Press Conference (JJ Smith) Elite Edition September 3

0:00Um, as a true freshman, um, but no, it's time to move on. I mean, that's behind us now and I can't wait for this season to come up. What kind of obligation do you feel to a guy like me to kind of take a look at you? Are you even showing how you work? I feel like he already got that, just coming in. He already got that hard work at it. Um, quiet, just like me as I came in. Just all about ball really. Me and here early, um, me spending time with Coach Hartline, me and everything. He doing it the right way, I should say. And he have a bright future here. Coach Hartline said he wants you to become more of a good person. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. How much for challenge that you are kind of quiet guy? Yeah, it was a challenge. Uh, no, just no stepping on my comfort zone. Um, I mean, something everybody wants to see for me, not just my coaches, but players on the team as well. We have a leadership meeting. There's a lot, a lot of people call me out on just saying they want me to talk more. Um, working on it takes time. Um, not really the guy that's talkative or no, but lay by a zombie. Um, one thing that's definitely working on is trying to talk more and get more of my

1:02comfort zone and just build it. Yeah, definitely the biggest challenge. Um, you know, like I said, just stepping on my comfort zone and the guys and the young the guys as well. Do you guys open with Texas next year, going back to the playoff game? Do you think about that moving forward just kind of how you were taking out of that game? Uh, yeah, I think not really thinking about it. I mean, that's behind me. Um, maybe we won the game. We ended up going to the national championship. And I mean, we see it on week one. I just know can't wait to know face a great opponent. What's your impression of David Sanchez so far? Yeah, big long corner of the Corrine, um, physical. Um, he got it all and I can't wait to see things he do here this year as well. And what if you know his difference? Are you anything different about this defense of the, you know, these first three weeks of spreading the touch? The cocktail ride? Uh, they just fast. Physical and willing to hit somebody I should say, saying they nothing really changed for me. Um, guys, they're going to know what they've been doing over the last year and then I was

2:02in the year and then I should say, yeah. Coach, that makes the quarterback's live like he did for a couple of practices last week. As a wide receiver, Cardinal, right? How do you think your quarterback is responding to that? Over offering? Uh, I think they responded pretty good. I did not expect the quarterback to be live. Um, they're in a scrimmage. Um, that surprised me for sure. Cause they definitely surprised me with that. Um, but I feel like they handled it very well. They took hits. Um, something we need. They needed, I should say, you know, tough. Right. Why do I see those people? They're all like, I'm not quoted back seeing how they handle that. Since it's obviously not a norm to do that. Uh, learning anything, but it's definitely not known to see a quarterback get hit. It gets his no defense, I should say. Um, but no, guys, they was, they was getting hit for sure, but they was getting right back up. I mean, the two of them are, uh, good ones for that. Two more questions. Uh, definitely can't get better. No, no, I feel like I'm getting complacent. Um, always want to prove that. And I'm just taking the day by day and they'll just get better each and every day.

3:06And why do you prepare for this group? The expectations you're going to get on the next two seasons here off the season you just had. Uh, not really focused on the espacation that I have coming up or the year after that. Um, no, just focus on spring. Spring and you know, just going to the fall camp and just get ready for the season. I should say, as best as you can go, be there. I really know something high. No. In my mind right now, I'm just, you know, being leader and just focus on the team. How much changes is right? How much changes? How much changes? Uh, I really know. We haven't really spoken about that right now. I don't really know. What's the aspect of that? Jeremy, a lot of guys just said that they want a lot of championship. I've taken down. They don't want to see it. It's moving into the sea. It's a museum. What is, how important is that for you? And why do you think that's significant for the team? Um, I mean, like I said, we came live in the past. Um, the club in the 2014, they won the national championship. Um, this year we did it.

4:07So, I mean, we just take everything down in the weight room and everything. So, you know, we could focus on being ourselves and, you know, this is our season. It's amazing. I wouldn't believe it. Yeah, my house has been getting another. Guys, obviously you're going to testify where you came in early. It was Coach Fyre, Coach Fyre, and all of a sudden he's gone in and so I want to be like getting another new guys. Um, they made it pretty, like, pretty easy to get the note of the road because, uh, Coach Boa and he kind of recruited me out of high school a little bit when he was there at a Virginia Tech. Um, 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 since coming in on that stand? The biggest adjustment I would have to say is, uh, just really buying in to the culture. Because, uh, we're a big culture program. We keep the culture. It no matter what's going on, we are going to be, um, the same way.

5:07So, just kind of buying and stuff like that. And you've 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, uh, there's my first time actually watching games from the field. So, I actually got to see steps. I got to see play call and I got to see coach Fry. I actually coached those guys up on the sideline and actually figured out the talk that he's talking. For freshmen offensive life, patience is important, right? It's a development. As a guy who comes to high school, we're playing a lot. How do you kind of reset coming in as an offensive? Knowing it may be a year or two before you start to get real fun. Um, you know, you kind of just one of mine from those guys that have been here because, uh, 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 before and talking different knowledge that you might not have talked before. For me, it's been kind of a learning process, but I'm picking up on it. Um, I get very great coaching every day.

6:09Um, and the older guys do a great job of, you know, communicating. So, it's kind of been really easy. Nine different guys started last year. Like, what does that mean for this room in terms of, you guys know you actually play for any. So, how do you prepare for that? Um, 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 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, we got to be out there churning on our brothers. And when our names are called or whatever names call, you got to be able to step up. Come forward to that 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.

7:09So, I figure I was going on picking the older guys, bringing stand out the practice, isn't it, and getting extra work. You talked about this kind of scene improvement already. Where have you seen that the most in your games? I want to say knowing the game and football. That was the biggest improvement for me because coming out of high school is kind of a lot more simple. Coming to a place like Ohio State, you got to know your stuff. And coach gives us a good look. I'm talking about Cusper, he gives great looks, different looks. Is that through no more? You start to see that the most, kind of the knowledge of the game, not necessarily the whole field. I want to say the film and on the field because you can work on the end of the field. You can work on the world, but if you can't take it to the field, none of that matters. Thank you. Thank you for trying to morph everything together right with the things that we've done. What he knows will do, it's a lot.

8:11But 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 me, hey, we're going to get together at this time of the movement. You're just efficient in your role. And it's been a lot like when you're come from outside and you're coming 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. What are we looking for at these positions now? How do you see it? Because you don't under one coordinator, you might see a, the, my plan back would be this. And then under this coordinator, well, I think the, my background needs to be this. So you have to have those conversations at every position. And you just kind of keep going through and, but I'm just excited to learn. I think the more systems, I mean, luck. Playing the system here in college, playing the system, understanding Spagnolo, playing the system, or Tim Walden, playing the system under Greg Williams, that is talent, coach of Ralgo, and then Jim Null.

9:13Every one of those, there's like different terminology for everything. So you're just, you're learning a different language, Colin thing. You know, I mean, there's this concept. And I think it was kind of collect over time. What you think is really good stuff and how you do stuff that may be a little different. And I'm just really excited to learn from that. And I'm kind of success. He was seemed very excited over there, talking really to me here. Yeah. Focusing college, 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 coach football. 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? Is that impact teach the game of football? And so the few times it's been fun, you know, kind of like talking to the guys. And he's like, he's excited to just teach more. You know what I mean? And kind of ironically, like you know, similar to a lot of things that chips that last year, right? Yeah. You gotta get back and you're like, man, I'm just excited to.

10:14And so he has that excitement. He's doing 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. You can imagine when you come in, you have all these guys, right? And trying to learn all these guys, I'm learning recruiting, trying to learn to staff, I'm learning dynamics, like it's a lot. But he's handled it really well. You know, he's an old school ball coach, 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 done with the young guy? Tell him that. So you got to do a lot. But in terms of Ryan DeRity said, you know, 50%, 75% or whatever. How much more can you get done with the young guys? You're not worried too much about the senior. Yeah, I think, I mean, you're always just looking for competition, especially like a spring ball. That's what it's all about, right? You're trying to have, it's so cliche, but it's true. Like the iron sharpens, iron mentality of, you want your run to be super competitive,

11:14to where, hey, the guy in front of me makes a play. My next set of fourth place, I go out there, I have the out point, right? And it's a constant driving of the room forward. And so, yeah, son, he gets 50 or how many reps, reps off 50%? Remember, coach said, that means more opportunity for somebody else to play, right? So that need more for our values, that scheme flexibility with our value, we're going to pay pierce around, we set TJ Riley, you like all these guys stove. We're all going to get more reps, which I think is great. So we got to do it at this point in the season. But I think, yes, there's still stuff that, within that all of the best sunny, is that he's going to be clawed and try to get those reps, because 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. And, you know, very similar to the fact of Cody,

12:16like, would you 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, were you at, you know, like, they're obsessed with the game of football. They're always around when they're 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 TJ in terms of the higher math measures. 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 links. We talk about sunny styles, long, can run, our Valries, long, can run. Like, it's crazy, because you see sunny, and you're like, okay, this guy, like, I wish I was built like that when I played. And then you see our Val stand next to sunny, you're like, 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 made it as a phenomenal job.

13:17I was just talking to Burm about it, like, to see even our mid-year guys what they looked like when they showed up during, like, the bowl of the whole Maddy run, and they're kind of hanging out during practice, and you see the high school bodies to see what they looked 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. And so what he's really good at, right, is like, and he's talked about it. One year, he has Junior Seo, we'll even 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'll just put his blitz brand in the middle all the time, because he has 260 pounds in the beast. And he always says he was my best nose guard, from Mike Bakker, right? And then the year after that, he gets, you know, we've got Jamie Collins and Dante Hightower, and we can do a lot of stuff, right? So they're just like, hey, this is what we're doing.

14:17We got plenty of people wondering, hey, here's what we got. Let's utilize it. So that's what Sprint will be. While going to lab and figure out what they mean, so I'm sure through Sprint Ball, there will be like, hey, here's what we do really well as a unit, because this unit's going to be different, right? I mean, there's a lot of production, so the unit will be different. So you kind of got to reform your own identity, and you have to re-hearn that civil bullet, nickname, and mantra. How many other guys can look at Arbel? He's on a very good track, is that it? Is it a record? What's his ceiling? What's his background? 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 Arbel, you know? Through the season, you got way better at, you know, a lot of it's little things, just note taking and stuff. Like, sometimes these kids are always on their phones and stuff, not in the meeting rooms or anything like that, but just naturally.

15:17So like, to get out of pen and paper, and you hear things, and to me, yeah, I got it. What you do until you're 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've gotten so much better through the year, just a lot of that's because of Cody, like, becoming a pro, and now it's like, son, he's pulling him along. He's pulling pain along, the pain's pulling T.J. and Riley and Eli, so they can still, like, so I kind of love the competition in the room right now, and the way it's made up. Yeah, he's on a great path right now. How many different guys do you feel like can be in that Mike's spot? Three yet? But that obviously losing Cody and now having that. A lot of them either. You know, I think that's something that's fluid as we kind of go. Because, you know, week one, Sonny actually started out Mike for us, and Sonny's smart enough to play him all. Our Vela is smart enough to play him all. Pain pierces smart enough to play him all. And it's also like, how do you, like, depends on what scheme you're running. Where are they? How do they be utilized as well?

16:17You know what I mean? So, you can say, like, Mike Backer, you know, whether it's Tommy, I convert Garofil, Reese, or two different people. Cody's different than those two, so I challenged to, like, a lot of the guys that come in, and so you got to be all the other of 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 to learn Mike. My drop is this, and that's all I need to know. Like, or 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 haven't recognized that the offense is telling you something that'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, as soon you get it, you can look. I can see, okay, here's what the tie-down is doing. That's what the back's doing. Here's what plays are coming. If you just line up and play, it's rather passive at the time.

17:17Like, you know what I'm saying? You've got to eliminate plays in your mind by seeing what the offense is doing. Like, tell you a story every time they line up, they just window-dressing. My people motion and say, if they're trying to do man-zone indicators, and they're trying to make sure that, they're getting the same formation, they're in the same place, but they just shift the people in the motion. And they move, and they don't want you to recognize them. So, we're always worried about what work you're doing, so the more you know, the faster you can play. You're not sitting there thinking, oh, what do I have for you? You're just being reactive. So, I know you have. So, my challenge to guys, like, there's always a no-both. So, I think a lot of it would just be on, on depth of certain guys, you know, if Sunnies are only doing 15 to 75% of this place, 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 sometimes, you know, you'll live with some mistakes just from being a news spot, but you'll be able to judge too, like who's actually getting in the book, you know what I mean?

18:17Who's actually studying? How much of a growth have you seen from Sunnies this time of year ago through the National Championship game? And then what's next for you? Man, I mean, definitely, I know Sunnies has big goals and he should. I do as well for him. And to see how far he's come, you know, the first thing kind of stands out is just like his, his footwork has gotten so much better. You know, when you're in the boxes and linebacker, you gotta be able to remember Luke Fickley's to say it all the time, and you gotta be slow until it's time to be fast. And when you're twitchy, like he is, a lot of times, you know, when you're about safety, you're just pulling the trigger and rolling. Like you gotta learn how to shuffle and not cross over. And he got so much better as a year or not. I think a lot of people question whether he'd be able to hold up Fisk howdy wise, and you know, he was, he was great, you know, he was the season guy. He's really good with his hands. He's had 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

19:19and be like, he's not gonna be in the catch on the ball. You know what I mean? Because he has that athleticism. I think we need to challenge him there. Challenge him. I think everything is just missed on just sunny. It's everybody's urgency in zone coverage. I mean, the urgency with the three of us to break on the football to close that space, not at the ball carrier, have so much space on you to cut making mistakes. It's critical. I think sometimes he's keeping it so athletic that, you know, he 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 he'll come to me before film and 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 pushed and they want to be coached. And so the pain and heck of a rascal you asked for, right? Like, how I was asking, what do you need for me? Just keep making sure you're pushing it. Don't let me settle. So he's probably the best on the room with that. Do you look at Sunny and Arvel as kind of your top of these guys right now?

20:22Yeah, I mean, I think going into it, you know, I think it's Sunny, Arvel, Peyton's right up there in that mix, you're accurate there. And then it's like who else is going to emerge from really the fourth, the fourth guy, you know, I think it's a healthy way to put it. Yeah, I just, I think our, I think our backers are so competitive, so competitive that it's, you know, I know Peyton Pierce is chopping at the bit. I know that he's going to push, you know, Vell and Sunny. I know that you look at Riley and TJ and Eli and Stove, like those guys are going at it. These work guys, those guys are going at it and it's constant. You know what I mean? They're trying to fight each other or everything. So, because the reality of it is they're fighting for reps, right? So this game is hard. It's winter loser every single day. And, you know, a lot of the guys are going to make our break and then start with the mental preparation to be honest with you. And because that's where trust starts, right?

21:24If you don't know what you're doing, I can't put you out there. So who preps mentally as we get rolling and then the physical part of that blood. Let's say it says it's Sunny, Arvel and Peyton probably have probably the top three. And then, but like I always say, it's always fluid. It's always fluid. I haven't done this. You know, it's funny. There was one coach who said that I forget what kind of felt he was. But he said that what he does is he has the depth chart. Sit in the front of the room. So if you're a starter, you're the first to grow, you know, and then the second row and he's like, it'll change weekly. Sometimes loop camp. I'm like, I can't do that. I got to. I'm not sure they can handle that. We're good? So I can't wait. The interest you've had, is it just bad luck? Is there anything you've been attributed to beyond this for? Yeah, it's just unfortunate. You know, but guy has a plan always.

22:24You know, I don't know what the plan exactly is. You know, I don't know. But whatever plan it is, it's for me to be here. You know, I had a great rookie year. I didn't really have the volume as other people in my rookie year. 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? I had 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 could feel like me. And so after I got that cleaned up, I had the first two games back from the injury.

23:26I had over 120 yards rushing, right? And then went on, had great, great ending of the year. 100 total yards in the play-out game we lost, which I hate the most. Styles 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 able to shine a light to the whole world. Are you concerned that you haven't labeled, you can't stand with me? I could care less. Because 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 dinky injuries and sitting out. It's something I can't control literally. So that's why I'm not bothered by it.

24:27Like, yeah, I am injury-pone. You can say that, you know, but I do think that the charges, the charges 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 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, and my relationship with Jesus is like, I have the most confidence when I step 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,

25:29that's what helps me have that confidence. With the numbers, we'll be there in there. They might be higher after this year, you know, Zen, and it's crazy to think about it. Because I had six point yards or six yards per carry, you know. So we'll see. You've been in Florida running 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'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. Justin, I'm 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, we're great. We have a great relationship. That's, he's like my brother. I think it complements each other very well. You know, he can do a lot of stuff too. You know, we got a lot of people think he's just power, power, power, power, but I think he has some other parts of his game too, which it'll be great.

26:30Because I feel like I can do everything. And when one's getting tired, we can roll it in, we keep rolling. We win some games. When you, the two of you, he's going, how do you think this is 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 the Super Bowl. You know, if you look at the team to win the Super Bowl, they can run the ball, they 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 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. I think it's going to be great. He's often going to be amazing. One thing we talked about is why I think we'll build something good Russian offense throughout your career, which everybody could.

27:36And you said that one part of it is just, you got to call the place. You got to call it a place. As we're running back, how much confidence, how much you say it is to give you, and play call it, because it's going to stick with it and allow you and the offense to monitor your rhythm. It gives me a lot of excitement. You know, it's going to be, like I said, it's fun to play this offense. And I think he does have some good things in the pass game too. But like you said, he sticks with the run, and that's the identity. You want to offense that has an identity, right? You're going to be looking everywhere else to find your identity. You want to have it. I think his offense has that. And the guy he builds and puts in there, it complements that identity. So I think it's going to be great. You mentioned you're 100% now, so you mean full goal for training? That's the 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 two years, three years ago.

28:36I'm thinking I'm full goal. I think I'm ready to go. And then next thing you know, I'm on PUP. Hey, look, some stuff above my pay-gray. But I don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start, you know, to begin a 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 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 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. 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. Any frustration for you during the getting into the agency, you know,

29:39dealing with rehab and not, you know, having a full season of tape or production to go out there. Is there any part of that where you're like, I wish I had hit the public 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 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.

30:43And 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, low risk because you, it's a business, right? So I heard last year. So not as much money that he's be throwing at. 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 were like, alright, here, you can, we give you this, but we want you to be healthy. So 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 regret it. Are you the type of person that likes to go wrong? Like you've run a couple things like a 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.

31:44You'll 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 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 worried 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 being injury prone because whenever I have this great year, it's going to be forgotten, you know? Why give that energy? Talk about Justin and all of our kind of chances. 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 and 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. So when I first saw him, this was years ago in college. And I'm like, am this really tall?

32:44Like, it's cool though. Like I never really got to, I think a lot of those would be kind of, you know, you know, nerdy, but he's cool, dude. Very laid back. No, we'll face to him. Come here more and more. Can you tell similar will you will be doing terms of playing with what you did in 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. Once we'll get no through the protocols and NFOPA, we'll talk about no, 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 in what role? 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 find myself to be more comfortable with whether I'm standing up or I'm not, or there's runner or pass those seem to be my best, my best fits.

33:49And what is your impression of peak caros defense and whole environment and Seattle? From afar, it seems like he holds an undefined lot. I can't really say too much about that. I know peak caros 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 then 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 caros has 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. Yeah, I know you said you don't know yet what your role can be. But what kind of player are you that you don't understand? Do you have a watch on the Denver? What kind of player does he have to get?

34:50Definitely a high motor. Definitely not a one trick paring type of player. I like to attack. No, whether it's first or first to do fourth now. I like to attack. I'm always trying to apply pressure. I'm definitely just a high motor guy. My opinion. Maybe. Are they already under sin for me? It's been nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Yeah, this is not a team that really makes big splash sign in this in pregnancy. Did you think going into it that Seattle would be in play? No, not at all. You just it's kind of like being a kid at the candy store. You know, 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, why did you have to do it 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.

35:51I'm more like touristy type of things, you know, I'm new to the city and I got a lot to learn about city. Larry. Yeah, there's been a lot of comparisons of you to Michael Bennett. I'm wondering if you know Michael Bennett at all and you think those are actually. I know Michael Burr, but I don't know nothing about it. But besides his style of play. But I'm honored to be considered in the same conversation as him in a style of play. You know, he's a Hall of Fame type of deep lime. I've known about this. 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 on. Welcome to Seattle. I know you get to play several seasons for Vic Fangio. And three, four style defense. And Seattle's playing a similar system out there back to last year.

36:51I have a defensive line. And what do you think is most important to be successful in that system? Maybe fundamentals or just playing style to be successful? Just from what I learned, being gap sound and being patient has always been the biggest thing. And 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 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 on. You're a, you're going to have a state class that you didn't start playing football till you were junior in high school. What did you play basketball till then? Did you know I get to play football and then with that I've heard you stood there all the time. You were away from basketball? No, no, I've always loved football first. It was just kind of just I'm just playing it out. You know, I love to hoop, but you know football was definitely about calling and giving I was 265 pound.

37:52Power forward and I was like six, three, three, so you know, I kind of chose to route that guy gave me. No, I'm not six eight. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to Seattle and you've been voted. You're looking at fucking the audience. You listen to the job play and can you just talk a little bit about that? And that will only be the same as you said. You know, four times. I'm not. You and I were it more than that. Just for a standpoint, like I always get like over over shadowed over look, whether it's a. And something, you know, I was saying like. I feel like I do a lot more than what can be sitting by the eyes of the inexperienced, you know, scout. And I do a lot of different dynamic things that help make place for others. You know, I'm definitely an active player. I'm always doing something whether in the run or pass game. So, you know, I think that goes on. Sometimes and I'm looking forward to playing people on notice. Brady.

38:53What do you like to do outside of football? A big gamer. I'm definitely I'm again 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 really not interested in reading that much. But mainly just video gaming in chess. And then when we write and say your name, do you prefer Drainmont? I mean, you can say Drainmont Jones. I mean, but like just I'm like personally just call me Drain because it's easy because people like to f my name. But like a lot. And they call me Drainmont. I don't know why you put a Drainmont. T my name or Drainmont. T whatever you want to say. I was going to go by Drain and keep it simple. Thank you. All right. Michael Sean. Hey Drain, what's the simple thing you bring to the C-MAR as a passbook? Some of the new era of the crash question. You know, someone was on the little lighter side of the average Dree technique and bringing that explosiveness that quickness. Someone was great with their hands. Someone was very extensible.

39:54And someone was a go getter when it comes to the run-and-pass game. Appreciate it. Thank you. John Boyle. Yeah. Drain, Jones, that I just said after the trade date. Or after the signing that you actually got to date, they wanted them to trade last year. The Russell of the trade. But Denver said no. It was not some of the time you were aware of it all. Yeah, I was aware. I mean, like, shit. They'd be flattered. They want to be even like that. Yeah. I am flattered. I mean, shit. They should have just traded me from the jump. But it was cool to, I guess, it kind of came full circle for Seattle a little bit. I was included into the trade and Denver said no. And then Denver kind of, I don't want to say that word. But Denver didn't pay my part respect. So I'm here because they respect me from the jump. All right, anything else, guys? Thank you. Great water. And I ate a good size meal before the game. And none of it was food. So I think I may have been like bloated from water. I don't know. I'm trying to figure it out and play around with some things.

40:54But I know we're going to jump. Are you OK? Like anything served for you? No, no, I'm all right. Yeah, I'm all right. Just so unfortunate. You know, I've got to deal with it. But thank God I got the got the got blocked. So it's all good. How much fun are you guys having like in that last game? Just run blocking. I know that's kind of like what linemen like the best. And how much did you enjoy that game? Yeah, no, it's awesome. Especially when it's hitting like that. You know, just, you know, you can kind of see the defense get worn down and start getting tired. And that's what football is all about right there. It was defensive. Front though is a little bit different obviously than the gold Jefferson. It's one of the best defensive titles. How do you kind of gain playing for a guy like him? Yeah, well, we have to obviously make sure he doesn't wreck the game and keep him under control. It's not just him though. I mean, they've got a good big front across the board. The linebackers play downhill. They're just a very aggressive defense. So we're going to have our hands full. It'll be a good game. For you as a lineman, is like that change or how do you approach that?

41:55Because it's two different sets of quarterbacks there. Where is it finally going to be a little different? Yeah, well, just, you know, got to prepare and be ready for both. And no matter who we end up rolling out there, we just have to execute, you know, and communicate and not miss a beat either way. So that's the focal point for me right now. How much confidence do you guys have coming up with performance? That's a strong, aggressive performance. You guys have a league health feed. You know, I'm a top-of-the-street. Yeah, I mean, I think we've proved to ourselves that we could do it. And I think that gives us a ton of confidence, you know? And well, you know, not just the rest of the team too. I mean, you're talking Malik and the confidence he has in himself and that we all have in him. So, yeah, I mean, I think we feel good. But yeah, just, just a bit of... Like, what, this is kind of just a general question. But what's your favorite part of playing? Hitting. I would say it's coming down. I'm just, uh, smashed by the way.

42:58That's pretty much the right look forward to. And just, you know, going out there and dominating my opponent. That's the exact answer I was expecting watching your tape. Because you're just such a physical downhill player, right? What does it feel like in a game to deliver? It's a little bit more. Um, it feels great. I mean, it's just, it's just domination. I said that's the best feeling I'm going to feel to be honest. Better than a pig, a TVU. It's just physically putting yourself on the body. And at the point of the tag winning. And just, yeah. Do you think a lot of safety would say the same thing? Or do you think a lot of safety would prefer, I think, or something? I would say it definitely, it's a, it definitely differentiates. So, you know, some people would just like to get the pick and the flashy. But, you know, that's cool too. But everybody got that. It's an opportunity for you with, you know, Nathan Ransom leaving to get on the 2D this year, that you're competing for the playing time. What are you doing to try and, um, get to that point? Um, just maximizing myself every day. So, you know, taking coach G's advice and coaching and getting better every day.

44:00So using what he gives me and creating a better version myself these days. And, um, as I keep doing that, I think I'll be trying to model your game after. Is there anybody watched your grown up or you'll get it today? The college, uh, bro. Uh, I really, I watched a lot. I like, like, uh, watch German, German James and Jesse Bates. Um, just take, like, put a baker, just piece it out at everybody's game. So, um, and try to implement them in my game. And I really take anybody's game, but just take little bits and put them in, like, my version of play. So, you committed to a high school, you've been a great class teacher. Yeah, I've heard about it. Coach Herry talked about, especially for out-of-state kids. Relationships are very important in that time. You're committed. What was it about coach Herry and the relationship you had with him? You know, kind of made you feel comfortable and still thinking about the high school. Yeah, you know, coach G, he's, she's one of the smartest coach I've been around. You know, it's definitely my first year in college, but, you know, definitely just, uh, a very smart coach.

45:02Um, like, has a potential to probably be a DC definitely, uh, maybe a head coach Monday. So, you know, when we have that, just that mental piece, you know, I think it adds to my game. It's like, out of the physical ability and he's a mental piece. So, I feel like it jails together and I knew that my recruitment to be the best safety, you gotta be smart. So, um, having that piece, it made me want to come here and learn. Having gone through that process, obviously, what advice would you give to somebody who is going through the process right now? Who does have a little bit to their commitment? What advice would you give them? I'm just kind of weathering everything through the, uh, through their senior year? Um, I would say pick the decision that's going to best maximize yourself, uh, personally wise and football wise. You know, you got a lot of different things to go out throwing at you, but then in the day, you gotta keep them making the main thing. And becoming the best ball player and being whatever your dream is, go to the NFL first round. Um, just put that first. Yeah. He asked for us and how it would taste care of our body, um, you know, just the, uh, diligence and, uh, situation of football, uh, Coach McCarty, man, he's, he's a great coach.

46:10You see, by the day, just us being, being ready, uh, and this week went opener and, uh, excited to build on that. Thank you. Um, I feel like I always feel good, not always, but I mean, this week one, uh, this week one, um, something definitely fresh, but, uh, you know, just gotta, you know, continue to, you know, build on that and, uh, take care of my body and, uh, you want to be feeling good and December in January. That's right. I know that I'm always going to be in the middle of the market, or I'm going to be in the middle of the market. I'm going to be in the middle of the market, so it's kind of, you know, get that behind you. Uh, it definitely felt great, you know, scoring that touchdown, uh, had a bunch of emotions, kind of had to lay there and, and soak it all in, but, uh, you know, it's glad to be back. Did you tell the guys you were in front of the kids, you know, my wife here in the years, like, you were supposed to have them in front of you, how did you feel like everything? Very time in front, and, uh, first I have two working starting the day. I think those guys, you know, played their tell off day. They competed. Um, I think we had a great plan and we went out and executed it.

47:13When you were sitting on a bench, uh, in between ways, would you think about Mike's defense? Oh, wow. I mean, I think it was late in the second quarter. And I think I have like 30 yards, passing 30 yards rushing. I'm like, many boys are out there playing. Um, but I mean, when against that defense all offseason, uh, know how difficult it is to play them, to prepare for them. Um, but, you know, they, they stepped up and answered the call. Thank you. It took hard to three months to, um, competing every day. Uh, that's, that's the biggest thing. Uh, 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. Then I actually, I got that first loss on my belt and, you know, it kind of opened my eyes like these guys take it hard 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, you had the opportunity to be around the team for that, you know, CFP Ron.

48:14What did you learn from just those few weeks seeing this team make that run? Uh, you know, being real tight with your brothers, you know, they're, they're real tight. Um, you know, they, they push each other, you know, it's a real brotherhood. Uh, they don't let nobody down. They always got each other back. So, 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, um, when they were at the national championship, you know, I just got to watch, you know, how guys are, you know, real locked in. Uh, 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? Uh, you handle that first loss? Uh, that first loss, you know, it kind of got to me. It was, it was the IGB, uh, you know, he, you know, he, he let me hear. So after that loss, I was like, nah, I can't let this happen. Cause it's like, now it's not high school where you 17, 16 years old. And if you lose, you lose appearance. Nah, if you lose the coach, you see that. So, and they're going to see how you respond to it. So I feel like I had a, I had to, you know, open my eyes, I had to go, going there and lock them. Like, yeah, I can't let this happen.

49:16Where, you know, so I got to grow up and, you know, these guys are counting on me too. So it's, it's really important that I don't lose. If you hadn't described yourself as a competitor, how would you do that? Uh, I'm a, I'm a great competitor, you know, I like winning. Uh, who doesn't like winning? So I mean, winning is, it's in my blood. Uh, you know, my parents taught me that, uh, at a young age, you know, going after competing for anything that you want. And I feel like if you can go after a compete for, you know, his 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, 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. And I'm going to be the one to get it. There's some role markers in your room, obviously. Are you a talker? What would your natural resources be? Uh, yeah, I mean, it could come out on you know, but I don't really, I really know my game to the talking, uh, for, for this part. Um, 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, kiss balls on me. So if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently doing TVU, yeah, I'm going to talk, uh, but you know, being in that room, you kind of got to talk, you know,

50:16to Jame, you got IGB, you know, those, those real talkers in that room. So it kind of, 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, you can see what happened. Is there anyone that's kind of, uh, it was during the winter? We were doing, uh, you know, just, just stuff on the field. We was just, just, just having the time of the field, uh, just a lot of competitions. So I mean, he just kind of, it was a day where, you know, they had us going up against just the freshmen 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, we all kind of lost. And it all kind of like, we all kind of came together as a freshman group. Like, what are we going to do about this? Cause, you know, some of their kind of nice to just step up in those roles. Yeah, come and welcome to college. Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely my work on college moments, you know, you know, just, just, just showing that, you know, it's real now, a metal high of state. Uh, I'm not in Houston, Texas and I'm wearing my school, um, far from my family. Uh, 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.

51:18You've mentioned high school a couple of times. Well, how did, you know, grow it up. Very in Texas playing at that level. How do you feel like that? How do you prepare for Ohio State? Uh, I feel like you prepare 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. Uh, we live just like these guys who do the same. This, uh, you know, the level of ball I played, the highest level ball in the Texas 6A, you know, we're going against guys like Dunkin' Bill, no crowd. I mean, I think that's a little bit easier than to be a better player for the school. I mean, I think you know, I think that's a really great place. I mean, I mean, I mean, I think that's a really great place. Um, I think that's a big issue. But I don't think anybody can be at least one of the top schools, uh, you know, received the coin more I go against them. I want to get some 3 times in my career. So I mean, those that really prepared me for this level, uh, you know, coming in, like, okay, this is not where it's a little school where, oh, they don't, they don't believe that I can come here and make an impact. I came from big schools. So they're, they count on me to make an impact because, you know, I think, I mean, everybody would say Texas is one of the highest, they're counting on me to be ready and that little ball prepared me real well.

52:19How'd you do against DeCaurin? You know, it was when lose, when lose. I went something, he lost something. So I mean, it's just getting better on Shob and Iron. Because he's the top receiver obviously in our class. I feel like he's going to have a good impact at working. So, I mean, it's just what's going to happen next. Looking for to see it again? Yeah, definitely, definitely. I'm not planning on planning against him. We won't see him this year. Hopefully we'll see him in the big team in the championship. So, I want that rematch. DeVa, 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 seen kids play the game a little bit longer than that. But you chose to not do that. Just kind of lock it in here. Why? You know, because this is where I felt this was home. I didn't really feel like standing Texas was a good thing for me. I didn't feel like that was home for me. Up here, I just felt like it was home. Because of all, and because they, you know,

53:19they're making me feel important up here. And then, you know, you could ask, because how many times I came up here, throughout my high school career, I came for 13 times. So, it got to the point where I was knowing the guys on the team. I had the numbers just like that. When I came up here, I didn't got to always build the coaches. I could go chill with some of the guys on the team. So, it was just me knowing what I wanted to put in my college ball. You know, knowing where I felt like it was home. And then, you know, it was also my parents too. My mom being, you know, feeling safe that, you know, I'm up here, you know, I'm handling the business. And I have no worry about me. And she goes to sleep. Are you in the big 12? Two-part question. When you look at what you've done, Jackson State, first year at Colorado, the accomplishments and the eyes and attention that you've brought. Have you taken the moment to sort of sit back and appreciate? I know you've given a lot of love to your players and programs. But have you taken time to appreciate the worth and what you brought,

54:19part one, part two? You have one at a time. I'm on 5-6. You can't do that. One at a time. Give me one at a time, all right? First of all, thank you. Thank you for just understanding and recognizing those things. I don't have time to sit back and watch what was done because I'm so busy doing what I do. So I don't have time for, you know, even though my arms could reach that back to the pet myself on the back, I ain't got time for it. You don't like it anyway. Every once in a while, I do it because I know y'all ain't gonna do it. So I don't have time for it, but I appreciate it. And I'm thankful of the calling that God has on my life. I really am. Now we go to part two. Part two, with what you brought to the programs in the historic Black Colleges and to Colorado. Do you feel an obligation with whom you are to perform at a higher level or coach at higher level? Yeah, like I guess. Yes. I'm judged on a different scale.

55:19My wins are totally different than your wins. Your wins, you just judge in football. That's why I have to start out and give you education and academics and so forth. I have to give you those things so you understand that's a greater scope. I can't win nine games and we, our GPA suffers. Our GPA can't be high, but we lose another eight games. We can't not go and grab high school players and you got a bunch of guys in the portal out of the portal that's getting incarcerated. My wins are different. We have to win in every area. That's the way we're judged. I'm cool with that. Because we come a little different. So the expectation is greater. But it's not just football. It's been like, did all my life. I've always had a greater expectation for myself. So the expectation you have for me would never outweigh the expectation I have for myself. Thank you.

56:19That's a wonderful question. All right. We'll go to the left side, third row in the middle. Hey, Deon Collins-Willson with the Action Network. One question. What led you to the hiring of Robert Livingston come from the city? Oh my God. They test the opportunity. I mean, we needed the defense coordinator and I'm a pro, man. And that's nothing against the college coaches because we have some phenomenal college coaches, especially in this conference. But I'm a pro. So I like the relationships and the thought process of a pro. And Coach Livingston was recommended to me by a few pros that I'm well familiar with in our trust. My December being one of them. And his interview process and his consistency and his thought process and his relatability just put place him well above the other applicants. I'm happy I made the decision. And when we look back on it, first of all, I pray to God that I keep him because I feel like we're going to kick butt, we're going to win.

57:25And he's going to be a head coach and college or pros and whatever he endeavors because he's that good. So I'm thankful and I'm happy for him, but he is awesome. When I tell you awesome, he is totally awesome. Okay, we'll go over here to the right side in the first row. We got another guy on the side of the ball named Pat Sharmer that's pretty darn good as well. I mean, really good. And his compatibility and relationship with Shador is amazing. And what they plan on doing this season, I can't wait to see it myself. Yes, sir. Coach Prime, my name is Arnie Bayesmore with Vegas Sports today. Yeah. I want to officially welcome you to our amazing City of Las Vegas. Thank you. Now, my question is, I don't gamble though. So you ain't getting that out of me. Okay. So I'm going to take you to Vegas and impact what legacy and or impact do you hope to have on the world of sports as a player and or as a coach? Both really, I don't care like how you see me, how you look at me.

58:25I'm more apt to understand how I see me and how I look at me and how God sees me and how he looks at me. So really, I don't care how you see me. It's never going to be enough. Nothing I do is ever going to be enough. I'm cool with that. I understand that that is life and that's how life is going to be. But I plan on being a tremendous blessing to as many people that I can bless, especially those probably 120 young men that put so in this CU helmet and go out there and to play for our school in our program. So the summit all up, man, I just want to be known as a great dad. I think I have three sons here today and I just want to be a great dad to them. That's it. Thank you, my man. I appreciate you. All right. We'll see in the right side. We'll go about halfway back on the aisle. Coach, Dom is WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota. You're opening up with North Dakota State or known GF killer.

59:25Tell me what you know about the bison. They're good. They're really darn good. And I'm mad at Rick right now if I put them on the schedule, open up with them. Like, can you give me a layup or something? Like those guys are wonderful. Their staff has always been amongst the best. Many people have matriculated from that staff to go to higher levels. Those kids play their butts off. They play tough. They don't make many mistakes. They're accustomed to winning. They don't give a darn about being at home on the road that does not face them whatsoever. We just can't wait to see it. I know it's a national television game. I believe it's a Thursday night game. Hopefully not too late. But we can't wait to see them. It's going to be a phenomenal game, phenomenal matchup. But that program is second to none. All right. We'll go to the left side, sixth throw on the far left side. Stuart Mandel from the athletic. Going into your two, what are some of the things that gave you confidence that this season can end a lot better than for a day?

1:00:27When I see the offensive line and the way they train, the way they work, the way they go about their job, when I see the defensive line coaches and the way they're own their kids and the way they're demanding excellence. And the way these young men are working in the athletes that they are and the bodies that they have and they've developed right now. When I see the receiving core staying out the practice to work with the court back coming over the court back coming over there on off days to work with one another. When I see the running backs doing the same led by a former walk on Charlie Alfordol, you know, when I see the special teams, Mark Vesett is here right now. I think he's a darn pro and model that don't miss. And Jayce Philly and those guys that they can't wait to their time. They understand special teams mean that we're special. You know, when I see those, the secondary shoot.

1:01:27And they get out of bed and want to play man-to-man coverage. I love it, man. And shall OK, wait to hit somebody. You know, Cam Silman. So many of the guys, the change made from safety to linebacker would Trevor, I mean, and I really think this young man is going to be the next Brian Erlecker. I think he's going to make that transition from safety to lineback and be dominated. Like I just see the won't and the fire and desire from our young men. And I can't wait to you get an opportunity to see it as well. So I'm very optimistic on what we have on our plate this year. All right, we'll go to the right side, third row right in the middle. Phillip Dukes, the five star flex on on three. Coach Sanders. Good job. As the father of three Division I football players, what did you learn during their process as a parent that's helped you formulate your recruited style as a head coach?

1:02:28Great question. First and foremost, I've set in all seats. The parent seat being recruited as the kid now being the coach that helps me tremendously when I'm recruiting. And I'm not understanding what the parent is thinking, what the kid is thinking. Now what the coach desires to want to know. It's been a tremendous asset for me to understand those facets of this new recruiting age that is impacted tremendously by NILs and Collectives. So I love it. Sometimes I don't like it, but I love it and I love that these kids are being compensated somewhat for what they bring to the table. I don't want them to put the bag before the game because if you have the game, the bag is going to come. I want them to understand that. But I just don't want to take away from the purity, the purity of this wonderful game that we have.

1:03:33I'm a college footballist phenomenal man. This conference is phenomenal. Look at what we are. You got to be kidding me. Now I'm a brother from Folk My Eyes Florida. And I'm sitting up here in the Dern Inz on in Las Vegas talking to the whole Dern country about a childish game that I played when I was a shouting. Don't you understand how powerful and how wonderful this is? And I'm so darn thankful to be here. I try to relate that to all our young men. This is a moment, man. You better maximize it. And let's go get it. Thank you. It's a wonderful question. All right. We'll send the right side. We'll go halfway back in the right. And if you out there is right. I got you today, right? Okay. All right. We'll go back halfway back on the right side on the center aisle. Coach Prime, Alex Blackburn, College Football Dogs. With all the media attention surrounding your program, how do you stay focused on the main goal, which is winning games? How do you keep yourself and your team focused? Well, you keep the main thing, the main thing. The main thing never should transfer itself.

1:04:36Winning is what we're here for. As far as the focus and intention, I think every sense I step into Florida state in 85 has been like that for me. This ain't new to me. I'm not new to this. Like we say in the hood, I'm true to this. So this is new to some of you all. And you want us to change. We're not going to change. We're going to try to do things being smart, tough, fast, disciplined with character. That's what we're relaying to all our young men. But the cameras and the lights, I think I haven't seen one kid here today to say he didn't like that. He may not like the process, but he likes the the the pagots that you wrap him up in and you put him out there. All these kids are excited about the EA sports game, right? There's their scores and levels. They want attention. They want affection. They won't love. They want adoration. Adulation. I'm sorry. Yeah. We give you that. But you got to work first. So you can understand the consistency thereof.

1:05:38It's going to take you to where you want to go every time mom and dad. If that's what you please. I will stay over here on the right side. Third row right in the middle. Hi coach. How you doing? Good. How are you? You go girl. I know you. Nikki Edwards, you sports report. We talked during spring and throughout last season. The importance on stopping the run. You get a guy like BJ green and your defensive line. Yeah. How is he going to be a leader in achieving that goal? BJ green is already a leader. Do you know that BJ green played for me when he was five through seven years old with truth and Dallas and well South Dallas. So he's been a part of my life for a long time and they raised him right at Arizona State and for him to come over now. It's phenomenal. His work ethic the way he approaches in the text of game. It's phenomenal. His want his desire. His will. I just got finished doing the interview and they say well you have two young men that projected probably to be the top five picks.

1:06:38That's a yeah, but we won't for in the first round. And the only way that's going to happen is we win and they're dominant and I think BJ green could be one of those guys. And I think he will be one of those guys because he wants it that much. Shane, round deal, Amari McNeil. I'm just the name of you and corn is to to feet, Chodosi TC. That's my dog from Arkansas. I mean, we have some guys inside there that can flat out do it outside. We have some guys that can go get the quarterback as well. We just want to be in the position to allow them to be the best they can be. And that's one thing that coach Livingston is doing well. He's not coming in trying to remake everything and reinvent the wheel. He's like, let's find out what these guys can do well and let them do what they do. And that's what we're going to do. That's the formula. I've told you guys that's that's what we do. Okay. That's how we come in.

1:07:40All right, final question far left side about a question. I'm just having a good time. Now you got to go right out of time. We got a shot. Pluck joy. Did they give you a shot? Pluck. How you doing, coach? How you doing? Omni-Arcan, TG sports here. I have a quick question regarding building a winning culture. Yeah. What does that mean? What does a winning culture mean? I want to know what that means because you got to be a winner to understand what that winning culture means. Everybody want to know about the culture, the culture. What is culture? To me, culture is day in day outputting in the work. Lifestyle. Lifestyle. Yeah. Okay. So progressing in that general area right there as far as the winning culture side. Last year you guys started off strong. You did kind of feels a little bit towards the end of the year. But I remember you still talking about continuing to build that winning culture day in day out. Do you feel the guys that you brought in this year are going to be able to help you build those gaps? I don't talk about culture that much. So that wasn't me.

1:08:42But I do talk about the consistency there of the goal and being consistent in whatever you do. So if you have a team that's got to be a little more physically tough, you got to develop that. If you got mentally tough, strategically satisfying and from the coach and staff's point of view, you got to understand that. But culture, everybody's own this word, this word. And I don't understand this word one bit. And somebody got to help me understand what that word culture means. An environment, understanding of winning, you want that. I feel like I'm a winner. I know I'm a winner. So whatever I display, however I go about my job, my work, my business, my personal life, that's a winner. That's all I know. I don't know anything else but that. So in due time and due process, we're going to reach that goal because we're going to get there because I know I'm going to get there. And I'm not going by myself.

1:09:45That'll do it. Coach, thank you for your time. Wow. God bless you. Thank you. Is that kind of, is it keep that in the back of your head when we going against Jeremiah and Carnell and Brandon and Michael? Yes, that's my mindset. In practice the whole day, I went to those boys to get me everything that they have. And I'm like, well, I'm saturday and it's going to be easy for me and I'll be prepared. What have you seen the growth of the young mourners? Obviously we saw that not a Jeremiah last year. They're germane, sorry, but Calvin and some of the errands, how do you see them?

1:10:46And Scott has gotten completely better from his brain. Glad completely better. Is that just time in the program? I'm just getting used to the speed of college. What about Calvin? He was obviously here last year. He was. Calvin has gotten a lot better. Like I would say that he's gotten a lot smarter. And he also write G.B. Go ahead. He's got about Calvin's intelligence, you know, where he's grown. Where specifically is it? The film room is it picking up, you know, the playbook? Where have you seen that? I would say Calvin has gotten smarter just like his game knowledge, like expecting like a different kind of routes and stuff like that. What did everything start to click for him? So last year was it in the soft sea? When did you feel this company wanted to do that? I would say in the spring I started to get a lot more comfortable in our decent. We said you break up the past yesterday with the Jeremiah name, sorry for your ass, but what is like going up against him? Do you think it seems like you enjoy it? Yeah, I love it. He's tough. I like going against him a lot. He's really good.

1:11:51What have you improved in your game just from that, for example, those those 101 matchups this preseason or whatever? You know how Ballyhoo disgame it. So Jeremiah, he forces me to play the bunker. If you don't play the Ballygans then he'll go get it. Yeah, yeah. And you Davidson, 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 is a lot more smarter this year. Everybody's like, I would just say that we're going to just smarter. When you look up and layton ran some decided to come back and Caleb down, transfer it in. What did you feel about that? Did 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. The level those guys have played at? Yeah, I would say that. Yeah, like a down is coming and then what they say he was coming back, Zell say he was coming back, it just still like.

1:12:58I would be happy to be the native. Thanks man. Of course. Say it again, we're looking for help. It's affecting him. It was a blown coverage all of both of them. So we just got to be better. That's the biggest thing. When you say that, you can put it on me. I mean, are you covering for other people when you say that? I just know I could be better at whatever faster it is. I could just be better to avoid a situation like that from happening. So I'll put on a done in the future and just got to be better. I'd be better to avoid just leaving people wide open and able to make a play. So you decide with you and Juan on those touch-shops. Say it again. It was to decide where you and Juan were on those one-blown touch-shops. It was something different you were trying or something that made that communication a problem. All of a sudden you guys, or was it something they were doing? No, it was just, I don't even know. It was just one of the times. I got to go back and watch the film and just communicate.

1:14:03I said, just got to be better and just can't have that out there on game day laying guys around for you. So is there anything unexpected I mean with what they were doing? You guys have seen her for a couple of times, even when we were new off into systems. So were there any surprises? Yeah, it wasn't really no surprises. They're a good team. A lot of stuff that hurt us was self-inflicted. I feel like we just got to be better on art and clean up our side to be better. But like I said, they're great offense, great team. But once we clean our own stuff up I think it would be good. How would keep you pushing in the second half of the outside of game and the second two and seven start? Keep you going. I mean, I love playing this game of football. So just coming out here with my guys every day, I enjoy coming to work with them and playing with them every day. And just trying to find ways to get a win each and every week. So that's the main goal trying to find a way to get a win and just enjoying playing a game of football. You worried all about wasting your time?

1:15:05No, I don't consider wasting a year in my prime. I'm trying to get the best I can for this team and the city and whatever happens happens. That's the biggest thing. But I don't know if it's been wasted. Just to be clear what you were diagnosed for the concussion right from the last game. I was in the protocol, but I feel great. And I'm out the protocol. But yeah, I'm good. So you've taken nothing to do with mistakes out there today. Say to the concussion. I've been having to do it with the concussions. I just got to be better on my end and make sure we all in the same call and we're all we're supposed to be. So that's so neat. Then what those always communication uses is more so like getting it from what we got to the rest of you guys. Which is more about the rest of the second. Oh, yeah. I mean, all that stuff plays an effect. We got to get the call from the green dot and just spread the call around and just make sure we all in the same page and execute all our assignment.

1:16:05You guys are better in defense. This is a new to you guys. Just help frustrated. And to have these communication breakdowns that ultimately end up causing you guys in a pretty big one. Yeah, it is frustrating because we better than that. I mean, this is probably one of the first times that we even have blown coverage is really all year. But we know we could get a fix and we know we could be a better defense and better team out there. And we definitely go work to get a fix though. You guys always talk about rushing coverage and for a lot of the first half, it seemed like it was either a sack. They were completing a chunk in the past play. Is that end of the frustration you are getting that sack production from your front that you know that's happening in the back end? Yeah, like I said, we got to clean it up and we go, we all get to figure it out and all playing up and be better and work together. And the rushing coverage will work together. You feel like it's almost like a wasting performance by the past rushers, the files with three sacks, six sacks in the first half.

1:17:06Is that kind of sour? Yeah, it's sour coming because the main goal is to get the win. Get the win in the game. But definitely he had a great personal performance. But it's definitely a sour feeling when I'm not able to pull the win out at the end. I know when we talked to you, last concussion you had in August that I'm worried about you just because of the number and you didn't seem to have any added concern. I guess after this week or you still feel that way and everything like your helmet and your future and all that. Yeah, I feel great. I feel great. I'm glad to be a part of this team and just don't want to come up to hope it's a good win. So I'm sorry if you were asked this, but what's your mindset, you know, obviously two and seven is not where you want to be. You have a bite. You're coming off a boss. Where's that mindset going into this week? It's supposed to be less. Yeah, definitely still going into the by week and get some rest and get away for a little bit. But just to come back, refocus and try to help flip this season around and get a win. Come next game. There's been a lot of stuff at the trade deadline coming up on Tuesday.

1:18:10Some of it centered around your teammates and areas. Can you just speak to what he means to you guys as a teammate here? As a derriest, it's an amazing teammate for our team and captain on his team, a leader on his team and a playmaker out there on the field. Love happens to derriest on the field with me. That was one of my favorite additions to the team when he came on. I say he's a great player and a great guy in the locker room and I definitely appreciate the derriest. The player he is and the guy he is. Thanks for being here. Thank you. Thank you. A lot. And I'm excited, like I said, to be able to play in space, be able to play in open holes and a defense and make plays after the catch. Chris, it's a receiver. When you make a catch and you're trying to make the determination of like, you don't want it to get somebody out or not having a necessary hit. How do you make that calculation of like when it's worth it? Just, just I'll feel really just seeing. We can really see a pre-snap from the coverage post-snap see what they see what they do with the defense does.

1:19:15You can really feel the defenders around you. Like I said, if you can see three or four people around you can really do too much. Like I said, a lot of more space with his offense, a lot more holes and a defense that you're trying to get the playmegers into. So I'm excited to be able to work with that. You can't really do it as much in practice, you know you're not going to get hit but more pre-season and first couple games I'm excited to see what that looks like. Can I pick up the sheets? I'm excited man, like I said from jump. He's a special player, he don't really get that so many players like him that's so quick, so fast, at least speed and anchor around routes too. So I'm excited to see what he does in the future but I feel like that's the least they can do for him this year. How do you think he would get the comp when he's won another round? There's a speed man, you can't teach speed at all. Just having us on opposite sides, even playing both sides. There's a speed down the field, you can run 15, 20 yard in-breakers out-breakers.

1:20:19And like I said you can have to play two safes most of the time or you can run the ball, you can get underneath your house. It's going to be a great compliment to the offense, so I'm excited. Chris, you said you hope this new offensive put playing makers in position to make plays. But 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 the cases are one I'm looking forward to. Just more opportunities with that, more space. Just to showcase my speed and my ability with the ball. I'm excited to do that this year. I'm not really showcase the first two years, so I'm excited to be with the quick game element of it. Just getting the ball in your hands. Yeah, quick game, play action, more over the middle rounds. It's a lot of different things that you can say that this guy's going to help that.

1:21:19But like I said, I'm excited. How would you describe the chemistry between you and the Garrett? Yeah, way better, man. I mean, it was our first year last year. So it was kind of up and down, but that's what it comes with the game of football. So we worked a lot this off season, OTAs, which was really good. And we got off to a good start these first two days of camp getting extra working. But that's going to come with time. So I'm not worried about that at all. We both competitors, we both want to be the best. So we got to do something to be good. So where do you kind of notice that difference? It's just like feel on the route. What do you kind of notice now that it's year two that gets more natural? What do you mean? It's like, Derek, are you when you're just about to get your work done? What do you kind of notice? It's just like, it's more than that, man. It's in a fail. Everybody's good. So we just got to know what each other is thinking, prec and that post-knap coverage is where the ball's going to go. Just reads what read I am in the progression. Everything goes along with that. So just being on the same page, being, like I said, chemistry is built with time.

1:22:22So just little stuff like that that turns into big things is going to be huge. You caught one from Spencer Rattler that day too. What are your early impressions from him? He's real talented. That's the first thing I've seen from him. His arm title is 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. Going back to the sheet that you talked about all the different stuff you should do. You think there's still a lot more there for him? Oh, yeah. He hasn't really, I think this is the first year of being receiver two or really receiver. In my opinion, we both are receiver one. So I just be able to move around, run real routes. Feel like it's going to be a huge advantage for the same. It's a special player and I can't wait to see him ball. I can't wait to see him get more opportunities. You're going to see what he can do. By run real routes, he's going to get opportunities to run.

1:23:24Yeah, just getting more, you know, he hadn't really played too many plays in his first two 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. He's always been 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 firm receiver like that for the shed kind of a, you know, think of him as a deep threat label and then so people just think of him as a deep threat. But we can do more. How hard is it to kind of shed that label or that perception right? 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 you 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 it's going to be a big one for the Saints.

1:24:24Does this scheme ask for more blocking from the receivers? Is there more responsibility? Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, that's what I told you too. We both have to block. And I know we're not the biggest guys or the strongest, but like I said, we want to be on the field. We got to be on the field for the play action plays, all those things. So we both got to go block B-line and block linebackers, but that's what come 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? Oh, 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 up plays. So we got to go in there and block. And like I said, take that next step and be able to be great for our team. Like you in 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. But you get a chance to see family and friends and all, so this is their football friend here.

1:25:26Not yet, but they don't come by every time. Appreciate you, John. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I didn't have to make sure other guys would feel some type of way when they came in here because hump brought that. I'm not here, but I saw a way you did for the room. I want to be that guy to make sure it's an amptical practice. Everybody's taking a big team on period. You know, it's a low day or something. You know, it's a disadvantage. But like, I want to make it feel like homecoming. You know, it pairs the trip. I want to bring that because that's what we did to each other. We were hiding each other. I was like, dude, it's probably going to be a walk. We're a blit. 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 kind of have. I want to do that from day one. I want to come to them. And obviously it's that time I spend the obviously of the 4-0 to day started.

1:26:27Just being in my self-just thinking about what the room needs. You know, because I don't know. I knew it was one of the leaders. You know, my mom and I, is that we need a guy like that. It's going to make sure the O-R-I is picked up. We're ready to go every day. I want to help a little things. I don't have enough practice for people. I'm saying anything and how I may lead. Maybe different than somebody else may lead. You know, I like to practice. At least I could be a positivity. You know what I mean? So, but he, the energy I would be on, just like, hyperb, beyond. So I was kind of, how I wanted to go on. I really, my whole life, I wanted to get. I felt, team captain, like, specifically, and I felt I wasn't captain in high school. I wasn't a captain in college. But I want to make a joke, because I was in high school. I feel like I'm not going to be a captain like it's that I felt. But that would be awesome.

1:27:27You know, but, you know, if it happens, I'd be great. But not either way. I want to assume a role as a captain from the perspective of guys. It would be a big reward. 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 how we used to in the past. But it didn't take just the first LTAs. It took training and left and right. Once this season ended, because I know what was going to be the champion. So, I took a lot of, you know, grips, just to get back to feeling like myself for the LTAs. And then that whole first week, but now like today specifically, just changing some small things with my feet. I've been seeing it talking about the long coach. I've got some things I can do with my feet to get to that, to sell that traditional angle that I love to sit on. I thought I felt great already, but I felt even better.

1:28:28So I need to work sides with tomorrow now. Get on my feet back. And how I like the right side and on the left side. So I'm on the right side. I mean, obviously I feel like in the league, whether I left the right, you're still going against Premier Guy. So obviously, you're high expectations for the left and right tackle. But there's definitely like the level of energy and like the expectation is definitely taking the human side. Because now, tonight, the blind side, that's the, that's the tackle role. So yeah, I would say in terms of communication as far as just even outside of the facility, just stuff like that, like really creating that, the tackle quarterback, bond even more off the field, I think has been something that's even good. Cool. I got the text one day. I said, hey, you put it up. I was like, you know, yeah, I've been training both. I've been training both. I asked after the season, they're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you separately in the season.

1:29:30And I just got a text one. I didn't have as much with the free agency. Then so I was like, you know, what? I had an O season right tackle. So if I get the word, I'm going, I'm staying in a right tackle. I'll just do what I did before I'm built on that. But I saw, I was like, I might as well as train the left tackle now. As if I'm going to be left tackle. And I'd rather do that than train all the right time with the call. Hey, you left tackle. I didn't want to switch my feet yet. You know what I mean? So I'm like, let me just prepare an advance. I was like, yeah, it was God. You know, I think occasionally on third down, there'd be a lot of twists. I was just not like, it's an automatic outcome. 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, they did that. I kind of figured like, okay, like this is the type of rush. This is how this guy usually rushes. If I get the vibe, this is how he ends like the rush, you know, tackles that. First year guys, we got the primary patch on.

1:30:30Already know what it was going to be. Already know what we every stuck. And honestly, just knowing that's kind of an advantage to. So you're not, you're not, oh, they brought the twist on my side again. It was never air-con. But they come up with my side. Three plays in the world. Two minutes. I knew that it was going to happen. You know what I mean? I'm watching more everybody else. And he really, he really goes out there occasionally. I was like, yeah, I was going to be, 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. I'm going to get the hardest to look. You know, I'm so, like, real, real reps, you know, the things. I'm really out on our way to 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 training all left. Toe 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.

1:31:31I would have been cool with training both continually. But I feel like anybody in any position will feel like, okay, like, you want as soon as possible to give your feet kind of subtle to it. Your hips subtle to it. Your hands, so then, certain kind of that. We've been hard of the age to work both, they're how to use. No. You know. But they're definitely, but in terms of the development, it was definitely a lot faster to stay on all one side. But I think having that, the weeks that we had to transition with seasons over, you've been delightful spot. It really could try to get up, put them in the front and week. Things at a town right now. When it comes back, I'm going to show them to the one house. I just got a house that's not too far from, so I told them I got that house like a yellow side. DJ. You know what I mean? So, yeah. Yeah, little. I'm going to follow the tune here.

1:32:31I'm going to feel all that newness around you. It was sort of the opposite last year. You were the new guy and that, right? You know, you did the best. It just pushes you into a new role, because you're kind of the leader of the group now. And it's a blessing to be in that position and be able to have guys looking up to you, asking questions. And it's a great feeling to be a part of, to know that. I mean, I can help develop younger guys that had the opportunity to play this year and next year. So, it's a honor to be in the position that I'm in. I think you need to develop a knack for playing with the other safety. So, you're out there kind of moving over by this day. I think that's a key. I feel like that's communication that comes at time. Yeah, we got, I used to play with late the last year. So, that was a blessing to have him here and to have a year with him. But now, yeah, we got to learn to play with new people and continue to grow as a defense and have new people in different positions. Okay, who's caught your eye in that second day? This kind of making a move this spring. It's a strong, strong attitude.

1:33:32I think everybody's done a really good job. I'd like the lot, what Leroy Roker is doing. He's stepped up a lot and had a lot of improvements that I love to see. Jailin and Malik had played extremely well. So, just love to watch those two guys continue to compete and continue to grow. And then outside those guys compete every day. Malik just got his strike off and he's been playing really well. So, proud of him and what he's been doing. But, those are the people that I would say. Just, just, Devin Senchez looked like what you would call a five star. I mean, when he's out there and stuff, what, what, you know what I mean? The guy comes in with a little bit of tar, you don't just back to a certain extent. But, living up to a billing. How has he, how has he lived up to it, I guess? At the end of the day, even when I got to college, it really doesn't matter about your stars. You walk in, you're at the same type of, I'm, stanchors, everybody else. So, it doesn't really matter in terms of how would you walk in here with. He's done extremely well. He's learned a lot. He's improved a lot from day one to now.

1:34:33So, it's been great to watch him develop and watch him get better. And he's made some exceptional plays and I hope to continue to see that. I do feel like McRiery has helped me grow as a player. What's kind of your relationship? How has that kind of developed over the time that you've been here with him? Very football intelligent, very, like football first mindset. And I respect that as a person just to be able to go and have somebody with the same mindset as me. Coach Wallen has been a really good help to me. And has helped me a lot on and off the field here. So, I respect him for that. But Coach G is, he's pushed me to increase and learn more football every day in our respect. Coach, do you have any interest in all of what you've been doing in your process? Not when you got, no, not before you got hired again. What about this new coordinator, baby, brings a new idea of stuff? How could you change your role of football or do you care when you're playing? I mean, just being in new positions, the ability to play multiple positions in the secondary, playing Don and stuff like that,

1:35:42being put in different positions that I wasn't maybe put in last year to have different things on the field. I think that's a great thing. Always good to have versatility, as I said, and something I promise I've also been fortunate. Yeah, Coach. Have you ever had a coach where you could feel good while off-screen? You've got the obviously a touch on you to the end, you could do more opportunities with your players this year. That's a coach day and coach hard times, so I don't really think about that. But if I get the chance to go back there, it'll be on, and I'll try to pick another play. It's a light-block thing every day. It's seeing nothing, seeing that as you're too hard to do. It has been kind of weird to walk in here and see all the different pictures that they put up, even the three from the play-off. It's been great, and then they have different pictures inside and everything. It's been good. It's been eye-catching where you walk by, like we just accomplished that, but it's a great situation to be in. You might have been asked for a few guys to help you with some of the things that have taken that for this year because you haven't achieved anything yet.

1:36:42I mean, I think that's, you have to reset at some point. I think at some point we had, like in the weight room, we had like natural shapes every stuff up there. And it was like, I mean, the new guys that walk in here, we haven't earned anything. We as the new 2025, 26 season, we haven't earned anything, so we can't really take credit for anything that is up on the banners. We can't take credit for winning anything at this point. We have to compete every day with the mindset of we have to get better to be able to put ourselves in position to be the opportunity to get to that point. What is the lesson learned from an accomplishment like that, Caleb, that you do carry forward? I mean, the lesson learned is you have to continue to work. Last year, every day we continue to stack bricks, like he said, and continue to get better every day. And I think that's why we came out to be where we were. And you can't just think about that from the moment that you get here in January and you start lifting in there. You have to continually push to be exceptional every day.

1:37:44And it's not really helping if you're just looking at stuff from the last year, every day. You get the move passed and you have to keep going. But I think the spring has been good for that because it's been able to be loud. We are turning to new leaf. We have different people in here. New faces and everything. And it's different people on the field. And we got to make plays with who we are. Coach, thanks. You've been limited from participation standpoint to a certain extent, right? I was asked you want to go about the team. But what have you noticed about this team from a work standpoint of the catches your eye? Very competitive. I'll say people are trying to compete and push themselves every day. And it gets chippy sometimes. That's always a good thing, especially on the defense. To have people willing to go there, willing to get to that edge, willing to be physical. I really like to see that. I'd love to see it. And I think we just need to continue to be more disciplined, continue to work on our skills and everything like that. Continue to strive to be better.

1:38:44We're good. You're the first to get your first attack. I mean, that's not what my eyes are. They ask, I'll do it for sure. That's not what my eyes are. The team that has so much turnover, you guys step up into the big ones. How big has it been to have a guy like Sunny and how much have you been seeing him grow as a leader of the last two or three months? Oh, it's been an honor to see just because we've had conversations about it and everything. About how both of us are going to have to step into bigger roles and everything like that. But to see where we had those conversations to where we're at now, it's just an honor to see the growth that he's been a part of. And a proud of him and he's going to continue to get better. Continue to be the person that he's supposed to be. If they need me to do run support, I'll do run support. And it's really what Caleb does, what we do and Nathan. It just goes back to Coach G's preparation and everyone's preparation to give us more flexibility.

1:39:45And it doesn't matter who's in those positions. And we can all play every position whether it's covering somebody or running and tackling. Did you feel like that was the case before the Oregon game? You're saying what I'm saying? I mean, is it something that's been added to just go 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 out like in debt. You know, so really just after the Oregon game, it helped me a lot to go back to safety. Go to Niko everywhere. You guys had a lot of issues of giving up big plays in the passing game of the first game against Oregon. What do you feel 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.

1:40:47And we still play with the same confidence, same technique and, yeah. Bill Rebellion, what's the longest this patch? 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 do you 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 Indianapolis. But the fact that you get to play them at the Rose Bowl, I mean, get a second chance. And people have said, you don't get that very often. How determined are you guys to take advantage of it? We're super, super determined. We watched film. I mean, we've 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.

1:41:47We'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. What's the most this patch? Oh, my bad. Not to Joey. Can't we 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 Mills 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? It means a lot. We always talk about when this is even being on selfish, whether that's making plays or not making plays or doing your job so another person can make plays. That's kind of what we pride ourselves on. And it's just fun. Me moving around different positions. I'm always up for a new challenge. And a lot of people in the country can't do that.

1:42:48I just hold myself to that standard where I can play any position and excel at it. Okay, and anybody else need to question? Let me know. But otherwise we can go to Austin more of 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 changing, their scheme has changed. Some players have been out those stretch of games. So 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.

1:43:48Jordan, thank you very much. Thank you. Jordan, what do you think of the game here? What do you think of all that kind of helped mold you interview? Yeah, definitely. Definitely, maybe tough. And not afraid of new change. And just like willing to 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 national championship for those first few weeks here? Definitely was a high motivated, you know? Being a freshman. It wasn't really my team though. So I didn't really get it. But that makes it like push me like that once, when it's my turn. I got put in the word, I wanted the same 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 accomplish what they did? So you've got to, don't let the past like affect you like, and just, yeah, I remember this. You got to be relentless, you got to put it to work. It's not easy at all by any means. It's got to be hard, but you have to do everything you do. What do you view as like the best attributes of your game that you're going to bring to this team?

1:44:48I'll just say my size, my speed, I can take the top off the defense and I can play tough and physical. It's about that. When it's the last year, then like when you think back to the whole reward last year, what has the last kind of year been like for you? I was a little bit back on from the player that was kind of going to the process to make some comments and stuff. I was the last year in front of the 12 of us. I was definitely chasing like, because I was always on my sophomore year. I was hurt and in my junior year, I got hurt during track. So I was able to, like, I was a highly fluttered athlete. And this time last year was like when my recruitment really picked up. And it's been crazy, like, must have another, like, given it's leaving me in my corner, my coach is everything. I just give it the motivation to go. What is your relationship with like the team you guys?

1:45:48To the team you're in together? To the team you're in together? That's a big good. Before I even got a hosting offer and before I even knew who he was, exactly. I grew up through with them. A couple of times in both. Bella Bats, from Chauvin. 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 fight. If we was exactly headed like this, we first came to New Year. We had a lot more, we got got together, had some freshman class and he's growing, he's working on everything. He's definitely got nice on. He's cornerback in a few years, I've been doing some great talent. How has that kind of helped you a lot in your impression? The cornerback? The cornerback. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they're definitely talented at it. And I always say, I just love being on it. And they make it hard for you. And when you play this high level competition practice, you go on a game, like in the class, it's easier than the practice.

1:46:51And he's really built on something. Is there going to be a more interesting question? Yeah, I don't know. Oh wow, this is difficult. This is something that I guess I can walk on. I guess there have been kind of like a moment first. I've realized. Oh wow, these guys are really good at this. Yeah, just like, I just first, like on high school, I would just take some like reps and FC, we just go. Yeah, I just had speed, had catching abilities, like face separation. And I come to college and explore everybody's fast, everybody's big. So you have to find new ways to get open. It's really good for yourself to hire your IQ. Now I was, but I just got more older minded. How do you say I should play out over to the campus? I say, just come in and try to be the first guy to come in. Like, try to come in before the older guy you get in here. That's hard because they can make it really.

1:47:51So really just sticking with them and going on the ride with them and trying to be them out of the thing they're doing earlier. Where do you feel like you've grown the most from year one to year two? I would say learning a game more, like learning concepts and just knowing what the office is going to do before they do it. Is it feel different being out there of a spring than it was when it just came a year ago? Yeah, definitely. Like, everything was slower. Everything was lower in my fresh air. I was good defense all we read was this man. So like, all this is new to me, especially with cognitive defense. And this year is like everything's low down. How are some different future really good? I'll say I just simple fly more. It's more simple fly than coach trying to get a lot more guys. Just see where everybody is. It's pretty new skill. We still learning and working through it, but he just trying to get the basics and figure out what guys are good at. You guys guys like Jeremiah and Rackus? I'm sure they've stepped on the field of real game. I think we did any other Rackus when you did that a little good.

1:48:54Yeah, all the guys, Jeremiah, Carnavo, Brandon, Autumn, I feel like in the game it's definitely, I definitely do feel like it's easier. I feel like we got the best of us here in the country. I'm competitive, I think. I take you, I think, a lot of you. You're made, I know, like, to talk a lot. What's the like in the room? It's very competitive. I'm going out of each other, y'all, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, man, I'm going to come take y'all's luck. I might come take y'all's seats. They blame me, they're not going to let me do that. So it's all right. Thank you for your time, Abon. Yeah, sir. Devin St. Joseph's kind of the same role that you were in last year. He's a little big time 5 star recruit. What do you see in a double circle? You're very competitive. You got how about an energy? You be talking to a lot of fly out of the whole room, kind of like, just come together. We all got the same energy. But he definitely put a lot of energy in. Yeah, that's it. What did you learn from the time I was last year? Really had to just approach the game. Take a time watching more film.

1:49:54Really, they helped me slow things down. They helped me break things down and know what they expect from my children. When you did play the actual, how do you think it did? I feel like I did. I feel pretty different, man. And I feel like, what could you do, man? I feel like I did one play. I think it was against C&C. It was played I could have made a bit in the area more. Listen, it's 6 foot 8 and it looked taller. Yeah, I'll try like 6 more. I don't know, 6 more, I'll say 6 more. Talking to Jerry, man. He talks about watching films. How different is that now for you in high school and even coming to your last year? Now, it's like you got a lot of more resources. So you got coached actors, just come in and help you. And like my main thing is I'm trying to come in early and I'm getting with every coach I can. And really, you just, high school, you know, you watch a film, but college, you got to stay watch film every day. I'm watching the practice three times, two three times a day. And flight, that's it for real. It's being close to home, working out well for you, or you just kind of stay in your bubble?

1:50:54What is that like? Yeah, stay at home is cool, but I don't really be going back home, ain't that bad for me. But my family come and come kick it with me here and there. I may appreciate you. Yeah, for sure. You have a mom, she loves down close. You have a mom, she loves down close. With your last year, you've had a couple of times in a couple of weeks. Just this. And you're a salesman. What do you say I can tell her? It makes me grow up. Yeah. How many first-person? You can put it through time. Players wouldn't say that about you. Ah, undergrad. Yeah, I would say it's typical for us. You can feel that way too. Not through, honestly. But they said I was just taking it. It was a take. It was a take. It was a take. It doesn't know what it doesn't know. Yeah, I feel like I knew a lot. I knew I didn't know too much, but I feel like I'd help my whole family. But I definitely could learn more. I didn't know too much coming out of high school. It was basically how my program, high school, wasn't there. I made my house, those bills, and everything. Thank you. Leonard on the other side.

1:51:54It was awesome. He was winning a lot. He had a couple good plays in the run. But this week, I think we're playing a better, honestly, a better team. They're playing better football. It looks like, and they run the wall well. And we're going to have to be better in our techniques. We kind of got away with some things last week. So, yeah, we have to hone in and not pat ourselves on the back. I haven't watched too much on him. He's stout. He could run a little bit. I mean, since he's been here, I know how his arm strength is and how he's a good processor of information. And he could get the ball out. So, it'll be the same formula. Try and make him one dimensional. Super grand derrick's on what's made him. What makes him such a tough guy?

1:52:55I think he's got a low center gravity. He's athletic. So, it's tough to power him. And then he's he's athletic enough to run nearby. And if he gets his hands, he kind of is able to replace him. Run nearby. Somebody like Leonard, he's got such a good high motor. Does that, you see that kind of carry over to the rest of the room when you're playing next to the guy? That's given that kind of effort. Yeah, I think our effort was pretty darn good against the Jets, even from first play on. Sometimes it takes a little time early in the season because game speed is different and that game win is different. But I think we're flying around and Floyd's no exception. Aaron held the ball, less amount, at least amount, than any quarterback in the league. Last week, 2.33 seconds. How do you, as a past Russian, who wants to get those sacks? How do you do that? I mean, there's obviously a positive that comes with that from the overall defense.

1:53:58But how do you do that? Yeah, I mean, it's tough. We kind of expected it though. And then they pulled them late, which was kind of surprising. But I think we were causing some pressure. We weren't on the field much. And then you're going three and out and he's getting the ball out. So it gets a little tough to keep your mind in it. But there was some ops at the end there. And we're just going to, I mean, games, it's good football. It's nine or football if that's the type of games we have and we don't have a lot of ops, but we have to go get them at the end. So we have to keep our mind in it. What kind of stand the other night that he came, he missed all the camp. He said, I can't believe how laser focused everybody was. Nobody was doing a joke on a round. Everybody was serious. He was really impressed. Have you had that feeling all along through camp? And did you feel that going into the game? Yeah, it's funny because when I came in last year, I was talking to Trent about how it's like high fives and hugs.

1:54:59Right when you walk in. And then everybody's like, all right, we've been here. We're working and then like, it's work. It's football and that's just how it is here. And that's why we were able to have a good team year in a year out. Nick, what kind of pride do you've taken the fact that you were beating the Jets so bad they took out here in Rogers? Like I said, we're not patting ourselves in the back. It's one game and we don't know how good we are yet. We don't know how good other teams are. So we just have to keep getting better. You ever had a backward ball rush like you have last game? That was a failed move. But I'll take it. I get a little pressure on them. After the game, what were you on Patrick Willis kind of talking about it? Yeah, he was just asking me about some of my past-risk plan. And that was just elaborating and we were kind of going back and forth. As far as road environments, Minnesota's got a pretty unique family.

1:55:59Do you enjoy playing there in Minnesota like stadiums, the fans all that? It's a long flight and it's field turf, but it is one of the cooler environments. I can't lie about that. Thanks Nick. Yeah. What makes you good in that area of good round run out? Where do you feel like you're able to succeed at the past catcher? Right, yeah. I think I just have a good feel for the game when I'm running routes. I try to understand the whole play, the whole concept from a very deep level. And try to find those holes in the defense as well and be on the same page with the quarterback. Do you ever receive a backhand like you played at a long time? No, no. So I actually played quarterback growing up until my junior year of high school. So that's kind of when I made the transition to Titan. Why'd you switch? There's just some things that I was a tight quarterback battle and the coach knew I could play Titan. So I kind of wanted to do it too. It was something that I was interested in. So that's kind of how that came about. Do you get to do this where 51 kind of last year? Right.

1:56:59I'm sure you had a lot of suitors. Why come to a place where that's not necessarily been a history in terms of production. Right, yeah. I think coach key. I mean, he hit on all the things I wanted to hear. And some things I didn't want to hear. I mean, that's real as a coach. And you want to be in an environment that's going to push you in all aspects of the game. And being a Titan, it's not just about past coaching. You know, you got to block. And I think that's something that I want to keep developing. And going against these guys every day. I mean, running routes and blocking these guys every day. I mean, it's going to make you better. So I think I have a vision of where I want to be as a Titan. And I think this place gives me the best opportunity to do that. And that's about getting production and more about well-rounded yourself. I think so. Yeah, I think so. Just whatever way I can help the team, whatever they ask for me to do. I'm going to do. So what did you want to hear from you? What did he say that you didn't like your coach?

1:58:00I like everything. But like, you know, you know, I coach is like, they sometimes just tell you what you want to hear. You know, you don't always want that. You want someone that's real. And he kept the rule with me. You know, he showed some things that like, I need to improve on. Which I like to hear, but not everyone wants to hear. You know what I mean? So stuff like that. What you noticed is a really good route. Which of the defenders are so far? It's been a lot of success. Yeah, I mean, they're all great. There's so many of them. I mean, I think, you know, honestly, I'm not. I'm so locked in on the plays at the time. They're like, I don't really have time to see who's even across from me. So it's kind of hard to really think about who's giving me the most trouble at this moment. I think he was saying, Caleb and Nathan kind of vouch for you. We're told that you were a bit more from the, from the crew game. Maybe you had a chance to talk to Caleb or later. Yeah, I did. Yeah, Nathan's awesome. Got to know him a little bit before he went off and started training. So he was awesome to be around. Awesome to talk to and same with Caleb.

1:59:00They just great people. They're in your corner. Yeah, yeah. They've been great so far. How much do you know how? I'm just talking to you in January and having that opportunity to be with the team as they went about in the afternoon. Yeah, it was great. I mean, just seeing the culture they have here and how they run things. You know, they had, they had that group of guys that really, you know, led the way and showed, showed me what it looks like to win here. So it was awesome. Thanks. Thank you. This is like, you know, I know that from even being in NFL, but just, well, the good players are from the club. So I'm excited to be able to state that is amazing. I mean, you're on the, you're talking to Julian Edelman. That's when the only podcast you've had to refer to with recent interview. You're talking about building schemes to fit the person. It doesn't seem like you're married to just one thing. Yeah. If you are a scheme flexible, what is the overall principle that guides you as a defensive coordinator? Yeah. And that's something that kind of developed, right? I think when I originally went to New England in the early 2000s, the game was different.

2:00:01You know, there was much more like two back sets and double tight endsets. We were fundamentally at 314, as people would say. Now our 314 changed through the years. We always kind of were developing it, involving it. But the game changed. And one of the things that kind of happened to us in New England, luckily enough, fortunately, I'm all very lucky that the things that happened for a reason, but we would pick late in the draft because of our season. Our 314 scheme really expanded, you know, couple of coaches left. We opened that up and there's an air point to the jets. And so it became much more difficult to find the pieces to fit the scheme. So we had to take the reverse effect. Let's just get the best players we can. Let's bring them in and let's figure out how to use it. Let's figure out how to put them in position. And then with 11 personnel and no hodles and all those things that involved, the game changed from a really heavy kind of like called base defensive packages to multiple sub packages. And that's something else that happened. And we just have guys that involved the defense to the years because they were on our team.

2:01:03So saying all that, I guess what I tell everybody is, you know, my whole goal is to try to figure out what do you do well? How do I put you in the best position to go get on the field and do that well, that job well? The best of your ability because if you can play fast, you can play aggressive because you know, you know, I have you in your skill set. Then you're going to be disruptive as a defensive player. You're going to help us win as a defense, win as a team, and we can fit the pieces around where everybody goes, you know, in that court. So and then go from there. So that's kind of like, you know, I'm of course, all of it, right? Certainly. Of course, three, four, four, three, nickel, big nickel, dimes, all those packages, four down from five down front, solid spacing. You know, just you kind of do it through the course of the year. So to me, it's all like, hey, that guy can do this or that guy can do this. And then I also think it creates rules so it's not always like the same 11 on the field. So you can have a really good skill set and you can do something if it's in a critical situation. Then you know, we got to get you in that spot and help you be in that situation when we win the game. Actually, like a reliable. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

2:02:03That's what it's going to say. The problem is going to say it is. It is. Yeah, I actually have two of them right now. I brought them in and kind of like set them down. Everyone's like, oh my gosh, what is that? It's just just reference. That's what it gets this opportunity to come to Ohio State and become some of the talent coming back. And the guys you'd be able to kill it, shoot it out to you and like, hey, I want to go coach that guy. I would like to have an opportunity to put that guy in the words. Yeah, I mean, it's hard not to walk into building and try to find Caleb as fast as possible. I mean, he is unbelievable, amazing player. Very versatile. You know, we can there's a lot of like, you know, you look at a guy like that. We're going to be able to do some really fun things with him and he's super smart. And he's so such a great student in the game and his approach is amazing. Sonny styles. I mean, you know, we look at him and you know, our belt. I mean, those are guys. We always had big backers. I walked in and I was like, hey, I'm going to. I'm like, this is like these guys are, you know, they're big. They're long. They can move. They eat up a lot of space. So now my brain just starts. I'm like, oh, we can do this. We can move here.

2:03:03We can put in there. We can line up ears. Do all those things. But then you got you got IGV outside, you know, Dramay, you got you have so many great players to me. I know it's exciting. Hey, so you have a relationship with Timmy Wolf. Yes. Yes. But basically this whole staff is here and you're coming in just to talk about that dynamic and how much work. Yeah. I mean, how lucky for me, right? To be able to come in a situation where these guys can really help bring me in, you know, and let me in. So obviously I lean on Tim quite a bit because of our relationship going back, but coach Johnson and I have known each other for a long time, you know, going back to when I was at Syracuse University. The head coach there was called past going to get played at Penn State. So we always kind of had a Penn State Syracuse, you know, kind of connection and obviously just admired him for the years and always was talking to him because he's always great players coming out. Wherever he's going to come to our level. So you were always building those relationships. And so to be able to sit down and talk football philosophy with him is amazing.

2:04:05The cover stuff we put Tim and I it's like just natural conversation because again, Tim was in the NFL for a long time too. So a lot of those conversations are great Matt and James. I worked out James here. I'm probably pretty sure that I'm a field and I was yelling at him. But you know, super smart player, a guy that saw the game extremely well and was able to play fast because of it. And so all of that, those connections that's been, it's been really awesome. And I'm just, again, I just, my job is really to sit and learn and try to observe. And then, okay, where can I add, where can we change, where can we adjust. And then we got to work it out of the system. I still wear the... Sorry, it's a little higher. Yeah, I was actually as I practiced. I was rolling. Yeah, is that just... You know, I'm always taking notes. I actually don't have them on, but I usually care like on a notebook. So even when our guys are working out, I'm probably walking around just taking a little notes and, you know, we're always drawing football. It's kind of just to have it at most points from being a young coach and breaking film.

2:05:06You know, I think I kind of told the story on the Julian's podcast or the show that Coach and I did. But, you know, as a young coach, we would break down film. I would draw every play, you know, in detail, all 22 guys, footballer, depth, alignments, all of it. And it really was, you know, we hand-drawn. And, you know, the good old number two was the best thing to do. Nice and sharp. We got a nice clean point. And the lines were smooth. But it used to take us like 12 hours to break the game. You know, you're drawing every play. So when you're coaching all day long and then trying to break four or five games during the course of the week, if you had 10 minutes, I mean, care where you were in the building, you had your pads where they were like, boom, let me start to draw. It kind of just went in the hat behind the ear because that was the safest place to put it. So that's kind of where that is. But I'm always trying to take notes and stuff. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got some good notes and it's morning for sure. Yep. I'm sure. It's going back to school. Yeah. Yeah. Did that impact you, if you guys compared notes at all, I mean, I don't know if you do that.

2:06:08Yeah. Why he did that? Maybe that would show you. Yeah, I would say this. I started to wrap it up. I was very close. We talked a lot, you know, and we've spent great, you know, two decades together of football conversation too. But we were together every day this past fall. You know, we did the coach show on YouTube, which was, which was great. That was something I wrote last spring. And I just, you know, I'm no wait for you and I to get in the room and just teach football, which we'd love to do. But we did have a lot of conversation about college football, you know, through the course of really last spring. Take a look at how we really get fascinated with roster builds. So one of the things I think I was really interested in with college football was with the portal, with, you know, the two opportunities there, with recruiting, how fast can you build your team, how fast can you really, you know, get the good players in the building in the NFL is pretty, pretty rigid, you know, you knew your points. Whether it was free agency to the draft, to the 53 cut to the trade deadline.

2:07:09Those are the four opportunities. Then with the contracts, you know, how many, how many really big contracts can you sign and we just, we got fascinated with the college model. So we really started studying a lot of the different schools and how they were building the roster. So we did have a lot of those conversations and duties are different, but what did you learn and did you really? There is so much you learn in that situation. I mean, obviously, you know, for myself going from being a coordinator to a head coach, it's, there's no book. It's really, you know, interior in that position. And that's why, you know, so many first time head coaches, it's not easy, you know, and a lot of times when you go back and if you get in the second opportunity, you have more success because if you do take that opportunity and the mind Detroit was great. I learned a lot, you know, great family, the poor families that owned it. So, you know, it was a great franchise. I wasn't my best version of my of a coach, you know, that's something I certainly, I take responsibility for. And, you know, through the course of my years of coaching, like not all of them are going to be perfect. You know, I'm trying as much as I can, but that first year was really hard, you know, and I was trying to learn a lot and I didn't do a good job.

2:08:14You know, I reflected a lot to I think one of the things that really, I kind of watched that Michael Jordan, you know, document, you see that. And something like triggered when I was he was talking about, you know, his intensity when they lost the championship and how told everybody that was coming in the building that next year, exactly how it was going to be like his focus. You know, we had lost the Super World and we had been, you know, Super World Championship, Super World Championship, it was like every other year. And so we had one in 16 and went back and set it to the last. And I think that that mindset when you lose that game, like all you want to do is go, you just want to go back. Like it's just your level of where you're in tens of your senses at such a high level. And I do the job of walking into a new building there. They didn't lose this, you know, I mean, that was a, that wasn't that, that was my fault. And I never reset myself. I don't think well enough to like, hey, I'm in some place new like these guys didn't have that dream last year.

2:09:15I got to, I got to start to teach him. I got to start to build the game. And I didn't do a bit of that. Matt, you mentioned last year to have so many different packages that you've used as a group to the college level. You look at the top 10. Yeah. I think the beauty of football and definitely something I learned at New England was, let's take the extremely complex and let's try to boil it down to maybe three to five things. Really simple. So we can really detail that out as much as possible. I think that's a really cool thing to do. I think that in general, yes, we have lots of packages and all that stuff. But I always felt going into a game. I just want to make sure they can go play fast and play aggressive. So I don't want to have too much where they can't do that. I want them to be able to go play. They play, you know, I'm not playing. They play the game. So let them get on the field, let them play fast, let them play aggressive. And I think that is a good balance of making sure you have enough to defend what you're going to see.

2:10:15But also, you know, let the players go play free enough where they can be aggressive and have the tools on the field they need. Matt, thank you. And it's going to be my job to make this job easier. Darius, Darren Urban from AZCarnels.com. I know that a lot of players these days aren't sticking in one school for a long time. You did it for five years. I mean, even Marvin did it for three. What went behind that? And why wasn't meaningful for you to stand in one school? Yes, I'm a Zura. You know, we had some tough seasons, but we were really built with an edge. Energy details, grit, and emotional consistency. And I just find myself just trying to grow and get better each year. And also as a team, you know, one more games each year. And that was my home. That was my family. I was blessed to, you know, get two degrees as well off the field. And I just love Mizzou. Two degrees. Wow. Marvin, Bob McMan, I'm an Arizona Republic. Congratulations. Thank you to both of you. You're known as all business.

2:11:16And I want to know how that's going to serve you well in this league from personal standpoint. Your brand, everything you do in a daily preparation. There's a lot that goes into being all business. Tell me what that is to you. Yes, just being a pro. It's kind of raised and grew up to do. And keep the same mindset, same attitude that I had throughout my whole career. Once I get here, continue to work hard, be consistent and disciplined, you know, and all that I do. So look forward to putting in the work. Hey, Marvin, Josh Wayne, plus ESPN. What were the best pieces of advice your dad gave you about being an NFL player? I mean, yeah, it takes a lot of work, a lot of preparation. No, from Monday to Saturday. It's all working. And then Sunday should be the easy part. I go out there, have fun, probably put the work in. So, the starts with the work first and then no one Sunday comes. It's really benefits. Hey, Darryus, Howard Balls are from Cardswire. I can't help but notice that ring on your fingers. Is that a cotton bowl ring?

2:12:16Yes, it is the cotton bowl ring. So you showed it to Marvin very quickly. No, I just saw it to Marvin. I was telling Marvin, you know, he was glad he did play. The whole week leading up, you know, you see how I stayed. Everybody said, okay, Marvin Harrison. And then he was like, is he going to play? Is he going to play? He didn't play. So, you know, we looked out. Hey, Marvin, Paul Kelvici, Cardinals broadcasting. Do you believe that receivers have to earn the trust of their quarterback? And if so, what does that usually require? Absolutely. You got to earn a trust of the quarterback. And they start, you know, every day in practice, and being consistent really. You can't just do it one day. You can't just do it for one week. Has to be, you know, done over and over and over again. I think that's how trust has earned. So, no matter where you get picked, whether you're a first receiver, it's around seven. It doesn't really matter how to go in there and trust the quarterback. Your coaches, your teammates. So, it's all such in practice. What's going on, guys? Good to see you again, Tyler Drake. There's no sports, this one's for Darius.

2:13:17What's the feeling of just being able to represent your school as that first round pick? And what kind of impact can that have for those guys falling in your footsteps? Yes, awesome. I feel like I'm setting the standard going for it. But that's named Mizzou, is known as D-Line Zou. So, I'm just added to the family. But now, I feel like I'm setting the standard for my younger teammates. That this is attainable if you work really hard, be consistent, and really get the trust of strength coach. I feel like every program has built out the strength coach, and that develops all the habits on and off the field. Darius Zachers, MnazyKarnels.com right over here. JG mentioned that he loves the violence that you play with. You mentioned the different tendencies that you picked up, the emotional consistency is the great. How do you balance that, the violence with discipline on the field? I'm just through preparation and practice. I'm a big guy, I'm a big believer in inside hands. So that's why I'm always working my hand placement, and then I live weight, so that's all connected. So I'm just trying to be focused on my technique as much as possible.

2:14:18Hey, Marvin, over here. David Bram, with the Associated Press. You know, a lot of rookies come into the league, and they get a little bit of leeway. It's like, oh, he's young, he needs to grow and stuff like that. But obviously you're going to be expected to be the guy here really quickly. How do you deal with that pressure? How do you go about just so much being expected of you so quickly? I mean, yeah, I've high standards for myself. But I'm just going to go in there and try to work. You know, the best I can. I just want to help the team win really, so. With that role I play, you know, come September. It was my best, you know, be there real. Now, this one's for both of you guys. The fans want to know who you guys are on the inside. I don't know how much you're willing to reveal to us today. A lot would be nice. Can you tell us what you like to do away from football? What pisses you off about things? And, you know, what makes you roll? I'm pretty simple, I like to, you know, be in my apartment. Watch the movie. If I go out and I go to a restaurant, get some food.

2:15:20But other than that, I don't know what to do too much. And then I'm pretty easy going, guys. So try not to let anything bother me too much. I say the same thing, a real chill guy. Just really obsessed with football. But outside of football, like I said, I got my two degrees. I got my undergrad, hospitality management, and a minor in business. I got my master's in positive culture with emphasis, athletic leadership. So just thinking about being well-rounded. And then I do philanthropy work. I start my own nonprofit foundation. There is Robinson helping hands foundation. But really just football and then everything else, honestly. Congratulations, guys. Welcome to the Valley and Robbie Baker with Fox 10. Darius, this is for you. After the draft last night, you had a great response about how you're processing, preparing for a game. You're just kind of wondering where your love for kind of the grind comes from and your love for that process comes from. I would say my junior year, because I play literally ball often known. But I got my junior year and I was playing high school. And my whole goal was just to earn a scholarship. But during that process, I really fell in love with the game,

2:16:21fell in love with working out, relationships with teammates. And now I was kind of like my vice and I can't let it go. And just kind of finding ways to always get better, you know. Luke, we're in here with 12 sports. Congrats both of you. Welcome to the Valley. This one's for you, Marvin. I'm curious to your thoughts. Or what was that conversation like with your dad after your name was called? And you were able to be drafted by this organization. And how surreal is it for you to be following on your own father's footsteps, but in your own way? Yeah, me, it was very brief. Actually, just second congratulations. I walk up to the stage, then I had to do a bunch of interviews at the word. So I don't think I hit both of us yet. I know what's happened. I think one of my goals always make him proud. So I hope I did that. Marvin, Bob Rock, PHNX sports. When do you anticipate catching your first passes from Kylamurt? I don't know. I don't know, I guess we'll see. I hope we get as soon as possible. Darry, as you mentioned, philanthropy. And I know there's been, it's been talked about how you took some of the NIL money to do a get back to school for the kids in Columbia.

2:17:26Where did that belief in doing those things come from? I say my family, my brother, my mom, really instilled that into me, answer me out of young ages, give back your blessings to others. And my fifth year at Mizzou was the best year of my life. So why would I not share my blessings with others? So that's what really motivated me to do that. And now I've been at NFL. You know, my goals are through events each year. I just give back, because you know it's life outside of football and bigger blessings out there. Marvin, you obviously played with a number of highly drafted receivers at Ohio State. What sort of feedback have you gotten about the NFL from them? And about making the transition and the league itself? Yeah, it's a long season. I think going from 12 game record season, you had them college to, was it 17 games now? You had three preseason. I think it's actually just the biggest challenge. The game stays the same. Obviously, never all skilled and very talented athletes. So the mental part is probably the biggest thing. The biggest change from college to pros. Marvin, what's your timeline for hiring an agent right over here on a way far right?

2:18:29You haven't hired an agent. Why is that? Is there a timeline to hiring one? And are you going to sign the NFL P.A. licensing agreement? I'll continue talking to my team. We do what's best for me. I'm moving forward. We just take it one day at a time. I just got drafted. So I'm trying to enjoy the moment and be happy while I can at the moment. Hey, Marvin. I'll say Romero Arizona Republic. Welcome, man. Can you just kind of share a little bit about, you touched on it briefly here, but just a little bit more about growing up with your dad and, you know, the experiences you had in Indianapolis and games and so on and so forth? Yeah, I mean, there's no better role model coach. I mean, Torrance, you can have as someone who's played the game. And then he's actually a father too. So he means a lot to me. He's helping get to the point I'm at right now. And she's been very detailed and everything I've done, growing up with playing football. So we're thankful for him. I'm glad that he can be here with me today. Luke, we're getting here with 12 sports. This is for Daria Starris. M-I-Z. Zero, you. Yes, sir.

2:19:29I'm a moderate as well. Curious, what do you think you learn the most from your time at Mizzou that has helped you be ready for this moment? I would say the biggest thing is not how you start is how you finish. And I have to feel like me being drafted. That was the exclamation point on my career at Mizzou. But now I got started all over again and really earned respect on my teammates and coaches and then earned a role within our organization. But that's what I would say. Marvin, over here. What's it like being another buck guy out here in the desert having Paris in the front row and getting to reunite with your guy out here? It's awesome, man. I think this is kind of like two years in the making with Paris. He kind of had his conversation going back to even before he got drafted from the car. And I just get a chance to play with him again and hopefully my scorch and touchdowns he raises me up in his arms like he used to do in college. So I'm super excited to play with him. I mean, not only is he going to be a great teammate but a great friend of half as well. Well, the tapes speaks for itself, but what would you say is the most underrated part of your game? I think just my competitiveness.

2:20:31And me, I mean, I should. I'm not much of an emotional guy on the field, but I'm very competitive. I think that's probably a very underrated part of my game. Yeah, looks like that's it. So thank you so much for your time. Of course, thanks for your time. When they gave me the all clear to start that week. And then in the game, there was like a critical third down on how to go make a play. And I did that. So from there, I think my trust started to go with the program. I thought really like the longevity of my career. I thought it would be at cornerback. And I had a lot of trust in coach Wall and I had a lot of trust. Like what Ohio State does with DB. So I was just I thought this would be the best fit for me. How much do you want to have in the game? I mean, I mean, being close to home my brother here, that's definitely a plus. But I had to think about like the longevity of my career. Like need playing with studies. Not necessarily going to help me get to the NFL. So I had to think about what was going to be best for me there. I think a lot about the program that there's a lot of similarities in between both programs.

2:21:35One thing that I really think about or I was thinking about like before coming doing this. We used to do like tug of war there. So going to get some of the guys that swung on matchups in this game is kind of like that tug of war. There's going to be some of the metham swings and we just like when they blow the whistle out there. We got to make sure we're pulling it to our side. They asked me a couple questions, but that was more so last year. I know they have a new off the coordinator from all of us. You so the team is a little bit different from when I was there, but yeah, there's definitely some questions being asked. Yeah, he could run the ball for sure. I think his physicality, his athleticism, his toughness shows up on the tape. There's going to be a lot of plus one runs, which makes it hard extra having the box after defending that. But I think he really he's a big leader on that team, not saying the other quarterbacks weren't, but he's really a driving force for that offense to go. He has a decent size. He has a really good size. He shows some Twitch on film.

2:22:35So I was there with him as well, so I'm excited to go with that matchup. I'm doing this when I really think about it, like legacy is a bit like really comes to mind. My dad being here, my brother being here. And then this team's growing, I think it's a really faith-based team, so I just want to give a lot of credit to G-Scratch. It's a great way to give this opportunity to be on this team, be able to do this today. I don't even want to talk about this season being honest. Me and Jack have been friends since we were seven years old playing basketball. He helped my competitive edge really increase. When we were on the court, he's always talking to that guy, talking to him, always getting our guys rallied up then. And then he helped me get better when I'm younger. Because when you're younger, the people you surround yourself with that really helps. Just help you form who you are. And he played a really big part in that.

2:23:35Just always pushed me to the best self. And hopefully I did the same for him. I mean, yeah, it's more like an NFL season, a little bit less, but it starts to add up on your body. So good thing about Ohio State, we have death here. So when guys needed to step up, like when I had my opportunity to see the D-line multiple positions, they really needed to step up. We've had the guys to do that. So they're staying healthy and really trying to take it over the whole season. I mean, it's a lot of Pyrgerton. We all played like childhood sports together. So I think it just goes like the community that I was surrounded in, type of parents. That mindset just like really pushing their kids to be great. And I hope that continues on Pyrgerton. I would have to say either JT, Sonny, I feel bad for you to my boy Jack, but JT or Sonny?

2:24:39I mean, I feel like that's easy to say, yeah, just because he was like the number one player in the country. I went out of high school, so like the expectations have always been high. But it's hard as like an eight-year-old to even envision him being making that play that he did. But we always knew we were going to play at a high level together and we talked about that since we were really young. Originally, we talked about playing at Ohio State together. And now we're here though. But so like my freshman year, when we both are freshman sophomore year, when we were in Crude, Ohio State, me and him are visiting like every other week together. So really just seeing the vision, seeing what he talked about and being a man of his word, just going to come to what he did. I honestly wasn't even thinking about Notre Dame because there was so much going on in the program at the time. The real folks just on being Tennessee. So the B here in this time, my girlfriend goes to Notre Dame, a lot of my family, like just a lot of connections between Notre Dame and Ohio State for me.

2:25:39So I just know it's going to be a good match up to everyone's excited for. I did talk to him, but those were conversations with Shore Laid. The total can't be talking to the enemy for too long. She went for Ohio State. We actually got a conversation about this. She should be in Ohio State if anyone sees it. It was a little difficult. It was a little bumpy, but we got our Ohio State side for sure. Yeah, no, my mom and dad, they don't have to split. There's just anything like that. Ohio State should be at this game. Yeah, I'm on the outside, but I've always kept in touch with my players there. Some of my friends and current players there. So I want to credit a lot of that to Coach Freeman. The program, when I was there, they were some tough losses that were taken.

2:26:39So they were definitely needed some change to be made. And he did that. I think this formatting with the 12 team playoff helped us, but it really helped them as well. Yeah, another day, it was a little bit different just because it's already rooted in their tradition. So here are guys that really had to step up and really be kind of vocal about it. And I just think it was like the most important, just because in our sport, you have to have a reference point. And if you reference points, this is measured on your success on the field. How much NIL money you're getting, things of that nature. It's easy to go up and down. So find that reference point within the Lord. How's it got this team study? Yeah, I mean, I feel like Coach Freeman. I say a lot of it is because he got a high estate roots.

2:27:41But now, honestly, Coach Freeman, when he first came, the team they really took him in when I was at Notre Dame. I remember him first coming in the locker room vividly and everyone in the team jumped up. There's another thing that sticks out to me before every single practice he'd daped up every single player in line. So he's a really player coach. And I just want to say, he works real hard. I just saw the dedication he had, how much he cared about the program, the players, and being that Notre Dame man. So I have a lot of respect and a lot of their successes. I think it's him. Yeah, I understand, but I'm not sure on that level. I'm like, how much he's matured, but I saw the bricks being laid for sure while I was there. Yeah, I had a long talk with Algon while I was a defense coordinator and he really wanted me to stay. But I kind of already had my mind made up that I was ready to enter the portal and I'm finding better fit for myself.

2:28:41Yeah, that was the conversation as well. Appreciate it. I just want to continue to do that in a different moment. Very good. That's what it's got for you. Did you get a 4-3 guy? You know, you take a 4-3, everybody's choose confused. I'm a 4-3 guy, but really, you take a 4-3, you take a stand him up. You can slide to a 3-4 just like that. That's multiple defense, but I'll change the needy person now. So, it's a 4-man brunt, but we can go to a 3-man, a 4-man, a 5-man, a 6-man, and a hard-beard. The guy's on the field, so I think that we've been multiple, but we can keep standing on a 4-man front, but it can be an interchange before we have 5-6. Yeah, that's it. So, I'm going to call it some manners. How you look at it, everyone can say it's a 4-man front, a 4-man front, not really when you cannot just go to pieces. The 4 guys can stay on the field and you can pop JT or pack KJR. So, I see another one that's on the 3-4. But it's a 4-guys on the field playing. That's been in the game, and I think that we can kind of lose how we can play deep in the sound, because you can't substitute every play to get a new person on it.

2:29:43So, those guys can be the play for a 4-man, a 3-man, or whatever happens. You have to be ready to do that. Do you think you'll have more opportunities to coach CJ this year? What would you envision for a role for them? He's wifting right now, so CJ is wifting right now and trying to learn how to play the position. And then I want him to learn how to play position as a T-fus-a-Van stand up. We get to that moment. And not as a linebacker. I think that's the transition. He's mentally, he's got to go through. He's done an outstanding job thus far. He's bought in to what we're doing. And I think that's the key when he got buy-ins like this is what I want to do. And he has a really good skill set, so we can use them in the model ways. But we don't want to use them just for third-out. We want to use the first and second down. So, my job is to get him ready to play the 1. From on the line, you're supposed to be in space. That's different. And once we get a conversation as we go, then I think we can give a chance to give him some great depth and really do some good things for us. I'm a cider bottom because he's really excited about the position change. Larry, when you talk about being multiple, how impactful can a guy like CJ be?

2:30:44Because of his versatility about the stand-up. That's a bonus if you can do that right. Because it stays on the field. And then you bring a guy from space. You can drop him from space or you can put him. And I think that as we go forward, I think we'll try to build that. We just can't build it around one guy. You've got to build out what a cable we can do on the field. And so, like I said, it's early stage, so it's hard to say this is what we're going to do. Because we're just putting it together. And I know that CJ is very happy where he's at. He's saying to have a really good time, understand what we're doing. And so, what do the guy goes from there? What did you see last year that, I mean, what did you see from him last year? I made you think that he could be an impactful. Or we know he can rush. He's got great speed off the edge. You really can get off the ball. And that we know that. Now, like I said before, he's a kidney plate on a tight end and a six technique. And then a standing up and a two feet plate. That's the thing you have some already to do. Once he master that, they rush stuff to come easy because today is some of the field. And that's what we try to work on. It's okay, go on the table. We can walk out of spring. Liam feels really good about playing a run. And the rush is the faster.

2:31:44There we go, bonus. And that's the goal. There in the camp last year, you mentioned Josh McVick. The guy was coming out and talking to me for a while. Where did he in the season and up close to you? Is it to be the guy who was going to back room? I think as we move forward, I think he has some factor in. I think every guy is factoring right. Because of the death, right? It's similar to some great players. And now we're going to get these young guys ready to fast. And so we're going to hold hands and get there. Your room typically has guys who start to show it in your team. Yes, I want to do something like a trip. And search on your two and then they get the first thing to see are the interviews. We've got Jason. He's talked with him a lot. I just didn't seem to come together in your two. How can he kind of make up that and get to where you need him? He's probably more necessary than what's left. Yeah, I think Jason's got to play football. He's got to play more football in live situations. Right? So he didn't get a lot of shots playing in games. And so this all season, this is the biggest offseason. I've said to him, we're in a conversation.

2:32:45This is a year, this is a time. The process is now built. Now he's got to go. And I think he's ready for that. So I'm looking for great things for him to go forward. He's seen to be in a good space right now. I like where he's at. So we've got a lot of days to go to him. So I'm very confident. What do you guess the same thing that comes to will? Is it injured? I think it's fresh. Yeah. Has it played a lot of football for you? What's it? Is it kind of the same thing with him? Or is it a little different with him? A lot different. We changed his position a little bit trying to find the right fit for him. He'll give everyone three tech to have nose guards. I think we're going to flunnel get one tech. I'm really pleased where he's at right now. He's got strong ways. He's got bigger eyes. He's quicker on that one. So I'm looking forward to as we go into the screen football, how he comes out. So far, so good. I mean, I think he has a chance to help us. Well, maybe I'd want to play a good number of snaps. You guys, let's last a year. But what does he need to do to be ready to take on an even bigger role? He's got to be a leader, first of all. So that's a role for him.

2:33:45He has not been in. He's going to be a leader in the unit. He's so far. He's done a great job doing that. Now he's going to be the guy. He's going to have to demonstrate the production force and move the sick force. The yards and the force and I think he has a chance to do that. Now he's going to play for what he gets to play. So we'll see him more. And I think we'll see his talent come to front. What made you want to bring in Logan George? And how do you see him fitting into this? Well, you look for a fit, right? And what's the important thing he's fit? He's fit, I'm defensive, fit, I scheme, fit, I'm culture. That's all important. We are real guys. We've got to be a fit. And sitting and talking to him, talking to his family, talking to his coach, was really, really rare. And I raised him on him. That's a player. And then once we sit down and talk, I feel like he fit our room. He got great crowd. He can rush. It'll be plays hard. And everything you want to see, you got to have he has. And so I'm looking forward to seeing where he goes from there. And is there any thing you can do from the same hometown as Tommy Tobi? Yeah. I don't know if I can say it in high school. Yeah, there's nothing like the Tobi eyes that Tobi learned more about Logan. Not necessarily about Logan, but I know they coached really well.

2:34:47And then after he got the phone and call him, I mean, he gave right ears to his player. That was a person. And that was the end for me. Because you got to have some information. And then the head coach was just going to love it. Because he couldn't stop talking about it. It was a player and a person. And so when I'm growing up and talking to him, I'm in the fantasy and down. I thought it was pretty good. What do you need to see from a guy like him that knows that deck is good. And then the deck can translate to a high-estate. This is like, actually, point literally the top of the sport right now. So how do you know that that's going to translate from FCS? Based on what I've seen thus far, the skill set is going to translate. Because he's going to translate. Even though I made a huge mistake. No, I was just saying. I was going to translate. I know what you're saying. Like it's a big moment now, right? But he's done great job. That I can tell you that I'm really looking forward to. And he's been all business. And that's what you want. He's a great leader in a room. He's helping in young guys. But he goes on the field. He works. And that's what I want. Yeah. There I think it's something that probably all of us have talked about at times over the years.

2:35:48So I'll just ask the drink. Was there anything in Jim Gould's time here where his style of defense and your style of defense did not exactly mesh? No. Why do you think we think that? Because you guys think he's a 3-4. You guys looked at his system at Oklahoma and thought that way is going to bring the jack thing here. That's what we thought. And so when you looked at that, you guys look for a 3-4 defense. Yeah. And you can remember we have all these 4-3 guys here. And so you have to change the way you recruit. And you've got to change the defense scheme set. Right? And I think we tried jacks or a demonstration. And then as the season went on and teams were going to plan offensively, you know, it was predicated to more having 4 guys in the field and changing up. And so I was like, I don't chase stories and lies out there because nobody's asking me to just go and sit here and have a burst of it. But Jim and I had a really great conversation about what we were doing. There was never a moment where we were going, hey, I don't want the 3-4. There was never that. So that was the best fit for our players. How can we get them to come and compete?

2:36:48And that was always a conversation. I went to this day. The story was made about that. It was a concept. They were so confident. Maybe because I said, well, I don't know what the jack, you know, I don't know what, but at that time, we don't know what we were going to do to jack. I knew that we thought jacks, sorry, we just say, the decision between coach and I, like, let's get jacks or he back to him as a then. And that's where we'll let's go to another jack position, got to do it. But we never did it again. You know, we never got back to the show of defense. Is it changed what you do? No, no, of course not. It's a different scheme and different thing we do. And you got to look by it. Big 10 offense, there's so many different ways, formations. You get that guy caught in the hall and trying to play that. And this is something that I'm going to do. I'm going to do that story. Yes, yes. But that story was out there. How much did it bother you that the story was out there that you and those works, you and I, that you can fight it. Here's what I say to you. It doesn't bother me because I know who I am as a man as a person, right? And so I'm never going to chase lies of people talking about what I did. And I was amazed and I'm getting sent into the night when I used to read it because that's not who I am.

2:37:52I mean, Jim and I had a great relationship and never came down to that. I don't have the ultimate. I was never that. The story got created, which is unfair. But again, create is somehow someone on a podcast. I guess you're going to get a click of some. I don't know. I don't read that song. But no, it didn't bother me because I'm not chasing a lot. I know who I am as a person. I used to be very high in my character. I mean, it's been so long time. And I don't have to go through chairs or something by point. I have a pin here. I give that a pin here. We agree. Walk on a room. What we're going to do is we go for it. I think you saw it this season. We played really well. As we did it, we played well as a staff. How much more? How much testimony do you need? Yeah, I start when you think about it, especially the way the defense played down the stretch second half of the year and play on when you think about staff, players, talent, experience, coming in. Just what's your evaluation of how do you highest eight defense play on the way to national championship? I think the play light up. I think they're play closes unit. I thought they had a lot of pride about what they're doing. And they were on the mission.

2:38:52They really were a half to team on the rough day. You knew that it was going to change. I mean, as you can see, it's a proud ones of coach. You see guys play the way they're playing. I mean, everything came to a tie. And that's what you want. The greatest moment of all, it happened when I scored. And I couldn't be more proud of how they played down the stretch. And every day, they came to work. Every day, they came to work. Never one moment where they'd hit it. They coached. No, let's go. Let's go. Let's go. I mean, you have to be the room. I mean, you have to be the room. I mean, I'm going to play the game. I'm going to play the game. It's just one moment where they'd hit it. They coached. No, let's go. Let's go. You've got to be the room. So no, they'd practice and see Zach was on on every day. Those guys were appearing for every day. That's why you keep doing that. That's why you're getting it. It's fun. Why stop something really long? Because you know that? It's a moment. Like I said before, I said to the young guys talking about the four guys up front. We're doing this with them. They came back for a reason. And we have to give them everything we got to make sure they're ready to go. And that was every day in my media. Like, don't forget why we're doing this. It's why we have to go hard because of these four guys here.

2:39:52They came back to do this again for us. Hopefully we win the championship. And that was my passion. I walked in every single day. I was not going to let those guys down. And that kind of permeate throughout our own room. And that's what we approach every day. Every season, every day, we talked about that. We're not going to leave that. We came personally because you felt a connection to these four guys. They gave you everything they got. And you felt like you had to give them something bad. So every day I walk in the room and say, I'm not going to fill you. I'm going to give you everything I got. Everything I got. Every day. Because I want you to be so successful. And then I last gave walking up to Shio. Tears all over our eyes. You felt they were leaving like, wow, we did it. They just looked at each other and said, we did it. It caused me believe in each other. So follow the four of them. Follow the four of them. The four of them. The four of them. I'm going to talk about obviously. You got a lot of guys just walk out the door. Yeah. The primary reason for why that four of them were kind of made sense. Yeah. With that black's turnover. It's such a hassle. Are you open to the idea maybe the funds change a little bit more this year based on where the debt might be this year?

2:40:53If that were the case. I'm always open and change because it's all about winning. It's all about putting our kids in the best position to be in. I don't know if we're just this concept come to like my holy things back. I don't have any way. I just want to be a coach. And whatever you tell me about your coach, I'm going to coach. That's the way I am. I'm going to talk about this. Just unfortunate that this three four four three doesn't really matter. What we plan as long as we're successful in what we're doing. And put on players in the best position to be successful. That should be the bottom line. Where you four three four three five six doesn't matter. Our players in the best position to play in the win. That's it. That's really matter. Because you start getting caught like we don't do this. And we don't have the personnel to do this. But we still plan it. And the star is way high state can't play the three four because it's not going to. Right? Right. And I think you're a multi-partifit. And that's what we are. We can find what to use our players in the best position possible to be successful. I think you have to do that. And I think I've gone to what six quarter gives a coordinate. And so the change is always revolving.

2:41:53So you have to adapt to the change. But I'm all in. It's going to go to the best position. Our players will play as fast as they can. Whatever you play, I'm all in. So there's no resistance from coach Johnson. You've got to be a four-man front. And we can be able to want to be into personnel fit what we're trying to do. So the last thing I'm going to say, it's not skiing. It's gym and a joke. Right? And so we can talk scheme all you want three, four, where are we at? But in the day, those guys are front and back at. Or all on the same page. It's the place that's possible defense. Does that same approach relate to rotation? No doubt. No doubt. Never going to change. So you don't have to. Last question from coach Johnson. How much do you want to rotate? I do. I go into the game with the idea of Zach, what I want to do. Who will rotate and who's ready? It's not necessarily rotating. Who's ready to rotate and go into the game. Because you can't put a guy in a position where he's going to fail. Because you didn't get him ready for the play. I'm really big in that. They were ready to go. I'm ready to play. Let's go play. You want to get your first shoot here.

2:42:54Yeah, it's 24-chain. These guys you did. It's more special because you've gone through four years. I had to tell you about the time. But I happened this year. It's really special. Because you've been a group of guys. You've been around. You've run that. And all of a sudden, all of a sudden, it's going to be gone. It's trying to win that national attention. And then we get it down with the same guys on your front end. To me, that's what comes to something. That's a great goal. Coach, when you've kind of been waiting your turn behind Zach and JT, you've been out of the trial. You've been out of the trial. You've been out of the trial. Yeah, I said it told me to feel different. It really didn't hit me until first practice of spring. But it felt well. What is that like of a way to tie? Especially in this page, you could have gotten nothing left. Yeah. What's that like a way to tie? Is it paid off for you? Yes, it's for you. I wouldn't say how paid off. Yeah, I really haven't done nothing yet. But God has a path for everybody.

2:43:56He's paid him my path right now. So I'm just letting him control and paid my path right now. When did you discover that? When did you come to you? Yeah, listen to that. What I should do. I'll say after sophomore year, that's when it was a lot of ups and downs. Even this past year, it was a lot of ups and downs. But mainly from last year, it was a lot of ups. And you know, just like letting him control everything. You know, I tend to, you know, over date. You want to control things myself. But that's not how God works. Like I said, God has a path for everybody. He's paid him my path. What is the biggest thing that you've got to do for a champion? JT that showed you how to lead this game. Just like consistent. You know, everybody, it's different leaders. You know, you got the vocal leader. You got the leader that said, by example. You know, it's different personalities in the group. So I'll say, you know, just, I can't talk to Edward. I can't talk to, you know, Ken Curry. I can't talk to Ken Curry. I can't talk to Ken Curry. You know, so it just, you know, they just, you know, stay consistent, you know, stay positive.

2:44:56And you know, everything will, you know, take care of stuff. You made bloods last year. You know, major part of this thing, right? What's your sense of this defense coming back? From placing eight starters. How quick are you off to make another run? You know, everybody, you know, everybody's working. Like you said, we lost, you know, a lot of good players. I mean, a lot of good leaders, man. But guys are stepping out. We just got to step up. We just got to, you know, take on what the guys that, you know, left for us pretty much it. It's a good, you know, it's a good guy. It's a good guy. It's a good guy. It's a good guy. It's a good guy. It's a good guy. You know, the same mindset that we had last year. You know, they said consistent. You know, when I told boxing, I mean, trust him, Coach Jay, whatever he, you know, got for us. This is a receiver. Is pretty polished. You have what he think made him like, there are another wiseies sort of the defense. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, probably he had good coaches. And obviously he's naturally, you know, a gifted athlete. He played a couple different sports in high school. Has a good feel for space and super athletic. But he's, he's really impressed me with how, you know,

2:45:57how dedicated he is. And he's always in my office. He was trying to get better. When you have the receivers you guys have, how do you get the guy like him involved in the passing game as well? We saw Kate and G do it to some level, but he's a guy who caught 50-some passes. Yeah, no, I think, I think it makes sense. I think it makes it easier. Right? You know, I show these recruits all the time because everyone says, oh, how is he just a receiver school? It's like, Marvin Harrison was the best receiver in the country. You know, and you know, who number two is in targets and receptions and receiving yards was Kate because, you know, you could go to the other schools and they don't have the receivers we do. And you're going to get doubled every game. Good luck. I don't know many, you know, great plays if you're going to get bracketed. But no, you have the receivers at Coach Hartlin, you know, keep playing in here. We're going to have single coverage. And if my tight ends can't beat single coverage, you know, we're going to have issues about how to get another tight end. We can. Like, we've got a lot of tight ends who are pretty good receivers and excited to see them. And you mentioned the inline blocking. Yeah. I think if you take PFF grades and see what you will want that, they're not as high as other guys.

2:46:57How have you... Who? For Max? For Max, okay. Yeah, just how... Do you see that part of his game? Because I think that's been the knock that people have talked about. Yeah, I'm not sure. I mean, he checked that box when I watched the film. I'm not sure what the nice folks at PFF are watching. But, uh, Wilkes Merrick didn't have many offers coming out. He's the best blocking tight end in the country. So, I don't know what his grade is. What is it we'll talk about at the Convide? He said that actually the Purdue game came to you and said, Hey, this guy is a poor little guy. What do you remember? Yeah, yeah. Lathen... Lathen is trying to take all the credit. Caleb Downs was also, you know, kind of sure, with me. I always have dinner with those two guys at DB's, really, the safeties on Friday nights. And I always, every week, just asking about the opposing tight ends. And they were super high on, uh, and Max, pretty weak. And so, when he went to the portal, uh, Lathen and Caleb, like, see, oh, that's a guy. So, I was like, you're not watching. Obviously, you have to do your own evaluation. And which is that obviously? How much do you value that up? And do you hear that from guys who actually have to go on the field? No, hugely. And like, at this back-to-back, you're just really

2:47:58because you had... I mean, I would have watched Max anyway. I'm not even playing too much credit over here. But like, like the year before, it was the same way it was told me about Wilkes Merrick. So, um, no, if a guy knows our culture, and it says Coach G, he fits your room, like, I gotta give Sam all the credit for finding the cash. Is this the deepest tie-in room that you've had here? Yeah, it's gotta be. Just because, again, Dan, how many guys played in the Natti? And then we had five, four or five tight ends. We had all six play-in-the-play-offs, and four or those six are back. So, yeah, I mean, we've got tons of guys in that room that have started college football games. And not just against the school down the street, like, big-time moments and big-time games. So, yeah, we're super deep. How valuable is that to know what you have, you know, four guys that have all played a lot of football in your tight ends? Hugely. And I think the best part, Dan, is like, now I can challenge him even more. We're past the stage of, okay, here's what it's gonna be like on Saturday. They've almost all the guys in that room have done it. You know, so now I can challenge him even more to go, you know, go be the best tight-end room in the country. We're at a higher state. Like, if you're not up to that challenge, then go somewhere else.

2:48:58So, guys like Bennett and Jolani, what do they have to do to earn even more playing time this year? Yeah, I think everyone's different, right? Bennett's different than Jolani. And they go, for those guys, let me consistently, I said it, you know, last week, like, those hards could have put the best 11 on the field. It doesn't matter if they're all running back, your receivers are tight-ends. So, like, every day I tell them, every day you're competing against the other tight-ends in the room, but we're competing against receivers and the running backs to, when we put two or three or four tight-ends on the field, if that package is better than none, we're gonna live in that. So, every day is a challenge. Really? You can go. How long did you get real victory, kind of, last words of the year? Working, growing, growing? Yeah, a lot. A lot. I was, obviously, all injuries were unfortunate, but he put in so much work. I was excited to see him have a full season. So, I was cut short, but, again, on the flip side, it challenged him to be more of a leader and to learn the offense, maybe, you know, taking a step back and help mentor a guy like Jolani. And I think there was a huge opportunity for a guy like Bennett and Jolani. Like, we watched it this morning in my meeting when we went down.

2:50:01We went tempo in the next play, G-block, the C-Gap, then we hit Quinchon, then the next play we were like 14% or 11-13, and it was three tight-ends who had never done that. And we're on the road at Oregon and like, we punched it in and scored. It's just a great story to tell the guys. Like, when Kate went down against Georgia, we played the game with Ms. Rossi. It's like, all the guys gotta be ready. I don't know when your numbers had to be called. So, I know it was unfortunate, but it's such a good learning opportunity. What are you? I know today is not about Jolani needing to be more consistent. Is that some of you have seen more of a Ninja Tops friend? Yeah, I mean, he's off the charge night and day, more mature, been really impressed with just his work ethic. He's in here every night getting the extra work in. I'm challenged to learn every position I'm offends. Don't just be a Y, be a Y, be an H. Know what the C's got. And then also be a leader. He's not a young guy anymore. So, like, he's coaching Nathan or Blonk and those guys in Max, you know, even harder. He was yelling at Max Claire, you know, not yelling at. He was encouraging him to finish like, hey, you're obviously tight in. Like, we're going to be going harder than everyone on the field

2:51:02and I was like, you get it. That's awesome. He's been a leader. It's a super impressive him. For you, I know you're one that deferred to your guys and credit them. But you are kind of just a staple of one part of life as a coach. You can do it. You can build your way up through this program now. Get the title of this offseason. What's it been like to watch your journey here and kind of see where you are now? Yeah, and I appreciate that. You know, I'm not going to take the bait there. That's total rap poison. But no, I think every, every offseason out of high state, we have such good players and we win championships. Everyone around here is going to get opportunities to go somewhere. And that's a credit to those guys. It's also like, it shows all the trust that Coach Day and Coach Arlan have for me. And I've been, those guys have been my boss for the last nine years. Whether it's Coach Day or Coach Arlan. So, like, nothing's changed but a title and just, you know, super blessed to be here with those two guys. And I love those guys. Kenan, you spent a lot of time starting talking about the message with your guys about me being over the most East talented group, pouring the rankings and all that. This group is now veteran. Oh, yeah. One of the most productive titles in the country joined the room.

2:52:02Do you have to change? I know it's still going to be hardest working. No, I'm not. But I can take that away. Is it a different message now, different mentality? It is. It is. Yeah, awesome. You hit the nail on the head. Like, we're not changing our DNA. You cut open a high state title and it's easy to be a bad dude. It was really freaking hard. And it's just gritty. It's all good out. But I'm not saying that we're going to be overlooked this year at all. It's a 180. I told the guys we should set the tone for the offense for the team. You know, nationally, like with toughness and effort and all that, but production and we should be a driving force. Like, I challenge them all the time. Someone comes to practice. You want to see what the Ohio State Buck guy fight culture is. A brother, just go watch the Titans. Don't want to, like, that's who the Buck guys are. So I challenge them. You know, lead from the front now. We don't need to be, you know, the least kind of the sleeper unit. No, no. Like, set the tone. Did Max push that quickly? I mean, you mentioned Will trying to lead and encourage through practice. He's been here to watch out. Is he putting that in my mind? No, he's just writing. And I saw things to some things today. I'm like, all right. Yeah.

2:53:02No, he's been a high state title. Yeah. Now, I'm super proud of him. I know you. Sorry, that I missed anybody else. Good. Thank you guys. Thanks. Thanks. Really? No two guys for sure. I mean, Michael Thomas was talking to me before. The game, or the Rose Bowl, Incrus Carter and after the game as well. I mean, just them giving me advice. Just, you know, telling me keep going first and you know, just keep doing what I've been doing the whole year. I mean, I'm God's Buck, I legend. So definitely look at them. God's for sure. Major respect. It means a lot. Me just a kid from Miami. Just being able to play an actual championship as a freshman. I'm a son of a dream, a kid. And I'm here now. And it's okay. Can't wait to put on a show Monday. He said he got him.

2:54:05I mean, the Tissue note, like he says, made crazy each and every week playing. But you know, you 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 happy being a sensation. None of us think we could be covered, man. Oh man. I actually talk about this yesterday as well. But you know, I mean, that's what they do. That's what they do. Maybe we should go out there and play our game and know certain reason why not the playman on man. Two. Four. Three.

2:55:11One. I go five. It's good. No problem. My mom says, you know, just go out there Monday and just dominate the person I'm 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 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. So they're not changing the game plan, but we've got to go out there and show them the reason why not the playman on man. Yeah. I mean, I don't really, if I be on the cover, I be on the cover.

2:56:16It's not really a big deal to me. It may definitely be a best of a show, just to be on the cover of a game. But you know, it's not really a dream of my, it's a dream of mine, but I don't really think too much of it. I mean, no, not yet. Probably hit me after this easy. No, just no. Playing in the Carlos football playoffs as a freshman, playing in the Rose Bowl as a freshman, playing in a Cardiff Bowl, not in the National Championship. I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but it hasn't hit me yet. I'm putting it right here. I'm out with your fan news down to your mid. My favorite catch, I would say we played Michigan State the one I caught up to defenders. Definitely probably my favorite for sure. Or you could go the one from Iowa, I should say, and as I'm probably going to.

2:57:20I don't, I mean, like you said, it's pretty frustrating me having a game that I had in the Rose Bowl. And they're coming to the Cardiff Bowl, you know, just doing different things, changing 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. As long as we win, that's all I really care about. And you got to set the national championship. Right here. It means a lot. We put a lot of work in this, this season.

2:58:22We have, how's we have lows. We have people kind of out. But we hear now, we just ready to put on a show Monday. Oh, yeah. Yeah. First of when there's national championship because there means a lot. I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year. People saying he should be fired and this died on the third. But I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year. I mean, I seen everything that he bent through this year. I see everything. People saying my head went to her. I wasn't here. He first got the head of 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, oh, there, you had guys like, oh, there, you had Stefan Dicks.

2:59:30It means a lot of my good time is Chris Carter. Just a lot of, you know, guys I played in NFL and stuff like that. But yeah, really them guys for sure. Okay. No, just keep going. You got it. You've messed up for sure. Really, I really, really that. Like a physical defense like like you said, like people say, like they like to play man. They're not changing their skin. So we're just ready for the challenge. We're going to be the best defense we can probably go see all year. And we just got to be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show.

3:00:30I'm excited for Will. Him first coming here in Ohio State, January our first workout we had together. I mean, 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 freshman, but I mean, it's a blessing for sure. People even say that, but I got two, three more years left for college. And I'm just focused on college right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. So it's very special for me just being a freshman and playing the national stage. Up here for national titles, something that I dreamed of as a very young kid.

3:01:31I'm just happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on some 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 in the ball. 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, you know, this we're going to the daddy for sure. Yeah. How does that video have that? Me, it shows a lot, means, you know, going from high school or when the three state championships, I saw my daughter then, you know, coming to Ohio State, just competing for national title right now.

3:02:32Me just showed that I've picked two great schools, but I'm happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on some Monday. The coolest person. I mean, you got a lot. I can't really say just a specific person. He had a lot of great guys, Richard and Lee, like, oh, Dale, you had guys like Stefan Deeks. A lot of other players will just get kind of my mom, but really, really them two guys will show, oh, Dale, a Stefan Deeks. You're looking at their name, but something I'm there, if you got on your mind, try to attack and try to dominate. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like they say, they play man, so I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no putting on a show. Thank you. We're going to go back over there.

3:03:41The Vice Geno had gave me. I said, just keep golfers. I know the reason why I'm here. I mean, like he said, just keep golfers and just no keeping the main thing and the best corner I face 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, uh, Teres and K-Codes. Who good are you? Yeah.

3:04:46I say both respect and frustration as well. But I mean, I doubt they come out there and try to put to me and they say, stick it to what they've been doing all year. And that's playing man coverage, which is ready for the challenge. Pretty good group. Christian Gary 29 is a great corner. 15, Lenard Moore. Two great guys are right there. Very physical, but you know, we all have to receive it, so we're ready for the challenge. I say just no understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what Coach Kelly is trying to get done.

3:05:49I mean, just coming in, I felt I progressed from my first game against Akron to now. I feel like I 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. We're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man on man. And you know, we ready to go on Monday. And then just sit on the ladder. And we have the three of them. This whole environment is playing. Yeah. I mean, the environment is pretty crazy. Seeing all these cameras. Suddenly, I never thought I'd see them in my life, but it's a blessing for sure to be in this position right now. I mean, we just had a prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer meeting.

3:06:58And you know, we all, they all discussed the issues because they discussed issues. And 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, on a chip on our shoulder. All throughout the playoffs. And we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder in that championship on Monday. Do you know how that very impactful? He had a very impact on my career, I should say. You know, just going to his games as a very young kid. Seven, eight years old. He was playing with him, playing for West Virginia. And they played Clemson, Orange Bull, down at Miami. I mean, just going there, seeing his games. It was like, yeah, definitely when they're playing in stage. And I can't wait till I get to know that moment for sure. There are you.

3:08:01I'm close gay. Because they really just in his own, his own love space. He's just walking around trying to get his mind right, trying to get his mind ready for the game. 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. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, you go play, man, against Ohio State receivers. I mean, just be ready because, you know, we definitely go come out there and know. Give our best. And I mean, they said not to change what they do. So we just ready for the challenge. Not a year later. Definitely sometime in my career college, but not my first in college, I should say. I mean, just be ready to be in this position right now.

3:09:02Just, you know, a blessing. Or just a joke here from Miami to be here. And I won't take up for a game and I'm ready to go out there and mind the game and give them all. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching that game against Georgia. I believe, yeah, 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 nickname off. But I mean, we ready to go out there and mind the game myself and just put a show of my day. I mean, I just laugh.

3:10:10But you know, that's what they do. They're not going to change what they do just because we're high on state. So I'm just going to go out there and put it on. Put it on. Why not to play. Man, no, man, it gets us. So we just got to go out there and show them my day. So. There you go. Can you say the year? I'm sorry. My journey here at Ohio State, prepared me a lot for the National Championship. Let me just go on 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 my day. Okay. Okay. Yeah. We just squeezed this. 109.

3:11:18200? I mean, he is big and strong. Yeah. Yeah, I'll go. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What's your name? That's great. Yeah. It's pretty good. No problem. You know. You know. Like, you know, you know. Like, you know, you know, you know. Like. Yeah. You know, like watching. Uh. And why not probably like the most is the one against Michigan State when I called over to the defenders on their side line.

3:12:20Party line or the one after that, I should say, or you go the one against Iowa, probably them three probably my best ones. 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 had to make a play because the ball touched my hand. So I mean just when the ball is everything I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes at me. 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 I probably Chick-fil-A for sure.

3:13:28Yeah. 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 watching their opinions on what we need to do to come together as a team but you know that me and definitely 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 tell you that on Monday. Yeah it definitely got emotional. Can't really say what it really was said because that's no players only and coaches only but it would definitely some stuff said that people took people took and they went with it and that's the reason we playing the way we're playing right now. Yeah make helped me a lot this year. Him being our older guy in the room. Me help me and

3:14:31Cardinal as well and Brendan and his and all the guys in our city room as well. Me just a great guy as well. Very smart. I mean make just been a big part of the reason that I'm having to see that I'm having to work because he's been a big you know older guy been there being a lot of great guys in our room like Chris Alivegaer, Garret Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson Smith and Jibba so he 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 take these on February because like you didn't necessarily film with it's much right and so the other way. Did you feel on the rate of it? No I felt like I was rated you know right. I mean some actors got me different. I mean I just feel like I had all the offers I think I would not mean but obviously I had to fuck down like a group of websites but no it doesn't matter you get hearing of I'm a star from it. What was it like to take that in the subject? You know I felt good you know I'm actually feeling an auto-har work and I I do that spring on the teaching faculty you gave me and I just paid off and I just

3:15:36know I was wearing a black and white camera. They give me two deep as a true freshman now I play the new and the knowledge and opportunities and have a bigger role this year. What do you expect to go into your second year? You know I just worked to keep you know I mean obviously you know when you know whatever with how many savings or whatever you know I'm just working just to keep you know work my tail logs and you know make a role for my family. How do you treat physical health? I would say like I got a lot more in the rest of the game you know I gave some weight now pushing 200 pounds now and I'm not against targets. Coach Patricia what have you uh the state of Canada now? I've always been like real. You know he's a great guy you know I like him you know he's a great guy you know he cares about his players you know I'm so football wise and he's a master rival behind this he is my respect and his football business you know and it's time being in that family so I'm playing so I'm like do it too. Was it I wasn't I was like the starter or occasional piece of what was he going to expect to see from

3:16:37his tail of the plane and then in his face? I expect you know just to add value you know from a half of his team and just make players. You feel a lot more buffalos here for sure. Oh yes for sure and I feel like now I'm starting to use the everything here and I feel like now I'm just trying to pull off my new last year. It's like I say I think I will always make a play. Let's go say you know Ryan set up a bigot of a screen starting to scratch in a way now he's letting too much of the shadow of the national team. How was the team really embraced that mindset and see competitive in that mindset? You know you know we have more ideas so far so we're trying to stay determined and I know just trying to dominate and I'm not learning the past anymore it's like everything happened we just trying to get another one. I have a coach who's got adventure they're having an A and B rule they're having a beer rules that are filling in. I think that gets a grip in another position. I've seen right now playing in Scotland for the sake of just trying to crack myself and just make myself more versatile for the team wherever I go.

3:17:38They're getting some more last part. I let that one stand up. Limiting his reps. Right obviously he's living in like a playoff they said so you know I was meaning to make this you know and for him you'd be ready to run this a lot of work. You know I mean skipying, skimping up. Thank you appreciate it. Speak some of his language with what he's called things before and you're trying to morph everything together right with some things that we've done what he knows will do like it's a lot and 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 to be like you're just efficient in your woman 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 and sit you know like you have a lot of these conversations okay what are we looking for at these positions now you know how do you see it um because you don't under one coordinator you might see a the my plan back would used to be this and then under this coordinator while I think the my

3:18:40back would need to be this so you have to have those conversations at every position and you just kind of keep going through and but I'm just excited to learn I think the more systems I mean luck play in the system here in college play the system underneath the Vignolo play the system or Tim Walden play the system under Greg Williams that is talent coach of rally gold and then Jim Null like every one of those there's like different terminology for everything so you're just you're learning a different language call and thing you know I mean there's concepts and I think it's kind of collect over time what you think is really good stuff and how you do stuff that be a little different and I'm just really excited to learn from Adams I'm ton of success he was seemed very excited over there talking really to be here yeah coaching college whatever so long um what's his personal they like with you guys and what yeah he's been great I mean his energy is incredible he's very uh he is he's authentically excited to be back in college football um he could tell there's like a yearning

3:19:41to get back to like the why you got in the coaching right is that impact young people is the impact and teach the game of football and so the few times it's been a fun you know kind of like talking to the guys in a sense like he's excited to just teach more you know what I mean and um kind of ironically like you know similar to a lot probably things that chips that last year right yeah get back and you're like man I'm just excited and so he has that excitement he's done a phenomenal job I think of getting to know the players um 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 we have all these guys right and trying to learn all these guys I'm learning recruiting trying to learn to staff to learn dynamics like it's a lot but he's handled it really well and you know he's an old school ball coach he's a grinder so he's really good job James Sonny's probably not going to need to do much this spring how much more can you get done with the young guy let him do a lot

3:20:41but in terms of Ryan Dairty said you know 50% 75% or whatever how much more can you get done with the young guys when they're not worried too much about the senior yeah I think I mean you're always just looking for competition especially like a spring ball of mess what it's all about right you're trying to have it's so cliche but it's true like the iron sharpener's iron mentality of you want your room to be super competitive to where hey the guy in front of me makes a play then my next set of four plays I go out there I have the point right and it's a constant driving of the room forward so yeah Sonny gets 50 or how many reps reps off 50% rubber coach said then that means a more opportunity for somebody else to play right so that need more for our vales that scheme flexibility with our vales we're going to pay pierce around we it's at TJ Riley you like all these guys stove we're all going to get more ruts which I think is great so we got to do it this point in season I think you know yes there's still stuff that within their all of

3:21:46the best sunny is that he's going to be clawed and try to get those reps because he's a true pro and you know that's been the most enjoyable thing about I think working with him is like you get a kid who's played safety his whole life comes the backer and he just wants to learn the why behind everything and 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 ball 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 at class so it's like it makes it really easy as a coach because they're passionate for the game is so strong you mentioned TJ in terms of the higher with the map just looking 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 lengths you'll talk about sunny styles long can run our Valries long can run like it's crazy because you see

3:22:46sunny you're like okay this guy like I wish I was built like that when I played and then you see our Val stand next to sunny you're like you know those those you know what I mean it's 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 to make coach made as a phenomenal job I was just talking to Burm about it like to see even our meteor guys what they looked like when they showed up during like the bowl of the whole natty run and they're kind of hanging out during practice and we see the high school bodies to see what they look like today before they go away and like the shoulders are all about everything it's just different and they've been indoctrinated into the brotherhood and so I think you know there's just a lot to work with and so what he's really good at right is like and he's talked about it but one year he has june or say I will even get a smite variable you know Roosevelt Colvin and you know those guys and a couple

3:23:50years later he has brand of spikes so he's like okay I'm just about his blitz brand at the middle all the time because he has 260 pounds and a beast and he always says he was my best nose guard from Mike Bakker 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 not just like hey this is what we're doing we got plenty of people and it's like hey here's what we got let's utilize it so that's what spring will be walled on the lab and figure out what they mean so I'm sure through spring ball there'll be like hey here's what we do really well as unit because this unit is going to be different right I mean the unit there's a lot of production so unit will be different so you kind of got to reform your own identity and you have to re-hearn that silver bullet big name and mantra how many other guys can look at our bell just like he's on a very good track is that it with the striped just what's his ceiling it's okay just start going well it's just a lot but right now he's locked in he's done a great job becoming a leader coming out of his shell I think I think for

3:24:52belly it's all about 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 and stuff like sometimes if these kids are always on their phones and stuff not like the meeting when I was writing like that but just naturally so like to get out of pen and paper and like you hear things and I mean oh yeah I got it what you do until your dog tired and then you forget because you know I mean but when you really understand it you know I mean like go play faster he got so much better through the year just a lot of that's because of Cody like becoming a pro and then now it's like son he's pulling him along he's pulling paint along the paint is pulling TJ and Riley and Eli so I can still like so I kind of love the competition or room right now the way it's made up yeah bell's on he's on a great path right now how many different guys do you feel like can be in that Mike's spot for you but that was obviously losing Cody and now having that something either you know I think that's something that's slower though as we kind of go um

3:25:53because you know week one sunny actually started out Mike for us and sunny smart off to play a mall our bell is smart of to play a mall paint pierce is smart off to play a mall um and it's also like how did you like depends on what what scheme you're running where they how do they being utilized as well you know what I mean um so you say my like my backer you know whether it's Tommy I convert grow up in research two different people and Cody's different than those two so I challenged to like a lot of the guys that come in and so you got the other 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 to learn 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 haven't recognized that the offense is telling you

3:26:53something is 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 okay here's what the tight ends doing that's what the backs doing here's what plays are coming you just line up the play it's runner pass every time like you know stand a chance you got to eliminate plays in your mind by seeing what the offense is doing like they tell you a story every time they line up they just wouldn't address it people motion and she knows to try okay 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 in the same place but they just shift the people and then they motion and they move and they don't want you to recognize 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 just rear react looks here I know you have so my challenge to guys like there's always a no both so think a lot I'll just be on on depth I'm sure guys you know if sunnies are only doing 15 to 75 percent of the place and probably more guys get more will reps than they had because we need more will bodies is that's technically where sunnies started but we'll rotate them through

3:27:58let the production kind of show what it does and think sometimes you know you'll live with some of the mistakes just from being a new spot but you'll be able to judge too like who's actually getting in the book you know I mean who's actually studying well how much a great have you seen from sunny this time of year go through the national championship game and then what's next man I mean definitely I know I know sunny has big goals and you should I do as well for him and 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 you know when you're in the box is a linebacker you gotta be able to remember loop thickly say it all the time and you gotta be slow till it's time to be fast and when you're twitchy like he is a lot of times you know when you're about safety you're used to pulling the trigger and rolling like you gotta learn how to shuffle and not cross over and he got so much better as a year went on 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 used to season god he's really

3:29:02good with his hands he's a really natural ability to snag will 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 he's not gonna be in catching the ball you know what I mean because he has that athleticism and I think we need a challenge in there challenge them I think everything is just this is not just sunny it's everybody's urgency in zone coverage I mean the urgency with you have to break on the football to close that space not at the ball carrier have so much space on you to cut making miss is critical I think sometimes he's he can be so athletic that you know you can get away some stuff and he knows like anything that I'm saying right now hearing notes so the best part is a lot of times like he'll come to me before film and already say like 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 government is that they just want to be they want to be pushed and they want to be coached and so the pain heck was asked for right like so I always ask like what do you

3:30:02need for me just just keep making sure like you're pushing it go let me settle let me settle so he's probably the best in the room with that do you look at sunny and our valet pain that's kind of your top two guys right now um yeah I mean I think going into it you know I think it's sunny or valet pain's right up there in that next you're accurate there and then it's like who else is going to emerge for really the fourth the fourth guy you know I think it's a healthy way to put it um yeah I just I think our I think our backers are so competitive so competitive that it's you know like I know Peyton Pierce is chomping at the bit and I know that he's going to push you know Vell and Sonny I know that you look at Riley and TJ and Eli and Stove like those guys are going at it these work guys those guys are going at it and it's constant competent you know I mean they're trying to fight each other everything so because the reality of it is they're fighting for reps right so this game is hard it's winter loose or every single day and um you know a lot of

3:31:08the guys are gonna make our break and it starts with the mental preparation to be honest with you and um because that's where trust starts right if you don't know what you're doing I can't put each out there so who preps mentally as we get rolling and then the physical part of that but let's say it says it's Sonny Arbella and Peyton probably have probably the top three and then but like I always say it's always fluid it's always fluid I haven't done this I you know it's funny I there's one coach who said that um forget what kind of felt he knew was but he said that what he does is he has the depth chart sit in the front of the room so like if you're a starter you're the first to grow you know and then the second row and these like it'll change weekly sometimes through camp I'm like I can't do that I got my shirt I can do that good Brian two things one topic being available but not necessarily planning to be what happened there and then also what was the evaluation will well at halftime yeah well it's good to go um just

3:32:13took a shot there as you guys uh a tiley was available um he was gonna be was available in emergency role we felt like we needed them we were gonna put them in the game he was cleared uh but felt like one more week almost like the dawn of in situation uh one more week of rest you know we'll get him to 100% which uh we felt like was the right thing to do if we needed to we could have put him in the game we we decided we didn't need him yeah just a general overview of how you feel about this game you know first row game first big 10 game went about 38 seven and then of course the turnovers y'all forced and the uh stoppage there on a fourth down when they were deep in your territory just how much of those those loom huge uh yes oh yeah I mean the turnover battle was huge in this game and um you know if we don't get those turnovers that you know maybe it's a different game for sure but that's the game and you know we got to make sure we win in the situations um so you know we'll take a look at the film and figure out where it's at but um but I thought the atmosphere was was excellent early on I thought you know they came out and played really really hard

3:33:17I think again Jonathan's doing a really good job of um you know putting his culture into his thumb print on the program here you can see it going and um that a lot of respect for him and his staff but uh but I thought our guys responded well and and had some really good poise that was something that we talked about coming into the game is having poise in the noise um you know getting down in there some of those four down conversions are pretty clutch you talk about that poise will start off really well and maybe kind of hit a little rough by I had a couple of passes and I'm sure he went back one obviously that he went back what was your assessment of just the poise that he showed and kind of settled down on that following drive and um answered back right back yeah I mean the the biggest one was the interception you know he knows I mean that was that was not a good play and uh it could have cost us so uh something to learn from he said to move on from it and um you know work through his progression there but um you know when when you're going through you know learning a new offense and everything's going to be some of these growing opportunities and learning from those opportunities so but overall I thought he was solid he was um this poised made some big big big throws and then um and then you know a

3:34:22couple runs a couple tough runs in there that you know you can see what a difference it makes when you have somebody who can run what has allowed Jeremiah to at least match the expectations that came in for him so far as work ethic he does it every day in practice I mean just doesn't say a word but works just tail off as disciplined as humility uh he loves being a buckeye you can tell just with the way he works with his teammates um and he he's coming out of his shell a little bit too which is great to see but I mean the talent speaks for itself um I just am impressive the discipline and the hard work and um being able to step in at such a young age um the only way to do that is if you go in and put the work in and you know he came in with that work ethic uh Brian certainly taking it from there but um this is especially not a man yeah Ryan we talk about Jeremiah Smith and how special he is but Caleb Downes on defense was just was pretty incredible yeah uh pretty impressive what's it like to have when things are a little clunky you've got a guy that can make

3:35:22NFL plays on both sides of the ball yeah I thought Caleb played great tonight um showed up in a big way on a bunch of different spots and you can see the acceleration how fast he plays and a part of that is is that let us is but another part is just the way he prepares I mean he prepares his hardest anybody on our team and um you know he was he was all over the place tonight and uh huge made a huge difference and you said and kind of turning that that point where they they were moving the ball some and and he got he got us going a little bit back there and uh no those are some big plays and then I think it kind of felt like it turned the momentum for us on defense Ryan what does this say I know you've already touched on a little bit what does this say about Devon to be able to come in and deliver that kind of pass that was a clutch play it was a clutch play he put it there and you know we told them you know if if you have the opportunity to throw it rip it only throw where you know um you know the receiver can catch it you know we had a couple different options there um if if if nothing was there just throw it out of bounds and kick the field and he did that he gave him a chance and um and so it was good it was good to see him make that play

3:36:23in that big spot Ryan two things on Trey I know you got the load he kind of limped up the field after he got hit there and from well didn't know but just kind of how's he doing and then two just how much drove did you see from him specifically in the past man side of things he had some great pickups huge pickups the one on um the the touchdown in Jeremiah and the touchdown to a mecca um and there was a couple more he did a really good job coming across I got to watch the film but I just like three of them particularly I he came across and picked up some corner fires and did a nice job but that was big he's he's becoming that all purpose back that you know we all know we can be and you know again I thought they ran hard but um yeah I mean you know I think where we are right now is is we're making progress but we got a long way to go you know and I think that you know our guys have that mindset it was good to get this win on the road first road win good environment um but you know we know that the challenges are bigger ahead so we've got to get on this film it's they hungry and and you know keep the journey going but um you know we're going to

3:37:24get back to work tomorrow and and we know that we've got a really good Iowa team coming in here next week they have had a week off um just like always they're they're a very very good team play complimentary football and so we know we've got a big challenge ahead of us so we've got to have a great week of practice yeah coach just want to ask you uh the play calling a particularly there uh the end around uh to uh Jeremiah just feels like when you guys get into a a bit of a spot you guys have a wrinkle you have something that's coming is this chip is this you collaborating just what what do you say that one seemed to catch them really flat footed on that play yeah no it's everybody on the staff there's this collaboration but but chips got a great feel for it for the game and calling the plays and um you know it was always you know have some wrinkles in there we've got a few other ones that you know we we held a hoff on but um I think it's it's a balance of making sure that you have your fastballs where you're running downhill and you feel really good about them but having enough curve balls that you know we can create explosive plays and that's that balance you're constantly looking for um but we always want to try to find ways to

3:38:25get you know the ball to our playmakers in space and we're going to keep trying to do that responsibility uh getting everybody lined up getting the call um but knowing my assignment um it's I didn't know how to do but it's just like up to you have a little bit more so again I just gonna take um some getting used to but I know I'm not really I'm not just you think that's gonna help you in the ball uh what being Mike I think it's gonna be good um being able to being up a room around and uh just taking charge I'm definitely used to that and comfortable with that so I feel like it's gonna be good for me in the ball does it help you learn a defensive scheme faster to have that much responsibility yeah yeah for sure um knowing knowing what everybody's doing uh and everybody's responsibility he's getting the hell we play better what's the typical day like for a true freshman middle linebacker trying to learn the teammates off the practice field off the practice field um just waking up getting here early um probably probably watching the watching film you know we got we got uh practice or or weight so so when I get through that I think we got meetings so more

3:39:26uh the game knowledge then we got uh an individual meeting so just learning to learn to that more and then after that after that we got class and stuff so after class we definitely definitely gonna uh stay on the film some more what what film are you watching? what are you watching? oh practice film practice film in the your film yeah yeah no knowing what I did wrong what I could um improve on my head and learn new installs all of your tricks physically since you're rolling uh definitely got a little bit stronger um for sure speed speed a little bit faster you came in at what and you are at what now as far as weight uh I came in at two of the team I'm at two two teams and what's the target weight you have a certain technical you're trying to get uh right now uh two three three three three three three three three doesn't take me long day you guys want to be right and so I'm like what are your expectations for your freshman every every time you get to get some touch of James Lauren I say it's nice to say about you what are your expectations um just get on the field and making plays I feel like I feel like that's good you know I suppose to change me I just want to get out there and make plays

3:40:30describe your game it's a lot better um I think I think um I can do a little bit of everything I can cover I can rest pass I can uh play to run to um I think I think those I'm I'm sorry I those are all my strength um yeah I think I think my strength when that's usual a big Texas flavor on this team a lot of Texas guys has been like here for like the last 10 years um that's got to make you feel kind of at home yeah I talked more about that if you would um just Texas guys you know you know football is really big in Texas so so uh with with that Texas oh how pipeline I'm knowing I got guys from Texas I'm I love I love I love it you'll stay true a good line what is it just inspired you to see what Cody Simon was able to do here last year not only as a player but a leader um that that that that that's definitely something I look forward to um becoming

3:41:31and um being up being up and doing those things that that Cody did Cody did the way he played all the plays he made my I feel like it's a good uh what kind of example is sunny setting for right now uh sunny the um his position his switch from safety to linebacker I feel like um the the way that he played last year being his first year linebacker I feel like like I feel like if he could do what I could do with something so you know that's definitely getting sam you have a lot of experience playing safety uh yes I'm really sick of my freshman year um I mean bro like I said we're all pretty much interchangeable you know like if I need to go to left guard center whatever bone needs to go to center look or whoever you know it's it's not really like a uh big shocker moment you know it's we we train for this we're prepared for this so when it happens you know we're able to execute to left guard um I think half time well coming in as a rookie in the crowd in the noise and I know you said you guys all trained

3:42:34for this but what can you tell us about how yeah I mean he's a he's a man you know he's he's he's built for this moment he's done it for his whole life so you know at the end of the day it's just a game and we keep on we care try to keep everybody calm calm collected and you know we're five as one we help each other out and whenever you know we need to we do it so he was ready he was built for it now he's gonna be a great player you're obviously no stranger to Matthew's toughness what was it like just seeing the way he let this off I think I that guy's a warrior yeah 36 years old he's taking some hits and some things and some dance so and he's able to get back up and keep it rolling you know he's still got that fire to him and you know we love having him back there Sean has always said after a loss don't let the team beat you twice but to have the lead late in the game all the injuries and not when you describe that level I mean it's the NFL comes down to seconds and inches and you've seen it all through past couple days and today you know it comes down to the the little things and you know we'll see them again and I apologize if you were asked is what was

3:43:38it like for you personally to walk on it is it was kind of surreal man it was it was nice it was a lot emotional seeing everybody now I wasn't a kid when I came here but you know I've got grew into more of a man and these people here have definitely helped lay that blue spring for me help me out big time and I can't thank them enough for that you know you've looked at film yet for how you feel about the D I feel really good you know sand because everything careful all summer and OTA is showing up you know we said I ground we came with um short came up sure a little bit but in that end day you know it's a lot of air from I see a bright future for you see nothing on the overtime drive I mean you guys have been stopping them and they just seem to kind of get a role yeah you know you know just something that we just need work on you know gotta play around better on that and just kind of eliminate the big phase that that's all that it comes down to but overall I just felt like we just just came up short on that so as the offense it's kind of struggling to find its footing early in the game what did you

3:44:39guys feel like you like to do as a defense to do on edge feel like we just need to step up and you know I know they would have come through and have our back so I just tell the offense you know we got your back you know just keep going y'all doing we're gonna keep on trying hold in the best we can do so are you you ready to pop off of bigger performance in this game yeah definitely I feel like you know as a whole everybody on the offense can contribute and you know we have a lot of great playmakers on our team and our coach will definitely find ways to get us all the ball and get in the best position to score. Define Craig Nick, please.com. Were you grew up in a CC country did you have any interest did you think you could make it to the Rose Bowl one day and want to play the Rose Bowl one day? Uh I would say yeah definitely as a competitor that's something that you compete for to especially as a team player you know to be at the top level to go to the playoffs and be in this position so I wouldn't say I would have guessed I would be here in this position now but definitely I wanted to be in this spot. There were been one to come to this match like Will had the moment to be in the game he thinks about Joe Myers the same thing. Do you end up the play or the game or the fumble?

3:45:41I mean it's a great play but a decent play. How much do you think about that what would you how do you think about that play where you could replay it your mind? You know that's past us now you know that game has passed us we're looking forward to how we can come up this week coming up and win this game and that's all that really matters you know as a whole as a team everybody has that same mindset that same grit and that same passion so that's all that matters. You guys had some pretty clear motivational factors coming out of Michigan going into Tennessee with three weeks of a lot of talk. How do you keep that same kind of mental edge now going into this game or maybe there's more people talking positively without you things like that? Yeah definitely I would say everyone just keep the same mindset that we had going into where we are now we all have a big a big goal in mind and we know what that goal is so whatever it takes to stay focused as we're going to do. Awesome. War is a podcast which on the way that you and trade bounced out the work will last week was that sort of the perfect design of what you guys envisioned a year ago as you started

3:46:45looking at the stuff. Definitely I would say you know our coaches do such a great job at that and just getting me him and there in different positions on the field and just trade being the type of player he is you know whoever is on the field you know we're both going to do our job so I'm going forward to it. Tony Gervin, fuck I have a good job. I'm trying to do you got games to focus on. I have you thought about what's going to happen next year where are you going to be? No as a right now I'm just looking forward to this next game and trying to win it all. Any other quick ones John? Kevin Noon. Fuck I had a- I know it's looking back but you didn't have a chance to ask you what's going through your mind on the first private where your first touch on is when the exchange between you and Will and the ball on your wrist? What's the thought there? I actually thought he was going to pull it a ball and I kind of felt it and I just got an instinct so I just kind of grabbed it and just took it my best. Cool. Thanks. I mean there's always people that's going to be coming in and trying to do what you did in the past

3:47:48so I'm looking forward to it and like I said I mean we're just all excited to go out there and get a good one. Okay well anyway the fact that the way that this defense has additions on every level talk about chasing the defense of life and the drafting there you guys have Will and the second level and the third level who they go on with Sean and most of them how much pressure is on the state defense to perform to the higher level of respect and should be the most on me. Right I would say that last year was you know we excelled in certain things but we were also trying to get back to where we were in the past so we got some great additions and we're excited for that. Ultimately it's to use some of these guys to be the number one defense in the league and that's always going to be the goal so whatever we can do to utilize all the different talent that we have on this team to be the best and play as a team and to build the best chemistry

3:48:50that we got that's what we're going to do. Yeah we're not used to going against the normal offense I have been the past three years so it's been a lot more moving moving pieces definitely have to use your eyes pretty well because if not then somebody's going to be open but I like what they're doing I'm very excited for it. I just know it's making our defense a little bit better because we're having to do different things not just the normal offense we've been used to. I was going to say just because every other team you've passed some variations of that one and they say does that kind of do you think that kind of benefit you because you've seen that more than the rest of it. I would say so I mean as the the league has changed over time I think they revert to certain offenses that do well in certain systems. I would say we're taking maybe a little bit pieces from other offense that we see to do well

3:49:51so I like what we're doing I mean I don't know as much as some of these quarterbacks that we have on the team some of the offensive players but I just know it's tough to go against. I'm lowest at number last year but still one of the top team scoring the defense and what do you guys really need to do that to finish after the quarterback? Yeah I would just say place you know heavy emphasis in practice it always is going to start in practice with getting after the quarterback not touching him in practice but you know making some good moves and I would just say rush rush more. I mean there's so much that goes into it goes with the coverage everybody works together. I would say that we had we had great numbers but we do we are trying to get that number up but the ultimate goal is always going to be the ball getting the ball taken away getting off the field we're putting our offense out there on the field and we're staying off that means that we're doing a good job. And you already asked about if we're my competition standpoint before my collective standpoint having you wins tomorrow we're going to be on the field

3:50:52what kind of a cheerio can that do for a defense. When the sky is a limit with this group I do believe we have one of the most talented linebacker core groups in the league so just excited what we're going to be able to do out there on the field I think we all compliment each other super well bigger guys that are explosive so I'm excited for it. And also I want to take a moment and thank and show respect for coach pharence and what he's been able to do at Iowa it's unbelievable in some ways it's sad that 11 years has become the exception in college football but what he's been able to do at the University of Iowa is super impressive and I wanted to congratulate him and all his success so open up the questions. We got first row on your right side. Kenneth Berry touched on his attention.

3:51:52Hey Kenneth. How's it going good morning coach and all your years you look about at you know the Vanderbilt year where you guys had a wreck of breaking season you look at the you made it to the Rolls Bowl and with St. Quann and everything how close do you feel like this team is and how much do you feel like they mirror the character and the identity of those teams and this being your 11th year in the conference how good is the field seeing the influx of African American head coaches not only just getting jobs across the landscape but the Big 10 pretty much leading all of the conferences with the number of African American head coaches that are currently present. Yeah I'll answer the second part first you know I love the fact that Big 10 the Big 10 is one of the leaders in this space. I think that sends a very very cleared and loud message that people are going to be judged by their work and their production and I think the Big 10 is a great example

3:52:56of that obviously something that myself and Mike Loxley and a lot of the guys take a take a ton of pride and a ton of done a ton of work on as well and hopefully that becomes more of the trend across college football as well as the NFL just spent some time the other day with Rahim Mars who's one of my best friends he was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State when I was the offense coordinator is now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons getting a second chance which is also not common so I think that's that's powerful and then you know about our team and maybe some of the similarities to some of the teams that we had at Vanderbilt and over our time at Penn State as well I think it starts with the three gentlemen that we brought with us you know to to to this event guys that are experienced guys guys that have had a ton of success on the football field they've handled themselves the right way academically on and off the field and have won a ton of games you know they're guys that embrace that were in a place like Penn State where we've been able to

3:53:58consistently for the most part win 10 through 11 games but that's not the expectation at Penn State they chose Penn State just like I chose Penn State to compete for championships and we embrace that but we are one of the few programs in the country you can win 10 or 11 games and people are unhappy so we embrace that we're excited about those opportunities and it starts for us at West Virginia in Morgan town which is going to be a challenging opening game first row here good morning coach Nick Hamilton nightcast media hey Nick how you doing good once I ask you about Abdul Carter him changing positions linebacker to defensive and how much do you feel like that will strengthen your defense this season and also how does that play Kate as far as throughout the locker room as far as taking that type of role being a leader in the locker room yeah so I think first thing is he'll play both we have the flexibility to play in at both positions he's one of the

3:55:00unique athletes and that was playing linebacker 250 pounds and you never know how that transition is going to go playing in space at the linebacker position compared to moving up you know to the line of scrimmage and having to go against offensive tackles he made the adjustment you know pretty quickly and at the end of the day you're talking about one of the more explosive physical athletes in all of college football so we think he's got a chance to make a significant impact week to week we'll decide where he's going to have the most impact for us whether it's on the line of scrimmage at defensive end or in the linebacker position this spring he stayed mainly at defensive end to get comfortable with that and then after that we had a really good conversation he's open to doing both that'll also put us in a position where people can't gain playing and know exactly where he's going to be on the defense so we're excited about that but he's just he's really grown up I'm proud

3:56:04of him and his development academically as a student athlete as well as a football player and we need him and expect for him to have a huge year for us got a very very close relationship with him and his father and I'm proud of him and excited about what he's going to do this year on your left side James Bill Rabinoets in the Columbus Dispatch hey Bill you got Julian Fleming is a transfer for Ohio State how excited are you to have him what kind of impact do you expect him to have for receivers unit of it it wasn't all that exposed to us yeah he's a veteran guy that's played in this conference he knows what it's all about obviously you know we got a ton of history with him and his family recruited them very heavily out of high school but he's thriving you know he's he's very comfortable he's very confident he really came got on campus like most guys should do kept his mouth shut worked earned everybody's respect through that first and now he's really

3:57:10developing into a leader for us his improvement from the end of spring to now he is healthy and and lean and explosive and fast right now and just from the feedback from the players over to some summer is really done a nice job looking all all the metrics and the numbers from our strength staff is isn't a really good position I think he's got a huge chip on his shoulder and excited about the opportunity at Penn State and is really turned into one of the leaders in that wide receiver room so we're happy to have him and expect for him to do some big things for us this year and I appreciate the question last year on your right side coach Franklin Kyle Golik Mike Ferrell sports hey Kyle hey how are you good hey tell Mike I said hi we'll do hey you mentioned earlier about southern cow Oregon UCLA Washington joining the league after the 2018 Ohio State game you had your

3:58:12what I refer to as the epic good to great to elite brand so with these teams coming in where do you feel Penn State stands in the pecking order and a follow up if you don't feel Penn State's quite at a league where do you what do you think the Nitton E lines have to do to achieve the elite status yeah I would describe it as a speech not a rant first of all but no I think you know again back to the comment earlier you're talking about a program that you can win 10 or 11 games and and and people are not happier satisfied that's inside the lash building and that's outside the lash building we totally get that and and embrace that I think our players understand that when we recruit them our staff understands that when we hire them and as the head coach I embrace all those things as well I think weekend and week out the big 10 is arguably the best conference in

3:59:15all of college football I've been fortunate to be a head coach in the SEC as well as the big 10s I think I got good I got good perspective on that and then like you mentioned adding the four new schools makes it even more challenging so we'll have an opportunity to figure that out and figure that out real quick starting at West Virginia we're fortunate to play most of those teams that we discussed we want to play those teams that you discussed both that have been in the conference historically as well as that have been added for us we got to play our best when our best is needed most in the biggest games at the biggest moments and I think if you look at us specifically last year did some phenomenal things that's the step that we need to take in having a returning start in quarterback obviously helps with that we're a quarterback driven game whether it's in the NFL college or high school and having a returning quarterback at that position that did some phenomenal

4:00:19things I think he was second in touchdown the interception ratio I think he broke the national record in in completions without an interception so did did some phenomenal things and we got a build on that and then I think the pieces that are puzzle around him tight end running back and then receivers been the big question mark really since last year we got a ton of confidence in that room those guys got a huge chip on their shoulder back to the question earlier about the addition of Julian Fleming as well as the guys in that room they've had a great summer and we got a ton of confidence of what they're going to do this year we're going to have to play well early on build confidence and carry that confidence throughout the season coach Franklin thank you so much for your time thank you sir does it really wow like you know it's impressive you know what do you say that makes him like I guess it's just natural I got I don't know I just like how do you explain that yeah I mean I don't know scenarios that he chooses to practice doing that whether it's a home in a mirror something you know what I mean I don't know how he visualizes but he just gets it done you know

4:01:22yeah do that first drive in the second half and they drive all the way down the field you have that past deflection and then zone yeah what's kind of going through your head I know you want to eliminate it to three if anything yeah are you limited to zero instead yeah well just just just Tennessee's going going throughout the week being prepared I kind of had a good feeling you know being a rook on a field I kind of figured he was going to pick on me so I was high alert all week so do you know the last time that the Cardinals as an organization did not allow a touch down in three straight home games and I didn't even know that's crazy now yeah I feel like man I just speak to the leaders that we have in our our demons of room and they really take this game series and I really appreciate that that was 1926 that was the last time the Cardinals and I used to it man we don't we got some cooking out here man man I was just playing barman it's kind of crazy because games like this when you just leave the field you're just like wow man like we're just playing bar so I can't even walk you through the play by a play man I was just you know

4:02:24locked in the other guys playing on me today and I don't want to be the weakest league man JT was down and me coming in there should be no drop off and it wasn't so man it was crazy but I couldn't stop smiling in the locker room earlier when I found out so it's just a real moment man and my older guys got me ready for this moment so high-soft to them man I bring I bring violence to the game and they bring it with me man so I told my group before we went out of the day man we seeing red all day today and that's what we did man we had a great game today feel so good man I'm not going to lie it's amazing man just the preparation we put in throughout the week the way we practice the way we take care of our bodies the way that we meet the way we communicate man it's like it's like it's one heartbeat out there man that's how and that's how it should be every week I did have my spaghetti today too yeah so yeah I did I told you I got to have every game man right on the field of things

4:03:28like rabbit fuel man so it's preparation man the superstitions man did people have before the game is just it's a mental thing at the end of the day is ball balls always going to be balls so so real quick and you're taking what is it against the pregame you all get the spaghetti they ain't had a pepper flakes for the pommas y'all so I just had ranch today yeah but yeah forget the ranch man they'd be saying it's nasty but I think it's good yeah so I don't think everybody know it but somebody did ask I recommend you but you can't put too much ranch or too little ranch you gotta have a good proportion on it yeah so ranch on pizza oh ranch on everything ranch on everything if I'm not the house I'm putting ranch on my steak I can't do that steak out but if the house I'm doing it yeah yeah it's like country boy man you know I've done some great things at Ole Miss and I've learned a lot but I think just for me in my third year you know you want to be somewhere in a place like Ohio State like I said great culture great teammates great coaches best players and the best fan base so

4:04:35I mean just as far as just being a player you want to be around coaches that that puts you in a position to you know elevate yourself as a player and show more to your game so I think because day and cultural violence do that for sure just being a all around back you know like just doing it all really you know not just being running the ball inside the clinic and the tackle is on outside you know just giving me a ball in the passing game just showcasing everything I can do it's work what do you see in front of your brand you know I've seen cultural brand you know what he let me coach I played against Alabama in 2022 so I played against him and how I used to make it and I've seen a lot of that game both things and also history and with the paint yours as well so seeing how you coach any more so I don't know how he talked about like his role the role that he sees you in for the soft hands of all right yeah he's came and he spoke to the team about you know him as a coach who he is and how he plans to involve

4:05:39everyone and what his role is so I think I run tough very elusive fast you know I have vision patience I can make people listen to my idea over I can catch you know it's very different I think just with Tradian we're kind of I don't know how to explain it I would say I would say you know he's good at what he does and I'm good at what I do so you know what I say I don't know I think just my will you know my will to want to win the determination to begin the end zone and just help my team win came out of high school you have envisioned to your full over to your down line sitting there at high school you know you know actually you know I

4:06:43did not you know as as you go through your journey through high school and through college you don't know where you where you'll end up as I'm just blessed very thankful for everyone that has helped me to get through this you know this process to be here and I'm excited this is a positive side of the training oil rig and you go somewhere you have success there but you're able to kind of another step before you go and you know yeah definitely not feel like you know there's many things that are thrown out there as far as when players go into the portal and things that aren't true but you know it's actually more than that players just want to go very very game yeah it was it was crazy you know a lot of a lot of different things that were a lot of different emotions but it's it's it's a business so you understand it you know people won't always be happy for the decisions you make when it's best for yourself but like I said you're just excited to be here

4:07:44and do what I can and I know definitely not a factor for me I think just me as a player I just played football at the end of the day I go out there and contribute to what I can what I can do for my team and that's not good you know about big football coming in and how little study have you had to pick up you know I did not know that it was this big of a factor you know you always see it on TV when they play games on Saturdays and it's big it's a lot of fans and like I say everybody's passionate but when you're hitting it it's a whole new ball game so really excited did you have to just get past that at all besides the comfort to a big 10th school or the northern part of the country like was that an adjustment no no not really I would say it was probably just only a little cold but but other than that though it was an awesome process I think that wasn't a factor I think real hard it's a great quarterback you know it's a great player I see

4:08:46you as vision he can use his legs he can also throw as well he's very smart and just looking at his film and what he's doing at Kansas State as well awesome it's very good to be in that position because not only will he open it up for you also but he also gives the receiver the chance to you know be able to be using the pass then you're working on it. You jump in the place that has a pretty big round for him and I have to be at Moe. Right. I'm in the place that there's something about the round. How much did you know about the high position right now? I'm in front of that. It was a big time I've always heard a lot about it but to be here and you see how big it is they got the clock in there with the countdown is it's serious so I'm excited to be to team up North and that's what we're working for. You're pretty good to go man. All right. What are you in the back of the game? Yeah definitely a great player and like I said everyone that was coming there this portal class great players from all around the different teams and Caleb personally you know he's done some great things at Alabama and we're excited to have him.

4:09:48Right I think when we played him we more so we're trying we had a different fall game plan like we're trying to throw the ball and he's very successful there he's stopping it so that was pretty good. Which of you are some of your favorite running backs that you like to watch? I like a Alan Camara, Christian McCaffrey I would say also I like Jumir Gives at Detroit as well so just those three guys right there. I've been doing some great things with a level. I think it's definitely important especially where the game is going with running backs in today's game I think it's overall you have to showcase what you can do not just ask a running back in the back field but also in the slot or wherever the coaches put you to be able to execute. That's definitely important as well too for me personally that's something you know that's

4:10:48important for me personally but because important is our end so I think it's a good misconception for people having a track with them and what do you think? Like I say like about NIL or different things that don't pertain to everybody's situation you know it doesn't you know pertain to every single player but a lot of people get that speculation as far as when people want to make certain to see that you're in the quarter but we know it's always hot from the movement of the game and how it's different over time as well. I mean I think it's a position very tough to make you think about the track at this point. Yeah you know just do this whole process you know this is my first time ever going through this and like I said many things were saying you know just the rumors and all of those things but I think just throughout this process I've learned a lot I'm very thankful for the support I've had for my family because throughout this process and just to end up here in Ohio State it's been awesome.

4:12:02I wouldn't say that I think it's just more so you know just the whole thing like I would say just the whole culture that's what's important. More than food that is you know should you. I have and I recently just got here so I haven't found too much like different places yet because I've been trying to hold man and be acclimated but I'll for sure find some help spots. What are your impressions of Will? I mean I know that Stan's you're going to have a backfield potentially translucent running backtrust. Before the backout I'm going to get to talk to him I mean through this we're pretty not recruiting process but transfer process. Oh yeah I mean when I got here you know me and Will we've always been in contact you know like just checking on each other hanging out no matter what it is just having that personal connection with each other off the field and having that relationship so it's a great problem. Did you ever hear me feel a fish with Trey when you were talking about thinking about coming in? Did you ever hear me feel a fish with Trey? I thought what you would say was stuck back there and all the way through the room. Like I said like I think with the time that I was in the portal it was such a short amount

4:13:06of time in the process so I think you know just trying to decide on where I wanted to go. I wasn't really focused on contacting anyone. Have you been to Ohio? I've been to Hawaii. No. There have been so many. I think you know where I was. Yeah. What about you? I've never been to Ohio. But nobody was but I've never been so. Okay. Actually we've been through the process and the portal and I said please understand what this is all about. Yeah. What's that process like from like first in from your point of view where I was thinking what's that life that I was thinking? So the portal. Yeah. When everything I agree. I think you know when everything's moving so fast you have to stay poised as a player and focus on the things that matter that are put you in the best position. And I think that's what it's really about for me in my process. Who would cheer you? Who would cheer about the trail on the entire map? What's that all factor on the east side and the people's plays that make you feel very happy? Yeah you know that definitely plays a factor especially in today's game with

4:14:07by spending a friend back and then so I think that you know what the like I said the situation here just being able to come here and contribute to this team and do what I can when it all. What do you think I mentioned? I think it's right. I think it's right. I think it's right. I think it's right. I think it's right. You know like I said anyway that I could contribute to the team and do what I can to show and execute that's what matters. I think that's really very different from the start. The way that straightness and everybody carries up there too. You like that and do you think of that part of the curve you know it's from the archery to go and you can come there. Yeah and not just that team as well it's many other teams that do the same thing you know and I think it's just really special that what they've done together just seeing how they play together and how part they come and see me so it's really special to see. And not just that but how much I mean I'm going to carry the day in time last year and having a quarterback that can run or the two running bags and then is that how much of that except you don't have a side field with that option on the off end. It's very exciting just to know we have so many weapons and so many different

4:15:09ways to win the game so it's very exciting and I'm looking forward to it for sure. I don't think it's something that you more so just specifically think of but I think it's something that's important in today's game that has to be valued as well. Did you feel like you were overused at old men's side? I wouldn't really say overused I don't think that's the word I think you know just when you're playing you don't focus on those different type of things but you know like I say you don't really talk about it. There was much made though by used to play the heavyweight meeting with Coach Kidney who was talking about the direction of the offense how much of that was true or how much I might have to say was that any of that true or just you know what was that all about? No that's true but I got to say man a lot like a lot of people they won't be happy when you make certain decisions for yourself but yeah just to sign it up.

4:16:12Did you enter it thinking Ohio State I just walked up here a second ago but you probably went all over this but when did Ohio State get on your radar? Yes. Impossible. I mean that's the only way. Immediately when I got on the portal you know what what I think like I say this is the place that you want to go to you know a place where everyone's passionate and everyone wants to win here you know and it's a great culture and everyone is focused and gouged in to do something that's bigger than themselves you know why wouldn't you want to go to a place like that? A lot of people are saying you attribute on it the same backfield and even have it down in there this might be the best running back through some in the country. Is there too some? Do you feel that way also a lot? Definitely. I feel like you know with everyone in our room they contribute in their own way everyone is a great player in our room so I definitely agree.

4:17:14Yeah I think more so for me it wasn't about like this is where I want to go immediately but I think that I wanted to make my process pretty short especially when I got in at a later time because I had to be in the world in school so I think just more so just figuring out where I wanted to go and you know making that decision so it's possible. What was it on the call yesterday? Just like I say the meetings with Coach Day everything that I was showcased this is just the place that you want to be. Two quickies of the name point shot what where's that come from? That was the came from my parents. Yeah I know but I mean is there a backfield? Yeah of course there's a backfield. But I really don't know I've never asked my parents that question actually. Yeah and then the Hairshtalk what's that? I came up with this Hairshtalk in March of last year so I just decided when they I was like okay I want to die half a year. So I just went with it. I got a lot of great company so I kept it the same. Blounts get more blounts have more fun or have more runs.

4:18:16I would say more runs. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's what everyone here works hard for and that is the in call. You know it's not to get a certain amount of wins. The way you do it is that you have to get a lot of money. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that is the first time when things have to in a lot of lands. but that's the goal- that is a great thing to win the national chanłetrap. You know you don't focus on things that I think is like I say here. Brewers do usually tell me to give them a moment of vision. You know you don't focus on things like I say the most important thing is playing football especially for me

4:19:19The NIL that was that wasn't like you know something that I was focusing on I was just going out there playing football I'm sure you could have gone for a lot of places The guy you're running faster is there a peel in coming in and sharing the load of training? You know I think just more so the situation here like I said just coming here Being not only with Treba just great players all around and being able to execute and contribute to this team and do what I can to help us win That was the most important thing Was there any thought about like you know taking some tread off your tires like you know you can have had somebody carry for the first two years? I think just like I said like in today's game that's something that is important for Renna back You know to be able to value and to think about as far as the shelf life and things like that But you know just my situation come here that was most important But so thank you Thanks for the thanks Thanks for the thanks The peak mentality of problem of instant gratification you know you can develop and grow So and sometimes you may be a

4:20:22And behind a guy that's a really good player is nothing wrong with developing and growing and playing when your time is right And if the time is right right now is a freshman like what's your name did you play early you know So we try to also sail 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 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 sail that and preach that to the parents With remain having that impact you mentioned Rolling all these different spots do you anticipate you know there wasn't a lot of rotation among cornerbacks last year What everyone was healthy do you anticipate maybe growing him for the rest guys here with the longer season potentially? Yeah, we play it by here, you know, I mean we see how goals by time we get in the camp But you know obviously if he he's earning his stripes, so you know me when you earn your stripes You know a lot of job to create opportunities 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 and he's taking a great step forward

4:21:35Is something that you came in with the it's like a couple years ago with the intention of doing or is it something that you're like? That's kind of been cultivated over the course of your conscious position Go to your guys. 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 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 We're being as 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 and you can say truthful things to him and then they embrace it and you have real conversation Because you know the only goal is to help them get better as a young man How's that dynamic change? Is this group's gotten older and you've been better even more talented?

4:22:35Yeah, it's done bounding stuff a little bit now. That goes with great competition We go against the best receivers in college 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 start competing, I guys start 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 it's 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 is that stuff that gets us better that will prepare us for Saturday I asked Denzel, that same idea He said, well like first day practice actually the receivers kind of got them because I didn't kind of wake up call me if you're this person I know it's just 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, you 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 out there going against them is deep so you have to be ready for it

4:23:36And obviously man we're seeing a lot of good stuff with stay in Coach Kelly doing over there And so it prepares you a lot and it helps us grow So why don't you go play a little Sasha for Green Beach? Is that? Is the White receiver room kind of a part of your Green Beach? Like these are the guys you get to play against? Yeah, that's where you get better, our shop is our So you get to see that every day at 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 Roomba Sajjorda looking at to play that next spot We just move a lot of guys around We watch our practice we have a lot of guys in there right now We pop out there are four different guys in there, obviously the Renzo's in there, Jameen is in there, Caleb Miles, we have about four or five guys moving around Right now we just try things out and spring balls See what it fit, see what things work together It's probably going to be some more guys in there We move it around and try to get the right fit throughout the N and C How it goes by the time we get ready to start the season

4:24:36What's in there about Calvin? He can run any strong, he's fast Very serious about his business, he's big, he's 200 pounds, he can run, he's strong He's conscientious, and he's starting to grow and he's starting to get better with it So we look for big things for him in the spring Tim, what do you want to see from here in this spring? Keep competing, you know what I mean now he's made the transition competing today You know what I mean, start going back transition is all just like I'm in Jameen last year You throw him in the fire, you let him go, you compete, you go by the time we get out of the end of training camp You've been him figured out, yeah I want that but now you just throw it all at him compete, continue to grow, continue to learn, he has the skill set, he has the length Now you just got to put it all together and it takes time to do that And hopefully you see that by the time we get in the training camp It seems like a midway through spring can kind of click for Jameen last year And you start to see him perform a little better in practice Is that like a benchmark for where you want here and to be by the middle of spring? Does he have to be in a certain point where you want it to start clicking? Yeah, by the time you start getting about two weeks from now that last week

4:25:37You 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 get another evaluation again when you get into training camp See if this stuff carried on to make sure we go it for starting in September What's your assessment of growth that you've made now that he's kind of got his feet under one defense What do you like about him and that nickel spot? 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 can piece his real conscientious And he has a physical presence So the growth has been really good and we can look to continue that throughout spring Coach, thank you very much I can ask one more, all the guys that came back like Denzel's a great example Because that surprised you as you reflect on all these guys that came back late in the rain So they could have turned pro The culture here is real, Coach Day does a great job of building the culture Our room is close knit, the guys on defense are real close

4:26:38Those guys want to come back, they have an agenda You know, we want to come back, they want to come back and walk away with something So it didn't shock me, but it's a good environment for them too You know what I mean, that's when you see those guys come back That's a testimony to the culture that's set here, their brotherhood, their environment And I, Coach Day, he runs the program for those dudes to want to come back Because we go at 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 I think my capability, what I'm capable of, and then the personnel we have Like I said, they're not trying to get the best level on the field, whatever that may be So you're still trying to figure that out Just the point that the conversation is about, it may have been hard for you to keep your weight down the stage Do you look bigger? How much have you changed physically? Are you allowed to just like finally eat now? I mean last year I was eating regular like, I was like 2.30 to 2.35 the whole year last year

4:27:40I don't know if people thought I was 2.25, but I was like 2.35 sometimes last year So it's not really like anything changed, you know Obviously I'm a gradually getting some more weight, you know, I'm listening heavier weight It was different training to be a DB than training to be a linebacker So you can gradually get a little bigger So do you, are you embracing that different kind of training? Yeah I love it, I love to be with the linebackers I think with the DBs, like sometimes especially in the weight room, I was expected to win So like when I won, I was like, oh, it's anyone But the linebacker now is like, it's more of a composition, you know what I'm saying? Not like, not any hits of the DBs I'm 2.30 going against someone who's 2.05, you know what I'm saying? I'm expecting to win, so I love the competition, I think I'm going to win Yeah Cody said you came in and said, well he's already bigger than most of the linebackers So are you playing Will and Sam? I've been working on both, yes Is there any fundamental difference between the two in terms of both teams? I mean obviously the Sam is more outside the box, outside my backer overhang

4:28:45You can walk up on the edge on the tight end, Will's more inside the box I think the biggest difference from Sam and Will, Sam, you've got to be more outside sometimes during the slot with two But I think it's similar concept, because you can do the same thing in the boundary It's almost more like the San Francisco field than Will's at the boundary So I think it's pretty similar honestly Only the difference is that Sam last year I never really was an interior run fitter like in the A gap You know going A to B or whatever that might be So that's a little different But I mean I think I got some of that experience at safety just from what she already said So like I said the only difference really is now is just adjusting to the less time Yeah Coach, no Sid, you've come in from where you've come from You have a better perspective of what's going on Because you played safe in the A gap I feel like I have a great understanding of the defense I think at safety I kind of already knew what the linebacks were doing So now what I'm really starting to learn is exactly like every little detail what the D's line's doing I didn't know every little aspect of it I think I'm starting to learn that now

4:29:46Obviously the linebacker got to be knowing that more So I think when it's all said no I think we have a really really really good understanding of the defense And knowing exactly what everyone's doing You feel like you're warm enough there more in the mix of the defense too And the linebacker sounds stunning because you can be dropping one minute pass-rushing that you or me I can't make some of that anyway Yeah actually I think you can say it would be an linebacker in the play You're almost in every play Yeah Obviously the play can run away from you But you know at safety sometimes you're just back there playing every against you You take two back battles and it's a tackle So I think yeah a linebacker you're in the play more More opportunities to make tackles Can you feel comfortable there? I mean what does that, you know, obviously your dad will stand out like my character Yeah I feel super comfortable with it Like I said I think it's just going to be adjustment You know obviously it's different playing from a five than it was from playing from my 10 last year So I think it's an adjustment but I'm super comfortable with it So any of you caught here, dad, have you given you any advice on the new position? Oh yeah we watched tape all the time, watch practice You know he was a high level linebacker

4:30:46And I'm just getting started with this He gets a little footwork and stuff like that But it's good, I get good teaching him Obviously Coach Loranitus, great player, great teacher for him, coach Moles You know he's a super smart football mind So I'm getting great teaching all around You know my backer everything happens quicker for you How much did the experience of playing some of that Sam's got faster helping with this? Um, I think it helped a little bit It's been like in terms of physicality like being in the box down on the line But I do think the run fit as a will and Sam can be a little different And in terms like I said like being an interior fitter, like your 30 backer When A, you get pools, like you got to go spill it, so things like that But I think I'm adjusting well, I think I'm picking up on stuff pretty fast You know there's still going to be a lot of stuff to work on though Do you feel more pressure talking to the media with your brother sitting right there? Not at all What do you think has been the biggest change from linebacker to safety climate?

4:31:50Um, I think the biggest change will probably be that 10 to 5 Because it's a big adjustment because everything's happening faster And you got to react faster And like I said the waist movements, I think footwork is huge I think you see the great linebackers, as soon as the play happens they're going They're not taking any waist steps, they're not fall stepping, things like that So I think waist movement and being able to see what's happening react fast It's been the biggest benefit of being on the same team with your brother? Um, I mean you know you got someone out there that's, it's more than a team We call each other brothers, but you know bloods, bloods a little thicker So that's always pretty cool It's never 101 Yeah, but when he tells you something, he doesn't observe what you know it's coming from Yeah, I think when you're blood like that, I think he's not scared of telling me the truth You know what I'm saying? Obviously guys here, we have tough love, but I think it's always going to be a little different when it's your brother because he's going to keep it 100% blood exactly what you need to hear

4:32:51and know what you want to hear What's your advice on playing Dickel? Oh for him? Yeah Um, I mean he just so out of lead of he got to keep trusting his instincts I think he's going to be great I think what's huge for him is like I said the athletic ability Speed, you know he blitzed off the edge, he blitzed super fast And he just great in covers too, so I think it's going to be really good I think we're going to do a lot of different things, kind of like you see a hand caught Obviously a little different body than a hand caught, but I think he's going to be really good I want to see if something I feel he needs his time Thank you, great What have you seen for Jaden in his time? We saw him on Saturday running with the ones with the two Seems like he's making a little bit of his opportunity with what have you seen for him? Yeah, he's been a guy that's been on the rise, you know, to me from where he was when he started Spring Ball to where he is now, he's made more plays at practice His eye discipline is better, his understanding of the defense is better Which allows you to be able to play free and be able to play fast

4:33:51So that's what I've seen so far and I expect that to continue What about Jaden when he played in his seat? He's been great, he's been great, he first off we do a thing where we track How well you run to the ball every practice, one of the things that we grade Right, so you can talk about all the schematics that you want, coach knows has all that But if you're not running to the ball, you're not playing good defense Right, so we track that and he's one of the guys that every single practice is one of our highest grade guys running to the ball So he's been awesome from an effort standpoint first attitude, he's in early He puts the work in and he's made a bunch of plays out here So now I'm excited about Jaden McLean for sure You're talking about running to the ball, do you mean like he's ball-hocking really well in the back end Or is it a nose for the football running game or both? Yeah, so we're really tracking effort and how hard a guy's playing from there is what we do But I would say this too, he's been around the ball a lot Right, with his alley running and he's downing the ball And on a break through runner, fitting gaps and things like that And then he's got really good range in the post or the half too So he's done a good job of both of those things, I guess all the above

4:34:57Yeah, I do, I do And you know it's been an opportunity for you have a couple guys that are out there So you're able to continue to grow the depth and be able to see what guys can do And you have increased reps from that standpoint So I do feel confident, I feel confident in the guys that, you know how they've performed so far this spring And then the guys that haven't been out there, I feel confident from what their abilities are What I've seen on film and then the mental preparation from that standpoint Now I would go back to refer to what Layton was like a couple years ago and taking that same blueprint Yeah, he's done, I would say the mental side I would say if you took, he has really good physical skills You see him when he walks on the field, I mean he's a, yeah no doubt I would say the mental side of the game, right? Really understanding what's the defense, what's my eye progression, where do I fit into this chess piece? You know, what's my chess piece in this whole match that's happening? And yeah, I've been pleased with him and he's putting the work in to make sure he understands what's going on Here for you is Coach Stubborn, here is Coach Stubborn

4:35:57Here is Coach Stubborn, here is Coach Stubborn I would say we're not saying it's great, right? And because his preparation is so high level, it challenges you as a coach to be an elite teacher Right? Because he's going to be on his game, it's like coaching a professional player, right? He understands the concepts in the game so well, he's put so much time into it, as a coach You better be matching or equaling that, right? Going above and beyond that because if not, he's going to be a step ahead of the coach, right? So it's been awesome to be able to push each other to make each other better He's got a great understanding and feel for the game, he's a great young man, the work ethic is really high level So every value that you would look for, not just for a skill or intangible thing, but who he is the person? I can't say enough about who Caleb Downs is, it's been awesome What's the next step for me for waiting, man? We're talking about the preparation that Caleb has, just waiting, coming back from your final And also coming back from injury, what do you want to see from him? Maybe it's leadership, maybe it's on the field? I don't know, what is it for you?

4:36:58Yeah, I think leadership is definitely something, right? He's a guy that's been there, done that, has accomplished a lot But not the goals that he wants to yet, so I would say from a leadership standpoint, holding guys accountable And he's done that at a really high level And then his own preparation, I've been impressed with, you know, if you're not taking as many physical reps, what are the mental reps that you're taking? And he's done a really good job of having daily routine, putting the time in, making sure that he's caught up with speed with everything So I would say the off the field stuff is a step in the right direction What did you take away from your experience last year as a coach for New York that since we last saw you now you've been through multiple spring practices What did you learn in something in your time or when you were just, I had for you as a coach that you brought here to bring the safety of your mission? Yeah, I think that you learn different ways to be able to do things, whether it's taking the ball away or tackling methods Or, you know, the way that it's taught from other defensive coaches, so to learn from a different tree and thought process and philosophy I try to, I pride myself on being a teacher, which means that you better always be learning, right? Or you're getting behind

4:38:03So I would say, yeah, just different ways to be able to maybe do similar techniques or things that have to be done from a defensive principal standpoint And then, you know, bringing that to the table, as you step back and you say, okay, here's how I've always done it Or I've done it in the gym-null system, right? And then you're in a different defensive system and how does that get executed? And then you can blend some of those or pick what you like from there. So a chance to reflect that, say Did you feel like you accomplished what you wanted to away from the gym-null system to bring it back to the gym-null system? Yeah, I mean, I think any time that you're no matter where you're coaching, right? You have principles of defense and a way to be able to play defense, whether you're how you tackle or how you play the red zone or different things like that And there's metrics to be able to track that and some improvement was made, not enough of my opinion, you know, there were strides from that standpoint And then, yeah, when you come back into it, you say, okay, the system here has developed in a year that I was gone, right? And then maybe I'm able to develop a little bit as a coach to and from a positional coach or a coordinator mindset, things like that

4:39:03And then you're able to mesh ideas and come back and you learn, hey, what's the new that's happened over a year? And then I was able to see the big 10 from a different lens as well, you know, so I think that's valuable Man, it's been a lot of you down a few safeties on Saturday. Just kind of how do you feel about your depth of athleticism right now? Yeah, it's something that, you know, we've addressed and say, hey, here's the guys that have played. Here's the guys that haven't played. Who's taking the reps right now and how do we grow those guys, you know, from a mass standpoint So I think that's a work in progress every single day. So I've been pleased with the guys. I think there's been a, um, on the, you know, steadily on the rise approach from everybody in the room, you know, so I've been pleased with the guys and the progress that they've made. So I feel good about it. And I expect that to continue throughout spring and then continue throughout summer and into fall camp, you know, from that standpoint. Yeah, I'm, uh, Jaden Bonser's taken advantage of the opportunity that he's had. Jalen McCleen's taken an opportunity, you know, I've managed the opportunity. Inky had a really good day today. You know, it's taking advantage of the opportunity. So the guys that, you know, taking reps, you know, I'm pleased with watching those guys, you know, continue to progress, you know, and the Caleb, I think is, you know, learned our system and done really well and gotten better every day.

4:40:09All right. Thank you. Thanks. Appreciate it guys. Coach Day's offense and Kelly's offense is the same offense as it's kind of neat going back to the roots and the origin. They'd be understanding a new twist or why he called it how we did. Um, and it's been great for the Titans. I'll leave it at that. Not to get too much into scheme, but we've definitely benefited and me personally learning every day. Do you look at the, I guess, what's the big experience for you? Yeah, I think, uh, you know, awesome. That's a great question. I hope not. Right. I think I think the energy was still there with a guy like Kate. Now, again, it might have been, like I said earlier, also, it might have been, you know, the 3000 level course with, with Kate because he's ran that play for four years before I got him. Right now it still might be the what do I got to do? Um, and yeah, I mean, I hope the guys feel that the energy's picked up because the urgency has me eight number eights, not in the room anymore. Great. We're going to play somebody in a couple months. Right. And there's got to be a tie down out there. Hopefully it's two. Hopefully three tight ends out there. So hopefully they feel the urgency's picked up.

4:41:35You have to provide leadership. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not going to put it all on you. Right. But again, the leaders drive the culture, whether it be G or whether it be Pat, who's been here for a long time and played a lot of football or whether it be Will came in and say, no, this is what it should look like. I mean, I want those guys that take it around with it. You know, on Saturdays, I'm the box. I'm not, I'm not cutting off the sea guys. It's got to come from them. Now again, my job is it. I'm just going to make them hear things they don't want to hear, you know, push them to do things they don't want to do. So I'm certainly going to do that at times. And I'll keep doing it. But they've done a great job of driving the culture. Kevon was in the offensive meeting room for so many years. This, this haven't chip kind of gets you guys back to where you guys were with Kevin. I know that the room as an offensive staff, you guys were kind of young last year now to have chip with that experience. Is that kind of like what you guys have with Kevin? I think the comparison is that we're talking about Kevin Wilson, the chip kelly or two of the brightest, you know, minds and offensive football in the last several decades. So I think there's some similarities there.

4:42:42But yeah, I think it's a loud one coach day, maybe to delegate, you know, to coach Kelly and let him be the best version of himself and coach Kelly's been and an awesome leader, right, of driving us and listening and providing input. So it's been great. I don't know if it's exactly like it was with Coach Wilson, but it feels great. However, it is right now. Initially a bigger role, expected for Johnny in the cotton bowl and that not get to come to fruition as much as the way that game played out. You know, I don't remember exactly what, you know, the expectation was he was going to help contribute. And certainly we wanted him to contribute from the jump and keep them in there contributing. The game kind of started off. You know, not ideal. And we had Kate in there and you know, that was his last game as a buck. So we felt comfortable riding out with him. But I think Jalani and everyone else is kind of focused going forward. Especially if you guys seem coach Larry during the bull prep that was a step forward at all. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He definitely takes that forward for sure.

4:43:42If you are painting an ideal situation for the fall, what does the depth look like in terms of how many guys you'll trust? I think I got six seats in there. So six of the toughest dudes on the team. I'm not trying to just keep it the coach speak, but I mean, however, it shakes out. Hopefully we could play 13% or 14% now. And I got guys out there that are going to go a recent happy, but I don't know. They're going to make that sort of out right now. I'm worried about whatever Thursday's practice. The toughest news on the field. Are you seeing enough of that to feel comfortable saying that that can happen by playing? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we're taking strides. We'll see about the end of spring and then hopefully fall camp. It's a long ways away from wherever we play. Can you, uh, what's it been like? Yeah, it's been great. It's been great. Um, a pumper turn kick return and again, the coach, other positions to write. I mean, I mean, special teams comes down to technique and effort. Right. And that's the ultimate test of the brotherhood and no one, no one signed up to be a buck out of beyond pumper turn. They want to be first round this first round that so it's been awesome and involved in that.

4:44:42What is that? Oh, yeah, we're working quite a few guys back there. We got some options. So yeah, we fun. You guys were thinking about putting a lot of you that maybe have a bigger rules. What is he giving you guys? I mean, he had more time, right? Just because we have that whole month of kind of December for development. And, uh, you know, the bull press a lot like spring ball and that he has those three or four weeks, you know, uh, to get the reps he wasn't getting during the year because Katie was taking it. I think good. I think it just shows that, you know, next man in we trust you fully. Kate couldn't go. No one better than I was G. Then it was Pat period. We call their offense. There's no modified offense or anything like that. So to put our trust in him, you went out and made a lot of plays and both of this gets played really well. I think that helps the confidence for him and awesome. Really good.

4:45:42When you look at when you look at G now, do you, and this is me at the Seatius question, maybe you see a tight end now. You're still when I'm saying from a couple years ago, I'm here to go. He was, you know, he moved over from wide receiver and all this kind of stuff. We just jumped out at you about what he brings to the tight end spot. Yeah. I know what you're asking to. I promise you I never like in the tight end. Reminded say, Oh, but he's a receiver playing tight end. He's a tight end. Yeah. He's a tight end. So he's a greater like a tight end. Treat it like it. So I never really like to talk about when the, you know, first made the move. You want to you want to get this guy some confidence playing tight in. Meaning I'm not going to say it's lesser opponents, but having some success out there, you know, like in the run game. The blocking aspect of things and stuff. He seems to progress big time from that. I mean, do you feel that way too? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. He's gone way better. And again, practice. He's on the left side. He's against JT. If he's on the right side, he's against Shaq. So I mean, there's no. This is Ohio State. You're playing against the best every day. So he's definitely progressed. Do you think that elaborate effort you guys have in a special team? Do you think that's benefiting you guys in terms of just how you're pushing out the table?

4:46:48Yeah. I think so. Dan as, you know, as far as ownership goes, right? Like, I mean, I'm not saying I wasn't invested last year, but shoot, I'm pumped with John and Kegger, John. I mean, that's that's Coach Hartlan and I's product out there. And if there's not tight ends all over those units, and they're not going to play tight in Ohio State. And I bet you Hartlan feels the same way about the receiver. So as far as the buying from the staff, heck yeah. Heck yeah, for me, at least speaking for myself. When, when, when Coach, they brought that up, what, what did you think about that change? And number two, what is he told you he wants that he wasn't getting from a special team to a year ago? No, he never, he never told me anything about last year. It was all about, okay, how could it be? This is again, Ohio State, whatever the janitorial staff supposed to be the best in the country. The tight end coach better be the best tie down in the country or something with quarterback, something with Pumberturn coach. On the Pumberturn coach, I should be the best one in the country. So I got to work with Coach Hartlan and Coach Keys and everyone else learning the scheme and techniques. And now we got to put on the field. You find yourself studying Punt Returns like NFL teams and things like that. I mean, how are you doing your prep work? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, Coach Hart, Coach Keys, thanks Gunner and I, I mean, we bought thereself in a room for a week there. I don't think I did any offense.

4:47:55You already have pretty good knowledge of the return game or good position. You have to start from scratch. No, yeah, there was no starting from scratch, Dan. I mean, it's all ball. And that's the coolest thing about special teams is if you're not special teams, it's going to make you better tied in. It's a better DB. You're running back and it's like the technique and everything like that. I think I had pretty, pretty fair foundation and then maybe some tweaks and, you know, kind of we have to decide what our identity is going this season. What's your opinion against what kind of trust is that? Yeah, I think I think he proved it on special teams because he played on special teams before he played offense. And then just just reps up practice again against blocking the best linebackers in the country. It doesn't matter if you're a five star or if you're a walk on, but to that point, I think sometimes there's a mentality of what he's just a walk on. That does not exist with Pat. It's went out the window to start a, once you start a plan. How many of you have been coaching here? How many of you have been coaching here? How many of you have been coaching here?

4:48:57About 11-30. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. They know I think everyone in my room knows and you know guys I talked to on the recruiting trail. Kate went down and there was G and then Pat was right in. I didn't have that in I. I'm going to put the toughest dude out there who goes to the hardest. Right? I don't care if you're from Ohio, you're a dancer, a walk on or a five star. Whatever should help us when you know. We can marry in that. Yeah. You still work with them for a while? How does that kind of work right now? Yeah, we can. I mean with Max and Toe, it's FaceTime's and it's encouraging them to get here and watch practice so that when they get here right after graduation, we can hit the ground running. But yeah, it's much prep work as we can do on the front end with, you know, sending them tip sheets and that's what it thing. We're technology nowadays. I mean, COVID we had to do it. So yeah, we could get to work right now. So we have more questions folks with the special teams question. The collaboration that you guys have. It's three people in one room. How does that work semantically where you guys are all putting your heads together to get one idea? And just how does that play out in the room together?

4:49:57Yeah, I mean, luckily, I mean, it's coach Hart and I. I mean, that guy, we worked every, we see each other every day for the last eight years and luckily I worked four years with him. So that's so organic. Hart and I just kind of bounce each other. Thoughts up each other. We can read each other's minds by now. I think that's how close we are. So this really organic in there and then coach keys does a great job of kind of setting the direction given us some expertise and we just kind of have a flow off each other. Obviously in the guys react to that. So you're coaching. Yeah, I think I think they like it because like the accountability again, if my tight ends aren't on. I'm returning to kicker during their not playing tight end. And I know that. So I think across the board, it gives us a platform to coach other positions. She didn't in a time when print transport is so big and the guy like gee probably could have left multiple times. She wanted to. What does that do for the room to have a guy who's a leader? Have you just so set that? I'm like, I want to stay here. I want to stay here and make an impact. Yeah, I think it speaks volumes. You hit the nail on the head, not just for G, but for the brotherhood. I know it sounds cliche and people read it on Twitter and kind of roll their eyes to brotherhood.

4:50:59Why did think the entire defense came back for the brotherhood? We got two goals here. We haven't done them since she's been here. He hasn't hit his two goals. So he stayed for the brotherhood. So I think it speaks volumes for G as a leader in the room. But also, I mean, you look around a roster. How many guys could have either left for other opportunities in the portal or in the NFL? So I think it speaks volumes to the brotherhood. Is it different at tight end with the transfer portal maybe because for some positions it's such a development position at tight end where you have to develop run blocking and you have to learn the passing game. Is it different trying to keep kids around maybe in the portal area at tight end? Yeah, maybe it is. And I haven't really thought about that because it's still so new. I think you've got to be so honest in recruiting. If you think I'm going to walk into a living room and say come be my starting tight end, I should be crazy. You're crazy. Now come prepared and get to work before you get here. And you know, I'm going to give you the opportunity to again, I took a question earlier. I don't care if it's a senior or true freshman. If you could play, you could play period. I can't wait. Give me a true freshman. You could play tight end. It's the Ohio State. You got to block Jack and JT. And then your dog tired next play.

4:52:03You're getting covered by downs and late lin and all those guys. You kidding me? Is this NFL? No, it's Ohio State. Right? So yeah, I think it's a little bit different, but you got to be honest on the front end. Thank you very much. Thanks guys. Thanks coach. They're just circling back to our head. Natural maturation a little bit because he's been through a little bit of spring. He's been through a little bit of camps. So you're still learning the terminology. You're learning a new skill set, but he just dove right in and wanted to be a sponge and wanted to learn. He's doing a good job and he's improving every day. So that's what's making the battle and the competition. All these great snaps really good for us is because they all have that mindset. So from Seth, awesome, the unit in the group, awesome because there was no combativeness to it. It was, let's get in the skull and compete and then let the guys win. Justin, what about Luke said the skillset made you guys what you're going to do with the car? Just learning the same deal. All the young guys you're coming. You got to learn how to play in friction. So having three tech, having a two eye, having those guys like right in front of you.

4:53:06That every time you take one of those reps and you're out of your base or you're in your base, you feel the good. So being more consistent that way, you can't make moves or shift guys if they're not mentally there. And so for him, he's got a pretty good football FQ. So he's continuing, he's growing every day, he's working and he's getting beat every day too and he's learning from those. So in the spring time, we have saying in our room, we're like in the spring, it's Justin, it's No, and I know it's KNOW. Why didn't the rep work? What happened? And how do I make sure I don't repeat the same mistake? And so whether he's coming in and watching the tape on his own and then come with questions, he's grabbing me and watching tape with his hands. He's having me and watching tape with me or we're coming doing stuff as a unit. He's learning so that same deal the game can slow down and he gets more comfortable there in friction. So I mean, his weights up, his strengths up, he's spending all of his season with Mick. You know, there's a lot of development that still has to be had. Obviously not a finished product, but being able mentally for a guy to handle that helps a lot.

4:54:11Luke, a leaner guy? Did you tell him that? He paid you to say that? He did not pay me to say that, but I will say that. That might be the first time he ever heard that in his life. No. No, you know, like Luke Carson, whoever maybe, that jump of 18 to 19 to 19 to 20 year old kid, that plays a lot into it too. Being in a full year with Mick, I mean, all those guys, you coming at mid, you're like your Devo and Dion and Ian more right now. You're keeping your head above water. That's your whole first year. Now you can actually get and we can sit. So when you sit and talk about a jam combo or a lock or whatever the call may be to Luke, he registers that and I like something new because then there's paralysis by analysis. So I think the middle part on top of another year, natural maturity of getting bigger and stronger, that's always going to help. You're not going to, guys here, they're not going to regress. It's going to keep adding progress and how fast can we get that going? That's what we're working on every day with him.

4:55:12Josh said that he would have been all guard to this point and Coach Day is mentioning this several times that Josh could play guard too. And you guys are trying to work through that, Friar. Josh could play all five. He snapped the ball in high school. Josh had a great off season. But for you and you're going to spring and it's backfinding and experimentation, how much do you want to put them in different spots or not? Because you also have an eye on August to try and settle on five minute rotation. What's the balance of that for you? You have to get a really good, great,able set so that everybody has numbers of, just like we said before, how many times have we done? A run blocking or pass blocking in this situation so that that all evens out. So that's the, it's not experimentation. It's just making sure that you get a good book of work to look at and grade that. So as we, you know, work guys around the platoons and go just to make sure that everybody gets good, greatable reps so we can sit back by the end of spring and say, all right, this is your comparing apples to apples and oranges oranges and not, you know, apples to oranges because it's completely different that way.

4:56:16So that's kind of the thought behind that as you're going through the spring. When you got here a couple years ago, you just met you with a little cold shoe. You've been here for an hour, Chip Kelly is going to be here as an office employee. What would you have said? Not a laugh. But then I said, you know, it's college football, so who knows, right? What's up in like, I'm sure you're enjoying it. What's up in like, so? Yeah, I mean, he just added to another piece of just good people here. I mean, you still, you're coming to work here with the guys every day, you know, but the kids we talk about a thumb, but then for us as coaches as staff. So adding just another good dude that's in the room. Obviously, as he says something and, you know, he might speak in old terms or terms that we had, you know, maybe be a little bit of a rosetta stone like, no, no, this is this. He's like, yeah, that's right because that happens to all coaches that happen to me when I got here. First, I was at what coach day sometime with Ryan's like, you know, what do we call this? Because he was in a system like that before. And he's like, oh, this is this now. So I think just the, you know, translation of a rosetta stone there help, but just overall standpoint of adding a great guy that's a great coach that's been around that's,

4:57:19he's going to supplement the room and every time you add something new to the room, then that makes the room better, it makes you individually better. Oh, look how he does that. Maybe I could do that. Maybe I can bring that to my meeting room. Maybe I can bring that to communication to the staff or to the kids or whatever it is. Because he's, he's done it for a long time and he's done a high level for a long time. So it's good to add that guy to us and then continue as us to rest the staff for me and Brian and Key and everybody just learning and growing with that. What does he bring specifically? I mean, does he from a talent standpoint? Does he see things sometimes? Others don't see. I mean, does he, I mean, what does he kind of bring from the chalkboard aspect? Well, I mean, what you're saying. So what does he see? It's good to have fresh eyes come in that maybe, you know, you're getting a routine and you're getting a rhythm and all of a sudden... Did it look like certain aspects of the running game? Football. You know, he's one of those guys that I think goes into categories, forgotten a lot of football and some people have learned in their life.

4:58:19But no, his, I believe he coached every position on the field both sides of the ball through his whole career. So as he looks up and he writes when he's talking about, well, this wheel linebacker's going to do that. Then he might have coached that at Columbia, right? Or this is what three techs are going to read on a down block of attack all because he's coached the offensive line and he's been a coordinator for a long time. So just a really good vision of big picture, understanding and, you know, the next step and not just being running it out of you. What does that just ticker of? If you had a theme or whatever, this spring, because I mean, this seems kind of like a... Not a make it a break in time for him. The time to step up and step in. His point was nobody cares. Nobody cares what struggles you have or whatever. You got to go out there and feel like you get the job there. I mean, it's like, if you know anything different about tech, what do you see about tech? Yeah, he's competing his butt off. I mean, he's kind of living that way. You know, that's why we have the red line over there. When you cross the line, you know, Coach, they talk about that here. Like, the game doesn't care. You're off the field.

4:59:21You got to come out and step out and do your job. It doesn't care about anything off the field. Right? That can sound really negative and harsh. But then it also, if you just spin your tone, like, isn't it beautiful that the game doesn't care? It doesn't care that your skin color, your socioeconomic background, where you've come from. If you just want to do it the right way in the 53 and the third, the game will love you back. You know, and so I think it's the approach mentally that guys take that way. So yeah, for Tegrit, he's taking that approach. Like, he wants to come in and be a guy. So he's fighting and clawing and scratching every day. So when he makes a mistake, he's trying to correct it. When he does it well, he's trying to enhance it. And that's what competitive people do. And that's what he showed up to do. So that's good that he said that. What's his command on the field been like as a center? And is that difficult when you're coming into a new offensive line to have that? Or is there something innate about the center position? If you've been experienced at it, like he has where you kind of have that? I guess command on the field over with any offensive line. So I should say it over and start over again. You're saying the comfort of center with who now?

5:00:24Seth. Yeah, I'm saying like how has his command of the field been? And has it been difficult, I guess, to adjust for him if he's to have a certain level of on field command at that center? Yeah, I mean, the on command is just great communication, getting everybody on the same page. Yes, having a bunch of banked reps helps. But then when you do come into a new offense, just like we talked, you know, chip a little bit earlier. You know, he might have called it yellow and we call it green or something. I don't just make it stuff up, but the transition of that in your head to get going with that. But yeah, the comfort of having a ball on your hand, having a guy, I mean, you talk about acclimation of football. Like play one handed and have, you know, tie leak this far from your face. You better have command of something, you know, so you got to understand the communication and the technique and those things there. So yeah, I think him coming into a new place, the game's not as fast as it probably would be for a younger guy. But also there's mistakes there that he can learn from and grow from. And in the same day, he's, you know, the one thing we're not having concerns with,

5:01:26we're not driving right now is the guys just competing and trying to get better after a mistake. Or like we said, tagger enhancing as they've done some stuff really well and he's adapted to that really well. This spring is the same for Sam. And how do you assess their own by center version of guard? Could they do both? They both have been rumping at center. Yeah. For the competition aspect, could they roll on and play guard? Yeah, probably both of them could. How do you assess that? You just got to give them a bunch of guard reps. But if you send guys out too much that way, then that's not good coaching, you know. So we got a good plan with everybody. Those two guys included as we're moving ahead. But yeah, they've been really working at center position right now both of them. Would you suggest to watch our center jump? No, I have it. Obviously came after spring practice next year. How has he been in this spring? I kind of speak to how what the challenge must have been for him last year,

5:02:29not having spring practice stepping in playing that position here in the experience for him. Yeah. Same here. He's been here not even a four year yet. So coming in the summer, doing what he did, coming in through the fall. And then now, I mean, the same with him. It sounded like a broken record. I think the game's slowing down for him. Those mistakes that may have showed up are the questions that he had through the fall. And as we got going through the season, those are starting to erase a little bit, which is good. You know, his communication level is just talking more. That's probably the best thing that he's done so far. He's a highly, highly talented guy. We're just developing that skills and discipline and does go into communication. So as he communicates and talks, that's probably the biggest thing I've seen from him, which I think, you know, volume and communication equals confidence. And so he's playing much more confident right now. Obviously he has talent. He also had a few plays of game work, you know, the penalty or whatever. Do you see them reduce those? A bunch. Yes. Coach, thank you very much.

5:03:29Thank you, sir. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thank you, Chef. You're my bare fans. Thanks, Chef. I understand. All right, folks, we will come back when. You know, the communication and how everything works. I really just understand the football. I want you to kind of understand, like how the central line will work. You know, you're going to get the best and best in the first day of the international show. I think that's where I come from. I think that chemistry is different from your comedy. I think it's an even here. Like, there'll be things like sometimes we won't even have to communicate. So we just know, you know, like, we're going to have a year of the ball together. It was great. I was like, this is the childhood one. It's like, you're going to be the childhood one. What did you come to this spring? You know, you can go live to meet me. You're going to be this ramp. I came in knowing that just about everything. Like, obviously, I kind of feel like in terms of like physical attributes. I can kind of like move and I'm strong and stuff like that.

5:04:29But I think like there's a lot more to it that I needed to work on even to come close to what I can. To me being able to help a team like such as technique, awareness, just everything. Definitely communication. I think that's like the big thing. Like when you're in those big games, you got to be able to, you know, call it out. Like, like, the pressure might come and stuff like that. So it's a winery for both. I'm curious about the two-hour round. The good try is coming to the summer. If the start is resonating, how you feel spring is going to come? Is there a level of understanding how we coach us on what he wants for these players? And how do you handle it down better than the football team? Well, folks, we have Dallin, Hayden, not the 20. Yeah, he wants just 100% after it and just work hard. Like, obviously, like, there's more to it. But those are the things that he wants you to do. He wants you to play fast, play physical. So I pick that every day coming out here just the best you've ever played. I know, it's all a four-dum. Yeah, so you go back to the actual age of youth. Is it almost like you've been out there all the stuff that was thrown in me, all the stuff I had to adjust to?

5:05:29I really think that is great for Barney's youth and youth and nutrition. Definitely, but I kind of, like, when I come in here, I knew Coach Fry and staff, like they were going to, they're going to definitely like, scope me into the player. Like, that I would. Oh, you would do a player? Yeah, scope me into that. Yeah, like they know that, like, scope, I mean. Oh, scope me. Yeah. Like, just kind of make me into that type of player. I mean, the development factor from Coach Fry and I've been getting these, like, I didn't even, it's like magic almost. So I mean, I'm just kind of keep going with him and keep riding with him. You know. Having a spring practice, having a summer all has been the most common set of experiences. Uh, I guess we'll see. I'm going to keep picking that in. Sure. We'll see what we get. Once my players hope to describe you as a big bad thing. First of all, you were three with that? What do you think you were doing? Uh, I guess. Yeah, I would say sure, but I mean, I can't really take credit for something like that. You know, the point like that is, you know, the man above, kind of put that in my dream. So how much is running game changing? Uh, or nuance, whatever you want to call it, uh, with Chip Kelly in charge?

5:06:33What if you noticed this little bit, little nuances or stuff? Uh, maybe like little things. I mean, the little things that add up to big things, right? I mean, yeah, I mean, yeah, what do you think you guys were lacking at some point last year in certain, some of those matchups? Uh, I mean, it was a whole new line. So I mean, I know the side chemistry with each other, but other than that, it was, I mean, it was a hard game. Nothing's going to be like, for sure, what's going on? You know, you can have some part time. Yeah. The Missouri test y'all about as well as anybody. Just about, yeah. What did you know coming out of there? Y'all had to get fixed. Uh, to be honest, I felt like we just tried to go out there and just play hard. Like, obviously, you know, number six was a really good player. So we just try to make sure keeping either back good as much as possible. So that's really, we can try to go to. Describe your game a little bit Josh, wouldn't you do well when you still work on the ball? Just, just try your dancing. Yeah, so as a left tackle, I got to like, the number one job is make sure nobody gets to the quarterback.

5:07:33And I try to do make sure nobody kind of get around me or go through many things. Just keep the quarterback in the other field. A lot more. Yeah, they'll be well on the player and you know, more people in the run and stuff like that. But like, that's probably one of the biggest things. Make sure it's for that screen. What block did you, uh, I was essentially something that I really, really. Yeah, so I mean, we got, I mean, you have the main deal I mean, I was twisting and stuff like that. So in the run, no twist, too. So you just kind of like, I guess you just got to really stay technically sound. That's something I'm trying to do. If you're going to get Mitchell, Mitchell, Mel, much this spring and stuff, what stands out about him? Obviously, he came back from a couple of knee, knee injuries and stuff. But what's just jumped out at you about it? Yeah, you wouldn't even know he had the two knee injuries. I mean, he's so like the way he rushes. It's so, like, it's his signature rush. Yeah. It's something that you can't, it's probably the hardest, it's probably like the hardest person I've got to block here. Yeah. If I'm being honest, like, he's very twitchy, great with his hands. Amazing to get off. And he has that sneaky power. If you're not really like, setting for it, he'll get you.

5:08:35And everyone gets your take. You know, he came here from San Diego State. Your center, the guy's transferred in Seth Maclaufflin, whether he starts or not, we'll see, right or no. He's from Alabama. He's an amazing, you have college football teams who are put together anymore. Yeah. Because he could be a key thing. And what does that just tell you about the game these days? I mean, yeah, I mean, it can go anywhere. I mean, like Seth is a great player. I mean, he tells me like, you know, stuff that they did differently, I've been in stuff like that. And I try to take some of like, maybe some advice he has, because he's been getting college football for a little longer than me. Yeah. Yeah, he seems like a grown-up, doesn't he? Yeah. He comes across that way, then. Yeah. What's the line? What's the line that you're absolutely right? What's the line that you're absolutely right? What's the line that you're absolutely right? What's the line that you're going to? What's the line that you're going to? Play fast, play physical. I mean, there's obviously more that we're working on. And we're learning like, each other to be honest. I guess the right side is kind of like going a little bit. I mean, not with fire, but like, you know, we have some people that compete. I mean, we're all competing. I know I am. And stuff like that. So I just, we're just trying to play hard and play.

5:09:36How true most of the way through this process is how helpful is how necessary is really a spray? How do you have that? Yeah, it's very necessary, especially when you've kind of got a new OCE. And stuff like that, it's best to kind of get, you know, comfortable with the steam now. Then maybe like post the camp is in like a few weeks in the nature. Yeah, we're going so. This time last year, you're like, do you know what to lead on to get a picture? Uh, I mean, Don, he's like, dude, I owe Don a lot. Like, he's an amazing player. He gives me like, inside of him just by the way, Notre Dame. I've never been like more nervous for a game than Notre Dame. I just kind of talked to him. He said, we got it. Keep doing what you do. And we got to it. I've got to open it up. Oh, yeah, especially. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, like I said, you know, that's sort of been tough on your leave this year.

5:10:37And with the opportunity we got, you know, you only got one more chance left to, you know, to go do something that not many people get to do in their lives. So we're in a blessed position. I think it took for you a while. Yeah, I think it took a while. I think it took a while. Uh, and I just think that I was putting good positions. Just kind of let, you know, let loose. We're not going to play ball. Like I know how to. You know, my teammates played great too. And coaches called it a game defensively. I mean, you know, we give a 14 total points or a 17, 14. I mean, 14 gets a good offense like that. Great team. I mean, that's a good day. So obviously we didn't get the results we wanted, which is frustrating again, but it's a whole different story. Yeah, I mean, I just think it was, it was collectively a good day on defense. And I happen to be fortunate to be in position, make some good plays. I mean, that would be the time for, I mean, obviously, something in your conversation. You guys are playing well, but nothing really happened.

5:11:38The most I thought was necessarily, you know, mirroring that. Like, you trying to add all that to my phone starter. Can you feel when we're in a group like that when you get back to the field? Yeah, I think I felt like I was in a group probably the whole second half of the season. I felt like myself again. And I was just out there playing and having fun with my teammates. And, you know, I think that, you know, when you come here and you expect to get the field and it to be a certain way, you know, it's hard to get over that for a little bit. And I think you can look at kind of this all of us on the D line as a front. We all kind of had our own journey into how we how we're playing right now. And now it's all about building and I looking back and playing how we know how to play and being confident out there and using our abilities that God's gave us. So I think that this whole next year, you know, you're just going to see a whole different level of play from all of us. I know you're trying to meet with that club, but you. And that'd be kind of a launching point in terms of what there may be capable of in the future. It's got to be a good thing. I think I'll be as you mentioned, the way you go. Yeah, you know, I've knew all along what I was capable of.

5:12:40And I know it's frustrating for a few years, you know, not being able to, you know, not playing for whatever reason on the field. So what I was capable of, but, you know, once you just put that stuff to the side, just got there and play ball. You know how it's just going to take care of itself. Okay. You know, you're good. Did you use the term load? I don't tell what issues. I don't know what it does. I don't know if it's this, I'm not focusing on the little things kind of owning it on that stuff. And you guys know what you're telling us? What is it for you to support? Yeah, you know, I think you said it, you know, with, there's no talent issues here on this team. You know, I think if you look at our team across the board, probably one of those talented teams in the country. If not the most talented team in the country. And so, you know, that's God given though. And what we can work on is our discipline, our skill, our technique. I think if we become the most, you know, disciplined and sound team technique wise, there's not going to be a team of the country as well. But it's, you know, it's a long process to get to that point and to get to that season. So, I just think that when Coach Day talks about that, you know, it's true. We've got the talent.

5:13:40Just got to go out there and work every day on the little things. What are you specifically working on this spring? You know, I'm working on a flexibility. You know, I'm working on bending the corner a little bit and hands. You know, at D line, you can kind of improve on everything. And so, Coach Johnson, our emphasis is just, you know, just taking care of the little things, hands, hips, foot placement. So, it's kind of a little bit every day in the spring. There's a lot to be excited for, especially all the guys coming back on defense. But how excited are you to play again with JT? Oh, I'm really excited about that. You know, it was cool, really cool. I mean, him going back and forth the whole time to side. And we're going to come back or not. And, you know, when we, you know, I kind of knew before you guys knew when he was coming back. So, you know, I was excited. He's a, you know, a hell of a player and, you know, a really good friend of mine. So, just having another year with him and, you know, if I'm going to enjoy it and, you know, hopefully have some fun. You know, we can have a comfortable next next wall. Even going back to your crewman, the first guy to come in. And this was really cool. You had guys over the barb cues in your house. What was it like, I guess, to see a kind of comfortable circle in a way that you could kind of almost leverage that relationship.

5:14:44And we're crew guys to come back into the pool and run back on the right. Yeah, you know, it's unique. You know, I think it's a really unique position. That great group of guys coming back, man. I mean, you know, it's just so exciting. And I just wanted to, you know, for me, you know, and the same thing, same thing for those guys. How much they care about this program and care about the team and coach day and, and guys you want to do it for in the city and, you know, the chance. We all knew that, you know, we had great opportunities going in the field. And we also have a great opportunity to put another one of those banners up here. And, you know, get some revenge on, you know, the guys up north, all that stuff. So, you know, when you put in a nutshell, you know, it was a really simple decision for a lot of us. And, you know, we thank God for being in this position and coming back. You know, I don't think any of us have regretted it. And we're just really excited to, you know, just get back on the chase and, and, you know, not miss a day.

5:15:44Jack, we take a wide view of the defense with the additions made by Caleb coming in. And now you see Sonny Wu, closer to the line of scrimmage. But you just, you have an opportunity to like, look at what's out there. How does it change the capability of your defense? Last week, how can it change the way maybe you deploy that you couldn't do a year ago? Yeah, I mean, you look at our, you look at the defense one of the very like damn, we're big. You know, corner, we're big, line back, we're big, D line, we're big, safe through, we're big, fast. You know, we're just, it's, you know, we're just, we've got a lot of, a lot of weapons to say the least. You know, when you got, when you know you got those guys behind you, you know, you just make you play so much more free up front. And, you know, you, you depend and you can rely on those guys behind you. And I think that, you know, if we take that approach and, and everywhere on the field, offense too, that, you know, we're not really fun here. We have to kind of change the perception before we do. I know you guys don't pay attention like outside noise, but also, a lot of the things you just got are actually really good.

5:16:45Yeah, I'd say it starts off with like you kind of got to, it starts off with tuning out the outside noise. And what other people have to say about it. And it's really good. I'm not going to say, I kind of look at it as if it's like a drop in a bucket. You know, if I got a big bucket, there's no one thing I'm going to do to make these bucket full. It's, it's a daily thing where I put one drop in in a day. And you look back over a year, two years, three years. You look back and you're like, man, I've gotten a lot better. And so, like I said, I'm just very thankful for the event. The guys that I have around me push me very hard. And I'm just thankful. Yeah, I'd say definitely the size component. You know, you can't, you got to be someone that's, you know, when you've got to be big, you've got to be strong. You've got to be fast. There's a lot of jobs that you have to do. It's a very asking job. You need to buck the big, some of the biggest guys in the field. But also run routes off some of the smallest guys in the field. And so I think just thankful just to be out here and do exactly that. What was it like to get that shot the other day for the pros counts? Run routes, kits falls. Oh, yeah. Show off.

5:17:51Yeah, no, there's a good opportunity. I think some of the big, you know, region behind it, we're just kind of giving those guys out there that were at pro-day. We have limited numbers. So just get out there and give those guys a breather. But any opportunity to get to go out there in front of scouts. I think that's a pretty good deal. And you're taking only a quarterbacks to this point. Quarterback battle is going on. What's been your take on Will, for example, get to know him. And of course, David, I think the mindset that we have body around here is ironing, sharpening iron. So that's kind of like, it's not just, you know, one room. It's from top to bottom, top of this whole team. No matter what position you are, we're here to work. I think we're all here to make each other better. Whether it's in a quarterback room or tight-knit room or running back room. Offends for us, defense, coach for us, coach. It doesn't matter. We're all just, you know, iron and sharpening iron. Especially this time of year in Spring Ball. We're not doing too much game planning for next week. Which we're really just spending this time to get better and build a good foundation for ourselves. It's something to work on, moving forward. If you've seen Will, Will how it fitting in more and more is the practice that's gotten on. You know, getting to know everybody and all that kind of thing.

5:18:51I mean, I know we've been here for a while. Yeah, I think I think I think I think it's times goes no matter where you are. You start to adapt and start to get used to what we have going on here. And so it's good to have. Thanks. Yeah. You came in. What's it been like? Yeah. I'd say when it comes to that, I think it's all the glory to the Lord. And I decided to give my life completely to the Lord a little over a year ago. And that kind of really changed my outlook on the way that I approach football. It's no longer something that I idolize. It's just something that I do. And I think from the time of my life where I stopped, you know, compartmentalizing who God was in my life. God was something that I do on Sundays or something that I do in the Bible study. It went from what I do to who I am. And so now I embody that as who I am. And so some of the fruits of the spirit is peace, patience and kindness. And so those are the kind of things that I've started to embody on this journey.

5:19:54I think it's easy to kind of compartmentalize football away from faith. But ultimately, it's all one. It's all one. So it's giving me a spirit of patience, peace, and joy with the guys around me. And so I'm just, I'm thankful. I'm just, I'm thankful to be here. But being quite honest, I just, I know for a fact, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now. And I know I'm outside looking in. You know, I was like, you know, where are you right now? But I wouldn't be where I'm at right now if it wasn't for my relationship with the Lord. It really came into my life and changed around for the better. G, what did you see from Bennett Christian last year? How did you know that suspension and how do you work through that? Yeah, I think he did a great job. A lot of perseverance. I think that's no matter who you are, we're kind of hearing news like that. That you're going to be out for a year, that's hard. No matter where you are. I'm really proud of him because he came up and he came to show up every single day. He got better. He got better. The easy thing to do in that kind of situation is throwing the towel. Be like, man, you know, forget this or I'll get better next year. But I saw the drive at him.

5:20:56One thing I see on every day he showed up. He got better. I'm proud of Bennett and I'm proud of this unit. That's a question. One, two, three, oh, two, three, oh, two, three. You know hard. I mean, yeah. I don't know. I don't really know how to answer that question because if you go from one unit to another unit, the moment you trade units, you're no longer in the unit you were initially in. So you're now a tight end. So, I mean, to answer that question, I think the time that I went from in the receiving it to the tight end unit is the moment I became. Ten. Kevin Wilson was my coach. Coach Alvin was my coach and I was a receiver. It's just different. It's two different roles. I think I'd say to answer that question. The moment that I decided to come to play tight ends, the moment I couldn't tie it in. And so, now over the years I've gotten better at playing the position. But the moment that I transferred over, I've been a tight end.

5:22:00And I'm excited to be a tight end. Another position I'd rather play. Go buck us.