Press Conference (Jim Knowles) Elite Edition September 2

0:00Yeah, that's different, you know, I mean, you look at the last three games that we faced, and I think that's really the offenses were different to what Notre Dame does well. So we have to make that adjustment because they'll be hard to handle. Right so coach, we're just talking with JTT and I'll discipline the edge brushers have to be knowing that Ryzen is somebody to pick up the most third down in the country. You want to be aggressive, but they have to make sure that they keep them in the pocket as well. Yeah, I mean, you say, you know, past rush lanes are everything and, you know, caging him because he is exceptional at making those plays.

1:05But, you know, you also can execute a past rush unless you execute a past rush move, you know, so it's like you can't get a hit unless you swing the bat. So it's really going to be a constant balance and knowing that he can make those plays, everybody has to be aware of it. Alright, thanks. Thanks. Thank you. Congrats on getting your first one. The defense is made. I believe one will play off. Actually, I believe we'll kind of all year on this one. But one or two things that's kind of been on team of your defense, let's all live this and all this and be like, what's been one or two things that has been come with the defense all year long? Well, we always talk about limiting explosive plays, you know. Guys know that. They know that. We talk about, you know, all the standard things that defenses do. But, I think the expectation is important, you know, that from the jump, you know, I talked to them about chasing perfection, even though it's not possible.

2:18You know that we have the talent to do that and we have to expect that from ourselves, that we're going to be as close to perfect as we can. I think it's important that we're going to be able to do that. Yeah, and I think, you have veterans and guys who've been in the system and we spend a lot of time together and, you know, they start to understand. They start to understand how I think, which is really important, you know, when you know what the guy, the guy who's calling the defense is why he's calling it and how it works. You know, because every call has strengths, but every call, every defense has weaknesses.

3:18So, they just start to understand that the longer we're around each other. Yeah, I mean, you can tweak things week to week in the game plan and they pick it up seamlessly, you know, where, at other times you have to be careful, but when you have a veteran group that understands the system, it works well. Thank you. Yeah, that's been a constant pursuit of perfection.

4:19You know, I want, I, and up to me to put them in the right call, get them in the right places and. When they make good plays that's on them, you know, and they know when they, if something goes wrong, it's on me. So I think it's that continually, you know, investing in them and trusting, trusting them and let them go play. I grew up on the on the mean streets of North Philly. That's why I came here. Yeah, it was raised by a Philly cop. So yeah, you know, there's an intensity that goes about that. You can spend time around them and you know, it's my job to be hard hard on them in practice, you know, to be detailed and on top of my game and have all the answers and drive them and motivate them, you know, because on game day, that's not the time, that's the time for them to play.

5:38That's my job during the week. My, my job during the week is to be the bad cop and let all the other guys be the good cop. Thank you. I mean, that's a ton of additional pressure. Yeah, I mean, that's a guy who can beat you with his feet or his arm and that changes everything about the game. I mean, it's, it's a big deal. You know, Riley, he, he, he's really established his own mark and his own place because of his, not his athletic skill, but his toughness. I mean, he's really, really a tough minded person and player. Yeah, I think it did. I think it really did, you know, the sooner you can get back to playing the sooner, you know, you can write a new script, you know, so I think that was, that was a good thing for us.

7:06Yeah, definitely. It was a feel bad for a little bit and then we got to get back to work, you know, and anytime you can get back to work, it helps you get over those things. I think it's the market. using at Ohio State is never a good thing. You know, you're expected to win every game. But if it does happen, that's the job as coaches, is we have to find a way to get some benefit out of it.

8:11You know? And I feel like we did that. Thank you. I like the adjuster. That's why I named him the adjuster, because he adjusts, yes. What does being able to play in some of these different positions? Yeah, I think it allows all the things you talked about in terms of disguise. It gives coverage relief to the other guys.

9:11I think he sees things even better from that position. And so the results speak for themselves too. That's all theory until you get out there and do it. From the time we recruited him to the, yeah, I always knew that he could do that. And it was just a matter of getting to it as the best thing for the entire defense. That hit us hard. I mean, we put a lot of time into it and thought we put our best foot forward. But that's why you don't overreact in those situations that give him his respect for his decision

10:17and his family and say, hey, if you ever need us, we're here because those things come around. Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, we're still using a lot of Oklahoma State film when we were trying to recruit him. And another year gave us the opportunity to put more stuff on tape to show him. Yeah, he's a very serious student. It's almost like if he sees something when you're teaching, he's not going to say it right then.

11:17He's one of those guys that will come to you after class and then bring it up. But he's very serious about the flow of teaching and not interrupting. But he picks up on it. He picks up on everything. You have to be on your toes. You know, I think what you said when Coach Day and Chip did was we experienced the benefits of that, right, because of less plays, you know, and shortening game. But defensively, you also said it.

12:17You really don't have a choice in the matter. You know, it's whatever the other team throws at you. You got to react to it. No, not me. I mean, we have, that's Coach Day. He sets up the entire program to have all the nutrition people and the sports science and all that to do that. I don't treat it any differently. Our job is defense. You got one job. Stop him. It's it. And then do it again. The next series. Yeah, I mean, there's luck involved. There's preparation. There's strength staff, nutrition, sports science, all that is a big deal.

13:18That's why we have great people who do it. And and then you got to be fortunate. Yeah, I think it really started at Duke, be honest with you. And it evolved. And you know, where at Duke and you got great kids and maybe you're not quite as talented as your opponent. Sometimes you got to find ways to win. You know, so it allows you to be more creative and then get to Oklahoma state. What you do at Duke doesn't work because the big 12 is different. You know, or was it the time, right? I mean, trying to score every play. So then you have to adapt to that. And then you get to a state and, you know, you have the best players in the country. And that's an that's an adaption too, right?

14:21Because you know, things that maybe you had to do in the past. You don't have to do anymore. So you look for different ways to get an edge. Yeah. Work, work and good kids, you know. Put in the work, have the answers, and then have good kids who want to be coached and listen. You know, it's really a big deal. How do you know about that and how the deck can live? Work, same answer, it's work, right? I mean, it's just your work.

15:23But you have to study yourself. And I think it's a big deal. You have to take accountability when something doesn't work. You know, you got to study all the ways that teams have beat you and have answers. But really, it's just a lot of study, a lot of time alone, a lot of work. Yeah. I really try to take myself out of the equation. My job is to put the players in the right position to win and be successful and to serve the head coach. So, yeah, I mean, I would be thrilled for our players and for our head coach and realizing that a house state is a tough place.

16:26And you're right, we have had our ups and downs. So I would be thrilled for them to be able to come out on top. When he was there at Virginia Tech, and when he first came in, I remember going out spring workouts and he kind of just gave the vibe. Like, he's a great dude. Like, he really wanted to build connections with us. So it's been amazing. What's been the biggest adjustment you've had to make? You said it's coming to my understanding. The biggest adjustment I would have to say is, just really buying in to the coach, because we're a bit coach or program. We keep the coach, and no matter what's going on, we are going to be the same way. So just kind of buying in stuff like that. You got to go to a couple of those bowl games and kind of see what that experience was like. What did that kind of do for you to help prepare you to do it yourself? It was crazy, because there's my first time actually watching games from the field. So I actually got to see steps. I got to see play calling and I got to see coach Fry.

17:27I see coach knows guys up on the sideline and actually figure out the talk that he's talking. For freshmen offensive lineman, patience is required. Right? It's a development. As a guy who comes from high school, we're playing a lot. How do you kind of reset coming in as an offensive lineman knowing it may be a year or two before you start to get real popular? You know, you kind of just want to run from those guys that have been here because of, like you said, it's kind of tough coming in and being a young guy and then going against different fronts you might never seen or talking different knowledge that you might not talk before. For me, it's been kind of a learning process, but I'm picking up on it. I get very great coaching every day and the older guys do a great job of, you know, communicating. So it's kind of been really easy actually. Nine different guys started last year. What does that mean for this room in terms of you guys doing your activities? So how do you prepare for that?

18:29Um, just coming every day ready to work and coming with that mindset that, uh, we all need each other. It's not just one guy there's one guy that knows it's five guys out there and those five guys that are going to be out there, they got to be able to trust their brother and the guys that are on the side line, we got to be out there churning on our brothers. And when our names are called or whatever names it's called, you got to be able to step up. Some of the more dissent early on, like right now for you trying to still, your teammates can trust you. Just coming every day with the mindset that I'm here to work. Like I come in the building, I come in the wood and they know that I'm here to work. They know that I'm not here to play around. They know that I'm coming in to meet and ask the questions. So I figured I was going on picking the older guys brain, staying out the practice, even getting extra work. You talked about this kind of scene improvement already. Where have you seen that development? It's most in your games. I want to say knowing the game and football. That's that that was the biggest improvement for me because, you know, coming out of high school

19:32is kind of a lot more simpler. Coming to a place like Ohio State, you got to know your stuff. And coach gives us a good good look. I'm talking about Cusper, the deepest of court, he gives great looks, different looks and yeah. Is that through film work? If you start to see that the most, kind of the knowledge of the game, not necessarily the whole field stuff. Uh yeah, I want to say the film and on the field because you can work on it in the field, you can work on it in the world, but you can't take it to the field. None of that really matters. Thank you. I'm personally, you could throw two of us in the world, you gotta start it off. What have you made of the quarterbacks of three of them for him? Uh not too much. I feel like they all come in here working. I feel like everybody's making their throws, making their passes, everybody making their directions. What did you take away from last season? You had to take the ball and take it first. Winning this game, that was it.

20:33Winning this game, go out there outside of the beaten man in front of you, and then came out with a nice and championship on the bench. The strict laws about improving the individual when you work on this game. I'm looking out every day, I'm trying to get my game as well, running this place, but I'm trying to come out to feed it on. We hear about it, and we hear the key guys just get his room, but we're gonna go to the team. You can step up, who has started to step up and realize that this is what we're gonna do. I feel like we've had leaders from last year that came back, I feel like we have new guys that stepped up into their roles and their roles and around the team, that becoming leaders. Being a leader, you all always have to be vocal. You can have certain examples on the field, or you can be vocal and do both. I was happy for Gia, I see her, I hear Grin, I see her, I see her, Grin, getting an extra work. Ball is ball, we come out here and play ball, he's out here doing a pro day yesterday,

21:34I just see him ready to go make some real money. What ways do you feel like you're a different player now going into this year, and maybe you were last year? I feel like every year I've just improved on my overall game, blocking and catching, consistent wise, people used that word, but I feel like I'm just overall better. I came in here ready to go. How much does it push you when you're in a room with guys like Max and Will, that you know you've got to be on your game if you're going to get on the field? Man, I feel like Arya is starting to hire every day, you come in and work, and they go push me every day to work, and it's just like I'm a do-do. I'm probably going to ask this before that. It's now crowded room. You got Max first one, what's your grade? I love him more, honestly. Max, Claire, Max LeBron, both of them, I love them. What's your flash in your time here? Is this the year work that all comes together? I feel like Arya was my year, but hey, we're going to see this year. I'm ready to come out here and put on a show for the Bug-Out Nation.

22:35I feel like everybody on the field is ready to go put on a show. We're going to go back and back. You got to play quite a bit though last year, Jolaine. What did you pick up from all of that, especially in a championship run, you know, and they were counting on you? Honestly, just be ready at any time, honestly. You can be throwing in at any time, just like I was. I probably had some rest while I was just throwing in and you got to get it done. Yeah. And if you don't get it done, they're going to find somebody who has to do it. No, I think we asked you this every time we get it. It's your time to say it. We're going to definitely see what you progressed as a tight end, you know, the all of that means. I've been here for the past year or even a year or so. Honestly, over the spring and summer, I feel like I've told them my body a lot, and I got stronger in the weight room. I've also got a little bit faster so I can get in another brace a little bit better. And just the minigurts part of the game, the middle part of the game, if you got even better in the anime, how would you describe that? I said it again. The minigurts part of the game, you know, that...

23:35Well, I feel like it's a lot more fair. I say the tight ends, we come in here, five o'clock, every other day, we do a walkthrough, more film, which is more students in the game now. A lot of things. I bet you. Thanks, man. One of the most delicious things for you. Let's do it. You wobble, it's like five o'clock. What do you remember about that play? I feel like it was just an exciting play. I was the last read on it, like the very last read on it. I don't go out, I can't down with the catch, so we get the first down. You know, it wasn't that bad. That winning the national championship, I mean, a big goal in winning the national championship. Which is the health of the world? It's a lot of help. Kind of knowing that I can always turn the shit no matter how rocky it gets. And you'll make it through no matter how bad it gets, because if you truly believe in yourself and you have good support around you, and you can do anything. Look back on the regular season. What do you think of screw ups and maybe retreated?

24:37I was going through a little bit of a really bad time, but I ended up tearing up my adult throws and rip-ups. So I was playing through that, didn't make it too easy trying to kick in those games, but I did my best to help the team out. When did you get here? That was on a week through. It was Marchal. I've had probably given a little bit of a deal. How hard is it to go out and do a chicken ball, even though it's a long-term match? I know. The makeable kick, but you know, was the time. I wasn't really thinking about it, to be honest. I was like, I told my dad about this and my dad asked me. I just, it was like the quietest moment I've ever had in life, because it was so loud and the moment was so big, but I was so focused. And it was just like I was in a flow state. It almost seemed like good. 46 years, K. Ford just. This is the point I see. It's just a gager match. Yeah. On the right, you run into the back. And that one, for some reason, how much do you get in here? That one, for sure. It's still, still. It's still a dream. Yeah, it's still a dream.

25:38Yeah, well, I've been doing it in practice as fond and it's great for mental, but until you see it going in the game, it's a completely different feeling. So that was, that was huge for me. I know that was huge for Coach Danny too. How much to earn his trust back in games? Yeah, you know, I would hope so, but you never know. But it feels great for me knowing that he trusted me in that moment, even though I hadn't had the best past couple of games, even though practice is completely different for the game, to still put me out there and trust me to do my job. And I was just happy I could come through. How much do you feel about the average? How much do you really want to do in the last month? Really healthy right now. I feel great. This is probably the best I've felt in the year or nine months. So yeah. Just your rest? Yes, we had a great day. It was rest and just recovery stuff and therapy, physical therapy, stuff like that. Just trying to get back to first grade. If this is the best, like,

26:39how do you feel about what it's going to sound like? The contact sounds the same, but you can just tell it kind of with the off-light. It goes a lot further. It sounds a lot more pure, coming off my foot. How did you learn how to get through that entry last year? Trial and error. Which I guess would explain my existence in the last period. I had a little bit of just trial and error and what I could do. And so I think I finally figured out around organ of the playoffs and just kind of let it ride from there. Whether it be the kind of has a time to reflect on last season, but you could kind of take away from those ups and downs, but maybe kind of change your process at all going into this year. Almost, I think. Most definitely. The process of me warming up has become a lot more in depth. And I go through multiple different stretches, exercises, that sort of stuff. So I'm going to carry that along with me. I feel like it prepared me even better for the game. And also the mental aspect of it. Just believe in having confidence in yourself always, and matter how much you think it's just something.

27:45It just I just started to feel a lot more comfortable than I guess I would say. A lot of pressure was coming towards me from practice and the EDM, all that sort of stuff. It was all kind of compiling. And I was like, I just kind of had to do something about it. So I figured it out. Whether it be the playoffs. It was my right. Kicking like, yeah. Whether it be the playoffs or the playoffs success you had, the health you feel now, just how much mentally in terms of confidence do you feel like, you know, you've improved going into this season? I always had confidence myself. But the level that I'm at right now is probably 10 times more than it was last year. Just purely because of showing myself I could do it. And then also showing Coach Day I could do it. And yeah, I just showed everyone that I could do it. So. Because your mindset with Coach Day sent you out there against Tennessee to kick for real long one at the end of the half. You know, you go out there and you think you're going to make them all. But you know, what were your thoughts? I knew I kind of had to hit a perfect ball.

28:46And conditions weren't on my side that night, obviously. But you know, you're still expected to go out there and make the kick. It could put you out there. So I know I kind of had to hit a good ball and just ended up having it for me that night. But yeah, it's kind of hit. Jade, thank you very much. Me, Geno 2. I want to say thank you to Geno. And the rest of my teammates, receivers, gave me open. And a line doing their thing. And hopefully, you know, it's just the beginning. I want to be staying in this one because you're not a game coming up in a few days. Yeah, I mean, we're going to definitely look at it tomorrow. Go over it. Fix our mistakes. And it's good that it's an early week, early week, third day game. So, you know, we will have to flesh it and move on. How did I lock it? One of the state larger or before the game. It maybe hasn't been as much productive season. What's he meant to you guys in terms of leadership and maybe helping the receiver like here? I mean, it means everything to this organization.

29:48How he carried himself. Just everything he's done for this organization in city. You know, he's a leader. And I appreciate him so much. You know, I feel like I'm in the best position possible, you know, having T-Lock and DK and all these other guys. So, you know, T-Lock, he's a special guy. And I'm just just blessed to have his friendship and him be my teammate. How do you guys bounce back from this one, Jackson? Just where you guys are riding everything? When, you know, when, when next week and a week after that, you know, that's the best bounce back. A year, you know, 100 total yards in the play-out game. We lost, which I hate the most. It's not going to matter to me I want to win. But then come back to the next year, heard again, like, 20 kills. So two really unfortunate injuries, but that's just a guy's plan. You know, and I think that the storm is now over, you know, and I do think that I'll be

30:51able to shine a light to the whole world. Are you concerned that you have that label of guy you can't stand with him? I could care less because I do, I do, I know this out there. Because as it should be, it should be. I got hurt two major injuries back, not back to back years, but, you know, so I haven't been on the field as much as I should. That's true. That is true, but it's not like I'm having these little, little, little dinky injuries and sitting out. It's something I can't control literally. So that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury-pone. You can say that, you know, but I do think that the chargers are getting a guy that's going to be healthy from now on, you know, God will it, and it's going to be great. And I do think that it's going to be a great however many years here. When you've been on the field, you've been highly productive. Yeah, 5.8 hours of very average for your career. Like, knowing that when you're out there, you're very productive. How much confidence does that give you that really all you need is, is not what you need?

31:55All the confidence in the world, you know, the way I work. I want to say just from the numbers, but just the way I work, my work ethic, you know, and my relationship with Jesus is like, I have the most confidence when I stop out there. Because I do know like, if he grants me the health, it's over with. I don't think I'll be, you know, I think it'll be a great year or whatever, a couple of years. However many years, he grants me great health, you know, and I think just the work ethic, my prayer, and all that stuff, that's what help me have that confidence. What the numbers will be there, and they might be higher after this year, you know, and it's crazy to think about it because I had 6.6 yards per carry, you know, so we'll see. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I play with Bradley. I play with him, you know, I know Slater, I know all the guys, you know, and I'm excited. I think, like I said earlier, it's a talented group, you know, we just got put together,

32:56and win some games, because that's what I came through for. Oh, I wouldn't, I wouldn't say a part of the recruitment, but like whenever I decide I was going to sign, it was great to have him in the room. Yeah, we're great. We have a great relationship. He's like my brother, so. I think it accomplished, it complimented each other very well, you know. He can do a lot of stuff too, you know, he got a lot of people think he's just power, power, power, but I think he has some other parts of his game too, which it'll be great, because I feel like I can do everything, and when one gets tired, we can roll it in, we keep rolling, we win some games. When you, the two of you are going, how do you think it's going to look, or what will be that partnership that is back there? I know. That's a hard question. How do I think it'll look beautiful? You know, a lot of people call this a passive league, but I think you got to run the ball to win a Super Bowl. You know, if you look at the teams who win the Super Bowl, they can run the ball,

33:59they can control the clock. And so if we're both good, it'll look great, beautiful. I would describe it as a great offense. I think he gives a quarter, he's going to give the quarter back a lot of options. He's going to give the running back a lot of options. He's going to give the receiver a lot of options, you know, and I think it'll be, I think it's going to be great. He's often going to be amazing. You give me a lot of excitement. It's going to be, like I said, it's fun to play his offense. And I think he does have some good things in the past game too, but like you said, he sticks with

35:00the run, and that's the identity. You want an offense that has an identity, right? You don't want to be looking everywhere else to find your identity. You want to have it. And so I think his offense has that. And the guy he builds and puts in there, it compliments that identity. So I think it's going to be great. Look, I ain't going to answer any of the four if it's up to me. Yes. Look, because I had this problem like two years, three years ago, I'm thinking I'm four go. I think I'm ready to go. And then next year, you know, I'm on PUP. Like, hey, look, some stuff is above my pay grade. So, but I don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start, you know, at the beginning training camp, but that's not up to me as I've learned. I wouldn't say that. I think I've been in some great organizations. And I think this

36:02organization is a great organization. And the training staff is great. And so they just want what's best for me, you know, and they're taking care of me, which that's what you want in the organization. And so that's where that comes from, which I appreciate it. Like, I really appreciate that. You know, because I'm a type of guy like I work really hard. So maybe sometime I'm blind to, you know, the danger of something, you know, so I appreciate it. But like I said, if it's up to me, yeah, I'm out there. But never know. Well, any frustration for you during the getting into the agency, you know, dealing with rehab and not, you know, having a full season of paid for the production. There was already part of that where you're like, I wish I, you know, had hit the open market with a different situation. Yeah. I like it. I like how would I say this? I like it the hard way. But not, you know, I like it the hard way. I like it. I like trial and

37:05tribulations. So, I mean, the dice that I was given to roll was I was coming off a third Achilles. And that was that was the Lord's plan. So it was beauty in that. Like, I was comfortable. I was caught like, there was multiple teams, you know, I wasn't, it wasn't like I didn't have any other team. But I was comfortable in sitting back and just enjoying the process, letting myself get fully healed. So whenever that team whoever I would sign with who now is the Chargers is going to get the best me, you know, and I think people all around the league know that like, okay, this guy, okay, it's a high risk, high reward type thing, right? Not even a high risk of low risk because you, it's a business, right? So I got hurt last year. So not as much money as he's be throwing that. But I think everyone around the league knows that whenever I am on the field, the numbers don't and so they know that and a lot of teams will like, all right, here, you can, we give you this, but

38:09we want you to be healthy. So when I'm healthy, it's going to be great. This is the chance that I've been giving here. I'm so grateful and I know that's going to be, they won't be, they won't regret it. Are you the type of person that likes to prove people wrong? Like you've run a couple of things like the high risk high reward, injury from, you know, like are you the type of person that really tries to prove people wrong? No. I hear it. I see it. It's pretty cool. Like you'll never see me, unless I'm just like in a bad mood. You never see me like, oh, like if I have a great game or great year, like I have this wonderful year, I ain't going to go back and, you know, like, yeah, yeah, what happened? No, because I don't care. Like you're eventually see, like I'm like, I'm a guy that's really good. So I ain't worry about that, but I'm proving myself right that I am one of the best in the league, right? So forget all the naysayers and people will talk about me being injury prone because whenever I have this great year, it's going to be forgotten, you know? So

39:14why why give that energy? Talking Justin to the all our kind of chance to be in the all year. Yeah, I was, you know, we just with him, you know, he's a great guy. I mean, he was in my class. I remember seeing him, I'm we were at an award show because I was a dog walker or a finalist and I'm like, I've seen him play, but I didn't know he was that tall. Like I didn't know he was like six, six. So when I first saw him, this was years ago in college. I'm like, damn, this is pretty tall. Like, it's cool though. Like I like I never really got to, I ain't going to lie. I thought it was going to be kind of, you know, you know, nerdy, but he's cool, dude, very laid back. No, it fits to him. You know, I think this thing that was 19% of time, that number a lot more than 30, something percent. I mean, how does that change the way you're not listening, but how does it change the way you're playing in a corner when guys maybe that are back in the same thing.

40:15Oh, man, but what I can't tell you, I know like one of my individual goes like, I wanted to do, I wanted to get more picks. When you play in man's kind of hard to get more picks, you're back. Back is to the quarterback. No, especially like you plan to get scored by the air. Air literally is going to throw the ball at the back of your head. It was the worst day of the average breakout. P-I, something like that. And it's just a hard and weight team is trying to skate months like runaways and they just run away from this. It's definitely a lot harder to get picks, but this is one of those things where you're like, hey, we gotta stop our man from getting the catch in the ball. That's the top presence.

41:15Is there anything when you guys step between lines when you're on a team with us just getting a chance to go one of the best receivers on the lead or someone who gets the hardest? Um, besides him being a great player and me being a competitor and wanting to help our teams win, you know, you know, you know, you get great dude, someone that I've seen a couple of times just around in this off season and, you know, just the way your respect or opponent is playing your heart out doing your best to win your to win your red. And, you know, I feel like that's the best hit for me and him and I feel like that'll be exemplified on the weekend. Yeah, I do. You know, I feel like step one of me and better and, you know, playing the way you want to is being conscious and self-aware of what you did to put yourself in that position the week previous. So, um, then that's where it all started watching the film and, um, you know,

42:20being in tension on practice. So just catching up all with my body, doing those type of things. I think I did a really good job at it this week, I feel, um, you know, it's confident that I felt all year and I'm not just about going out there and making sure to try as I can Sunday, it was confident with. No, I wouldn't say wait on me at all. I wouldn't think about during the game. Yeah, well, not, you know, I'm not going to say that was the reason why I played better. Nothing, not. I wouldn't think about it. Um, just that stuff like that is contagious and it's something that, you know, we've, you know, this, this all I know is that all you kind of get used to something but the reality of it

43:20is it's not okay and we got to figure it out and we got to figure out why we're not winning again. We got all the time in the world, we got all the pieces. Um, so why are we winning when it matters and then, um, you know, little things like that out of it and that was my takeaway from, coming from someone that's been part of great coaches, great teams, um, and it's a great player himself. Um, you know, when he talks, you're going to listen. So, I know we all, you know, heard him and, uh, tried to go about it the right way this practice week and as far as having energy and, um, you know, if you don't have the energy, take it till you make it so that, you know, it's, it's contagious and that was my, my, my kind of takeaway from that. All over the place, but I imagine with the bot tag and with the L1, in day of white, you can line up a little bit more in the slot. Um, we've seen you be pretty ridiculous inside there. Is that a place that you feel at home? Is that something we would enjoy being there more? Yeah, I mean, I don't mind being in slot. I don't mind being outside the, uh, truth of it is, you know, usually you get less of a, uh, you know, a cover player in the slot. Um,

44:26you get to see the defense show itself in a little different view as, you know, as opposed to being on the outside and just by the center corner. So there's ways to, to get into your route a little faster and just break down the coverage and find that zone and that whole. So I like it and I feel like it being the type of player I am. It's, um, you know, it can seem a little easier in the slot to break things down, I'll say, but, but, uh, no, I like doing both, man, I'm gonna figure that out. I like doing both and when we being in slot, being the slot and, um, you know, vice versa. But you're in the slot. Can you get quick wins that are right in the quarterbacks? We have a house being ready for the one. Is that an aspect of it that's positive? Are you doing it right or from that? Uh, you know, that's a good point. Maybe, um, yeah, maybe that is, maybe that is something that goes into it, but, uh, you know, I think, reality, but you got to make some tough catches during this lot. I'll send you over the middle of the field. Got those big, uh, you know, the big backers and the stack monsters that you got to do it a little more and that's what comes with it. But you are writing that sight line at the quarterback. So, um, yeah.

45:28Do you remember the feeling walking out of the stadium after beating these guys? Yeah, you were, you were writing pretty high right there. Yeah. You know, can you get back with a win something? Uh, yeah, you know, you got to, you got to start somewhere and this is who our next opponent is. So we got to go out and do what we got to do. Um, yeah, I mean, we want to get on the street. We want to get on. And if we're going to do it, it starts the start this weekend. So, um, we got the Patriots and we got it. We got it. No handle everything. Um, I believe the team or all is where it needs to be. No, we have some adversity hit. Um, as a team, we all would have agreed that we then respond the right way with that adversity. We had some people say some things throughout these past years. We had people, you know, step up and add people show, show ways not to do those things. Um, so I think we're in a

46:29right spot. Um, I think everybody's missing a right spot physically. My especially we are too. Cause that's where the cons are. The adversity hits you just want to show me where they are. There's no magic portion to, you know, get on the touch. I'm gonna step back on again. There's no magic portion to bend down the whole game. But spot the right way to win the two wins. I just show who you really are. I think it's time for us to. For us to respond to work rate when the first thing hits the game, whether they open down and, um, we have to be the same team no matter what. I think this this weekend is going to be the right time to show. Um, I think it was just with everybody needed. Um, you know, whether, whether he was talking to you, whether he wasn't, it was something you could be said, um, you know, Brick talked to us, talked to the whole team a few days later. Uh, now how it coming from him, you know, you guys have been here at all. No, he's on the band with us a week. Play one game with us and, you know, he felt and saw that, which is real. Uh, as a team, the core group, you know, we've been,

47:34we've been in this situation a lot of times and unfortunately, we came out on losing hands. So it's, it can be easy to kind of fall in that trap like, and here we go. Um, but that's what I said. Like, about adversity, we got to make it to be okay to think like that. We're having a change that so when adversity hits again, you know, it will know what's going to be our reaction. And I was going to respond the right way. And if you do respond the right way, we see a player, a teammate, a coach not responding that way. So make sure we all get on the same page. So it coming from here was, um, was very good because everybody respects him. We have all the accolades in the world. He's definitely paid. Um, but, you know, that's the person that has a man. So I think that was really good to come from him. Have you, uh, you got in the sense that it's resonated or is that something you'll kind of see on Sunday? Um, I mean, I hope he resonated. I've heard after he's finished speaking, but yeah, obviously, we're going to see this Sunday. Um, because like I said, you know, the versus you want to come, you know, it would be nice to have a game like last time, but you know, you can't, can't prepare for that. I always got to go out there and do our job and know when that moment comes, you know, let's respond the right way.

48:49That's a, that's a bad response. So, um, if, um, if that was the talking to locker room or around, then that would get weeded out real quick, um, because that's not when the football that's not, that's not being a teammate. Um, that's not holding your own stuff accountable if that you're thinking that way. And if you are thinking that way, it's probably what's talking to you. So, um, I hopefully that, that message whoever was in that locker room at the time was heard from top of bottom. And we can move, move forward with that. What's it been like, uh, seeing that go from, you know, he was only playing like he's just on the play. So he's a big fan running show. Like, how you seeing him handling that? Um, I feel like he's handled with race. Uh, he's been humble about it. And he's, he's been vulnerable about it. You know, he's, he's opened up. You know, he's, you know, he's, he was surprised just like everybody else was. Um, so, you know, it really was a family effort to kind of, you know, cope with what happened, but obviously try to find a way to move forward. Um, the right way I'm productively, um, honestly, really good. Like he just been alone at Censored meeting, like just all the way through because, you know, he, he just sent the same things we're here in the defense of our own.

49:53Um, you know, all the things he's preached to us these past few years that's made, made the deepest what it is. And, you know, to make us fight this heart in the love regard. My heart is, you know, all of that he's now just bringing it to, bringing the light to everyone in here. Um, so he's just been cool to see the office and the special teams. You know, here those messages, you know, feel his passion, you know, here his speeches for the, uh, the life before the games and watching the right there response. So he's been really. Did you ever see him play like, did you ever see him playing? Oh, yeah. Yeah. It seemed like a very tough line. Yeah. If you, if you, if you want to cross the line back with a mohar, you know, he's crazy or he can hear it really hard, but, um, yeah, as a kid, I definitely remember watching a coach very play. I remember his name. I remember space. I remember all that. Um, so I respect him a lot as a person in, obviously, you know, as an assent, been a former player. You know, he'll plan with Patrick Willis. Um, I believe Ronnie Light, I'm not mistaken. Um, was, was like his mentor was, and I think coached him was in my correct.

50:54I don't think it was it was, it was, it was a, no, not Patrick Willis. He, he was the head coach for this. Sing it. Sing it. Sing it. There we go. Sorry. Sing it there. Also, I bet a lot of backers. Well, so, um, he knows a lot of ball. He's seen a lot of ball. Has that old school mindset, which I love, which I'm, that's who I am. So, um, you know, a lot of respect for coach. For sure. You, but he's about his black rowing technique. Just black on the channel's black. Oh, no, I just, I just see that. I don't see. I think it's better to say we haven't played through our standard. Um, you know, people getting saved. What's the reason they're back in the day with the ones that cost the white lines with the ones that have to, you know, handle the adversity with the ones that have to step up when the times get tough. So we got to challenge ourselves to, you know, get back to our standard, just, you know, having fun out there, just running around here and, you know, executing.

51:54And then turn over. Um, so that's just what we have to do because it was going to take us to work about guys. As far as, uh, Jeff, you talked about the top. It's his player. He doesn't, he doesn't like Jeff. Jeff. He doesn't like Jeff. Oh, yeah. That's how the coach goes. Coach break. Okay, coach. Back there. I had the tough. This is a player for what you saw and watched. How does that carry over to being a head coach? Um, I think it's more, I think it's a mindset. Um, like his, his ability to, to take adversity with is good, a bad and turn it into something and, you know, make it work something fighting for. Like I said before, you know, him being vulnerable, him opening it up into the deep things. Like the day him opened up to the whole team, telling his story, telling his why. Like that, that builds character, that's Bill's trust and that, you know, that builds love and that builds the family. You know, that makes you want to go out there and play hard for him. And I make sure you want to go out there and feed his family. I make sure you want to go out there, you know, do everything you can for him. As a, as a man, a boss or as a coach, because, you know, he would do the same thing off the field.

52:57And if you could play, he would definitely be doing the same thing for us on the field. So I think that's just, just a respect. He was jailing Mills. What have you seen from the Patriots often so far with Drake May? Yeah. Um, a guy who's, he's trying to put the ball in the air. You know, of course, they are still trying to establish their run game. Um, they had a good running back over there with, um, Ramanjari. Um, but, um, young, young quarterback, I said, it's putting the ball in the air. And he's also, you know, he's getting those third and five, third and six, you know, he's converting those outsides with his leg as well. So we just have to be aware of that. Um, when he does want to take off scrambling and then those passing down situations, you know, covering down on those guys. As a former Patriot, like do you see similarities in the defense or is it totally different without Belichek there? Yeah, definitely similarities. Um, a lot of those guys were there when I was there. Um, I mean, DC, um, who is the DC now with Colin DC of Coventon? Um, he was there with the DeLine coach, of course, Mayo as well. Um, so they are kind of running the same type of defense little tweaks here and there, but for the most part the same.

53:59Is there extra meaning for you playing at Foxboro this weekend? Um, I don't want to put a snap on that, um, because at the end of the day, uh, it's, it's, it's time to win regardless. Whoever we are going against. Um, when, when Sunday at one o'clock comes, you know, I'm pretty sure that I will be fired up and up. Everybody be able to tell, but uh, as of right now, just trying to, trying to stay focused, trying to stay calm throughout this process. And when Sunday comes, just, just let it rip. Where do you feel like you are with this defense after coming here and quickly being integrated? Um, um, I think the coaching staff, um, coach him, um, did a really, really good job with me every morning. Um, one on one meetings, you know, detailing the, the playbook for me, um, throughout walkthroughs, the practice, like I said, meetings in the morning, um, to the point to where I feel like I pretty much got a good grasp of the defense. So how much, how much more meat on the bone is there for you? Like what do you think your game plays well into this defense? Like what matches well?

55:00Um, I, I think just the difference in general, um, as to say this to do a lot of communication, um, which I'm not afraid of. I've been a part of defense of it. Safety have to do a lot of communication. Um, safety have to play man, we have to play in the middle, we have the blitz. Um, so I think as far as that part, my versatility allows me to do a lot of that in this defense. And, um, I think it compliments me really well. Adding a guy like Hassan, right, I think of the fold where you get some more pass rush juice to go along with Quinn and Will McDonald. What can that do for the secondary? I mean, now whether it's man opportunities or our zone opportunities, um, we're talking about being able to get the quarterback, have his, had the ball get out of his hands quicker faster. And if, if not, you know, he's in trouble. Um, you get a guy like Hassan where the slide may go to him now and you got a guy like Will 101 and you know how that goes or they make chip both for those guys and now Quinn gets the one on one. And you know how that goes as well. So I think those guys complimenting us in the back end. Um, I think it's going to be really, really good for what's going forward.

56:02You didn't overlap with him and Philly, I don't believe, but obviously have teammates has anyone just, but either before this year or since reached out to you about what kind of player and teammate he is. Yeah, hard worker. Um, guys going to go out there and give it his all. And I mean, that's that's how we can ask him. You know, I know he has a big expectation for himself and we have big expectations for him. At the end of the day, he goes out there, be himself, um, play full tilt to the whistle, whether 60 snap seven snaps, whatever it may be. That's all we can ask him. I know you've only been here for a little bit, but the standard of this defense usually is not to let up 37 points like in Pittsburgh. What has been the focus in the meeting rooms behind the scenes this week? That's maybe a little more in the light than weeks past. But the detail and that detail comes one day at a time, one meeting at a time, one practice at a time. We of course were ready for Sunday. We want to get this nasty taste out of our mouth from from last week, but at the end of the day, it's like I said, one day at a time, one practice, one practice at a time, one meeting at a time.

57:02And when Sunday gets here, you know, let the chips fall with it, man. Awesome. Jalen, appreciate the time. Thank you. Thank you. It's a beautiful, who aren't serious about wants to be great. I'm just wasting time on money. So I mean, do the probably not big three with the culture being incredibly important. Being around the coach, uh, and today, uh, well, it's kind of the things that you notice around him, just whether it's how he is or just, uh, what your thoughts of him being around him was. Hey, he's an incredibly detailed guy. And I got that for sure from a slightly watching film when he broke down, just like something came from with me. And he also kind of broke down some of the guys that he's coaching the past that are similar to me. And you know, that was, uh, he really just showed how good the coach is, you know, getting to know coach more bell during this experience. When has that been like, it was good. He's a, he's a very passionate guy. And I mean, I love that. Like a head coach should have that. Yeah, you can tell how much he cares about what the guys about the program. About just like being dedicated, being driven to win to succeed.

58:05What did they tell you about the opportunity here as far as meeting a player of your sort at a position on the offensive line? Well, I mean, you know, they see me at a left tackling with, um, I'd be a good fit, you know, coming in. But I was putting the coach over all the stress, you know, I said, other great, um, offensive linemen in the portal that have lost the grass go to the ocean that too wise. I mean, I'll be good fit when it comes to such as I would, what you guys do. But if you see does, I'm just like the people here. What's kind of the ultimate feeling now about that issue? I think it's a big experience with them. What's kind of the feeling about them? Yeah, it's definitely good feeling. It's great. I'm glad I was actually able to come down here because I mean, Zoom calls and phone calls are nice, but you know, in person is a lot different. It's a game to know the staff here, game to know coach herb, it's a no-course novel. It was a great experience. Who else have you checked out during this process? What other schools? I've talked to some other schools. I've talked to a house in Iowa and Ann. I'm really just, yeah, that's what I've been. I've tried to keep it short, tried to keep it sweet.

59:12I really need to be 200 bunch of schools. I mean, that's not the main priority. Are you entering decision mode now? Are you in 10 takes on trips in early January? Yeah, I'm done with the business. When do you want to decide? Some type of a Christmas. For those of us who only see maybe highlights of you, what are kind of your strengths and areas that you're looking to improve on? So shrink wise, I would say, prior to this movement, I mean, I've been told by coach herb, you know, I would be very well for a 345 pound guy. I fight evident on film. This I've meant to get on my stances, the big thing for me, so big, and just be able to move people. At the same time, also just being consistent and can't place a punch on a forward general to technique. I mean, if you're a big strong guy, then you can only do so much by when you don't have the right technique. That's a big reason why I want to have a good one, coach the worker, just to refine that technique to be precise in everything.

1:00:15That's kind of like what I'm looking for to improve. I'll be shaming. I'm a very sure. I think it's a good start. Jump over a man. He's ready to go. Definitely ready to go. Yeah, I mean, just when you look at the schedule he asked for us and how it takes care of our body, you know, just the diligence and situational football. Coach McCarty, man, he's a great coach. See you by the day. Just us being ready. And as we went, opener and excited to build on that. I feel like I always feel good, not always, but I mean, as week one, as week one, something definitely fresh. But you know, just got to continue to build on that and take care of my body. And we want to be feeling good in December and January.

1:01:23Oh, it definitely felt great. You know, schooling that touchdown. Had a bunch of emotions. Kind of had to lay there and soak it all in. But you know, it's glad to be back. It's like, you're supposed to help in front. How did you feel like everything? Very time in front. And for us that two working starting the day, I think those guys, you know, played their tell off. They competed. I think we had a great plan and we went out and executed it. When you were sitting on a bench in between ways, what do you think about Mike's? Are you thinking of what they put on the tournament? Oh, wow. I mean, I think it was late in the second quarter. And I think I have like 20, 30 yards, passing 30 yards rushing. I'm like, man, these boys are out there playing. I don't know about me. Went against that defense off season. Know how difficult it is to play them to prepare for them. But you know, they they stepped up and answered a call. Throughout the season, I know you have to rough it that you took during the game.

1:02:23But coming out of that, you still have to hope that the faith in you and that he's going to play like, yes, the line shared season as opposed to maybe kind of things that happen to that. Yeah, absolutely. Will is our quarterback. He's our leader. He didn't come here by accident. And you guys have seen the product. He's put out there on the field week after week. So, you know, I don't necessarily think that he played bad in our last game. But you know, moving away from that, we have full trust in him. He's putting together a great practice week. And we're excited to see what he puts out there on Saturday and lead us. I'm going to have a couple more. Stephen means play with that comment. I was just going to go to the salary. In your football life, when is the last time you think you have ever been disfresh traded with a how games going in the game plan? Of some, if that makes sense? I would say, you know, there's there's rarely a Saturday that I'm not frustrated. You know, I mean, we can we can be the team by semi like I'm saying. But there's always a standard that I hold myself to.

1:03:23My team is to I hold my coaches to. So, that's kind of the standard around the building. So, we've all cultivated a really good culture here to where we're able to have tough conversations. And hold each other accountable. Not only coaches to players, but players to coaches. So, there's always ways to improve any game Saturday. No matter if we win by 70 points or you know, we lose by 70. We're always looking for ways to improve. So, yeah. You, Cardinal and Jeremiah, very good speakers. Obviously. But you guys don't tend to have the personalities that sometimes even do prototypical very good receiver. Why? You know, I can't speak for those two, but I know for myself. You know, I just I just look at my life and I look at the way his guy is blessed being. It's hard for me, you know, not to bow before him and be humble in those moments. So, I'm not really one to talk to him with smack. I'm one to go out there and do my job. And I'm going to do at a very high level. You know, all the things I go on my head. I never really share all the time. But at my core, deep down, I'm a very real and deep competitor.

1:04:29So, I think that I know what I'm capable of. I know the type of a caliber player I am. But there's no need to really bow-sider or anything like that. Just put it on the field and do what you're capable of. Any final questions? Jeremy Birmingham, the podcast. One of your former classmates here plays a tendency now. Your turn tonight. And some comments about Ohio Stadium and about the crowd of big people on this. Do you guys have like a message for Ohio Stadium or for fans who are hearing that and being told that the stadium doesn't get loud or that Arkansas is, you know, a type of a place to play? Yeah, I mean, you know, knowing Bucket Nation, I don't think I have to do too much motivation. We're going to come out there Saturday and it's going to be an amazing environment. So, that's just the type of fans we have. I'm not going to feed too much into the stuff that Tennessee is saying, but we're really looking forward to this opportunity. We're glad that we're playing at home just to be in front of our home crowd and from our families. So, it's going to be an amazing environment. I'm excited. I do have one more step. The only 37.1.

1:05:29Yeah, we talked about the accountability on players to players, coaches to players. But if you elaborate a little bit more on how the players kept stick coaches accountable. Yeah, I mean, we've had, you know, tough conversations throughout the year. And coach challenges in the ways. How can I get better in week of them feedback? So, it's not really any different than the way they criticize us. So, you know, I think it's important to be able for coaches to be able to handle what players have to say. Because in turn, it makes them better coaches just like they're able to coach us. So, that's really just that relationship that we have. That we have is very special. And I think it's unique to our program. You agree that people are right for thinking about how to stick to that way? Is it like a way to our relationship? I mean, you can, I mean, you can tell you in any way you want. We have the best running back field in the entire nation. And we have the best receiver unit in the nation. So, we kind of, we're kind of jack of all trades. So, you've been moving around the office in the past of different things. Motion's different trade and ways to get open. But has that increased any knowledge of telling us here?

1:06:30Or is it kind of the same as the benefit of this? Probably stay away from talking about scheme stuff. So, yeah. What was it that Jeremiah did that you think enabled you to be in? I am not going to do it. Just coming in every single day and competing. That's really what we're challenged to do as as buck guys when we walk into the weight room with coach, make your supposed to be there and show up and show out every single day. And you're not allowed to have a step back and not allowed to have an off day. He took, he took care of all his, you know, the non-negotiables of this program. He was never late. He made his weight every single day. He gave his 100% effort. Not the end of the day. He was just winning a lot of competitions and just grinding. So, yeah. I'm going to do a lot of lectures. You're going to play a lot about RAM in front of him. Braining didn't get a chance to do a lot this spring. What stood out to you, even when he wasn't on the field this spring, that basically, things like he could be a legit back player for you. Well, yeah. First and foremost, he got voted on by his peers to the leadership committee on our team, which is a group of about, you know, 16 to 20 of our guys who the team looks to as leaders.

1:07:34So obviously, you can see how people think of him on this team. They think highly of him. And he comes in every day as a very fiery competitive nature. And, you know, he puts in really hard work and days in and days out. So, even though he hasn't seen the field too much yet, we have no concern that when he does stuff on to the field, he's going to make a great impact. He's only been here here. Yeah. And he's the last summer about him. Like, he's gone as never specifies. He can be on a leadership committee. I have to check out the three hundred and six, five days. Yeah, just his ability to be able to, you know, talk a good game, but also back it up. Not in a sense of playing football, but more in a sense of, we're going to be the hardest working team on the field. We're going to go in day in day out. I'm going to beat you even when I don't feel healthy, even when I don't feel good, all that type of stuff. It's all an entirely. From far away, it looks like violent, not just like violent, but kind of those little bit like young bear. Right. When you see that in him, I'm not trying to compare it to the number ten or a big thing.

1:08:36Can you see that a little bit in the way that he can shift around? Yeah, he definitely is very fluid about the way he moves and we see it in his, you know, his routes and his releases. So, you know, when all the White receivers are knowing the film room and, you know, he's getting crapped, he's doing all this body movement stuff. It's like, okay, we could see he got a little sum to him. So, it's just about bringing him along. You know, he wasn't, you know, he just got here. It's the first year here kind of built on a long, there's steps you got to take, but he's definitely training in the right direction. And back in a lot of teams get talent for whatever reason you guys seem to develop the receivers better than anyone. What goes on out there that somehow helps Ohio State keep placing guys in Canada? We play Denzel, Davidson, Ibnossan, Germain Matthews, Jordan Hancock, Layton Ransom, Caleb Downs, that's really what it is. It's a, it's BIA getting this better every single day. So, tremendous credit to the defense and the, the ability to be able to develop corners like that. It's just good on good every single day. That's, that's the way you get better. So, I'm like, what's the call this is to get open? I mean, we definitely have a strong second there, I would say this year.

1:09:40But, you know, it's just, it's just, it's not just their talent that makes them special. It's their, it's their ability to go hard every single day. They show up every single day with a competitive nature. And, you know, we're going back and forth on the field every single day. They'll be bigger in it and spin that each other a little bit. But, it's all love at the end of the day. We appreciate them for getting this better. Let's question a method. You do a lot of things on that tab that you call weird. Brandon seemed like a guy who do so much. Whether it move around, whether it's just things or anything. You see kind of that same worst-how build and Brandon is kind of something you do. Yeah, absolutely. Brandon, you know, he came up, played running back for a lot of the team. He's running back for a lot of his life. He played a little quarterback here and there. You know, now he's received very, he can do a lot of different things. So, we just try to put him in a position where he can be the most successful. And the position that makes him the most successful is just the ball on his hand. So, we try to do that for him. And a bunch of other guys in the program who thrive with that. All right, let me go that. So, right now he hasn't done any interceptions. So, hopefully Russian coverage can work together so we can cause his first turn over the season.

1:10:41I know a guy, he's been a guy to pass that those lots of interceptions because he takes shots. Yeah, I know he's even at the ball as far as he can in front of our crowd. So, you got to do a good job of plastering them. Statistically, the run defense was a lot better in the second half Sunday than the first half. Does anything really change there at all? All right, Greshan. You know, just to pick it back off that, we got to continue to be better. Personally for me, I don't like seeing the amount of yards on the board granted. You know, we did win. But, you know, I don't want to be the hindsight guy and forget about, you know, the run game. And still, I think an issue for us, an issue for me. We got to be better. I don't want to be one of the last teams in the league in a run game. So, we're doing a good job. You know, our mindset is right. The coaches are emphasizing it and eventually he's going to get going. Obviously, number one, have a teammate be treated away like your own. But with Ernst Jones coming in, he's highly touted. There's a pretty good run defense kind of linebacker. What does that do for your defensive room? Terrier, Terrier, my book, I. But, it does it. It does a... I can't really speak on it because I don't really know Jones that well.

1:11:44I don't know his game. I've heard from others that I know that plays for the Rams. I said he was good. But, as far as that, I don't know. Hopefully this move works out for the betterment. Obviously, I mean, we all want that too. But we'll see how it goes. I feel like a positive thing, obviously, when John Schneider and your coach are working to get an impact player and a team when the NFC is kind of this wide open. It can be viewed as a positive or negative thing. It depends on what window you look through. What's that process like for you in terms of having to learn guys and their tenancies and communicate with the new players that are coming in during the middle of the season? It's a big process. It's definitely not easy to rework your roster in the middle of the season. They're going to do what they're going to do regardless. Obviously, I respect that. I'm forward. I believe in their system and what they want to do. But, you know, it's an adjustment for all of us to learn a new guy and kind of reestablish a new relationship and reestablish a new voice that you're going to hear making a call in the middle of the field, especially, you know, because he's the quarterback of the defense. So, it's just something you got to get adjusted to, all of us.

1:12:45Playing at a different weight this season, has that been any sort of an adjustment for you? It has been. Just getting comfortable with my body again and figuring out, you know, my strengths and weaknesses and how to make sure all my weaknesses are just completely strengths. So, it's been a challenge in that aspect too. And I think I'm doing a good job out there so far. But in this past rush is going well. How much of it is guys playing on each other? Like, I'm thinking a boy is sack force from us, you know, two you collapse the pocket and then he's able to get them. Yeah, you're all in a... Yeah. I would say last game was probably the best game. Surprisingly, it was all working together as good as we did. I think these past couple games prior before that game, it's been a lot of us just... We just went in and just happened to be like that. I feel like this Atlantic game was a good game of us communicating. The past game schemes, whether it's a game or just going to straight-worth, a straight rush and just reading off each other. And we had to get better at that. It's only been a couple games. Well, it's only been seven games. We have a lot more football to play to get better and get our relationship on that aspect.

1:13:47If you dropped in coverage as much as you thought you might have. Um, but I'm par. I've dropped a good amount of time so far this year. I'm talking about doing it now so... Should put me on... Oh, whoever, not put me on George Kittle. No. Have you seen Derek Hall grow in the last... For my season this year, being around him? I mean, he's the same type of player. Honestly, only thing that's been different is his mindset and it's applying to the field. And he has to continue. You and the Oregon Fahas they game? I was. Yeah. Jackson had a duck jersey on the week after. Did you have something that you had to do as well? I had to do something that was a little more personal. But, uh, not... I didn't make that bet. But... Speaking of that, I don't know why we didn't run the ball in the last extension of the game. So, talk to, uh, them boys down the Columbus and tell them to run the damn ball next time. And just... Trust the kicker. But it's a lot better. Did you get the penalty, the intentional penalty late in the game? Uh, I don't know if that was on purpose. I think Mike brought that up to me and asked me,

1:14:48do you think it was on purpose or they did by accident? I don't know. But... It was intentional. It was intentional. It was a very serious move. I didn't... I wouldn't expect that. So, I was actually, you know, big brain played by him. Did you think there should have been a second left? No. I'm being real. I don't want to be biased. No, we ran out of time. We just... My boy, my boy, uh, 18 was back there just too comfortable. But it's all good. He's going to learn. Uh, first game with Roy Robertson Harris. Uh, what were your impressions of him? I mean, it's like 6-8. And it's crazy. Uh, he's super... He's super, super strong. Um, I've been watching him. I've been seeing this game from afar from a while. I shouldn't have been watching it above. I've seen it. I saw him in Chicago. I saw him in Jacksonville. You know, I just watched a lot of football and a lot of tapes. So, eventually, you just see guys. You pay attention to who they are. Um, so, you know, it's been a unique process. So, just bringing them in. And he's picked up a defense pretty well. Um, very powerful guy. Uh, Versailles as well. And I think it's going to add a lot of, a lot of good plays to our defense here soon.

1:15:48Did you, very deep into the line, and have armed that long? Sure. Can nobody touch your chest? Are you in the ball game? You don't want big, strong alignment, grabbing you and trying to rough out you. Because they're already bigger than us in the first place, especially me. They, like, 6-8, 3-30. And I'm wherever my weight is. So, playing with extensions is very key for a D-Lama. There you go. Thank you. Thank you, Jay-Lama. I think a lot better, like, I would say that he's got a lot of smog. Yeah. And then he also write GB. Go ahead. He's there with Calvin's intelligence, you know, where he's grown. Where specifically is it? The film room. Is it, and I pick it up, you know, the playbook. Where have you seen that? The rain up a grab. I would say Calvin has gotten smarter just like, his game knowledge, like, expecting, like, a different kind of routes and stuff like that. Perfect. When did everything start to click for you? The last year was it in the soft season? When did you feel really comfortable? I would say it in the spring, I started to get a lot more comfortable. We say you break up the cast yesterday with the

1:16:49Jeremiah name, though, sorry if you're asked about this earlier. But what is like going up against him to you? It seems like you enjoy it. Yeah, I love it. He's tough. I like going against him a lot. He's really good. What have you improved in your game just from that, for example? Those one-on-one matchups. This preseason or whatever. You know how ball-y-hoo this game is. Yeah. So Jeremiah, he forces me to play the ball, because if you don't play the ball against him, he'll go get it. Yeah. And you, Dave, send it. How would you describe this defense now compared to this time a year ago, from the standpoint of a confidence factor? You don't mean that you guys feel on the field? How would you describe it? It's different about it, I guess. I feel like everybody has a lot more smartness here. Everybody's like, I would just say that we're just smarter. Yeah. When you look up and lay them around, some decided to come back and cal up down, transfer it in. What did you feel about that?

1:17:50Did it just grow stronger in that one week span, two weeks span? You're still on up saying? I feel like. Those guys have played at that level. Those guys have played at that level. Yeah, I would say that. Like, a downcoming, what they say, he was coming back, it's still like a group of people going to need a name. Yeah, you're good to go. Thanks, man. Of course. You can really feel the defenders around you. Like I said, if you can see three or four people around you, 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 playmakers 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 of games, I'm excited to see see what that looks like. Can you pick up the sheets? I'm excited, man. Like I said, from jump, he's a special player. You don't really get that so many players like him that's so quick,

1:18:52so fast, at least speed, and I ain't got run 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 could do it in the combo if one of them? It's just speed, man. Speed, you can't teach speed at all. Just having us on opposite sides, even playing both sides. It's just speed down the field. You can run 15, 20 yard in-breakers outbreakers. And like I said, you can 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 offense will put playing makers in the position of a place. What about you specifically, what's an area where you think you'll have more opportunity than this year game? It's a lot of areas that you can see to look at, to improve my game, but yards out of the cases are the one I'm looking forward to. Just more opportunities with that, more space.

1:19:52Just to showcase my speed and my ability with the ball. I'm excited to do that this year. I'm not really showcased the first two years, so I'm excited to be with you. It's something that's like the quick game element of it, just getting the ball in your hands. Yeah, quick game, play action, more over the middle routes. It's a lot of different things that you can say that guys won't help that, but like I said, I'm excited. How would you describe the chemistry between you and Eric? We're getting way better, man. This is our first year last year, so it was kind of up and down, but that's what it comes with the game of football. We worked a lot this off season, OTAs was really good, and we got off to a good start these first two days of game, 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 we got to do something to be good. What do you kind of notice at different things, just feel on the routes?

1:20:52What do you kind of notice now that it's year two, but it's more natural? What do you mean? It's like, Eric, are you when you're dancing at your own? It's just like, it's more than that, man. It's in a fail, everybody's good, so we just got to know each other, thinking, pre-snap, post-snap, cover cheese, where the ball's going to go. Just read, what read I am in the progression, everything goes along with that. Just being on the same page, being, like I said, chemistry is built with time, so just little stuff like that that turns into big things is going to be huge. You caught one from Spencer Ratlady, they too, what are your early impressions from him? It's real talented, that's the first thing I've seen from him. His arm titles out the charts, he's a real natural feel out there. He's going to be real good, I want to see him in action, but from my first impression, he's going to be a real good player. It's going back to the sheet that you talked about all the different stuff he's going to do. You think there's still a lot more to air for him?

1:21:52Oh yeah, he hasn't really, I think this is the first year of being receiver two, or really receiver, in my opinion, we're both receiver one, so I just be able to move around, run real routes, feel like it's going to be a huge advantage for his saying. 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 can see what he can do. By run real routes, he's just like an opportunity to run. Yeah, just getting more, he hadn't really played too many plays in his first few years. He kind of just get thrown in there when he's getting the ball, or when he's a decoy, or something like that, but he's actually being involved in the offense, always being in, even on run plays, I feel like he's going to be a huge advantage for him to get a feel for the game, and be more natural out there. How hard is a receiver like that to shed kind of a, you know, think of him as a deep threat level, and then, so people just think of him as a deep threat,

1:22:52but he can do more, how hard is it to kind of shed that label or that perception like that? I mean, that's what life, everybody is trying to label somebody as one thing, or two things, but I feel like you can showcase, I mean, that's not really who we are, you know what I'm saying? As it gets more opportunities, as you can see, you can see he can do more and more. That's what anybody on the team, so I'm excited, like I said, and for his huge opportunities, I'm going to get this year, and this guy's going to be a big one for the Saints. Does this scheme ask for more blocking from the receivers as ever, or is it my specialty? Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, that's what I told you, too, and we both have to block, and I know we're not the biggest guys, we're 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 B-Lime and block Lyonbackers, but that's what comes with football, so we both got to take that next step in our game. Is that somewhere there's like a payoff, like you guys know you play from play action next time?

1:23:52Oh yeah, so 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 of a play, so we got to go in there block, and like I said, take that next step, and be able to be great for our team. Like being here? Oh yeah, so, after I filled 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, but it's a great opportunity for us. Can you get a chance to see family and friends at all, so this is their football friend here? Not yet, but they're going to come by every soon. Appreciate you all, no? Probe. Yeah. All that makes sense better all over the field, whether it's us inside or outside. We got a great second there, we got Jordan, IGB, Zell, Germain,

1:24:53so they're getting us better each and every day. We got the best DBs in the country, so I don't think there's going to be a game where we face better DBs than what we got here. Who's your favorite corner to do against? It depends on what type of day you have and stuff like that. If you know you to the boundary, you're going to get hands on one from our IGB, so you got to be ready in the Zell, he's going to break, so you got to get in there, you got to get in and out of your break with him real fast. You talk to more trash than Zell? No, one, you're going to feel one out there. You're going to feel him, and you're going to feel him, so he's going to play, you're going to feel him. You talk to more trash, you were Brandon Dennis. Brandon talks to more trash, but when he gave me started, I could be a hothead. You just got to get me started, that's it. What do you think of the model in this bootcamp? He's going to be good, he got the wiggle, he can do it all. Once he just got here, so it's just a lot being thrown out of him and stuff like that. So when he relax, get the ropes up, he's going to be really good. When you get here as a freshman, I ask hard money to say anything.

1:25:53What's the easiest thing to pick up on right away? What's maybe the most difficult thing for you guys now going to develop? The easiest thing is to pick up on your own father by end and stuff like that. And the hardest thing is not getting in your head. We got great receivers all around, so you have a bad day and another guy having a great day. You just can't get down to yourself and lose confidence. Another guy, I'm a freshman, I actually use a lot of hands. What stands out for those people about that? JJ's a dude, so he goes about his business like a dude, he makes a play, you get too happy, you mess up, you don't get too mad about it. He's just going on like next play mentality. Turn out hard talk to that, you're going to do around the entire field slot. What do you like about the roadline? I like, you can't really game plan for somebody like that because you go on the slot, you can expect him one thing, but he's outside, you got to expect another thing. Kojo was just talking to us about his leadership role behind the scenes. How have you seen that? You're starting specifically about showing Jeremiah kind of the way, but for you or for any of the guys, how has he been a leader in that role?

1:26:56JJ? Kojo. Kojo has been good, he's been here longer than most of us. We're young compared to Kojo and stuff like that, so whenever we need help, we ask Kojo, he's a funny player. I think he probably won the funniest in the ring, so when you look at him, he always can get a laugh, and he always gonna pick us up whenever we're down. Who are your favorite receivers to watch? I'm always your favorite. I like G5, I like my league neighbors, he's balling right now. I like the Vontale, I like Justin and Marr. And for people who are, I mean, you're talking like a guy who's ready to like, pop off a little bit here. What are people gonna see from Cardinal Tadeh? They go to see me play ball and talk my trash with it. Yeah, I have a couple questions. Oh yeah, definitely. What's your best in the game? Yeah, it's your guy, I'm playing Florida. I just went to school down there. What's your best advice to Jeremiah at this point? Cardinal. I'll tell him play ball, keep your head, keep your head, I turn up and play ball. You're going higher ups and you're going higher down, but it's life.

1:27:57You know, no, that's what you still care, and you still want to be a part of this. You know, just watch and practice. There's a couple of little things we're doing different, whether I'm communicating with Dumbar or other people. You know, so you're also talking with him, and you give him pointers during the off season, just a constant communication. How do you see him grow as a person, you know, and how he's approaching things, how he getting ready for this season versus his rookie? You know, I think the thing with Keanu is he's more comfortable. You know, it's nice first time around the track. It's actually like he can catch his feet under him. You know, I always think when you're in your rookie season, you're going from bowl game, I don't even know Wisconsin playing a bowl game. Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even know, but, you know, personally, I just think when you go from bowl game to training for the combine, to, you know, rookie minicamps, OTAs, the, you know, many can, I mean, the training camp,

1:28:57the regular season, you really don't get a time to really catch yourself. You know, he understands the playbook now, he can be more vocal, you know, and I think with my absence, and other guys' absence, you know, you need guys like that to step up and be ready for those opportunities. So the surgery you had in Yaw City, you know, the same you had during the season, you was a more thorough, what was your... Just tightened down everything. You know, on my left side, because I was over-compensating a little bit. But, you know, it was, it wasn't anything that lingers, you know. I'll say this, a groin's not like an ACL, it's not like anything's ever going to get affected again, and, you know, you know, feeling good, able to do everything, squat and heavy, with power and speed. So, you know, it feels good to get after a lot. What do you think of what the team was able to accomplish in some off season in terms of bringing guys like Russ and... You know, I think they're all good acquisitions, but, you know, you never want to be known as a paper champ. So, you can't win the off season.

1:29:58I think the work gets done out here on the field, gets done in the classroom, it gets done training, you know, and then you see where you're at in training camp, and then you build on that. You know, I think we got the right guys in the building. It's just about putting a complete team on the field. Can you tell us how difficult is it to separate the business part of the game for the actual football club? Oh, you know, you always want to... You always have to treat it like a business, because, you know, one day it's going to end, and that's a pretty job. It's not like in college where, you know, you got four years guarantee. Well, now you don't even know what that I know is crap, or transfer portal, portal. But, you know, you have to... I still have love for this game, and I still work my tail off, and I still put everything into it, and that's not going to change, but you have to know what you bring to the team

1:31:00and what your value is. Can you have anyone to feel the be out there with your teammates today emotionally? Great, you know. We got a new training staff, and still learning the warm-up, a little different. But, you know, I loved it. You know, just getting after it, learning new guys, going through the same drills I've been doing by myself. I actually like having more people around, because, like, kind of go stir crazy when it's just you and another guy, you're like, damn, I gotta go back up for another rep already. And so, you know, it's nice to be up here, and get a chance to be with my guys. Can we confident that they will get down with your emotion? Oh, I'm going to try to remain pretty neutral, because I don't want to be too either way. All I know is I want to be here, but we'll see what happens. It's my last year here. I've had a great career here,

1:32:00but I look forward to playing that shit. What that second surgery you said at this time was on the left side of the first time around on the right side? Right side during the season, left side, and that was just tightening down my core muscle. It wasn't the same as my ad doctor. You know, you can ask Dr. Bradley, Dr. Zuckerbron, who did the surgery as well. You know, if anything's going to help me, and it'll make me a lot stronger from here on up. Can you say you were training with another guy? Who have you come to mind? I'm Tyson. I've been training with him for the last eight years. We've always trained together. We've got a trainer up north, Cheryl Cohali, who's my guy, trained a Heath Miller, Brett Kiesel, multitudin guys that I'll respect. And we've just been getting after. Can we do very few guys historically, 35, they paid big contract, and who that's held against you?

1:33:00I think there's not a lot of history behind it. But, you know, for me, I look as, I'm not looking to be like anybody else. You know, my game is different from everybody else in the sleep. You know, I like to think, you know, I can play the run in the past, and that's where I'm different. You know, I remember last year, Mike T, just brought to my attention, you know, the thing that's really cool is you watch powerlifters. And, you know, my game's built on power and technique, and those guys go into the 40s. And so, you know, that's what kind of research I'm doing behind the scenes, but, you know, we'll see what happens. There's not a lot of history, but I'm here to make history. And I'm here to, you know, win another super wall of air, and you know, have a great season. Do you have a set goal for yourself on how many years you want to play in the NFL? Or do you just take things here right here? You know, it was tough answering that question right after the season. I will say this, guys, I can't keep answering that question right after the season.

1:34:03That is not fair to the season that's not fair to my family. You know, but in my mind, I got three years, and I want to maximize them. I want to play at a high level, and I want to go deep into playoffs. And, you know, we got a good team, and I'm going to do my part to be ready for all those situations. You've planned on practicing when you report to the church, or is it possible that you might fold in and, of course, the issues? I have not even thought that far. I've taken a day. My day, you know, I told my agent, and we talked about it. We were cool coming out here. You know, I'll be here for many. And then I'll be there for training. You know, I don't know what the work entails, but when we get there, we'll cross that bridge. Why didn't you bring your work? For a minute, Stephen. What was your year? You know, there was a conversation between me, Omar, and Mike T. And there's certain guys that are one helmet guys.

1:35:05You know, and I want to be one of those one helmet guys. And, you know, there's a hunger and desire there, but that doesn't mean just hanging it up, and calling a career. To me, I think, you know, I got more bullets to fire, and I'm excited to do that. What's the new D.Y.S.1? The new in Russell Wilson are going to be out there with Walter Payton Man of the Year patch. I saw Russ's on social media, but I have been in the agency to see it. I like the surprise happens when it happens, but, you know, it's cool to have another and walk to Payton Man of the Year winner. You know, I think it's an honor to be there. And I'll say one thing. I won't be here. I'm just telling you guys, so it's not a big deal. I won't be here because I have to do a Walter Payton Man of the Year thing on Thursday, so it's not like I'm skipping. Sorry. But, you know, it's an honor to be with Russ,

1:36:05and, you know, it's an honor of doing things in the community, doing great work. And, you know, the cool thing is, as much as we get honored and nominated for these things, the work doesn't stop. And, I can see that with Russ' foundation, you know, we had an event for our foundation, and my mom was quick to tell Russ, hey, we need the partners around. I was like, mom, let's just enjoy the event. But, you know, it's really cool to be a part of a league group. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Chris, next season, kind of trying to push for a job. Is that like a confidence booster for you? I mean, I'll say it was a confidence booster. One reason I say that, because you get like good coaches who believe in you, and like they give you the tools to go out there and just play with confidence. You know, they're doubting your stuff. Like, you got your teammates who got your back. Like, my first play, when I got a third-tunnel seat, like, when DeZel, IGB and Jermaine, like, first thing they say is like, no, where you just go out there and play with confidence. You know, you know the tools, there's usual tools.

1:37:05It was a go out there and make a play. And, where about a play coming to you? You know, where is your time, there's your job. You just do it. And then, like, the same goes for you. Like, he gives me, he puts me in a position like, like, the drills we put in, the work we put in, the one-on-one, so just go out there and just perform with the highest level. How much better are you right now than maybe last month and force break right? I mean, I got way better just because I've transitioned a little bit to the inside. Nickel's fuzz sound. Like, now I actually feel like catch, catch technique. And it's, often, cover is not always pressed at the line. So it's like, now I'm able to like move my feet, move my hands, like, see, like, what I got to do just like, just in case I got to go back in corner, I can, I'll plan off now. I'm very confident out there. Do you think that that was a natural fit for you or have you had to kind of convince yourself to transition around? I mean, I feel like it's natural fit for me because I feel like me, individually, I'm a fuzz learner. A fuzz learner, like coaches help us learn fast. Like, because they're always honest about the techniques and stuff. So you, like, you write down, like, you pick up all the things

1:38:05you did, like, when we get out here, they coach us to, like, the technique. So we used to go out there and play like fast spot. And it would be like, I would have like, reverse until you're able to go out there and just compete. Is that where you kind of stuff, just spring, or do you pick how to bounce there? So I'm really, you've been stuck there this spring a little bit, right? Whenever you get it, it's like other things. I just bounce out there every once in a while. Just like, just have fun. See if I still got it every once in a while. So it's as good as going through to compete at most spots. You mentioned the technique. What technique, you know, tips and things that you had to pick up and learn from coach Wapu from. I mean, this is what I was like, you know, because Wapu reaches the highest feet hands. Like, see it. You see it. Move your feet. And then you hit your hand with your hands on the mat. So it's like, when you get like, when you out there, you're able to like, just process like the way the receiver comes off the ball, looking at the hips and seeing like the way he moves. And so you're able to pick up like the row concepts you can get out of that. Like, so it's being like, other coach Wapu, I mean, like, as a player and just like, him breaking out football to you, like, one on one, it's like very beneficial.

1:39:06What was the hardest part of making that transition from outside that sense? I really say like, the corner you got to cover to, you cover three, you cover one, it's easy, but then you got nickel. There are so many responsibilities you got to see, like, the row concepts, you got to be able to process like, diagnosed rows faster than what you got to do on corner and just be able to like, everything's quid, like, you're transition, you got to like, you got to move fast. You got to just learn to move fast. It's like game recognition. Where you think maybe you've grown the most since you got to, since you got to go to that one. I would definitely say, I would definitely say, it hasn't, because when you get to like college, it's a little bit different. In high school, we don't got to worry about things like that. When you get to college in a school like this, like your recognition of plays, and like, you'll know your jobs the way, like, the coverage is supposed to be played. I understand all your teammates are supposed to be having a field. It's like, it gets easy. What have you been, what have you been? It's been a tough time. It's been a tough time. He's very talented. He's a great dude. He's a humble guy.

1:40:06He's a great teammate. He's very supportive. He's like a guy that you don't want to wrong, because you can feed off your energy because you can see like, we make a play. He's like, he's like, IGB2. So he's like, when you get off there with guys, like that would get energy. It makes you play a little bit harder. And then when you make a play, he's out there, and it's helping you. He's being out there with him. He's a good player. One of those hard drives cars are ten full kids. Obviously, obviously, I'm a classical player. So, it's helping to your parents now. What is it about one build that gets you to play at a high school? It's a big question, I know. It's a big question. I know. It's a big question. I know. It's a big question. It's a big question. I know. It's a big question. I know. It's a big question. I know. It's a big question. Because we have so many kids come out of the building and just play at games. I'll leave school. And they're like, like, track's a big part of it. Like, get out here and know how to compete. And then, like, G, like, getting builds that mental toughness into you. So, like, have you, like, if you're now,

1:41:07you got to be mentally tough because you're not life. It's not going to go alive. It's not going to be easy. So, it's like being out here, being able to compete. And when you down, just pick yourself back up. I mean, that's what G is down to me. That's what G is down to me. It's not for me. I'm beginning. Like, he played a quarterback in high school, too. And he hasn't made a transition to receiver at here in Ohio State. And he's helped me. It's going to be rough at first, but he has to push me to get me to where I need to be. When you think back and just, like, you're upbringing, you know, coming from, you know, Africa being over here, just what do you how did all you feel, call of that kind of helped mold you into who you are now? Yeah, I play definitely maybe, like, tough and, like, not afraid of, like, new change. And he's willing to just adapt to my environment. What was it like for you coming in here as a freshman and getting to see this team go win an after-the-school championship for those first few weeks here? Definitely was a high motivated, you know? It wasn't really my team, though. So, like, I didn't really get it. So, that makes, like, push me like that once, when it's my turn.

1:42:07I got put in the word, I wanted to say in position, but with a ring on my finger. What did you learn from those guys just about what you need to do to have a chance to go and accomplish what they did? So, you've got to, don't let the past affect you, like, and just, yeah, I remember this. You've got to be relentless, you've got to put it in the word. It's not easy at all by any means. It's got to be hard, but you have to put everything into it. What do you view as, like, the best attributes of your game that you're going to bring to this team? I would just say, my size, my speed, I could take the top off the defense, and I could play tough and physical. It's about that. What is the last year that, like, when you think back to the overwork last year, what has the last kind of year been like for you? It's a little bit like gone from the player that was kind of going through the process to it. It even comes to it, so making a transition into a season. How has this last year been? I was definitely changing my mind, because I was always on my sophomore year.

1:43:10I was hurt, and my junior year, I got hurt during track, so I was able to, like, I was a highly excluded athlete. And this time last year, when my recruitment really picked up, and it's been crazy, like, once after another, like, he was just leaving me in my corner, my coach's everything. I just give it the motivation to go. What is your relationship with like the table you guys? What is your relationship with like the table you guys? What is your relationship with the table you guys? That's a big good. Before I even got a house they offered, and before I even knew who he was, I was actually actually through with them a couple of times, and both Bella Fondes and Trotte. Yeah, I was working with, I knew his head coach, and he invited me to come and run routes, and I actually ran routes for a table in the right. If we was exactly headed like two, we first came to New York. We had a lot more, we got together, us, the freshman class, and the show,

1:44:10and he's working on everything. He's definitely got nice on. This cornerback for a few years, I think, is pretty talented. How has that kind of helped you with all of your refreshing? The cornerback? The cornerback. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they're definitely talented, and you say, as I always say, I'm so happy to have you on. And they make it hard for you, and when you play this high level competition practice, and you go on a game, you're like, twice as easy as you do the practice, and he's really just builds on stuff. Is there going to be a more interesting question? I'm kind of looking at it. Oh wow, this is so different. This is something that I guess I can walk on. I guess there have been kind of like a moment first. I've realized that. Oh wow, these guys are really good at this. Yeah, just like, I just first, like, on high school, I just take some reps and I've seen we just go, yeah, I just had speed, and we catch the abilities, like, face separation, and I come to college and explore everybody's fast, everybody's big.

1:45:13So you have fun new ways to get open. It's really good for yourself to hire your IQ. And like, Coach Lauren, I said that you got to be who you are, not who that guy was. Yeah, he's inside of being, but definitely that's what he's been doing. When did you feel like you've blossomed in the last year, where they could prove the count on you and stuff? I think it started in like fall camp just flashed in there. I have to like the first games, weren't around, so I was hotline. I said, I've almost been great. I like this personality, I like a more feel, and that's important. Yeah, and the life factors, what kind of difference is the responsibility of the user in this system? Or is it going to be in its own way, is it kind of the same? We just learn it right now, we just work it out. We just learn it. What do you think about CJ Hicks and what he can do in this defense? I think CJ Hicks said what he can do in his defense?

1:46:16Or just what he can do in this season. We can do this season? I think CJ will pop up this season for sure. I think this definitely going to be one of his years for sure. Got to. What do you think is the biggest difference between French and New York and Georgia? To me, it's no different. They both coach you and they both, they hard on you, but they want you to be great. So I don't think there's no difference. What's the result of the promotion? You know about the stuff either on or off the square or something. I think Sunday is a great year. The fires we follow in Sunday is a great year. I feel like he's like a voice. He can be thinking something Sunday and just change. Where are you now for the whole team to understand it. So Sunday definitely a great year. I'm going to show it to you. Obviously, no point.

1:47:18You know, it's important. What is there something that suits you the most about that? What is there something that suits you the most about that? On the whole field or when it's leadership, like I said, he's just a great leader. Like he, a vocal guy. Like you said, it shows up on the field too. It's hard to follow up to a guy who says something don't. They're not on their stuff. He's only stuff so he's leading everybody this. Obviously, it's been a long string of linebackers success at Ohio State. You've been a long string of linebackers success at Ohio State. Now you look at, you know, about like Sunday taking that next step this year. How motivated are you to be part of that? To be one of the great linebackers to play at Ohio State? I'm ready for it. That's what I'm here for. I just know how to work. Not a view.

1:48:19Just give it effort and just going east out of it. You? I want to say this with full respect. When we see JJ and Sonny, it's like, that makes sense. When you're the third guy, were you surprised to be named? What puts you in that same category? Yeah, I was a little surprised. I kind of have a feeling because I kind of like, I mean, I kind of could have guessed it. But like, I just knew that I was one of my goal to talk to him behind Bug Guy. I just couldn't work that was in there. So what did you get in at? What did you mean? How did you say that? It was really special. We're right after our text and my parents. And they really knew what it meant until like the video came out and the question they explained it to us. So then, I have to wait until we get there as well. Back then, in my off, it was playing football, back then, right? Bar, in games. Did you just tell the difficulties of going back and forth? That's just like, we were learning that we actually had to play both of those five. Yeah, it's pretty difficult.

1:49:19Especially dirt and game, you have to put the whole mind around. It's not easier in practice because it's not getting like seven down, but like going back to my game. It's pretty hard, but like in high school, it was every other play I was in back then, with the triple out. So I knew it. I was comfortable with it. And sometimes I just take a warm walk into the reminds of my screen, which I had like saved to be the same play again. And then one more time, so I get into my head. Yeah, so like, I got to set the example. And then like, my first two weeks here, I was like teaching them. Like, I don't know what they're expecting these plays because I've seen some new plays for them. And even their defense, like, like technique two, because I keep saying technique. But just helping them out, because we need all of those. What did you like, when did you idea of playing back, going on a kind of battle?

1:50:20Did you, about like, Rath, the season, or the football game? What did you think, when did you have a battle? Did everybody come about? It came close to the springtime. They wanted to have a good fight out there, and they don't play the best of it. They just won't make the choice. What did you like to do after the finals? They're awesome. They're great. A lot of eyes, and it's awesome because everyone's watching something. It's not like, someone's only watching this place, so you know what's going on. I got to feedback to see it. After the play, after the practice, all three off the wall. It's awesome. They tell you everything. Because they know what's the last time I had it with Coach Johnson, and Coach Dickie's watching the left one and Coach O'Neill, and the one who feels the right for them. You know what's going on, it's funny. How was the experience that you got at the big reps in the big games? All that helped. It was like coming into the side. It really boosted my confidence. And I can lead the young guys too. I know it was going on because they really don't really miss this first time in spring.

1:51:20I like to go on the road. My stuff's like, just that leadership of them. Versatility has also been mentioned a lot. It's a really long both sides of the wall playing in different spots. Can you elaborate on that? Yeah. Yeah, I can beat that up question a lot more time. Can you just talk about the versatility? Coach Jason's talking a lot about that up, but you guys in different spots being able to win. Yeah, so like, you all see it in last year. We lost two stars, all maybe starters. So like, really guys need to step up and like, I only see Zandin now. I was playing a certain left guard. And then I didn't really know I was going to beat Bounce out of the right. And what Adani knew is when Bounce out of the tackle. So like, it really helps everyone. I think a lot of guys this season are playing multiple positions. And it's going to help us. But if you learn from Donnie and jog or satin all of that. Just like technique wise, they really helped me like, they're snap stuff and no one like what's going to go as you guys. I can't replace it.

1:52:21All right. Thank you. Thanks. I'll be a stack another one. How do you manage your own expectations when you have 14 pressures, but you're not putting in the sack numbers that you'd like to get? I think just staying the course and continuing to get better, which I think I've done. And then hopefully that day comes where the stats come. But I think I affected the game. Good amount last week. So that's good for the team. Nick, I'm sure it was an incredible player playing a play as you think about. And Dan, the fun way, and we've done better. But what it comes with, the fifth and the ninth, and the ninth, the ninth is running over time. Is that one particularly, or is it worth a one? So it's not a guarantee you're going to stop them. But is that one particularly? Is that the ball of the ball? It's difficult to get over. Yeah, no, that's tough. Especially because we have calls that could negate that. And we just didn't really, like they ran in the zone read a few times.

1:53:22I mean, just didn't find an answer to it. But yeah, I mean, I definitely thought he was going to hold it or keep it. But I got to do my job, especially in a big moment like that. You can't go out of your job. But we definitely have a plan for the zone read this time. So hindsight's 2020. Did you crash? Or did that, that is your job, right? That was, yeah. Okay. But then you, like mid-player kind of like, did a shrug, but not a solid, but a short. Yeah. Even the pins at what should have happened? I mean, there's a couple of variables. I think the tight end came across, so that changes some things to the guys behind me. So I honestly don't know who it is, but I just tried to make it decisive for the guys. Did the ideas? It's a lot from that room, just watching in terms of how you try to attack your first time around from your experience.

1:54:25Yeah, yeah. I mean, like any game that you played a team before you watched the tape and learned from it? Does this often define the torres they get kind of less, I guess, less in trouble for holding, or is it just, depending on the kind of rules? Last year for sure. Last year they had two of the top penalized guys in the league. But it doesn't look too bad this year, but we'll see. Are there more refereeing crews that kind of let it go more than others? I mean, it seems different every week, so let's see. Do you count your steps throughout the day? Is that why you use a scooter? Ah, that's kind of how it started. I don't count them, but I just take a little off the legs. Why not? It's a lot of walking from building to building. They've always been a team, having a record for your saw back, having a break thing around. Good morale boost. Yeah, it's good to have them. And I'm excited to watch them play. We've seen history and achievement in the summer to have them again.

1:55:26What's it been like to go back and be looking at them? I'm sure you're out of there. What kind of team are you? I'd say. It's definitely a little emotional, but at this point it's just a game. So we're just looking at the tape, trying to learn from it. A lot of similarities from last year. I've seen you guys, but really good defense and offense that obviously has 15 back there. I'm always dangerous. You said it's a little emotional. Do you try to tap into those emotions? Or do you kind of want to just put the distractions to the side and treat it like another football game? Yeah, the latter. Oh, man, I try to prepare like him. I like that from the heat prepare. When he prepared, he intentional. So that's definitely something I try to do like him better. Like you said, I'm leaving. But when it comes to preparing and being intentional with studying and how I prepare for practice, I definitely took that to it. Anything from the leadership team?

1:56:29No, Cody Lee. Cody, I'm definitely talking about the person in the game. Those big shoes, then when you go on something wrong, I don't know something. Yeah, what's that? Where's that come from? I'm just being honest. Like, you can't be more than those guys when they ask you what happened to you and try to lie. And then you get a film room and it's obviously, obviously lying here. So it's the opposite of lying there. Now, how much, what is it that you don't know something? I can't believe the last time that happened. So that's a good thing. Those big shoes to fill with Cody though for the leadership standpoint. What is he taking out the door with it? You know, maybe our male somebody's got a fill in that slot. I think it's definitely some big shoe to feel. Cody was a great player, a great leader. He's like with the quarterback and defense. He's definitely some big shoe to feel. And like, Chris, you got to be who you are. Yeah, that can't just be in, but definitely that's what you think.

1:57:31When did you feel like you lost him last year? They could truly count on you and stuff. I mean, you remember how he came along? I think it started in like fall camp just flashed in there. Got to like the first games, weren't around. So I was all alone. I don't know what it is, but like, we're in a good concentration. I'm just being great. I like this person, Natalie. I like a more feel than that's a poor. Yeah. And the life-fathers, what kind of difference is responsibility? Is we're in the system? Or is it going to be in the same part as kind of sleep? Oh, we just learn it right now. We just work it out. We just learn this day. What do you think about CJ Hicks and what he can do in this defense? I think CJ Hicks, you said what he can do in his defense? Or just what he can do this season. We can do this season. I think CJ will pop up this season for sure. I think this definitely going to be one of his years for sure. Got to. What do you think is the biggest difference between friendship and not friendship?

1:58:38To me, it's no difference. They both coach you and they both, like, they hard on you, but they want you to be great. So I'm not taking a difference. I'm just talking about how he's working out what you guys can do in fitting. Do you think Judges want to be trying to plug and touch you guys? No, I don't think so. What's the results for most of you about the stuff you do on a walk? I think Sonny is a great leader. He fires before anything. Sonny is a great leader. I feel like he's like a voice. You think it's something Sonny just can't worry about for the whole team to understand. Sonny definitely is right here before anything. I think it's just my job to fight for some things. I think it's not just for why bad people. How does that show itself? Obviously, locally? Yes, it is, of course. There's something that you need to talk about.

1:59:39You talk about all in field or when it's leadership? Whatever. It's just a great leader. Like you vocal guy. Like you say, it shows up on the field too. It's hard to follow up to a guy who says something don't own and they're not on their stuff. So, suddenly one of those guys who is on his stuff, so when he leaves everybody listen. It's obviously been long-term of linebacker success of a higher stage. You've been a long-term of linebacker success at a higher stage. Now you look at Sonny taking that next step this year. I'm motivated by being part of that linebacker. I'm ready for it. That's what I'm hopeful. I think you talked about earlier than we could try to balance out. We're not getting too high on your emotion. How does that motivation for you show up on an idea that basically is? More preparation, more film. What does that look like for you? It's just really an edge in everything you do. I feel like carrying that kind of pissed off mentality. I mean, obviously not letting it affect you in a negative way. Making it remind you, hey, I'm going to go the extra-entire.

2:00:42I'm going to see if I can find something extra on film late at night. I'm going to go over this sheet again and call it plays one more time. All these little things that I just can't let that what happened last time happened again. We're only on this weekend when we were talking about how you played back here at Football League. We were telling the replay of the Rose Bowl. We grew up in Big Ten Country. They're taking part in this game. What does this game mean to you? You kind of grown up. It's a ton, man. It's crazy that God has blessed me and put me in this position to be here and be the quarterback in the Rose Bowl. You know, a game that I grew up watching every single year. Some unbelievable games that I've watched in the Rose Bowl, some classics. And just to be a part of it is a blessing. And I think we're all humbled to be here. We're all understanding of how unbelievable this opportunity is and we're not taking it lightly because, you know, again, it's a business trip. And, you know, the only thing that we're looking at is, you know, we win this game.

2:01:44We go on a playing top role. So, you know, it's really exciting. It's crazy that we're here and that we're a part of this. But, you know, can't let it be too big. You know, gotta go out there and play football. It's a fierce thing. It's just a lot of fun. I think so. I think, you know, you go back and watch the film. And, you know, I just didn't, you know, and I'm hypercritical in myself. And I think we all are here. You know, but I just look at it. I'm like, man, I don't think anyone this year beat us. You know, I think we beat ourselves at the same time. And, you know, you watch and, you know, we had to turn over, you know, in our own 20-yard line. And they got the kick. You know, it's two possessions. It's called First Match. No, obviously the way the game ended, like, and we're still one point away. And that's what, what hurts. And it was a, you know, a hostile environment in their place. You know, I'm just thankful that, you know, I said this, this is the other day, but I'm just thankful that we get through the other day. Do you feel like, you know, if we look at back the two weeks ago, you didn't see it.

2:02:47You feel like you're accomplished by this group. There may be one in the area where you two are showing, you know, you mean, I put it all together. Yeah. What is your sense of a team from that aspect? Does it feel a little bit different? Yeah, I think, you know, a game like that, you know, in sales confidence, you guys, because it shows us we're capable of. But you can't be complacency. And it can never be comfortability. It has to be confidence and drive. And that's what it has to. It's just to be like, man, like, we can do this. When we play it our best, if it was anyone in the country that can hang with us, we have to be on our game. We have to make sure that we can't let anything go. A lot of people take those words. A lot of people take those words. Are you backing up to that? I'm going to be able to take the evolution of this offense. Wait. Then, you can go to the top of the show. What do you think might as a team from the offense from that perspective? I just, you know, at the end of the day, I just want to keep the ball moving down the field, you know, getting in a rhythm, I think it's going to be big for us.

2:03:47And I think we did a really good job of that in Tennessee game. I just want to warm a little bit early in the record. A little bit early calls that we got to build. Sound that game. I kept this going, but regardless, we kept the drive going. For me, keeping us on schedule, taking care of the ball, and making sure that we can burn on third down in our situation we get. You know, we do all that stuff. Obviously, for me, I want to be these guys and drive the machine because we got, when we're on our stuff, we're on our stop. We just got to make sure that we finish our preparation, right? These last few days and go out there and put our best reward. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you guys. You come on this way. I'm talking about this, you know, just recently. Talking about how what I want to do for the world is I want to bring that home energy, the e-braw, right? So last year, of course, I'm sure it's been doing for years, but the year when I spent my own, he brought a lot of energy, excitement, happiness in the room,

2:04:49which is his natural energy, to where I only had to focus on me. You know, I didn't have to make sure other guys were, you know, feel some type of way when they came in here because hump brought that. You know, the hump's not here, but I saw when you did for a room, I want to be that guy that makes sure I was an amputable practice. Everybody's, we're taking a field team on period, you know, it's a low day or something, you know, it's a discipline but like, I want to make it feel like home time. You're like, yeah, a pair. It's the trip. I want to bring that because that's what me and hump did to each other, and we would hide each other, and do something like that. We're lit. So I want to do that, I want to bring that energy, I want to make bring more guys, you know, to do that. Yeah. I want to do that from day one, you know. I wanted to do that from day one. I just thought I could do them. And obviously it's that time I spent, obviously it's a before-OTA started. Just being in my self-just thinking about what the room needs.

2:05:52You know, because I know I knew who will ask one of the leaders, you know, my wife, and I'm not afraid. Is that we need a guy like that, is going to make sure the O-R I just picked up. We're ready to go every day. I was held accountable with things, I'm having a practice of people, saying anything, and how I'd made a lead, maybe different than somebody else made a lead. You know, I like to practice, at least, like, the legal positivity, you know what I mean. So, but he, the energy I would be on, just, oh, I'd be on, so I was kind of, how I would be, go on my, living my whole life on, yeah, I felt, I felt, team captain, like, specifically, and I felt I wasn't a captain in high school, wasn't a captain in college, but I want to make a joke on high school. So, I feel like I'm not going to be a captain like you said, I felt. You know, but that would be awesome, you know, but, you know, that happens, I'd be great, but not either way,

2:06:52I want to assume a role as a captain from, to respect the guys, to the individual words, and to get back in that way. Yeah, I mean, I can't say that, I mean, I guess the biggest thing is that, I felt like I was used to in the past, but it didn't take just the first day, LTAs, it took training, left and right, once this season, and because I know what was going to be the champion, so, I think a lot of, yeah, grips, just to give back to feeling, like myself, for what they want to LTAs, and then that whole first week, but now, like, today specifically, just changing some small things with my feet, that I've been seeing, talking about the long coach, about some things I can do with my feet, to get to that, to sell that traditional handle that I love to sit on, and be, I thought I felt, I thought I felt great already, but I'm okay, I felt even better, so I need more exercises tomorrow,

2:07:52now I'm getting my feet back, and how I like the right side, so I'm excited. I mean, obviously, I feel like, in the league, whether I left the right, you're still going against, Premier Guy, so obviously, you have high expectations for the left, and I'm not going to tackle, but there's definitely, like, the level of energy, and like, the expectations, definitely take the human strength, because now, tonight, the blind side, that's the, that's the tackle world, you know, so, so yeah, I would say, in terms of communication, as far as, even outside of the facility, and stuff like that, I think really creating that, but in tackle world, but in the bottom, even more off the field, I think has been something that's, even the cool, I mean, I got the text one day, and I said, hey, I keep putting it up, and I was like, you know, yeah, I've been training both, I've been training both, you know, I asked after the season, they're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you, so please, season, and I just got the text one,

2:08:52depending on how this works, and I was like, you know, I was like, you know, I had an O-season right tackle, so, if I get the word, I'm going, I'm standing right tackle, and I just do what I did before, I'm built on that, but I was like, I might as well as training the left tackle now, as if we're going to be left tackle, and I'd rather do that, than training on right tackle because I'm going to call it a left tackle, and I'm like, how do I switch my feet? You know what I mean? So, I'm like, let me just prepare an event, and I'll say, yeah, let's go, I think occasionally, I'm very down, there'll be a lot of twists, I was just not like, it's a automatic, it's a common. And I think, that was my mindset for, like, the first half of the season, like, I didn't have to go into a game with some pros, like, oh my gosh, I did that. I kind of figured, okay, this is the type of rush, I'm going to get it. This is how this guy usually rushes. If I get the vibe, this is how the end is, like, the rush, you know, tackles that, you know, first of your guys, you got the primary patch on. You know, what it was going to be,

2:09:52or you know, every stud. And honestly, just knowing that's kind of an advantage to, so you're not, you're not, oh, they brought the twists on my side again. It was never air-doll, but they're coming up on my side. Three plays in a row. And two minutes, I knew that it was going to happen. So, you know what I mean? I'm watching more everybody else, and you rarely, you know, it goes out there, occasionally, a third down, I was like, you know, he's going to pick me. You know what I mean? So, that effect, it's also kind of an advantage in the way. But it's also exciting, like, okay, I'm going to give the hardest look. You know, so those are real, real reps, you know, the things. And really, I went into kind of process, and I was like, hey, when I told me, they'll let me know about and I'm just going to train it. I was training all the way until TAs, I guess, if I didn't hear anything about TAs, I would have came in like, so, you know what I mean? Because just like, I'm cool with training both continue. I would have been cool with training both continually.

2:10:52But I feel like anybody, any position will feel like, okay, like, you want to, as soon as possible, give your feet, kind of settle in, your hips settle in, your hands, settle in, certain kind of that. We've been hard of the age to work both, very healthy, you know. But, they're definitely, but in terms of the development, it's definitely a lot of facts. They're staying on one side. But I think having that, the weeks that we had to transition with the seasons over, you've been like, it was fun. You know. It's good. I'm trying to get up, put up my front, and weak things at a time right now. But when it comes back, I'm going to show them to you on the house. So I've got a house, not too far from, so I told them, I got that house, like, I got a yellow outside. DJ. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? So, yeah. My mom said,

2:11:56you know, just go out there, my dad just dominated the person I was confronting me. You know, just do what I've been doing for the last two to three weeks, I should say. But, you know, they play men on men, so I'm just ready for the challenge. I mean, feels good. Just say somebody going out there and playing men on men, guess Ohio State receivers is something crazy. But, you know, we're just ready for the challenge. They say they're not chasing their game play, but we've got to go out there and show them the reason why not the play man on men. Well, in the race announcement, of the month 2016, I'm sorry, it's not the right time. I'm sure you're going to be the conversation. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't know what you're going to do with the game. I mean, I don't really, if I be on a curve, I'd be on a curve. It's not really a big deal to me. It may definitely be a best of a show, 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. Yeah. I'm sorry.

2:13:03I mean, no, not yet. Probably hit me after this season. No, just, no, playing on the College Football Playhouse as a freshman, playing the Rose Bowl as a freshman. Playing the Cardin Bowl, not in the National Championship. I mean, it's a blessing for sure. sure but I haven't hit me yet. My favorite catch I would say we play Michigan State on the one I call about two defenders definitely probably my favorite for sure or you could go the one from Iowa I should say and then as I'll probably then too. I don't I mean yeah like you said it's pretty frustrating me having again that I had in the

2:14:09Rose Bowl and they're coming to the Cotton Bowl and they're just doing different things chasing their scheme up for against me but I mean like you said whatever I could do to make the I mean hurt the team when it's not really a big deal for me along as we win that's all I really care about and then you got to set that your championship. It means a lot we put a lot of work in this this season we have how as we have loads we have people turn us out but we hear now we just read and put on a show Monday.

2:15:11First the win is national championship because there means a lot I mean you see everything that he bent through this year people say he should be fired and this died on third but I mean you see everything that he bent through this year I mean I seen everything I had been through this year on see everything people saying about him on Twitter I wasn't here he first got the head coach and job but I know this year for sure we definitely got to win this for him. I mean it's a lot a lot of people in the league I should say I can't really say who but I mean you had guys like oh there you had guys like oh there you got Stefan Dicks. It means a lot of Michael Thomas Chris Carter just a lot of you know guys I played in that field and stuff like that but yeah really them guys for sure. No just keep going you got it you net stuff for sure really I really that for sure.

2:16:23Like a physical defense like like you said like people say like they like to play man they're not changing their scheme so we're just ready for the challenge like you said probably the best deepest we can probably go see all year and we just gotta be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show. I'm excited for will him first coming here in Ohio State January our first workout we had together just everything that we built through this season. I mean 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 you Monday. I mean it's pretty funny them saying that because I'm just only a friend but I mean it's a

2:17:29blessing for sure people to even say that but I got two three more years left for college and I'm just focus on college right now I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. Oh it's very special for me just being a freshman and playing the national stage like a peer for national titles something that I dreamed of as a very young kid. I'm just happy to be here and I just can't wait to pull the show Monday for you guys. I mean all of the reasons we were just sitting on the bench and we just seeing him hit the quarterback the ball come on and we all just got up and just started jumping up and down we all decided happy for Jack and that moment and we just knew that that moment like yeah this we're going to the daddy for sure. Yeah.

2:18:46Me and so is a lot going from high school or winning three state championships, I'm a Donna then you know 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 came with the pool of show Monday. The coolest person. I mean you got a lot I can't really say just a specific person you got a lot of great guys recharging the league like oh Del you had guys like Stefan Deakes a lot of other places were just getting cut off my mom but really really them two guys were sure oh Del a step on this. Yeah yeah um I mean like they say they play man so I mean I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no put them so thank you.

2:19:47Yeah. We're going to go back over there. The vice-general had gave me um I said just keep golfers um you uh he I know the reason why I'm here and me y'all like he said just keep golfers and just no keep the maintenance and the best corner I faced this year um I mean I faced a lot of great corners uh I can't really say but yeah I faced a great daughter great corners here really put a name on her. My dream occasion is uh turns and cake goes.

2:21:00Oh good are you. Yeah. Yeah. Uh uh I say both respect and frustration as well um but I mean I doubt they come out there and triple teaming me and they say stick it to what they've been doing our year and that's plan man coverage uh we just ready for the challenge. Uh pretty good group uh Christian Gary 29th is a great corner uh 15 uh Lenard Moore uh two great guys are right there um very physical but you know we all highest never received us so we ready for the challenge.

2:22:05Uh I say just no understanding the defense understanding the defense uh understanding the game plan understand what coach Kelly was trying to get done um I mean just coming in I felt I progress from our first game against Akron to now for I got better each and every week um me being slowed down a lot for me um but yeah really just no understanding differences and no understanding what they're trying to do to me for sure. I'm two guys great part of the best we go see all year for sure um two two physical guys um but you know we're ready we're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man oh man and you know we ready to go on my day. I mean the environment is pretty crazy uh seeing all these cameras uh something I never thought I'd see it in my life but uh it's a blessing for sure this

2:23:07demeanors position right now. I mean we just had a uh prayer prayer uh prayer uh prayer meeting and you know we all they all mean we all discussed the issues because they discussed these issues and you know we just want the work uh I mean not two and a half weeks we had off before Tennessee game and we just came out there um Tennessee game and we played with a chip on our shoulder um all throughout the playoffs and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and uh that's championship on Monday. Do you know how that very uh impactful uh yeah the very impact on my career I should say uh you know just going to his games I was a very young kid seven eight years old um him playing with him playing for West Virginia and they played Clemson Orange Bull down at Miami um me just going out there seeing his games it was like yeah I definitely want to play on the stage and I can

2:24:11wait till I get to know that moment for sure. Yo are you I'm supposed to be uh because they really just in his own his own love space uh he's just walking around trying to get his mind right trying to get his mind ready for the game uh but you know 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 uh go play man gets Ohio State receivers I mean just be ready because you know we definitely go come out there and know uh give our best and I mean they said not to change what they do so we're just ready for the challenge.

2:25:19Not a year later uh definitely sometime my career college uh but not my first year in college I should say um I mean just to be able to be in this position right now is you know a blessing uh just a young kid from Miami to be here and I won't take it for granted I'm ready to go out there andum I don't need a pandemic overall. So why attack up with a bigisons plant that is 99. They jump in there and they 10, so why do you want me to dig in there and take it? What do you want to do? Why fight a bunch of wild Jay. Yeah just hundred off things take a 25% running. A thousand players物 go anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching that game against Georgia. I was watching that game. I was pretty sick myself because I was actually committed at that time. So, I mean, yeah, they left a bad taste in them all. But, I mean, we ready to go out there Monday to redeem myself. And they'll just put a show Monday. I mean, I just laughed.

2:26:36But, you know, that's what they do. They're not going to change what they do just because we're in a higher state. So, you got to go out there and put it on. And then, you know, why not to play Man on Man against us? So, we just got to go out there and show them Monday. Okay. He said again. I'm sorry. My journey here at a higher state prepared me a lot for the National Championship. I mean, just going through everything that I've been through. Now, first guy here, all the Matt Jules, all the hard workouts 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 on Monday. Okay. Okay. Yeah. We just squeezed this. It's been a year and a half.

2:27:44200. Me is big and strong. Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to play. What's your name? What's your name? Yeah, that's great. Yeah. It's pretty good. No problem. So, I think the most essential thing that I say is that you actually, you know. This way, you look at the number of encounters or you think this is a very divine thing. And why not part of the most is the one against Michigan State when I called up a Two Defenders on their son lying.

2:28:44Pudded lie one. I want the one after that I should say, or you go the one against Iowa. Probably the number three, probably my best one, for sure. I mean, just we'll put in the ball in my area and I just know how to make a play for them. Even though somebody was grabbing my face, I just know I still have to make a play because the ball touched my hands. So, I mean, just when the ball is the other thing, I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes at me. I mean, I have to make a play. I have to make a play. I have to make a play. I have to make a play. I have to make a play. After a big game, I mean, we really, they really feel as Chick-fil-A or Pizza after the game. So, it's really either Chick-fil-A or Pizza. So, yeah, probably Chick-fil-A, for sure.

2:29:45Yeah. It went pretty good. Everybody just speaking with their thing is going right in what they think is wrong. We just a lot of the older guys were sitting there peeing on what we need to do to cut the get out of the 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 at a great football right now and we just got to cheer that on Monday. Yeah, Deftly got emotional. Can't really say what really was said because that's not a player's only and coaches only. But, it was definitely some stuff said that people took, people took and they went with them. That's the reason we're playing the way we're playing right now.

2:30:50Yeah, make helped me a lot this year. Him being our older guy in the room. Me and Carl are in the middle of the world and Brendan are all the guys in our room as well. Me, just a great guy as well. It's very smart. I mean, make just been a big part of the reason that I'm having a seat that I'm having at work because he's been a big. You know, older guy been there, been a lot of great guys in our room like Chris Olivegaer, Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson, Smith and Jibba. So, he's seen all the grids I've been through there and he teaching us the right thing and the right way and the buck out way for sure. I love it. That means they don't know what's coming out of the next. We got 12 personnel, we got 11 personnel. You get the 12 of us and you throw one of us and you got to start it off. What have you made of the quarterback stuff for the three of them? Not too much. I feel like they all come in here working. I feel like everybody's making their throws, making their passes, everybody making their corrections. When did you take away the last season? I still remember the next game. I'll be right back. What did you take away from the last season?

2:31:50You got to take away the whole of the game. When the next game, that was it. When the next game, go out there on Saturday, beat the man in front of you, and then came out with a national championship on the Dennis. The strict laws about improving the individual when you work in this game. I'm hoping I'll ever get down trying to get my game as well as my spirit. I'm trying to come up to fit it on. We hear about the leaders and the heroes. I just heard this really about the federal team. The three kids step up who has started to step up and realize what plays in the world. I feel like we've had leaders from last year that came back. I feel like we got new guys that stepped up into their roles and their roles and around the team. That becoming leaders. Being a leader, you always have to be vocal. You can have the same examples on the field. Or you can be vocal. We both. What is it like to have the same guy need more than the last couple of years? You don't do that. I was happy for Gia. I see him out here, grind, and I see him out here. I see him out here, grind, and getting an extra work.

2:32:50There's a ball is ball. We come out here and play ball. He's out here doing a pro day yesterday. I just see him ready to make some real money. What ways do you feel like you're a different player now going into this year than maybe you were last year? I feel like every year I've just improved on my overall game. Blocking and catching, consistent wise. People used that word, but I feel like I'm just overall better. I came in here ready to go. How much does it push you when you're in a room with guys like Max and Will and Bennett that you know you've got to be on your game if you're going to get on the field? I feel like Arya is sharp, but Arya every day. Come in and work and they go push me every day to work. It's just like I'm going to do that. It's not a crowded room. You got Max first. What's your favorite kind of Max? I love him more. I love Max, Claire, Max LeBlanc, both of them. I love him. What's your flashed any time here? Is this the year worth it all come to the other half?

2:33:50I feel like Arya was my year, but hey, you're going to see this year. I'm ready to come out here and put on a show for the Bugatti Nation. I feel like everybody on the field is ready to go put on the show. We're trying to go back and back. You got to play quite a bit though last year, Tulane. What did you pick up from all of that, especially in a championship run? They were counting on you. Honestly, just be ready at any time, honestly. You can be throwing in at any time, just like I was. I probably had some rest while I was just throwing in and you got to get it done. If you don't get it done, they're going to find somebody who has to do it. I think we asked you this year, but you jumped. It's a lot of time to say it. We're definitely seeing what you've progressed. It has a tight end, but all of that needs. I've been here even a year ago. I've been here over the spray and some of this, I feel like I've told them my body a lot. I got stronger in the way we were. I also got a little bit faster so I can get in another brace when we're better. And just the minest part of the game. The middle part of the game, if you got even better in the end, how would you describe that?

2:34:53I said it again. The minest part of the game, you know what I'm saying? Well, I feel like it's a lot more fun. I say the tight ends, we come in here. Five o'clock every other day, we do a walkthrough, more fun. We're just more students at a game now. We're like that. Thanks, man. I feel like it was just a exciting play. I was the last read on it, like the very last read on it. I don't go out, I can't go out with the kiss, so I'm going to get the first down. You know, it was a wonderful one. You're, but I still had a great rookie year. Six yards of carry, you know, things like that. I think it was like nine touchdowns, ten, including the playoffs. And so there's always been like, all right, you guys let me show my talent, trying a little bit, like even when I had the knee, so I had the knee, right? A lot of people don't know, like I didn't get hurt again whenever I got, you know, got cleaned up. So I went down in 21, right?

2:35:54Had the injuries, the knee injury. And then came back later the next year. And I played the first few games and I just feel there was a lot of scar tissue in there. So I had to get it cleaned up. I didn't get hurt again. I could have played the whole year, but I got it cleaned up so I can feel like me. And so after I got that cleaned up, the first two games back from the injury, I had over 120 yards rushing, right? And then went on, had great, great ending of the year. You know, 100 total yards in the play-all game, we lost, which I hate the most. The stats don't matter, me, I want to win. But then come back the next year, hurt again, like 20 kills. So two really unfortunate injuries, but that's just a guy's plan. You know, and I think that the storm is now over, you know, and I do think that I'll be over the shine. I like to the whole world. Are you concerned that you have that label of how you can stand with it? I could care less, because I do, I know this out there. Because as it should be, it should be.

2:36:56I got hurt two major injuries back, not back to back years, but you know. So I haven't been on the field as much as I should. That's true, that is true. But it's not like I'm having these little, little, dinky injuries and sitting out. It's something I can't control literally. So that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury-pone. You can say that, you know, but I do think that the chargers are getting a guy that's going to be healthy from now on. You know, God will it, and it's going to be great. I do think that it's going to be a great however many years here. When you've been on the field, you've been highly productive. Yeah. 5.8 hours of very average for your career. Like, knowing that when you're out there, you're very productive. How much confidence does that give you that really all you need is an opportunity? All the confidence in the world, you know, the way I work. I want to say just from the numbers, but just the way I work, my work ethic, you know, my relationship with Jesus is like, I have the most confidence when I step out there.

2:37:59Because I do know like, if he grants me the health, it's over with. I don't think I'll be, you know, I think it'll be a great year or whatever, a couple of years. However many years he grants me great health, you know, and I think just the work ethic, my prayer, and all that stuff, that's what helps me have that confidence. I think that's what I think it will be there. And they might be higher after this year, you know, and it's crazy to think about it. Because I had six points yards per carry, you know, so we'll see. Is it important to run behind this line that they put together? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I play with Bradley. I play with him, you know, I know Slater, I know all the guys, you know, and I'm excited. I think, like I said earlier, it's a talented group. You know, we just got put together, win some games, because that's what I came through for. I said, don't you want to part of the year or... I wouldn't say part of the recruitment, but like whenever I decided I was going to sign it, it was great to have him in the room. Yeah, but should I bring you to the room?

2:39:00Yeah, we're great. We have a great relationship. He's like my brother. It's not much of a job. I think it complements each other very well, you know. He can do a lot of stuff too. You know, a lot of people think he's just power, power, power, but I think he has some other parts that we've gained too, it'll be great, because I feel like I can do everything. And when one gets tired, we can roll it in, we keep rolling, win some games. When you, the two of you, get going. How do you think this is going to look, the work will be, what will be that partnership that is back there? I know. That's a hard question. How do I think it'll look beautiful? You know, a lot of people call this a passive league, but I think you got to run the ball to win a Super Bowl. You know, if you look at the team to win a Super Bowl, they can run the ball. They can control the clock. And so if we're both good, it'll look great. Beautiful. How do you describe it as a Greg Roman offense? I would describe it as, you know, a great offense.

2:40:04I think he gives a quarter, he's going to give the quarterback a lot of options. He's going to give the running back a lot of options. He's going to give the receiver a lot of options, you know. I think it'll be, I think it's going to be great. He's often going to be amazing. When we talk to him, you know, I was like, why are you going to build something good for Russian offenses throughout your career? Which everywhere you can. And you said that one part of it is just, you got to call the police. You got to call them out of the police. As we're running back, you know, how much confidence, how much you say it doesn't give you, you know, you play collar that's going to stick with it and allow you to end the offense blind and see it to a rhythm of glory. I mean, a lot of excitement, you know, it's going to be like I say, it's fun to play his offense. You know, and I think he does have some good things in the past game too. But like you said, he sticks with the run and that's that's the identity. You want an offense that has an identity, right? You're going to be looking everywhere else to find your identity. You want to have it. And so I think his offense has that. And the guy he builds and puts in there, it complements that identity.

2:41:07So I think it's going to be great. You mentioned you're 100% now. So you mean full goal for training and that's your expectation. Look, I ain't going to answer any of the four if it's up to me. Yes. Look, because I had this problem like three two years, three years ago. I'm thinking I'm full goal. I think I'm ready to go. And then actually you know I'm on PUP. Like, hey, look, some stuff above my prey, pay gray. So, but I don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start. You know, the beginning training camp, but that's not up to me as I've learned. How do you how your people I wouldn't say that I think I've been I've been in some great organizations and I think this. This organization is a great organization and the training staff is great. And so they just want what's best for me, you know, and they're they're taking care of me, which that's what you want in an organization. And so that's where that comes from, which I appreciate it. Like I really appreciate that.

2:42:09You know, because I'm a type of guy like I work really hard. So maybe sometime I'm blind to, you know, the danger of something. So I appreciate it, but like I said, it's up to me. Yeah, I'm out there, but never know. Well, any frustration for you during the getting into the agency, you know, dealing with rehab and not, you know, having a full season of hate or production. You go out there was there any part of that where you're like, I wish I had hit the open market with a different situation. Yeah, I like it. I like how would I say this? I like it the hard way, but not you know, I like it the hard way. I like it. I like trial and tribulations. So, I mean, the dice that I was giving the role was I was coming off a third Achilles. And that was that was the Lord's plan. So it was beauty in that.

2:43:11I was comfortable. I was caught like there was multiple teams, you know, I wasn't it wasn't like I didn't have any other team. But I was comfortable in sitting back and just enjoying the process, letting myself get fully healed. So whenever that team whoever I would sign with who now is a charger is going to get the best me, you know, and I think people all around the league know that like, okay, this guy, okay. High risk, high reward type thing, right? Not even a high risk of low risk because you it's a business, right? So I got hurt last year. So not as much money as he's be throwing that. But I think everyone around the league knows that whenever I am on the field, the numbers don't lie. And so they know that and a lot of teams will like, all right here, you can we give you this, but we want you to be healthy. When I'm healthy, it's going to be great. The chance that I've been giving here, I'm so grateful and I know that's going to be they won't be they won't regret it.

2:44:11Are you the type of person that likes to do people wrong? Like you've done a couple things like the high risk, high reward, injury from, you know, like are you the type of person that really tries to prove people wrong? I hear it. I see it. It's pretty cool. Like you'll never see me unless I'm just like in a bad mood. You never see me like, oh, like if I have a great game or a great year, like I have this wonderful year, I ain't going to go back and you're like, yeah, yeah, what happened? No, because I don't care. Like you're eventually see like I'm like, I'm a guy that's really good. So I ain't worry about that. But I'm proving myself right that I am one of the best and the lead. Right. So forget all the naysayers and people will talk about being injury prone because whenever I have this great year, it's going to be forgotten. You know, so why why give that energy? Yeah, I was, you know, we just with him, you know, he's a great guy. I mean, he was in my class. I remember seeing him. We were at an award show because I was a dog walker or finalist.

2:45:23And I'm like, I've seen him play, but I didn't know he was that tall. Like I didn't know he was like six. So when I first saw him, this was years ago in college. And I'm like, and this is me tall. Like, it's cool though. Like I like I never really got to I don't know. I thought it was going to be kind of, you know, you know, nerdy. But he's cool dude. Really. But no, we'll face to him. It's just because like the last three years, you've been disappointed in the season. So I feel like we put more work in that. That's what we're missing. We're just putting more work in and you just got to do that throughout the summer, the spring fall. And then you've got to show it on the field. What's your view of what's out there on defense and how it may be a milder than do some things.

2:46:25It's kind of just like, I don't want to like high part has to much but I kind of look like a like a legendary defense kind of. I feel like we got playmakers everywhere and then moving sunny down. I think that's a great move for him. He's a big athletic dude. He can play in the box. He can play like safety thing that's just showing him how like versatile he is. And Caleb, you know, you've seen Caleb how he plays. He's an animal. He's only a sophomore I think. And I feel like the guys we brought back, you know, we all can we're all dominant. So I feel like as a collective unit, we're going to be like unstoppable. So confident is a problem. Well, there's a part of that too. And as I mentioned, they're about pacing themselves. If you if there's that much self belief, then there's also that part of going to build depth. In case you have injuries, case of vision. So how do you look at spring in terms of getting guys that are next in line as prepared to keep that standard high? I think you just got to set a great example for the young guys and just showing them how to how to practice how to like watch them, how to take care of their body.

2:47:25Because also the things are going to need to like go on this deep run and think it's like 17 games or something that we're not. We add in games. So the young guys are going to have to play. We can't just play fit the games. The snap. That's not going to happen. So he's got to keep working. Gotta keep running. Give me shape. You played so many. You said that. You said that. It was joke. I'm sure. But like you know, surprising to hear that. It's a company's after you play last year. That kind of take a toll on your last year. I think that you need to push it even further getting better shapes. So you can play all 16 17 games. Yeah, definitely. I got to get way better shapes than I've been. And I felt like. It was kind of like it was a joke. But of course, I needed those snaps because the years before I wasn't really 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 through a lot.

2:48:27One of those younger guys we're seeing it. It's the first time. It's heard all year. What do you see from well? Because. I feel like we all forgot about it because he was hurt. Now he's running. You know, almost a second man. I'll find you and tie. What have you seen? Well, it was a workhorse. He he going to stay quiet. You go work hard. And that's what I love about him. He focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done. Do a job right. Really has any mistakes? What would be a successful season? A national championship? I'm bringing. 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 might be different. Seems like you guys expect a national championship every year. This year even more so. You guys all come back for this. You guys have all decided like an opposite. Does that feel a difference? Or is there not really any difference? It's just the same work. It's definitely a difference. Everyone working harder. We noticed our last run.

2:49:27Most of us don't have any years after this. So we got to go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan. But when you look at what they did, they won the national championship. And you guys took them down to the final minute. Right? You know what I mean? I mean, you were right there. Something goes a little different. You guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey, you guys want to win a national championship. But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year. Like you're that close. So I'm saying we just work harder. That's kind of coach makes a saying, you know, nobody cares. Just work harder. Like those, you know, one plate Georgia is the same thing. Last, last play. You know, they went on the winning ad. 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 title. Of course, it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it.

2:50:27You 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, 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. 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. What do you need it to be to be your best? 80, 85. I mean, I can, it's all on me. I just, I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder. I think it's a little higher. I think it's a little higher. I think it's a little higher.

2:51:31I think the young guys are coming along with us. We can't play for the snaps of game. That's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody's like, online, online. 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. Did you like playing that new snap again last year because 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 moments you know I can go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games like, you know, Notre Dame, too, or North, those kind of games. Of course I want to be because I know I 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 the team? You guys are the second. Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac animal. Y'all, you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows all the time. He's just, he's growing right now. He has a work ethic. He just has to get, you know, in the playbook and things like that. You guys are about the exact same size. Listen, you're both listening to 6th or you're 3.27. He's 3.26.

2:52:36Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, K-Mac, he's going to be a great player. He's just got to develop more and getting to play. So really a lot on you older guys. There's that large group of young guys and then there's these 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. We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work. And we got to get them right, earn all season. So they can play. And not just play. They want to contribute, like, make plays, tackle with sex. It seems like these guys get bigger. Each one of the freshmen class is a bigger, bigger, bigger. And those guys kind of, it doesn't kind of allow you to solve the person. Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of some of the day too. I'm not a pasoan, but throughout the workouts, they've been working hard. You know, they're determined to actually do 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 defensive tactics.

2:53:42You could eat up space, but also move, you know, right? Is that, is that an inquire maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some balls? But also a great team. I think that is definitely. I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners, like team of North, they got two that, uh, detackled two athletic detackles. Look at Georgia. Two athletic detackers. I think that's definitely neat if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about that, they're going to find by the defense attack. It's like, what's Georgia? Jordan Davis and J.L. Carter and let's miss you again. It's Chris Jenkins. Couple more questions. How, I mean, you understand it because you play it, but I feel like some time I don't know. Are people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to? I think so. I think there's started to develop to develop more and more of these like freakish detackles. Yeah. Like in the combine, just now you see in like those guys, they're moving more than four, seven, eights and things like that.

2:54:43So we'll see. And when you think about this freakish attack, how do you think you fit into that mold of that kind of player? Will 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, watch it come on. I watch it. Do the drills. I have tape. You're like looking like my film. So I think I'm up there. You become like a artist. You can batting up guys. You think your legs have your 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 many. I mean as many as I 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 are like just listed. 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.

2:55:43And I guess 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. That's one of the things that you maybe worked on the first. You could bring your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen. Like, oh, that passed me down. We don't have to ask this. We're kind of kind of expected. I think I just have like a eye for the ball, kind of. I just look at the quarterback and just I see him. I load up. I just try to get in his ways. And sometimes he throws it to me. I don't know. I hear it. You're a teacher. You want to be a high school student. You're a bad dumb pass. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better. Big time to grow, you know, you don't have to have the the pig mentality of problem of instant gratification. You know, you can develop and grow. So, and sometimes you may be behind a guy that's a really good player.

2:56:44There's nothing wrong with developing and growing and playing when your time is right. And if the time is right right now, it's a freshman, like what's your name? Did you play early, you know? So we try to also sell that, you know, we care about them as people and try to prepare you for life after football. So it's bigger than just football. We're going to prepare you for life. Whether it's the NFL or on with a regular career in the workforce. We want you to prepare you as a young man and we try to sell that and preach that to the parents. With the remaining having that impact that you mentioned, rolling all these different spots, do you anticipate, you know, there wasn't a lot of rotation among cornerbacks last year when everyone was healthy. Do you anticipate maybe rolling him through the rest guys here with the longer season potentially? Yeah, we play it by ear. You know, I mean, we see how it goes by the time we get in the camp, but you know, obviously he's earning his stripes. So, you know, you earn your stripes, you know, a large opportunity for you. You know, I mean, we have to see how it goes with all the other stuff, you know, once we get closer to the season. And we're getting the game plan stuff, but he's doing a great job and he's taking a great step forward.

2:57:44Tim, when there is the way that you've been building the room, or the way you kind of establish your room now, it seems like it's been like, son of pieces, contemplation, and kind of building bonds. But I'm curious, is that something that you came in, with the, like a couple years ago, with the intention of doing it, or is it something that you're like, that's kind of been cultivated over the course of your time as a physician, both here at the guy food. No, it's been there for a while. I've been doing that for a long time. It's all about relationship. If you develop real relationship and you're authentic in your communication, and you have honest feedback, and you have direct teaching, the guys that have value and character, and they appreciate that stuff, they're embrace that. So, but they have to know you care, and you have to know that it's real, and they have to know that you're really concerned about there. So, you're going to be a young man, and when you get close to him, and spend a lot of time with him off the field, you could coach him hard. And you can say truthful things to him, and then embrace it, and you have real conversation, because you know, the only goal is to help him get better as a young man. As you see, a couple years ago, I think those are the most known list of the,

2:58:45for super-unit so far, I had a quarter of a year to kind of skew that evaluations on high. How's that dynamic change in these two years? Has the scoop gone older and you've been better even more talented? So, I'm bound to stuff a little bit now. That goes with great competition. We go against the best receivers, and call it football. So, that helps escalate your growth process, because if you don't figure it out real fast, you're getting embarrassed. So, that competition, but what happened with that, I guys started competing, I guys started growing, I guys got better, and now it's even up a little bit. So, where you get really good work, at practice today, you know what I mean? So, as competitive, it's fun. Those guys both on both sides of all care about each other, so it's great competition, and they all are real close. So, you know what I mean? It's that stuff that gets us better, that will prepare us for Saturday. I asked Denzel, kind of like that same idea, and said, well, like, first day of practice actually, the receivers kind of got them, because I didn't kind of, but they're waiting to call me, if you could just, if it's... I know, it's just, it's gonna competitive, man. They got the best group in the country, that you're going against every day. So, you have to bring it every day.

2:59:46You know what I mean? So, we got a great quarterback room, we got a great receiver room, the running backs are really good. So, when you, they're going against them, it's deep. So, you have to be ready for it. And obviously, man, we're seeing a lot of good stuff with, with, with, with, stay in Coach Kelly, doing over there, and so it prepares you a lot, and it helps us grow. So, why are you in a room playing kind of an associative for green victory? Is that... Yeah, all of that's because, you know, that's where you get better. Iron shop is iron. So, you know, you get to see that every day of practice. That helps you grow. It's no better thing to go against every day than to see that on a daily basis. I'm also near room massage, Jordan, looking at to play that in the discipline. We just moving a lot of guys around. We watch our practice. We have a lot of guys in there right now. You know, we pop out through a four different guys in there. Obviously, Lorenzo's in there, Germain is in there, Caleb. Miles, we have, we have about four or five guys moving around. Right now, we just try things out and spring ball. See what it fit.

3:00:46You know, see what things work together. So, there's probably some more guys in there. You know, we move it around and try to just get the right fit throughout the N and C. How it goes by time, we get ready to start the season. What's your out about Calvin? He can run any strong. You know what I mean? He's fast. Very serious about his business. He's big. He's 200 pounds. He can run. He's strong. He's conscientious. I mean, he's starting to grow and he's starting to get better with it. You know what I mean? So we look for big things for him in the spring. Keep competing. You know what I mean? Now, he's made the transition competing today. You know what I mean? Start going in that transition is all just like I'm in Germain last year. You throw him in the fire. You let him go. You compete. You go by time we get out of the end of training camp. You'll be them figured out. Yeah, I want to. But now you just throw it all at him. Come compete. Continuing to grow. Continuing to learn. He has the skill set. He has to let. Now you just got to put it all together and it takes time to do that. And hopefully you see that by time we get in the training camp. It seems like it went through spring and kind of clicked for Germain last year and you start to see it perform a little better in practice.

3:01:48Is that like a benchmark for where you want to be by the middle of spring? Does he have to be at a certain point where you wanted to start clicking? Yeah, by time you start getting about two weeks from now that last week, you know, because it takes time because there's a lot of stuff going on. But you know, by the time you get into that last week of spring ball, you look to start seeing the things that you look for show up. And then you know, you get another evaluation again. We'll get into training camp. See if this stuff carried on to make sure we go for starting in September. What's your assessment of growth that you've made down to these kind of got a few under one defense? What do you like about him and that thing? He's very conscientious. He's smart. He can run. He's tough. He's made the adjustment because he's out of Europe on his belt. So now you can see he's not making a lot of mistakes. He competes. He's real conscientious and he has a physical presence. So the growth has been really good and we look to continue that throughout spring. Coach, thank you very much. I asked one more. All the guys to come back like Denzel, the great example. That surprised you as you reflect on all these guys that came back late from the ransom.

3:02:48They could have turned pro. No, the culture here is real. Coach, they does a great job of building the culture. Our room is close knit. The guys on defense are real close. Those guys want to come back. They have an agenda. We want to come back. They want to come back and walk away with something. It didn't shock me. But it's a good environment for them too. That's when you see those guys come back. That's the testimony to the culture that's set here. The brotherhood, the environment. And I coach, they run the program for those dudes to want to come back. Because we go in it. It's hard. It's not easy. It's not easy. What we do. So, in fact, they come back and do that as a testimony to how he runs the program. Coach, thank you very much. As far as intensity, how would you evaluate your games tonight? Yeah, my goal was just to come out and play as hard as I could. It was a little weird last week. For the first time in my career playing a game that doesn't necessarily mean anything in terms of playoff. Contention and I kind of had to check myself. And this week come in with a mindset of every game matters.

3:03:54And we need to put the best product out there that we can. And that's what I try to do. Later now, it was a good push. Or you looked at the working and you worked with cushion, but you retired. You did seem shaken up right after you kind of just talked about what happened. Yes, Sam just tried to get it on it and caught me. It was more of like a stinger type thing. But the ref wanted me to go to the tent. So I had to go answer some questions. How many are home? It was like jammed, yeah, my neck. You are home. I know that you've got a sort of a different helmet. Help to you. Yeah, maybe when it hits the top like that, it's not as good. I think these guys 11 months ago kind of crushed their dreams. Do you get the sense there are kind of a different team or and also that they this was a very important game for them to win?

3:04:54I don't think they're that different. I think they've had a ton of injuries on defense, which hurts them. But the mentality of the head coach, you could see it throughout everybody. It's really a cool team. I could just see from afar that it's probably a fun team to play for. And they've they come out and they play to win every game and I respect that. Put so much emphasis on the ball, all meetings and takeaways. And I think you got two since the by-week. Is there any accounting for that? I mean, there's so many different things that go into a turnover or takeaway. How do you wrap your brand around? It goes into every level of the defense. When you have your opportunity, I know we had two against Stafford. That could have made, I mean, if maybe if we get those, it sparks a bunch of other ones. So you just have to make your make your plays when they're there and then just be in the right spots.

3:05:58And I don't think we've done a great job of that this year. I mean, I think the left side closest to the night, the pool is all pro. Did you want that matchup? What you think about that matchup? It's good. He's a really good player and yeah, I wanted to see where I'm at against him. Have you ever seen anything like the Jameson Williams touchdown or his pop act to him? Have you seen something like that? I was in the tent, so I had no idea that happened. I was playing this game in Mustafa. I'm kind of a misdirection, sprinted all the way across the field to make the play. Did you see the play? I think it was, was it the one Gibbs cut back? Yeah. Yeah, I had like a 10-yard cushion and he ran by me like I was didn't exist. And I tried to sprint and I just was just like, I don't have this. And thankfully Mustafa is a heat seeking missile and he made the play.

3:07:02Did you know what your mindset tonight was? What was your mindset against Miami? I mean, I didn't have the Katie. It took us. I mean, I think we came in with the right mindset as a team. Just myself. It felt a little like dead energy wise. But yeah, it was a learning, a moment for me to learn and make sure that I come in with the right mindset every single week. There's a lot of plays where you guys get to get the whole pass breakups and it'll be like a couple plays the row. And then there's an excellent stuff about what can you put your finger on about the ecosystem? Yeah, I mean, we did get them to the second, third and longs. And then yeah, they would make a big play and you definitely want to capitalize when you back them up like that. We didn't do that tonight and that's why they scored 40 points. I'm sure, yeah, I'm sure.

3:08:13Oh, yeah, for sure. You had guys like Chris Carter, guys like Michael Thomas really new to guys for sure. I mean, Michael Thomas was talking to me before the game with a Rose Bowl in Chris Carter and after the game as well. I mean, just giving me advice, just telling me keep going first and just keep doing what I've been doing the whole year. I mean, I'm got bugger alleged so definitely look at them guys for sure. Make sure to expect. It means a lot of me just to care for Miami. Just be able to play an actual championship as a freshman, something that I dreamed up as a kid and I'm here now and is K-rated. K can't wait to put on a show Monday. He said he got.

3:09:17I mean, the Tissues know like he says may crazy each and every week playing, but you know, can't. Can't let it get to my head. I should say. Let me just football at the end of the day, but you know, just know happy business. Four.

3:10:18Three. One. I go far. It's good. No problem. My mom said, you know, just go out there Monday. Just dominate the person I'm supporting me. You know, just do what I've been doing for the last two to three weeks, I should say. But you know, they play man on man. So I'm just ready for the challenge. I mean, feels good. Just say somebody going out there and playing on man on man gets Ohio State receivers. It's something crazy. But you know, we just ready for the challenge. They said they're not chasing a game plan, but we got to go out there and show them the reason why not the play man on man.

3:11:19Yeah. I mean, I don't really, if I be on the cover, I'd be on the cover. It's not really a big deal to me. It definitely be a blessing for sure, just to be on the cover 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. No, not yet. Probably hit me after this season. No, just no playing in the colors football playoffs as a freshman, planning the roles, both as a freshman, playing a card and both, not in the national championship. I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but they haven't hit me yet.

3:12:19My favorite catch, I would say we play Michigan State the one I caught by two defenders, definitely probably my favorite for sure. Or you go the one from Iowa, I should say, and the answer is a part of them too. I mean, yeah, like you said, it's pretty frustrating me having the game that I had in the Rose Bowl and they're coming to the Cotton Bowl, 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. I mean, when has all I really care about and you got to send out your championship?

3:13:31It 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 pull on the show Monday. First of all, the win is not so championship because there's a lot. You see everything that he's been through this year, people saying he should be fine and this is the third. But I mean, you see everything that he's been through this year. I mean, I've seen everything that he's been through this year, see everything, people saying about him on Twitter. I wasn't here, he first got to hear the coaching job, but I know this year for sure, we definitely got to win this for him. I mean, it's a lot, 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 Steph Radex.

3:14:43It 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. Just keep going, you got it, you've messed up for sure. Really, I really, really that for sure. Like physical defense, like people say, they like to play man, they're not changing their skin. So we're just ready for the challenge. Like you said, best defense, we probably go see all year and we just gotta be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show. I'm excited for Will, him first coming here in Ohio State January our first workout we had together, just everything we did through the season.

3:15:53I'm just happy for him to be in this position right now, but we got a financial job and that's the winning at the Oman Day. I mean, it's pretty funny them saying that because I'm just only a freshman, but I mean, it's a pleasure for sure people to even say that, but I got two, three more years left for Carlos. I'm just focused on cars right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. It's very special for me, just being a freshman, I'm playing the national stage, I appear for national titles, 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 some Monday for you guys.

3:16:55I mean, all of us, we'll just sit on the bench and we just see him hit the quarterback the ball come out and we all just got up and just started jumping up and down. We all decided happy for Jack and that moment and we just knew that that moment like, yeah, we're going to the ad for sure. I mean, it's a lot of, you know, going from high school or winning three-state championships, I saw my mom and dad, you know, coming to Ohio State, just appeared for national title right now. I mean, just so that I've picked two great schools, but I'm happy to be here and I just came with the producer Monday.

3:17:55The coolest person to reach out to. The 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-challeling, like O'Dell, you had guys like Stefan Diggs, a lot of other players in the world just came to my mom, but really, really them two guys will show O'Dell and Stefan Diggs. Yeah, yeah, I mean, like they say, they played man, so I mean, I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no put them so. Thank you. We're going to go back. The vice-general had gave me, I said just keep golfers.

3:19:00I know the reason why I'm here. I mean, like he said, just keep golfers and just no keeping the maintenance 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 corner. I can't really put a name on it. My dream occasion is, Teres and K-coats. How good are you? I'm just curious, I think the goal is to find a good spot for both of them, and then the end of the game. I say both respect and frustration as well, but I mean, I doubt they come out there and try to team me and they say you stick it to what they've been doing all year and that's playing man covers, which is ready for the challenge.

3:20:20Pretty good group. Christian Gary 29 is a great corner. 15, Lenard Moore. Two great guys are right there. Very physical, but you know, we all highest never see, but so we ready for the challenge. I say just no understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what Coach Kelly is trying to get done. I mean, just coming in, I feel I progress from our first game against Akron to now. I feel I got better each and every week. I mean, things slowed down a lot for me, but yeah, really just no understanding the differences and no understanding what they're trying to do to me for sure. I'm two guys great part of the best we go see all year for sure. Two physical guys, but you know, we're ready.

3:21:33We're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man no man. You know, we ready to go on Monday. Yeah, I mean, environment is pretty crazy. See in all these cameras. Something I never thought I'd see them alive, but it's a blessing for sure. This is the main institution right now. I mean, 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. You know, we just want the work. I mean, not two and a half weeks we had off before Tennessee game and we just came out there on Tennessee game and we played with a chip on our shoulder. All throughout the playoffs, and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and that's the championship of Monday.

3:22:34Do you know how to very impactful. He had a very impact on my career, I should say, just going to his games as a very young kid, seven, eight years old. I mean, I'm playing with him. He'll play for West Virginia and they play Clemson, Orange Bull, down in Miami. I mean, just go there, they're seeing his games. It's like, yeah, I definitely want to play on this stage and I can't wait till I get to know that moment for sure. There are you. Because they really just in his own, his own little space. He's just walking around trying to get his mind right trying to get his mind ready for the game. But 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.

3:23:39Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, you go play, man, yes, Ohio State 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. Yeah, you're the person that you see this kind of situation. Well, not a year later, definitely sometime in my career in college, but not my first in college, I should say. I mean, just to be able to be in this position right now, you know, a blessing or just a guy here from Miami to be here. And I want to take it for granted. I'm ready to go out there Monday and give him a call. Yeah.

3:24:47Yeah. I mean, I was watching a game against was a 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, they left a bad nickname off, but I mean, we ready to go out there Monday to redeem myself and just put a show Monday. 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. Why not to play a man on man against us? So we just got to go out there and show them my day. Can you say the game? Sorry.

3:25:51My journey here at Ohio State, prepared me a lot for not just checking me just going through everything that I've been through. Now, first guy here, all the Matt Jules, all the hard workouts 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 on Monday. Okay. Yeah. We just squeezed this. 200? Me, he is big and strong. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's what you're doing.

3:26:51Want to win? Yeah. That's great. Yeah. It's pretty good. No problem. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

3:27:55I mean, just we'll put in the ball in my area and I just know how to make a play for him. Even though somebody was going for my face, I just know I still have to make a play because the ball touched my hand. So I mean, just when the ball and the other thing, I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes out. Yeah. After a big game, I mean, we really, they really feed us Chick-fil-A or piece out of the game. So it's really either Chick-fil-A or piece. So yeah, probably Chick-fil-A for sure. Yeah. It went pretty good. Everybody just speaking with their thing is going right in what they think is wrong, which is a lot of the older guys, what's in their opinions on what we need to do to cut the get out of the team.

3:28:59But you know, that me and Deppley helped us in a big way because it helped us on the field as well, because we played at a great football right now and we just got to shoot out on Monday. Yeah. It definitely got emotional. I can't really say what really was said because that's not a prayer, prayer is only and culture is only, but it would definitely some stuff said that people took, people took and it went with it. That's the reason we plan to, is we're right we plan right now. Yeah, make helped me a lot this year. Him being our older guy in the room. Me help me and Carl Nell as well and Brendan and all the guys in our scene room as well. I mean, make this a big part of the reason I'm having a look because he's been a big older guy been there, been a lot of great guys in our room like Chris Alive, Gary Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson,

3:30:01Smith and Jibba. So he's seeing all the grids I've been through there and he teaching us the right thing and the right way and the buck out way for sure. I was talking about it a lot. I mean, I feel like I had all the offers I think I mean, but I have fucked down like it. It doesn't matter if you hear it, I'm gonna start. What was it like to make that in the sense of? You know, I felt good. I mean, I felt like I had a hard work and I do that spring. I'm teaching at Koli Kee gave me and I just paid off. I didn't know this way. I mean, I came here taking the two deep as a true freshman out of the late and new in the office. I'm two idiots and have a bigger role this year. What do you expect going into your second? You know, I just worked to beat. You know, I mean, obviously, they'll be going, you know, whatever, with having these babies or whatever. I mean, I'm just working just to beat, you know, work my tail off and make a role for my son.

3:31:04I can treat physical. I'm not a lot of people. I got, I would say like, I got a lot more aggressive and I gave some weight now. I'm pushing towards 200 pounds now. I'm not a huge target. Coach Patricia, what have you seen for the day? Now I've always been like real. He's a great guy. You know, I like him a lot. He's a great guy. He cares about his players. I have some football wise. He's a master in the behinders. He has a lot of respect given his football business. He's taught me that I felt so I feel like I'm a fucking loser. Whether it's like the starter or occasional piece of what you expect to see from him, feeling the claim and his bail. I expect you know, just to add value, you know, from a whole team and just make plans. You feel a lot more popular this year compared to last year. Oh yes, for sure. I feel like I'm starting to use the everything here. I feel like I'm just trying to pull off one of the last. You know, I'm just saying that I can make a promise with my players.

3:32:07What? I was going to say, you know, Ryan set up a bigot of a spring, starting to scratch in a way. Not letting too much of the shadow of the national team to play. How was the team really embraced that mindset and say competitive in that mindset? You know, you know, we have one idea so far. So, you know, we're trying to stay determined. And I know just trying to dominate. And I'm learning in the past, and it's like you never been happy with the shadow of another one. How the coach has got to venture their head in the A and B rule. You have to have a beer rule that you're going to hold in. You have to get some reps in another position. Obviously, you know, right now, playing in Scotland for your safety. Just trying to, you know, crack myself and just make myself more versatile for the team. Wherever I go. If you get some more last file, that's bad. Limiting his reps. Obviously, he's limited, like a playoff coach. So, you know, obviously we're making this, you know, and for him, you'd be more, you know, like this is a lot of work. You know, I mean, skipping, skiing better. Thank you. Appreciate it. You know, Ryan, so like there's some stuff, at least we did over there in order to name that.

3:33:09We'll see if we're able to kind of implement something here. I'm sure some, maybe not others, depending on what our guys do best. Probably a time I see Jay, because it's like it's a fresh start. A new set of eyes on him. And I think it's an opportunity to be multiple and use him. And what he does best, you know, or so. That's the exciting thing. You know, when you really studied what coach Patricia has done in the past, is he likes to take like, okay, who are, like who are our players? And then let's build it around those guys. And I think CJ has had a helpful winner. I think he's one of those guys. So I'm excited to see how we create up a new set of sprint. Does that mean you see how to be like, float as more of an edge defender? Kind of differently than you guys do? I think, yeah, I think he has that, I think that's exactly what kind of like, potential CJ has, it's an ability to, you know, get on the edge, move around. The nice thing about that is, is that you're not handicapped just with CJ, doing one thing off the edge. You think you have the ability, because he understands conceptually,

3:34:10zone drops, linebacker terminology, right? You can get really creative with how you use him. But I think he definitely needs to be utilized more as a, just go after the heartbreak, go, go be disruptive. What's happening? What about you? I don't know. I don't know. I'll find out on Monday with you. What about Matt? He's the leader of you guys. This coach is talking to you. How are you? I'll see all the fit with you guys. And how are you seeing that and how to feel about the higher? I love the higher. I had a lot of respect for coach Patricia. Like ever since he worked me a marketsown back here. And what we were talking about that when he first was, and the interview process was kind of how fast time goes. But I'm really excited just to continue to learn. Like I said, like there's some, it's funny, because there's some terminology that when I was at Notre Dame, you can use, and I can at least speak some of his language with what he's called things before. And you're trying to morph everything together right with these things that we've done.

3:35:11What he knows, what he's doing, it's a lot. But he's been incredible with, I think the staff, he's very organized. He's detailed. You'll have constant, clear communication. You know, and they're going to get together at this time, and you're just efficient in your role. And it's been a lot like when you're come from outside and you come back into it, and you have to try to catch him up on the recruiting board. You know, like you have a lot of these conversations, okay, what are we looking for at these positions now? How do you see it? Because you know, under one coordinator, you might see a, the mic line back, it needs to be this, and then under this coordinator, while I think the mic back, it needs to be this. So you have to have those conversations at every position. And you just kind of keep going through, and I'm just excited to learn. I think the more systems, I mean, look, play the system here in college, play the system underneath the Magnolo, play the system in Tim Walden, play the system under Greg Williams, Dennis Allen, Coach of Galagol,

3:36:15and Jim Nol, like, every one of those, there's like different terminology for everything. So you're just, you're learning a different language, Colin Think. You know, I mean, there's just concepts, and I think it just kind of collect over time. What you think is really good stuff, and how you do stuff a big deal of different, and how you do stuff a big deal of different, and I'm just really excited to learn from that. And I'm just trying to success. He seemed very excited over there, talking really to me here. Yeah. Focusing college, which, whatever, so long. What's his personality like with you guys? Yeah. He's been great. I mean, his energy is incredible. He's very, he is. He's authentically excited to be back in the cultural vault. He could tell there's like a yearning to get back to, like, the way you got in the coaching, right, is that impact young people. It's the impact and teach the game of football. And so the future has been fun. You know, kind of like talking to the guys, you know, he's excited to just teach more. You know what I mean? And kind of ironically, you know, similar to a lot of other things that chips at last year, right?

3:37:15Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so he has that excitement. He's done a phenomenal job, I think, of getting to know the players. Just kind of like walking around versus like popping in, making sure that he's in front of them and they get to know him. And he gets to know them and it's a lot. And you can imagine when you come in and you have all these guys, right? And trying to learn all these guys, I'm learning recruiting, trying to learn to staff, trying to learn dynamics, like it's a lot. But he's handled it really well. You know, he's an old school ball coach, so he's a grinder. So he's really good job. James, son, he's probably not going to need to do much this spring. How much more can you get down with the young guy? That's what I do a lot. But in terms of Ryan Dair, he said, you know, 50% or 75% or whatever. How much more can you get down with the young guys when you're not worried too much about the senior? Yeah, I think, I mean, you're always just looking for competition, especially like in spring ball, of mess with all about right here, trying to have it so cliche, but it's true. Like the iron sharpens, iron mentality of

3:38:15you want your run to be super competitive to where, hey, the guy in front of me makes a play. My next set of four plays I go out there. I have the on point, right? And it's a constant driving of the room forward. So, yeah, son, he gets 50 or how many reps off 50%? Remember, coach said that that means more opportunity for somebody else to play. Right? So that'd be more for our values. That scheme flexibility with our value. We're going to pay peers around. And you like all these guys stove. We're all going to get more reps. I think it's great. So we got to do it this point of season. But I think, you know, yes, there's still stuff that the thing that I love about sunny is that he's going to be. Clawed to try to get those reps because he's a he's a true pro. And that's been the most enjoyable thing about working with him is like. You get a kid who's played safety his whole life comes to the back yard. He just wants to learn the why behind everything.

3:39:17And, you know, very similar to the fact of Cody, like, we have guys who are that easy to work with. You're not trying to like not worried about texting anybody in our room. About coming over and trying to learn all, you know what I mean? Like, where you at? You know, like, they're obsessed with the game of football. They're always around when they're not at class. So it's like, it makes it really easy as a coach because they're passionate for the game. And so strong. You mentioned Ceeja in terms of the higher with the map. Just what can sunny like what do you envision more with him with all of that stuff? I think I think we just have a lot of guys with a lot of length. We talk about sunny styles long run or velvete long run. Like, it's crazy because you see sunny. You're like, okay, this guy like. I wish I was built like that when I played and then you see our bell stand next to sunny. You're like. Those are those you know what I mean? And so like, and then you look across the room like as the room warms up, you're like holy smokes like we just have a bunch of guys and that's a lot of credit to make coach make as a phenomenal job.

3:40:20I was just talking to Burma about it like to see even our maybe your guys what they look like when they showed up during the bowl of the whole natty run. And they're kind of hanging out during practice and see the high school bodies to see what they look like today before they go away. And like the shoulders are all like everything is just different and they've been indoctrinated into the brotherhood. So I think you know there's just a lot to work with. So what he's really good at right is like he's talked about it. One year he has junior say out willing to get a smite variable, you know Roosevelt Colvin and those guys. And then a couple of years later he has Brandon Spikes. So he's like okay, I just put his blitz brand in the middle all the time. So he's 260 pounds and beast. You know, he says he was my best nose guard from Mike backer, right? And then the year after that he gets you know got Jamie Collins and Dante high talent. So now we can do a lot of stuff, right? So they're just like, hey, this is what we're doing.

3:41:21We got plenty of people into it. Hey, here's what we got. Let's utilize it. So that's what strength will be. While going to lab and figure out what that means. I'm sure through spring ball, there will be like, hey, here's what we do really well as unit. Because this unit is going to be different, right? I mean, you know, there's a lot of production. So you know, it will be different. So you kind of got to reform your own identity and you are re-earned that civil bullet. Big name and mantra. How many guys can look at our bell and just seem like he's on a very good track. Is that it? What's his ceiling? It's all good. It's just a lot. Right now he's locked in. He's done a great job becoming a leader. Coming out of his shell, I think, you know, I think for Velley, it's all about his consistency and just preparation. And I'm proud of our bell, you know, he's through the season. You got way better at, you know, a lot of it's like little things. Just note taking stuff. Like sometimes these kids are always on their phones and stuff, not like in meeting them or anything like that, but just naturally.

3:42:21So like to get out of pen and paper and like, you hear things and to me, oh yeah, I got it. What you do until your dog tired and then you forget, you know what I mean, but when you really understand it, you know what I mean? Like go play faster. You got so much better through the year. Just a lot of that's because of Cody, like becoming a pro. And now it's like Sonny's pulling him along. He's pulling table on the table on the table and pulling TJ and Riley and Eli. So I can still like, so I kind of love the competition room right now. The way it's made up. Yeah, that was a great path. How many different guys do you feel like can be in that Mike's spot? Three. But that was obviously losing Cody and now having that. I think that's something that's fluid as we kind of go. Because you know, week one Sonny actually started at Mike for us. And Sonny's smart enough to play them all. Our bell is smart of the play them all. Paying tears is smart of the play them all. And it's also like, how did you, like depends on what scheme you're running. Where they, how do they be utilized as well?

3:43:22You know what I mean? So you say Mike, my backer, you know, whether it's Tommy, I could very grow up there. Research two different people and Cody's different from those two. So I challenged to like a lot of the guys that come in. And so you got to learn both the more you understand about the scheme in general. The faster you will play, you know what I mean? Like if I just sit here and I say, hey, I got a lot of Mike. My drop is this. And that's all I need to know. Like, well, no, football happens so fast and all the shifts and motions that like. If you're out there just playing and you're waiting for a call. And you're just reacting like you're so worried about what's going on on your side of the ball. You didn't recognize that the offense is telling you something's what they're doing. So. If I'm out there and also I'm not getting a call, I know what the call should be. It's like, hey, are we playing? You know, let's go. Now listen, you get it. You can look. I can see OK, here's what the tight ends doing. That's what the backs doing. Here's what plays are coming. If you just line up the place of our pass every time, like you know, stand a chance.

3:44:22You got to eliminate plays in your mind by seeing what the offense is doing. I tell you a story every time they line up. They just window dressing. People motion and chance to try to. OK, are they trying to do man's own indicators and they're trying to make sure that. They're getting the same formation. They're on the same place. But they just shift the people and then they motion and they do. And they don't want you to recognize it. So for always worried about what work you don't mean. So the more you know, faster you can play. You're not sitting there thinking, oh, what do I have for you? It's really acting. It's where I know you have. So my challenge to guys like, there's always a no both. So I think a lot of it's just beyond. On depth of sure guys get, you know, if Sunnies only doing 50 to 75% of the plays, then probably more guys get more will reps than they had because we need more will bodies. That's technically where Sunnies started. But we'll rotate them through. Let the production kind of show what it does. And I think sometimes you know, you'll live with some mistakes just from. Did a new spot that you'll be able to judge to like who's actually. Getting in the book, you know, I mean, who's actually studying.

3:45:23How much of a break have you seen from Sunnies this time of year? You know, through the national championship game. And then what's next? Man, I mean, definitely. I know, I know Sunnies big goals and you should. I do as well for him to see how far he's come. You know, first thing kind of stands out is just like his. His footwork has gotten so much better. When you're in the boxes of the linebacker, you got to be able to. Remember loop thickly say it all the time and you gotta be slow. Tell us time to be fast when you're twitching like he is. A lot of times when you're about safety or used to pulling the trigger and rolling. Like you got to learn how to shuffle and not cross over. And he got so much better as a year or nine. Think a lot of people question whether he'd be able to hold up physicality wise. And you know, he was he was great. You know, he's the season guy. He's really good with his hands. He's a really natural ability to snag. We'll keep challenging him. I think he should be a dominant guy in coverage. Like he needs to be a guy that we can put on a tight end and be like,

3:46:23he's not going to be in catch on the ball. You know, me because he has that athleticism. I think we need to challenge him there. Challenge him. I think everything is just miss. It's not just sunny. It's everybody's urgency and zone coverage. I mean, the urgency with you have to break on the football to close that space. The not the ball carrier have so much space on you to cut making miss is critical. I think sometimes he's he can do so athletic that you know, you can get away some stuff. And he knows anything that I'm saying right now. Here he knows. So the best part is a lot of times like he'll come to me before film. And I already said, man, coach on that play. I should have you know what I mean? Like he knows. And the best part is that he's humble enough. Our whole problem is that they just want to be they want to be pushed. And they want to be coached. And so the big heck of a loss could ask for right? Like, how is that like what do you mean for me? Just just keep making sure like you're pushing it. Let me settle. Let me settle. So he's probably the best in the room with that. You look at sunny and our bell. Is it kind of your top of the guys right now?

3:47:25Yeah, I mean, I think going into it, you know, I think it's just accomplished the plan. And whatever play was called, whatever maybe just go out there and execute it. One thing we appreciate is execution is really the motive. You know, I need to be called. But as long as everybody's mindset is has one mentality, which is just go get it. And you know, make sure there's no yard gain. I think that changes the mindset of everybody on this. A row bully defense. Did they feel like big changes to you all as they were ongoing? I mean, at first like, you know, it was a tough loss. So you know, as any felt like everything was big. But then when you kind of just take your time to look at everything and analyze everything, it was just like, man, we just we just need to keep everything simple. Make everything and just just about us. And you know, not like feel like we're making everything about them. It's, you know, we can dictate what they do. And I think that was the mindset. Did they make lettering a row? Yeah. JT, I know you get to watch a little bit of video of Caleb and Nathan and Jordan.

3:48:28What stands out about that group from your vantage point? Oh, they're respected. They're relentless, man. I mean, Nathan, Caleb and I mean, everybody in that BIA core. Yes, they can cover. But you know, when it's time to stop the round, they'll come down 12 yards out. However far off the front line, the script is coming, you know, though the nose in there and I respect them for that because there's going to be times where we need them to make them tackles. And I mean, they're displaying it this whole season. Yeah, how critical are they in a game of this magnitude? Obviously, everybody's critical. But you know what I mean? Yeah. Sort of the last line of the fence, but sometimes the last line of the fence is in the middle of it. Yeah. I mean, they play a huge role. I mean, like you said, it takes everybody from the front four. It's like a check reaction. The front four don't do their job. And you know, it falls, you know, the back end. So we off to work as a collective unit. And I think there's a reason that there's 11 of us out there. And you know, it's crazy. If one person is doing their job, then you know, something can go wrong. But if we just all continue to stay, communication with one another, continue to just lay each other. You know, we have each other's backs and just trust one another.

3:49:28And man, I think that that that performance is going to be off the charts. For the right, Kelly and Stis, WSYF. How would you describe the mentality of the defense right now, getting this opportunity for Greenhouse and Jordan? Yeah, hungry and thankful. I mean, we know how the last time when, you know, we had a chip on our shoulder. I mean, we were right and high before that game and we took that loss. And we came back and had to make a couple changes. But I think we understand what, you know, everything's at stake right now. You know, just fighting to where another house, stage jersey for the next game. That's what's on stake. And just to be able to represent this state and this team. I mean, we understand what's on the line. And, you know, we're just hungry and blessed that we get this opportunity playing the Rose Bowl. Right behind your Adam King, WBNH. What do you remember most about walking off the field in Eugene? What was kind of going on in your mind in that moment? I mean, there was a... I don't think anybody imagined it. Imagine us losing. You know, I didn't.

3:50:29That's for sure. I think after that, it was kind of head deep. I understand it. Man, we still... There's still a lot of ball left to be played. I mean, you can let it sting for a little bit. But, you know, if you let it carry over too long, then, you know, there it goes. There it goes, your whole season by. I think we did a great job of just understanding, coming together in this room right here. Not being afraid of display or hold accountability for one another. And, you know, as that happened, we came back, we grouped, and, you know, we're just going right now. And I'm just blessed for those specific moments, you know, losing. I mean, no one wants to lose, but the testimonies and the things you're taught within those little situations speaks of all of you. After all, right, Vladimir Drow. Jay, what did you see from King Drow? The last couple of weeks, was there like a push from him? And there were many conversations with him, and we can see like he's playing in this vessel, going to see. Yeah, I mean, that's my boy. He's in the R2X club, too.

3:51:31But, you know, Kiyada, I mean, every time his number's called, he goes out there and makes the most of it. No matter where we are in the game, when he goes out there, he's just hungry. He wants to go make plays, and, you know, we see it in practice, so it's not surprising to us. Bill, we're a bit of a mix of points. This back. And then he gave us obviously a very elusive and a talented, and he's not very tall. How important it could be to just kind of stay in your past rush lanes and neglect a lot of balls and kind of make a difference that way? Yeah, I think it just comes out being disciplined. No one who you're playing against, like you said, he's sharply very elusive. I mean, he can, he is making throws. I mean, he get out the pike, he can do everything. So I think for us, we just have to discipline and just continue to just meet with Coach Jay. And just meet with Coach Nose and understand how we can just eliminate that. What's the question about UNJAP? I mean, your personality has seemed to be a little different. You're more on the quiet side. He's not...

3:52:32Yeah. How about you play together four years, both five store guys, kind of describe your relationship with him, friendship with him, and just kind of how you cop with each other? Man, that's my brother, like he said. We're different, but very alike. I think outside, like you said, he's louder and quiet, but once we're on that field, we're like the same person. We'll do anything for this team. We'll die for our players and we'll give everything we got. Room together for four years, correct? Yeah, fall camps. Every room. Yeah, sometimes go over there. So go over there. There's a neat one who's the messy one. We have our share of days when I'm neat. He's neat. You know, we might both be messy, but we do a good job. Yeah, I'd probably say I'm a better coach than Jack though. Tony Gertman, like I hell. When you're playing a team for the second time, and that was almost a season to go by now, how much of... Are you at square one with the scouting preparation or how much do you take into that game?

3:53:32How much do you avoid taking so that you don't have any creative signals to what you're going up against offense on the offense? I say it's pretty 50-50. I mean, that game, like you said, it was a while ago, but at the same time, they elevated as a team, so did we. So we understand that they had... they made some changes for sure. There's a certain tendency we can take back from that game, but we also understand that they went on a little run after that. And we can see that they elevated as an offense. So we just got to continue to watch those games, dissect other games and just continue to see what stands out and what they change from the past game. We got a couple calls on Zoom that will wrap up with... first we have Nick Hamilton from Nightcast Media. Nick? I just wanted to ask you basically about the synergy of this defense and how you guys were able to not only celebrate the triumphs but get through the adversity, be able to be this top-notch defense that you are in college football today.

3:54:34Here, you have the question one more time. Yeah, no problem. I want to ask you about the synergy you are able to develop over the course of the season, obviously celebrating the triumphs, but also getting through the adversity to where you are all the top-notch defense that you are today. Yeah, I mean, like you said, we went through a lot of trials to trials, but there's also... there's a lot of things we can take away from all the wins and losses. From those wins, we understood that we can be the best defense in the country and from those losses, we understand that there are still things that need to be fixed. I think when you take all that in at once, it comes down to the common talk, which is... there's always learning points everywhere. And depending on how we dissect those games or how we just continue to come as one and elevate, we continue to just collect all those learning points and just continue to grow from them. And one final question. Joey Coppin, Columbus Dispatch. JT, what have you guys done better in the Tennessee game and just late in the season, you think about turning some of the pressures that you've got on the quarterbacks and the sacks and getting home in some of those situations?

3:55:47Yeah, I think it was more just understanding the defense as a whole, understanding everybody's job. The thing is, as the season went on, we had to understand that we have to know what's going on in the backhand. We have to know what's going on in the linebacker crew to understand what plays we have room of freedom. And I think once we understood that and got a better understanding of everybody's job, I mean it showed this play because everybody knows what each other is doing. It's not like the linebacker knows what they're doing. The corners and B.I. they know only their job. I think we all know each other's job and we continue to ask each other questions on their place and how they can get to the quarterback and if I'm dropping the playing quarterbacks by I can ask Cody on how to open field tackle. So we just kind of lean on each other's understanding because like I said, Denzel knows how to play corner better than I know how to play corner. So he has more wisdom at that position than I do. JT, thank you very much. More and more.

3:56:48Can health similar will you will be in terms of playing with what you did at Denver? I don't know that yet. I kind of just mentioned previously. I don't know my role. I don't know the engine out yet. So once we'll get know through the protocols and NFOPA, we'll talk about know the schemes and everything. Right. So welcome when you were in Denver in the three four, where did you find yourself most comfortable most effective? I played a lot of different positions in Denver. I mean, early in my year, I played zero. I played three to one. I mean, I definitely more comfortable in a shaded position, mainly being a three technique and five technique. That's why I found myself to be more comfortable. Whether I'm standing up or I'm not, whether it's runner or pass. I think I know that those seem to be my best, my best fits. And what is your impression of peak carols defense and whole environment and Seattle from afar? From afar, it seems like he holds in on a defense a lot. I can't really say too much about that.

3:57:49Yeah, I don't know. I know peak carols very little. So I'm just trying to figure out more and I'll give you a better answer later. What's the reputation around the league? Hard knows, hard hat type of team. Definitely on a little more lack side as opposed to being a stuck up or military style. Which is definitely good because this program is one of a lot of football games. They've been super successful for many years. As long as I've been alive and as long as I've been watching football. And definitely this has been a good program and peak carols have been a hell of a coach for a long time. I can remember him back in his college days. So I'm looking forward to experiencing that. So while I know you said you don't know yet what your role can be, what kind of player are you that you don't understand? Do you have a watch on the camera? What kind of player does he have to get? Definitely a high motor. Definitely not a one trick paring type of player. I like to attack. No, whether it's first or first to before now. I like to attack. I'm always on the ply pressure.

3:58:50I'm definitely just a high motor guy. My opinion. Maybe. I'm pretty Anderson for me. I spend nice to meet you. This is not a team that really makes big splash sign in this in brand new. Did you think going into it that Seattle would be in play? No, not at all. It's kind of like being a kid at the candy store here now got a whole bunch of different options coming at you here in a whole bunch of different crazy things. And you know, you only get to choose one and this is the place that we both chose each other. And I mean, I'm loving Seattle so far. I like these colors. What, what did you got to do in Seattle and see some season? Not much. Just kind of just drive around the city exploring. Get down to the market a little bit. I want to get on the Ferris wheel do some more like touristy type things. You know, I'm new to the city and I got a lot to learn about city. Yeah, there's been a lot of comparisons with you to Michael Bennett.

3:59:50I wonder if you know Michael Bennett at all. I know Michael Burr, but I'm besides his style of play. But I'm honored to be considered and it's the same conversation to him in a style of play. You know, he's a Hall of Fame type of deep lime and that I've known about. So I was a kid. I mean, last time he played here, I was in high school. So, you know, it's cool to. It kind of came full circle a little bit watching him on TV. And now I'm being kind of compared to him in a way. You know, I mean, I'm not touching the surface of Michael Bennett. You know, he's a Hall of Famer and I'm not there yet. So, you know, I just have to keep doing my due diligence to be a better player. Hey, dream out. Welcome to Seattle. I know you get to play several seasons for big fan geo and three four style defense. And Seattle's playing a similar system now to back to last year. I have a defensive line and one of these things is most important to be successful in that system. Maybe fundamentals or just playing style to be successful. Um, just from what I learned being gap sound and being patient has always been the biggest thing.

4:00:54And that's how we've been successful when I was in Denver. Just kind of like relying on each other. I know that sounds kind of cliche, but like this kind of like the. The realm of being in three four defense. You got to really really rely on the guys behind you and the guys on side of you to really make their. To do their job to make your job easier. Bob. Yeah, dream up. You're a, you're going to have a state class that you didn't start playing football to you. You're in high school. You know, why did you play basketball so that next? Just, uh, what made you know, I guess I had to go play football and then with that, I heard this. Is there at all the kind of way from basketball? No, no, no. I'll always love football first. Uh, it was just kind of just planned it out. You know, I love to who, but you know, football was definitely about calling and giving. I was a 265 pound powerful and I was like six, three, some change. So you know, I kind of chose the route that you got to give me. No, I'm not six eight. My. Yeah.

4:01:55I'm looking at something. I just, uh, I just, uh, I just talked to you a bit about that. Uh, I think the same with you. You know, I was kind of out for years. You and I were more on that. Um, just for a standpoint, like I always get like over, over shadowed, overlooked, whether it's, uh, and something, you know, I was saying like, I feel like I do a lot more than what can be, uh, seen by the, the eyes of the inexperienced, you know, scout. And I do a lot of different, different dynamic things that help make place for others. You know, I'm definitely an active player. I'm always doing something, whether in a run or pass game. So, you know, I think that goes on. Sometimes and, um, I'm looking forward to playing people on notice. Brady. What, uh, what do you like to do outside of football? I'm a bit gamer. Um, I'm definitely, I've been getting to a lot of chess lately. So I just to expand my brain. I'm trying to get into reading, but if it's not supported related, I, I really not interested in reading that much,

4:02:58but mainly just video gaming in chess. And then when we write and say your name, do you prefer Drainmont? Uh, I mean, you can say, you can say Drainmont Jones, I mean, but like just, I feel like personally just call me Drainmont. Because people like to f my name, but like a lot, and they call me Drainmont. I tell you, I don't know why you put a Drainmont, tell you my name or Drainmont T, whatever you want to say, I just go by Drainmont. Thank you. All right. Michael Sean. Hey, Dre, what's specifically you bringing to the C-Law as a past wak? Uh, some of the new era of the past question, you know, someone who's on a little, a little lighter side of the average Drew technique, and bring that explosiveness, that quickness, uh, someone who's great with their hands, someone who's very extensible, and someone who's a go-getter when it comes to the run-and-pass game. Appreciate it. Yeah. Hey, John Boyle. Yep. Jerry Jones, that I said after the Drain, or after the signing, you actually got to date, they wanted them to trade last year, and I still have to trade that Denver said no.

4:03:59It was that time you were aware of it all? Yeah, I was aware. I mean, like, shit. Maybe Flatter, and they want to be even like that? Yeah, I am Flatter. I mean, should I just trade it from the jump? Uh, but uh, it was cool to, I guess, a kind of came full circle for Seattle a little bit. I was included into the trade and Denver said no, and then Denver got a, I don't want to say that word, but Denver didn't pay my part of respect, so I'm here, because they respect me from the jump. Hi, anything else, guys? Thank you. What are things doing? We're all learning, so, um, it's been really good, so. How much were you talking to Kayne as you got here, and kind of going through that first year? Obviously, he's doing his own thing, but just, what this is all like? Yeah, I think having him go through the whole process has been a big thing, you know, kind of having, you know, him in my corner, just to, you know, talk to him or call him whenever I need. You know, we still talk a lot, and I have some questions whenever, you know, so, you know, I first got here, he was still here, you know, training, everything,

4:05:03but he had a fail, so, you know, it's been, you know, like, I have him whenever, so it's like, what's it like watching him now in the NFL with the Texans? You guys not seeing him know pretty well, doing, and living out his dream. Yeah, no, it's going to come. And the super happy form, you know, he's a down there in Houston, you know, CJ and everything, I think he, you know, he really likes it, so, you know, I'm excited to see what he knows this next coming year. Just how different your career was, and if you had a college student, you'd get a couple of, you know, that and all the second, just wonder if you feel that I'm different, just to remember what you're doing. Yeah, I think you kind of realize that, you know, this is, you know, this is your life, you know, you got to, you know, come in here, play a high stage, like playing with the best ever since the day. You know, you got the time and, you know, you got to, you know, make sacrifices, you know, to, you know, what you want to get out of it in the end. You know, along the fight, you know, school just, you know, live on your own, you know, it's good for you to teach us a lot, and, you know, as you get it, it just makes you better overall. Did you graduate from here, what you're doing? You have got like Riley and he's the interviewer, and you know, you guys, you know, I was like, what the big dev role now, but you have got to, you know, what kind of players and players you're told, you don't even have to, you know, off the game, you grow, you know, that's what I'm doing.

4:06:16Yeah, I mean, just kind of, you know, just shown the way around this building, you know, just, you know, how, how we do it here at the highest day, how we operate. You know, they, you know, I think all three young guys coming in have done a great job, you know, they've, you know, great work ethic, you know, I think, you know, for me, you know, the offseason, it was more like a, you know, example, kind of thing, and, you know, a little bit of, you know, vocally, and there as well, but, you know, just kind of work with them, and, you know, kind of showing them how, you know, build a guy and how we do things in the room is, you know, definitely care it on to them. Being a part of that championship round last year, I guess, what did you learn from that one thing went on? You guys went on, I guess, what do you learn about? Like what do you think? This is just a level. I would just say, you know, staying together, you know, our biggest thing was each week was just trying to keep that group together each week. You know, I think last year we had such a strong bond together, you know, with all the guys.

4:07:16I think that was really the motivation, you know, just staying together and, like a, like a band of brothers. James has caught you down the pass. I think you have been deciding in our village, you know, kind of made that 2G, but James has caught the pass on the map. You're playing well, you're making plays, you're making plays, you're making plays, you're making plays, you're making plays. You're going to play playing well. You're going to be doing things you're doing, how are you pressing this stuff that approach you though? You're not going to launch those guys you're going to use, you're making a play, you're going to be playing well. You're going to be playing well. I mean, I think, you know, just starts with, you know, coming out of practice every day, you know, put your head down, just making sure you're going hard, never should go play. You know, you know, if you're doing, you know, if you can build that trust. But I think, you know, just having the guys around, letting them like sunny, hard-vail, paying, you know, you know, who's, you know, been in there, you know, playing in games, everything like that. You know, to lean on and, you know, ask some questions and stuff. So, so you're ready. Where you sit down? I'm like 227. It's still 225 right now, but I think it will come up to like 238.

4:08:17So, get a little more. Greatness, Michelle. Do you want that to be a little sense of urgency to be part of that 2D to provide depth or maybe more than that this season? How do you go into your 2D? Yeah, I mean, I think all right now, kind of focus on it, just getting better someday. I think it's kind of what it springs for is, you know, individually just, you know, continue to perfect your craft over some day. Before that's a technique or a scheme or whatever it would be. But, uh, yeah, I mean, I think that's, you know, definitely, you know, something in my head, you know, obviously, you know, came here to play. So, I think that's definitely a big thing. I think just saying I had the chance and getting past those third downs, converting on those third downs, I mean, that's what we got to be better at. Um, within the day, we got to put them in zone, we're not doing that, we're not doing our job. Are you guys creating more explosive plays as an offensive player? Right, I think you stick with it. You know, the explosive plays are going to come and now we've got to trust that and they'll be there for us for sure.

4:09:22So, the top scents has been here for high as and lows over the many, many years he's been with this program now. What sort of his message to your group right now, or when you're turning to him, what is he saying as far as how to get through this? Yeah, so I think it's just really just coming and attacking every day as you would, um, regardless. And, you know, staying, staying even, even through hardship and attacking, attacking it the same way every day. That's really all you can do and you just get a little better every day and see where it takes you. Based on the way things are already we're setting up, but then also the way, um, Jason Simmons was calling the game on Saturday. It seemed like tight ends are going to be a big part of this as you guys are trying to pull out and what role do you think you guys are going to have in trying to get this offense? Yeah, I think we, I think the role is always try to help the offense move the ball and, um, whether they were called upon to do that in the past game or the run game. We just got to step up and do our job at a high level and whatever you asked from us, we just got to do it at high level and let the offense go.

4:10:25You're some of the leaders on the offense. Some of the leaders, I would say Gus is a big leader. I mean, he's been doing it for a while and I, and it's someone that everyone trust, um, is going to do his job at a high level. And I think we have Hudson's a good leader too as well. Um, obviously, it's a quarterback. So he takes on that leadership role and, um, I think we just have a good amount of leaders that, you know, throughout the offense. We were told George might be fairly close to getting back what we mean to get him back in the mix with the tight ends. Yeah, it'd be great. I mean, George is a great athlete. So having him out there can only help. Um, you know, we're really excited about him and what he can do on the field. So it'd be great. They don't care about that up here. So, you know, it's developing yourself to have a great mindset early, you know, having that grown man mindset at 18 years old. It's really important because my opinion don't really care about feelings. So it's about, you know, just coming up here, you know, being a man that you think you are, you know, having to go out there and, you know, prove it.

4:11:26David, what's been the easiest thing in the most difficult thing about your transition years so far? Uh, the easiest thing, I would say, I mean, it's really not easy about this, you know, coming to the top program, I think, you know, especially coming off from national championship. It's really not easy, you know, they're pushing for the same thing and they're trying to go back and back. So I mean, we just got to come up here. We got to step up. But the hardest thing I would say, you know, just, just having to grow up, you know, going from high school where, you know, I've been the man there for three years. So I mean, coming up here where you started the bottom again. So I mean, I told my parents this all the time, like, you know, I think my history is repeating itself because when I went into high school, the high school, I went to her a powerhouse. So I was at the bottom there and had to work my way up. And I feel like that's just repeating self here. And I met the bottom here, you know, I put myself at the bottom. So I have to work my way up to the top. And so, you know, just going to get these guys, they're competing every day. You're not going to get a day off where, you know, she was just coming out here just to be essence. So I mean, you got to, you got to be able to be secure all the time. So you see what a guy like, sorry, when you see what a guy like JJ did last year coming in here playing immediately, is that inspired you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman?

4:12:35I mean, definitely, you know, just just what he did last year is a true freshman, you know, him being able to play an impact team like that. Obviously, I want that for myself. So you know, I'm going to push myself to that limit, you know, try to be on the field here when that's my plan. That's the biggest reason I came here because I have an opportunity to play here one. So me having that opportunity is good. And, you know, I'm going to come out here and compete. Like I said, I'm putting myself at the bottom. So I'm working, I'm going to work every day like I'm at the bottom and I got to get to the top. What do you feel like it's going to take for you to get from the bottom to the bottom? You know, just discipline. They're big on discipline here and, you know, competitive and excellent. So it's just staying consistent every day, just doing the rights, having little to none, mental errors. That's going to give me on the field. And, you know, I do, I do what I'm supposed to do. That's, that's how it'll give me on the field. How do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one on the season program? How do you manage people basically? You know, I don't really let, let me get to my head because, you know, like I'm here, you know, I got dudes in the room that are, you know, like IGB, you know, he's three or three years start.

4:13:42I got to main personal American, you know, he's going to play this year too. So I can't let what people say on the net, you know, get to me because, you know, anybody can say, oh, he's going to play this year. But you know, I actually got to prove it. So I just got to come out here, you know, work, you know, and that spot. What's the most important thing you've learned so far in your three months here? Um, competing every day. That's, that's the biggest thing. Having to compete, you know, these guys appear. They take winning and losing to heart. So, you know, my first, my first week up here when we did our competition, you know, I was winning, did I actually, I got that first loss on my belt and, you know, it kind of opened my eyes to like these guys take it to heart when they lose. They don't like it. So, you know, I kind of got that now where I don't like losing. You had the opportunity to be around the team for that, you know, CFP Ron. What did you learn from just those few weeks seeing this team make that run? You know, being real tight with your brothers, you know, they're real tight. You know, they, they push each other, you know, it's a real brotherhood. They don't let nobody down. They always got each other back.

4:14:42So, I mean, it's a new team now. So, you know, we got to build that chemistry with each other, you know, just, just get tight. And I feel like when I was there for that playoff running and I practiced, when they were at the National Championship, you know, I just got to watch, you know, how guys are, you know, real locked in. They're close with each other. They're not letting nobody slack off. And, you know, I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now. How did you handle Luke? You handle that first lock? That first lock, you know, it kind of got to me. It was the IGB, you know, he, you know, he let me hear. So, after that loss, I was like, nah, I can't let this happen anymore. It's because it's like, now it's not high school where you used 17, 16 years old. And if you lose, you lose. Appears, nah, if you lose, the coaches see that. So, and they're going to see how you respond to it. So, I feel like I had a hacker, you know, open my eyes. I had to go and lock them. Like, yeah, I can't let this happen anymore, you know. So, I got to grow up. And, you know, these guys are counting on me too. So, it's really important that I don't lose. If you hadn't described yourself as a competitor, how would you do that? I'm a great competitor, you know. I like winning. Who doesn't like winning? So, I mean, winning is, it's in my blood. You know, my parents taught me that in a young age, you know, going after competing for anything that you want.

4:15:52And I feel like if you can go out there to compete for, you know, as years. And if you compete for it all the time, who don't take it from me. So, I mean, I'm a good competitor. I'm always going to go out there and try to take what's mine. If it's out there, then anybody can have it. I'm going to be the one who doesn't get it. There's some role markers in your room, obviously. Are you a talker? What would your natural resources go? Yeah, I mean, it could come out on you, you know. But I don't really, I really know my game, but I'm talking for this part. But, you know, if it gets there, it gets to that point where, yeah, I can bring it out because, you know, regardless, I'm not just going to let nobody just come out here and just, you know, catch balls on me. So, if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently getting TPUs, yeah, I'm going to talk. But, you know, being in that room, you kind of got to talk. You know, the Jame, you got IGD, you know, those real talkers in that room. So, it kind of makes you want to bring it out. And, you know, when you bring that out, that just brings energy out of the whole defense. And when you got the whole defense clicking, I mean, you can see what happens. Is there anyone that's kind of, like, a competition you have? It was during the winter. We were doing, you know, just stuff on the field. We was just, just having the time of the field. Just a lot of competitions.

4:16:56So, I mean, he just kind of, it was a day where, you know, they had us going up against just a freshman. And then they kind of threw us in there and fired against the older guys. So, we had to, you know, we had to wake up and, you know, we all kind of lost. And then we all kind of, like, we all kind of came together as a freshman group, like, what are we going to do about this? Because, you know, some of their kind of nuts to step up in those roads. Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely my work in college moments. You know, you know, just showing that, you know, it's real now, a metal high-oh-state. I'm not in Houston, Texas, I'm more in my school. Far from my family. You know, I got to wake up, I got to grow, I got to mature fast. And, you know, I just got to get ready for the next level. You've mentioned high school a couple times. How did, you know, grow it up there in Texas, playing at that level. How do you feel like that helped you prepare for a high-stay? I feel like you prepared good, you know, I feel like I went to a powerhouse in Texas. We obviously ran the Houston area. You know, we've been running the Houston area for a long time now. And I feel like, you know, we're a real college program. We live just like these guys who do the same lifts. You know, the level of ball I play, the highest level ball in the Texas 6A.

4:17:57You know, we're going against guys like Dunkin' Bill, no crowded, those top schools, you know, receiving the Korean War against them. I want to get some three times in my career. So, I mean, those that really prepared me for this level, you know, coming in like, okay, this is not where it's a little school where they don't believe that I can come here and make an impact. I came from big schools, so they're counting on me to make an impact because, you know, I think, I mean, everybody would say Texas is one of the highest football players in the country. You know, they go as Florida and they're probably Georgia. So, I mean, they're counting on me to be ready and that level of ball prepared me real, real well. How'd you do against the Korean War against them? You know, it was when, when lose, when lose. You know, I went something he lost something. So, I mean, it's just getting better, I'm not sharp and higher because, you know, he's the top receiver, obviously, in our class. You know, I feel like he's going to have a good impact at Oregon. So, I mean, it's just, it's just, it's just, what's going to happen next? Looking forward to seeing him again? Yeah, definitely, definitely. I'm not planning on planning against him. We don't, we want to see him this year, hopefully we'll see him in the big team in the championship.

4:19:01So, you know, I want that rematch, you know. W, you committed super early in the process six months after that. You shut things down when, quite frankly, someone of your caliber didn't have to do that. You could have, you've seen kids play the game a little bit longer than that, but you chose to not do that. Just kind of lock it here. Why? You know, because this was, this was, this was where I felt this was home. You know, I didn't really feel like, you know, standing Texas was a good thing for me. I didn't, I didn't feel like that was home for me. Up here, I just felt like it was home. You know, because of all it, because they, you know, they're making it, you know, making me feel important up here. And then, you know, like you could ask, because what, how many times I came up here? Throughout my high school career, I came up here 13 times. So, it got to the point where I was knowing guys on the team. I had the numbers just like that. I'm not coming up here. You know, I don't got to always build the coaches. I can go chill with some of the guys on the team. So it's just, just me, you know, knowing what I want to put in my college ball, you know, knowing what I felt like it was home and then, you know, it was also my parents too. You know, my mom being, you know, feeling safe that, you know, I'm up here, you know, I'm handling the business and not having to worry about me when she goes to sleep.

4:20:08I've been in practice. You had for you and I think this is the other last thing I just said. Coach Hardin in the room, Coach Droner in step up and he's helped us out. Everything we do is a big help. And I just like make sure we stand up and stuff. We're just talking about stepping into a big role in the slide. How much do you watch while I like that every day trying to take things, whether it's preparation, stuffy, those on the field, just learning from a guy like that? Yeah, every time I watch, every time I watch him, so I just, so I have to take some of this and I had it to my hand, and I'm writing a lot just to take some of this. All the receivers, yeah, they always help me out on it. There's lots of life walking into this room, so the civility and the tires staying with all the history of the yardies smiling. You know what it means to be a part of this room. What is that? It's a big step. It definitely holds a lot like a shoulder. So you got to get a big quick. It's definitely a big dream for my team.

4:21:11It's never been to a lot of, I'm blessed to be here. You won that. Yeah, that's why you come. That's why you come here. What's the other thing that I'm advice you got from some of the workers that has already, even before Springgolf starting to talk to the Mecca, some of those guys that you're not? Like, try not to take everything personally. Like, I'll say, like, you know, time will come, we'll make a comment, try to make that play. And I'll be looking forward to it every day and I'll be staying up late, but because that's actually going to get you to find your life and find your name. I like to. Yeah, yeah. As you got pregnant, you was a guy who had a weight in his last two years. You were able to get this opportunity to be a part of him. How much is patient to require him to? Obviously, you've got to get off the field. But how much is patient to have an important child? I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Everybody has the same amount. So, some people always have a written term, but you just got a, me and me. Like I say, a little bit of time. You just got to make that play. And it's going to go on from here.

4:22:14Awesome. Thank you. Let's actually make it to you know, I still like it. You know, every since just getting off it from here, my life has just gone. Skyrocket. It's a bit bit. I just told you it's a bit. I mean, I just want to get this to you. I mean, I just want to get this to you. You got to come here and get there. I'm curious about how you get your life and change things. How do you get this to you? It's pretty good. You started to get a lot of good things, but I mean in terms of the type of things you want to join, how do you get to life? Test you to hard. You're not missing lots of life. You're testing your customers from your campus and your customers. You're being sure. Great, great. Great. This is more what you want. How about a quarter back in your class? Like a white class? How do you get this to you? To your missing test to hard. How do you get this to you? I'm made to get one of all of the tests. I've got to do this with guys. You know what? I was just going to tell you that you're actually just trying to see if you can see it.

4:23:14So that's what you want. You can just be able to see it. I hear it. I was wondering if you guys could come up to me. What do you want to do? What do you want to do? What do you want to do? You can see me and you're seeing it. What do you want to do? I'm going to test it. I'm going to go back to my class. Thank you, brothers and sisters. Thank you very much. Thank you very, very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What's going on here? What's going on here? This is how I'm going to be talking about this. I tell you, about that. I'm going to test these long-term tests. I have to understand how I'm going to perform. This is the first time I met you. I know we just found you really good. So what do you think people are going through this project? So like there's a lot to be done with.

4:24:18What's going to be between California being out of touch with it? There's a lot of people like me who are helping us with it. So it's different being out of state recruit here. There's a lot of people out there who are definitely different. So five years. The new generation of recruits where I don't think anybody outside of the community has questioned this is the strength of your commitment. Like you locked in the last eight and set it over and over. But you're making visits around the country. You see other schools. It's almost a totally different mindset. What's that code to be able to ask that? How do you approach those other visits? And how do you communicate with Ohio State about them? What's been the message? I just like to know that I'm always locked in. I'm still enjoying buses. I'm just totally having one time. I'm just doing it.

4:25:20The other school that's out of line. Yes, we really are trying to get to the flip. So how do you say it? What is it that's made you want to take first place? I'm not going to put out one specific thing. Did you have any of the key guys to find yourself in the first three? Did you get frustrated in moments like that in the both? Definitely. A little bit of both. Obviously I just wanted the team to win. I think we got a chance to win. Definitely towards it. And then it stretched out last drive. I was a couple of plays here. A couple of calls that you made me should have gotten. I think the frustration more so it just comes from no one's going to win or anything. What did you say he was a little surprised? How much attention you got right away from the defense? How about you? Yeah, definitely. We maybe gave him more one-on-ones kind of how the game plan was set up. You didn't have a lot of different coverage out of cloud to my side. I just kind of had the game go. What's the process been in the election times where whatever reason just see that?

4:26:20Definitely. Especially in college, a lot of the game fans defensively were taking the away. You know, we had a lot of success. I was able to stay out of the game within one of the ball having different weapons. They're kind of still getting the victories. And I was able to continue to do better jobs when I hear. Why are you taking the rotation? The process has been like post game getting on the same page with Kyler. You guys exchanged text or you guys getting the film? Yeah, the film from deathly. Kind of asking what did I see there? Kind of go over a play? And I just kind of give him what I saw and kind of different feedback there. Mark, I get it. Mark, I get it. We're asking questions about the previous game. Are you the type of guy to let a game like that winger or how do you flush it? You got to move on. Got to move on. Some long season. Got like 16 more of them. Hopefully, no, I can stay healthy throughout the year and just continue to build and get better each week. You guys did so much work throughout the off season to get on the same page. How different is it when you get into that regular season? Yeah, it's totally different. It's totally different.

4:27:20You can do a lot of things, you know, inserts and shorts. And then once you go out there, put practice and get pads on. You do like the point practice you get with the colds. But there's nothing like actually going out there and live action. And really trying to be on the same page. So I think that relationship will continue to develop and develop. Is that it? It's just a matter of what's left as much as anything. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Like I said, I was kind of my first live action together. So I can continue with it. What are your early impressions of it? I'm on the field together and I'm in the presence of what's happened. Yeah, but now obviously I have a death certificate respect, you know, JG's call or preseason. And obviously, we all feel really healthy. That's kind of the best and most important thing. And obviously, that will help you even going forward. So, um, that's it. Marvin, what are your early impressions of the Rams? What do you think of the Rams? Yeah, I mean, they're a good team. They're a good physical team. I got a new, a lot of new guys up front, I think. That's kind of where they're strong to it is. Kind of a little different to Buffalo, come over to a little match coverage. So I'm excited to go against them.

4:28:21Personally, when the bells did give you one of them, how do you feel today? I was getting a little bit of a good fight. Wasn't many of them. Wasn't many of them. So, uh, I thought I needed to get... I'm just what you think versus just playing. You know, not getting any preseason game action. I think it's the most three season. It's definitely, definitely thinking a lot out there. I think I'll come with reps. I think to think and less, you just going out there and playing. Definitely come with reps. And it's something you know, I'll get better at. But, um, definitely say I was thinking a lot out there. Is there anything you can do to prove that that's from coverage? Anything you can do in the past, because you're going to face that a lot. Yeah, I mean, you just got to team, get open for yourself. Make yourself available. The one the ball does, can be made, making the play. Um, this. He's just taking you away. That means other guys are having a chance to get open. So, that's how kind of high it is. You know, long versus 16, you know, offense. That's the best thing for us. They're continuity with Tyler. Is this something that comes pretty quickly? Are you mean, or is something like that? I'm not sure. Uh, hopefully sooner or later, I think. Um, I'll look into the team to see.

4:29:22We'll see. I don't think we're in a bad place right now at all. Obviously, I don't really think that. But, uh, just the live reps will continue to grow and show. It's a little about life. It's like, it's like, it's like, it's helping us. Like, saying what coach, GM coach, what? Everything's not always about ball with them. It's about like, focus on like, become, how do you become a better man? A better player individually. It's only one. I think you had your inner self. It's pretty. I always did that. I hope you got to. That's why I was heading into. This next season, kind of trying to push for a job. Is that like a confidence booster for you? I mean, I'll say it was a confidence booster. One reason I say that because. You get like good coaches who believe in you. And like, they give you the tools to go out there and just play with confidence. You know, not their doubting those stuff. Like, you got your teammates who got your back like my first play when I got a third to the seat. Like when the sale, the IGB and the domain, like, personally, they say, it's like, no, where you just go out there and play with confidence. You know, you know the tools, it's usual tools. So just go out there and make a play. And where about a play coming to you? You know, where is your time, this whole job? You just do it. And then like, the same one coach was like, he gives me.

4:30:23He puts me in a position like, like, the drills we put in, the work we put in, the one I want to just go out there and just perform at the highest level. How much better are you right now than maybe last month before spring practice? I mean, I got way better just because I've transitioned a little bit to the inside. Nick was far so I'm like, now I'm actually trying to catch, catch technique. And it's often covers not as not always press at the line. So it's like, not maybe to like move my feet, move my hands, like, see, like what I got to do. Just like just in case I got to go back in corner, I can, I plan off now. And I'm very confident out there. Do you think that Nick was a natural fit for you or have you had the kind of convince yourself to transition to that? I mean, I feel like it's natural for me because I feel like me individually I'm a fast learner. A fast learner, like, coaches help us like learn fast. Like, because they're always honest about the techniques and stuff. So you like, you write down, like, you pick up all the things you did. Like, when we get out here, they coach us to like the techniques. So we used to go out there and play like fast spot. And it would have like, versatile, you're able to go out there and just compete.

4:31:24Is that where you kind of stuff the spring or do you pick out of Mount西? So I've really been stuck there this spring a little bit, right? Whenever you get this like other things, I just bounce out there every once in a while. Just like, just have fun. See if I still got it every once in a while. So it's as good as going to compete at most spots. You mentioned the technique. What technique, you know, tips and things that you had to pick up and learn from coach Walton from the beginning of the incident? You mean, this is always like, you know, because what, coaches are asking hands. See it, you see it, move your feet, and then get your hands on the mat. So it's like, when you get like, when you out there, you're able to like process the way the receiver comes off the ball, looking at the hips and seeing like the way he moves. So you're able to pick up like the row constant. You can get out of that. So it's being like, under coach Walton, he has a player and just like him breaking out football to you like one on one. It's very beneficial. So it was the hardest part of making that transition from outside inside. I really say like, you've got to cover two, you've got to cover three, you've got to cover one.

4:32:26It's easy, but you got nickel. You've got so many responsibilities. You've got to see like the row concepts. You've got to be able to process like diagnosed, roused faster than what you've got to do out corner and just be able to like everything's quid like your transition. You've got to like, you've got to move fast. You've got to just learn to move fast. It's like game recognition. Where do you think maybe from the most since you got it? I would definitely say, I would definitely say yes because when you get to like college, it's a little bit different. High school, we don't got to worry about things like that. When you get to college in a school like this, like your recognition of plays and like you'll annoy your jobs the way like the coverage is supposed to be played. I understand all your teammates are supposed to get what you feel. It's like it gets easier. What have your pressure been? It's very talented. He's a great dude. He's a humble guy. A great teammate. He's very supportive. He's like a guy that you don't want to wrong because you can feed off your energy because you can see like we make a play. He's like, he's like, IGB. He's like, IGB 2.0.

4:33:28So he's like, when you get off there with guys like that, with good energy, it makes you play a little bit harder. And then when you make a play, he's out there and like, it's helping you. He's being out there with him. He's a good player. One of those guys. First question. Can't fool kids. I would say obviously I'm a plastic player. So I'll be serious. What is it about one build that gets you to play at a high school? It's a big question. It's a big question. It's a big question. Because we have so many kids come out of Glebil and just play at Leeds. I lead like the league schools. And they like like, track's a big part of it because I mean to go out to the Glebil. Everybody got to run track. Like it's minutes right. You don't really get a choice. You're able to just like get out here and like know how to compete. And then like, G like, G and Bill's that mental toughness into you. So I was like, have you like, I've heard now you got to be mentally tough because I mean, life is not going to be easy. So it's like being out here, you know, we could pee. And when you down, just pick yourself back up. I mean, that's what G is down to me. That's what G is down to me.

4:34:28That's what G is down to me. I mean, I was playing here forever. I mean, I was talking about his plans. So, you know, you was transitions like one of those fairytale, like, to your time now. You know what I mean? But again, either way, you know, we talk about it, you know. That's the toe goes, you know. But obviously, you know, you see, he's happy. He's been one of the big supporters. Yeah, I think everybody leads. You know, not everybody's the, right, guys, come around. That's not everybody, right? Like I think for me, that's me specifically on game day with the O line after we do a little more. Like that's my like, well, I'm dead. Like that's my like a vocal time I feel like. I'm talking about this, you know, just recently. I'm talking about how what I want to do for the Rums, I want to bring that home energy, the Abra, right?

4:35:29So last year, of course, I'm sure he's been doing for years, but for the year when I spent my own, he brought a lot of energy, excitement, happiness in the room, which is his natural energy, to where I only had to focus on me. You know, I didn't have to make sure other, other guys are, you know, I feel some type of way when it came in here because hump brought that. I'm not here, but I saw a winged bit for the room. I want to be that guy to make sure it's an amptical practice. Everybody's, I want to take a built team on period, you know, until the low day, or something, you know, it's a discipline, but like, I want to make it feel like hump comes. No, you have to pair it as a trick. I want to bring that, because that's what we at hump did to each other, who had each other do it. It's like, dude, it's like, fuck it, walk, we're lit. So I wanted to do that, I wanted to bring that energy, I want to make bring more guys. You know, should do that, you know? Yeah. I wanted to do that from day one, you know, I kind of had it. I wanted to do that from day one.

4:36:33I just talked to him, and obviously it's that time I spent the off season before I started. Just being in my self-esteem about what the room needs, you know, because I know I knew a lot of leaders, you know, on my offense, is that we need a guy like that, just going to make sure the O-R's picked up. We're ready to go every day, I want to help the kind of little things that happen to practice people are saying anything, and how I may leave, maybe different than somebody else may leave, you know, like to practice, at least, like, the legal positivity, you know, I mean, so, but he, the energy I would be on, just, I would hype up the beyond, so I could, so I was kind of, how I would be going on, really my whole life, all of the NFL team captain, like, specifically, and I felt I wasn't a captain in high school, I wasn't a captain in college, but I want to make a joke, I was in high school, so I feel like I'm not going to be a captain like this, that I felt.

4:37:37But that would be awesome, you know, but, you know, that happens, I'd be great, but not either way, I want to assume a role as a captain from the perspective of guys, onto the visual words, and to get back in that way. Yeah, I mean, I can't say that, I mean, I guess the biggest thing is that I felt like I felt like how I used to in the past, but it didn't take just the first LTAs, it took training, left and right, once this season ended, because I know what was going to be treated, so it took a lot of, you know, reps, just to get back to feeling like myself, what they want LTAs, and then I hold first week, but now, like, today specifically, just changing some small things with my feet, that is it, talking about the long coach, passing things and doing my feet to get to sell my traditional angle that I love to sit on, I thought I felt great already, but I felt even better, so I need more exercises tomorrow, now I'm getting my feet back,

4:38:43and how I like the right side, and I'm on the left side, so alongside each other. I mean, obviously I feel like, in the league, whether you're left or right, you're still going against Premier Guy, so obviously, you have high expectations for your left hand, and I'm not talking, but there's definitely, like, the level of energy, and the expectations definitely take the interest, because now, tonight, the blind side, that's the, that's the tackle world, you know, so, so yeah, I would say in terms of communication as far as this, even outside of the facility, you just stuff like that, like really crazy, but tackle quarterback, body, more off the field, I think, because then something that's even cool, I got a text one day, as I, I keep up, I was like, you know, yeah, I've been training both, I've been training both, you know, I asked after the season, they're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk you separately in the season, and I just got a text one, I don't know what happens with the free agency,

4:39:46then, so I was like, you know, what, I had an OCC right tackle, so if I get the word, I'm going, I'm standing right tackle, I'll do what I did before, I'm building on that, but I saw, I was like, I might as well as trying to left tackle now, as if I'm going to be left tackle, and I'd rather do that than training on right tackle, or going to call that, I don't know, I don't know, I'm switching my feet yet, you know what I mean? So, I'm like, let me just prepare an advance, I'll say, yeah, let's go. You know, I think occasionally, on third down, there would be a lot of twists, that was just not like, it's automatic, it's gone. And I think that was my mindset for like the first half of the season, like, I didn't have to go once again with some pros, like, oh gosh, I did that, I kind of figured, like, okay, this is the type of rush, I'm going to get it, this is how this guy usually rushes, like, get the vibe, this is how it begins, like, the rush, you know, tackles that, first of your guys, you got the premier patch on, already know what it was going to be, already know what the every stunt. And honestly, just knowing that's kind of an advantage to, so you're not, you're not, oh, the brother twists my sight again,

4:40:51it was never air-doll, but, well, they come out the house, like, three plays in a row, and two minutes, I knew that, it was going to happen, and he said a lot of, you know what I mean? So, I'm watching more everybody else, and you really, you know, it goes out of their occasional third down, and he's going to pick me, you know what I mean? So, that effect, it's kind of, it's also kind of an advantage in a way, but it's also exciting, like, okay, I'm going to get the hardest to look, you know, so the real, real reps, you know, the day, so, really, on an eye-weighting kind of process, and I was like, hey, when I tell me, let me know about I'm just going to train it, I was trying to all-left, so TAs, I guess, if I didn't hear anything about TAs, I came to, like, so, you know what I mean? Because just, like, I'm cool with training, both continuing, I would have been cool with training, both continuing, but I feel like anybody, any position, will feel like, okay, like, you want as soon as possible,

4:41:51maybe your feet kind of settle there, your hips settle there, your hands, so then, certain kind of that. Would it have been harder for the age to work both, or how to use? No, you know, but, they're definitely, but in terms of the development, it's definitely a lot faster to stay on one side, but I think having that, the weeks that we had to transition, unless the season's over, you bend the light goes on, you know. It really could, I'm trying to get up, put up on the front, and then week, things at a time right now, but when it comes back, I'm going to show them to you in the house, so I've got a house that's not too far from, so I told them, I got that house, like, I got a yellow outside, DJ! You know what I mean? So, yeah. Communication with the team. You know, I was communicating with guys left and right, you know, front office, coaches, teammates, and all I care about is how I am with my teammates.

4:42:54I don't want them to ever think I don't care about them, or how I'm not in it, and you know, you can say whatever you want about me, besides that, but I always dedicate anything I can to them, and I don't want that to every question. So, you said that it felt like sometimes you were holding up somewhere watching film, you texted him, you said, hey, you missed this, or you want to meet that? Well, like the first day, he was batting all of Russ's passes, so I had to let him know. You know, you got to take advantage of that, you got to make sure guys are, you know, know that you still care, and you still want to be a part of this. You know, just watch and practice. There's a couple of little things we're doing different, whether I'm communicating with Gumbarr or other people, you know, so be it. So, you're also talking with him, and you give him pointers during the off-season, just to the cost of communication. How do you see him grow as a person, you know, in part of how he's approaching things, how he getting ready for this season versus his rookie? You know, I think the thing with Kiana, he's more comfortable, you know, it's not his first time around the track.

4:43:58You know, it's actually like he can catch his feet under him. You know, I always think when you're in a rookie season, you're going from bowl game, I don't even know Wisconsin playing a bowl game. Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't even know, but, you know, personally, I just think when you go from bowl game to training for the combine, to, you know, rookie minicamp, OTAs, the, you know, many can, I mean, to training camp, the regular season. You know, you don't get a time to really catch yourself. You know, you understand to playbook now, you can be more vocal. You know, I think, with my absence, the other guys' absence, you know, you need guys like that to step up and be ready for those opportunities. So, the third you had in the off-season, you know, the same you had during the season, you know, the more thorough what was... Just tightened down everything. You know, on my left side, because I was over-competing a little bit. But, you know, it was, it wasn't anything that lingers, you know. I'll say this, a growing is not like an ACL, it's not like anything's that we're going to get affected again.

4:45:01You know, you know, feeling good, able to do everything, squat and heavy, with power and speed. So, you know, it feels good to get after a lot. You think of what the team was able to accomplish, it's not a season in terms of bringing guys like wrestling and things like that. I think they're all good acquisitions, but, you know, you never want to be known as a paper champ. So, you can't win the off-season. I think the work gets done out here on the field, it's done in the classroom, it gets done training. You know, and then you see where you're at in training camp, and then you build on that. You know, I think we got the right guys in the building. It's just about putting a complete team on the field. Can you tell us how difficult is it to separate the business part of the game in the actual football behind you? You know, you always have to treat it like a business, because, you know, one day it's going to end, and that's been a job. It's not like in college where, you know, you got four years guarantee.

4:46:06Well, now you don't even know what that I am, I don't know, it's going to be a transfer portal. But, you know, you have to, I still have love for this game, and I still work my tail off, and I still put everything into it. And that's not going to change, but you have to know what you bring to the team and what your value is. Can't be only to be able to be out there with your teammates today emotionally. You know, we got a new training staff, and still learning the warm up, a little different. But, you know, I love it. Just getting after it, learning new guys, going through the same drills I've been doing by myself. I actually like having more people around, because, like, kind of go stir crazy when it's just you and another guy you're like, damn, I got to go back up for another rep already. So, you know, it's nice to be up here and get a chance to be with my guys. Can we confident that they will get down with your emotion?

4:47:07Oh, I'm going to try to remain pretty neutral, because I don't want to be too either way. All I know is I want to be here, but we'll see what happens. It's my last year here. I've had a great career here, but I look forward to playing extra. What that second surgery you said at this time was on the left side, was the first time around on the right side? Right side during the season, left side. And that was just tightened down my core muscle. It wasn't the same as my ad doctor. You know, you can ask Dr. Bradley, Dr. Zuckerbron, who did the surgery as well. If anything, it's going to help me and make me a lot stronger from here on out. Can you say you were training with another guy who have you come to mind? Tyson, I've been training with him for the last eight years. We've always trained together. We've got a trainer up north, Cheryl Coheley, who's my guy.

4:48:09He trained a Heath Miller, Brett Kiesel, multi-tudent guys that I'll respect. And we've just been getting after him. Can you make very cute guys' historic date, 35, they paid big contract, and who that held against you? I think there's not a lot of history behind it, but for me, I'm not looking to be like anybody else. My game is different from everybody else, and I like to think I can play the run in the pass, and that's where I'm different. I remember last year, Mike T. you just brought to my attention. The thing that's really cool is you watch powerlifters. My game's built on power and technique, and those guys go into the 40s. That's what kind of research I'm doing behind the scenes, but we'll see what happens. There's not a lot of history, but I'm here to make history.

4:49:10I'm here to win another Super Bowl of Air, and you know, Hyper Graces. Do you have a set goal for yourself, or how many years you want to play in the NFL? Or do you just take things here right here? It was tough answering that question right after the season. I will say this guys, I can't keep answering that question right after the season. That is not fair to the season that's not fair to my family. But in my mind, I got three years, and I want to maximize them. I want to play at a high level, and I want to go deep into playoffs. And we got a good team, and I'm going to do my part to be ready for all those situations. If you plan on practicing in every fourth of a year, or is it possible that you might fold in and then enforce the issues? I have not even thought that far. I've taken a day. I told my agent, and we talked about it. We were cool coming out here. I'll be here for many. And then I'll be there for training.

4:50:11I don't know what the work entails, but when we get there, what cross-up? Why would a cross-up for you to work? There was a conversation between me, Omar, and Mike T. And there are certain guys that are one helmet guys. I want to be one of those one helmet guys. There's a hunger and desire there, but that doesn't mean just hanging it up. And calling a career, to me, I think I got more bullets to fire, and I'm excited to do that. What's the meaning of the last one? You and Russell Wilson are going to be out there with Walter Mim. What's paid men to be your pet shop? I saw Russell's social media, but I have an idea to see it. I like the surprise happens when it happens, but it's cool to have another Walter Payton manly year winner. I think it's an honor to be there.

4:51:14I'll say one thing. I won't be here. I'm just telling you guys, so it's not a big deal. I won't be here because I have to do a Walter Payton manly year thing on Thursday. It's not like I'm skipping. It's an honor to be with Russ and it's an honor of doing things in the community. Doing great work. The cool thing is, as much as we get honored and nominated for these things, the work doesn't stop. I can see that with Russ's foundation, we had an event for our foundation. My mom was quick to tell Russ, hey, we need the partners somehow. I was like, let's just enjoy the event. It's really cool to be a part of a lead group. Thank you. I always think good. Just trying to play different terminology, different scheme. Just learning how they want things done compared to how they used to do things.

4:52:18What's it like being in that tight end room? Everybody's got different skills. Everybody's different, but you all do some of the same things. It's a great room. A lot of really good guys have grown really close with a lot of those guys. Everybody helps each other. A really nice learner from Dalton, breadin' those guys. Dalton's done it for a really long time, so he helps me a lot with things that really aren't coachable things. I mentioned how the family is in the game, but what about working out here at this high school? You're still in a high school, but you don't feel good. How do you like school like this? Man, it's a different name. I went to Lexington, how it's about the eighth of the size of this place. This is not my high school, but this is a healthy place. It's super cool to be home and just be back and give you a little sense of comfort, I guess for me, especially being away for as long as I've been. So I was a man in the car and wore around the city. Have you seen a bunch of black hat fans that have wanted to get your autograph? I don't get, I don't go out of the hole. I actually went home yesterday. I went back to the farm for a little bit, which was great for a couple of days.

4:53:18He did all my family and stuff and see my grandparents and everything, so it was good. But I really haven't been out enough to know, so I try and keep her inside. Yeah. Do you think you can play that really showcased and stuff them out? That's a good question. I don't think that's for me. I'm just trying to give. I mean, every time you can play this game for 50 years, there's always going to be something you leave to feel with. I wish I would have been better in that area. I wish I would have been better in some other area. You know what I mean? It's never going to be. This is absolutely perfect. So to me, right now, the hardest part of this is just mental toughness and stuff at all. Physical toughness, you either have it or you don't in my opinion. I always felt like I was kind of bred in that area of the things, and that's just kind of what happens naturally. So just play after play. That's kind of how we roll. Okay. Thank you guys. We are now. We got to get you on the boat. Yeah, I was growing immensely. I mean, Caleb, he makes a lot of checks. Latham makes a lot of checks. I listen to them.

4:54:18Whatever they need, if I need to cover somebody, I'll go cover anybody. If they need me to do run support, I'll do run support. And it's really what Caleb does, what we do, and Latham. It just goes back to the 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 or talking. Did you feel like that was the case before the Oregon game? You're saying what I'm saying? Is that something that's been added? It just, yo, rely on a little bit more. Go ahead. Yeah, it did. I was probably the Nebraska game, Megan and more safety reps. And we had a five week to prepare. So I really learned to play, but a lot more, even though I knew the playbook, I learned a lot more. I'm not like in debt, you know, so really just after the Oregon game, it helped me a lot to go back to safety, go to NICU everywhere. You guys had a lot of issues of giving up big plays in the passing game of the first game against Oregon.

4:55:19What do you feel like you guys need to do better this time around 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 technique. And, you know, Bill Rebellion, what's the best? And Denzel obviously had a tough game and that one. What have you seen from him and how he's responded? Do you get a sense of from him? How up he is for this rematch? Oh yeah, he's super stoked for this rematch. His preparation has been very good. He's always been preparing, you know, 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, but the fact that you get to play them at the Rose Bowl, I mean, get a second chance.

4:56:19And 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 watched a lot of film. The first time we played them, now we've got another six games that they played up film to watch. And it's just, they've grown a lot as a team, same as us. We've grown a lot. We're not the same team. We were when we played them week one or weeks 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 Dispatch. Oh, my bad. Not too, 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 some else? And just how much can you lean on the experiences you've had moving around when you're trying to learn something new in the middle of the season?

4:57:19It means a lot. We always talk about when this is even being on selfish, whether that's making plays or not making plays, or doing your job so another person can make plays. That's kind of what we pride ourselves on. And it's just fun. We move 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. If anybody else needs a 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 watched what I did, things I did well, things I didn't do too well against them. And their team is, like, their scheme has changed. Some players have been out those stretch of games.

4:58:20So 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. Shooter, something for you, I don't know how to run a game, how to have it in the passing game. And really just stop getting it on with. It seems like the first couple of weeks, it looks like you've been having more comfortable with off-script plays and taking more risks, which you say that's something that's overdubbed this year for you. I mean, yes and no. You know, I don't choose a run. I run what I have to. I feel like I am agile and I can't get out, but I definitely try to read the defense to get my guys the ball, because they're usually open every time. So it's just up to the pocket. And navigate and try to make my whole line arrive also.

4:59:21If I have to extend the play. So, do you guys started going to last year's night to know how much different the things feel this year, not even the whole season of your fellow, what have you learned, where do you feel like you guys are going to be? Oh, it's too, oh, it's a lot worse than two, no. So, you know, I'm definitely grateful, definitely, you know, blessed we playing this great game. But, you know, it's definitely a lot of things we can clean up. I think around the league, you can see that though, you know what I mean, a lot of sloppy ball, you know, some teams playing better than others. But I definitely know that, you know, section 4 was not what we put on the field today, but, you know, at least in the second half would definitely be better for sure. You and you go connected on a couple of scrambled drill style plays. Is that something you guys work on active plays that would focus the viewers? No, it's just two guys out there making plays. You know, we have a drill that we do our practice to, you know, it does help those things. But, you know, China just be two guys, be dynamic players. Well, you're going in that way, kind of mind-mouthed. So, speaking of you.

5:00:21Yeah, for sure. I think, me and Nico, we've always had a good relationship and always, you know, read each other well on the field. But I think even now, you know, we'll take the next steps. And you can see, you know, staff getting involved more, tank getting involved, Dalton, Brev. We're just trying to spread it around, you know, and we have so many dynamic players. So, you know, it's a good problem to have. You know, obviously, you know, all two are better than things in that nature. How do you balance that at the win? But you said you like to be put on Texans football. How do you kind of balance one and correct all the mistakes that you put while also, you know, celebrating the win that you guys just had today? It's football. It's hard to win in a fail. I'm happy. Of course, I'm not satisfied. I'll never be satisfied. There's always things that you can point out. We're not going to let one half of football make us put our heads and we're going to stay confident. We're going to stay taking shots. We're going to stay, you know, betting on us. So, I definitely, you know, understand, you know, we need to be better.

5:01:21But, you know, like I, like you said, winning is number one. So, we won and now it's time to move on and get better. Can you talk a little bit about what Payneas meant to the team over these past two weeks? And as a quarterback, as an offense, does having a kicker that can hit for long range, like that consistency, if you guys love it, actually confidence, you know, once you get over 50,000? Yeah, any guys in his aims, man, I'm super happy and proud of him. And he broke a record today or something like that. So, you know, we definitely need him. You know, all points are big points. And I definitely think like the preparation and just who he is at practice, you know, you can, you know that he's going to knock it down just because how hard he is on himself doing practice. And, you know, it was a great job, I especially teams today blocking it. Also, you know, point Tommy doing his job as well. So, you know, it takes three phases for one and one for one game. Here you go. See the you missed it.

5:02:21All right, here's a little get those numbers. I promised. Well, it's not long. 4602, now through 17 career games. Remember, it's the couple a year ago due to that concussion. So, reaches his full quote unquote first season at least from a game standpoint here in week two of year two. Trout. And we're looking up at a few. It's different for me. I'm really like a ball player type of guy. Not very not the most how going and both good, but we're not talking. I realize that people listen. So, just taking more of that type of aspect into my game. Just, you know, making me more complete as a football player. I'm willing to do something.

5:03:21How would you see maybe change a little bit with a coach hard line? Maybe whether it be other coaches coach Jordan or players stepping up to that. I want to say a change once he's still super involved. He always tries to stay engaged with us guys. I mean, he's the OC now and he's more skimmed, schematic and everything now. But he's still keeping that relationship strong with us and still really in there with the Civic one. And shout out to Coach Jordan as long stepping up taking a big little coach Jordan. He's a factor in our learning since I've been here. So, it's big cross the coach doing everything. How do you feel like the spring's gone for you? Obviously you've done this now. Just what have you taken from us? It's obviously extremely comfortable, super confident in my ability to do what I do. Just building that trust with my quarterback just pretty much when I came in when I do it. Just let them know that they got it. They got to revive me off to another third. I'm just a champion in some of the field. And I was just establishing that.

5:04:21Like I said earlier, just showing my young guys a foundation example of what they're coming and doing. What's the interpretation? What's the real value I strived for? What he did caught me? Yeah, obviously. Trust me to give you the certain extent. How long have you felt yourself building that trust you think it will do? I think it's been good. Just being more vocal with them guys as well. Me and Lil are very vocal. Even in practice a lot of times. Just things they go my way in the game. But even in practice a lot. Yeah, take care. I was very comfortable with Lil. More vocal guy. But working in that oboe put it back down here doing a better job. Just going to make see-ers and taking our feedback, not for its criticism, but just because we love it. And you're the best for me. So just doing that. And just keep growing on that all the way to far and all the interesting things that just takes you. You are doing some more outside for you. How about the side for you? The more years you get under your belt, the more experience you get. You start knowing this offense more and more. Not just your position or what you're doing.

5:05:21Like everybody's out. What you're doing, how you doing, and why you doing it. So I mean, yeah, I've been rapping the outside. XH, anywhere in coach Hong Hong means me to just really be that guy and go make a play on it. What's the biggest difference for you between the outside and outside? The pace. A route concept, you can kind of get the pace you can play within the slides more for next game in the slide. Something I got very comfortable with. Just the ways you get to take the defense, I think. Just you know, conceptually and also just, you're placed down. But I mean, just doing both and just making me a better guy for the NFL. And that's what coach Hong Hong is. He's a time to produce it on the NFL talent and producing any NFL guys. I'm feeling very comfortable with that. Do you have to have a different mindset as a slide receiver? That's what's going on in the NFL. Absolutely. I think it's more thinking. I think it's more of a, you have to understand another game a lot. In the slide, you've got to have a feel. This is natural. I feel like it's more natural to position.

5:06:22And on the outside, it's just more, you know, get different things and see different competitions. You see different player types of corners and necklbecks and safeties more in the slide. So just seeing how you can attack, knowing your person, now how you can attack certain people. I say the biggest difference. Do you have that more courage? Do you have that more courage in the slide? Oh, yeah, absolutely. It's basically like being myself in the slide faster. My skinnier guy that want to put hands on and want to get physical with you. But you just got to match that and just let them know that you there too. You as in a ballast question, whatever gets you on the deal, regardless inside, outside, whatever that's going to be. I'm just willing to make plays and show one one of the best receivers in America. And I think that's the best thing outside, that's the best thing outside. Whatever coach I'm on in this team needs me help us. And then show them one of the best receivers in America. And I think that's the best thing to make sure that you can do certain things. At that time, you go back to zero, zero. They scored a thing in a half. We knew they got the ball back. The defense wasn't quite happy that they gave up that touchdown at the end. And we knew they get the ball back coming out. But we was excited because we knew the job wasn't doing it.

5:07:25Bill Rebellion, come up with this back. You were a five star guy. And that coming up, all these guys in the room almost were five star guys. And then there's Jeremiah. Is he like, does he like all you guys in the room? I mean, I'm not sure. It's probably something you got to ask him. But you know, Jeremiah has played with a lot of great guys throughout his career. He's seen a lot of all the talent you can see in the world. But I don't know if he's ever in all. But I mean, oh, yeah. I mean, I'm not surprised at anything he does now. Like I've seen him. It's out. We were nine years old. So anything he does, anyone hand catch, I've seen. I'm not surprised at anything he does. When he was nine, do you know this is not a, this is something special we've met. Any of the nine? Oh, yeah. I mean, coaches were coming up to us complaining that we weren't nine years old. Can we get their IDs and stuff like that?

5:08:25So I mean, I mean, there's definitely some footage that we got to go find. But the place we used to make when we were younger and just to see where he is now is amazing. It seems very unaffected by all of the starter. How does that happen? I think how he was raised. He's very level-headed. He knows his goals and what he wants to get done in life. And this is just one step of the way for him. I'm going to throw a back to Texas for a couple of questions on Zoom. Scottie? Yes, sir. We're going to start with Defond from Clean.com. Go ahead. Brandon, I want to go back to what you were talking about with Coach Day earlier. You know, whenever he talks about this team success, he says all the credit goes through players. It seems like the players think that he deserves some of the credit. How big, how influential is he been in the turnaround you guys have had these last few weeks? He's been a huge man. Coming here after that team of Northwest, you know, it was heartbreaking, of course.

5:09:26But we came in here. We had a leadership meeting. And he was in here. I mean, and then we had a team meeting after that. Hearing the stuff he had to say. And we had to say, going back and forth, we just, we knew we would have his back no matter what. I mean, there's a lot of stuff set about him and his family and stuff like that. But here we're a brotherhood and we're a family. We just, we don't stand by him no matter what. Our next question is going to come from Dan. Hope Dan go ahead. Brandon, I mean, I'm sure you came in here to Ohio State thinking you'd probably be starting here in your second year. But it seems like you really embraced the growth process. Just what's kind of that process that like for you have kind of embracing your role this season and continuing to develop? Yeah. In life, things doesn't go the way you exactly planted to. And that just happened, you know, things happened to Mecca last year that allowed him to come back. And that allowed me to learn more. And that's just how I see it. It makes me a better football player for the future.

5:10:28So yeah, I mean, yeah, let's see it. Three more on Zoom. Next one's going to come from Stefan Means. Go ahead. I'm Steven, but I'm sorry. Yeah, you're good. Brandon, there are a lot of clips of you this year where you're super, super excited after a block. And kind of showing your emotion there. What about blocking do you love so much as a receiver? Just being able to hit another guy with all my power, the hardest I can without any consequences. Except if you hold, of course, but yeah, just bringing that power. I mean, I heard some of the defensive guys telling me yesterday they were like, I hate to go against you. So knowing that from the defensive guys. So I know what the other defensive guys are thinking like, just keep bringing it so that they're not going to like it for four quarters. That's my mindset.

5:11:29Next question's going to come from Danny Davis. Danny, go ahead. Brandon, what are your impressions of these Texas defensive backs and this kind of we've seen from them on film so far? Yeah, the last couple of days we watched them, they're fast team. They don't give up many big plays down field. They're aggressive, but I actually know some of the DBs they have at corner there. I play with them. Well, I played with Malik Muhammad at SFE, so I might know him a little bit. But watching them, they're fast team, they're physical, they're disciplined, but we just got to get the job done. Give any Malik stories or any. Give any Malik stories or anything you remember about playing with them. Yeah, but I'm not going to say them here. Yeah, what's this keep that? Our final question's going to come from Kurt Bulls. Kurt, go ahead.

5:12:32Hey, Brandon, one of the issues Texas has had the second half of the year is finishing. And what if you can speak to, and they had a trouble obviously in the peach bowl, you know, blue with 16 point leak? And you talk about finishing and having a killer instinct, and you guys obviously seem to have that now. Yeah, I think that started in offseason training at Fall Camp. We always say go plus two. If you're doing a 10 yard pro shuttle, you have to go plus two throughout the line, and that's just finishing up as well. And then fall camp, we had these long two and a half hour practices or whatnot, and then we came out, and we had to do these finishers. We called them Asperg games late in the year like this. And we, I think Coach Day has a great, did a great job preparing all of us for these moments. And yeah, we just were ready to go. We have time for just a couple more questions in Columbus so we can wrap up with our other two guys. Bill Landis, Kings of the North.

5:13:32Brandon, should I be on the second touchdown run? It seemed like you took two players out of the play, first with your release, and then with the guy you actually blocked. Is that how it's designed, or was it just lucky to be the guy that decided to take off inside of the release? It's actually designed for me to block the safety and lead the corner 101 with the running back. But I was surprised that the corner actually came in so far in my release. I think he thought it was a pass. But I think he was the edge of the defense. If you go watch that play, but I don't know, I don't really know why he came in so far, but it helped out for us. I made my block and turned it off score. Are there any lessons there for, like, even a young receiver watching that, that even if you know him a play, you're not getting the ball, you're intended to block. But you release has to be, at all point, as if you're going to go catch a pass. Yeah, definitely. Every little detail matters and then type of plays. We were in a red zone there, so we say every yard matters. It's two yards. So the block I made is just a testament to Kyle.

5:14:34Coach Hartline, prep me throughout the week to make that block. And final question. Joy Conference, Columbus Dispatch. And it will and then this has been some of the ball deep well lately, and some of the special way you guys have opened games. What do you think is this quick for you guys and for him and watching those plays? A lot more confidence. I say throughout the year, we were always there as offense. We had, we didn't quite know our identity. And now slowly but surely, I think we found that and we're going to keep on rolling. And he's made some great throws. And yeah. I'm sorry, Brandon, I do have one more steep. How many more seconds for it? Yeah, Brandon, there have been opportunities for you to play a huge role on offense. And the number of plays you play in game can differ from one week to the next. But the opportunity is coming sooner rather than later for you to be in every down player. What are the things you need to do in your game to take it from where it is now to be in every down guy?

5:15:37I think there's a lot of things I could work on in my game. I would say continuing to be football smart, my IQ, just knowing what the defense is going to do before they do it. My routes always can get better. My hands always can get better staying in the jug machine. Work ethic, keep on top of it. Don't get satisfied with anything I do. And don't get too big, don't get too low, don't get too high, don't get too low, that's what they say. Do you feel like a guy that the people follow, it seems like, in your mind, even the second year guy that you're working toward being a leadership type guy? I've got to have guys that will take that role. It's a great feeling, of course. No guys are watching what you do and listening to what you do. But I just feel like we do that with a lot of players here and not just myself. But the leadership we have on this team is like no other. And that's why we got so far, I think. Brandon, thank you very much. Not knowing anything but to go hard and put his head down.

5:16:39I'm super, super proud of Will. And I think we kind of see off each other. He was a lowly or under recruited guy out of high school. So all he knows is to go hard and what that looks like. So I'm proud of him. What do you think, Max? What are you talking about? A lot of skill. I mean, the guy, he fits the room, personality wise. Johnny will tell you that. He's fun to be around. He's an outstanding route runner. And he wants to get better and he's hungry. So he's a great addition. We have a lot of people from the outside who see a new guy come in and you guys have two or five guys who feel like they can get reps too. Maybe some people would have thought, some of you guys would eat wide. Why would you guys say, why is this group so deep and steady even though you guys brought any other guy? Yeah, I mean, I think it's just a testament to how strong his brotherhood is. When Coach told us that we were bringing him in the max, I thought it was a great opportunity for me. I can worship stuff in the name. He's a great player. And I already have the resource stuff in me and will.

5:17:39I think now we have some really good guys and really just stay fresh. It was a lot of fun. I could try there and ultimately become the best players we can be. I think it was a late one. We said, I can't believe it. Yeah, I saw that. Like, take him. I'm not sure you're not watching for these offense when you guys get ready, but how quick did you kind of realize I go, this guy's legit. You see the numbers, you see the numbers when you realize this guy's real good. But when I met him the first day, he was a class act. And for me, I think character is a big thing. I had a really medical football player. It doesn't have good character. And I met him the first day I knew that he was a hard worker. He came in here and just grinded. And then, you know, it's showing right now in the field. It's playing great. What do you have to do to get better at the surface? Yeah, I mean, I just, I'm not really focused on specific areas. I always say I want to become a more polished outrunner. And to get better at blocking and to get better at the past rotation. So, really, I'm just working on everything, man, hopefully, you know, to get all missed together.

5:18:40I can really like it. I have a really good view. Because it feels good to have the only touchdown catch from one of the quarterbacks. Yeah, tools. Yeah, that was cool. That was a cool moment to have with him. How's that been working with Julian and Lincoln so far? You guys were so close with the world. Yeah, it's great. I remember when Lincoln first got here. I was guy getting out to the field, throwing with me. So, me and Lincoln got way back. And I'm 41st got here. I love Julian. And even Tavy is coming in and he's impressed me. So, there's been a lot of talk about the quarterback in the leadership that coaches want to see. I mean, how are you seeing those three guys coming to the marriage as leaders and is it that role? Yeah, I think they at first weren't nowhere near as vocal as Will was when Will got here. But I think they're really stepping up in that role. And it's really good to see. All right, minute. Awesome. Thanks guys. I mean, just how I was raised, I just know how to work. That's all I have to do.

5:19:41Just give it effort and just going east out of it. I want to say this with full respect. When we see JJ and Sonny, it's like, that makes sense. When you're the third guy, were you surprised to be named? What puts you in that same category? Yeah, I was a little surprised. I kind of have feeling because I kind of like, I mean, I kind of could have guessed it. But I just knew that I was one of my goal to toss him behind Buckeye and I just put in the work that was in there. So what did you get in that was what it means? How did you change it? It was really special right after I texted my parents. And they really knew what it meant until the video came out and they pushed me to explain it to them. So then absolutely totally. Back then, right? In games? Did you think you'd tell the difficulties of going back and forth? Not just like we were learning them, but actually having to play both of those thoughts. Yeah, it's pretty difficult.

5:20:41Especially dirt and game, you have to put the whole mind around. It's not easier in practice because it's getting like several down, but like going back to my game. It's pretty hard, but like in high school, I was, it was every other player I was in back in school with the triple out. So like I knew it, I was comfortable with it. And sometimes I just take it, but when I'm walking to the line to line to Kermit, I'd like to say it to be the same player again. Again, sometimes I get into my head. I feel great into that. I feel great when you're sitting by the back. I feel great out of it. Yeah, so like I got to set the example. And then like my first two weeks here, I was like teaching them. I don't know what they're expecting these players because I've seen some new players with them. And even their defense, like technique two, they're trying to keep the same technique, but just helping them out. Because we need them. What did you like, when did the idea of playing tackle kind of come about?

5:21:43Did you, about like Raff, did you see that? Or did you go to bowling game? What did you mean when you had a back, did you like to come about? It came close to springtime. They wanted to have, they just wanted to have a good fight out there and they don't play the best, so they just didn't get to choose. What did you like to do all of your points? They're awesome. They're great. A lot of eyes, it's awesome because everyone's watching something. It's not like someone's only watching this place, so you know what's going on. I got to feedback to see it after the play, after the practice, from all three off to all five. It's awesome. They tell you everything. Because they know what's left side ahead with Coach Johnson, Coach Dickies, watching left and coach the one who feels the right foot. You know what's going on, it's funny. How was the experience that you got at the big reps in the big games? All that helps. It was like coming into the side. It really boosted my confidence. And I can lead the young guys too. I know what's going on. Because they really don't really miss this first time spring, so they've done my stuff.

5:22:44It's just that leadership. The rest of the activity has also been mentioned a lot. It's been all of both sides with all playing in different spots. Can you elaborate on that? Yeah. Can you talk about the rest of the activity? Yeah, I can pick that up question. Can you talk about the rest of the activity? Coach has been talking a lot about that. It's been all of the guys in different spots being able to win. Yeah, so you all see it in last year. We lost two stars, all maybe started. So I really got a few steps up and going to season. I didn't know I was playing a start left guard. And I didn't really know I was going to bounce over the right. And what a Donnie knew is I'm going to bounce out some tackle. So it really helps everyone. I think a lot of guys in season are playing multiple positions. And it's going to help us in football. But if you learn from Donnie and John, or Seth and all of them. Just like technique wise, they're really helping me. Pretty snap stuff. No one might what's going to go as you guys. I can hammer and trace it. All right.

5:23:44Thank you. Thanks. That's only going to motivate him more. It's fuel to the fire, which I think is good for us heading into this week. What was the first moment that you saw in the fellas? This could be something. I would say probably just his mindset. Not even obviously he's a freak when it comes to, you know, his body and stuff like that, just his physical nature. But I think just as mindset the way he approached the weight room. It didn't really seem like a way of freshman would. And he was our only freshman ever to receive, you know, Iron Buck I reward, which, you know, is something I was pushing towards my mind tire time being here. But, you know, it takes another level of dude to be able to receive that reward, especially as a freshman. So, you know, that's kind of what I knew. Steve, it means playing in the back. More on that. When you and Mara first got here, Garrett and Chris were adamant about the way that you guys, even as freshmen were pushing through guys who were about to be first round ground picks. And then Mara kind of said the same thing about Carnaul and Brandon last year.

5:24:46How did JJ 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 its all the same. But we keep bringing in these type of people you're in and you're out of that. That's what makes our room so great. But I think that something that JJ was able to push me in 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. Because we were always paired together when it came to summer and when our workouts were always lifting together. You know, I get a couple of wins. He get a couple of wins. So, it was really that next level step of competitiveness that I needed and that edge that I needed. That worked the 2474. You guys came into the Tennessee game with a lot of outside motivation with Michigan Boss and kind of the three weeks of the 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 lack with better mental?