. Great, great back, man. Just what he does and those 101 matchups, he's dangerous, man. And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not going to lie. He's smooth. Yeah. Inside zone from stack. Being able to hit that thing downhill.

1:50:23And I'll say the next one is probably. Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker and so. What he needs to be here. Make a couple of years. Jeremiah. You have the current. I think it's just how. He's always. Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man, in the way that. Man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard, you know, even shoot. I don't know every good. I think he had every game was a good game for him, man. And so but still, man, he always has the mentality to mindset that, you know, he's going to come in each and every day. He's going to continue to work and get better, man. And so he's definitely man. He's going to be a special player, man. He really is. Man, a lot of ups and downs, man, it's just how you respond to adversity.

1:51:28And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this, I'm not have something to lean on now. You know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity, I had nothing to run to. You know, you can run to people, but they still can't. It's not too much. They can't truly help you. You know, I feel like, you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ. And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you, in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's slow. And when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about, he gives you that peace and comfort. You know, even in those moments, man, where it's so hard that you can't explain. It's like, man, I'm going through this, but like, how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you. And so... You know, for the back of the firm, Peterson Power and Judgment is through our effectiveness. Which aspect could be to those other individuals of the shoe road to the model, from being around power and...

1:52:32Man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really love their mentality? Especially Q as well. You know, I talked about Will Howard, his leadership, but Quincham mentality, man. That boy just, yeah, that boy just gifted. You know, you see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like, you know, he should have a negative five yards. And then as soon as you know it, you know, he, that running through somebody, stiff arm, and somebody, and she would just gain a 10. So... Do some of the things that he does, he just realizes that he did really good. Yeah. Shoot, I think... Yeah, man. I think it's just like, he's just gifted, man. Too beyond it. He's just gifted. You know, he's a big back. You know, he's strong. And so, you know, he's able to do those things. And so, yeah, man, it's definitely, you know, I look at his game, and I want to, you know, at the same time, I want to learn from Quincham. You know, I want to look at his game, and it's like, man, where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better, man. I'm always looking to grow as a player.

1:53:32What's your last one to treat? Druel and San. Oh, yeah, he's going to be a great, but he's going to be a great quarterback, man. He's so, so accurate. And so, he's definitely, man. I know Coach Dez is definitely going to get him right. Just, you know, continuing to grow as a leader, continuing to grow as a player. And so, he's going to be really good for a high state. I know just the quarterback position. I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've definitely been vocal. And so, I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to ask them to be saying as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the offense and lead the team. Shoot, man. He has a build like JK Dobbins. And I kind of see them, you know, similarities in their game as well. And I know JK Dobbins, he was a great running back. I feel like he's not talked about his none. A lot, but man, his career here, you watch his highlights is great. I remember before I recruit, before I committed here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every, every one of his years here, like four or five times.

1:54:37And so, man, he was such a great back. And I feel like, you know, when I see JK Dobbins, when I see James people, I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same. And so, appreciate you all. You have a goal. You get that. This. This.

1:56:49All I got coming in the last round of the world. So I just tacked, very day. Really the same way. It's a very February. Basically, how different are you weight wise? Body wise on that from the year? Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240, you know, like 244 right now. Last year, I played like 236 to 37. What does it feel like a two forty four or a bell you feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what's it? Feel like we run around out there like you are but with more More bad. I just feel like I'm like like Lot more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's bigger Is it don't think? Maybe that's not the correct term but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year You played quite a bit last year and stuff. What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? This is gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So

1:57:52Are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an eight-stand point? I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. The Texas opener. It's a rematch. So to speak, but it's not really two different teams compared to the last time y'all played and stuff. How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the We're an opener of that magnitude. Yeah, we're an opener like that. We've been We've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming so we know we got to do we've prepared for it. I think Riley ready to play right now. He advanced freshman like he in the he in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements is crazy like he saw like the saw line to him What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself? Becoming more and more ready Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready

1:58:54Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically Mentally, mostly I think I'm there Oh I feel like it's a Way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year It's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more And what work Oh I say Scrub my game I say like when you think of me you think of like a like a bully like a silver bullet

1:59:56I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play a thing No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but oh Yeah Think of fit me because I Know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the terms is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like it's deep I like how to do the defense. I like what you got going on Uh I want to much sad. I was kind of like happy for me. Yeah, that's what you want

2:01:00All right, that's my dog. I'm gonna say it kind of missing a little bit. I'm happy for you About the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship you guys How much do you feel that is guy who certainly contributed last year, but we'll be in this bigger role and along some of your Yeah, I do feel like Yeah, I do feel like I did win a national, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to go get another one experienced that like feeling maybe on the field a lot more place Well, thank you very much You've been using you you know that almost at safety role of stuff. How much is it grown? That you can put your finger on yeah, I was growing immensely. I mean K. L.A.P Makes a lot of checks. Latham makes a lot of checks I listen to them Whatever they need if I need to cover somebody out. I'll go cover anybody if they need me to do run support

2:02:01I'll do run support and it's really what K. L. does what we do and Latham It just goes back to coach G's preparation And everyone's preparation to give us more flexibility and it doesn't matter who's in those positions And we can all play every position whether it's covering somebody or running running in tackling Yeah, did you feel like that was the case before the Oregon game? You're showing up Sam He is something's been added to it just you know rely on a little bit more go ahead. Yeah, it did I've probably been a broska game a me getting more safety reps and We had a five-week to prepare so I really learned to play but a lot more even though I knew the playbook I learned a lot more it amounted like in debt, you know, so Really just after the Oregon game it helped me a lot to go back to safety go go to nickel and everywhere You guys had a lot of issues of giving up big plays in the passing game of the first game against Oregon What do you feel if you guys need to do better this time around just to make sure that doesn't happen? Just the same same mindset. We got to challenge these receivers

2:03:04you know Every dog has her day Maybe some people didn't have their day that that game, but We'll look out there and hopefully change the narrative and we still play with the same confidence same technique and Yeah And Denzel obviously had a tough game and that one what have you seen from him and how he's responded? Do you get a sense of from him? How he is for this rematch? Oh, yeah, he's super stoked for this rematch His preparation has been very good He's always been preparing even though it didn't go the way he wanted to go that game But he just always had had his confidence and we're gonna see a big game out of him this week and You know, I know you guys wanted to play them in anapolis But the fact that you get to play them with the Rose Bowl I mean get a second chance and people have said you don't get that very often how determined are you guys to take advantage of it? We're super super determined we watch film. I mean we've lost a lot of film the first time we play them now

2:04:06We've got another six games that they played up film to watch and it's just they've grown a lot as a team same as us We've grown a lot. We're not the same team. We were when we played them week one or weeks later Whatever, but now we're out there and going to play fast physical and everything like that All right, Jordan We're gonna jump to the to assume a question here from Joey Kaufman. What's this? Well, my bad not you Joey Cameron T. Robinson the athletic Hey, it's Jordan You've moved around a lot in the second day in your career and now kind of getting some many more safety reps What is it like at this point when when Walt or our coach knows comes to you and asks you to do some else and just how much can you lean on? The experiences you've had moving around when you're trying to learn something new in the middle of season Means a lot we always talk about when this is even being on selfish Whether that's making plays or not making plays or doing your job so another person can make plays That's kind of what we pride ourselves on and it's just fun me moving around different positions

2:05:11As I'm always up for a new challenge and a lot of people in the country can't do that I just hold myself to that standard where I can play any position and excel at it Okay Anybody else need to question let me know but otherwise we're gonna go to Austin more of the podcast Jordan when you were talking about watching film or again Which one do you think is more valuable to you watching that against yourself? You know seven games ago even if you've changed or the ensuing six games for Oregon which one do you put more stock in? Kind of both for me. I kind of watch What I did Things I did well things I didn't do too well against them and Their team is that like their scheme has changed some players have been out those those stretch of games So I really watched the past game we played and I know they're gonna go back to some of the stuff that they liked of course and Different games like Penn State maybe Illinois. They run a lot of men. So just watching watching stuff like that every game matters so yeah

2:06:15Jordan thank you very much. Thank you So I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt. So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been Was a workhorse he he gonna stay quiet gonna work hard and that's all I love about him Focuses he don't really talk much. He's gonna get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes When all the games we don't want to lose anything We got a mindset that we can't be beat We just gotta go show it

2:07:19It's definitely a difference everyone working harder. We noticed our last run We most of us don't have any years after this So we got to go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home Finish big we know what you guys think of Michigan but when you look at what they did they won the National Championship and you guys Took them down to the final minute, right? You know what I mean? I mean you You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one that came against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship? But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close So I'm saying we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody carries this work harder like those No one played Georgia is the same thing last last play. You know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine

2:08:19Of course as you know it's frustrating but you can't change the outcome you can't really do it on Duel on it. You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change Yeah, definitely I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought fresh me. I was working as hard as I could but now I look back at it I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything To be to be your best 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just gotta run harder

2:09:24I think I think we I definitely can last I was just you know We got to get the young guys to come along with us. We can't play 50 snaps again. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know get that pieces on the D line and O line and everywhere else so we can last That's Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there knows mom is he not gonna sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games Of course I want to be because I know I can contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I get the job Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet But in practice he shows all the time he's just He's just he's growing right now. He has a work. I think he just has to get you know in the playbook things like that

2:10:27You guys are about the exact same size Listen you're both listen six three you're three twenty seven. He's three twenty six Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know came in he's gonna be a great player He's gotta develop more and getting to play So really a lot on you older guys that large group of young guys and then they just these seniors in your back is that part of your Task for this year to bring those guys Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders Um, like I say we got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps They got to get in there and get some work and we got to get them right during the all season So they can play and not just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex You know Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um, and they all work hard. I'm really seeing much it's only day two I'm not passing on but throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined

2:11:27And it looks like they're ready to work Also I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple nice and championship winners like team on North. They didn't they got too good Detackle two athletic detackles look at Georgia two athletic detackles I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those dick tears What's Georgia's Jordan Davis and James Carter? What's Michigan is Chris Jenkins You understand it Realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so uh, I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like

2:12:34Freakiest detackles. Yeah, like in the combine just now you see in like those guys. They're moving four to four seven eights And things like that so Yeah, definitely I think I'm top notch when it comes to detackles, but I don't want to you know get a big head But you know I watch the calm on I watch if you do the drills. I have to see like look at my my film. So I think I'm up there I Mean is I can have I think I have more than that But I think they said it I think they may encounter some of them and Is some of them why like just missed it so but I think we work on drove matching the hand. I think that's uh goes big and

2:13:37What we do is a deal on you know just affecting the quarterback is Anyway, you can't is just great for the defense, you know just that little thing covered is I you know he might throw it a little bit to the life to our players So it's something that you really really have to work on Because there are a few guys that I've seen I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball kind of I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him I load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he's those attorneys I Mean they get frustrated by you know we're team. We're just getting better That's a lot of a lot of different backs man. They just learn to grow for them Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say

2:14:42Sequan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Best back in this drive I lead out of the yard that's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with howard when I'm going to remember most Uh We're a Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like in moments where you know Usually a lot of players they fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man And he just the leader that he was man. That's one thing. I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's shoe He's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal like I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're gonna be really good backs And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing you know just as a as a person in as a player and so man. Yeah

2:15:43Definitely oh higher state, you know that running back room is in gray hands Yeah Coach coach heartline man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield Was being able to learn from coach heartline and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think they'll do really good Um just intensity man then since he got the playoffs Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher and higher and so um, you know being a but I know in the lead It's it's the same thing even if it's not the playoffs Just every every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher and so yeah You just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State they definitely do a good job of preparing us for that

2:16:44You know, I just remember even before going through this process. I'll talk to a lot of players Before then and they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um National Championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm writing writing sample Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think while trained I trained at um your morph performance. Um, I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now Um, they did they did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the the way they went about training us man They were they did a really good job The bucket near know I haven't Temple temple a temper nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert

2:17:51Yeah Uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of will highway It's for the love of the receivers who I got on the perimeter just making sure you know, um first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother. It's uh I said man, I'm not gonna let you get hit you know um, and so um, I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack I'm not sure that um, but I know if I did I haven't given up too many and so man It's for the love of my brothers, though man making sure that the ball get in their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed In my game uh, you can't really work on this you know in all season I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing run through tackles and so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game

2:18:51You know, I want to continue to get better. I I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I'm a comrade Sure, yeah, man. I would come here great great back man um just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man He's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not gonna lie he smooth Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and I say the next one is probably Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker and so Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game

2:20:05He comes in with the monster, you know, he's gonna work every single week, you know, every practice, you know, he's working hard You know, um even shoot it. I don't know every good I think he had a every game was a good game for him And so but still man He always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's gonna come in each and every day He's gonna continue to work and get better man, and so he's definitely man. He's gonna be a special player, man Back Man, a lot of ups and downs man, it's just How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um now have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's low and um

2:21:08When you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about um, he gives you he gives you that peace and comfort you know um Even in those moments man, we're so hard that you can't you can't explain. It's like man I'm going through this, but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so Um And those guys have such a great mentality man. I might just really love their mentality especially um Q as well, you know, I talked about Wil Howard his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a talladee man um That boy just yeah that boy just gifted you know, you see you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like you know He should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody stiff arm and somebody and she was just a gain of 10 and so

2:22:10Yeah Shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted. You know, he's he's a big back You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things and so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinch, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better man I'm always looking to grow as a player Julian San, oh yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach. There's definitely going to get him right Just you know, um, container grow as a leader container grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state Uh He's I know just the quarterback position um, I feel like you know the quarterbacks in the past they've they've definitely been vocal And so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um ask him Julian San as well

2:23:14It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead the offense and lead the steam Shoot man, he has he has a build like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know similar similarities in their game as well And I know JK Dobbins he was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his none Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is his great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know, um, when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same and so Appreciate you all. Yeah

2:24:59You

2:25:59You All I got coming in last shot new row. So I just tacked every day really the same way It's taking advantage very rough Are you weight wise body wise on that from your uh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 You know like 240 for right now last shot. I played it like 236 to 37 What does it feel like a 240 for? You feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what's it? What does it feel like to be running around out there like you are but with more and a More bad. I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blots better. It's big Is it daunting? Uh, maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year and stuff What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? Just gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So

2:27:02But are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it The text is open. It's a rematch And so to speak but it's not really two different teams compared to the ones that I'm gonna play this stuff How is that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for like we're an opener of that magnitude Yeah, we're the opener like that. We've been um, we've been emphasizing it a lot And we know we got coming so we know we got to do it. We're preparing for it Um, I think Riley ready to play right now. He's here advanced freshman like he ended here in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements is crazy like he saw like the saw line to him Said you're ready What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready So every the team needed Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year

2:28:05When you say ready is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically Mentally, mostly. I think I'm there Is that Oh Oh I feel like it's uh, it's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year it's gonna be the same thing It won't work I say Scrub on camera say like when you think of me you would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet

2:29:08I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play a thing You like one of my body? No, I ain't ain't got to be my nickname, but Yeah Um think of fit me because I don't know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the times is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like his deep I like how pretty deep is I like what he got going on Uh No, I wanted to my sad. I was kind of like happy for him Yeah, that's what you want

2:30:09No No, that's my dog. I don't see it kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for him I don't think go ahead one last question. Coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year But maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship you guys will win your own Yeah, how much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year But will be in this bigger role and along the summer year Your classmates Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win a national championship, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling maybe on the field a lot more place Oh, Belle, thank you very much Sometimes like basketball Want to be on that just like the fed, but you know, we got to stay You

2:31:10Yeah, that's a very question. I mean I don't think I feel like these two can answer that for the beer and now I think KJ and hero can answer that Well, I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys think? I go there every day Just the over And he got the great So now He's on like a coach man About maybe like the idea of tackle versus drug because obviously this Offensive predelite shows for like yeah, offensive line play room game. Hey

2:32:13I would I want to say Maybe I don't know, but I mean when I when I'm for sure you got the job I was really excited because I'm one of those guys is the tempo I can run with the tempo You know, you know, I'm I'm playing basketball all I can set up football and I feel like Just the fast pace often so we're running I really fit the guys we have right now. I'm really excited I know you can throw a football in 65 yards, but can you kick a football 75 yards and wake it? Probably question Lincoln what was your question? How is your Your roommate? He's a blessing man. I can't complain. He's a great guy Zayn's linking keen holes Oh I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of pick each other's roommates because Very clean and we don't like our rooms really messy Well, it's true though. It's the truth. They're both pretty clean Luke are you still cross-training in tackle some or if you just been all guard this spring? So far I've been all guard. Um, I really don't know like I said I'm taking it practice

2:33:15I practice I could end up being back attack but I could not but No, I'm just really focused in on this past practice and connection with I Mean a lot, um, you know, you put a lot of work in to play here And I spent a dream just from being in Ohio kid is I'm from Ohio kids perspective. It's I mean that's The biggest wish possible. I would I would say that's that'd be pretty cool What was it like last year first game? It didn't like it's gonna be a weird answer, but it feel like I was playing a game yet that made sense I was pretty locked in I felt like just no anxiousness no stress no nothing really. I just went in that first game was like She'd on here now it's time to roll, you know It didn't really hit me. I was like it didn't even hit me after but I'm on the like what you feel doing If like getting out there in the end, I was just like honestly, I don't know I felt less nervous that I didn't ice go and I'd make some no sense You

2:34:17Um a lot I mean I'm learning from Josh and Austin I think prior to one of my biggest role models here is my bigger big brother my first Tell him I'll be here Yeah, no So yeah, for the Austin those are my guys man. I mean even miles to I mean all three of them That's those are my roommates and they're progressing every day as well on and I'm excited to see where they where they can get to I'm excited to plan and feel with them Oh, yeah, you know, it's been really helpful, you know, just keep in my mind just settled and straightforward on the next blood It's a great question um like I said, I mean The I just need to take consistent in my word. I think that's the biggest thing for me is just saying consistent and worried about the next blood So you got it from the guy you were in the play. Yeah Wow Yes, I mean, I guess they didn't want to get my nerves up, but like I was ready I mean, I did I took most of the ones that solved camp and I mean I was already I was pretty much it. Yeah, I wasn't really nervous. It started the game

2:35:20What was his advice to you? Yeah, he said you got it. You mean you're going against high league and Kyle every day and practice me and it's not different Almost different are you now though to attend to the two-star attend to the game? As a player, you know, having having that under your belt Um, yeah, I'm more confident. I know what's going on. I can see like I can see what's going on with the defense. I know what's going on I know what's coming. I mean I understand them the games a lot better than what it was Which adds up to what faster Yeah, yeah, playing with that dust for a while. I mean if we get out early It's get the defense change in place. I like changing their defense. You start fast Trying to get the call in the play, but you start faster. I'm not going back We'll trust a lot of touchdowns. Yeah, of course. They's pretty much dead You deserve a play man, you know, some warm up. What would you expect this week? In terms of your role? Um, wherever they need me if it's left right Wherever I need to go in I go in and go back to do the front of me

2:36:21I like playing tackle Took me back to high school days, but I should back in high school was really Random ball up really into impasses, but It was fun Changes got my made my feet better. I would say How confident you feel like you play there if you they eat If they want me there, I'll guess I'll play there. I mean they need me. They need me Also in the illness that swept through the office line room A lot of times coaches and players have said like I was still relying For the groom, you know getting you experience among others What was that like for you and double dipping playing some tag or playing some guard the same practice Um, it was based like a group effort like for me knew we had guys out and we just had to go back practice Um, all five guys is Wherever they were playing we just got to go In how much of that accelerate your development like that time with the ones you actually go they really said it then Um, I was jumped in there. I didn't really know

2:37:22So So we like one or two practices with practices but like after those I was like you're out of gift you and my confidence grew um Yeah, it seemed like there was sort of a settling in practice process for you in the Akron game Maybe play got better if the game went on it and really need to especially in the ground game Things seem to take off but what was there a moment when it clicked on the field for you like was there nerves And then a time of settling in I guess how taking you through kind of that first game mentally. Yeah Um first game obviously you can have nerves for the first time starter But then like after the first couple plays Meaning I'm nerves naturally So that's first complete. I was good. I was just rolling Also, there's a weird mean first time striker player I was saying it was also Yeah You Yeah, it's like I prepared well um And camp and practice all week and I was I was ready um Yeah, I have two multi-year starters

2:38:24It did a lot. I mean I could ask them. Hey, what we got here, but I was prepared well. I mean I was telling Jimmy and said it's like a Why are blocks? Probably emotional side of it. What's just that's a guy from Ohio? What does it mean to start it? Um, it was always my dream to come here and play and start and Having that like me I just like keep going keep building those days and go games and keep building What a much younger Austin No, not I don't think Even I told like me I asked my younger self Even committing I wouldn't believe that now having a couple of starts Awesome has this happened Faster than Play as a rich No, I knew that year two I was gonna see you some playing time Now starting week one year two I didn't see that but like I was ready

2:39:27Didn't spring ball like a new I was going I was going to play some soft But It's not only get the opportunities to play but Like you play well enough now Coaching staff trust you About there whatever the situation I guess it shows like my preparation my hard work and just everything I put into this and I just finally showing up on a field There a moment the top season in the end of the spring I Don't realize that you could play at this high level With the ones Yeah, uh, the definitely was in training camp I mean blocking highly can tie every day Like he feels he feels a lot of confidence and doing it well and not like getting Ball or anything Hero in a Jason Moore in Taiwan all those guys me pretty much anyone on the deep and wine And came back as well. So yeah

2:40:37He helped me a quite a lot and I'm proud that he's our starting center not someone else's but I mean, he's like the captain of the line. He's another voice on the line With guys like Josh Fryer and Josh Simmons dining Tiger. That means another voice and another captain Me a lot he can tell you right before to play what's going on and like how to block someone like we need to do and like That's a lot It makes us more calm like especially me and hey, that's our first start. So like we were up here What what said like he brought us down and we were like fine like our emotions weren't high. We settled in Is that like something he tells you? Is that something you pick up on by home? He's acting How do you kind of sense what he's trying to say about how he's acting and what

2:41:42Mean him when we're on the side of him both Josh Donnie like he was telling us like a cool like we got it It's pretty much like oh everyone old cool group. How much do that as a first time starter? How much at the end that? Mean a lot And that was my first time ever using high pads. We didn't use the iPads in high school, but I mean you can say like try to remember the defense He's coming on silent bring up look like Probably the first or second after the I thought we say oh Awesome. Thank you very much That's it's also it's a lot and I mean it's I feel like you can't Be able to transform your body like I like I have with like people here come and do that without having that mentality apart with it

2:42:44It's like we we always talk about competitions here and our Our culture is fight so we're always here to compete and I feel like that is just that's what gets you in this mindset When you talk about that transformation, can you just give us a little sense maybe with numbers or body fat or What do you do with the weight group how big is that transformation? I don't have really specific numbers, but I just like It's more just like I can just I feel like feeling when I'm playing like I remember how I felt to play when I just got here And now I know how how it feels to play like like like just today like it feels Physically different on my body. It's like just it's I'm getting used to it I Can't feel Could you also said about you that you are just a completely different guy from last year We hear the word

2:43:46You feel like you weren't at that place mentally. I think I was but I think I had some I would say like Kind of like confidence issues like I was just but you know, I mean I work past it and I know I can I know why I am and I know I can be here. So I know I can do it. It's not like that's those are those are all it's on the past now Did the past the play time in a very obvious opportunity guys had to step up the other day? That helped you get over that confidence issue there because it's now a neverance So Kind of is just like Just I mean it's just just being here like I feel like being here every day working with the guys every day

2:44:50Just like you know you become this person that you might not have like You might not have like felt like you were before that but like coming here working every day stacking these days like Like you know, I mean, I just feel like I realized who I am and I know what I can do now Maybe I'm in this wrong but are you This is a second type of like Convention so that you actually belong here. You can I knew I knew I could play here. I mean, it's just it was like the like I just I don't know how to explain. I just like I've always known I could play here. It's just I'm just like let's go like I'm ready like I'm ready to attack What are guys the room to help you to figure that out? First I think KJ was a big influence tie Hamilton and Tileek they all they all helped me a bunch last year kind of just pushing through you know All right well playing as much so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt

2:45:54So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been We all forgot about it because he's heard Now he's running you know almost a second man Well as a workhorse he he goes take-quite you go work hard and that's what I love about him He focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes What would be a successful season? A national championship I ring when all the games we want to lose anything We got a mindset that we can't be beat and we just got to go show it Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year this year even more so you guys have all come back for this I was definitely a difference everyone working harder. We noticed our last run like we most of us don't have any years after this

2:46:59So we got to go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home Finish big You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have won that game against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close So I'm saying we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody carries this work harder like those No one played Georgia is the same thing last last play you know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine Confrastrating is that you're that close against the last two national title Uh, of course as you know is frustrating, but you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change

2:48:11I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought fresh me. I was working as hard as I could but now I look back at it I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything Oh 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder in shape It's been a pleasure The idea of potentially I think I think we I definitely can last I was just you know, we got to get the young guys to come along with as we can't play 50 snaps again That's just too much on our bodies uh Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know

2:49:12Did that pieces on the D line and all line and everywhere else so we can last that Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there are no moments you know I can go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games. I of course I want to be because I know I can contribute and And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I get the job done Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet But in practice he shows all the time. He's just He's just he's grown right now. He has to work at the he just has to get you know in the playbook You guys are about the exact same size Listen, you're both listening to six three you're three 27. He's three 26 Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know, came in. He's gonna be a great player He's got to develop more and get into playbook

2:50:23Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders um like I say we got to have them play this year We can't just play all the snaps they got to get in there and get some work And we got to get them right Third all season so they can play and not just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um and they all work hard. I'm gonna be seeing much of some of the day too But throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work

2:51:24I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last uh a couple of nice and chambies and winners Like team on North they didn't know they got two good Detackle two athletic detackles. Look at Georgia two athletic detackles I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and because they're You think about this if they want to find by the defense with actors like What's George Jordan Davis and James Carter? Let's miss you again. It's Chris Jenkins You know, it's funny like how I mean You understand it but I feel like sometime I don't know it are people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Yeah, like in the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving four to four seven eights and things like that so We'll see and when you think it when you think about those freakish You know how do you think you fit into that All of that kind of player you watch that and say yeah, that's me. Yeah, definitely I think I'm top-notch when it comes to detackles, but I don't want to you know get a big head

2:52:29But you know watch it come on I watch you do the drills. I have tapes here. You're like looking like my film. So I think I'm up there When you're going You're not doing it much. I'll let them I mean many is okay. I think I have more than that But I think they said it on I think they may encounter some of them and It's some of them where I like just listed so but I think we work on drones matching the hand I think that's goes big and uh We do as a D line, you know just affecting the quarterback is Anyway, you can this is great for the defense, you know just that little thing covering his eye, you know he might throw it a little bit to the left to our player

2:53:38I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball combat I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him I load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he's those I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're team you know we're just getting better I should lot of a lot of different backs man. They just learn and grow for them Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say say quan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Best back in this draft. I'll lead that up the y'all that's y'all decision Playing with well Howard when I'm going to remember most uh We're Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like in moments where you know usually a lot of players

2:54:45They fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man. He just the leader that he was man. That's one thing. I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's shoot he's gonna be really good man. He's on Coastal I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia just that one two punch with them both as well They're gonna be really good backs and so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing, you know Just as a person in as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely Ohio State, you know that running back room is in gray hands Yeah Coach coach hard line man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well, you know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield It was being able to learn from coach hard line and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does and he brings a lot of energy to the team as well And so I think that dude really good

2:55:52Um just intensity man and since he got the playoffs um every game and it's like the intensity got you know Higher and higher and so um, you know being able. I know in the lead. It's it's the same thing Even if it's not the playoffs just every every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher and so Yeah, you just I know you got to bring it, you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State they definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process how I'll talk to a lot of players um before then and they told me a lot of just about How much Ohio State prepared them, you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um National Championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm right in right in sample Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think why I trained I trained that um your morph performance. Um, I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now

2:56:54Um, they did they did a good job, man. They're just um bringing us in and the the way they went about training us man They were they did a really good job The Bucking nearest know what I haven't Temple attempt a nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert Yeah No, man. Uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know, it's for the love of my brother It's for the love of will highway. It's for the love of the receivers who I got on the perimeter Just making sure you know, um, first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother It's uh, I said man. I'm not gonna let you get hit, you know, um, and so um I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that um

2:57:55But I know if I did I haven't given up too many and so man It's for the love of my brothers. Don't man making sure that the ball getting their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed In my game uh, you can't really work on this, you know, in all season I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing run through tackles And so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game You know, I want to continue to get better at I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I've a commander Sure, yeah, man. I've a commander great great back man um just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not gonna lie he smooth

2:59:03Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and um, I say the next one is probably Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker and so I Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game He comes in with the monster, you know, he's gonna work every single week, you know, every practice, you know, he's working hard You know um even shoot. I don't know every good thing. I think he had it every game was a good game for him And so but still man He always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's gonna come in each and every day He's gonna continue to work and get better man, and so he's definitely man. He's gonna be a special player, man He really is

3:00:10Man, a lot of ups and downs man, it's just How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um now have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people But they still can't it's not too much. They can't truly help you, you know I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough You know where it's low and um when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about He gives you he gives you that peace and comfort, you know Even in those moments man, we're so hard that you can't you can't explain this like man I'm going through this but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so

3:01:16Um Man, those guys have such a great mentality man. I'm I just really love their mentality especially um Q as well, you know, I talked about will Howard his leadership but Quinsha, I'm a tallade man um That boy just yeah that boy just gifted you know, you see you know Sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like you know, he should have a negative five yards And as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody stiff arm and somebody and she just gained a 10 and so uh um, shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted, you know, he's he's a big back You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things and so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinsha, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better man I'm always looking to grow as a player

3:02:18Julian San. Oh, yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach day is definitely going to get him right Just you know, um, container grow as a leader container grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state Uh, he's that I know just the quarterback position um, I feel like you know the quarterbacks in the past They've they've definitely been vocal and so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um Ask Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead to offense and lead to steam Shoot man, he has he has a bill like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know Similarities in their game as well and I know JK Dobbins. He was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his know Um, a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every

3:03:19Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man. He was such a great back And um, I feel like you know when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games I feel like they play the same and so appreciate you all y'all You

3:04:43You You You You All I got coming in last year I knew we're all so I just tacked every day really the same way

3:05:44It's taking advantage very rare Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 you know like 240 for right now last year I played it like 236 to 37 I just feel like I'm like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's big. Yeah You see don't think uh, maybe that's not the correct term but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did Even last year and you played quite a bit last year instead of what do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more Just gotta get ready to just play already more snaps. So But are you are you how would you describe how you how much you're looking forward to it from an age? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it

3:06:44The Texas opener. It's a rematch So it's okay, but it's not really two different teams to bear the ones time y'all play this How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, we're the opener like that we've been um with the emphasizing in the line We know we got coming so we know we gotta do we look prepared for it Um, I think Riley ready to play right now He advanced freshman like he ended up here in the book. He stood in like he advanced and his measurements is crazy like he saw like the sawline to What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Yeah, cuz that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year When you say ready is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there

3:07:54Oh Oh I feel like it's uh It's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year it's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more And what word? Uh, I say I Scrab my guy I say like when you think of me you think of like a like a bully like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but oh Oh

3:09:03Oh I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the terms is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like it's deep I like how to breathe deep. I like what you got going on When Now I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you That's my dog. I'm gonna say yeah kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for you About the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship. You guys will win your own Yeah, how much do you feel that is guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and along the summer year

3:10:10Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win the Nadi last year, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling maybe on the field a lot more place Oh, Bill. Thank you very much How do you view the offense from a receiver perspective specific? Yeah, um, I mean, I think he likes to really push the ball down the field He likes to be balanced. He likes to Give different looks to a difference. You know, we're gonna Not to try to get too much into it, but you know, we're gonna use some motion move some guys around and things of that nature I think for myself. I feel comfortable playing any of the positions that is that is asked whether it's the slot the outside positions and Unique part about our offenses. I don't think necessarily you play the X or the Z because the put on the formation of the hash You can be the opposite you could be the X but then you're to the field now you're the Z

3:11:11So you got to really learn The entire concept and know where you're out in the field which I think Makes everybody smarter players because you don't pigeonhole yourself. I just play X You know, I'm only in this position like you get in two minutes. You're the Z now you got to know what to do You may have the clear out router. You may have the backside dig like you got to know What you're doing? So I think he doesn't just say like we're going to do this offense He's really trying to create an offense that fits our personnel really well that that field boundary thing Yeah, that's a thing in college, but it seems like it's more to clip is that is that something you're used to seeing Another offense has been Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think if if I'm on the left hash like technically I'm I'm the X you know, I'm in the boundary, but if we're on the right hash. I'm still on the left side I'm really the Z in the concept because I'm to the field and to the strength of the tight end so um I've been in offenses like is similar like that before and um, you know, I just think he One thing I think that's really stood out is the compliments of our routes that we have so far

3:12:12Um, I feel like we have a chance to really Run similar stems, but there's different routes off those stems and things like that which I think for receiver like myself who Uh You get you know a really good look at DB's and they study your film they study your splits like having routes That look the same, but break off a different Different angles is extremely important because it feels like you have some versatility in your bag to go out with versus like You got this hitch again. You're backside. You're like that's all you got, you know, I mean so um Yeah, he's just been a really good player's person to work with and he's been really communicative with the leaders and how we want this offense to look like Some of the ideas that we may have as well. So it's it's been a really Cool transition. You talk about the transitions you've heard offense in three years probably your fourth and six years Yeah, how do you not kind of build up some barriers? Yeah, man. I gotta do this again. Right um, I think you know human nature is is always um a factor in whatever you do in life

3:13:15But I think I try to make a conscious choice of coming in with a new year mentality each and every year And I think it's easy because we've had so many changes in um, it's been great working with Marcus and jaden and Jeff and All of everybody like it's it's been great with working with all the quarterbacks and um I just have a mentality and not really being complacent like I try to really focus on the things that I I can come back better at this year and I've been working my my butt off to do that. So um, I think the easy thing and when I was younger You're like dang like you just want that consistency, you know, I mean like you want that um Something you could depend on but like life isn't life isn't always like that. So um, I've been Re-invigorated because of just the energy that dq brings in to our building each and every day and and the coaches as well Like it's fun competing, you know, I mean and sometimes I could get lost in the grind, but um I think the reason why you make it here at this level is because you you fall in love with the competition

3:14:19of it and I think the competition breathes the success because um That is really where you the iron truly sharpens iron. So you know other guys are going to make plays, but you get excited to go in there and and know that um, the next day we're going to go right back after the defense. So um For myself, I'm just looking forward to continue to grow with the quarterbacks that we have um, I'm in year six now, which is extreme blessing and um Leader one of the leaders in our room and I just try to take the bull by the horns with that and so That's really been my focus and uh, you know, I'm excited for another year To us, it's looked like you're being more vocal on the sidelines to help young guys. Definitely something you decided this off season or? Uh, I think that's uh been a part of my maturation process as a leader. Um, I've always seen myself as somebody that was a uh leader by example um, but From coaches and other teammates. I've had over the years um guys like to hear what I have to say for whatever reason sometimes

3:15:20You know, and I think the biggest thing where I've tried to Figure out where I fit in with my vocal leadership is I never wanted to be like a dictator You know, I mean, I never wanted to tell guys what to do or or be a yellow or things like that Like when I say something, I wanted to have power. I wanted to have meaning and I hope you know The guys would feel the same way if they were to ask them that question Um, because I want to see all these guys win man like it's it's hard to make it in this league and staying a career And so anyway, I could help the receivers the DBs. I'm talking to some alignment Johnny who's who's rehabbing his foot. You know what I mean? Like everybody has a role and everybody has a different story and path And so if I could share what I've been through my testimony to help them or Do things that kind of slow down the process. I'm gonna try to do that because um, we need everybody from The rookies to the ten year vets to to make this thing work. So um more so I try to speak to What I what I know and and really those honest conversations that I try to have with guys what they know

3:16:21I'm coming from a good place and I think I'm out of type of guy where I'm just going to talk in at them like if they see something like I could take a coaching point from Luke McCaffrey I could take a coaching point from day on me from johan from Marcus from anybody, you know like I think that's what makes you a great player when you can really Be coachable from anybody and not take it from a personal standpoint Hi, I'm good. I'm going back to what you were saying about Clevve and how is he as a teacher in teaching all this? Yeah, I mean, I think he does a really great job of making things simple first and foremost He doesn't overcoach and I think that's the trust that he has in our group and his in his coaches our position coaches to Fill in the details. So we'll have an install meeting and It'll be a good amount of time, but then our position coaches will have time and we'll make it specific to that position and so Then we'll come in and have a walkthrough And then after that we'll have another walkthrough and so I don't think there's been a time where I've come out here

3:17:22And I'm kind of worried about what I got you know I mean and when you get into certain offices, there could be so many details where you could be overwhelmed and I think then it It forces it kind of separates guys in a sense that like one guy may study more than another guy But when you have these these sessions that we have where we're having an installs in the morning We're having two walkthroughs and then we're coming on the field and doing it like I think you notice a lot of guys are playing a lot faster And more confident because he's keeping it simple But also he's very particular in in what he's expecting but it's not a lot. So There's not a pressure of to get it right but at the same time You know it's expected of you and you know you're going to have the tools given to you to be successful out there on the field In this offseason just the totality of change from front office players coaches the turf field Yeah, what what does that been like for you just to see what's going on? It's been fun You know, I think from Mr. Harris and the entire ownership group down to

3:18:23Adam Peters down to DQ down to Jada who we drafted and bringing in Marcus and Jeff and all those guys and down to leaders we have on our team I think it was extremely specific on the way they tried to build this thing going into this year First having the right people bringing in leaders bringing in guys who love to compete first thing that DQ said when he came here Was in his first meeting like if you love to compete this is going to be the place for you and I love it You know, I mean I love bags and and going at it with the DB's every day like the little mundane stuff can seem a little boring But that's I think that was the Where you make the gains during the offseason where you're really focused on Hey, like I'm a I'ma give all I got for this day and I'ma get better And then I'ma I'ma learn from the film and come back tomorrow and ready to do it again And he also understands like the The benefits of having breaks like he's giving us breaks. We've had you know weeks off here in there That we can compose ourselves, but then come back and give it all we got you know, I mean and when you got a coach that Understands the physicality of an entire season where you guys do need breaks by the time the same time

3:19:25We're gonna get after it It makes it fun as a leader because you can take that to your room and be like yo, we got these we got this week You know, I mean that's extremely important, but you know, we have this little break coming up Where you're gonna get your your money your body your soul right? So Coming into this season. I'm really optimistic. Oh what we can be this year and I think it started with the foundation that The ownership group and the entire staff has built and now it's on myself as a leader to continue to hone that in into the locker room But I think it's great because we have so many great leaders from all across the league who have one and Hell we got Bobby Wagner in there, you know, I mean I asked a hall of famer so like You know being able to have kind of guys like that that you can lean on that can sometimes take over that leadership World War doesn't fall on one person. I think it's uh Extremely refreshing and knowing that everybody's on the same page and the message is the same Allows you to go out there with confidence and always expected you Terry you seem to spend many of your off seasons

3:20:27Learning about things beyond football hobbies. What have you did you do in any of this off season so far? It's Hobbies are increased your knowledge of this the world around you It's a question um Play a lot of golf As that they just keeps my competitive juices flowing um Uh plan in the wedding that's going well and uh Man, I've just been grinding like honestly, you know, I mean, I've been hungry this all season like I started working out you know pretty early and You start to see guys like coming back and it's just fun to like to be here and compete and feeling like everybody's on the same page You know what I mean like and so for me I'm a grind every off season, but just This one just feels like it's the start to something you know new and special and the foundation of his extremely important and to be a part of that to have a hand in that um You know, it's it's an honor, you know, and I put a lot of expectation on myself to come out here and and be the guy that I know I'm capable of and also like taking the next step and

3:21:35Being somebody that our quarterbacks that can trust and believe in so um This all season was pretty simple for me um It was just really about you know, working and and and grinding and getting better He talked about jaden before and so far. I know we haven't seen everything But in terms of his his arm strength the throws he's making anything surprising so far about the types that his ability in that regard definitely I think after the second or third crosser that he threw I started telling receivers like hey you gotta get your head around You know, I mean because again each quarterback throws the ball differently and sees the field differently So sometimes on crossers a lot of quarterbacks may like to see you cross the ball and get into that open zone over there If it's a man flattened off they like to see you get open where him He has a really good anticipation over the middle of the field where he can make those throws and give you a chance to catch and run and He's really accountable too like we had to play today where he felt like he missed me and you know It's not a big deal at all, you know, I mean him and I could talk to those things and there's been a play that I've talked to him about I could do a better job, but again like that open that open former communication from a rookie

3:22:39I think is it's very rare and I think it speaks to the confidence he knows who he is But he's also not afraid to say when he's wrong and he knows he needs room to improve But his touch on the D ball is it's amazing You know, I love getting extra reps with practice after practice with him We're just catching the top end of a D ball as big for me, you know I mean I get to track the ball over my shoulder and it's big for him to be able to Get used to dropping the ball in the bucket, but he just naturally has an ability to throw the ball He sees the windows really well and now He's just you know continue to get adjusted to the speed in the past rush I think he's these reps that he's getting our unbelievable during 11 or 11 because he's getting to feel pain and Allen and DA and Clealing Pharaoh like we got some dogs up there who want to come after him You know what I mean? And we got some great guys up front who are going to protect them And so these reps I feel like are even better than just seven or seven seven or seven I think he could do in the sleep to be fair like he throws the ball really well But when you get this 11 on 11 two-minute drill you're putting them in game like situations And I'm looking at him in his eye. I'm like we play real ball now like we we we plan you know, I mean and

3:23:43You just see no no anxiousness in his game in his demeanor, which is extremely exciting and and then you know He's extremely lighthearted and he's always smiling So he's joking with lime and D line. He's just cool with everybody and like I said like for a rookie quarterback to come in like that Guys are gravitating to him and he's not afraid to be who he is That's dope. I think he has a bright future for himself The tough losses the tough seasons. Mm-hmm can weigh on a player sure You're entering the prime of your career. Jay kind of mentioned it last year. All he cares about is winning He wants to win now is there a sense of urgency you obviously always want to win Knowing that you know, you're you're getting to the prime your career like you want to win now Yeah, I think that's a fair question. I think um, you know, you start to evaluate when you i'm in year six and you know It's how fast it goes and um I try not to put the cart before the horse were looking too far ahead by at the same time You do want to win and you want to be a part of a winning culture and have a chance to win the Super Bowl and the playoffs and all those things

3:24:44like that's why we we do this personally and I'm just excited with being a part of a Organization in the environment where now like everybody's on the same page in the in the In the message is uniform and it speaks from the top down and It reflects in the guys that they're bringing in, you know all the guys that they brought in are guys who are hungry who are competitors who Not only fighting for spots, but we're going to help us win games and when you're around environment like that like that That makes you excited makes you hopeful and um, you know You don't know how it's going to turn out until we start playing games, but um, the foundation is extremely important I think this offseason we've really done a great job of building that they have and then when a coach queen guy here building with this team So I feel like we're going to be going into this offseason really No one we all got to do individually to become ready for camp, but the The message is clear to come back to camp ready to compete and And be ready to win

3:25:47Appreciate you guys Yeah Feeling playing as much so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been through a lot You know almost a second man Uh, well as a workhorse he he goes stay quiet. You go and work hard and that's all I love about him Focuses he don't really talk much. He's going to get a job done do a job right rarely has any mistakes Uh, national championship I ring When all the games we don't want to lose anything We got a mindset that we can't be beat and which you gotta go show it

3:26:53Seems like you guys expect the national championship over here this year even more so you guys have all come back for this It's definitely a difference everyone working harder um, we noticed our last run That we most of us don't have any years after this so we got to go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home So it's finished big we know what you guys think of Michigan But when you look at what they did they won the national championship and you guys Took them down to the final minute, right? You know what I mean? I mean you You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one like I mean Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship? But You played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close So I'm saying uh, we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody cares Just work harder like those no one played Georgia is the same thing. Yeah last last play. You know they went on the win in 90

3:27:54So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine Of course is you know it's frustrating but you can't change the outcome you can't really do it on Duel on it. You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought freshman year I was working as hard as I could but now I look back at it I really wasn't working hard at all Compared to what I'm doing now, so just to learn anything To be to be your best 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean It's all on me. I just gotta run harder

3:29:09I think I think we I definitely can lie as I was just you know We got to get the young guys to come along with us. We can't play for the snaps again. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know get that pieces on the D line and O line and everywhere else so we can last that I don't know if any of us were really expected Ah yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a line I thought like there are no mom's you know I can go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games I of course I want to be because I know I can contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job done Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice He shows all the time. He's just he's growing right now. He has to work at the he just has to get you know in the playbook

3:30:11And things like that you guys are about the exact same size Listen to your boat listen to six three you're three twenty seven. He's three twenty six Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know came He's got to develop more in getting the playbook Really a lot on you older guys. There's a large group of young guys and they're the seniors in the back as a part of your task for this year to bring those guys Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders. Um, like I say, we got to have them play this year We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work and we got to get them right Turned off season so they can play and not just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackles You Some big dudes um and they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two when I'm passing on but Throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined

3:31:13And it looks like they're ready to work They have Athletic defense attack so you could eat up space but also Move, you know, right to this that is that I'm trying to maybe for a great defense to have guys like you that have some fault but Also a great feature. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple of national championship winners like team of Northean and they got two bit Detackle two athletic detackles look at Georgia two athletic detackles I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams Jordan Davis You understand Sometimes I don't know are people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so

3:32:16I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Yeah, like in the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving four to four seven eights and things like that So When you think about those freakish Oh, yeah, definitely I think I'm top notch when it comes to detackles, but I don't want to you know get a big head But you know watch it come on I watch it do the drills. I have tape here. You like to look at my my film So I think I'm up there I Become like a artist I mean you're going I Mean is many is okay, I think I have more than that But I think they said it on I think they made a council of them and it's some of them where I like just listed

3:33:17So but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's goes big and Will we do as a D line you know just affecting the quarter Vegas Anyway, you can it's just great for the defense, you know, just that little thing covered is I you know He might throw it a little bit to the life to our player So it's something that you really really have to work on It's one of the things that you maybe worked on the most Here because there are a few guys that I've seen Kind of I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball comment I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him I load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he's those I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're a team. We're just getting back I Watch a lot of a lot of different backs man. They just learn to grow for them

3:34:19Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say Sequan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Who's the best back in this draft I lead out of the yard that's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with howard when I'm going to remember most Uh We're a Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like in moments where you know Usually a lot of players they fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man. He Just the leader that he was man. That's one thing I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's shoot He's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're gonna be really good backs

3:35:19And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing, you know, just as a person in as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely oh, hi estate, you know that running back room is in gray hands You're a personality Yeah, um Coach coach heartline man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, um just learning from him as well, you know, um trying to run more outside the backfield It was being able to learn from coach heartline and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well, and so I think that do really good Just the intensity man then since the other playoffs um every game and it's like the intensity got you know Higher and higher and so um, you know being able I know in the lead. It's it's the same thing Even if it's not the playoffs just every every game and then since the key is getting higher and higher

3:36:20And so yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work Just like Ohio State, you know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process how I'll talk to a lot of players Before then and they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um National championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm right in writing sample Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think where I trained I trained at um your morph performance. I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now Um, they did they did a good job, man I'm just bringing us in and the way they went about training us man. They were they did a really good job The bucket nearest know I haven't Temple a temple a nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice

3:37:24Uh, the 40 to broad and avert Yeah Uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of will highway It's for the love of the receiver. So I got on the perimeter just making sure you know, um first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother is I said man, I'm not gonna let you get hit you know um, and so um, I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack I'm not sure that um, but I know if I did I haven't given up too many and so man It's for the love of my brothers though man making sure that the ball getting their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed In my game uh, you can't really work on this you know in all season

3:38:26I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing to run through tackles And so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game To get better right I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I have a commander sure Yeah, man, I have a commander great great back man um just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man He's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not gonna lie he smooth Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and I say the next one is probably Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage you're getting on that linebacker and so

3:39:36Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game He comes in with the monster, you know, he's gonna work every single week, you know, every practice, you know He's working hard, you know, um even shoot. I don't know every good I think he had it every game was a good game for him And so but still man He always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's gonna come in each and every day He's gonna continue to work and get better man, and so he's definitely man. He's gonna be a special player man Man a lot of ups and downs man, it's just How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God is definitely helped me to do better Is this um now have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity

3:40:36I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's low and When you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about He gives you he gives you that peace and comfort, you know Even in those moments man, we're so hard that you can't you can't explain. It's like man I'm going through this, but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so Um Those guys have such a great mentality man. I might just really love their mentality especially Q as well, you know, I talked about Will Howard his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a mentality man

3:41:42That boy just yeah that boy just gifted, you know, you see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like You know, he should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody still farming somebody and She was a gang of 10 and so You some of the things he does Shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted. You know, he's he's a big back You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things and so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinch, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am I'm always looking to get better man. I'm always looking to grow as a player Julian San. Oh, yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach day is definitely going to get him right Just you know, um container grow as a leader container grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state

3:42:47Uh, he's that I know just the quarterback position. Um, I feel like you know the quarterbacks in the past They've they've definitely been vocal and so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um ask I'm Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead to offense and lead to steam Shoo man, he has he has a build like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know Similarities in their game as well and I know JK Dobbins. He was a great running back I feel like he's not talked about his none Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same and so Appreciate you all y'all

3:43:50You You

3:44:50You

3:45:50All I got coming in last round new world. So I just tacked every day really the same way It's been very rare physically different are you weight wise body wise on that from your Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 you know like 240 for right now last year I played it like 236 to 37. What does it feel like a 240 for a belt? You feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what does it feel like to be run around out there like you are but with more Uh more back. I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all the bloods better. It's big. Yeah Is it daunting? Uh, maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year and stuff You have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more So Just gotta get ready to just play already more snaps. So But are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an 8th

3:46:53I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it. The text is open. It's a rematch But it's not really two different teams compared to the last time you all played and stuff How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, with an opener like that we've been um with the emphasize in their life. We know we got coming So we know we gotta do we prepare for it Um, I think Riley ready to play right now. He he advanced freshman like he ended he in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements was crazy like he saw like the saw line to him What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically

3:47:58Mentally mostly. I think I'm there Is that Oh I feel like it's uh It's a way bigger responsibility when you having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year it's gonna be the same thing It's probably a little bit more And what were I say Scrub my gun I say like when you think of me you would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think What

3:48:59No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but So I'll say that the Oh, yeah Yeah, it's like Um think of fit me because I don't know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you say we got a lot of freedom We're moving around a lot a lot of the times just like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like his defense. I like how to do because I like what you got going on Uh Now I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you Yeah, that's what you want All right, that's my dog. I go so yeah kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for you though

3:50:01I don't think go ahead one last but coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year But maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship you guys will win your own Yeah, how much do you feel that as a guy who certainly contributed last year? Will be in this bigger role and Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win a national championship, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experienced that like feeling maybe on the field a lot more place Oh, well, thank you very much I have a lot of leaders on the D line I So competitive we all competitive people we all love to fish each other

3:51:02And I feel like the spring the best side of all this We all just kind of bouncing off each other to see what one person does and we kind of Better than the archival box and we all kind of just kind of build one great thing What and Did they approach you that idea and coach them? But you're a jack saw your floppy Okay, so I definitely did it in high school. I was pulled back and a little bit of tidan So I feel like they kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson honest for you left watching it too before you left and Feel like you playing that seed and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and Try to do the best I could to do it. Is that continuing now? New play about guy to not know you haven't got that far Um, I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any position on the field you need me to just give me a Week or two to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you

3:52:06raffling that's why He's talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of saw you and got out to have some conversations I think JT and Jack decided to come back But went into those Respected and and how did that help you maybe get the right mindset? Definitely kind of seeing it all the way through You feel like people kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it How long the season is now what you got to do to prepare for and what they happen in all that time from here to to this So I feel like we definitely just coached in me kind of connected and we kind of just talked man-to-man and He kind of just said straight to me and I feel like I kind of both are I think we know we're making it together Making each other better every day. We got the four best Dn's five best Dn's honestly College football and we're gonna be one of the best D lines in college football Oh, I feel like I've checked in big steps in my rules of just being

3:53:06Responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team And kind of bring people in and I feel like we're kind of helping out more I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow, it's already weekend. So now it's kind of It's more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save for it because Not pace yourself there. I mean there's a light Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks all those practice How much is Larry talk to you guys? Last question right here 2016 2017 4 NFL I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it You see it in every day. We watch the film. We see them all working together. We know what it could be

3:54:06We know we could become so we know we we're right at the same At the right place at the right time and God wanted us to be here and he knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and Just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together It's great playing as much so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been Real forgot about it because he's Well as a workhorse he he goes stay quiet you don't work hard and that's all I love about he Focuses he don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes So what what would be a successful A national championship I'm reading when all the games we're one of lose anything

3:55:09Uh, we got a mindset that we can't be beat We just gotta go show it Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year this year even more so you guys have all come back for this That's all decided like that Is that I was definitely a difference everyone working harder um we noticed our last run I mean most of us don't have any years after this So we gotta go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home Finish big They won the national championship and you guys took them down to the final minute right you know what I mean You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have won that game against them Does that tell you anything about like that hey you guys want to win a national championship but You played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close So I'm saying uh, we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody cares

3:56:11Just work harder like those no one played Georgia is the same thing Last last play you know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine I'll frustrating is that you're that close against the last two national title Uh, of course as you know it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome You can't really dwell on uh dwell on it. You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change Is that as you get older you kind of learn I thought that was working hard but then you always find out there's a little more Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what Growing up is basically in college. I thought frecifix here. I was working as hard as I could Now look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all Compared to what I'm doing now, so just to learn anything Uh 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but

3:57:14I mean, it's all on me. I just gotta run harder I I think I think we I definitely can last. I was just you know we got to get the young guys to come along with us We can't play for the snaps of game. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody's like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know get that pieces on the D line and I know a line and everywhere else so we can last that Ah yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there's no mom easy not gonna sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games I of course I wouldn't be because I know I can contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job there

3:58:18I Yeah, definitely came back as a Came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice he shows all the time. He's just He's growing right now. He has a work ethic. He just has to get you know in the playbook and things like that You guys are about the exact same size Listen, you're both listening six three you're three 27. He's three 26 Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know, came in he's gonna be a great player He's gotta develop more and getting to play Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders um, like I say, we got to have them play this year We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work And we got to get them right during the all season so they can play and not just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackle It seems like these guys get things

3:59:19Each first class The those guys kind of Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um, and they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two I'm not passing on but throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work Athletic defensive tactics you can eat up space Is that Is that required maybe for great defense? Have guys like you that have some fault, but Also a great team. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple nice and championship winners like see my North. They didn't know they got too good Detackled to athletic detackles look at Georgia Too as ready to tackle so I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams Think about for today. We'll define by defense What's Georgia's Jordan Davis and Janet Carter? What's Michigan? It's

4:00:25Chris Jenkins You understand this which you play it, but I feel like some time I don't know are people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Like in the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving We're in the 478s and things like that so We'll see and when you think it when you think about this freakish Oh, yeah, definitely I think I'm top-notch when it comes to detackles, but I don't want to you know get a big head But you know watch the come on. I watch the do-do-drow I have to see like looking like my film. So I think I'm up there When you become like a artist You're going

4:01:32I mean as many as I can have I think I have more than that But I think They may encounter some of them and it's some of them where I like just missed it So but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's goes big and What we do is a deal on you know just affecting the quarterback is Anywhere you can is just great for the defense, you know, just that little thing you cover it is I you know, he might throw it A little bit to the left to our players Like oh that I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball kind of I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him like load up I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he just throws it to me I mean they get frustrated by you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better

4:02:33Yeah, I should a lot of a lot of different backsman is just learning to grow for them Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say Sae Kwan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Who's the best back in this draft best back in this draft I lead out of the yard. That's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with Howard when I'm going to remember most Uh We're a Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like in moments where you know Usually a lot of players they fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man. He just the leader that he was man That's one thing I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's shoe He's gonna be really good man. He's um

4:03:35Coastal like I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're gonna be really good backs And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing, you know, just as a person and as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely oh, hi estate, you know that running back room is in great hands You Yeah Coach hard line man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield It was being able to learn from coach hard line and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well, and so I think that do really good You Um just the intensity man and since he got the playoffs Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher higher and so you know being a but I know in the lead

4:04:37It's it's the same thing even if it's not the playoffs. Just every every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher So yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State they definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process. I'll I'll talk to a lot of players Before then and they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um National championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm writing writing Tampa, Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think while trained I trained at um your morph performance. I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now Um, they did they did a good job, man. They're just um bringing us in and the the way they went about training us man They were they did a really good job

4:05:37The bucket near know I haven't Temple of Tampa nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert Yeah No, man, uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of will highway It's for the love of the receiver. So I got on the perimeter just making sure you know, um first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother It's uh, I said man, I'm not gonna let you get hit you know um, and so um I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that um, but I know if I did I haven't given up too many And so man, it's for the love of my brother's dumb man making sure that the ball get in their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed

4:06:45In my game uh, you can't really work on this, you know, in all season I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing run through tackles and so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game You know, I want to continue to get better at I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I have a comrade Sure, yeah, man. I have a comrade great great back man um just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not gonna lie he smooth Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and I say the next one is probably

4:07:49Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage you're getting on that linebacker and so I Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game He comes in with the monster, you know, he's gonna work every single week, you know, every practice, you know He's working hard, you know um even shoot it. I don't know every good I think he had a every game was a good game for him, man And so but still man He always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's gonna come in each and every day He's gonna continue to work and get better, man, and so he's definitely man. He's gonna be a special player, man Back Man, a lot of ups and downs, man, it's just

4:08:49How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um now have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's low and When you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about He gives you he gives you that peace and comfort, you know Even in those moments man, we're so hard that you can't you can't explain. It's like man I'm going through this, but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so

4:09:50Um Man, those guys have such a great mentality man. I might just really love their mentality especially um Q as well, you know, I talked about Will Howard his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a talladee man um That boy just yeah that boy just gifted you know, you see you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like you know He should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody step on Somebody and shoot it's a game to 10 it's uh Yeah Shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted you know, he's he's a big back You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things and so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinch on you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am I'm always looking to get better man. I'm always looking to grow as a player

4:10:53Julian san oh, yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach dad's definitely going to get him right just you know Container grow as a leader continue to grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state Uh, he's that I know just the quarterback position. Um, I feel like You know the quarterbacks in the past they've they've definitely been vocal and so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um Ask them Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead to offensive lead to steam Shoot man, he has he has a bill like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know similar similarities in their game as well And I know JK Dobbins he was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his know Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every

4:11:53Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same Appreciate you all y'all You

4:13:12You You

4:14:13Well, I got coming in last I knew we're all so I just attack every day really the same way It's a very rare Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 you know like 244 right now last year I played it like 236 to 37 What does it feel like 244? I feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what does it feel like be running around out there like you are but with more more back I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's bigger. Yeah Is it daunting? Maybe that's not the correct term but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year instead of what do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? This is gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So But are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an

4:15:15Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it Two different teams compared to the ones I'm y'all play How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, we're the opener like that. We've been um we've been emphasizing it a lot We know we got coming so we know we gotta do we've been prepared for it. Oh Yeah Um, I think Riley ready to play right now. He he advanced freshman like he in the he in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like the saw line to Said you're ready What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Needed Pretty much for my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready Is it more a physical thing is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally

4:16:21Most I think I'm there Oh It was Oh I feel like it's uh It's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year it's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more For somebody It won't work I say Scrub my game I say that when you think of me you think of like a like a bully like a silver bullet I don't really but I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play a thing What

4:17:22No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but Yeah Um think of fit me because I don't know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the times is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like it's deep. I like how it's deep because I like what you got going on Uh Now I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you No All right, no, that's my dog. I don't see it kind of missing a little bit. Yeah, I'm happy for you

4:18:24All right, well don't thank you go ahead one last but coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year But maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship guys How much do you feel that is guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and Along the summer year Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win a national championship, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling maybe on the field lot more place Oh, Bill, thank you very much Championship in Nican, you know before and everything like that and also need your your teeth knocked in You know first game and you know can't have that happen because I don't really just mean anything And so just the constant mindset to continually get better. It's been on the forefront of my mind and for front of anyone Here you can ask Yeah Yeah, I know we uh, we look at the uh the class sets every now and then I'd be like oh man. They're gone. They're gone

4:19:30No, it's been um, it's been good. I mean the guys who are still here. I'm as I've definitely kind of bonded together pretty good Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean You know, Mark came in the other days like That class 2021 best class ever and my yes, you know, I can't really can't really even you know Just sitting to that, you know, not much left, but um Uh, yeah, I mean to do what we can and do what we can for this team has been really important for all of us and I think um us Now realizing where the veterans, you know, like with all guys now in the group has been um kind of strange at least to begin with You know because you go from All those guys you like Donnie and Josh and those guys and all of sudden it's Sunday. We have a team meeting after the um Like the celebration and the shoe and all of sudden the next day there's gone and you know, it's just very different So I think us being able to step up as you know leaders and as

4:20:32As vets to help bring out, you know along the team our units and um this program has been really important You know Cook's been doing really well. I mean I could go and he goes to work Um, he's extremely athletic, extremely flexible um, you know, he's a young kid. Obviously he's a lot of Development a lot of he's a little adversity at all of us do Um, but I think he's going through that right now, but he's been um coming out on the better end of it so foreign Um excited to see what he can do because he's very impressive at this young stage Yeah, extremely excited. I mean Trying to just build that culture back up again, you know like what we had last year

4:21:35I'm trying to do a little stuff here in there and I know I think we're going to Ray raise a barbecue. I think tomorrow So shout out Ray raise, but um, but yeah, I just trying to get that brotherhood back get that you know that oblock spirit back sure it's coming soon hopefully but just to kind of get those Not those same faces but those same kind of mindsets back and our our group is important right now And it's it's been fun to Meet new guys from different backgrounds and stuff like that um and try to Figure out how to you know build that and mend that together. It's been pretty cool now as you are one of the most experienced veterans on this team How much do you feel like you have to be a leader for the students here? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think that comes um I it's obviously I don't feel like it's natural to anyone to you need to leave step up and that's something I've been working on every day and talking to God about um But I have to understand that and that's something I want to continue to work on. I want to be able to

4:22:35Be a guy that people can fall back on and like coach was saying before like we're gonna have highs and lows But the great players the ones being set are clocks too and I kind of want as my goal is to be one of those people that you can do that um And I think for especially a very new set of eyes um in the woody um not only coaches but players um I think it's very important to kind of keep that steady mindset and I think for me learning how to be a leader has been important just uh Not be too hard on myself, but also not let myself kind of slack off in some departments. They try to keep um steady Just your story itself though is Testament Of what it means to like for perseverance is tough too though, right car something You know, that's a that's gonna have to stand up from somebody to say that right. I mean just Yeah, what do you what do you think you've shown more than anything else in every card? Yeah, I mean, I've been blessed, you know, I've you know, I've been blessed with a lot of adversity I think that's definitely maybe better on the back end and um you know Coach to it coach day always talks about it and you don't

4:23:37You know great leaders aren't you know, they can show it but you know a lot of people can show it a lot of people can just talk about it Um, but to be about it is important and I think um to be not have went through a lot of that adversity. I went through a lot of that stuff and um my testament, you know, has been Written in an interesting way, but I think for me to take that next step is really important for not only for this team But for myself personally Yeah, uh, he's been doing great. I mean he came in um big freaking strong. Uh, he's fun to be in the weight room with uh, he's uh He's kind of quiet like that's kind of my first impression on but he's actually pretty funny dude He and his dad come over in the kind of joke around and he's so he's been doing a great job. All right, he's been in a great job For his size. He has like freaky athletic feet like I watch him do the ladders and that's a lot of massive overrun on those things You know doing a little itch shuffle, but I mean he he's he was killing it and so he's been doing a great job I can't wait to see um how he kind of continues to develop um throughout this summer and throughout this fall camp

4:24:44Yeah, Piggy's been doing great. I mean he uh He stepped up piggy. Yeah, yeah Everyone refers to this piggy is his username one time nice everyone's piggy. But anyway, um, you know, pig's been doing great He uh, he's been able to step up and kind of bring around along those younger guys You know, everyone's kind of trying to figure out their their new roles and I think he's been uh Who may be a lot of things big body guy that you catch the bar can run between the tacos um His feet are quicker than once you think for a big guy. Yeah, really good feet. We get balanced so Best for Mason. Good. That's right. Simon For a bigger back like Back background. I don't know We try to run back. Does it matter to you if you have two different styles of running backs maybe one guy can you sort of things better

4:25:46One guy can use you. So there is it you'll just say the best running back to you I want to have different styles. Yeah, I want to talk to the same guy We'll take guys with different Whether they're big guys small guys tall structures in between the type of runners. I know You know, I don't want to take the same thing. They're all different different No, I have my own You know the size they're coming to raise I had joint James at the world And I he's my Reson Running show y'all In probably way to two ten or five which is not very big But they ain't got the new game and some guys you got most are sticking about his own And you play with a lot of aggression down here running And that could be CJ like to be James or what could be the freshman go Jackson?

4:26:49No, it's just who has a nose for giving his own That's that's what I'm going over here No, just because you're being there I'll make you pop We need to get obviously you know fresh running back from it and Here but what do you need to see from a freshman to feel comfortable with that In the first thing with that on the ball No, well, they do they know small detail Take care of the ball Second thing will be how good they Passport because it's the hardest thing by a speedback because they're not really during high school We have understand the past but by all their falls on So So that's why I need to see first the everything Jackson I will You feel comfortable with with bow and I say where they're at or at least you know They're I think

4:27:49Guys, he's a miracle now First thing first you better earn a spot on specialty Know your own spot especially The owner right to be a buck out So they get out down the field so I think they're turning the right way First practice Not it wasn't better to start the build off for Kidding stuff to work on Yeah I've just seen some of the younger guys in the room develop I think about like Patrick Houston is coming in this year seeing him working with you guys Joshua making Towsie coming home. I feel like they're definitely picking up quick I mean I was in their shoes one time and I had Zach Harrison, Javante Tyler Friedell in front of me So I'm just trying to be kind of one of those peers that they work for me and kind of just give them the steps to get there And I feel like they're definitely picking up quick and they're definitely going to be one of the great restaurants

4:28:51This is I think what Joshua's talking about Jt and Jack probably have made a ton of their experience Seeing that's a lot of tools for me to be able to do a lot of things Is there a difference in the work going to be getting through after champs pretty The last couple Um, I feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big course learned and I love that side I asked Coach Jay for it. I love getting more reps because I just like protecting my craft So I mean some people may not need it some other people needed but I mean I'm just like you guys may have I mean for me is always just kind of getting my little details perfectly like my steps my footing Kind of just affecting my toolbox is what we call it my craft and just trying to be a So I can win every ticket place. What kind of do Yeah, um, definitely just getting stronger faster everything all the above But uh one of my big things is being leader and kind of just not trying to look still look up to Jack and Jt

4:29:55And kind of have my own kind of leadership and be able to bring people into so I feel like kind of have a lot of leaders on the B-line at the B-Intosition so we kind of all kind of just counts off the children and homes And we all competitive people we all love to push each other And that's what we're bringing the best side of all is we're all just kind of bouncing off each other And see what one person does and we kind of build it into our toolbox and we all kind of just kind of build one great People Because yours checks all your slot Oh yeah It gets touched out So I definitely did it in high school. I was pulled back and a little tidan So I feel like it kind of saw what I could do there in Coach Wilson

4:30:55Honestly, he loved watching it too before he loved and uh You know, he planned that seat and Coach Day's head and Coach Day kind of just went for it and tried to do the best I could to do it The new playbook I did not know you and got that far Um, I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any position on the field you need me to just give me a Weakertu to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Kid Jack you the same thing. Oh, yeah Graphically that's why He's talking to Coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and So it's like you and out to have some conversations after JT and Jack decided to come back We're gonna wait into those And how did that help you maybe get the like mindset against me? Um definitely kind of seeing it all the way through if you like People kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it How long the season is now? What you got to do to prepare for and what the happening all that time from here to to this

4:31:58So I feel like we definitely just coached in me kind of connected We kind of just talks man-to-man and We kind of decented straight to me and I feel like we kind of both And we know we're making it yada Making each other better every day and we got the four best Dn's five best Dn's honestly College football and we're gonna be one of the best D lines in football I feel like a better player today than you were in the season Oh, I feel like I've taken big steps in my roles of just being responsible and being more of a leader and Kind of stepping up and taking the step to kind of get out there more on the team and kind of bring people in and Feel like I'm kind of helping out more I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already So when you're kind of like week 10 in you're like wow starting to be 10 so now it's kind of Did you more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save it because On your powder for the first month of the year right there is that

4:33:02That pace yourself there. I mean there's a light Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks all those practices How much is Larry talking guys? Last question right here I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it. We've seen it every day every watch the film We see them all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become So we know we we're right at the same place at the right time and god wanted us to be here and he knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and Just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together I feel like I've made the plays that came to me And that's where the off-namping control I've had more opportunities as years progressed and been in spots to be here on the ball But the expectation was to come here and contribute to the team and try to find a way to

4:34:10Push the team to win games at high level And to be better than They were latching and for me to play better than I was latching So really just coming to try to grow with myself and with the team So that was my big goal and I feel like I've done a good job and the team has done a good job progressing through you and getting better So yeah, that's all I can say about that Okay, the right thing made about a big role Yeah, but if you stand here right now, it just feels like like a different season What does it feel like for you going into the playoffs? You know, you know, you'll get the goal you wanted necessarily to make your mistakes, but here you are Right? I mean, what what is that sense that you have right now? That's different About the great game I mean everybody wants to say it's a new season in terms of because if everybody's 0-0 right now When you keep going, if you lose, you're done So I mean, but genuinely that's how you play every game You know that play every game like it's your last game So for me, I don't think it's really any difference. You really go play at high level every game that can't be

4:35:14based at home And here's the thing, I don't go play every game like it's the same thing So I would say in terms of that, no, you just have to play the game Play the game is there What feels different about this defense right now going into this so he'll feel even more The fight is important, you know, the fight and we close together what would that mean? What is your sense of The further it's so to speak of the defense I feel like we progressed throughout this season We had to make a change after game six because we lost and we didn't play well that game And I feel like we've grown from that and got into a better place and Over these past two weeks off just realizing okay, these are the things that we messed up throughout the year These are what we need to face these are what this team is trying to exploit on us So just really going back through everything and seeing what we can do better for this coming game For the next couple of questions I

4:36:21Feel like it makes the game more I make you receive it is on your dbs at the place And it makes it truthfully like those guys have to do their job when these guys have to do your job You got to be able to stop the run with the people they have to run the fifth and yet to be able to stop the path The people that you have out there So that's that's what they do and they do it. I really love so It's a great All right, it allows you to be your feet senator I said earlier just a ability to see the formation see what key to you have before the play and have knowledge of your job and not really thinking Being able to play and not think during the games a really big game So whenever you can get the call I faster and play a high-level and play without

4:37:28Appreciate you Because you're a judge actually So I definitely did in high school. I was pulled back and a little bit tired and so I feel like It kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson Obviously he left watching it to the poor he left and I felt like you playing that seed and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and Try to do the best I could do it. Is that continuing now? You can do anything in the screen but I did not know you haven't got that far Um, I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any position on the field you need me to just give me a weaker to to learn it and kind of perfect it and Kid Jack do the same thing. Oh, yeah, I don't want graphically that's my Things is talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of side you and Got out to have some conversations after J2 and track decided to come back Just want to wait into those You expect to do it and other than I thought you maybe did the right mindset. I guess

4:38:31Definitely kind of seeing it all the way through I feel like people kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it How long the season is now? What you got to do to prepare for and what to happen and all that time from here to to then So I feel like we definitely just coached getting me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-to-man and Be kind of just straight to me and I feel like We kind of both Making each other better every day. We got the four best the ends five best the ends honestly in the college football And we're gonna be one of the best you guys in college football Well, I feel like I'm checking big steps in my rules of just being responsible and being more of a leader and Kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team They kind of bring people in and I feel like I'm kind of helping out more I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already

4:39:32So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow, it's already weekend So now it's kind of getting more time to kind of enjoy it and kind of save it because That pace yourself there. I mean, there's a mindset Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks and all those practices How much is Larry talking guys about it? Last question right here for 2016 2017 four and a five two five two months I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it. We've seen it every day We watched the film we see them all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become So we know we we're right at the same at the right place at the right time and god one of us to be here and You knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and just perfect our craft together And I feel like we all are just great individuals and become together You get like good coaches who believe in you and like give you the tools to go out there and just play with confidence

4:40:36You know, not their doubting your stuff like you got your teammates who got your back like our first play when I got up there to the seat Like when to sail the IGB in a germane like first thing I said like nowhere. He just got to play with confidence You know you know the tools is usual tools. He's got to make a play and where about a play coming to you Now we're just so time to show job and you just do it and then like Say what goes wrong like he gives me He puts me in a position like at the drills we put in the work you put in the 101 So I just go out there and perform at the highest level. How much better are you right now then maybe last month? Right I mean I got way better just because I've I've transitioned a little bit to the inside Nicholas Fawcett I'm like now I essentially like catch catch technique and is Been often prevers not as not always press at the line. So it's like not maybe like move my feet move my hands like See like what I got to do just like just a case. I got to go back in corner. I can I'm playing off now. I'm very confident out there. Do you think that was a natural fifth view or have you had the kind of Consumption yourself to transition? I mean, I feel like it's natural for me because I feel like me

4:41:39Individually, I'm a fast learner fast learner like coaches help us like learn fast Like because they're always honest about the techniques and stuff So you like you play down like you pick up on all the things and then like when we get out here They coach us to like the techniques always you just go out there and play like fast spot And it's been like I would like versatility. You're able to go out there and just compete Is that where you kind of stuff this ring or you've been kind of out there? Uh So I'm really been stuck there this spring a little bit right Whenever you get it's like other things. I just bounce out there every once in a while Just like have just have fun see if I still got it every once in a while So it's as good as going to the compete at most spots. You mentioned the technique What technique you know tips and things that you had to pick up and learn from I mean, it's always like you're because what preaches the ass Hands like see it You see it move your feet and then get your hands on the mask. I was like when you be like Are you out there? Are you able to like process like the way the receiver comes off the ball looking at the hips and seeing like the way he

4:42:39Moving are you able to pick up like the row concept you can get out of that like so it's being like other coach walls for me Like as a player and just like him breaking out football to you like one-on-one It's like very beneficial The hardest part making that transition From outside that sense I really say like the corner you got your cover to you cover three You get your cover once like it's easy but you got nickel now so many responsibilities You got to see like the row concepts you got to be able to process like dying those rows faster than You got to do my corner and just be able to like everything Quit like a transition. You got to like you got to move fast. You got to learn to move fast It's like game recognition I'll definitely say You get to like college. It's a little bit different. I high school. We don't got to worry about things like that When I want you get to like college in a school like this like your recognition of plays And like you know your jobs the way like the coverage is supposed to be played I understand all your teammates are supposed to have them feel like it's easy

4:43:41What if your Very talented He's a great dude. He's a humble guy great teammate very supportive That's like a guy that you don't want to wrong because you like you can feed off your energy because like You can see like we make a place. He's like he like IGB. It's like IGB 2.0 So he's like when you get out there with guys like that with good energy It makes you play a little bit harder and it's like and then like when you make a play It's healthy like it's being out there with him. He's a good player One of those guys I A big question For because we have so many kids come out of global and just play games I leave like And then like like tracks a big part of it because To actually and I'm gonna go everybody better run track like it's minutes right You don't really get a choice to be able to just like get out here and like know how to compete and then like

4:44:46G like game builds that mental toughness into you so like Have you like I heard now you got to be mentally tough because I mean Life's not gonna be easy. So it's like being out here You know we could pee and when you down just pick yourself back up. I mean that's what being is down for me You described the mentality of the defense right now. It's opportunity for a great athlete. Yeah hungry Thankful. I mean, we know how the last last time when you know, we we had a chip on our shoulder I mean we're right and high before that game and we took that loss and we came back had to make a couple changes But I think we understand what you know everything's that stick right now I mean, oh just fighting to where another house they jersey for next game That's what's on stake and just to be able to represent this this this state and this this team I mean we understand what's that what's on the line and you know, we're just hungry and blessed that we get this opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl

4:45:47I just Mean there is a I don't think anybody imagined it imagine a solution You know I didn't that's for sure and I think after that it was a kind of hit deep Understanding that man. We still there's still a lot of ball left to be played I mean you can let it sting for a little bit But you know if you let it carry over too long then you know there there goes there goes your whole Season by I think we did a great job of just understanding coming together in this room right here Not being afraid of display or hold accountability for one another and you know as as that happened We came back we grouped and you know, we just Going right now and and I'm just blessed for those specific moments, you know losing I mean no one wants to lose but the the testimonies and the things are taught within those little situations speaks of all you You know

4:46:54Yeah, I mean that's that's my boy. He's in the r2x club too, but You know Keata, I mean every time his numbers call he goes out there and makes the most of it No, no matter Where where we at in the game when he goes out there, he's just hungry He wants to go make plays and you know we see it in practice. So it's not surprising to us Bill Rebino, it's fun. It's this back Don't give us obviously very elusive in our talent and he's not very tall Um, how important it could be to just kind of stay in your Past rush lanes and neglect a lot of balls and kind of make a difference that way Yeah, I think it just comes on being disciplined No one who you're playing against like you said then he's a he sure but he's very elusive I mean he can he is making throws. I mean he get out the parking to everything So I think for us we just need to discipline and just continue to just Meet with coach Jay me with the coach knows and understand how we can just eliminate that I should about you and Jeff. I mean Your personality seem to be a little different you more on the quiet side. He's

4:48:00How you play together four years both five store guys kind of describe your relationship with him Friendship with him. Yeah, just kind of how you cop on each other Man, that's my brother like he said. Um, we're different but very alike Think outside on like you said he's louder. I'm quiet, but you know, once we're on that field are like the same person We'll do anything for this team. You know, we'll die for our players and we'll give everything we got Room together for four years correct. Yeah fall camp Yeah, sometimes go over there. So over there We have our share of days when we when I'm neat. He's neat or you know, we might both be messy, but we do a good job Yeah, I'd probably say I'm a better kid than Jack though Tony Gertman like I help When you're playing a team for the second time and that was almost a season to go by now How much of Where one with with the scouting preparation or how much do you take from that game?

4:49:00How much do you avoid taking so that you don't have any previously notion to much of going up against On the offensive line. I say it's pretty 50 50. I mean That game like you said it was a while ago, but at the same time they elevated as a team So did we so we understand that they they had they made some changes for sure um, you know, there's team there's a certain density we can take back from that game But we also understand that um, they went on a little run after that and we can see that they elevated as an offense So we just got to continue to watch those games dissect the other games and just continue to see um What stands out and what they change from the for the past game We got a couple calls on on zoom that will wrap up with first. We have Nick Hamilton from nightcast media Uh Just wanted to ask you basically about the synergy of this defense and how you guys were able to Not only celebrate the triumphs but get through the adversity to be able to be this top-notch defense that you are a college football today

4:50:00Uh Here you repeat the question one more time. Yeah, no problem Um, I wanted to ask you about the synergy you are we're able to develop over course of the season Obviously celebrating the triumphs, but also getting through the adversities to where you go all all the top-notch defense that you all are today Yeah, I mean like you said that we went through a lot of trials to trials Um, but there's also there's a lot of things we can take away from all the wins and losses Um, and from those those wins we understood that hey We can be the best defensive country and from those losses. We understand that they're still Things that need to be fixed and I think when you take all that in at once um That comes out to the the comical or the comment talk, which is you can there's always learning points everywhere And depending how we dissect those games or how we just continue to come as one and elevate You know, we we continue to just Collect all those those learning points and just continue to grow from them And then run final question Joey Coffin Columbus dispatch joy

4:51:02JT uh, what if what have you guys done better and the especially in the Tennessee game and just latinist season you think about turning some of the the pressures that you've got on a quarterbacks in the sacks and getting at home in some of those situations Yeah, I think it was more just uh understanding the defense as a whole understanding everybody's job Thing as the season went on we had to understand that you know, we have to know what's going on in the back Can we know what's going on to the linebacker crew to understand uh What plays we have room of freedom and I think once we understood that and got a better understanding of the of everybody's job I mean it it showed this play because you know everybody knows what each other's doing It's not like the lineback is know what they're doing Uh, the corners and be I they know only their job. I think we all know each other's job and we continue to ask each other questions Um, or you know, if they're blitzing how they can get to the quarterback and you know if i'm dropping Playing quarterbacks by i can ask Cody on how to open field tackle So, you know, we just we just kind of lean on each other's understanding because uh, you know

4:52:02Like I said like Denzel knows how to play corner better than I know how to play corner So you know, he has more more wisdom at that position than I do JT thank you very much Thanks Definitely a little bit of both um And obviously I just wanted the team to win. I think we got a chance to win No, definitely towards it and then to stretch that last drive Uh, I was a couple plays here a couple calls and maybe you should have gotten but um I think the frustration more so it just comes from no one's into win or anything You said he was a little surprised how much attention you got right away from your defense. How about you? Yeah, definitely always we may be killed and more one of ones kind of how the game playing with set up Um Getting about like different covers out of cloud to my side and this is kind of how the game goes What's the process been Where whatever reason just just see that yeah definitely um especially in college a lot of the game fans defensively were taking me away Um, you know, we had a lot of success at a high state obviously the one of the boys having different

4:53:08Um the weapons and kind of still get the victories and um I was yeah, you continue to do better jobs when I hear My observation the process been like post game Getting on the same page with Kyler Just against exchange taxed or you guys in the film yeah film definitely um kind of asking what did I see there kind of go over and play and um That's how I give him what I saw and kind of different feedback Change words Mark, I get it. We're asking questions about the previous game bar You the type of guy to let a game like that winger or how do you flush it? You got to move on got to move on some long season guy What 16 more of them? Hopefully, no, I can stay healthy throughout the year and uh, just continue to build and get better each week Okay, did so much work throughout the off season to get on the same page how different is it when you get into that regular season? Yeah, it's totally different. It's totally different um You can do a lot of things, you know, insert some shorts and then once you go out there put practice and you got pads on You do like the point practice you do with the colds, but there's nothing like actually going out there

4:54:09Um, not in live action and really trying to be on the same page so I think that relationship will continue to develop and we'll get better Is that it just a matter of what happens then this moment? Yeah, I do definitely definitely um Like I said, I was kind of my first live action together um, so I can continue to be When you're early impressions of what you're on the field together and you're in the creatures with cows? Uh, yeah, but Now obviously I have a death respect, you know, JG's call or preseason and obviously be all for really healthy That's kind of the most important thing, but obviously that will help you going forward. So um That's it actually so marvin. What are your early impressions of the Rams? What do you think of the Rams? So yeah, I mean they're a good team. They're good physical team I got a new lot of new guys upfront. I think that's kind of where they're strong suit is Um kind of a little different to Buffalo come more to a little match coverage So I'm excited to build this The belt Wasn't many of them Wasn't many of them so Bethlehem

4:55:10I'm sure you think game versus just playing you know not get any preseason game actually It's definitely definitely thinking a lot out there and um You know, I think I'll come with reps. I think the thinking less you just going out there and playing definitely come of reps And it's something you know, I'll get better at but Definitely I was thinking a lot of Yeah, I mean you just got to team get open for You know yourself making your self available On the one the ball does good way making the plague Um this He's just taking you away that means other guys are having chance to get open. So That's kind of how I look at it. It's no longer since the senior offense So hopefully sooner or later I think um, I'll continue to see we'll see I don't think we're in a bad place right now at all Obviously, I don't really think that but uh just a live reps will continue to grow and show And how I believe maybe different than somebody else maybe

4:56:12You know, I like to practice at least like the positive You know, I mean so but He the energy yeah, we're beyond just though I'm gonna be honest So that's kind of how Go on Really my whole life on the NFL Team captain like specifically and I felt I wasn't a captain in high school Wasn't a captain in college But I'm gonna make a joke on high school I feel like I'm not gonna get a captain like he's there. I felt Yeah That would be awesome, you know, but You know that happens up you great, but not either way I want to assume As a captain from the Perspective guys on the video word and get back in that work. Yeah, I mean, I can't say that um I mean, I guess the biggest thing is that I felt it has felt Like how you used to pass, but it didn't take just the first LTAs and took

4:57:14Train and left and right once this season because I know what was gonna be true So Gramps Just to get back to feeling like myself for day one LTAs And then that whole first week But now like today specifically just changing some small things with my feet that is it talking about the long coach Awesome things I'm doing my feet to get to that to sound a nutritional angle that I love to sit on Thought even I thought I felt I felt great already So I need more excites tomorrow now Get on my feedback and how I like the right side and on the left side So I'm excited. I mean, obviously I feel like um In the league whether I left the right there's total audience premier guys obviously the high expectations for the left I like tackle Definitely the like the level of energy And like expectations definitely take the human starting because now tonight the blind side that's the

4:58:16Has the tackle wall you know, so So yeah, I would say in terms of communications far as this Outside of the silly stuff like that like really creating that the tackle quarterback Bond even more off the field I think has been something that's Cool Yeah, I've been training both I've been training both you know, I asked after the season there like honestly You know, we'll talk to you so please see them and I just got a text on I have this with the free agency Then so I was like, you know what I have Oseason right tackle So if I get the word I'm going I'm standing right tackle I'll do what I did before I'm built on that bus. I was trying to let tackle now As if we're gonna be left tackle And I'd rather do that than training on right time with the co-a Oh You know what I mean so I'm like, let me just prepare an advance. I was like, yeah, it's got you know

4:59:20I think occasionally on third down there be a lot of twists And I think that was my mindset for like the first half of the season Like I didn't have to go into game with some pros like oh my gosh They did that I try to figure right okay This is this is the type of rush man again. This is how this guy usually rushes If I get the vibe this is how the ends like the rush you know tackles that first year guys we got the premier patch on Already know what it was gonna be already know we're every stud and honestly just knowing that's kind of an advantage To so you're not you're not you're not oh the problem twist my psyche It was never airy don't like Come out the house like three plays in a row Two minutes I do that You know what I mean I'm watching more everybody else and you really you know it goes out there The third down You know what I mean so Fact it's kind of it's also kind of an engine away. That's also exciting. I'm gonna get the

5:00:23hardest you know those are real real reps Really out on our way to kind of process That I was I had when I told me Let me know about my mom's gonna train it. I was training all left To TAs I guess if I didn't hear anything about TAs out of came in like So you know what I mean? Cuz just like I'm cool with training both continue. I wouldn't cool training both continually But I feel like anybody any position will be like okay You want as soon as possible But Definitely but in terms of the development Um, it was definitely faster Stand on one side. But I think having that the weeks that we had to transition with seasons over

5:01:25You know I'm trying to get up to my Right now, but when it comes back I'm gonna show them to you on the house. I've got a house not too far from I told him, I got that house, I could yell outside. DJ. You know what I mean? So, yeah. That's doesn't have any stock or anything. It doesn't mean anything. So, we have to play on Friday and that's really all that matters. We're going to take two more from Zoom before turning it back. Our first one is going to come from Stephen from Cleveland.com. Go ahead. It's the final. I'm sorry. Hey Caleb, we've seen you were talking about the Ohio State Office the success that they've had. Obviously Jeremiah has been a big part of that. What's it been like this year going against him in practice and you know after doing that? Does it surprise you at all to see him having a success he's had as a freshman? No, it doesn't bring surprises.

5:02:27It was pretty easy to see the talent that he has and the blessings that God has put on his plate. But it's always a challenge going against Jeremiah and other receivers and Mecca and Karnana practice and even guys like Brandon and his impression Rogers, they do a great job bringing looks for the defense and create a lot of obstacles. Our final question from Zoom is going to come from Dan Hope. Go ahead Dan. Hey, look, you've been had a lot of success against you guys when you played him at Alabama last year. What do you remember from going up against him last year and what can you learn from that game? Really smart quarterback knows how to operate their offense, puts the ball in the right places and then Coach Narkeeson does a great job putting him in positions to win. All right, back to you. Jerry back to you. Thank you Rob Hall or Columbus Dispatch Caleb, JT and Jack Lannopson's side today is opposite off the field as they are on in terms of personality and just the people they are.

5:03:28They're offices but they are also like one of the closest people I know they spend a lot of time together. They've come from different sizes of the country so they're different people for sure but they're both really great people and really great men. I'm sorry I respect both of them. I'm not going to do that. I'm sorry I'm not going to do that. Throughout the season we would always see you on Wednesday nights you and Latham would be some of the last people off the field. For the things that you're working on after a practice always the same is it a routine? What are the things that you're hoping to get out of those extra moments after practice? So routine pretty much the keys that we need to go into the game with and then also changes week to week based on what our jobs are going to put us into doing. So every week we go through the same things and then we add certain things that we do

5:04:32for the team that we play is going to ask us to accommodate. Bill, we've been on Columbus Dispatch. Yeah, I already got one here. Okay, Joe and Goffin, Columbus Dispatch. Killin? When? Texas uses play action and they use play action to prepare. What do they do well in those spots and what's the key for you guys in those moments with Quinn? They do a really good job with I Candy and it creates a lot of challenges for defense in order to see if it's runner pass and see because that's when they're going to take those shots too as well. So really just having great eye discipline, seeing the line and seeing what it's telling us. So that's what it does. Deep right, Nick Walker, Letterman Rolfe. Hey, you guys had a pretty good game plan for Tyler Warren when you guys played him. You guys have another Texas weather good tight in and Gunnar Kahn. What do you guys have to do to limit him and what do you think about his game? He's a really good player. He makes a lot of plays and he has a lot of receiving hours this year.

5:05:32So really just do the same thing we've done all year. Just be disciplined in our responsibilities and if you're on him, you've got to make a play when it comes. Right, one of the main drillers. Playman.com. When you look at their receivers, it's kind of a whole, you know, they spread ball around and see what stands out about the way they can spread the ball around with the guys. A lot of really good athletes. I played with Isaiah Bond, last year, who's a really great receiver. A lot of speed. And then all their receivers have made a lot of plays. So I mean, everybody has to be on their peasy cues if we're going to stop them and have it do a really good job. Front row here, 10 May, Letterman Grille. Yeah, Kale, but you moved up here and I don't have to give it to you when you moved it basically a year ago. And stuff. It was a little bit of a leap of faith because you know, you know how many athletes are on this team get athletes to stuff. But when did you really feel this defense come into its own? And then then pass that, man, watching you in the Rose Bowl, you're recognition of what

5:06:35was coming seem to be on point. Did it feel like that? I mean, you personally. I think the defense has played really well throughout the season. I think we've had games where we played better and games where we haven't put it all together. But I think that's how all defenses are. So I can't say there's a certain moment where I think we put it together. But was it second party question? You seem really on point against Oregon about recognizing what was coming. I mean, you were really active out there directing and things like that. Did it feel like that? I guess. I feel like, as Luke said earlier, the preparation that we put in goes into that and just feeling comfortable and what we're doing, what we're seeing with the other teams. I feel like that allows us to play fast and can me and Laketon to communicate to everybody else. Did I miss anyone for questions here? Steve, how long in 24-7 sports? Yeah, Caleb, but you came to Ohio State to play for National Championship. And there were a lot of ups and downs throughout the season.

5:07:37Just to be in this position, the last four teams still live. You feel validated by that. And did you always have faith that this is how it was going to turn out? I came to Ohio State to become a better player and to help the team be as good as it can be, not to win a national championship. Like that wasn't the only goal for me coming here. Really just wanted to be in the team and be with the brotherhood. But it's a great feeling being in the final four and being with the team and everything that comes with that. But it's a blessing to be here. And one final question, Bill, where Ben wants to play this back? I did a lot of follow-up. When I talked to you back in the game, you said, when they scored their first and second touchdown, you were really hot on the sidelines. What was your message to the team? And that's a good offense. They're going to score against most teams. Why were you so hot? Really just because we didn't execute, which let them score. So we've done that a lot, which is something we can't do in these big games and these games where it's winter go home.

5:08:38So we got to make the plays when they come and get our competitive excellence as Coach Desa is, make the play where your number's called. Caleb, thank you very much. I feel like they're definitely picking up quick. I mean, I was in their shoes one time and I had Zach Harrison, Javonte and Tyler Friedel in front of me, so I thought I'm just trying to be one of those peers that they were for me and kind of just giving them the steps to get there. And I feel like they're definitely picking up quick and they're definitely going to be one of the great rushmen. I feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big course learned and I love that. I asked Coach J for it. I love getting more reps because I just like attacking my craft. So I mean, some people may not need it. Some people need it. But I mean, I just kind of get my little details perfectly, like my steps, my footing,

5:09:45kind of just perfecting my toolbox and what we call it and my craft and just trying to be a second whenever every player is trying to do it. Yeah, I'm definitely just getting stronger faster, everything all the above. But one of my big things is being a leader and kind of just not trying to look, still look up to Jack and JT and kind of have my own kind of leadership and be able to bring people into it. So I feel like I kind of have a lot of leaders on the B line and at the B in position. So we kind of all kind of just count off each other and others. So I've been a tough time with you two, the girls, I've been up to you guys playing with them all. We've been trying to keep us from doing this. So we're competitive and we love it. We all competitive people, we all look at each other and that's really the thing in the best side of all. We feel like we're all just kind of bouncing off each other and seeing what one person does and we kind of glitter into our actual box and we all kind of just kind of build

5:10:47them in one great thing. You have a little less to you and you got to get the shot of putting a full bag in the boat. And they approach you with that idea and two coach's team. I mean, I don't get to come about because you're a good Jack saw your vlog in. It gets a test day. So I definitely did it in high school. I was full back and a little bit tired and so I feel like it kind of saw what I could do there in Coach Wilson. Honestly, you love watching it too. Before you left. I feel like you playing that seed in Coach Day's head and Coach Day kind of just went for it and tried to do the best I could to do it. Is that the chin ring now? New play about Garimano and got that far. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And half to half percent of the seed. But you're looking back. I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any professional field you need me to just give me a weaker two to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Can Jack do the same thing? Oh yeah. I don't want to. We're athletes, that's why. I think it's just talking to Coach Johnson on Tuesday about the conversations and sort of

5:11:49saw you and got out to have some conversations. Actually, JT and Jack decided to come back. We got to lean into those. We're perspective and how do that help people be good for the right mindset against one of these. I'm definitely kind of seeing it all the way through. I feel like people kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it, how long the season is now, what you got to do to prepare for and what happened and all that time from here to to then. So I feel like we definitely just coached in me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-to-man and he kind of just sent straight to me and I feel like we kind of both are pretty honest. And we know we're making it. We're making each other better every day and we got the four best DNs, five best DNs honestly and the college football and we're going to be one of the best DLIs and college football. I feel like a better player today than you were in this season. I feel like I'm taking big steps in my roles of just being responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team and kind of bring people in and I feel like we're kind of helping out more.

5:12:52How do you recommend Randolph Passport to take you actually in Vixel? I mean it sounds bizarre but I mean the season goes by so fast already so when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow it's already week 10 so now it's kind of gives you more time to kind of enjoy it and kind of savor it because I'm already here for a freshman's place. But you don't want to spit on your powder for the first month of a year right? Oh yeah. There's a mindset that I didn't have the season. Yeah definitely definitely going to have that mental stability to handle all those weeks and all those practices. How much has Larry talked to you guys about like that? We just received 2016-2017 four NFL defense awards. All in Southeast Asia. How much does he talk to that guy? I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it. We've seen it every day. If he watched the film we see him all working together. We know what it could be. We know what we could become. So we know we're at the same place at the right time and God wanted us to be here and we knew we needed us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce

5:13:53off and just perfect our craft together and I feel like we are just great individuals and they come together and something's going to happen. Great. Doing it? What are the deliberations? I'm surprised it's even a conversation. Like, it should always be live. Let's tell you. Tell you. Tell you by a football. So, obviously, there's a proximity to the season, which is a little reckless, I understand that. But in spring, we're here competing for jobs. I mean, if I'm a quarterback, I'm asking to be live so I can show him how I'm different than, you know, anyone that can't be live. You know what I mean? They're always trying to find an edge. And if you're never fully alive, I don't think you fully give guys the opportunity to be who they want to be or who they can be. So that being said, I will cast my vote, but that will not be my final decision on that. But I will cast my vote. The guys have handled it well. It was good for all parties involved. And more we can do that, the better, but I'm sure that is coming to a close here very quickly.

5:14:54So. That's perfect. Twenty percent. Right. Jeremiah Offfield, we saw after practice on this Saturday that the mob that came to get autographs and things. When you're working with him on all these things you're talking about, but also dealing with the life of being one of the biggest names in college football, how do you help mentor him in that aspect? Yeah, I mean, it's a blessing to be able to be in a position where, you know, can provide insight or I wouldn't say recommendations, but just give perspective. What he chooses to receive the perspective or not one and not me. He always does, but which is fine. But to be in that position is really humbling. That being said, he does a really good job on his own. He doesn't need to check the one too much. He's really done a great job. Again, the way he was raised and his morals and humble would always sign and taking pictures. I'm always trying to be the bad guy for him because he's not going to be and just says

5:15:54again more about his character. But he's not the only guy. Any guy would kind of do that. We have a group full of awesome young guys, but Jeremiah has done a great job with it, handling it. And it's definitely growing at an exponential rate to say the least. But I think he's built for it and he's been handled at a high level. But those around them were trying to help him out a little bit. What made Quincy the first freshman to do this black striker? Yeah, I mean, that's a good question. I think that, frankly, I'm not really fully involved with that. So that can be, but I wasn't. I think that people on the outside would be defense or even coach day or anybody brought it to my attention. We were kind of just going about practice and that's our expectation to make plays, not make mistakes. And he was starting to make a lot of plays consistently.

5:16:57I think the consistent level that he's been as a person, being on time and doing his job description on each play and the ball is coming your way and making some big plays. And it starts being seen by your peers. And your peers are asking for it. They start barking, getting a stripe off all those kind of things. That's the ultimate sign of respect. I think with your peers, go to your bat. He's not going for his bat. No one other people are bringing it to your position coach. I think it speaks volumes of the general respect that you're earning through the process. So I think something like that happened. And as well as serve based on his peers and other coaches. Steve, I'm Craig. Cleveland.com. Ryan Day was talking about how impressed he's been this spring with Austin Sarovale. All that he's been able to do. And Tyler Bohn was talking last week about the importance of the cross-training and all that that goes into that. How much have you seen Austin benefit from this spring and everywhere that he's been and helping with peace to think he's going to be regardless of where he fits on his offensive

5:17:58line? Yeah, I think Austin's been awesome. I mean, he literally, I don't know what I'm going to say, he played every position. He was moving around. And he handles it. And he's one of those guys. I feel like he watched film over and over again day after day. His name never really gets brought up in a good way. Like the old line, your name gets brought up when usually not going as well. You know, I mean, they're literally at the point of the attack on every single play. So there's nowhere to hide. And so, but Austin, when his name gets brought up, he's like, man, that was a good job. A good job. Pass off that combo. Whatever. It's always positive. And they're really impressed with him. They start in the winter. They did a great job through the winter. Again, continue to build their respect for his peers. And then he's got a good job. Just being very consistent through spring. Mar-Leb Jeff Gilbert, press pros. Brian, since you've been working more with the whole offense, I've come to quarterback play. What has grown in your, I don't know, appreciation of that position and what those guys have to do and go through?

5:18:59What do you think more about those guys versus maybe what you thought before is just a wide receiver guy? Yeah, I mean, I mean, there's no just a wide receiver guy. You won't be a very later on. It's all about quarterback play. So I think in that same world, though, to the point is that, you know, in order to be a great receiver or a great receiver guy, whatever you want to call it, there's only one page, just the quarterbacks page. So everything is based off them. There, whether it be their progression, their timing, the stresses they have is what we're trying to minimize. So if you don't fully understand the quarterback play, it's hard to maximize receiver play, I think. You know, that being said, yeah, I'm still always learning. You know, I think that I can't say anything's jumped out massively right now. But I would say that, you know, I guess I would say that the preparation level, I mean, the what is required to execute and play at a high level, it's just not capable in

5:20:03any of a lot of time, right? I mean, there's only so much time where I'd be with players. If you're not willing to spend, you know, your own time getting prepared for practice to be to maximize one's ability, there's a good chance you're not going to maximize your ability. So, you know, other positions, I mean, online same thing. I mean, receiver play sometimes can, you know, get away from it. We do a great job studying and being in the room extra for sure. But the requirement of a quarterback to know, the fixed protections, the BR run game coordinator based on the calls, you know, to get us in different checks. I mean, there's so much they need to know. And frankly, the, you know, the online is good as the quarterback, the receiver's line is good as the quarterback, the offense is nice as the quarterback. And it's our responsibility to put guys in position to maximize with their capable of maximizing. But their inability to notice that they need to spend extra time outside the allotted time, I think is critical. And the amount that it takes, I guess that was maybe a little naive too, but the guys are doing a great job doing it. But time for just a couple more coaches got a meeting, Rob Aller, Columbus Dispatch.

5:21:06Brian, you know, you can reach the mount top. You got a banner out there national champs. I think you keep these guys grounded, being in the moment, looking ahead, not back. Are you tougher on them? Because, no, I think that, I mean, I think we have a lot of guys, you know what? I think it's understanding that we were trying to build the map to get to where you wanted to get to. But now that we have the map, doesn't mean we've traveled the path. So like we know what it looks like. The guys that are here know what it's supposed to look like. The guys that for us, say unbelievable example, how to get to where you want to get to. So the focus is on trying to replicate what they just did and how they operated. We can't say we've done that right now. So it's very easy to stay motivating because they already know it's not good enough, frankly. And so the last thing they want to do is put in a ton of effort and then not reach their goals. So motivation, I don't think is needed. I think there is a catching up of those and maybe aren't quite sure what it takes, you

5:22:11know, and but overall motivation is not what we've needed. Clarity of message is definitely what we've been focused on and the message is being received. So not concerned about motivation and the looking back, if you will. I think everyone's pretty focused on being forward and knowing we haven't accomplished anything. Steve, please. Who would you say is the leader of your YBC leader right now? I would say Colonel Tate, Brennan-Annis, probably done the most outspoken, you know, in the room. Yeah, I would say they're doing a good job. Those are probably the two guys that would jump out of my room. Yep. I mean, Brennan, he's been in trouble. Obviously, Colonel taking on that role, more and being more vocal. He's a good football player, but obviously he's been a good player. But that process for him and becoming a more vocal leader took for you to say that along him. What was the question? Brennan, like, what do you think like the growth of the part of it?

5:23:13Yeah, I mean, he's, I think he's pulled guys aside. You know, it had one-on-one conversations with him. He's locked in, you know, just, I think he saw the impact that I met him made in the role he played. And to think that we're going to lose that and then be a better group, probably doesn't mathematically make sense to him. So someone's got to step up in that role. And one, I don't want to respect them too. He knows he's capable of it. And it's just the desire and the appreciation, I think, to be at the table now, at the overhead and appreciate the way I met him, probably went about his business. And so he probably valued that, appreciated that. And he's just being assured we still have that. Final question. Bill Rebenel, what's the bonus to this guy? Could you assess the running back room? I think it's pretty much assumed both as running back to CJ and James. I think that's hand-in-systems probably the way you're going to go again. How do you think it's working? And you see third and maybe fourth guys up in the mirror. I think that in college football, any football really, you've got to have depth in the running

5:24:16back room. I think that it's very apparent in the NFL. It's usually a two-backed system, very inferiorly as one guy. But in college, I think we saw the benefit of that last year. The ability to complement each other is really important. And the ability for us to identify what they do great and put them in good positions to be what they are. What they're best at, I should say, is really important as a coaching staff. It's been very impressed with even the younger guys, Sam and Bo, and the way they've come along, the consistency, so what you're chasing, you're always able to. That's why you're here. But how often you do it ultimately dictates how much you play. But overall, I think locksmen on them, they understand the standard in pass-pro and not being a guy we got to sell out because you can't pass, protect. So we were blessed, especially with Trey last year and Quinshaw. You know, these guys have done a good job. They're competing. They've been very coachable. It's shown a plot on film.

5:25:17But yeah, I mean, it's always hard on backs. Every opportunity you get to go live and break tackles really gives you the most feedback on what these guys are capable of. If you're just playing tag out there, you never get any art. At least you shouldn't. But the running backs on contact days have done a good job. James has done a really good job growing, really excited about him. And CJ. So, you know, I think ultimately, how good will the group be? It's probably based on the bottom rising. You're going to have some guys at the top, but where's the floor? And so I think Bo and Sam has done a really good job. And many more guys to get healthy, and more guys on campus, but very encouraged.