Press Conference (James Peoples) Elite Edition September 3

0:00And the JK lied me a group on a high-stayfan. So I watched him a lot and there are similarities in our game, but of course I am on back. So I did take a little thing from the JK's game and implemented it to mine. So I could definitely see the similarity. What are some of those things? Similarity is just how he's a one-cut slash ship. He has a good jump cut. I did play a good amount last year, but of course, y'all didn't get a chance to see me fully open up. So this year, y'all will see that. But there's a lot of similarities in our game. Just how he moves and of course our statistics as well. A high weight. They may call that comparison, but then today I am on back. So that's a good comparison. What did you see from both? I mean, he's a hard worker. He came in here and just kept his head down and just been working. He has good speed, of course, good feet. He had good back and good through as well. So what were I going to do? I mean, obviously, two-and-a-foot running back. So what can you learn in your mouth about a approach to position in more than just an onto your last back pre-hats? What is your own aim for the team? I'm trying to cue how they approached it.

1:01Was this to approach every day like it's your last day? You know, every day, I know because I talk a lot with trade. He just picked out one thing he could get better at every day. So taking that and bringing that into this year, one thing I could get better at every day, and then upholding the standard as well and running back in, it's been great. So that's something I can get to go. What did you start to feel confident in when you think in your first season here? What did you start to feel? Okay, they were to ask me to take on a bigger load. I started feeling comfortable, definitely fall camp. When we started getting them reps and things started ramping up. I felt confident myself since I got here, but I'm especially in the system and how much I learned and knew about the playbook and everything. I really started feeling like fit in. Why Jay? Well, I think my dad and my mom are actually from Cleveland, and I'm from Yachtstown, and I just grew up watching a high-stake. That would always turn around in the 70s. We came to know that history of that. That's the end of the ride. Yeah. All of us aligned. It was a little bit you, that's what we get to get to get to the next year. It's a great honor.

2:01I mean, this is RBU, and it always has been since I was growing up watching them. So to be the next one in line, I got to work for it, but it's an honor and I'll take it completely. You know, there's a lot that goes with that. So that's something. The first one I ever watched. The first one I ever watched. Do I want to see for sure? Yeah, that's where I'm when I saw it watching this at my Z. Is it here? Yeah. James, can you describe the intensity that Coach Aloklin expects from you guys and practice? How does he get you guys to rank belt and satirant? Is he hard to please? Is he hard to please? I don't know if y'all saw a little bit today, but he is definitely on us all the time on him. But he always says like today he encouraged me about my finishing. He said everything was good, but he's like, you guys finished more. He said, I'm gonna make you great. So that just shows that everybody's gamers always something can get better at. Always something to improve at no matter who you are, how highly talented you are. The abilities, there's always something that he's gonna nitpick on.

3:02He's gonna push you to get better at it because that's gonna bring out the best of you in every situation. So first meeting him, where are the more of the things that you got better at just from his table? And Charlie, I mean, is it guidance? You said first meeting him? Yeah, for first getting to know him to that. I don't mean. Well, I got to know him. So I think he came down to the campus in Antonio. And the same way he is now. Yeah, man, I've been actually playing under him for a while. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, um, wait, can you ask that question one more time? Yeah, no, it's what he was. What kind of a couple of things you learned? That was your game, you know, just from what? One thing I learned is definitely like my tempo, my speed, and then off the field things like just, you know, being the guy I'm supposed to be and being a leader, and pushing myself in every situation I can to be better. He's really just, he really pushes that aspect of just being better every day because he has accepted that same standard. You're obviously in a position this year that you're going to be like a featured part of the offense where it's last for you to take your time learning behind Trayvian and Quincheon. How does that hit you? Is there a pressure with that? I guess what is kind of your emotions surrounding the potential to be a real patient?

4:04No added pressure at all, you know? I had to train Q-runner, I was like, okay, I just got to learn. You know, so I had to take that patience with it, but no, you know, your time is coming, but you just got to wait. So I've been waiting for this. And of course, like I said, I still got to work for it. We got great backs in the room, but you know, just holding myself to that standard every day and pushing myself to be better. My first rating was, you know, it was going in the last year, and kind of in trash time, you ever made any pop-up duty, etc. Like you said, you haven't really gotten your show, what you really all about, and a game fit, and you know, that'll help us stay. My first rating was that, but how did it help you get into this room? It's just a maturity thing, you know, you got to mature. You got to know it was like, okay, I got to wait my turn, you know, there were both great backs, and I knew that I got to take up what I can from the situation. So that was all, I was just taking what I had to do, what I did from the situation. Oh, honestly, I leave that up to y'all to describe, you know, I know my game, and of course this season, this season, they started,

5:06but I definitely say I'm like a slash, kind of back, but I'm going to have to y'all to decide. I'm Texas Recruit, team the 417 Ohio State, why do you think Texas football compares you for Ohio State? You work, West! I think Texas is the best ball, some of the best athletes out. So especially in the run-up acquisition, because this is like that. So I mean, Texas, the coaches, and how we parent, I know we like, there's not every state, you know, you got all season football, all season. So I just feel like the development and the coaches, stuff like that, but, I mean, just great players all around, but guess there's a trend, you know. You mentioned, though, how about Terba Rogers, what have you seen from him in the first couple of times? Terba, Terba's not here yet. Isaiah, Isaiah West is another guy, he's recovering, he's paying attention, but Terba gets here, he comes in this Friday, he's going to be here this Friday. How about Isaiah? Yeah, Isaiah, yeah, he's been a guy, he's really dialed in, you know, and he's not matured in the mid, that his A-T may be right now, because, you know, he's healing, he's getting better in, I'm pretty sure he'll be back for our fall camps that we get to see him shine.

6:10Stany confidence in the team, it's early, it's a long year. We've been through worse, and I think we'll respond well. Dr. Cup weeks ago, about feeling the loss, what is the balance of feeling this loss and when you have a game in a few days? Yeah, I think we need to turn the page on this one. It's pretty clear what happened and why we lost, so I think it's kind of a blessing in disguise that we're playing on Thursday. The second change is preached by coaches every week in the NFL to go from a blocked field goal attempt where you score a touchdown. Moments later, you lose your kicker. It's a pretty big swing. How did you, how did that affect things you think? Yeah, I mean, not having your kicker is tough, and hopefully it's going to be all right, but Mitch did a good job on his one kick, but it shouldn't really come down to that in the end.

7:10You know, a lot of missed tackles, especially in the second half. Is the heat a factor in that? Just the game going on and on in that heat? Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say it affects people on long drives, but Conner's a really big good back, and he makes people miss. I think I had a couple of miss there too, so just got to get him down. Yeah, I had like 12-14 yards before the last two drives, and he had 72. Were they doing anything differently with him? Yeah, they were, they were giving us a different look on the zone read, and I think in all of our losses, the preparation we've had has been great, but teams are playing us different and doing things differently, and we need to adjust a little better, just showing different looks and kind of,

8:11than what we were looking at on tape. So she got to adjust and get him down. It needs recovery time, but how much of you would it help to play on Thursday in Seattle, and try to, you know, just get back on the field. Yeah, like I said, I'm happy that we're going to get right to it. Before the interception, would Kyler made a check on the plan of scrimmage? Kind of looked like you were intently listening to what he said, did he say something that kind of dipped you off? No, honestly, I felt the downblock, and then I just kind of saw those guys peel off for screen, and I think I was kind of low in hiding, and he couldn't see me. I'm just glad I caught it. Is this about the team learning how to finish? Yeah, finishing and playing complimentary football, it's definitely something we've been good at throughout the years, and like I said, we got to stop losing games, but I haven't lost any confidence in the team.

9:14There's a shift in momentum, like the first half and the Los Angeles game, and that's why you had a lot of momentum going into the halftime. And then you have an instant. Yeah, I mean, there's so many opportunities to put teams away, and we're just not doing it right now. On the quarterback, Kyler took it outside. Your responsibility is to crash on that first drive. It was, yeah. It was, yeah. Thanks. Yeah. I mean, feels good. Just say somebody going out there and playing with a man or man, guess Ohio State receivers, it's something crazy. But you know, we just ready for the challenge. They said they're not chasing their game plan, but we got to go out there and show them the reason why not to play with them. We're in a preparation announcement of the 12th, 26th, and the subject is not going to be right now. We're going to be the conversation. Yeah. I mean, I don't really, if I be on a curve, I be on a curve.

10:16I mean, it's not really a big deal to me. It may definitely be a blessing for sure just to be on a curve of a game, but you know, it's not really a dream of mine. It's a dream of mine, but I don't really think too much of it. I mean, no, not yet. Probably hit me after this easy. No, just no playing in the Carlos football playoffs as a freshman, playing in the Rose Bowl as a freshman, playing in the Cardin Bowl, not in the National Championship. I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but it hasn't hit me yet. I'm sure. I'm putting it right here. I'm sure about what you're paying me on that, too. My favorite catch, I would say. We played Michigan State on the one I caught, but two defenders. Definitely probably my favorite for sure. Or you could go the one from Iowa, I should say, and answer probably them, too.

11:38I don't, I mean, like you said, it's pretty frustrating me having a game that I had in the Rose Bowl, and they're coming to the Cardin Bowl, and they're just doing different things, chasing their scheme up against me. But I mean, like you said, whatever I could do to make, I mean, help the team win. It's not really a big deal for me, and long as we win, that's all I really care about, and it got us to the National Championship. It means a lot. We put a lot of work in this season. We have highs, we have lows, we have people cutting us out. But we hear now, we just ready to put on a show Monday.

12:38Yeah. First of when there's a National Championship, because there means a lot. I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year, people saying he should be fine, and there's that in the third. But I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year. I mean, I seen everything that he bent through this year, I see everything, people saying my hand on Twitter. I wasn't here, he first got the head coach on job, but I know this year, for sure, we definitely got to win this for him. I mean, it's a lot of people in the league, I should say. I can't really say who, but I mean, you had guys like Odele, you had guys like Odele, you had Stefan Dix. It means a lot of Michael Thomas Chris Carter, just a lot of guys I played in NFL, and stuff like that. But yeah, really them guys for sure.

13:42No, just keep going. You got it, you've next up for sure. Really, I really appreciate that. Like a physical defense, like people say, like they like to play men, they're not changing their skin. You're just ready for the challenge. Like you said, best defense, we probably go see all year, and we just got to be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show. I'm excited for Will. First coming here in Ohio State, January, our first workout we had together. Just everything that we did through the season. I'm just happy for him to be in this position right now, but we got to finish the job and that's the winning out of the O Monday.

14:44I'm just saying that because I'm just only a freshman, but I mean it's a blessing for sure people to even say that, but I got two, three more years left of college. I'm just focused on college right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. It's very special for me. Just being a freshman and playing on the national stage, up here for a national title was something that I dreamed of as a very young kid. I'm just happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on a show Monday for you guys.

15:45All of the seats we were just sitting on the bench and we just sitting here and hitting the quarterback in the ball. We all just got up and just started jumping up and down. We all decided. Happy for jacking that moment and we just knew that that moment was like, we're going to the daddy for sure. How does that feel to have that moment so that it is the same as the other thing? Me and so is a lot going from high school or winning three-state championships, I saw my mom and daughter then coming to Ohio State, just competing for national title right now. Me just so that I've picked two great schools, but I'm happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on a show Monday.

16:45The coolest person? I mean you got a lot. I can't really say just a specific person. You got a lot of great guys re-challenging the lead like O'Dell. You have guys like Stefan Dicks. A lot of other players will just get cut off my mom, but really them two guys will show O'Dell a Stefan Dicks. When you're looking at their name, you got on your mind, trying to attack and try to dominate. Yeah. Like they say, they play man, so I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no put on a show. Thank you. The vice-geno had gave me. I said just keep golf first. I know the reason why I'm here.

17:46Like he said, just keep golf first and just no keeping the main thing and the main thing. And the best corner I've faced this year. I mean I've faced a lot of great corners. I can't really say, but yeah, I've faced a great lot of great corners. I can't really put a name on it. My dream vacation is Teres and K-coats. How good are you? I say both respect and frustration as well.

18:48But I mean I thought they come out there and try to put to me and they say stick it to what they've been doing all year. And that's playing man coverage, which is ready for the challenge. Pretty good group Christian Grey 29th is a great corner. 15, Lenard Moore. Two great guys are right there. Very physical, but we all have to receive it so we're ready for the challenge. I'm saying just no understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what Coach Kelly is trying to get done. I mean just coming in, I felt I progressed from my first game against Akron to now.

19:53I felt I got better each and every week. I mean, things slowed down a lot for me. I really just know understanding Devices and understand what they're trying to do to me for sure. Two guys, great. Part of the best we're going to see all year for sure. Two physical guys. But we're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man no man. And we're ready to go on Monday. Yeah. I mean, the environment is pretty crazy. Seeing all these cameras. Suddenly I never thought I'd see them alive, but it's a blessing for sure. There's the main disposition right now. We just had a prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer meeting and you know we all, they all, I mean we all discussed the issues because they discussed these issues.

21:02And you know, we just want the work. I mean, not two and a half weeks we had off before Tennessee game and we just played came out there on Tennessee game and we played with a chip on our, on a chip on our shoulder. All throughout the playoffs and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and that championship on Monday. Do you know how that very impactful, he had a very impact on my career I should say, you know, just going to his games. I was a very young kid, seven, eight years old, him playing Westwood, him playing for West Virginia and they played Clemson Orange Bull down in Miami. I mean, just going there seeing his games, it was like, yeah, I definitely want to play on the stage and I can wait till I get to know that moment for sure. Who are you? I'm close to gay, because they really just in his own, his own love space. He's just walking around trying to get his mind right trying to get his mind ready for the game.

22:07But you know, he, he just gave everybody hype in the locker room and you know, just trying to get us ready to go to win the game. Yeah. Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, you go play mangas or higher receivers. I mean, just be ready because you know, we definitely go come out there and know. Give our best. I mean, they said not to change what they do. So we just ready for the challenge. You're the reason why you see this kind of situation. Not a year later, definitely sometime my career college, but not my first in college, I should say. I mean, just to be able to be in this position right now is, you know, a blessing or just a young kid from Miami to be here. And I won't take it for granted. I'm ready to go out there and give him a call.

23:18Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching a game against was it Georgia? I believe yeah, I was in a game. I was pretty sick myself because I was actually committed at that time. So I mean, yeah, it left a bad taste name off, but I mean, we ready to go out there and Monday to redeem myself and just put a show Monday. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, me, I just laugh. But you know, that's what they do. They're not going to change what they do just because we're a higher state. So I'm just going to go out there and put it on. Put it on why not to play. Man, no man, it gets us. So we just got to go out there and show them Monday.

24:29Can you say the year? Sorry. My journey here at Ohio State repaired me a lot for not just shape of shit. Me just going through everything that I've been through. Not first got here all the materials all the hard work guys that we had all the hard practices. Just preparing all of us for this moment. And I'm just ready to go out there and give it up my all Monday. Okay. Okay. Yeah. We just squeezed this. 200. 200? I mean, he is big and strong. Yeah. Yeah. Go.

25:35What's it going on? What's 20? Yeah, that's great. Yeah. It's pretty good. No problem. Yeah. Why not part of the most is the one against Michigan State when I caught over two defenders on their side line. Part of the line or the one after that I should say or you go the one against Iowa. Part of them three. Part of my best ones for sure. Oh, I mean, just we'll put in the ball in my area and I just know how to make a play for them.

26:40Even though somebody was gathering my face, I just know I still have to make a play because the ball touched my hands. I mean, just when the ball is the other thing, I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes at me. After a big game, I mean, we really, they really feed us Chick-fil-A or piece after the game. So it's really either Chick-fil-A or piece. So yeah, probably Chick-fil-A for sure. Yeah, man. Yeah. It went pretty good. Everybody just speaking with their thing is going right in what they think is wrong.

27:40Which is a lot of the older guys, Western Air Peans, what we need to do to come to get us a team. But you know, that me and Deftly helped us in a big way because it helped us on the field as well because we played our great football right now and we just got to to you that one Monday. Yeah, it definitely got emotional. Can't really say what really was said because that's not players only and coaches only. But it was definitely some stuff said that people took people took and they went with it and that's the reason we're playing the Wies and Rowery playing right now. Yeah, make help me a lot this year. Him being our older guy in the room. Me help me and Carlisle as well and Brendan and his and all the guys in our city room as well. Me just a great guy as well. Very smart. I mean, make just been a big part of the reason that I'm having a seat that I'm having a walk because he's been a big.

28:40You know, older guy been there, been a lot of great guys in our room like Chris Alivegaer, Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson, Smith and Jibba. So he's seen all the grids I've been through there and me teaching us the right thing and the right way and in the buck out way for sure. We heard a lot of good things about a lot of business here. So I'm going down the gate hours of our release. Are you envisioning right now that you want this to be a five six person operation? Yeah, well, I mean, I think Coach Daze talked about it a lot, right? It's gonna 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 when 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 some 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. Now you have to say, hey, okay, not only within games, can we keep guys fresh? Right?

29:48But 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? I think that's it's kind of a full full fan, right? So I feel confident with five guys and that's going to be week to week. You know, like these guys know, I think honestly, you start 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 complications due to the whole fault. I always felt when I was here that they were trying to out recruit me, which is the reality, right? Yeah. Which is why it prepares you so well for the National Football League. That's why Ohio State prepares you so well for the league because now it's like they're trying to out draft you.

30:50And 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 thought like, should it fit to happen to them that can happen to me. So I just tried to be a certain way in practice. Like I told the guys all the time, you have to control the things that take no talent. You have to eliminate all loves like if you if you loaf on the field, you're a trader, like you should just go play for their 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 loaf and you're definitely not going to catch me not knowing what I'm supposed to do. I might get beat. And that's that's inevitable. It's football everyone's got to show right. But those two things you control everything. What's the next step? I think it's just and you know, we haven't we haven't done like any of my series. You know, 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, even more on the strike.

31:59He'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 a wild backer. So the next time he sees it, maybe throw catch tackle is an intersection. You know what I 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 was driving. So he's made great progress and I'm really happy with without something done. James, look at recruiting. It's one really well for you. Obviously we can't talk about specific recruits, but just overall how do you feel like that's going and are you enjoying your food? I am. I am enjoying. I think it's it's fun to build relationships and get to know so many different types of kids, you know. Ohio State presents opportunity, right? And so many different ways. You're not going to get developed better anywhere else in the country. You have the largest fan base, largest alumni, major's opportunity everywhere, right? So you try to just explore like explain your passion for the school that did so much for you, you know, especially being an out of state kid, not being from Ohio.

33:09And 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. 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. You know what I mean? I knew where I was fitting. And so now if I can impart that information on kids who are extremely athletic, well now you're now you got something special. How much of you guys have already talked about long season and the need to play more guys? Well, I think yeah, you're going to have to have depth. That's just reality, right? It's a longer season. There's more games. And there's no excuse at a place like here like if you're all on playing with a maybe a guy who was third or fourth, you know, matter. You know, like you got to be ready to go. So I think depth is crucial at all of the vision.

34:13Because 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 needed? But you want them to happen. 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 it? 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. That'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.

35:19Right. And we'll just keep getting better and better and better if they want to be the best. Two more questions for Dave. Yeah, that's I mean, I think that's your job as a recruiter is you got to figure out what's the mindset of the kids. And are they 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 coach is. 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 it means in college it's 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 already talked about it. But he's a little bit of the elevations from our bell from end of the class. Obviously, Mr. Timel, last year was the injury where he's at now versus the expectation that he had to move his brain. Our bell is I mean, showing a lot of progress, you know, most importantly, you know, mentally with the playbook and everything. I think our bell.

36:19Last 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 and 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 is at a good spring. He's 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, and I have probably the biggest risk of what has changed the time that you've been recruited to now that you're visiting. Like, are there other differences you've noticed in your own area? No, I think it still comes down for the most part. Like, NIL is certainly an aspect for some.

37:21For 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 be 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 can you convince mom and dad that you're the right person to do that, you know what I mean? 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, you know, so there's no sense of trying to leave here. You know, and the other question I get a ton is, what do you see yourself in five years? I'm like, where I'm sitting?

38:23My 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 in advantage. Okay, so I know you've been working with, you know, kick off and punch teams as well. You look back with like 40 or 30. You're getting 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 punks if you're a linebacker. You better be making an impact on kick return or on kick off, kick off return, punt return, all those things. You're 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.

39:23That sense of team when you're in special teams that we every position matters. If you're interested, someone has been in a foul. What do you think will be in a foul? Do you think that's like it could be good for college? I mean, the thing that stands to take away like the surprise on time, 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 triples down. It seems like everything is tripled down. So we'll see. As of right now, we'll keep things going the way they are. All right, James. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks, guys. Thank you. I'm happy. I think you see three, four people around. You can't really do too much. Like I said, there's a lot more space with his offense, a lot more holes in the defense that you're trying to get the playmegers into. So I'm excited to be able to work with that. You can't really do it as much in practice. You know, you're not going to get hit, but more preseason and first couple games, I'm excited to see see what that looks like.

40:25I'm kind of thinking of the sheets, uh, especially. I'm excited, man. Like I said, from jump, uh, he's a special, special player. You don't really get that so many players like him that's so quick, so fast, uh, at least speed and anchor around routes too. So I'm excited to see what he does in the future, but I feel like that's the least they can do for him this year. How do you think he would get me out of the way for another? It's just speed, man. Speed. You can't teach speed at all. Just having us on opposite sides, even playing both sides. Uh, just speed down the field. You can run 15, 20 yard in breakers out breakers. And, um, like I said, you're going to have to play two safes most of the time. Or you can run the ball. You can get underneath the routes. It's going to be a great compliment to the offense. So I'm excited. Chris, you said you hope this new office will put a playmaker in the position of that place. What about you specifically? What's an area where you think you'll have more opportunities? Um, like it's a lot of areas that you can see to, to look at, to improve my game.

41:30But yards out the kisses to when I'm looking forward to just more opportunities with that more space. Just to showcase my speed and, uh, my, my ability with the ball. So I'm excited to do that this year. Uh, something that I really showcase the first two years. So I'm excited to be with. It's something that I think the quick game element of it just getting the ball in your hands. Yeah, quick game play action. Uh, more over the, over the middle routes. It's a lot of different things that, uh, you could say that this guy's going to help that. But like I said, I'm excited. How would you describe the chemistry between you and the Garrett and the Golem? We're getting way better, man. I mean, it was our first year last year. So it was, it was kind of up and down, but, uh, that's what it comes with the game of football. So, uh, we worked a lot this off season, OTAs, which was really good. And we got off to a good start these first two days at camp getting extra working. But that's going to come with time. So I'm not worried about that at all. We both competitors. We both want to be the best. So, uh, we got it.

42:31We got it. Uh, do some to, to be good. So, uh, where do you kind of notice that difference? It's just like, feel on the route. What do you kind of notice now that it's here to get some more nap? What do you mean? It's like, dirt. For you and your dirt. Oh, uh, we, we kind of know. It's just like, it's more than that, man. It's NFL. Everybody, you know, everybody's good. So we just got to know what each other is thinking, pre snap, post snap, coverage is where the wall's going to go. Uh, just reads, uh, what read I am and then the progression, uh, everything goes along with that. So, uh, just being on the same page, being, uh, like I said, chemistry is built with time. So, uh, it's just little stuff like that that turns into big things is, is going to be huge. You caught one from, uh, Spencer Rallard at A2, whatever your early impressions from. Uh, it's, it's real talented. That's the first thing I've seen from him. His arm talent is out the charts. Uh, he's, he's a real natural, uh, natural feel out there. Uh, he's, he's going to be real good. I want to see him in action, but, uh, from, uh, from my first impression, he's, he's going to be a real good player.

43:31It's going back to the sheet that, you talked about all the different stuff he should do. You think there's still a lot more there for him? Oh, yeah. Uh, he hasn't really, I think this is the first year of being receiver two or really receiver. Uh, in my opinion, we both are receiver one. So, uh, just be able to move around, run real routes. Um, feel like it's going to be a huge advantage for, for the same. Uh, it's a special player and I can't wait to see him ball. And I can't wait to see him get more opportunities. And you're going to see what he can do. I'm wondering if I run real routes. He's like an opportunity to run. Yeah, just, just getting more, you know, he hadn't really played too many plays in his first few years. He kind of just get thrown in there when, uh, when he's getting the ball or, uh, when he's a decoy or something like that. But he's actually being involved in the offense, always being in, um, even on run plays. Uh, so every time that line in your used to say, I was kindaoelized, I think welcome like somebody to come to us for a couple of years and then come to us.

44:32Here's a big talk, man, if you're watching lately, including the day group. You're just teaching it, donts, you know, these kind of joined lightstorn. The first helpless holding the display. This girl is a sniper real throw here into room, old squad right here is surprised. That's not really who we are, you know what I'm saying? As you get more opportunities as you can see, you can see you can do more and more. That's what anybody on the team. So I'm excited, like I said, for his huge opportunities, I'm going to get this year. And it's going to be a big one for the Saints. Does this scheme ask for more blacking from receivers as they're more responsibility? Oh yeah, for so. I mean, that's what I told you too. I've got the black and I know we're not the biggest guys or the strongest, but like I said, we want to be on the field. We got to be on the field for the play action plays, all those things. So we both got to go block D-line and block linebackers, but that's what's coming football. So we both got to take that next step in our game.

45:33Is that something where there's like a payoff? Like you guys know you play from play action next time? Yeah, it's going to be a huge payoff. Like I said, most of our office is based on play action. All the in-breakers, all the yards at the catch up plays. So we got to go in there and block. And like I said, take that next step and be able to be great for our team. Like being here? Oh yeah, so. I feel the weather out here, man. That's what I'm used to not using the war and it's out there trying to catch my breath. It's a great opportunity for us. You got a chance to see family and friends at all, so this is their football friend here? Not yet, but they don't come out or something. Appreciate you, Helena. Thank you very much. Thank you guys for being on that league football. First game on the football team. I mean, it feels good to rip off these runs because I mean we put in so much work on this. It's a practice and seeing the product that we're working on.

46:34So this goes here. I'm just saying that there's a lot of sense that just off its line wise, it's just you know, prepare this week with Donald. Back in there. It's all hope for staff really this season. You know, it's not taking Austin. It's just more of Donald and Jackson preseason all American, etc. I'm enjoying the group, you know. Donald and Jackson is a very good football player, man. When he's on the field, he makes his presence tough. I mean, we've all been training on that. There's no tomorrow just going to be the team. Yeah, there's a seat to be. There was a sense we've watching you guys last week. No, we're even more of a force. It felt like watching you guys. Maybe even any help. Did it feel like that? Yeah, I mean, we put in the work during practice. We practice really hard. Coach, they really challenge us to practice hard. Positions. Coach, they really challenge us to practice hard. That was just a result of it. But when it's rolling like that, what does it feel like being in the mix with that being along with that? It's us. It's.

47:34When you work hard for something and you're able to see like what comes out of it, like that's there's no better feeling in it. Hi, Greg. Can you hear me? I'm in the car. I'm in the NIO. Can you adjust for that? It's good that you guys sway here. And I know you're so. No, I mean, I was really funny to see. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to be in the next match. Maybe I'll get a fraction. What has Seth been up for? We brought some of you guys for the first two games. What's it been like playing next match for the last two? He's. You know, he's really calm and stormy. You never see real panic and having a guy like that next to you. You know, you're having really played as many meetings for snaps. There's no one outside of the rest of my left and some of my right. And you know, for our end set, you know, those guys, they do so much for this offensive line. People talk about his intelligence really kind of showing up in the film room and on the field.

48:37Where have you noticed that intelligence and how has that helped you? Yeah, like I said, and crunch time, you know, when things aren't exactly looking like how we practice it, you know, having a guy like that will slow down. We'll do this, this, this, and then we execute having a guy like that like this. There's none better than that. Hero? What you got? What's my favorite cake? Well, right, brother. I'd rather. Uh-huh. Yeah, I'd rather get it over with it. Uh-huh, no. I almost came back with Cobblesshonic as some more. Take a look at it, Marshall. They got a couple guys with a deep bits of bread that has big tin bodies. Absolutely. What do you see when you look at their tape and see 15, 7, a couple of those guys are pretty big.

49:40Yeah, those guys, they're real players. They're real players. You can sell their coach well. You can sell, um, they go hard, you know, they're real players over there. We've been practicing to the best of our ability to, you know, expect a little bit. And I'm prepared for that. Maybe we see they being for G and Keke who has to be a better day than you. They take the, playing, they play a good ball over there. And, you know, their defense plays hard. They challenge teams, you know, sometimes they might be overlooked. They still challenge teams, you know. And so they come out there with the mentality like no matter who's in front of us. I mean, the actions right there right in front of you right now, which is kind of a good thing and kind of a bad thing. You should shift off the rest, you know, hitting back in it inside. You talk to your friends and you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you're not something you need.

50:42Yeah, I mean, I, um, I hear from Paris every once in a while trying not to bother too much, but, um, it's, it's always, it's always good to hear from guy like that guys like the one even Matt Jones return him back. All right, Tiger, thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. This is really interesting. Really experienced it. It's tough. I've been in between the last 25 seconds, but I passed out that's a little tough. But no, it was awesome. And then playing at Wisconsin is pretty cool. My dad got me this big like 10 pound bag of cheese. We put in a lot of real history and I'm on the bus and stuff like that. So it's like besides the calls on the line, like being able to develop as a player, obviously not going into super wide out now because I've played those games. I've played it to the North. I played it like a year against Penn State. I played at Wisconsin. I started playing at Notre Dame, which is electric. So being able to develop that skill of being calm and calm at the storm has been really developmental for me. And we can put that especially this next year, you know, playing a new game in Penn State and all those big places like that.

51:46It'll be helpful. Yeah, and like being as young as I was is very hard to kind of understand because we're not a guy like we're a player, you know, a Jersey guy. Big tough rug, you know, I want to be like that, but I'm not, I'm not that yet. And I think trying to be that kind of like bigger than I was at the time. Looking back on it wasn't really kind of the best for me. Like obviously playing was super awesome. It's just for me, it was more of a developmental year and looking into that as I'm going to grow a lot from this and looking back on that. There's some mistakes. I'm like, there's no way I'd make that right now. There's no reason why I would do that, but I just need that to develop and do what I am today. So I'm super grateful for it. I know that's my first time in my mind.

52:54And my mind I felt prepared looking back now. You're like, wow, I can't really know anything. But I think just the confidence I had not only in myself, but like the guys around me like Donnie and Matt and leaning on their years of expertise and their how much they've gone through has really helped. Because maybe sometimes I've been looking at them like I don't really understand this and there'd be Donnie or Josh Fry. But no, this is what we're looking at. Like, okay, it makes a lot more sense now to help me become kind of the point of the line and stuff like that to make those kind of calls that we need to. Push fry always says the best five of play. That's regardless of the position and I don't really have any like here or there when it comes to what position I, if I can play I'll be more than happy whatever I'm at. But the best five of play.

53:55And I think they did a really good job facilitating and rolling guys at different positions and stuff like that. So I'm not really sure what they have in store for us, but you know, we'll see to the spring and they don't need the summer because all that can change as well. Currently, I've been all set up. You mentioned that you're under size. What's your weight at now? Weight in today at 298. So I'd like to bump it up to 300 like 303 if I could. I got real 303 not to engage in. Get it. I'm trying to get up to 303. But that probably the end goal to really get my legs into that leverage going together. What has been like a bolting up as since you've got here every one out there? And she can ask you, oh, he's my roommate. He's been horse feeding the kitchen social. But I was doing that. Three game weight protein shakes getting in touch with killer. Artificial wristness herons. Oh, we are super awesome. Kind of developed to get planned for us to get up to that weight because you know, if you can play. Have you ever worn your legs? Why would you leave money at the table?

54:58And I think for me last year, I was like, I really struggled with that. Kind of discipline of keeping my weight up and playing way, way lighter than I should have been. Like two of these weight to crazy. And I think that this year, like developing with coach making stuff like that is like real weight. It's not like kind of fake water. We water you weight. It's like real like I can play my legs now a lot more. So you were playing you two 88 times last year? I was really low. That was like the beginning of your back. I got it back up obviously really fast. What were your top and top and top? I was like, watch your face and you can try it. I don't know if it was that because I had all that help on the line with me. I wouldn't say it was a trial by fire, but it was definitely a big learning experience. Especially for a young guy who wouldn't do it and not playing a single snap. I remember I was so nervous before the end of the game. Literally shaking him, tearing up himself. Oh my, I was real. Going into it, you think like I put all this work on my studio there.

56:00And then you go back and you watch it take this year and like, what am I doing? So I think it's such a good development. I'm so grateful for that experience. Going into this year, trying to learn off that and learn off what we've learned this spring into the summer. I think it's going to be really good here. If you want to go to yourself now for just like a practice of presentation, you can prepare to a lot of things that wouldn't do last year. What are you trying to do so for the biggest game of the experience? Mostly just playing in my height and playing in my leverage. I would always have a problem with like really tight ankles and playing like tall in my toes. And whenever I got high hips and like, I'll play that, that's when I get snagged and tossed. And then just like more recognition of what's going on and having the game slow down with you. Because the more you grow, you kind of feel at the game. Obviously, this is really slow down. It's actually a faster every year. But it starts to slow down a little bit for you. So like, you just kind of see last year and be kind of like, jeering kind of figuring out what I'm doing. And then that's where I end up in those bad situations. But this year, it's more like film study and more study with the coaching and stuff like that.

57:04I can find myself in better positions of power and making the right blocks running. Is it not 100% knowing exactly what you're doing? And that's not a coaching problem. That's not. Obviously, it's a me problem. But it just comes with reps and it comes with experience when you haven't had that before. Do you have a notice that I have a lot of coaching? So what did you do? I do. Jeering is kind of a rough word for it. But it's just kind of like, you know, your indecisive, as a better word, when you know, when you know you're 100% ready to make this block, you play so much faster. And this year, when I've been able to do that, I've played obviously. I think he learns from every experience when he's out there. We have really good conversations in between drives when, hey, this happened. You know, if it comes back and that look comes up again, he doesn't do what he did the play before. He moves on to it. So I think he's done a good job protecting football. You know, we don't we never want to turn it over, but he's been really good from that standpoint so far in the first four games. So his, his completion percentage has gone up in every game.

58:06So excited about where he is there. You know, if we continue to, to complete the ball at a high 60, 70% rate, then I think we'll be really successful in the fish in the past game. He's used his legs a little bit, you know, I think that's one aspect that I think he's, he's good at it, but it just depends on how defense defend, the art defending us as if he has to do that. So. What's the topic after they came about? Well, there were still some things that we really wanted to get you that were excited about. It's been the opportunity we wanted to add some other words asking about game playing specific stuff. When you look big picture of your offense and the playbook, how much have we seen and how much more is there at your disposal as a skillful? There's always more at the disposal, but I think it's what is applicable in the game that you're playing. You know, I think you have a course of X amount of plays over a season, but then that's cut down for what you're doing that week because you can't practice all those plays during the week. And then even the plays that you practice during the week, you don't get called in a game because that specific situation may have not come up in that game.

59:12You know, so you know, as you go through it, sometimes you find yourself in the red zone more than you thought you were going to be in the red zone. Other times you find yourself, you were never in the red zone. You know, you can go two or three weeks, you don't have the ball inside the five yard line, but you've got some really good goal line plays, but you never get a chance to call those goal line plays because you scored from 20 yards out as opposed to punching it across the goal line. So each week is different. I think we always over prepare probably more than often than not and say, hey, we've got some really good stuff in these situations. But if that situation only comes up once, you only get the call one play. You had five that you thought were pretty good, but you only came up once. So those are the four. You know, you kind of put them in the Tupperware and tuck them away and then try to bring them back out again next week. But we spend a lot of time of how many reps do we have at this particular player, this particular scheme. And then maybe two weeks from now, you're playing somebody that's similar to who you had three weeks earlier and say, hey, let's take some old things out of the Tupperware that we practiced that we didn't really give a chance to run. You get one more four time.

1:00:12Four time. I'm sorry, all over the last one and I got about one of these aggressive and win the game in the most part. What worked in the situations? What's your response for the end of the one for just hitting work? Yeah. There's an analytic aspect to it, but I don't think it's always analytics. I think you also have to get the flow of the game and kind of how that's going. So it's a combination of both. What are the percentages if you go for in terms of success rate? But also you have to factor in what is that due to our team? If we don't get it, I think everybody is always, hey, we're all in, we're all in. Well, you're playing poker and you're all in and you only have a pair of twos. They may have a better hand than you and that's where the situation is. It's easy to sit there and say, fourth down, you should go for it all the time. Well, that's not necessarily the case. But I also think you always have to think about how is your defense playing at the time. And we're willing to put our defense on the field right now if we don't get the first down. So that's part of it. And then we have certain packages based on down a distance that if we get to a fourth and have it situation,

1:01:17then we're going to dial these plays up. So I think our players are really comfortable because we're calling something that they practiced and run a lot. I heard from, let's need to talk about a little harder than some of it, much more. But there's always a room for development. What would you like to see in the field every pass? I mean, that would be one chair golf did the last night, right? I think he went 18 for 18. And then I'm on the same brown one, one for one. So they were 19 for 19 as a team. What about, do you think you lost time receiving some little lunch and being from the up train guy? How about you for a good guy? I think we'll do a good job. I think there's always a growth with all of that. Sometimes it may be a new erupt that had gone in. And he doesn't have as many reps in the bank as he does with some of the other things that we've run since they won a spring. But I think every quarterback can improve. Every coach can improve, every player can improve. I think this is a growth game. You know, and how you develop.

1:02:18And I hope in game eight we're not playing like we played in game four. You know, I think it's as you continue to go on and start to add different elements, different things that are happening, different opponents that that's always part of it. But the growth is how do you develop over the course of the season? So I'm pleased with where will he is right now. But that doesn't mean that he's arrived. I don't think you ever arrive in this game. I think every day you've got to try to be just a little bit better than you were the day before. And that's what I love about Will though. That's kind of his mindset is how do I get a little bit better and how do I improve and how do I help this team win? You know, there's your spirit. When you feel patient, something you can coach and teach and develop. Or is it there or is it not? It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. You know, how are guys having for that level? Yeah, I don't think all guys have it. But I do think it can be developed. You know, I think for everybody. You know, it's no different than the first time you move into a city. You're going to have to take a map out and try to figure out your GPS. Like, how do I get from point A to point B? And then after a while, why was I going this way if I could have gone around? I would have been there a lot quicker here.

1:03:18So it's just part of the process that you go through. When you're new and it's trying to figure your way around and you need a map to look at. But after a while, you kind of figure your way around and then you're a lot more comfortable in your environment. And the more comfortable Will gets in our office, I think the more successful we're going to have. Obviously, game plans dictate something where guys can go. When you guys have as many weapons as you do, do you find yourself in the game? Well, this guy maybe hasn't had as many touches. Can you even do that in this office where you're trying to get guys more involved? I mean, I think at times theoretically you can do that. But you also have to factor in what is the defense's decision on how they defend it. How they defend it, how they decide it to defend you. When people can say we're not going to let you run the ball, well then we have to throw the ball. Okay, we're equal opportunities. It doesn't matter if you run the ball across the goal lane or throw the ball across the goal.

1:04:18It still counts to six points. We're not caught up in it. It has to be totally balanced in 50-50 run pass or whatever it is. It really is indicative of what they're doing. If we can figure out what they're doing and get a really good beat or what they're trying to take away, then you are. Sometimes you plan things going into a game and saying, hey, if I was defending us, this is how I would do it. And then you get into a game and they're like, they're not doing that. Well, then we need to take advantage of that. We talk about it and we want to be balanced. I think we're pretty good at distributing the ball through. But there are some games where the Titans may catch the ball more than the running backs catch the ball. That's just the nature of how the game kind of expressed itself. But we have specific plays where we think we're trying to get the ball to them. But we're never going to force it. If they're going to double cover a guy, then they double cover a guy. If they've double covered him, then someone's single. And that's the beauty of having as many weapons as we have. If you're going to double one guy, then that means somebody else is, you can't double them all. If they did, it's a penalty because they get to me guys on the field. But when you have as many weapons as we have, I think that's always a bonus.

1:05:23And that's always a benefit. So you're an advocate that you're out four games in the office supporting the end of the five. Kind of question, what is it Brian? How has that gone for you and how you would be settled with him? It's been smooth. I think we're, our guys have an understanding in terms of, because we spend so much time together during the weeks of, you know, how it's going to flow. And I don't think there's anything that has gone on in a game that's been a surprise. Like, hey, what was that? And what do we do that? You know, there's a constant dialogue going on. But when we're in a third and short situation, we only have four or five options on third and short. You're not making plays up at the time. They're what you practice, what you've gone over, you know, because you're going to call something that your players have a lot of confidence in running because their confidence is based on their demonstrated ability of doing in our training sessions. So I think it's been smooth. You know, we've, we haven't really faced any ton of adversity on the offence aside of the wall.

1:06:23So I think that's really when, you know, it's, it'll show. But I'm confident that our communication systems and our protocols that we use right now are solid. Are there any other view your conversions like the little better as an offence coordinator maybe than as head coach? So I missed the first part. Is there anything you'd like to better being an offence coordinator maybe surprise you as opposed to being a head coach? You can go to the bathroom between series if you have to. You're putting the only difference, I think. It's always kind of tough coach cooping to tell you that on the sideline. It's really difficult to say, hey, I'm going to leave you. But there's a, there's a bathroom upstairs by the booth. So if need be. Obviously you have a lot of players that are big less of this kind of song. Is there a full worry or a risk sometimes getting too far over the ski's being aggressive knowing that you have almost like get out of the old three cars of general.

1:07:23I spent up there that you can just throw it up to or you know, Ryan is talking about trying to outskim and get the guy like real partner in this. You know, you enjoy that that challenge that is sometimes hard to die of back when you have the ice that are that exposed. Yeah, because it's not, we're not trying to outskim anybody. We're trying to put our players in positions where they can make place. I mean, anybody can draw a play up and say you should do this, you should do that. Then my question is, well, how many reps do you have that running it? You know, and do we feel really good because we've seen the four or five different ways they can defend that. So we're not trying to, and you're not going to outskim fill Parker. You know, that's this I think maybe people think a little bit too much into that part is that these people ready to hit that people's number. This this game has always been about the players and always will be about the players. So, you know, who can who can really show up in those matchups. And that's what this game's about. You know, this is as good a defense as we talked about as we faced,

1:08:23but there's going to be a lot of one-on-one battles. You know, we have to win against their interior defense alignment or outstanding. So that matchup with our center-owned guard against the two interior defense alignment and the All-American Lightmaker are a huge matchup. And that comes down to just fundamental football. Do we block better than they get off a block? You know, can we give the quarterback enough time for our receivers to run the proper depth of the routes to get the ball thrown? Is the quarterback throwing the ball on time? Where's he holding the ball too long? You know, it's all of that. So, but we don't sit in there and dream up because you have a Jeremiah or you have a Mac or you have a Q or a tray that we should do this this and this. I think we're always trying to action with their strengths and play to it, but you have to look at all 11 when you're making those decisions because, hey, let's just go with the hint. Well, then how long are we going to protect for? You know, if Jeremiah is going to run a 60-yard route, you know, I learned a long time ago. Every inch on a piece of paper is a second of protection. So can we protect for that long? Can we hold up and now what are we going to do for that?

1:09:23We're going to keep eight guys in and protection. You know, I think there's a lot that goes into it, but I think the ability to have weapons at all spots makes the defense have to defend all those spots. So, we're not trying to specifically go to one or another. I think we're just trying to see how they deploy versus these formations and what their tendencies are and then what are our best chances? And then we've got to go play and then we've got to go execute because the scheming's done once the ball snap. You know, it's do our guys hold up long and protection and do our receivers get to the right depths. And there's a quarterback to deliver the ball on time to a location where the defender can't get his hands on them. Just follow up on that. So, when you go against a parter, does it feel like a chess match where the pieces can move independently, the fact that they can then what is the tale that you've gotten into a defense of coordinators head for one of another term as a game goes on?

1:10:24It is a chess match where the pieces are moving. So what happened on playing one may not be the same thing that happened on play five. It could be different because you could make a different call. And I don't think any coordinator neither side of the ball ever thinks about am I getting in this person's head. You know, we're really microscopic in terms of our vision on what's the next play and what's the situation. It's second and ninth on the left hash. You know, what are our calls in second and ninth on the left hash on the plus 30 yard line. That's really where you are. You're not thinking about am I in his head, not in his head. If you're thinking that, then he's in your head. And I don't have enough space for anybody else in my head. So I'm just going to concentrate on what's next down. It's the only thing. One quick follow. This is awesome. Just a cross follow. Everybody's asking questions. You said the tone. Yeah. When I'm pulling up. Well, I think it's easy to see when you listen to our guy speak like those three that you just mentioned, but you could listen to a tray or G or Donovan Jackson.

1:11:27I can go through the list of guys and you just become so impressed so fast. And I think Ohio State brings out the best in all of us. We all have to step up our game. Everybody because the expectations are so high. And so I just think it makes us better across the board. And but I think to answer your question specifically. You know, we haven't reached our team goals yet. We have one more game to go. But to see these guys overcome adversity and have success is really what we want to see as coaches. And so I'm proud of who these people are. I love these guys. I love this team. And that's why you know, I just, you know, our focus has got to be on winning this game so these guys can tell that story and be able to cement themselves in Ohio State history, which I know means the world to these guys. Now, now real healthy.

1:12:29It was just a, I don't know, I guess a blood vessel or something that looks a lot worse than it is. He's doing great. Guys are healthy. We had a great week of practice and you know, for game 16, we're doing good. No, no, no. And I think it's a great lesson for our young players to see somebody who came back to be the best guard in the country and had to transition, tackle midway through the season. But then take that on, never make an excuse, never complain and just own it. And then the leadership that he's shown has been tremendous. We had a lot of conversation around this time last year actually it was before this. It was, yeah, I mean, it was probably the first or second week of January. And he was on defense. He had an opportunity to go play in the NFL and would have been drafted significantly high. And I think there was a point where he actually said he was going to go to the NFL and then had to change your heart.

1:13:32And I think that had everything to do with the brotherhood, everything to do with his teammates and having unfinished business. I think when you go into games like this, there's a lot of ways to look at it. There's a lot of stats we can look at. The truth is we played these guys three years in a row. Well, this will be our third time in three years. So our guys know who these, who these guys are and have a lot of respect for them and are excited to play in the game. So this game has nothing to do with the past and what's gone on. It's all about what's going to happen in this game and that's what we'll focus on.

1:14:39Yeah, I think when you go into a game like this, one of the most important things to avoid distractions. So I'm letting my wife handle that right now, which is a lot, but 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. They're all there to see us and that's what we're going to focus on. Now 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.

1:15:51You know, again, I feel like our guys are men. We have 145 guys on the 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 that 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. And 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.

1:16:53Yeah. 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. Yeah, 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. I were playing for Buckaillet 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.

1:18:07Yeah. Yeah. 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. 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 lunchpale to work and has the respect of his teammates. And, you know, you're seeing his play, who is 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, you know, winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants.

1:19:14You know, he wants to win a national championship more than anything. And that I think represents our entire team. I just think that this year 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 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.

1:20:22Yeah, 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. The heavens is really good at tight end. They have multiple tight ends. Receivers are weapons. So, you know, they're going to challenge us in a lot of different areas. And so we have to play Big Ten Football. You know, 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.

1:21:22And, 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. It's got to ramp up. And again, the goal was to play our best game and to finish the mission. But, you know, 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've got to finish. We've 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 enjoyable to be able to start it off with the home game against Tennessee.

1:22:25And 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 played Texas in Texas, which was very much like a road game. And so now we're into Atlanta. And 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 a 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 to get back to work that way. You know, that's generally what it is. And every once in a while, you've got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. And now we've got to finish it. And so, you know, everyone's done 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 that, you know, our energy has continued to grow.

1:23:28I 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 energy's increased. The focus is increased. I think our team is fresh right now. I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks. But that just shows you the experience, the maturity, the depth that we have. And I think that's all important. But we're not going to play anymore. We've got one more left. And it's going to be our best. See that again. Yeah, yeah, we have. We have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, you, and you can see how important relationships matter. And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes,

1:24:33you got to feel for what that's like at home. And, and you can certainly see how, how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter so that when you bring somebody into your family, in the football family, you know, they grab on to the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. Say it one more time. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I got you. 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.

1:25:36We're still playing. You know, some teams are, you know, starting spring ball on another week or so. You know, and so it's just very, very different. I 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 gotta wake up, what just happened, you know, and then we'll try to assess that 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 man, when you think about the potential and what it can be for the players and these teams, it's pretty extraordinary.

1:26:37Oh, yeah. That's it. That's it. That's it. And our strength coach, Mick Morati, really, you know, symbol by fall. It's everything the team, the team, the team, it's what it's all about. But in order to add to a team, in order to add to a collective, you gotta focus on the individual. The individual must improve so the collective can improve. And so building the base, I think schematically and fundamentally, culturally, is what we're attacking as we head into spring. How much is Brandon looking forward to a different spring, a different opportunity? I know it wasn't fun for him having to take a little bit of a backseat to him. I think where do you see him, the fire in the passion right now? See, it's right for this one. Yeah, I think when you come out of a season, you get out of January and kind of take a breath. And then when you get back in the winter, it's the first opportunity to reestablish the new role that I want to have.

1:27:40I mean, across the board, there's not one guy that doesn't want an improved role. So, I think they're all attacking it that way. I think Brandon's one of them, but he's one of 50. And I think that it's our job to provide opportunities to grow, to separate themselves, to see peer-to-peer e-vows, to allow these guys to check a chase a role, at least through winter they've gotten that started, to continue that through spring. And I think Brandon's, you know, fits in line with that. I think Brandon did a great job looking back of finding his role last year and excelling at it. You know, we talk a lot about if you want to be a starter, you have to be a starter before you start. And if you're not, you're never going to be the starter. So, I think he embodied that, you know, he gave himself an opportunity to get into spring and get into us. Excuse me, into winter, continue who he is, continue to build his base, build his leadership. And then now he's got to take that in spring.

1:28:40So, all the great things you do prior doesn't mean anything, you don't have to go out there and do it in spring. So, you know, that's the harsh reality of this sport. You know, what have you done lately? And I think all these guys are chewing at the bit to get back on the field. Brian, you everybody brings their own experience. Ryan was a quarterback, you were a receiver. And then to become a play caller, I obviously have an understanding of the whole offense. But what was the process like for you, of protections and the run game and a quarterback play, and just continuing to grow with your knowledge of that part of the game as you prepared for this position? Yeah, I mean, I think you're always growing, I think, that, you know, you still have a specialty here. You still have an expertise in one area, it's seen you have an expertise in all of it. That's just not true. And in my opinion, I've seen multiple coordinators, and I know that as a fact. So, you know, for me, I think it's just, you have an opportunity to be with the best staff in America every single day with the best coach in America.

1:29:45So, just stay off your phone and pay attention and take notes and actually maximize your time. It's amazing the amount of people that don't do that. So, every time in a meeting, I just try to make sure I'm getting a nugget or I'm getting information or when things are said, do I truly understand it? And I really, guys, will tell you, I don't care. I'll ask the question. I think I'm, I look dumb, but I don't care because I want to know the information. So, I think that approach, I think a lot of guys have that approach, that approach allows you to just build, you know, over time. And then that'll continue to build from now to game one and build to the season. So, the opportunity to grow is literally daily. So, I just try to make sure I'm finding those opportunities. I'm aware of those opportunities when they're writing my face. I think I'm going to do a role in the offensive media room. How important is it to do better than you guys do? Yeah, the coach Jordan's always been a huge part of other receiver room. I think that, yeah, he's just understanding that, you know, my pull away is real.

1:30:47That can happen. So, he's going to be on his toes and being ready to, you know, we're ready to not skip a beat, right? So, information wise, communication wise, he's got to be locked in on that and just on to assume that, you know, coach hard's got it. He never really has. I expect him to continue to do that. And, you know, he's been a big part of everything we've done. Is that almost like taken from what Ryan did last year, where he shipped away from play calling and handed that to somebody else and she'd think away from being a portback coach? Or like, if they have somebody to trust, how long did it take you maybe to develop that trust and that relationship with them and to where like, you know that, hey, if I pulled away for a second, like, Devon's got this. I don't have to worry about like what my room is. I think it's more important that I do a great job being organized. So I'm never pulled away. I will be in that receiver room and they will be coached at the very highest level. So I think there's ways to eliminate being pulled away by being organized on top of things, having the right work and working great help before that receiver meeting ever happened. Is that important for you? Is that what you've got to emphasize? Nothing's going to change in terms of your, I never, there's no, nothing's going to change in my involvement in the receiver room.

1:31:55Ryan, for my land to be going through a full spring, the fall off scene for the first time, what do you look at everything? It's areas he can grow to push for playing time is here. Yeah, I mean, my one is doing great job is growing an exponential rate and stronger. He's getting bigger. He's got way added. You know, I'll tell you like, you know, I always explain to him like, you don't realize how much you've missed when you come in June versus a mid year. Like, it's massively different. Not saying you can't overcome it. Some do at the end of the season, you know, some have. But, you know, I think that's probably reliant on the room. You know, I know Chris had an opportunity late, a lot of a, you know, in the season to kind of make an impact, but it's very, very rare. So, and now, you know, he's going through the winner workout is growth is everything he's done. He's like, Hey, coach, I know what you're talking about now. And when you miss that, that section of winner workout. That being said, it makes you laugh, but he's doing a great job. I expect expectations for him through through spring. And I don't see that changing.

1:32:55The opposite of that, the opposite of that, the opposite of that, the year is younger than it's been last year's. Like, make up a thing. Don't have somebody to say. What's the average is like average like 30 is the average age. Is that include support staff? No, it's just the primary. What's it? What's it been the past? A couple minutes. No kidding. Yeah, yeah. Kevin Wilson. Dan Lanings, the head coach at Oregon, I was there. I was his average. I'm asking. I don't I'm 38. Can you Dylan Hamles? It's 30s. So, I don't know. I give zero thought to that. I think that, you know, I think your ability to kept with players is important. You probably see a little bit that happening in the NFL as well. I really give him zero thought for that. I don't want to just ramble on that. Yeah, I just didn't know if it was the thought of the manager. No thought to it. What's the next step for him? Because we've heard him make a talk to him.

1:33:56Like, he's a mystery consistency catching a lot of things. He's like, he seems to generate a little bit of buzz, but has limited role. Like, now he's got an opportunity. What's the next step for him to get that opportunity? Take the next step and be a be everything he's capable of being, right? I mean, I think the guys that, you know, are out there are. No, very consistent in all job phases. You know, like, again, I think he wants to be a full rounded receiver. You know that. I think he loves playing in the slot. The great job there. I asked him to come out to the outside a little bit. Did a good job out there. I think his natural positions is in the slot doing a great job there. But it's just another opportunity to establish himself based on his peers, right? I mean, it's kind of like the draft and try to explain sometimes these guys like you come to Ohio State to compete with the best. It'd be alongside the best. It's always peer to peer evils. Like, that's how it works. Like the draft embodies that. Like, if it's easier to go play somewhere else, then that's fine. That's what we're kind of looking for. I'm not saying that's pricing. I'm just saying it's a very competitive room. And you chose that because of this room. Now you got to beat your peer to play more and do more and all that stuff.

1:35:03So, you know, I think that you got continue to build where he's at. And the guys that seem to be, you know, starters in our room, you know, really, I think over the last eight years have been NFL quality guys. So if you're in it, become a start of Ohio State, it's a good chance. You're probably NFL caliber receiver. I mean, again, just go on to the numbers. So you're chasing that can't get discouraged or maybe not being, you know, not doing what you think you should have done. And that goes for everybody. It's not just Bryson, but all these guys are chasing that as I ramble about Bryson. But, you know, I think that it's not just him. It's at B.I. It's car now with everybody wants. It's chasing a higher level of play. And this spring is another step forward to do that. How much in your estimation is that a gift? How much of it is learned? Where do you stand on that? Oh, never give it a lot of thought to it. I've never, I've never called a play in a game. So for me to have an opinion, I think that'd be a little brush.

1:36:07I would say that like anything, it's probably a skill that you can improve on and do better at and do good and do worse at. I think being surrounded with guys and seeing how they do it has been a blessing. And it's very clear. There's more than one way to do things. So being aware of that, I've noticed that. What's your impression of the three freshmen and how they may be transitioning? Yeah, all four freshmen, I'm like very encouraged and pressed with. They carry themselves the right way like we have hoped. They worked their tails off. If all improved, I would say that they're the right mode, the right fit. They belong in the room. And now they have to just improve. Now they're competing both, you know, first individually between each other. And then, you know, as we get into spring, they'll start competing against each other with the rest of the guys, what I mean by that. But as a group, the freshman group are very impressed in the rough to the right start. Coach Arland, thank you for getting on the role and that the end of the game defences more sound in those guys are more stiff as this far as giving up yards.

1:37:11As the game goes, it's like, okay, God is harfling up. So just keep running. But you can 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. We go out there and make a good job. We talked to Trey last week about just kind of how fresh he felt. How about you, obviously? Have you worked with the last couple of years? Yeah, man. I think right now, you know, I felt the best ever. But like, especially mentally and physically, 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 since asset to this team. And, you know, just supporting each other throughout this whole year and just trying to go win it all. Which I'm good. Do you expect the offensive line to pick up where it left off? Obviously losing Seth is a huge blow. And so what have you noticed like today from the Espreta Corva that group? Yeah, I don't know if there's anything out of the ordinary, you know, whoever steps in, those guys are going to execute.

1:38:12So I don't have any doubts of anybody. I don't know how far the line I know. There's a guy, you know, they're going in. That's good for your best. Thank you. I'm fired when I got there. So I just probably didn't invest in any of the things. 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 a really good quarterback development. Coach Day, Craig Corva, I whisper, you know, the quarterbacks they've had just the past five years shown the kind of great numbers. And I just really done things the right way. And I've wanted to come to this offense because by hand, because my coach Kelly, you know, make adjustments to the line. Staff it. Staff it. I had pretty much contact with them. You know, you work really, I didn't know that something really good. Really, one of the things that Coach Day says is you don't like to have your hand held in kind of process. Now you've played up in the age a lot of times and you're football clear. What is it about you to drive you to want that much attention? I would say, you know, in high school, I had a coach that, you know, he was giving a lot of responsibility.

1:39:13And I would, you know, call out, I don't want to do it. I mean, make, make, make entirely. And so I just, you know, I want to be the best player right here and be and take, take the need with you to do things the right way and just, do something to my mind. I love Washington, Joe Barrow. He makes that adjustment to the line. He's a really good decision maker. I like Justin Herbert's, but I charge him so I'm watching him play on some of those bad methods. You know, the decision makers who make big mistakes. I would say I'm a little bit more quiet, but I'm working on the heck with that. Coach Day is trying to get me to be more, I'm going to walk a meter out there with the guys that I think I'm going to be a little tricky. That's why it's definitely quite a confidence. I know what we do have to talk about. I actually, I think I've only been here once and we've been in process and I love that.

1:40:16Really good places to be and our friends. I think I visit maybe freshman or sophomore year. Yeah, just for the camper and visit just the super-sale of these. It was really good that way. I know it was only a few days, but being in the Alabama program, especially as they prepared for a ball plant from, what did you take away from that short period of time? Yeah, it was really good with the North Country Rees and Kirsten. They were coaching players hard and I saw the work that takes to get to the playoffs and then coming here. I just see the older guys putting their work in there throughout the winter. I see the older guys and older leaders putting their work in there and showing them the happenings. How much of a relationship did you have with air? Obviously. Coming in, he had been committed. You come in, you both freshmen. What was it like before and what's your relationship? We didn't have much relationship prior. We measured it in 11 and we knew each other a little bit. And then come in here, you know, quarterback room, everyone here is really close.

1:41:16So it's a raw push in each other, it'd be better. We're all taking push points from each other trying to get the trend to make. It's interesting, I think the driving experience you're in might describe. I was expecting it. I would say we are a cop I surprise. You know, come back from the game and you're a little bit high spirits because of the team of Japanese. It's kind of how I feel about it. How did you feel when that happened? Did you experience the fight for war? Did you have a chance to perform? I was a first on the other side of the drive, so I felt bad. There was definitely a lot of emotions, but I'm not family lean on it. They helped me through it and they made the right decision. And they're here and I'm like, you know, some more body. Not taking control of my face. I have a true question for you because you're not sure about the ground. You know, I can't really explain how that happened. I'm just really trying to develop them. Take push points from Coach Day. I think that I can be a really good decision maker for the athletes and some of them who would be absolutely nervous and trust.

1:42:22If you look at your face, you can see that you've been in a good time. What about your face? What do you think about your face? I think that I can be a really good decision maker for the athletes and some of them who would be absolutely nervous and trust. That's what I call a dream. Is that an actual dream? I think it's kind of a lot of things. I was always around football. My boat was a quarterback at Cannes. He was a quarterback at Knote, and I was a high school. I was following his footsteps. I was always there around football. And then I just went out of the office at high school and just really just had a lot of fun. Who's your favorite Tayden? Packard. What is he saying? I'm a different person. I'm a different person.

1:43:24And 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? You want to be a pro. You've got to keep stacking. That's the expectation. And I think he's had some really good days. And then 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 compared to where he was last fall, he's a lot better football player. We've heard a lot of good things about a lot of business here. I go down to eight hours. Are you envisioning right now that you want this to be a five six person operation? Yeah, well, I think Coach Dayden's talked about it a lot, right? It's gonna 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, you have to blessing. So I'd say right now we're probably at five.

1:44:24That I 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 some, 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, now 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 two 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-hand, right? So I feel confident with five guys. And that's going to be a week to week. You know what I mean? Like these guys know, I think honestly, who start 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?

1:45:24Just because you started last week. So I think it's got to be that iron sharpens iron constant competition through the whole fall. This is something that Dave Gornidas would have enjoyed in the player kind of a few, as he just alluded to. But is that part of which one has to drive you then? Was it driving you then? Then you just assumed that was a kind of case when you played anyway. I always felt when I was here that they were trying to out-recute me, which is the reality, right? Yep. Which is why it prepares you so well for the National Football League. 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 use 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 thought like, should it have happened 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 be coaching effort. And then you can't have mental errors. Because if you have a mental error, then you can't trust you.

1:46:25So those are the two things I always had the player who 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. It's football, everyone's on scholarship, right? But those two things you can control, everything you need. What's the next step that you've been doing so much? I think it's just the end, you know, we haven't done like any of my series. You know, 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've been rolling 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 throw catch tackle is up in the reception. I mean, because he's seen it for 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 in.

1:47:26So he's made great progress and I'm really happy with how son he's done. James, looking at recruiting, it seems like it's going really well for you. Obviously you can't talk about specific recruits, but just overall how do you feel like that's going in and are you enjoying your food? 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? And so many different ways. You're not going to get developed better anywhere else in the country. You have the largest fan base, largest alumni, maybe she's 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 that I'm recruiting are way more athletic than I ever was.

1:48:31So it's like, I tell them 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. You know what I mean? I knew where I was fitting. And so now if I can impart that information on kids who are extremely athletic, well now you're not, you got something special. You know what I mean? How much of you guys have this staff already talking about the long season in the need to play more guys? Well, 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 that a place like here, like if you're all on 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 position. 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.

1:49:36How do you, how do you marry that when they made that same mentality that you needed, but you want them to happen? 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. And that's 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 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 if they want to be the best. Two more questions for Dave. I mean, I think that's your job as recruiters. You got to figure out what's the mindset of the kid and are they serious about football?

1:50:37And you have to talk to the people that are around them and you got to figure out how to coach you. 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 about the 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 already talked about it. But can you tell a little bit of the elevation from Arvel from end of the class? Obviously, missing time last year with the injury. But where he's at now versus the expectations that he had to move this way? Arvels, I mean, shown a lot of progress. You know, most importantly, you know, mentally with the playbook and everything. I think Arvel, last year there was a couple things, right? Because of injuries on the D-align and camp. You know, he moved the end for a little bit and 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.

1:51:37So 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 Valos had a good spring. He's got a 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, and I have a couple of things to do with my favorite. What has changed, I think you've been recruited to now that you're listening and like are there other mental differences you've noticed? No, 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.

1:52:39For some kids, I don't know, I think 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 can you convince mom and dad that you're the right person to do that, you know what I mean? 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 drill 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, you know, if there's no sense of time to leave here. You know, and then you have the question, I get a ton of, what do you see yourself in five years? I'm like, where I'm sitting? I'm in 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 in advantage. Okay, but I know you've been working with, you know, kick off and punch teams as well as what's that look like for you in terms of getting involved with that thing.

1:53:43Yeah, 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, in 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 a linebacker. You better be making an impact on kick return or on kickoff kickoff return, punts return all those things. 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 that sense of team when you're in special teams that we every position matters. Jerry, is there someone who's been in a NFL? What do you think? What be NFL is doing to pick off now? Do you think that's like it could be good for college? I mean, the thing that states it takes 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.

1:54:47I mean, I think it's only a matter of time before it triples down. It seems like everything triples 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 thing 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. They're all there to see us. And that's what we're going to focus on. So, no, it's an opportunity, obviously, to be on stage and finish our mission, but we have to make sure we avoid all distractions.

1:56:03It 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 the 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 that 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. And 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.

1:57:31Well, 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. Yeah, we'll need them. So we're playing for them. You know, people who are back home in the living rooms, whether it's back in Ohio or, you know, in another country or across the country, you know, just set in great energy. Our guys feel all that. So, you know, we're playing for everybody who's pulling to be a buck. I were playing for Buckaillation 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.

1:58:48He just, he was a leader from the jump and being a buck I meant even more to him growing up in Columbus and Pickering, 10 Ohio is family of just great people. And this is a guy who overcame some things. You know, 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, 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 lunchpale to work and has the respect of his team teammates and, you know, you're seeing his play to 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, 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.

2:00:06Now, I just think that this, this year with, with a 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.

2:01:07The heavens is really good at tight end. They have multiple tight ends. Receivers are our 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 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. It's got to ramp up.

2:02:09And again, the goal was to play our best game and to finish the mission. But, you know, 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 enjoyable to be able to 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 played Texas in Texas, which was very much like a road game.

2:03:10And so now we're into Atlanta. And 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 everyone said, why 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, everyone said, why you take a step back, but then you get refocused on what matters. But to your point, it's about everybody. And certainly it all starts with the players and what they do. And I think that, 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 energy's increased. The focus is 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.

2:04:11But 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. See that again. Yeah, 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, how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter.

2:05:13So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab onto the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. Say it one more time. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I got you. Oh, 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. And, you know, some teams are, you know, starting spring ball in another week or so. And so it's just very, very different. I 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.

2:06:25And 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 with just, 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 man, 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.

2:07:27You still got to have your foot behind a 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. I think it's the same way with our program and how we run things. And the tradition is not going to change Ohio State. 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 of what we do. And that's the expectation, whether you're a player or coach and we own that. We absolutely embrace that and, and, but then also adjusting with the times. And now we have a new playoff system in place. So, 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.

2:08:45Try 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, 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 finally, win the game in the fourth quarter. That's it.

2:09:57I 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 again, I said this before. I think there's some great stories to be told about, you know, what went on behind closed doors. And, you know, some of the things that were said and, you know, the personal challenges that we had for each other. And, you know, collectively the story. But the only way that gets told is if a banner gets put up a noody. 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.

2:11:05You 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 it's it's football. And, you know, I said my wife all the time like that's we signed up for it. And, you know, it's the highest 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 those highs and lows. And you have to manage the tough times. And you got to enjoy the good ones. And that's it.

2:12:11And, you know, the more you're in this game, the more you're going to realize that. And 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 get to see what it's supposed to look like. Get the see great leadership. If this wasn't the case, they wouldn't have an opportunity to see what you know, a mecca book is like Wilhawer, Travian Henderson, Lathan Ransom, then Zell Burke, you to go through the list Cody Simon. I mean, he's, you know, Tileek Williams. You know, what does it look like? How do they prepare? Not only for one week, but

2:13:11several 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 Buckais, 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 bit of a 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. Yeah, 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.

2:14:26You sit down and have 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 Monday night. I 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.

2:15:30And 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 that's the goal every year to do that. When you when you need to go get that yard, you get that yard, it's time to get that stop. You got to get that stop, but also having the skill to be able to run with everybody in the 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 I think it all starts in the off season with our off season program and what McMorradi does. And I think 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.

2:16:33It 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 and 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 and 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 areas need to get addressed and get fixed. And that 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.

2:17:40Yeah. Caleb is mature beyond his years. He's a tremendous player. But he brings a work ethic that's tremendous. He and Lathen ran some both. And the way that they bring energy to practice every day. And they let their play do the speak, do the talking for them, but, 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. And was pulling for him in his freshman year. And you can tell my family and my wife and kids, we were all pulling for him because he's just such a unique talent and great person and great family.

2:18:40And then when 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 relations 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. Well, 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. And so we need to focus on what really matters and 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.

2:19:43You 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, Aliaman throughout his career, and especially this year. And he's become a leader for some front. And we'll need him to be 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.

2:20:43That's it. And I think our guys understand that and feel that. No, 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. Being here. But, you know, it takes another level to be able to receive that reward, especially as a freshman. So, you know, that's kind of what I knew. Steven, you were more on that when you and Mara first got here. Here at Chris, we're out of it about the way that you guys even as freshmen were pushing to guys who were about to be first round. And then Mara kind of said the same thing about Carnail and Brandon last year. How did J.J. push you guys when he first got here as the young guy and now you guys are the older guys? Yeah, I would say it's very similar. It's kind of the same exact thing. And I'm, you know, I don't know what it is about the culture and zone stakes, but we keep bringing in these type of people year in and year out. That's what makes our room so great. But I think that some of that J.J. was able to push me and was just. You know, he was able to push me in my leadership. I needed to grow in that aspect. But he also was able to challenge me when it came to the weight room and on the field.

2:21:51Because we're always, are always paired together when it came to summer and when our workouts were always lifting together. You know, I get a couple wins. He get a couple wins. So I was really that next level step of competitiveness that I needed and that edge that I needed. That Murphy 2474. You guys came into the Tennessee game with a lot of outside motivation with Michigan loss and kind of a three weeks of talk. I know obviously there's still that motivation to go on and win a national championship. But how do you keep that kind of edge to a better term mentally after some of that stuff has kind of gone away? I would say kind of you lose your edge. I wouldn't really call you a true competitor. I think that, you know, the way with the college football playoffs is structured. The intensity cranks every single week. So if you're not more intense than you were the last week, then something's wrong with you. I think that, you know, Tennessee was a great win. Great for our momentum. But we have our full focus on Oregon. Not worrying about anything in the past. Nothing in the future. Our full focus is towards this game.

2:22:51And then, you know, we win this one. We go on to the next one. Our full focus is going to be on that one. So it's just you keep moving down a ladder like this. Step on Christy. Please let me know. I think there's been a lot of change in college football in the playoffs. I think of that nature. But you know, the way in some of you and some of your teammates and coaches talk about the Rose Bowl seems like that's one game that's really maintained a lot of that tradition. You play the net. You know what it's about. Could you explain it to you know, we've never had a chance to play that why the Rose Bowl has maintained, you know, that level of respect from players and coaches. Yeah, I think I don't know. They're just something about it. Something in the air down there in the past. It's just a beautiful venue, especially that time of the year. Like you said, the tradition is held year in and year out. And it's kind of the game you dream of playing in when you're a little kid, you know, playing backyard football with your friends. The Rose Bowl is always one that that tends to come up. So just having a chance of playing it. It's definitely very surreal and this is going to be my second time. So I'm going to do my best to take it all in while also being fully focused on organ. Dan, let me worry.

2:23:51I'm actually well said he still has nightmares about that first game of the Oregon just what kind of drive you see in this week wanting to get back at this one. Yeah, well is he's a laser focused person. He goes about his business. He's very loose and he's very calm and he's able to rally the team. But you can see it in his eyes that this game means everything to him. Every single practice, every single huddle, making sure we're sharp, making sure we have a better practice than we had last. Then yesterday, a better practice than organs having. So his full focus is on being this team. And you know, obviously it's hard not to think about the stuff of the past, but I know he's laser focused on what we got coming up. Tony German, fuck I have. Mac, when you're a kid playing backyard doing what team we played for. Honestly, I wasn't I was never really a. A buck I fan until you know, I really committed here and I saw what it was all about. I was actually an organ fan growing up, especially on the Pacific Northwest.

2:24:51You know, my grandpa went to UW and stuff like that. So I like the Huskies too, but there was a legendary football player named fo2liato from my high school and he went to organ. And a couple of y'all probably know that story from a couple of years back, but he tragically died in the car accident. And you know, he was he was someone I looked up to in high school. You know, I was relatively close with him, even though he was a bit older than me in age, but I'm just seeing what he did at my high school and then going on to play big time football organ. That was a school that I really dreamed of going to. They build a bit like this back. I think actually another Jeremiah question. Is there one moment one play one something that made you just go, oh man, I've never seen before. That's just incredible. Yeah, I'll say it's happened multiple times. There's not really one. I can pinpoint, but the more he does it, the more I tend to react less. So I would say probably my earliest memories of it were in spring ball kind of getting the first glimpse of him when he's making all these ridiculous catches and he still does it time and time again, even now, but it's just more common now for me.

2:25:57The land. You had I think was 12 touches in the first game against Oregon, Henry, such as two carries. Is there something about this matchup that favors you and now that you have word that productive the person you played this team. What kind of attention or I guess maybe different defenses are you expecting to see. Yeah, I mean, we're not entirely sure what their game plan is going to be, but we're paired for everything. You know, I'm not going to get too much into scheme and stuff like that, but we know that if the ball comes our way, we've got to make those plays. So whether I have 10 receptions again coming up this game where I have zero or one. We're just looking to get this win on the road because it's really a road game for us, you know, flying across two times on. So I think that, you know, it's going to be a great matchup, whether they tend to focus on me more or not. It doesn't really matter to me because I know our team has a great plan regardless. I have a couple more questions. Are you guys ever surprised when the game and you and the strategy carhulsing us in the water to you?

2:26:58You can kind of feel it throughout the game, I would say. You know, he's a true competitor. He wants to get involved, but at the same time he's super selfless. I mean, he's really humble. So he's going to do whatever it takes for the team to get a win. But it's the competitor nature and then that wants to contribute as much as he can. So, you know, I try to be in his ear to tell him to be level head and stuff like that. And not that I need to. He's a very level headed and selfless guy like I'm saying. But, you know, sometimes that's just how the game goes. You know, I had a game this year where I only had one catch. But, you know, we ended up winning by lot. So I think that, you know, it's hard or it's easy to be focused on the personal attributes that you could have game in and game out. But no one's really going to remember those if we're holding up the trophy at the end of the year. He could be a number one. 95% of the bar off the ground. He's like number three. You see his work as a whole of those things that he doesn't there. He's a player. You guys ever been behind him like, yeah, this guy can absolutely be a number one. Most golf bar off the ground. I would disagree with you. I think that he is a number one. I think that we don't have a number three receiver.

2:28:00I think we have three number one receivers out there. So whatever the defense, you know, if they want to put their attention on one guy or a couple of us. They're not really doing their selves any favor because we're going to have a favor. We'll match up on the other side of the ball. So that's never how we view ourselves. We know we're alpha dogs out there every single one of us knows we have the capabilities to be a number one receiver and we are number one receivers. And final question. Steve, how long have you 24 hours work? Yeah, mech. At the end of that game, you made one of the clutch plays that passed down the sideline. At any time when you make that play, you think, and did you ever, your mind that we're going to win this game after we were now close to field goal range. I mean, did that play in your mind, say, my goodness, we've got a chance to get out of here with the win. Yeah, I definitely knew where I caught the ball and I knew we were, you know, closer being a field goal range. So, you know, there was a sense of, you know, I knew I knew I knew was a big play that I made. But in those moments, you have to finish out the game no matter what you can't get a big head. You can't get complacent. You have to finish the game until the clock hit zero.

2:29:00So that's when we've been working on, you know, we work on two minutes every single Wednesday, every single Wednesday practice. So today we'll work on our two minute and we don't even call it two minute. We call it clutch because in those time in those games and those big moments, someone has to make a clutch play. So we're focusing on that every single game, knowing that we're going to have to make one of those plays coming down the stretch here. What would it mean if you're able to finish this one off and get to the final four of this and play up just what in your mind just, would this be, you know, just the ultimate, I suppose, to be a team that's already beaten earlier this year. No, I think the ultimate would be winning the national championship. So, you know, we're focused on this. This just happens to be the next team in the way we're not focused on when we played them earlier this year, whether they got the win over us. They're just a nameless faceless opponent. So we're going out there fully prepared not worried about what's happening in the past. You know, we played them before. We felt them out. So it's all about who got better from that point in time until now. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah.

2:30:00It's a new experience last year. It just feels, it's run up against an offensive. I don't know if you feel like you feel like you're at a good way right now where you can do things against them, either what. Yeah, I mean, this year is kind of different because I obviously I'm pushing to the ball, but I kind of feel the same. The thing I like being able to play sees I like tiny 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. Just on the ball and closer to them. I'm going to talk to you about this. You're asking me to see what's going on. Um, we haven't really talked about like a few guys, but he's talking about I would have been in this. I got a chance to work with him with my. My junior at the opening, but I was different because I was playing off the ball. But yeah, that's done with you guys. They know what Smith is. Let's see the way that he coaches.

2:31:00I mean, because of your block this is last week. And what is his style? It's very intentional, but he knows that we're human. So, you know, he knows nobody's going to be perfect and it's okay to mess up, but it's the thing is being able to learn from that mistake and not do it again. How different is this? How different is your future? What's up? How different is your future? Um, it's different, but like I said, I've just been enjoying the ride. You know, I like why I am now, so I'm just going to grow at this fight and get to where I want to go. I'm not doing that with the process. 100%. 100%. It's a nice set. No, it's very hard. We were just looking at our 22-2 class. We had a lot of guys. And now we're probably only having like five or six guys here. Exactly. So, being able to just stick it through and just, you know, I feel like me staying here

2:32:00each year, I feel like I was telling me this thing. Because yeah, it was opportunity to transfer, but I just kept telling my God to stay. Let his will be done, just let his will, you know. I do feel like when you know you may not make a misplission change, you know, I've got a lot of tears. 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'm going to the spring. You have 158 days probably to work with Coach Johnson. You've been rubbing there throughout December, obviously. What exactly did you start to make that transition though? And when you heard they were hiring, Coach Johnson was born on the year ahead. Um, obviously in December it was different because we had Coach Nolis here, and Coach Nolis was one of the, 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.

2:33:03Coach Day, what he was telling me was, we were going to bring in different coach and just, you know, there'll just be a specific coach just for the position I was playing. That way could just be easier on everybody. And that probably was going to be Coach Nolis because obviously it's just defensive, but with Coach Patricia coming in, 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 to be themselves. When you see my last question, 158 days, what would you know that number? We talk about every day. Yeah. Coach Day brings it up every day. We tell you 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 and Texas just in the playoffs, you know, they're not in our saw-see, they're even on that. They're probably in the same mindset as we are right now because they lost a lot of starters, but it still doesn't mean anything. Could you see guys like the, like, the Parsons of the World Part of their career, trying to back with them, how much does that inspire you to see what kind of success that you guys have?

2:34:06No, I feel like watching those guys, I feel like you can see like they helped them in the long run, especially with the blue, especially with the blue, especially with the blue, because of the fact it was, it's the first year of one month, on a lot of scrimmage, but I'm, you know, obviously I watch those guys, I watch other guys, but I'm on play. What's it to you about the loss of being able to get to this season? For you, just step up, just stand up. I mean, it doesn't think it can happen really, so. Yeah. How much do you have to learn right now? I lost your sitting here. Does it seem like it's a big, big blow? I mean, I would do a describe thing for you. I mean, I guess you just got to learn everything slowly, of course, there's a lot to learn, but I got a lot of hope, so. You guys had a very unique experience on the old, the early and early, you got a chance to go to, you know, semi-final. Some of you went to the Rose Bowl, you got nothing to talk about, national championship game. What was that like? How much did you think that helped you? That was incredible. You just see how other leaders led in that position and just seeing what they did and how they prepared.

2:35:11That'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? Oh, just being able to travel and get to meet everybody, meet all the players, everybody at one in the 90s, and meet all the early and earlys that earned. It's been a most difficult part of doing things, making the transition from rising to the ground. 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 uncomfortable with that, are you slow working? Trying to get on, trying to get to the South of his college, I don't know what to do. I mean, of course, it's adjustment, but I'm getting this for you. Yes sir, one need is 100%. I mean, of course it's hard to miss my senior year, last year kind of with some of these friends. What did you do to me? I think you did my skin right? It was an interesting video, maybe.

2:36:17Sorry, but how did you get your shirt in college? I was a baby, my dad, my master's. Sure, like I always was. Like once I was born, forever. Why did you invite him? My dad looked up to me and I'm a junior, so I'm a place for a good man. I think you should be your first name in the car, right? Yeah. Okay, so you could wear eight, too. You got two choices. It's a desire that can be a digger for people. I think I fell into that, no younger age, but I'm super bad, that's not who I am. Did you say it again? I watched the lab last time I started a land band on the plane.

2:37:17I downloaded it to print shop. What do you think of it? I don't know that, this wife seems to be a little like all her. I'm not a handles it, it's a good show. It really seems to be coming on the film up, we all listen to it all right. I'm excited to see how it goes. Where did you get your hair? Oh, I thought you were going to get a job. I was surprised, honestly, it seemed like you knew what he was doing for your hair. So the important question, you say you hit your mom and daughter, you can get away at all. You can get a pay raise or... I don't know what to talk about that, just to have a meeting or something. You can see it. I'll figure it out. Everybody seems to have a good adventure. People are getting a lot of money. Peace. I don't know if you're going to be fine with it. I'm going to get a real good thing to do now. I'm just going to help you. As other people have, that's fine with my job.

2:38:17Yeah, well, let me first off, I think I'd be doing this service to my teammates. You know, me even think about what's nice. What's right in front of us is an overhaul. And that's another thing that's got to tell me. So much grew is just being present in every single moment that I'm in. You know, not looking too far ahead because I'm tripping on what's right in front of me. So, again, that's too selfish of a thank you for being thinking about what's next to me. Did you at least wear the gun a lot of speculations out there that people are going to throw a huge number of the gun going forward? I mean, right now I'm just not working with all that stuff. I mean, people can say all they want to say, but, you know, I'm just focused on, focus on Friday. When you're not saying that, you're just nervous. I mean, I still get nervous for sure, but I just don't think. I think I do have to, just understanding that.

2:39:21That moment, whatever moment it is that I'm nervous about, it doesn't define who I am as a person. And it doesn't define who I am and God's eyes. And understanding and knowing that has just kind of put like this force field of peace around me that I think he allows me to be able to be calm in certain situations. But it doesn't, that's not good. What makes you nervous? I mean, I just love the game so much. And if you don't get nervous or a little bit of work, because I don't think you have that same love. I mean, I've got butterflies since, you know, going into football games since I was, you know, five, six years old. So I don't want that feeling that I miss to be a journalist. I don't know, I just, you know, football just doesn't need as much as it did to be back there. I want to tell always that much. I've been told.

2:40:27I'm 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 going on. One of those younger guys we're seeing out here, it's the first time it's hurt all the life. We've seen it. We've seen it for well because I've been going last year and we all forgot about it because he was hurt. Now he's running, you know, almost a second man up. Ty, what have you seen? Well, it's a workhorse. He, he goes, stay quiet. He's going to work hard. And that's all I love about it. He focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get a 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. You guys have all decided like that. That's a lot of things. Does that just keep feeling different?

2:41:27Or is there a drop really any difference? 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. 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? 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 won a winner 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 kind of coach makes a saying, you know, nobody cares. Just work harder. Like those, you know, when we played Georgia, it's the same thing. Last, last play, you know, they went on the winning 90s. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles.

2:42:28Of course, it's frustrating. But you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, you know, come back and work harder. You 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 and then you always find out there's a little more than you could have been doing. 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 you're standing as a 16, then the answer to like, what do you need it to be to be your best? It's like, it is at 75. 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. So I just stand up to you and behind you. It's been a fact. The idea of a potential to succeed is everything you've got to do. I'm sad about that idea.

2:43:29Does it make you nervous about, can you ask that more? Do you really need your worries? 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 to come along with it. We can't play 50 snaps again. That's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody's like, online, online. We got to get those younger guys to play and, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the online and everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of the light playing, if you like playing that means after that, I should hear the loud. I don't know if any of us were really expected to play that next time. Yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought like, there are no mom and me, you know, I can go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games, like, you know, Notre Dame, too, or those kind of games. Of course, I wouldn't be in, 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? Because he got the key. You guys are the 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.

2:44:30He'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, listen, six, three, you're three, twenty-seven. He's three, twenty-six. Yeah, he's a very open. 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 in the playbook. So really a lot on you, older guys. There's that large group of young guys and the seniors in the back who have a part of your cast for this year to bring those guys along as well. Yeah, definitely. We've got to be leaders. Like I said, we've got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps. They've got to get in there and get some work. And we've 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, success. Let's try that over. Let's try that over. Thank you. Seems like these guys get bigger. Each one of the freshmen class is a bigger player. Do those guys kind of, it doesn't kind of allow you on cell? Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. And they all work hard.

2:45:30I'm really seeing much of some of the day too when I'm passing on. But throughout the workouts, they've been working hard, you know, they're determined to. I have to say that. And it looks like they're ready to work together. How important this dude feels like. There's a lot of great defense guys. You have big athletic defense attacks. You can eat up space. Move, you know, right? Is that a requirement maybe for a great defense? To have guys like you that have some balls, but also a great senior. I think that is definitely. I think if you look at the last couple of nice and championship winners, like team of North, they didn't know they got two good, uh, detackled, two athletic detackles. Look at Georgia, two athletic detackles. So I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about that, they won't define by the defense. Like what's Georgia, Jordan Davis and Dylan Carter? What's Michigan is Chris Jenkins? Couple more questions. Do you mind if you like how?

2:46:31I mean, you understand it because you play it, but I feel like some time it's, 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. Yeah. 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 about those freakiest out there, how do you think you fit into that mold of that kind of player? 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, but you know, watch it come on. I watch it do the drills. I have a tape here. You're like, look at my, my film. So I think I'm up there with all those times. Do you become like a artist who comes to batting up passes the figure wags? Can you think? I mean, you're going to bring practice. You're not doing as much a weapon on the line. That's strong. How do you work on that? Do you have like a goal in mind?

2:47:31I don't remember how much I've last year. Like, you have a goal in mind? How many do you want to have? I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that. But I think he said it on the line. I think they can count some of them. And it's some of them where I like just missed it. So, but I think we work on drills matching the hand. I think that's, uh, goes big. And, uh, what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter of the against. Anyway, you can. It's 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 player. So, so it's something that you really, really have to work on. You can do that. What do you mean? It's, it's very good. That's one of the things that you can maybe work on the most. You can do your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen. Like, oh, that passes. We don't have to. We kind of expected. I think I just have like a, like, uh, 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 way and sometimes he throws it to me. I'm irritated if you want to be a high state quarterback. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better.

2:48:34I should lot of, a lot of different backs, man. They just learn to grow for them. You got to pick your top three backs. You got to go right now. One, two, three. Uh, I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey. Although he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey. Who's the best back in this draft? Best back in this draft. I'll lead that up. 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. He just the leader that he was, man. That's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Yeah, he's shoot.

2:49:34He's going to be really good, man. He's on 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 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. So it's right now looking at the U.S. spotting, but I'm just helping you raise your personality and approach of defense. And so I'm going to say it right now. Yeah, Coach, Coach Hartline, man. He's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well, you know, 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 that would do really good. What's your intensity, man? Just intensity, man. And intensity of the playoffs, every game, man, is like the intensity got, you know, higher and higher.

2:50:37And so, you know, being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, it's 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 into 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, I know I took a couple days off after the National Championship. And then, shoot, right after that, I'm writing, writing Tampa, Florida, and I'm writing to it. And so yeah, I think while I trained, I trained at Yo-Murth 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.

2:51:37And you know what, you knew? The Bucking Nears, you know what I haven't. You think it's City Tampa? Tampa, Tampa, nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40, the broad and the vert. Yeah. Yeah, nah, 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 receivers who I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get it. And I tell Will, I think it was before the first game. I was like, I got your brother. It's like, 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 brother's, though, man, making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed.

2:52:39I think you had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now? What is something you've been working on right now? In 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 inside run, 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. So you know what I did? Yes, I did. Yes, I did. Some people say you look like a lot of people are out there. You're back in 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 shoe. 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. So I mentioned playing with my player in the Dome here.

2:53:39Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill. And I'll say the next one is probably just an option 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, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot. I don't know. Every good thing. 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 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.

2:54:47Man, 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. It's just, I'm not having 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... The back goes first, Peterson Power and Judgment. Which aspect can each of those other individuals choose to model and from being around power and understanding?

2:55:53Um, man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really loved 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 shoot, that's a game of 10. And so... Yeah, I think... Yeah, man, I think it's just like, he's just gifted, man, too, beyond it. You know, he's a big back, you know, he's strong, and so, you know, he's able to do those things. 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.

2:56:55Julian Sand. 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, container grow as a leader, container 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 Julian Sand 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 committee here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every, every one of his years here, like four or five times.

2:57:59And 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. Appreciate you all. You have a good one. You have a good one.

2:58:59You have a good one. You have a good one.

3:00:00You have a good one. Well, I got coming in last. I knew the role. So I just tack every day. Really the same way. I think that is very rare physically different. Are you weight wise, body wise on that? on that from the year ago. I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240, I'm like 240, 4 right now. Last year I played it like 236, 237. What does it feel like at 240, 4, or a belt? You feel like almost a different machine out there. Yeah, like a... What does it feel like to 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 the blocks better. It's a big, 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,

3:01:01and 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? I just gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So... But are you... How would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an 8-stand point? 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. So it's big, but it's not really two different teams compared to the ones that I'm going to play and stuff. How has that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for it? We're an opener of that magnitude. Yeah, we're an opener like that. We've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming, so we know we got to do it. We've been prepared for it. I already did probably with the team. Yeah, I'll be a hostage player. I think Riley ready to play right now. He advanced freshmen, like he ended up here in the book. He stood in like he advanced, and his measurements was crazy. Like he saw it like a side line too. Or like you said, you're ready. You know you're ready. What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself becoming more and more ready

3:02:04for every team needed for you? 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? I say ready. I think it's pretty much like everything physically, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there. A different is that feeling this year at the end of last season? Wow. I asked that one more time. How different is that responsibility? That's what you call that? You knew you were a homemaker. 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 is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. For somebody who's somewhere in the name of Steve Jobs, I'll do the job. And what work?

3:03:05Everybody worked your watch. I say... describe my guy. I say, like when you think of me, you would think of 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 a thing. You know what I mean? No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but... I'm not saying that the nickname can be that sort of thing. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's like... I've got a more questions for Patricia's style and how it's free. I mean, how does that fit you? And what are you enjoying about it? And how do you enjoy playing in that kind of style? I think it 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're moving around a lot... A lot of the terms is like, you know, I don't know. I don't really not answer that. That's okay. You could go on your instincts. A little bit more, baby. And it's not so thinking of too much. I don't even know if I say that because... There's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like...

3:04:05I just like it's deep. I like Patricia's deep. I like what you got going on. What was it, Sadman? CJ left me. Yeah. Uh... Now, I wanted to mention Sad, I was kind of like happy fun. Yeah. That's what you want. Want me to send that? No. No. All right. No, that's my dog. I'm going to say yeah. Kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy fun, though. Well, don't think. Go ahead, one last question. Coach Daze talked a lot about the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for... I don't know. 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? But we'll be in this bigger role and... 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 it's going to be this year, so yeah. I definitely want to go get another one. Experience that, like, feeling we need to be on the field. A lot more place. Great. Oh, Bell, thank you very much. I'm so glad you're here. I'm sure you've been using you, you know, in that almost-at-safety role of a staff.

3:05:07How much is it grown? Uh... That you can put your finger on? Yeah, I was growing immensely. I mean, KLOP 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, I'll do run support. And it's really what KLOP 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 and tackling. Did you feel like that was the case before the Oregon game? You're showing up, Sammy. Is it something that's been added? It just, you know, relying on a little bit more, go ahead. Yeah, it did. I've probably been a Braska game, a Megan and more safety reps. And we had a five-week prepare, so I really learned the playbook a lot more. Even though I knew the playbook, I learned a lot more. Mounting, like, in debt, you know, so really just after the Oregon game, it helped me a lot to go back to safety, go to Neku everywhere.

3:06:09You guys had a lot of issues of giving up a big plays in a passing game with 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 mindset. We got to challenge these receivers. You know, every dog has their day. Maybe some people didn't have their day, that game. But we'll look out there and hopefully change the narrative. And we still play with the same confidence, same time. We still play with the same confidence, same technique. And, yeah. Bill Rebellion, what's the most this batch? And Tenzeel 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's 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 his confidence. And we're going to see a big game out of him this week. And, you know, I know you guys wanted to play them in anapolis.

3:07:13But the fact that you get to play them at 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 watched film. I mean, we've lost a lot of film. The first time we played them, now we've got another six games that they played of 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 six or whatever. But now we're out there and going to play thighs, physical, and everything like that. All right, Jordan, we're going to jump to the Zoom question here from Joey Kaufman. Columbus, this match. Oh, my bad. Not you, Joey. Cameron T. Robinson, the athletic. Hey, 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 Walt or Coach Noles comes to you and asks you to do something else? And just how much can you lean on the experiences you've had and moving around when you're trying to learn something new in the middle of the season?

3:08:17It means a lot. We always talk about this as if it's 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. 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, and anybody else need to question? Let me know. But otherwise we can go to Austin Moore, the podcast. Jordan, when you were talking about watching film, Oregon, which one do you think is more valuable to you watching that against yourself? 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 changing, the like, their scheme has changed. Some players have been out those those stretch of games.

3:09:19So I really watched the past game we played. And I know they're going to 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. Jordan, thank you very much. Thank you all. I really 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. One of those younger guys, we're seeing it out here. It's the first time I've heard all of your lectures. What have you seen from well? Because I kind of felt like, last year we all forgot about it because he was hurt. Now he's running almost a second man out behind you and tied. What have you seen from those interviews? Well, as a workhorse, he goes, stay quiet, you go and 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, win, all the games we don't want to lose anything.

3:10:22We got a mindset that we can't beat and we just got to go show it. It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year. This year even more so, you guys have all come back for this. You guys have all decided like that. Is that the field of difference or is it probably any difference? It's just the same. 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 bigger, go 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. 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 like work harder. That's kind of a coach makes a saying.

3:11:23You know, nobody cares. 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. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. Of course, as you know, it's frustrating. But you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, 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 harder than you always find out there's a little more that you could have been doing? Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. And 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. I was trying 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, 80, 85. I mean, I can, it's all on me.

3:12:23I 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. Get the shape. I think I think 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 the game. That's just too much on our bodies. Uh, just everybody's like, oh, line, D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the old line and everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of that, we'll just play in the middle of the snap. Did you like playing that means now to me last year? I don't know if any of us were really expected to be playing that next time. Uh, yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning by like a lot. Uh, 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 no, those kind of games.

3:13:24Of 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. Well, it stands out about taking McDonald's. You got it. Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back 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 ethic. He just has to get, you know, in the playboard things like that. You got to know about the exact same size. You're both listening to six three. You're three 27. He's three 26. Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, came in. He's going to be a great player. He's got to develop more and getting the play. It's really a lot on you older guys. There's a large group of young guys and then there's the seniors in the back. Is that part of your task for this year to bring those guys? 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 during the all season. So they can play and not just play. They want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex.

3:14:27Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. And they all work hard. I've really seen much of some day too. I'm not bad on, but throughout the workouts they've been working hard. You know, they they're determined. I can say that. And it looks like they're ready to work. It feels like. There's a lot of great defense. You have big athletic defense attack. So you can eat up space. But also. Move, you know, right? That is that. Is that an inquire that maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some balls. But. Also a great. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last couple of national champions and winners like. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last couple of national champions and winners. Like team on North, they didn't really got too good. Detackled to athletic detackles. Look at Georgia to athletic detackles. I think that's definitely me if you want to go on a big run and beat those big teams. If you think about that, they won't divide by the defense.

3:15:30What's Georgia? Jordan Davis and DL Carter. What's Michigan? It's Chris Jenkins. I mean, you understand. 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. 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. And when you think it when you think about those freakiest out-of-the-tackles, how do you think you fit into that mold 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, but you know. I watch the comment. I watch the dude do the drills. I have tape here. You're like looking like my film. So I think I'm up there with all the time. I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that, but I think they're counseling.

3:16:49I think they're counseling. I think they're counseling of them and it's some of them where I like just missed it. So, but I think we work on drills matching the hand. I think that's goes big and what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter that is. Anyway, you can. It's just 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. So it's something that you really, really have to work on. You just do that with what you can have. It's a theory that's one of the things that you can maybe work on the most. I think I just have 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 his ways and sometimes he just throws it to me. I mean, they get frustrated by you know, we're just getting better. That's a lot of a lot of different backs, man.

3:17:50It's just learning to grow for them. You got to pick your top three backs and you got to go right now. I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan 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 decision. Playing well with Howard. What I'm going to remember most. We're a Howard man. He's just such a great leader. 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 going to remember about him. Yeah, he's shoot. 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.

3:18:52Just 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. I was right there looking at the UFC spot and put on this. I'll be there as a new personality and a coach. I'll keep that up until they say my name. 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, I'm 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. I think that would do really good. So what is the way to play on the highway? That's what we put my strengths in. Just intensity, man. And since he did other 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.

3:19:56So, yeah, you just, I know you got to bring it, you know, each and every day and come in and work. And 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. I know I took a couple days off after the National Championship. And then, shoot, right after that, I'm writing, writing Tampa, Florida and I'm right to it. And so, yeah, I think while I trained, I trained at Yo-Murth 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. I mean, the bucket near, you know what I have. Tampa, Tampa, nice. It's a nice city, man.

3:20:56Really nice. Yeah. Really nice. The 40, the broad and the vert. 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 receivers who I got on the perimeter. I was 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 brother's, though, man. Making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now when you need to?

3:21:58In 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 inside run, you know, maybe. I was 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. So, people say you look like an LLL player. You get back in 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. So, I think you play the role of the player. You don't have to see yourself. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill.

3:22:58And I'll say the next one is probably just an option out of the backfield. You know, 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, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot him. 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 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. I think I'm going to look like John, you know, the girl I see in the air coming for a lot of start-in. You know, he knows the victory. I think it's a massive victory. When he looked back on him, what do you want to stand down for?

3:23:58Man, 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. It's just, I'm going to 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, you know, 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... The back of the firm, Peterson Power and Judge Alexander, what aspect do you two, those other individuals, who want to follow the game from being around power to hands?

3:25:03Um, man, 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, 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, the running through somebody, still forming somebody, and she would just gain a 10. And so... It's like, do some of the things that he does, he just realized that he's different than God actually. 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 a big back, you know, he's strong. And so, um, you know, 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 Quincham. You know, I want to look at his game and it's 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.

3:26:04What's your last, uh, Julian Sand? 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, um, he's definitely, man, I know Coach Dez 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 a 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 Julian Sand as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead, um, and lead the offense and lead the team. Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks. 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, no, 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,

3:27:04I 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. Thank you.

3:28:04Thank you. Thank you.

3:29:04Thank you. Thank you.

3:30:34Thank you.

3:31:34Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm mentioning, mostly, I think I'm there. A different is that. You know, I asked one more time. How different is that? Oh, I think 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 is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. Somebody, you. Somebody. Somebody. And what work? How's anybody where you watch? Uh, I say. Scrabbing. I say, like, when you think of me, you think of like a, like a, like a bully, like a silver bullet. Like, I'm really a bully. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think.

3:32:34No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but. So I'm not saying that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, how does that fit you? And what are you doing about bullying in that kind of stuff? 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're moving around a lot. A lot of the times is like, you know, I don't know. I don't really not answer that. That's okay. Does it? You could go on your instincts a little bit more, maybe. And it's not so thinking of too much. Because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like, I just like his defense. I like home pretty different. I like what he got going on. What was it sad when CJ left? Uh, no, I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for him. Yeah, that's what you want. No, no. All right.

3:33:34That's my dog. I'm going to say yeah. Kind of missing a little bit. But yeah, I'm happy for him. Well, don't thank you. Go ahead one last question. Coach Daze talked a lot about the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't. The starters and the hunger for, you know, that wasn't maybe your national championship. You guys can win your own. Yeah. How much do you feel that as a guy who certainly contributed last year? But we'll 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 nati last year. But like you said, my role wasn't same as how's going to be this year. So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experienced that like feeling with me. Love more plays. Great. Oh, Bill. Thank you very much. Thanks a lot. I feel like sometimes I'm like basketball. I want to be on that just like the fan, but you know, you have to stay. Stay square in some box. Exactly. Yeah. That's a great question.

3:34:34I feel like these two can answer that for the beer. I know I think KK here. I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys think? Well, I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys think? I don't know. I go games every day. This man is strong. I'm talking about like basketball here. You can just do it. I think it's like feeling kind of really fast. Just the whole world is going to shake it. And he got the beer. He doesn't get up on the plane. Like you said, he's going to go in and watch the film. He's going to see it on a beer one month. From like a story. He's not going to see it on a beer. Can you just follow us around? He's not like a coach, man. He's not like a coach. Chip Kelly's in for exchange. Your mind about maybe like the idea of tackle versus garden. Obviously his offensive predelictuous for like the offensive blind play. That's you can, a part of you, settle in the garden?

3:35:34I would say maybe I don't know. But when I first heard you got the job, I was really excited because I'm one of those guys who's the tempo. I can run with the tempo. I've played basketball all I've been set up football and I feel like just the fast pace often. So we're running really fit to the guys we have right now. I'm really excited for that. I know you think they're all footballing 65 yards. But can you kick the football of 75 yards and play against them? No. Lincoln, what's your question? How is your roommate at the community? He's a blessing, man. I can't complain. He's a great guy. His name's Lincoln. Clean hoes. Oh, he's cleaner. I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of pick each other's roommates because we're very cleaning. We don't like our rooms really messy. Well, it's true though. It's the truth. Luke, are you still a cross-training at TACO? Some or if you just been all-guard this break? So far, I've been all-guard.

3:36:34I really don't know. Like I said, I'm taking it practice. I could end up being a back attack, but I'm just really focused in on this past practice. What do you mean? I don't know. Oh, that means a lot. You put a lot of work in to play here. And it's been a dream just from being in Ohio kids. I'm from Ohio kids perspective. I mean, that's the biggest wish possible. I would say that's going to be pretty cool. What was it like when you last year at first game getting on the field for the first time? It didn't feel like that. It's going to be a weird answer, but it feels like I was playing a game, if that makes sense. I was pretty locked in. I felt like just no anxiousness, no stress, no nothing. I just went in that first game. I was like, shoot, I'm 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. I went out there in the end. I don't know. I felt less nervous. I didn't high school. It makes no sense.

3:37:34What did you see in the back of the game? I was just joking. A lot. I'm learning from Josh Ann Austin. I think prior to the World of Models series, my big brother, my first game. I'm a padea. No. I'm a padean. I'm an even miles two. I'm an all three of them. Those are my roommates. They're progressing every day as well. I'm excited to see where they can get to. I'm excited to play with them. Oh, yeah. He's been really helpful. Keep in my mind just settled and straightforward on the next one. That's a great question. Like I said, I just need to take consistent in my work. I think that's the biggest thing for me. It's just ain't consistent. I'm worried about the next one. So you got it from the guy you were in the play? Yeah. Wow, that's weird. Yeah, I guess they didn't want to get my nerves up. But I was ready.

3:38:34I took most of the ones. I was already pretty much it. I wasn't really nervous. I started the game. What was his advice to you? He said you got it. I leaked and Kyle every day in practice. I mean, it's not different. Almost different. You now, though, do we tend to get two parts in the game? As a player, you know, having that under your belt? I'm more confident. I know what's going on. I can see what's going on with the defense. I know what's going on. I know what's coming. I understand the game's a lot better than what it was. Which adds up to what? Fast, fast, hard, and me, etc. I mean, if we get out early, it's you get the defense change in place. It's changing their defense. They start fast. They're trying to get the call in the play. But you start fast. I'm not going back. I trust a lot of their shots. Yeah, of course they is pretty much dead, though. You deserve the play.

3:39:34You know, let's come along and fast. What would you expect this week from your role? Where they need me? If it's left right. How do you like playing tackle? I took me back to high school days, but I took back at high school. I was really random all the way up. I really didn't do any passes. It was fun. Change. I made my feet better, I would say. How confident you feel like you should play there. Is it a league? They want me there. I guess I'll play there. They need me. I also have some via illness that's swept through the office and I was really involved in that. A lot of times coaches and players have said that that was still relying for the groom. You know, getting you experience among others. What was that like for you and double-dipping, playing some tackle, playing some guard and the same practice? It was based on like a group effort that we knew we had guys out. We just had to go back practice. All five guys were wherever they were playing.

3:40:34We just got to go. How much of that accelerate your development I didn't really know. I didn't really know. So we wanted to practice with practices, but after those, I was like, you know, my confidence grew. Yeah. It seemed like there was sort of a settling in process for you and the Akron game maybe played out better if the game went on. It really seemed to, especially in the ground game, things seemed to take off. What was there a moment when it clicked on the field for you? Was there nerves? And then a time of settling in? I guess how, taking you through kind of that first game mentally? Yeah. First game, obviously you can have nerves for your first time starter. But then, like, after the first couple of plays, meaning you have nerves naturally, so that's the first couple of play that I was good, I was just rolling. Also, there's a weird meaning for the first time a striker player was also the first start. Yeah. You, yeah, it's, but like, I prepared well.

3:41:34And camp and practice all week. And I was, I was ready. Yeah. I have two multi-year starters. I 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, hey, we're going to block through it. I'll be emotional, excited. What is it guys from Ohio? What does it mean to start a meeting? It was always my dream to come here and play and start. And having that, like, I mean, I just keep going, keep building those days, and go games, and keep building. What a much younger Austin, though, do you have people from you that have? No, not really. I don't think, even, I don't like me. I asked my younger self, even committing it, I wouldn't believe it that. Now, having a couple of starts, I mean. Awesome. I've been faster than you. I've been building these days.

3:42:34I've come here with players. I guess you're technically a sophomore. I've been playing as a richer. No, I knew that year two, I was going to see you some playing time. Now, starting week one, year two, I didn't see that, but like, I was ready. In spring ball, like, I knew I was going to play some soft games. But, so. What does it mean to you to, it's not only get the opportunity to play, but it's like you play well enough now. I guess it shows like my preparation, my hard work, and just everything I put into this, and I just finally show it up on the field. There are moments, the soft season, the end of the spring, and the end of the season. I don't realize that you could play at this high level, with the ones, you know, if you knew you'd get. Yeah, the definitely was in a training camp. I mean, blocking the, the ones that you're going to play. I mean, I'm going to play in the first place. But definitely was in a training camp. I mean, blocking highly can tie every day. Like, it feels, it feels a lot of confidence in doing it well,

3:43:34and not like getting balled or anything. There is defense attack wasn't that, but I was a guy that didn't get the most. Hero in a Jason Moore in Taiwan. All those guys, I mean, pretty much anyone on the deepened line gets the best out of time, so. And Kay and Mack as well, so. Yeah. I'm also going to put a lot of them on. I would work like to tell about the stability, and the great thing is a lot. How much can he help you? He helped me 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, Josh Simmons, Donnie and Tiger. That means another voice and another captain. Look, ways of having them. And I'm with this much experience. Help. You're in the middle of the line. I mean, a lot. He can tell you, like before the play was going on, and like how to block someone, like what you need to do, and like helps a lot. Tiger, talking about how calm he is.

3:44:35How much does that benefit you? You have a guy who's kind of been there. And so. It makes us more calm, especially me and Dave, that's our first start. So like we were up here with, with Seth, like he brought us down, I mean, we were like five. Like our emotions weren't high. We were so in. Is that like something he tells you? Is that something you pick up on by how he's acting? How do you kind of mean sense what he's trying to do? It's by how he's acting. And what I mean, him, when we're on the side of him, both Josh Donnie, like he was telling us, like a cool, like we got it, but it's pretty much like, oh, everyone, old cool group. How much do that? As a first time starter, how much did you add in that? Me a lot. And that was my first time ever using iPads. We didn't use the iPads in high school, but I mean, you can say like try to remember the defense. You can just come on a silent and bring up a play and get help. That's really not. Probably the first or second after that.

3:45:37I thought we'd say all right. Awesome. Thank you very much. It seems like training part is important, but it's not the whole thing. They're getting bigger and stronger. It's like the culture of the park. Yeah. And it's how much of the fact that it's that, it's part of your change. It's also, it's a lot. I mean, I feel like you can't be able to transform your body, like I have with people here come and do that without having that mentality part with it. It's like we always talk about competitions here, and 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 like what do you do in the weight group? How big is that transformation that feel? 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 the play when I just got here

3:46:39and now I know how I feel the play like. Like, like, just today, like it feels physically different on my body. And it's like, it's just, it's, I'm getting used to it, that makes sense. Almost, you guys are, I can't imagine feeling like that. Kadia also said about you that you are just a completely different guy from last year. You hear the words, you just get it down and then. Looks like you're here. Do you 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 know who I am and I know I can be here. So, if you have confidence issues, how do you get through it? Is it yourself, is it teammates, is there someone in your family? The big people in the community that you can do it?

3:47:39I know I can do it. It's like, those are all, it's on the past now. Did the past play time in a very obvious opportunity? You guys had the stuff up to be able to be on the business? That helped you get over that confidence issue there because it's now a memory of your opportunity? So, kind of, it's just like, I mean, it's just being here. Like, I feel like being here every day, working with the guys every day, it's just like, you know, you become this person that you might not have, like, you might not have felt like you were before that, but coming here, working every day, stacking these days, like, you know, I just feel like I realized who I am and I know what I can do now. Well, I want to be able to have everyone in this world, but are you? This is the second time I feel like, could you convince yourself that you actually could walk in here and be good?

3:48:40I knew I could play here. I mean, it's just, it was like the, like, I just, I don't know how to explain it. I just, like, I've always known I could play here. I just, I'm just, like, let's go. Like, I'm ready, like, I'm ready to attack. What are the guys doing to help you to figure that out? First shot, I think KJ was a big influence, Tye Hamilton, Tye League, they all, they all helped me a bunch last year, kind of just pushing through, you know. I really 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 after the first time in Skordal. We're actually, we're seeing it. What have you seen from Lill? Because, kind of, the last year we all forgot about him because he was hurt. Now, he's running, you know, almost a second man off the high. What have you seen during the next few years? Well, as a workhorse, he, he goes, stay quiet, you go and work hard. And that's what I love about him. He focuses, he don't really talk much.

3:49:40He's going to get the job done, do a job right. He really has any mistakes. So, what would be a successful season? A national championship? I'm running when all the games we want to lose anything. We got a mindset that we can't beat and we just got to go show it. I was like, you know, mindset different. Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year. This year even more so, you guys have all come back for this. You guys have all decided like that, not for the month. Is that, is, is it to keep feeling difference or is there not really any difference? It's just the same work. I was 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 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.

3:50:41Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey, you guys won a winner 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 kind of a coach makes a saying, you know, nobody cares. Work harder. Like those, you know, one plate Georgia is the same thing. Yeah. 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. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. Of course, as you know, it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, you know, come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change. As soon 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 than you could have been doing. Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. And I thought freshman year I was working as hard as I could, but not look back at it. Yeah, really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now.

3:51:42So just to learn anything. If the standard was a 16, then the answer to what do you need it to be to be your best? 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 I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder in shape. I think I think 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 the game. That's just too much on our bodies. Uh, just everybody like online, D line. We got to get those younger guys to play and, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the online and everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of the life plan. I don't know if any of us were expected to be played at the same time. Oh, 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 2 or North, those kind of games.

3:52:47Of course I want to be because I know I can contribute to that. I don't know if any of us were expected to be played at the same time. But we weren't playing them big games like, you know, Notre Dame 2 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 can get the job done. What stands out about Kaden McDonald is he got that kid up in the back seat with his second kid? Oh, yeah, definitely. KMAC is a KMAC's animal. You haven't really seen it yet, but in practice he shows all the time. He's just, he's grown right now. He has to work at the, 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, listen to 6, 3, you're 3.27, he's 3.26. Yeah, he's a kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, KMAC 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 in the industry, seniors in the 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.

3:53:48We 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 the sex. It seems like these guys get faces each in the first mid class because they're not bigger. And those guys kind of, it doesn't kind of why you don't sell them first. Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two. I'm not passing on, but throughout the workouts, they don't work hard. You know, they they're determined. I can say that. And it looks like they're ready to work. I'm poor. This feels like. Because a lot of great defense is that you have big athletic defense attack. So you can eat up space. But also move, you know, right? That is that environment maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some fault. Also a great. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners,

3:54:50like team of North, they didn't know they got two bit of detaco, two athletic detacters. Look at Georgia, two athletic detacters. I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they won't defied by the defense attack. It's like, what's Georgia? Jordan Davis and Jill Carter and what's Michigan is. Chris Jenkins. I have four questions for you. I just wanted to tell you how, I mean, you understand it. But I feel like some time that 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 detacters. Yeah. Like in the combine, just now, you see in like those guys, they're moving forward to 478s and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think about those freakiest out there, how do you think you fit into that mold of that kind of player? We watched that and said, yeah, that's me. Yeah, definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacters. But I don't want to, you know, get a big head, but you know, watch the comment.

3:55:51I watch it do the drills. I have a tattoo. You're like, you're looking like my film. So I think I'm up there with all those guys. Do you become like a artist? I think you're going to bring practice. You're not doing as much a weapon. I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that. But I think that's, uh, goes big. I don't know. I don't remember how many I've lost your foot. You haven't gone. I think we work on drills matching the hand. I think that's, uh, goes big. And, uh, what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter of the against. Anyway, you can. It's 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 player. So it's something that you really, really have to work on. You know, that's one of the things that you've maybe worked on the most. You can bring your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen.

3:56:54Oh, that past few times. I think I just have like a, like, uh, 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 way. And sometimes he throws it to me. I'm in your team. You know, I'm in your bad dumb passes. I mean, they get frustrated, but you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better. I should lot of, a lot of different backs, man. They just learn to grow for them. You got a big, top three backs. You got a goal right now. Oh, I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey. Although he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey. Who's the best back in this draft? Best back in this draft. I lead that out the yard. That's y'all, that's y'all decision.

3:57:54Playing 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. 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. Just 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. I'm looking at the U.S. body, but I'm just going to raise the personality and approach. I'll keep that up until the same rate. Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartline, man. He's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well, you know, just learning from him as well, you know, trying to run more outside the backfield.

3:58:59It 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 that would do really good. And just to wait for the playoffs, right? That's what my strengths are. Just in Tensady, man. And Tensady, how to play off. Every game, man, is 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 the intensity 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. And 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, I know I took a couple of days off after the national championship.

4:00:03And then, shoot, right after that, I'm writing, writing Tampa, Florida, and I'm writing to it. And so, yeah, I think while I 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. The bucket near, you know what I have. Tampa, Tampa nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40, the broad and the vert. You've been in the races, it's an awesome locker. It needs to be pure mentality of like when you've got a linebacker, so you can get a jab, and you can figure that you and you're in training. It's more like a ball. 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. I love a will highway. It's for the love of the receivers who I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get sacked.

4:01:03And I tell 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 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 brother's, though, man, making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you'd be working on right now, when you need to? In 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 inside run, 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 my senior year. And so, I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So, people try to look like no one is more out there than you. Get back in person and be better than you ever want. I did meet with New Orleans as well.

4:02:05I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camarra shoe. Yeah, man, I have a Camarra great, great back, man. Just what he does and knows, one-on-one 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. So, the mid-to-play room, I'm going to get done there. I'm not too comfortable with anything. Let me see a play. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill. And I'll say the next one is probably just an option route out of the backfield. You know, a man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker. And so. Yeah. Yeah, I say to man, the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man. And the way that man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the monster. You know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot.

4:03:06I don't know. 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 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. And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this, um, 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, um, 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 um, when 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.

4:04:08You know, um, even in those moments, man, where it's 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. Um, I just really love that mentality, especially, um, Q as well, you know, I talked about Will Howard, his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a mentality, 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 then as soon as you know it, you know, he either run into somebody, step on somebody, and shoot, it's again, a 10. So, um, shoot, I think, yeah, man, I think it's just like, he's just gifted, man, too, beyond it.

4:05:18He'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, um, you know, I want to look at his game and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well? But 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 going to be a great, but he's going to 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, continue to grow as a leader, continue to grow as a player. And so, he's going to be really good for high state. 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 Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead, um, and lead to offensive lead to steam. Thanks, right? Shoot, man. He has, he has a build like JK Dobbins.

4:06:20And, 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, no, um, a lot, but man, his career here, you watch his highlights 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, 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 I appreciate you all. Yeah, I'll be going. Yeah.

4:07:43Yeah. Yeah.

4:08:43Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I got coming in last round. I knew we were all so I just tacked every day really the same way. It's a very physically physically different. Are you weight wise? Body wise on that? Um, 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 at 244? I feel like almost a different machine out there. Yeah. What does it feel like to be running around out there like you are 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. Yeah. Is it 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.

4:09:47What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? Got to get ready to just play dirty more snaps. So are you, are you, how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an eight. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. The text is open. It's a rematch. It's not really two different teams compared to us. I'm going to play this. How is that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the, 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. We know we got coming. So we know we got to do. We've prepared for it. I already just probably worked. I think Riley ready to play right now. He advanced freshman like he and the book. He studied in like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like the silence. Well, you said you're ready. I know you're ready. What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself becoming more and more ready?

4:10:48The team needed to be there. 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, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there. A different is that you want to cheer them on. That's possible. Oh, that's the one more time. How different is that responsibility? That's the reason you just say emotional. All that. Anyone last year knew you were a home player. 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 is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. Somebody you some reason.

4:11:48It won't work. How's anybody worked your watch? Uh, I say. Scrab my gun. I say, like when you think of me, you would think of like a, like a bullet, like a silver bullet. Like I'm 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. So I'm saying that the. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's it. I was in the first question. Patricia style and how it's free. I mean, how does that fit you? And what are you enjoying about playing in that kind of style? Um, I think it 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 terms is like, no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that. That's okay. Does it? You could go on your instincts a little bit more, maybe? It's not so thinking of too much. I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like.

4:12:50I just like it's deep. I like how to put it deep. I like what you got going on. What was it? Sad when CJ left the watch. Uh, now I want to say that I was kind of like happy for me. Yeah, that's what you want. No, no. All right. No, that's my dog. I go. So yeah, kind of missing a little bit. But yeah, I'm happy for you. Well, don't think you go ahead one last question. Coach James talked a lot about. The guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for. I know that wasn't maybe your national championship. You guys will know when you're out. 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 nattie last year, but like you said, my role wasn't. Same as how's going to be this year. So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experienced that like feeling with me be on the field. A lot more place. Great. Oh, Bill, thank you very much. I'm so. You need to offense compared to NFL.

4:13:50Especially with the way he uses receivers. How do you anticipate your role? Engine it. 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. Um, he likes to be balanced. He likes to give different looks to a difference. You know, we're going to not to try to get too much into it, but you know, we're going to use emotion, move some guys around and things of that nature. Um, 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, um, unique part about our offenses. I don't think necessarily you play the X or the Z because the pit on the formation of the hash, you can be the opposite. You can be the X, but then you're to the field now you're the Z. So 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.

4:14:52So I think he doesn't just say like we're going to do this offense. He's really trying to create an office 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 you to clip. Is that something you're used to seeing in other offenses? Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think if if I'm on the left hash like technically, 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, I'm to the strength of the tight end. So I've been in offenses like is similar like that before and you know, I just think he, he one thing I think that's really stood out as the compliments of our routes that we have so far. 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. You get, you know, a really good look at DBs and they study your film, they study your splits, like having routes that look the same, but break off at 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 hit you again, your backside, like that's all you got, you know what I mean.

4:16:03Yeah, he's just been a really good player, a person to work with and he's been really communicative with the leaders and how we want this offense to look like and some of the ideas that we may have as well. So it's been a really cool transition. You talk about the transitions, you've heard offense in three years, probably your fourth and sixth years. Yeah. How do you not kind of build up some barriers? Yeah, man, I got to do this again. Right. I think, you know, human nature is always a factor in whatever you do in life, but 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 it's been great working with Marcus and Jaden and Jeff and Sam, all of everybody, like it's been great with working with all the quarterbacks. And I just have a mentality of not really being complacent, like I try to really focus on the things that I can come back better at this year and I've been working my butt off to do that.

4:17:08So I think the easy thing and when I was younger, you're like, dang, like you just want that consistency. You know what I mean? Like you want that something you could depend on, but like life isn't always like that. I've been reinvigorated because of just the energy that DQ brings into our building each and every day and the coaches as well. Like it's fun competing, you know what I mean? And sometimes I could get lost in the grind, but I think the reason why you make it here at this level is because you fall in love with the competition of it. And I think the competition breeds the success because 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 know that the next day we're going to go right back after the defense. For myself, I'm just looking forward to continue to grow with the quarterbacks that we have. I'm in year six now, which is extreme blessing and leader one of the leaders in our room. And I just try to take the bull by the horns with that.

4:18:11And so that's really been my focus and you know, I'm excited for another year. And to us, it's looked like you're being more vocal on the sidelines to help young guys. Definitely something you decided this offseason or I think that's been a part of my maturation process as a leader. I've always seen myself as somebody that was a leader by example. But from coaches and other teammates I've had over the years, guys like to hear what I have to say for whatever reason sometimes. You 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 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. Because I want to see all these guys win, man, like it's hard to make it in this league and stay in 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.

4:19:13You 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 going to try to do that because we need everybody from the rookies to the 10 year vets to make this thing work. So more so I try to speak to what I know and really those honest conversations that I try to have with guys, what they know I'm coming from a good place. And I think I'm not the type of guy where I'm just going to talk 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 Jahan 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. Good. Going back to what you were saying about Cliff and the offense. How is he as a teacher in teaching all this?

4:20:13Yeah, I mean, I think he does a really great job of making things simple first and foremost. He doesn't over coach. And I think that's the trust that he has in our group and 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 walk through. And then after that, we'll have another walk through. And so I don't think there's been a time where I've come out here and I'm kind of worried about what I got. You know what 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 forces kind of separates guys in a sense that like one guy may study more than another guy. But when you have 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 what he's expecting, but it's not a lot.

4:21:15So 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. And this offseason just the totality of change from front office players coaches, the turf field. Yeah. What what has 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 Adam 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 going at it with the DBs 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.

4:22:20Hey, like I'm going to give all I got for this day and I'm going to get better. And then I'm going to learn from the film and come back tomorrow and ready to do it again. And he also understands like the benefits of having breaks. Like he's giving us breaks. We've had you know weeks off here and there that we can compose ourselves. But then come back and give it all we got. You know what I mean? And when you got a coach that understands the physicality of an entire season where you guys do need breaks by the same time we're going to 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 going to get your your mind and your body and your soul right. So coming into this season, I'm really optimistic of 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 won and we got Bobby Wagner in there.

4:23:24You know what I mean? I asked a hall of fame or 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 role where it doesn't fall on one person. I think it's 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. Terri, you seem to spend many of your off seasons learning about things beyond football, hobbies, what have you? Did you do any of this off season so far? It's a hobby to increase your knowledge of this world around you. Let's see a question. Play a lot of golf. That day just keeps my competitive juices flowing. Planning a wedding. That's going well. And I just been grinding like, honestly, you know, I mean, I've been hungry this all season. I started working out pretty early and you start to see guys coming back and it's just fun to be here and compete and feel like everybody's on the same page.

4:24:29And so for me, I'm a grind every off season, but just this one just feels like it's the start of something new and special. And the foundation of is extremely important and to be a part of that, to have a hand in that, you know, it's an honor. And I put a lot of expectation on myself to come out here and be the guy that I know I'm capable of and also like taking the next step and being somebody that our quarterbacks that can trust and believe in. So this all season was pretty simple for me. It was just really about working 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 arm strength, the throws, he's making anything surprising so far about the types of his ability in that regard. Definitely. I think after the second or third crosser that he threw, I started telling receivers like, hey, you got to get your head around. You know, I mean, because again, each quarterback throws the ball differently and sees the field differently.

4:25:29Sometimes 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 with 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 a 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 can 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 form of communication from a rookie, I think is 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 deep balls is amazing. I love getting extra reps after practice with him. We're just catching the top end of the deep ball. As big for me, you know, I get to track the ball over my shoulder and as 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.

4:26:33I think he's these reps that he's getting are unbelievable during 11 on 11 because he's getting to feel pain and Allen and DA and Cleveland Farrow. Like we got some dogs up there who are going 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 on seven seven on 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 them in his eye. I'm like, we play real ball now. Like we we we plan. You know what I mean? And you just see no, no anxiousness in his game and his demeanor, which is extremely exciting. And then, you know, he's extremely lighthearted. And he's always smiling. And 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, where 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 can weigh on a player. You're entering the prime of your career. J 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 getting to the prime of your career. Like you want to win now.

4:27:47That's a fair question. I think, you know, you start to evaluate when you I'm in year six and you know how fast it goes. And I try not to put the cart before the horse were looking too far ahead by the same time. You do want to win. 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. That's why we do this personally. And I'm just excited with being a part of an organization in the environment where now like everybody's on the same page 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 want to help us win games. And when you're around environment like that, like that, that makes you excited, makes you hopeful. And, you know, you don't know how it's going to turn out until we start playing games. But the foundation is extremely important. And I think this off season, we've really done a great job of building that they have.

4:28:50And then when a coach Quinn guy here building with this team. So I feel like we're going to be going into this off season really knowing what we all got to do individually become ready for camp. But the message is clear to come back to camp ready to compete. And and be ready to win. Thanks, Eric. Appreciate you guys. One of the funniest guys on the team right now is me playing as much. So I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt. So I can bring younger guys with me because I've been going. One of those younger guys we're seeing after the first time. We've seen from well because. I should have real forgot about it because he was hurt. Now he's running, you know, almost a second man up on the tie. What have you seen? Well, it's a workhorse. He he goes, stay quiet. You're going to work hard. And that's all I love about you. He focuses. He don't really talk much.

4:29:53And get the job done. Do a job right. Really has any mistakes. So what would be a successful season? The national championship ring when all the games were going to lose anything. We got a mindset that we can't be beat. We just got to go show it. It seems like you guys expect the national championship every year. This year even more so. You guys have all come back. That's all decided like that. Is that the difference? Or is it probably any difference? It's just the same. It'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. 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.

4:30:53Does 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. I'm saying we just like work harder. That's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody cares. Work harder like those know when we played Georgia is the same thing. Last last play. You know, they went on the win in 90s. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. Of course, you know, it's frustrating. But you can't change the outcome. You know, really do it on the do it on it. You just got to, 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 I was working hard and 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 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.

4:31:54So just to learn anything. What do you need it to be to be your best? 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 I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder. But the idea of the potentially side of my thought ideas that make you nervous about. I think I think we, I definitely can. 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 online and everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of that, if you like playing that many snaps again last year,

4:32:55I don't know if any of us were really expected to play that next time. Yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning. I like a lot. I thought like there are no small means 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 want to be because I know I contribute. And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I get the job done. Well, it stands out about Kaden McDonald and this he guy that came up with you guys in a second. Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac's animal. You haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows it all the time. He's just, he's growing right now. He has the 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 6-3. You're 3-27. He's 3-26. 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 they see seniors in the back. Is that part of your task for this year to bring those guys along as well?

4:33:56Yeah, 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 I just play, they want to like contribute, like make plays, tackle the sex. It seems like these guys get bigger. Each one of the first McLeod's is a thinner up later. And those guys kind of, there's been kind of a while you were solving the first. Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. 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're determined. I just say that. And it looks like they're ready to work. I'm poor. It feels like there's a lot of great defenses that you have big athletic defense tactics. You can eat up space. You know, right? Is that a requirement maybe for a great defense? To have guys like you that have some balls, but also a great feeling.

4:34:58I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners, like team of North, they didn't know they got two that, uh, detaco two athletic detacles. Look at Georgia two athletic detacles. I think that's definitely needed if you want to go on that big run. It'll be those big teams. You think about this. If they want to fight by the defense tactics, like what's Georgia? Jordan Davis and Daniel Carter. Let's miss again. It's Chris Jenkins. I mean, you understand. 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 there's started to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detacles. Yeah. In the combine just now, you see in like those guys, they're moving forward to four seven eights and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think it when you think about this freakish tackle, 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.

4:35:58I 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, watch the comment. I watch the dude do the drills. I have to see you like looking like my film. So I think I'm up there. I think you become like a artist. You know, it comes in the back of the glasses. The way things. When you're going. You're not doing as much a weapon. How do you work on that? Do you have like a gold one? I don't remember how much I've lived here. Like the other one. How many do you want to have? I mean, many of us can have. I think I have more than that. But I think they're counseling. I think they're counseling 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 deal on, you know, just affecting the quarter babies. Anyway, you can. It's just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing you cover in 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.

4:36:58It's really, that's one of the things that you maybe worked on the most. You can bring your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen. Like, oh, that past few guys. We don't have to ask for the strategy. We kind of kind of expect it. I think I just have like a eye for the ball comment. 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 don't know. How your advantage is to do it to the Ohio State quarterbacks game. I'm going to get bad down passes. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better. Yeah. Watch a lot of, a lot of different backs, man. They just learn to grow for them. You go ahead and pick your top three backs. You have to go right now. One, two, three. Uh. I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, 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.

4:38:01I'll lead that up. That's y'all. 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 lead, such a great leader, man. It's just like a moment 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 shoot. He's going to be really good, man. He's, um, Coach Lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia. Just 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 in as a player. And so man, yeah, definitely Ohio State, you know, that running back room is in great hands. I was right there. I got looking up to you. See spotting. I'm just going to raise my personality. And I'll keep that up until they say my name.

4:39:01Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartlan, 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, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield. It was being able to learn from Coach Hartlan. 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 intensity, man? Just intensity, man. And since he got the playoffs, every game, man, is 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 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 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.

4:40:02Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know I took a couple of days off after the national championship. And then shoot right after that. I'm writing sample Florida and I'm right to it. And so, yeah, I think while I trained, I trained at your morph 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. The way they went about training us, man, they did a really good job. The bucket near, you know what I have. Temple, it's a nice, it's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40 to broad and avert. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, man. It's really all about technique.

4:41:02And 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 brother's, 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 had to hit the first, you feel later today. What is the thing you've been working on right now when you need to start? In 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 inside run, 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.

4:42:03So, you know what I was saying? Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So, people, you look like, I'll let you borrow out there. You get back in nursing. So, you get back in nursing. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera shoe. Yep, man. I have a Camera 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. And I'll say the next one is probably just an option out of the backfield. And man, man, coverage. You're getting on that line backer. And so.

4:43:06Yeah, I say to man, the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man. And the way that, man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shooting. 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 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. I mean, how do you look like to him? You know, you're like, you know, you're like, you're going to be out of the world, on-stuck kid. You know, you're being out with some injuries. I know he's a master's at the end. When he was back, when he went to what, he said, I'm not going to be a real player. 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. It's just, um, 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.

4:44:08And so, um, 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 um, when 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, where it's 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, which aspect could be to those other individuals who want to follow the camp from being around power and safety? Um, man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Um, I just really love their mentality, especially, um, Q as well. You know, I talked about Wil Howard, his leadership, but Quenchiam mentality, 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.

4:45:11And as soon as you know it, you know, he, he that running through somebody, still farming somebody and she, that's a game to 10. I'm trying to do some of the things that he does, he just realizes two different guys. Um, 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, 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 Quenchiam. You know, I want to look at this game and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well? I'm just 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 going to be a great, but he's going to be a great quarterback, man. He's so, so accurate. And so, um, he's definitely, man, I know Coach Dez definitely going to get him right. Just, you know, um, continue to 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, I know just a quarterback position.

4:46:12Um, 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, um, and lead the offense and lead the team. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. Shoot, man, he has, he has a build like JK Dobbins. And, um, I kind of see them, you know, similar, similar, he's 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, 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, 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. Thanks, guys.

4:47:35Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys.

4:48:35Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. Well, I got coming in last round. I knew we were all so I just tacked every day really the same way. It's a very physically, physically, a lot of different. Are you weight wise, body wise on that? Um, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240, you know, like 240, 4 right now. Last shot, I played it like 236 to 37. I feel like it's 240 or about, you feel like almost a different machine out there.

4:49:35Yeah, like, what does it feel like to be running around out there like you are, but with more, more, more bad. I just feel like I'm like, like, like, more downhill, like stronger. Like I'm taking all the bloods better. It's a 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. What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? Is it going to get ready to just play 30 more snaps? But are you, are you, how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an eight-stand point? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. The text is open. It's a rematch. So, but it's not really two different teams. Compared to the ones that I'm going to play 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 emphasizing in a lot. We know we got coming, so we know we got to do.

4:50:35We've been prepared for it. Already does probably work today. Yeah, I think Riley ready to play right now. He advanced freshman, like he in the, he in the book. He studied in like, he advanced and his measurements is crazy. Like he saw a lot of saw lines. Said you're ready. What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself becoming more and more ready? The team needed for me. 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, mentally, most of me. I think I'm there. A different is that feeling it's your bad life. That's the responsibility that I'm going to have. Oh, ask that one more time. How different is that responsibility? That's the reason that you just call that. It was last year. New year role.

4:51:36I 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 is going to be a great day. I feel like this year is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. Is somebody who's some region that you saw? How would you do that? What word? How's anybody where you watch? I say... Scrabbing. When you think of me, you would think of like a... like a bullet, like a silver bullet. I don't really know bullet. That's how I like to play and think. No, I ain't got to be my nickname. But... Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. It's like... How does that fit you? And what are you and your way of showing about playing in that kind of style?

4:52:36I think it fit me because... I just like the difference. I feel like we got... freedom and we moving around a lot... a lot of the time just like... No, I don't know. I don't really know how to answer that. That's okay. Does it kind of... you get to go on your instincts a little bit more, baby? And it's not so thinking of too much. 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 different. I like how it's different. I like what he got going on. What was it, Sadman? Uh... Now I wanted to say that. I'm happy for you. That's what you want. No. That's my dog. Kind of missing a little bit but yeah, I'm happy for you. I don't think... Go ahead one last question. Coach Daze 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.

4:53:36How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year but will be in this bigger role and a lot more some year your classmates? Yeah, I do feel like... um... I do feel like I did win a nati-lash but like you said my role wasn't same as how it's going to be this year so yeah I definitely want to go get another one. Experience that feeling with me be on the field, a lot more place. Thank you very much. I feel like I have a lot of leaders on the B-line and at the D-In position so we kind of just kind of talk a little bit. Is that been a tough challenge for you to go over? What about the guys playing with them all? You were in the field and just stuck in the middle of the day. And trying to put this to be like, so you need to push those guys out of that position? Um, it's repetitive and we love it. We all competitive people, we all love to fish each other. And that's really the best thing that's been bringing the best out of all of us. We feel like we all just kind of bouncing off each other and seeing what one person does and we kind of glittered into our actual box and we all kind of just kind of built one great thing. Hey, you were going to last year and you definitely get the shot at the full-backing book.

4:54:40And the day for you that I dare to coach them, I mean how did that come about? Because you're a jack sawyer who's not me. It gives a touchdown. So I definitely did it in high school. I was pulled back and a little bit of tied in. So I feel like they kind of saw what I could do there in Coach Wilson. I was a huge up-awaited student too, the poor he left. And I feel like he planned that seed in Coach Day's head to Coach Day kind of just went for it and tried to do the best I could to do it. Is that continuing now, man? You need anything to scream? New playbook, I did not know you hadn't got that far. But you haven't got that deepest. And how tough is that to you? 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 two to learn it and kind of perfect it. And I'll try to do my best for you. Coach Jack, you're the same thing. Oh yeah. I was talking to Coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of sight you and you got out to have some conversations after JT and Jack decided to come back. Just got to win into those respected and how did that help you maybe get the right mindset?

4:55:45I guess I'm going to be a squint. 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's happening 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 sat straight to me. And I feel like we kind of both have been on the same team. We know we're making it together. We make each other better every day. We got the four best DNs. Five best DNs honestly. And coach football and we're going to be one of the best D-Rimes in coach football. I think you feel like a better player today at any more of the events in the season. I feel like I've taken 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. And kind of bring people in and feel like we're kind of helping out more. How do you recommend a Grand The Possibility GXC? The next sound. I mean the sounds bizarre but I mean the season goes by so fast already.

4:56:47So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow it's already week 10. It's kind of gives you more time to kind of enjoy it and kind of savor it. Because you've come already here for a few sessions. But you don't want to spend all your time in the first month of the year right now. Oh yeah. There's a mindset there. Yeah definitely definitely going to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks and all those practices. How much is Larry talking to you guys about the good? Last question right here. 2016, 2017, 4 NFL 2 Fetch of Worlds all in San Diego. How much is he talking about that? 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. We know what it could become. So we know we're at the same, we're 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 get 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 such a special. I'm not going to be playing as much.

4:57:48I just wanted to get more experience under my belt. So I can bring you guys with me because I've been going like, one of those younger guys we're seeing right here. It's the first time. It's heard all your life. What have you seen from well? I've been going to ask you a real forgot about it because he's heard it. Now how he's running, you know, almost a second man out of the eye. What have you seen in the video? What was the workhorse? He goes, stay quiet. He goes work hard. That's all I love about him. And he says he don't really talk much. He's going to give 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 were one of lose anything. We got a mindset that we can't be beat. We just got to go show it. It seems like you guys expect a national championship in here this year even more so. You guys have all come back for this. You guys have all decided like the numbers are not put. Does that feel different? Or is it not really any different?

4:58:48It'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 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. You guys have come 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 left your back clubs. So I'm saying we just work harder. That's kind of coach makes a saying. Nobody cares his work harder. Like those won't play Georgia. Last play. They went on the win in the 90s. We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles.

4:59:48Of 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. As soon as you get older, you kind of learn. You guys find out there's a little more. Yeah, definitely. That's what growing up is basically in college. I thought freshman year I was working. It's 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. Just to learn anything. What do you need it to be to be your best player? I don't know. It's 85. 80, 85. I mean, it's all on me. 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. You have to shape. The idea of a defensive is 16 or 17. I have to say about that idea.

5:00:50There's a making. There was about, can you last that long? I think. I think we, I definitely can rise. I was just, you know, we got to get the young guys to play and get that pieces on the D-line and the O-line. And everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of which I've lost K-9. I don't know if any of us were really expected to be for that next time. 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 in big games. I think we're going to be able to play in the same game. I think we're going to be able to play in the same game. I don't know if those kind of games are a course I want to be. Cause 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 Tade and McDonald? You got the key in the second. Oh yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac's animal. You haven't really seen him yet. But in practice, he shows all the time.

5:01:51He's just, he's growing right now. He has to work at the, he just has to get, you know, in a playbook and things like that. back same size. You're both, listen, six for your 327, he's 326. Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, he may be a great player. He's got to develop more and get into play. Really a lot on you older guys. There's that large group of young guys and there's 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. 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 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. Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes and they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two when I'm not as on, but throughout the

5:02:53work hours, they've been working hard. You know, they they're determined. I just say that. And it looks like they're ready to work with me. How important this is? Feels like there's a lot of great defense. You have big athletic defense attacks. You can eat up space. But also, you know, right? Is that because I have an environment maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some balls, but also a great I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last couple of nice and the championship winners are like, seem a North Indian. They got two good detackled, two athletic detackles. Look at Georgia. Two athletic detackles. So I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they will defied by the defense attack. What's Georgia? Jordan Davis and Janet Carter. What's Michigan? It's Chris Jenkins. Couple more questions. How do you understand this? You play it, but I feel like sometimes I don't know. Are people realizing how important defense

5:03:57tackles 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 about this freakish athletic defense attack, how do you think you fit into that mold of that kind of player? 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, but you know, watch it come on. I watch it do the drills. I have a tape here. You're like, you're looking like my film. So I think I'm up there all the time. You become like a artist and a band of passes. You know, when you're going, you're not doing as much a weapon. I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that, but I think they're counting.

5:04:57I think they're counting some of them and some of them are like just listed. 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 quarterbugs. Anyway, you can. It's just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing covered his eye. You know, he might do it a little bit to the left to our players. 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. You can do your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen. Oh, that passes. I think I just have like an eye for the ball counter. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him 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. Watch a lot of a lot of different backs. Man, they just learn to grow for them.

5:06:06I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you 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 with Will Howard, what I'm going to remember most. 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 going to remember about him. Yeah, he's shoot. He's going to be really good man. He's on 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 going to be really good backs. And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man.

5:07:07He'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. Yeah, Coach Coach Hart line 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, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield. Was being able to learn from coach Hart line. 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 that do really good. Just the intensity man and the intensity of the playoffs. Every game and it's like the intensity got, you know, higher and higher. And so, you know, being able to I know in the lead is the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, it's 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.

5:08:09You 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 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 national championship. And then shoot right after that. I'm writing right in Tampa, Florida. And I'm right to it. And so yeah, I think while trained, I trained at your morph 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 were they did a really good job. The bucket near know I haven't. Tampa, Tampa nice. This is nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40 to broad and avert.

5:09:20Yeah. 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. So 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 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 brother's, 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 had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now? In 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 inside run, you know, maybe 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.

5:10:22I feel like I did a good job of that my senior year. And so I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So people, you look like a lot of people are out there. You get back to nursing. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera. Sure, yeah, man, I would come here 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. And I say the next one is probably just an option route out of the backfield. You know, man and man coverage, you're getting on that line backer. And so. Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man, and the way that man, he approaches the game.

5:11:34He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week, 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. And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this not 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.

5:12:37And 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 feel 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. The back of the firm, you mentioned power and judgment, what aspect do you think those other individuals have chewed on to models and from being around power? Man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really loved 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 as soon as you know it, you know, he, he, they're running through somebody, step on somebody and chewed it's a game of 10.

5:13:39It's a, Do some of the things that he does, he just realized that he did for the guys. 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, he's a big back, you know, he's strong and so, you know, he's, he's able to do, he's able to do those things. 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 this game and it's 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. What's your last experience in the game? Julian 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, um, container, grow as a leader, container, grow as a player. And so, he's going to be really good for a high state. He's, I know just the quarterback position. I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've, they've definitely been vocal.

5:14:39And so, I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to ask Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the, um, and lead the offense and lead the team. 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. I feel like he's not talked about his, no, 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, 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, I'll be going. Yeah.

5:16:08Yeah. Yeah.

5:17:08Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I got coming in last round. So I just tacked every day really the same way. It's taking advantage. Very rep. Instically 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 shot. I played it like 236 to 37. What does it feel like a 240 or 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 with more, more back? I just feel like I'm like, like, like more downhill, like stronger.

5:18:09Like I'm taking all the bloods better. It's a big. 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. What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? Is it going to get ready to just play 30 more snaps? But are you, are 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. The text is open. It's a rematch. So it's not really two different teams compared to the ones that I'm going to play. How has 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 emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming, so we know we got to do what we're preparing for it. Already this probably worked. I think Riley ready to play right now. He advanced freshman like he in the here in the book. He studied in like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like the saw line to him.

5:19:13Or go ahead, you said you're ready. 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, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there. A different is that feeling is your bad life. I asked the one more time. How different it is that we're trying to build. Oh, that was last year. 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 was going to be the same thing.

5:20:14It's probably a little bit more. Somebody who's some reason to say that. How do you tell? And what were? How's everybody where you watching? I say... describe my game. When you think of me, you would think of like a like a bully, like a silver bully. I don't really bully. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think. No, I ain't got to be my nickname. I'm not saying that the nickname could be that. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's like. How is that fit to you? And what are you into? What are you into playing in that kind of second? I think it fit me because I just like the defense. I feel like we got, like you said, we got a lot of freedom. We got a lot of the terms. It's like, you know, I don't know. I don't really know how to answer that.

5:21:14That's okay. You could go on your endstakes a little bit more, maybe. And it's not so thinking of it too much. 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 defense. I like how it's pretty different. I like what you got going on. What was it, Sadwin? CJ left the watch. Now, I wanted to say that. I was kind of like happy for you. That's what you want. No. No. No. No, no. That's my dog. I don't see it. Kind of missing a little bit. But yeah, I'm happy for him. Well, don't think. Go ahead one last question. Coach Daze 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 have been winning your own. How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and a lot of some of your classmates? Yeah, I do feel like. Yeah, I do feel like I did win a national last year, but like you said, my role wasn't the same as how it's going to be this year.

5:22:14So yeah, I definitely want to go get another one experienced that like feeling maybe on the field, a lot more place. It's great. Oh, Bill, thank you very much. The championship in Lincoln, you know, before and everything like that, and also to get your teeth knocked in, you know, first game and you know, you can't have that happen because then you know, really doesn't mean anything. And so just the constant mindset to continually get better. And the forefront of my mind and forefront of anyone here you can ask. Yeah, I know we look at the class stats every now and then I can be like, oh man, they're gone. They're gone. No, it's been, it's been good. I mean, the guys who are still here, I'm as definitely kind of bonded together. Pretty good. Yeah, I mean, you know, Marv came in in a day is like, in that class, one best class ever. Yeah, sure. You know, I can't really even, you know, just sitting to that, you know, not much left, but, yeah, I mean, to do what we can and do what we can for this team,

5:23:14it's been really important for all of us. And I think, um, I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I know, you got to do it. You got that, I know. Yeah. I've been there. I've been there for years. And I think, um, us now realizing where the veterans, you know, where the old guys now, in the group has been kind of strange, at least, to begin with, you know, because you go from, um, all those guys, you like, Donate and Josh and those guys, and all of a sudden, it's Sunday. We have a team meeting after the, um, like this operation and the shoe and all of a sudden the next day there's gone, in, you know, it's, it's just very different. So I think us being able to step up as, you know, leaders and, um, team are units and this program has been really important.

5:24:19No, it could spend doing really well. I mean, I could go as he goes to work. He's extremely athletic, extremely flexible. 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. But I think he's going through that right now, but he's been coming out on the better end of it so far and excited to see what he can do because he's very impressive at this young stage. So I'm a little bit more over, so I'm sure overall level of excitement is to be back with. The rest of this interview are off the blind group, but you guys have these so much experience. Yeah, extremely excited. I mean, trying to just build that culture back up again, you know, like what we had last year. I'm trying to do a little stuff here in there, and I can know I think we're going to Rayrays, a barbecue, I think tomorrow. So shout out Rayrays, but yeah, just trying to get that brotherhood back, get that, you know, that oblock spirit back. Sure it's coming soon, soon. Hopefully. But just to kind of get those, not those same faces, but those same kind of mindsets back,

5:25:21and our group is important right now. And it's been fun to meet new guys from different backgrounds and stuff like that and try to figure out how to 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, it's obviously, I don't feel like it's natural to anyone to immediately step up and that's something I've been working on every day and talking to God about. But I obviously understand that, and that's something I want to continue to work on. I want to be able to be a guy that people can fall back on and like Coach was saying before, like we're going to have highs in those, but the great players, the ones being set our clocks to, and I kind of want, that's my goal, is to be one of those people that you can do that. And I think for especially a very new set of eyes in the Woody, not only coaches but players, 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 to not

5:26:25be too hard on myself, but also not let myself kind of slack off in some departments to try to keep steady. Just your story itself though is testament of what it means to like for perseverance and stuff too though, right? Carson, I mean, you don't have to stand up from somebody to say that, right? I mean, just, what do you think you've shown more than anything else in every card? Yeah, I mean, I've been blood.