Press Conferences(Dre'Mont Jones) Elite Edition September 3

0:00be the hindsight guy and forget about you know the run game is still I think an issue for us has an issue for me we got to be better I don't want to be one of the last teams in the league in a run game so we're doing a good job you know are my sets right the coaches are emphasizing it and eventually he's gonna get going. Obviously you never want to have a teammate be treated away like your own but with Ernst Jones coming in he's highly touted as a pretty good run defense kind of linebacker what does that do for your defensive room? I'm trying to trickery my book I but it does it it does a I can't really speak on it because I don't really know Jones that well I don't know his game I've heard from others that I know that placement Rams I say he was good but I mean as far as that I don't know hopefully this move works out for the betterment I'm obviously I mean we all want that too but we'll see how it goes. I feel like a positive thing obviously when John Schneider and your coach are working to get an impact player and your team and NFC is kind of this wide open. It can be viewed as a positive or negative thing it depends on what what window

1:03you look through. What's that process like for you in terms of having to learn guys and their tenancies and communicate with new players that are coming in during the middle of a season? It's a big process it's definitely not easy to rework your roster in the middle of the season they're going to do what they're going to do regardless and obviously I respect that I'm for I believe in their and their system and what they want to do but you know it's an adjustment for all of us to learn a new guy and kind of reestablish a new relationship and reestablish a new voice that you're going to hear making a call in the middle of the field especially you know because he's the quarterback of defense so it's just something you got to get adjusted to all of us. Playing in a different weight this season has that been any sort of an adjustment for you? It has been just getting comfortable with my body again and figuring out you know my strengths and weaknesses and how to make sure all my all my weaknesses are just completely strengths so it's been a challenge in that aspect too and I think I'm doing a good job at it so far. This past rush is going well how much of it is guys playing off each other like I'm thinking a boy is sack force from was you know to you collapse the pocket and then he's able to get them. Yeah you

2:05all know yeah um I was saying last game was the probably the best game surprisingly of us all working together as good as we did um I think this these past couple games prior before that game it's been a lot of us just we just went in and it just happened to be like that I feel like this Atlantic game was a good game of us communicating the the past game schemes whether it's a game or just going to straight-worth a straight rush and just reading off each other and we had to get better at that it's only been a couple games well it's only been seven games we have a lot more football to play to to get better and get our relationship on that aspect. If you dropped in coverage as much as you thought you might have or um but on par I've dropped a good amount of time so far this year I'm talking about doing it now so she put me on whoever not put me on tour to kill. No. Have you seen Derek Hall grow in the last from my season this year being around him? I mean he's the same type of player it honestly um only thing has been different is mindset and it's applying to the field and he has it has to continue.

3:07Oregon. I was Jackson had a duck here the on the week after. Did you have something that you had to do? I had to do something that was a little more personal but I didn't make that bet but speaking of that I don't know why we didn't run the ball in the last exception of the game so talk to them boys down the Columbus and telling to run the damn ball next time and just get trust the kicker but it's a lot better. You think of the penalty the intentional penalty late in the game? I don't know if that was on purpose we I think Mike brought that up to me and asked me do you think it's on purpose or they did by accident? I don't know but it was intentional. It was intentional it was a very genius move I didn't I won't expect that so I was actually you know big brain played by him. Did you think there should have been a second left? No. I'm be real. I don't want to be biased. No we ran out of time. We just my boy my boy 18 was back there just too comfortable but it's all good. He's going to learn. First game with River Roberts and Harris. What were your impressions of him?

4:08It was like 6-8 and it was crazy. He's super super strong. I've been watching him. I've been seeing his game from afar from a while. I shouldn't have been watching him but I've seen I saw him in Chicago. I saw him in Jacksonville. You know he just watched a lot of football and a lot of tapes so eventually you just see guys you pay attention to who they are. So you know it's been a unique process of just bringing them in and he's picked up the defense pretty well. Very powerful guy. Versus was well. I think it's going to add a lot of a lot of good plays to our defense here so. Do you think the defensive lineman have arms that long? Sure. Can nobody touch your chest? You in the ball game. You don't want big strong lineman grabbing you and trying to rough out you because they're already bigger than us in the first place especially me they like 6-8 3-30. You know wherever my way to is so playing with extensions is very key for a D-1. Alright Donovan so your Texas kid I mean how does it feel to be back in your home state close to your family? It's very exciting you know obviously I

5:10dream to play in this bowl game dream of playing in front of my friends and family in the in the biggest stage and almost college football so I'm very excited getting after it. And do you have a lot of family that are expected to come? Kind of how does that feel knowing that they're going to be supporting you? Yeah I have around I think 21, 21, 22 people coming so it's going to be a little 74 sections in the state in some way but I'm very excited to know playing on a competitive game for them. In terms of the cotton bowl obviously last season it didn't end the way you guys wanted to but how is that kind of motivate you to write the wrong from last year? Yeah we ain't we ain't worried about what happened last year we know what we have this year so we know that in order to in order to compete and we execute the high slow we have a great team to compete it with but we have to be on our stuff to be able to go out there and win. Talk to me about the redemption and revenge of this season you have you know will wanting revenge over Penn State. Redemption over Oregon now you know wills got the factor of wanting to beat Texas for the you know first time. Where does that factor into how you guys play out there? I mean I feel like

6:12guys my motivations and different things you know for will he he plays better than he has great motivation that goes for majority players on his team and so just trying to find that edge trying to find that fuel to you know give the extra yard give the extra inch on the field so you know as offense alignment we play with motivation every day because we didn't end the way we wanted to so we want to go out there and play as hard as we can because that's how we know we can play. In terms of game plan and scheming for a team like Texas how much do you lean on some of your teammates who have faced this Texas team before like Caleb or just kind of coaches like Chip who know kind of how Steve Shark Eason works how do you lean on that in a game plan for a game like this? Yeah you know guys are played against his team before you know Seth has obviously played against some of these guys when he was at his former university so he's helped us out with some some things that he did at his former place but you know this is a whole whole different defense whole different you know year for them so they're they're doing stuff that amazing on the field so it's our job to be on our best so we can compete against them. What bring me into what the talk is

7:16kind of been with some of the guys who have been around Quinn right he was with the Buck guys before what's kind of in the chatter about going up against a guy who was a former Buck guy? Yeah you know he we live in the same apartment complex he lived down the hall for me I hung out with him a couple times just a cool guy but you know I'm sure we'll shake hands and hug after the game but you know during the game it's all it's all competition you know I wish nothing but the best form but you know he's wearing burn horns and wearing scarlet and gray right now so yeah it's just about it. And last question for you obviously this playoff format is super different than what every team is used to how do you guys kind of recharge and refuel because it's a long season right? Yeah I know it's very long and you just got to remind yourself that what you're playing for what you're fighting for what you did all this sacrifice and all this blood sweat and tears for and then you you mentally relock in you know and it and it's selfish of I feel like we see it as an excuse to bring up exhaustion and everything like that because the team we're playing has

8:17played as many games as us so the whole exhaustion thing yeah you know it's a physical context for it's a violent sport such as offense alignment every play you're hitting and you're you're grabbing jerseys so everything's gonna hurt for a minute but if you really want to play if you want to stay disciplined you gotta remind yourself what you're playing for. I feel like you guys are peaking at the exact right time I think you would probably agree with me bring me into the tightness of this group and how that has factored into how you perform out there. Yeah I mean the one thing we're playing for is just being able to don the star and scarlet and gray for another week that's all we're focused on it's all we're playing for being able to keep this group of guys around just one more week is what we're playing for yes the accolades and everything that's great but just the group of guys the guy we get the guys we get to go to work with the brothers we have on the field that's what we're really playing for at the end of the day. Thanks son and good luck on Friday. How's spring been so far? It's been pretty good you know just having fun

9:19I heard with these guys you know going against zone six we see who they're pushing me to my limits you know bringing something out that you know I didn't get me we got a high school so you know just going to get some guys competing every day like modeling JJ all those guys you know good guys are you know is there kind of a problem? It's kind of a problem that being surreal like you walk with against guys like JJ and part of the other guys you should come to the next group it's like kind of still to you. Yeah it was but you know I kind of I rating myself my whole year but you know I focused on my senior but you know I knew what I was coming into when I got here so you know I'm going to get got like JJ Cornel you know top receivers in the country so you know I got ready myself you know appears not about it's not about your age it's about you know being a man and you know stepping up to that they don't need me to step up. I know you built a really close relationship with coach Walton during my recruiting process just what was it about him that made you want to play for him and what's it been like actually playing for himself? You know in a recruiting process it was being developed into you know the next best corner and then you know when I finally got here it was you know being coach hard and he coaches hard very hard and I

10:23feel like you've not coaching hard and you know it's kind of over but you know he's coaching hard from the jump and I mean he wants the best for you he's not gonna let me slack off you know especially under the look coverage things like that you know he's always on me when I watch film you know he doesn't show me the good places show me the bad place where I'm doing bad and stuff like that so this is making myself better and you know correcting those things. What's the link with this? The main point they're making this link obviously physically you've got the talent so how much of a mental leak has it been in psychologically really going to be correcting a lot? It's been a good mental thing you know having to get myself ready to go against guys that are you know 2020 when you're old you know being 18 you know that they don't care about that up here so you know it's developing yourself to have a great mindset early you know having that grown man mindset at 18 years old it's really important because like a period they don't really care about feelings so it's about you know just coming up here you know being a man that you think you are you know having to go out there and you know prove it.

11:23David what's been the easiest thing and the most difficult thing about your transition years so far? The easiest thing I would say I mean it's really not easy about this you know coming to a top program like this you know especially coming off an national championship it's really not easy you know they're pushing for the same thing they're trying to go back and back so I mean we just got to come up here we've got to step up but the hardest thing I would say you know just just having to grow up you know going from high school where you know I've been the man there for three years so I mean coming up here where you started the bottom again so I mean I told my parents it's all the time like you know I think my history is repeating itself because when I went into high school the high school I went to her house so I was at the bottom there and had to work my way up and I feel like that's just repeating so here you know I met the bottom here you know I put myself at the bottom so I have to work my way up to the top and so you know just going to get these guys they're competing every day you're not gonna get a day off where you know she was just coming out here just just be essence so I mean you got to be in your piece of cute all the time when you see what a guy like Jay sorry when you see what a guy like Jay Jay did last year coming in

12:28here playing immediately does that inspire you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman I mean definitely you know just just what he did last year as a true freshman you know him being able to play an impact team like that obviously I want that for myself so you know I'm gonna push myself to that limit you know try to be on the field you're one that's my plan that's the biggest reason I came here because I have an opportunity to play year one so me having that opportunity is good and you know I'm gonna I'm always gonna come out here and compete like I said I'm putting myself at the bottom so I'm working I'm gonna work every day like I'm at the bottom and I gotta get to the top how well what do you feel like it's gonna take for you to get from the bottom to the bottom you know just just discipline they're big on discipline here and you know competitive acting so it's just staying consistent every day just doing the rights having little to none mental errors that's gonna give me on the field and you know I do I do what I'm supposed to do that's that's gonna give me on the field along those lines how do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one what season is around how do you manage people

13:30you know I don't really let it get to my head because you know like I'm here you know I got do's in the room that are you know like I should be you know he's in a big three-year start I got to main personal American you know he's gonna play this year too so I can't let what people say on the net you know get to me because you know anybody can say oh he's gonna play this year but you know I actually got to prove it so I just got to come out here you know work you know and that spot what's the most important you've learned so far you three months here um competing every day that's that's the biggest thing having to compete no these guys appear they take winning and losing to heart so no my first my first week up here we did our competition you know I was winning did I actually I got that first loss on my belt and you know it kind of opened my eyes 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 so you had you had the opportunity to be around the team for that you know CFP Ron what did you learn from just those few big seeing this team make that run you know being real tight with your brother

14:31you know they're they're real tight you know they they push each other you know it's a real brotherhood they don't let nobody down they always got each other back 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 player I've run and I practice when they were at the National Championship you know I just got to watch you know how guys are you know real locked in they're close with each other they're not letting nobody slack off and you know I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now how do you handle with it uh you handle that first lock that first launch you know it kind of got to me it was it was the IGB you know he you know he you let me hear so after that loss I was like now I can't let this happen because it's like now it's not high school where you used 17 16 years old and if you lose you lose appearance not if you lose the coaches see that so and they gonna see how you respond to it so I feel like I had to you know open my eyes I had to go going and lock them like yeah I can't let this happen where you know so I got to go up and you know these guys are counting on me too so it's really important that I don't lose if you had to

15:35describe yourself as a competitor how would you do that I'm a great competitor you know I like winning who doesn't like winning so I mean winning is it's in my blood you know my parents taught me that at a young age you know going out there competing for anything that you want and I feel like if you can go out there to compete for you know it's yours and if you compete for it all the time who don't take it from you so I mean I'm a good competitor I'm always gonna go out there try to take what's mine if it's out there then anybody can have it I'm gonna be the one to get it. There's some roles in your room obviously are you a talker what would your natural. Yeah I mean it could come out on you know but I don't really I really am like game to the talking for this part but you know if it gets there it gets to that point where yeah I can bring it out because you know regardless I'm not just gonna let nobody just come out here and just you know catch balls on me so if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently getting TVUs yeah I'm gonna talk but you know being in that room you kind of got to talk you know the Jermaine you got IGB you know those 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 on whole defense and when you

16:37got the whole defense clicking I mean you can see you can see what happen. Is there anyone that's kind of a competition you're at? It was during the winter we were doing you know just just stuff on the field we was just just just having the time of the field 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 other 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 to get that professional group like what are we gonna do about this because you know some they're kind of nice to just step up in those roads. Yeah definitely definitely definitely my work on college moments you know you know just just showing that you know it's real now a metal high-o-state I'm not in Houston Texas and I'm wearing my school far from my family you know I got to wake up I got a girl I got a mature fast and you know I just got to get ready for the next level. You've mentioned high school a couple times well how did you know grow it out very in Texas playing at that level how do you feel like that helped you prepare for high-o-state? I still like it prepared good you know I feel like I want to

17:40power house in Texas we're obviously ran in the Houston area you know we've been running the Houston area for a long time now and I feel like you know we're a real college program we live just like these guys who do the same lifts you know the level of ball I played the highest level ball in the Texas 6A you know we're going against guys like Dunkin Bill no crowded those those top schools you know receive a decoy and more I go against him I want to get some three times in my career so I mean those those that really prepared me for this level 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 school so they're they're counting me to make an impact because you know I think I mean everybody would say Texas one of the highest football highest-player balls in the country you know it goes us floated and they're probably Georgia so I mean they're counting me to be ready and that level ball prepared me real real well how do you do against DeCory you know it was it was when when lose when lose you know I went some he lose something so I mean it's it's just it's just

18:40getting better on sharpen iron because you know he's the top receiver obviously in our class you know I feel like he's gonna have a good impact at the organ so I mean it's just it's just just what's gonna happen next look at part of the stadium again yeah definitely definitely I'm not planning on planning against him we don't we want to see them this year hopefully we'll see them in the big ten championships so you know I want I want to rematch them. 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 you seen kids play the game a little bit longer than that but you chose to not do that just kind of lock it here why you know because this was this was this was what I felt this was home you know I didn't really feel like you know standing Texas was a good thing for me I didn't I didn't feel like that was home for me a period I just thought like it was home you know because of all and because they you know they're making it you know making me feel important up here and then you know like you can ask because what how many times I came up here throughout my high school career I came up for 13 times so it got to the point where I was

19:42knowing guys on the team I had the numbers just like that when I come up here you know I don't got to always build the coaches I can go chill some of the guys on team so it's just just me you know knowing what I want to play my college ball that you know know I feel like it was home and then you know it was also my parents too no my mom being you know feeling safe that you know I'm up here you know I'm in the business and I have no worry about me when she goes to sleep you guys that was just talking about how you guys make each other he's obviously a young guy but impressive guy I know your goal is to shut them down right up against him but seeing him get better because you guys are challenging him just that positive it is a positive it's super positive just going this enjoy my that's gonna make Saturday super easy do you guys feel like just like that kind of mindset that you take an everyday practice like you just say you're not happy Jeremy catches people like I was a 98 out of 100 receivers that's probably our not catching folks on

20:42that's what that's what I kind of keep that in the back of your head and we want to get Jeremiah and Carnell and Brandon and I'm like yeah it's my mind so like in practice everyday I want those birds to get me and everything that they have so like and I'll be prepared what have you seen the growth of the young owners obviously we saw that it's not a Jeremiah last year they're your mates but Calvin and some of the errands how do you see them and Scott has gotten completely better from his brain black completely better is that just time being the program I'm just getting used to the speed of college trouble I would say what about Calvin he was obviously here last year he was I'm Calvin has gotten a lot better like I would say that he's got a lot smarter you know where he's grown where specifically is it the film room is it I pick it up you know the

21:43playbook 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 you last year was it in the soft seat when did you feel I would say in the spring I started to get a lot more comfortable in our different we say you break up the past yesterday with the Jeremiah name I'm sorry for your aspect earlier but what is like going up against him do you it seems like you enjoy it yeah I love it he's he's tough I like going to get some out of you it's really good what what what if you improve in your game just from that for example those those one-on-one matchups this preseason or whatever you know how badly who this guy is so Jeremiah he forces me to pay the back if you don't pay the bodyguards then he'll go get it yeah yeah and you and you Dave's in there 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 what how would you describe it it's different about it

22:48I guess I feel like everybody's a lot more smart this area everybody's like I would just just just just just just smarter yeah but you know when you when you look up and late and ransom decided to come back and Caleb down transferred in what did you feel about that they did just grow stronger in that one week span two weeks man you're telling them saying I feel like those guys have played at that the level those guys have played at yeah I would say that like a downcoming and what they say he was coming back ZZ he was coming back it just so like we'll be happy to be the daddy thanks man of course we're also talking about him and you give him pointers during the offseason just constant communication how do you see who grows first and you know in part of how he's approaching things how he getting ready for this season well you know I think the thing with Keanu is he's more comfortable you know it's nice first time around the track you know it's actually like he can you

23:51know catch his feet under him you know I always think when you're rookie season you're going from bowl game I don't know Wisconsin playing a bowl game sorry Wisconsin I don't know but you know personally I just think when you go from bowl game to training for the combine to you know rookie minicamps OTA's the you know many can I mean to train the camp the regular season you really don't get a time to really catch yourself you know you understand to play book now you can be more vocal you know I think with my absence the other guys have since you know you need guys like that to step up and be ready for those opportunities you know my left side because I was over-competing a little bit but you know it was it wasn't anything that's lingers you know I'll say this a growing's not like an ACL it's not like anything's that we're gonna get affected again and you know you know feeling good able to do everything squat

24:57heavy with power and speed so you know it feels good to get after you think of what the team was able to accomplish your stuff you know I think they're all good acquisitions but you know you never want to be known as a paper champ so can't win the off season I think the work gets done out here on the field it's done in the classroom it gets done training you know and then you see where you're at in training camp and then you build on that you know I think we got the right guys in the building it's just about putting a completely month-to-feel. How difficult is it to separate the business part of the game in the actual football club? You know you always want to you always have to treat it like a business because one day it's gonna end and that's been a job it's not like in college where you know you got four years guarantee well now you don't even know what that

25:59is I don't know what's crap transfer portal portal but you know you have to I still have love for this game and I still work my tail off and I still put everything into it and that's not gonna change but you have to know what you bring to the team and what you value it. Can you have anyone to be able to be out there with your teammates today emotionally? Great you know we got a new training staff and still learning the warm up a little different but you know I loved it you know just getting after it learning new guys going through the same drills I've been doing by myself I actually like having more people around because like kind of go stir crazy when it's just you and another guy you're like damn I gotta go back up for another rep already and so you know it's nice to be up here and get a chance to be with my guys. Can we confident we'll get down with your emotion? Oh I'm gonna try to remain pretty neutral because I don't want to be too either way

27:08I know as I want to be here but we'll see what happens because my last year here I've had a great career here but I look forward to playing next year. What that second surgery you said at this time was on the left side was the first turnaround on the right side? Right side during the season left side and that was just tightened down my core muscle. It wasn't the same as my ad doctor you know you can ask Dr. Bradley Dr. Zuckerbron who did the surgery as well you know if anything it's gonna help me and you know make me a lot stronger for everyone up. Tyson I've been training with him for the last eight years we've always trained together we got a trainer up north Shao Kohaili who's my guy trained trained trained a Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, multitude of guys that I'll respect and we've just been getting after.

28:10Can you give me a few guys historically 35 they paid big contract? Did you think that's held against you? I think there's not a lot of history behind it but you know for me I look as I'm not looking to be like anybody else you know my game is different from everybody else and I like to think you know I can play the run in the past and that's where I'm different you know I remember last year Mike T you just brought to my attention you know the thing that's really cool is you watch powerlifters and you know my game's built on power and technique and those guys go into the 40s and so you know that's what kind of research I'm doing behind the scenes but you know I we'll see what happens there's not a lot of history but I'm here to make history and I'm here to you know when I know there's a wall here and you know hypergrade season do you have a set goal for yourself or how many years you want to play in the NFL do you just take things here right here you know it was it was top answering that question right

29:16after the season I will say this guys I can't keep answering that question right after the season that is not fair to the season that's not fair to my family you know but in my mind I got three years and I want to maximize them I want to play at a high level and I want to go deep into playoffs and you know we got a good team and I'm going to do my part to be ready for all those situations you've been playing on practice and you've been playing on the you might pull it in and of course I have not even thought that far I'm taking the day by day you know I told my agent and we talked about it I mean we were coming out here you know I'll be here for many and then I'll be the pretending I don't know what the work entails but when we get there we'll cross up it's you know there was a conversation between me Omar and Mike T and

30:20there's certain guys are one helmet guys you know and I want to be one of those one-homac guys and you know there's a there's a hunger and desire there but that doesn't mean just hanging it up and calling a career to me I think you know I got more bullets to fire and you know I'm excited to do that what's the movie last one you and Russell Wilson are gonna be out there with Walter Mim what's paid men a year I saw Russ is on social media but I have an idea to see it I let the surprise happens when it happens but you know it's cool to have another Walter Payton Manier winner you know I think it's an honor to be there and I want I'll say one thing I won't be here I'm just telling you guys so it's not a big deal I won't be here because I have to do a Walter Payton Manier thing on Thursday so it's not like I'm skipping but you know it's an honor to be with Russ

31:23and you know it's an honor of doing things in the community doing great work and you know the cool thing is as much as we get honored and nominated for these things the work doesn't stop and I can see that with Russ this foundation you know we had an event for our foundation and my mom was quick to you know tell Russ hey we need the partners somehow and I was like bomb let's just enjoy the event but you know it's it's really cool to be a part of a league group all right thank you on your career was it like to see like real extended action I mean it was a good opportunity it was definitely a good game not one that I expected to go down the wire like that but sometimes it goes like that a lot of the situation used to stuff that we talked about we're out there we executed so it was just fun to be a part of that yeah I mean you just got a plan for a lot of different things this extends out a little bit so we got to just be very

32:24very conscious in our studying like who's gonna be in there what are they're different like skill sets and things of that nature not necessarily but we that there's always getting some work with the players and put it next anyway so we get different different deals I mean he's a good football player so we got no worries out on the field but we just got honestly just trust our scheme trust our defense I like our players a lot so when we have that match up whoever has that match up they should get one that yeah I mean I go out there and I cover so they don't really they put them out alive he's not really in there past blocking a lot so he's gonna be he's gonna be seen out there with the nickels of safety so there's gonna be a lot of times we're gonna have to cover him and so it's time to cover him we just gotta go through our job. Merizo would you play a lot of snacks especially like last weekend do you still think like a receiver at times? yeah I mean I get a feel for routes early on but yeah I think just in my

33:27training like understanding the route combination and what they want to run on different down in distances is tell me out or is like hitting the run depending the run against the sea what kind of stands about these running bags so they're it makes it hard to bring down. yeah they're big backs they're both over 220 so they're gonna run downhill they play with good paddlers so they're gonna put their pads low so as a do like a nipple like me I got it just make sure I run through their outside lane get them down. I'll go through your mind when they're to quarterback something to do. I mean nine they've actually split him out a little bit so he they actually might have a little ball a little bit but uh 15 we've got to get we have to guard them or whatever our time is we got to go executed I mean that that's a quarterback so we should make sure we handle that. how about Oregon game? how hungry did I to the defense with yourself in another top five game? definitely I don't really think it took the Oregon game to wake us up like that but I was definitely I mean it was part of our part of our season so we got to scope bounce back overall as a defense as a team keep use that to ignite a fire in us.

34:28one of the leaders of this special teams unit where do you feel like you guys are at right now through seven games and where do you need to be at? uh I mean I think we got to continue to get better we don't really have any block shed really or we don't really have any touchdown on special teams so we got to make sure we got to be game changers in that in that space I feel like we got to continue to improve. anything else for Enzo? okay buddy thank you Enzo. players getting more comfortable under the system and just like rushing together and having similar guys out there together you know we always want to do better and you know it's 10 plus sacks across the room is the goal you know nothing short that's why I'm saying like last year is just last year you know and I feel like the number four eight and a half as a leader of the sack uh leader is too low so we have to bring that up.

35:31what's your impression of Jonah Ellis to this point and the new guy here right there? yeah no Jonah's Jonah's doing good he's doing good um I feel like he's it took him a little bit to get acclimated and just feel like comfortable and with this new system and stuff like that um but he's doing good and uh definitely just like I said impress with him he definitely handles it like a pro um he's going about as missus like a pro and uh yeah just I'm happy to see him progressing can't wait to see what he does. you guys have talked about how VJ wants you guys to attack more and is simplified and how is that help you individually? coach VJ yeah um first of all he's a great coach he's a great guy and his defense is something that like for like having a second year under that I feel like I've been well like has been good for me obviously uh just kind of

36:31get used to his system I mean he's the defensive coordinator you know he's a defensive coach and just somebody who I can get behind just like coach Sean and uh just been working with him and getting better and understanding the defense more I feel like it's going to allow me to play more free he just play more aggressive did he simplify it? uh I feel like he kind of kept it the same um I don't feel like there is no need to simplify it any more than it is it's pretty simple for me on that end I would say um and just our position and in general but you know I feel like he's done a great job with just you know helping us understand the defense more and just the philosophy of it all and how it all comes together and how like every piece works together I'm a big believer in the Lord and um just trust him in his mind and

37:33leading on him and leading on his understanding instead of mine you know I grew up in a faith-based household and you know I just leaned on him for a hard time and that's what's all about it's a process here as much as you want to say something different like being a high-stay butt guy your time's probably the majority of people that are free so like day-to-day like it takes time you're good but like it takes time for you to play the guys you gotta learn to take me get them off of the scheme and every one of times different and that's what I've learned here it's got to enjoy the process because it's your story not anyone else's and it's gonna be different how much time are you spending at center how's that split between center and guardies you look at build up pushability? yeah um I think obviously just what coach day said just um the narrowing down of the roster and stuff like that um obviously last year what happened you know like we had obviously step and Josh go down and a lot of a lot of us have stepped up in different ways and Carson's long on a garden center I mean like we're all switch swap we're all switch swapping and cross training because we gotta do that you know like you gotta be able to go play different positions if you want to play in that NFL coach always tells us there's always only a guy's

38:33that traveled so like everyone's got to know a different position because someone's gonna go down and someone's got to be ready to go that position what's your comfortable are you at center? comfortable are you at center? I'm comfortable yeah I mean I played a little bit of a Bryan in a family high school and you know I learned a lot from coach Kelly last year with his NFL stuff like because he's obviously coached a line of stuff with the centers and coach tries low and I'm just I'm getting more comfortable because last year I was doing a lot of season cues and stuff like that for practice with starts so it's good yeah um oh okay okay is your primary position left guard? um yeah just switching around honestly right now yep hey one last quick yeah last question after the streets picked through today you know you a tag group you know that was a test like two eight yeah you're still about Texas the execution was yeah yeah I also uh I've already got made no doubt what was it like to make hard things that in the midst of it yeah I want to perfectly block perfectly and I'll

39:38give you this story this background so last year we ran a lot a lot of periods with streams and stuff like that and we never really want to run in the games so we're always like toss it out like what do we do like this we never we never run this play coach what do we do in stuff like that the idea of the out of us so um we always joke about it like it was a perfect play to the perfect look and you know I'm not sure how much time is on the clock things like 14 seconds or something like that so we're getting out there and I'm not I'd be lying to you if I said like oh just here we go like we're just gonna run the clock out with this play yeah it's perfect look you know it's the perfect play to the perfect look and you know obviously with all the scheming and stuff we do and obviously run into the plays day and day out during that time and what we do is now like the montet Armstrong it works because you know we were ready for it and you gotta be ready for it and you know sometimes coach always talks about just you know like when we walk through we might only walk through play one time before we play the game but like I'm gonna tell

40:40I also do that and they gotta be ready for that and ready for that certain look that possible you can show up and that's what happened and we ran it perfectly and that's just a testament to the coaches continue to stick with it and us continue to stick with it. It came in you you made some ways and pressing people what do you feel like you were able to do with your freshman year to kind of put yourself on track what? Uh what I really did now I was in I got a lot of pits so yeah that really helped me out make a name for myself. Is that something that you take a lot of pride in making plays on the ball? Uh yes it is. What's the key to that? Tonight just get back keep on quote the bag watch your eyes and don't make a point. So how are you doing now like safety's are playing most spots in the screen like how are you finding that to like uh yeah I'm adjusting really well to that because I just I can just do more than just like one play one to spot so it's just I just want to do that. What Ryan said yesterday about how you guys said the prepping things up and that even last week anything to add a little too emotional can you give us an insight into how

41:41competitive this screen has been? Uh yeah you know we're all just we're all just winners well competitive you just you know want to win some. What have you been able to learn from peel it down to learn some learning? Supproach to the game how he plays what have you kind of been able to take away every single time? Uh really just like his mentality you know he has that dog mentality and so I'm able to just you know pick up every single day you know mentally and physically for him. How much does it inspire you to come in last year see what Caleb did see what Lathen did and you know you have a chance to follow them. It's just it's very special because you know I know I can be that great of athletes as long and maybe some men. What do you look at for this year? What do you need to do to give yourself a chance to get on field more this year? Uh just really stay more in mind I know it's my playbook and hopefully just be better and talk now with you. You said you have bigger if you put on more weight this last year? Uh yes I have. What do you have to do right now? Uh I'm home. How much how do you think that will help your game? Uh a lot because we know it's a physical game and you know you gotta be in

42:43game and out. How is coach Gary how's it to you because that are safe? Uh he really knows the stuff so just being able to take in every piece of advice that we know he's telling me is just what's coach position like? He's he's good I like him uh he always talks to the guys he's really loving he knows about him Very good. I think he's like that. Tim Nate, how do I remember? Yeah I follow up on that. I know every game is true before say things but in a game like this where they are letting up quickly it's uh uh is your job at hand, stubby or you may be or uh or complicated how can you describe it? Yeah I feel like one of the keys to Victor is always you know communicate. You can't run the defense you want to run without all being on the same page so yeah I think that you know I say these DB's linebackers. We always do a great job communicating anyway but you know in any game you gotta be at the highest level communication I think that's what we're gonna do. In your running back what would just jump out to you about your

43:44couple of guys and talk about his patients? I kind of you run it intelligently for one of another terms stuff what just jumps out to you? Yeah he's a great running back uh a sure-and-be patient, a great contact balance, you really gotta run your feet when you're tackling him um and you know he's explosive and has that home run speed so you know really excited for the challenge and excited to put another great back. Rob Mueller, come to this batch for a break. Yeah, Membrow is just up there and he says kind of neat that players can hold coaches accountable in this program. What's that look like? How does that work? It's done, why is he done moderately? Yeah I think that's what's so special about our team is um you know obviously when you say you know hold on to coach accountable there is no disrespect in that matter as far as um as we're looking for ways that they can make us better and the look for ways that we can make them better so you know having that relationship uh you know just benefits the team. Uh I'm sorry, Tony I got you already. No we've been on this project. Come back to us. Oh, safety. How much do you appreciate flying next to the camp and what does he maybe

44:45watch you um even though it's two years younger? This is being around and watching what? Yeah I appreciate Caleb you know he came here and like I said beforehand himself like a probe um came here asking a bunch of questions you know what's fun is learning as much as he could that is such a fast rate you know continues to learn and I think you just being uh with someone like Caleb just someone I constantly compete with um and he makes me better by doing that so I think we're always just in competition with each other obviously it's we support each other more than I think anyone else in this building so I think just having a brother like that that I can compete against at such a high level with also having the support from him um it's extremely special. Almost the entire season you guys are playing like that um um if it takes that to really the national championship you know questions up you know but why who knows how the game's going to go when it comes down to you guys having to win how much confidence is there on this deep as a unit of the hero? You know then at the end of the day we have complete comments in our offense uh first of all but um I mean as a defense we go out there every time we step on a field uh in the back and we're expected to you know get the stop expected to win the game coach knows it's a great job

45:48making sure that we feel that every day I practice that if it comes down to the defensive I mean we need to be ready for that moment so uh I think we'll be ready. Hey we have time for just one more uh that's special needs get ready to come in here Tony Gurman fuck how about the late thing with the splits of Tennessee's receivers how does that impact your job? Yeah I think just um obviously those are unique splits and you know why is that a little more on this more space but uh uh uh it just I mean just preparing for that game I want to say really affects our job but we just have to be ready for that um it's something that we haven't seen before and I think our coaches and you know team has done a great job of showing us those looks about the players for the game. Thank you very much thank you guys. When we want to play on a great team together and uh we we feel that there's something special that can be forged here um but yeah he's um I'm grateful to have him in my life and uh hopefully we can have at least one great year but maybe maybe a couple more. If it does come together this year for you guys as far as like both being able to stay in the field

46:50having the production and then like what you're talking about having that that team's success do you think it'll be sweeter because of the relationship that you guys have sort of cultivated off the field over the last three years? Yeah I think that's you know the whole team and uh a big aspect of kind of being a team love and one another doing team bonding not just being work buddies that you show up go home do your own thing uh you know bud but had to speak in front of the room whatever however long ago and he's like he's looking forward to kids coming up to him and calling him a uncle bud and you know having relationships with with your with your teammates and not just them but their family their kids and uh it's just that bond you know strengthens uh your motivation for playing it's not you know it's not all about you it's not all about your family it's if I mess up here you know I'm letting down um everybody um so I mean I think that's

47:54kind of preached in a goal on every team that anyone's ever a part of so um yeah obviously the more time you get to spend together uh the closer we get and I think the coaches are doing a good job of harping on that and making sure that uh especially the the x players that have come in uh uh coach Bowman has talked about her bunch like these are your brothers and it's really important to grow that bond so when bullets start flying on Sunday you know you're you're really willing to maybe not die for one another but you're willing to push it close to that to that level but um yeah um and obviously you start winning a few games it's kind of easier for that that bond to grow and get tighter start losing you know fingers pointing bubble-bubbles and that you've seen it all but um

48:54I'm just excited hopefully to to get off on a good start you know I'm pretty seasoned training camp all behind how confident are you feeling in your new DC jessies system and is there anything that has been so dramatically different under under him? no no at this point it's mostly just new names for things little tweaks to techniques that I've done uh before but yeah I feel very confident and you know every coach uh on the staff he's a great leader he takes command in in the defensive room and he's very straight straight to the point doesn't sugarcoat things and I think he gets his message across well and he does a good job along with every coach in the room uh you know making sure we're all on the same page on what we want to accomplish as a defense so um obviously we get more time um it'll get tighter and tighter and

49:54uh nothing's like actually getting those game reps so it's it'll probably might hopefully become out flying but you know there might always be that a tentative first few plays and then we were counting on one of us to make a big play and then just start rolling from there where are you that uh conditioning wise after you know missing obviously a bunch of training camp? um it's it's hard to truly know until you're out there on sunday but I've been pushing it I pushed it really hard this week yesterday was a real long day it's been pretty hot last couple days so I've been really making a point to to run to the ball um just getting a little extra running every chance I can every chance I can get on on plays and stuff but uh it's there's really nothing like sunday and having to play for real at the next year um and there's always going to be moments where you're where you're tired out there but overall I'm feeling really good mind knowing that you guys basically have a second line of you know toolean and bud so if you are

50:59having a profit at some point like you're not there's not gonna be like a massive drop off. Yeah it's huge it's huge um if there is any drop off at all it's would be able to have guys like that which I've mentioned is like having two sets of starters out there because those two guys can go to a bunch of other teams and probably end up being a starter on the team uh you know it buds done it for a long time and two leaves always just improving getting better so uh we're really gonna have each other's backs out there um we're really gonna stay locked in on what the alignment are doing against each other and we're really just gonna try to uh bring four guys together and and try to get the most out of it you know. What is the coaching style? It's kind of set to you guys or prepare to guys for this awkwardly way that is on that. Well it's been quite nice out here it's a little cooler than orange county so we haven't had any super hot days but you know the last two it's been warm but

52:02it's all the all the usual hydration um make sure you're taking care of body this and that because it starts now um a few days out from the game you get a hydrate now because if you start you know Sunday morning it's gonna be too late by then but um you know it's not it's not the hottest thing ever it's south Florida yeah it's uh we're out Carolina so that'll be nice and cool um not but yeah it's it's a factor but um it's always hot with the turf but the sun shouldn't be beating on the turf and so far too bad so uh just always I mean we're always trying to hydrate right so if you're just starting now you're probably a little far behind. It's been great so that's a good idea to do. I need to start to feel comfortable. When did you start to feel okay they they were to ask me to take on a bigger load. I think um I started feeling comfortable definitely fall camp you know we start getting

53:05them reps and things started ramping up I felt confident myself since I got here but I'm especially in the system and how much I learned and knew about the playbook and everything I really started feeling like fitting. Why Jay? Uh my dad and my my my magical um my dad from Cleveland one from Yuckstown um and I just grew up watching a high state but that would always turn around in seven years. You came down with this free. That was the end of the run. Yeah. All of us are lying. I mean it's a great honor I mean this is RBU and all this has been since I was growing up watching them so to be the next one in line potentially you know I got to work for it but you know it's a honor and I'll take it completely you know there's a lot that goes with that so that's the first one I ever watched. So I want to say. Is he for sure? Yeah that's where I'm when I start watching this it goes. Is he here? James can you describe the intensity that Coach Locke on expects from you guys and practice that?

54:06How does he get you guys to ramp up and stand around? It's a hard to please. Is he hard to please? I don't know if y'all saw a little bit today but he is definitely on us all the time on him but he always says like today he encouraged me about my finishing and say everything's good but he's like you got to finish more and say I'm gonna make you great so that just shows that everybody's game is always something to get better at. Always something to improve at no matter who you are, how highly talented you are, your abilities there's always something that he's gonna nitpick on. He's gonna push you to get better at it because that's gonna bring out the best in your neighborhood every situation. For the first meeting him, we're gonna come to things that you got better at just from his table than Charlie Maynard. Is it guidance? You said first meeting him? Yeah for the first getting to know him to land I don't need to. Well I got to know him. Soften Bird, he came down to the campus in Antonio and the same way he is now. Yeah I've been actually playing under him. Yeah yeah yeah yeah um wait he got that question one time? Yeah that was what he was saying. A couple of things he learned, he played a few games just for one. One thing I learned is definitely like my tempo, my speed,

55:08and then off the field things like just you know being the guy I'm supposed to be and being a leader, you know pushing myself in every situation I can to be better. He's really just, he really pushes that aspect of just being better every day because he hears me say to that same standard. We're obviously in a position this year that you're gonna be like a featured part of the offense for his last few years. Take your time learning behind Drainian and Quincheon. How does that hit you? Is there a pressure with that? I guess what is kind of your emotions surrounding the potential to be a real patient for the opposite? No added pressure at all, you know. I knew that I had to train Q and R in there I was like okay I just got to learn. You know so I had to take that patience with it but no your time is coming but you just kind of waiting. I've been waiting for this and of course like I said I still got to work for it. We got great backs in the room but you know just hold myself to that standard every day and pushing myself to be better. First training was going in the last year. It kind of been trash time you made me pop up duty etc. Like you said you haven't really got your show what you're really all about yet.

56:09In a game field. That'll help us stay. I'm first training with what? How did it help you? It's just a maturity thing. You know you got to mature and you got to know it was like okay I got to wait my turn. You know there were both great backs and I knew that I got to take what I can from the situation. So that was all I was just taking what I had to do. What I did from the situation. Honestly I leave that up to you all to describe. You know I know my game and of course the season gets started but I definitely say I'm like a slasher kind of back but I'm going to get to you all to decide. I'm Texas Recruit team the 4th set up by a state. Why do you think Texas football compares you for a high state? You work what? I just ball some of the best athletes out so especially in a run-up acquisition because this is like that. So I mean Texas the coaches and how we prepare and I know we like there's not every state you know you got all season football all season. So I just feel like the development and the courses and stuff like that but I mean just great players all around but yes there's a train.

57:11You mentioned though how about Turbo Rogers what have you seen in the country? Turbo is not here yet. Isaiah West. Isaiah West is another guy. He's recovering. He's paying attention but Turbo gets here. Thee comes in this Friday. He's going to be here this Friday. How about Isaiah? Yeah Isaiah he's been a guy he's really dialed in you know more matured in the mid that his age he may be right now because you know he's healing he's getting better and I'm pretty sure he'll be back for fall camps that we get to see him shine. That's James. Thanks. I'm sorry I didn't love him. He's got a little bit more upwards of totally. He's just talking about a lot of solutions. He's not as if it looks like it's Aaron. I was saying he'd be versatile because last year people went down and like you got to be ready with your numbers called obviously because we had Seth go down. Jimmy go down and like you always you got to be ready 100% of the time otherwise you just got to be ready.

58:11You guys see that throughout all the guys on the list? I would say like half the line is doing that. Okay. Maybe come from Michigan. Like that's not too common for a Ohio State player to come from there. What does that experience like? I would say it's not. I wouldn't say it's that crazy because I grew up in Michigan State fan but obviously I couldn't have a Northwestern because I never got really like looked at by the Michigan State coaching staff. And then obviously they didn't have like a great obviously that's how you got fired so obviously and then Ohio State called me so I'm like you can't pass it up so obviously I'm not here. What is your goal for this season in terms of your development and where do you want to be by time fall camp ends and the season starts? My goal is to get better every day. And just be what I need to be for this team to go when games. Where have you been primarily working this spring? Up position.

59:11Right guard left guard. I've been changed physically. What's your last year like weight? Are you up to your desire to change physically? I got here because I came I was in summer and roly. So I came in at like 295 and now I just like consistently free 15. I imagine I try to deal weight through 15. Yeah, deal. You play both guard spots I think you see right? That seems like everybody would talk to you just play multiple spots as you were saying. You need to be, you guys learn last year you have to be versatile. Yeah, before about that if you would. Obviously because it's not good when you're all American center going down last year. But obviously Carson was really good asset so he started the year before so he's really good. It's not like we had a big drop off so we always got to be ready when you have his call. If you obviously illusion coach probably the guy you've got a little relationship with. If you're getting your year on campus but then someone coached phone come there and they obviously the coached shop. And I know you knew from Purdue a little bit at least. Well, what was the like to hear that he's coming to be like oh this is familiar and that kind of already. It's good seeing familiar faces and yeah obviously I like both of them.

1:00:13So it's I mean it's not really drop off the track so it's good. Especially a very nice area I call. I just walk out and coach is with me. Mike Spitzy over there Jerry's gone. Let's get to the other festival. You know I don't really let him get to my head because you know like I'm here. I got dudes in the room that are like I should be you know he's in a big three year start. I got to main person all American you know he's going to play this year too. So I can't let what people say on the net you know get to me because you know anybody can say oh he's going to play this year. But you know I actually got to prove it. So I actually got to come out here you know work you know and that spot. What's the most important thing you've learned so far you've learned so far? Compete and everything. That's the biggest thing. Having to compete you know these guys appear they take winning and losing to heart. So you know my first my first week up here when we did our competition you know I was winning. 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 to heart when they lose they don't like it.

1:01:14So you know I kind of got that now where I don't like losing. You had the opportunity to be around the team for that you know CFP run. What did you learn from Justbos few weeks seeing this team make that run? You know being real tight with your brothers you know they're real tight you know they push each other you know it's a real brotherhood. 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 when they were at the national championship you know I just got to watch you know how guys are you know real locked in they're close with each other. They're not letting nobody slack off and you know I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now. How did you handle Luke? You handle that first loss? That first loss you know it kind of got to me it was the IGB you know he you know he let me hear. So after that loss I was like nah I can't let this happen anymore. It's like now it's not high school where you used to have 16 years old and if you lose you lose.

1:02:15Appears not if you lose the coaches see that so and they go see how you respond to it. So I feel like I had to you know open my eyes I had to go and lock them like yeah I can't let this happen anymore you know. So I got to go up and you know these guys are counting on me too so it's really important that I don't lose. If you had to describe yourself as a competitor how would you do that? I'm a great competitor you know I like winning who does something like winning. So I mean winning is it's in my blood you know my parents taught me that in a young age you know going out there competing for anything that you want. And I feel like if you can go out there compete for you know it's yours and if you compete for it all the time who don't take it from me. So I mean I'm a good competitor I'm always going to go out there and try to take what's mine if it's out there then anybody can have it and I'm going to be the winner. There's some roles in your room obviously you would talk to what your natural mind is. Yeah I mean it could come out on you know but I don't really I really am a game to the talking for this part but you know if it gets there it gets to that point where yeah I can bring it out. Because you know regardless I'm not just going to let nobody just come out here and just you know catch balls on me.

1:03:18So if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently getting T.B.U.s yeah I'm a talker but you know being in that room you kind of got to talk. You know you got IGB you know those real talkers in that room so it kind of makes you want to bring it out. And you know when you bring that out they just bring it to energy out and hold 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 a competition you have? It was during the winter we were doing you know just stuff on the field we were just just having the time of the field. There's 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 other guys. So we had to you know we had to wake up and you know we all kind of lost and we all kind of like we all kind of can't get that to a freshman group like what are we going to do about this? Because you know some of their kind of less to step up in those roads. Yeah definitely definitely definitely my work on college moments you know just showing that you know it's real now a metal high up state.

1:04:18I'm not in Houston Texas no more in my school far from my family you know I got to wake up I got to grow I got to mature fast and you know I just got to get ready for the next level. You've mentioned high school a couple times how did you know grow it up there in Texas playing at that level how do you feel like that helped you prepare for Ohio State? I still 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 we live just like these guys who do the same lifts you know the level of ball I played the highest level ball in Texas 6A you know we're going against guys like Dunkin Bill no Crowley those those top schools you know receive the Korean more I go against and I want to get some three times in my career. So I mean those that really prepared me for this level you know coming in like okay this is not where it's a little school where oh they don't believe that I can come here and make an impact I came from big school so they're they're counting me to make an impact because you know I think I mean everybody would say Texas one of the highest plays bars in the country you know they goes us Florida and the probably Georgia so I mean they're counting me to be ready and that level ball prepared me real real well.

1:05:28I do do against the Korean you know it was it was when when lose when lose you know I went some he lose so I mean it's it's just it's just getting better on sharp and iron because you know he's the top receiver obviously in our class you know I feel like he's going to have a good impact at the working so I mean it's just it's just just just what's going to happen next. Yeah definitely definitely I know I plan on planning some we don't we want to see them this year hopefully we see them in the big ten championships so you know I want I want to rematch you. Devin you committed super early in the process six months after that you shut things now when quite frankly someone of your caliber didn't have to do that you could have you seen kids play the game a little bit longer than that but you chose to not do that just kind of lock it here why. You know because this is this is what I felt this is home you know I didn't really feel like you know standing Texas was a good thing for me I didn't I didn't feel like that was home for me up here I just like it was home you know because of all and because they you know they're making it you know making me feel important up here and then you know I you can ask what how many times I came up here.

1:06:34I was doing my high school career I came for 13 times so it got to the point where I was knowing guys on the team I had the numbers to fight that not come up here you know I don't got to always build the coaches I can go chill some of the guys on the team so it's just just me you know know what I want to put my college ball at you know know where I felt like it was home and they you know it was also my parents too you know my mom being you know feeling safe that you know I'm up here you know I'm handling business and not having to worry about me when she goes to sleep. I should listen everything and they were with me and just ease in their mind that's the biggest thing is in their mind they're all they're worried and everything but they'll be okay. We saw the play with Elijah. Say it again. We saw the play practice. Yeah. Did you think you got two weeks after that? I mean I was good pretty it was that day that I was kind of had a headache and everything but I was pretty much good after that but it was just about going through the protocol and I mean there was no rush back we weren't playing regular season games so I mean I was just really getting the time to heal it wasn't any rush.

1:07:38You both are already in camp and still had a helmet to helmet just from your perspective and actually experts but are those doing what they're intended to do? You know you got to take care of it when you got to you know I'm saying like guys are still getting concussions and getting where? Yeah it's definitely still a physical sport so I mean concussion that happened regardless I know if you were in a guardian cap or not. I think it could be looked at too I know and just talked about it on the guardian cap I don't think in the back that is much padding is I would like but I feel it could be looked at but I think you get a concussion whether you were in a guardian cap or not so I mean stuff happens. This is a physical game. Sorry, would you just clarify this you said you're going to get any helmet also where the guardian cap is during the game? No I'm not going to. You feel good about this game helmet that you've been playing for a long time? Yeah, well if you name a name and the brand of helmet like any details you have. Oh I'm not sure the brand of name yet I'll have to get it from those guys inside but you guys will definitely be seeing this soon though.

1:08:43I haven't got it just yet. How do you feel about not playing in a pretty decent game? You got to say you're career where you want to be dealt? I want to say it's not a big deal but I don't feel any pressure any like I just needed to play in a pretty seasoned game. I feel that's a great opportunity for the younger guys to get out there and showcase what they're able to do. Well I still been practicing and playing and working out and getting ready for the season so I know the game I'm looking forward to that first game and I'm not really concerned about not being able to get a snap of the preseason game. So how MJ did feeling in being particularly during the joint practice in Stuffers? MJ is the number one corner. I mean you guys see it. He's going to be big for us this year and I think that's what's special about this team. We got three number one corners myself, MJ and Greg. I thought we all number one and we able to do different things out there on the field and one guy is out and another guy can step in and not lose track or not lose pace on what we got going on. How do you think MJ has grown as a leader in the early of the year 3 and he's kind of picking on this world as a guy that's bringing energy and also trying to bring people along?

1:09:48Yeah definitely. Like you said bring it in. That's exactly bringing energy bringing guys along. MJ is real vocal out there and he competes as he's in competitor out there and just working hard and trying to be the best. He got the mindset of wanting to be the best and he is. So we just go out there and compete with one another. We have happy to see CD Lam get his contract signed and be ready to go out there and play this game so you can face the best. I'm definitely happy for him. That's like changing contract and everything for him and his family. So definitely happy for him and looking forward to having that match up in the game. I always love going against the number one guys and best guys on that team. So I'll be looking forward to it. It tends to wake up more to history. It's concussions that we're talking about. I think when you suffer the latest one. People who cover the team and fans are wondering how loud and discussion could you contemplate the tiring. But that ever go through your mind or do you immediately know that you're going to come back? Yeah, like I said, this is a game I love. I love playing this game. Being with the guys out here. I really don't see myself doing too much other stuff.

1:10:55Unless I'm just really physically unable to play this game. I don't see myself stepping away from football no time soon. Like I said before, I can't take it easy on these receivers out here. So me being out here, I got to give them a good look and just go out there and play. But I answer your question now. I haven't seen myself walking away though. Are you actually out of protocol now? Yes. Hey, did you grade called miles hard in the steel drafts? What are you seeing? Say it again. It's a great called miles hard in the steel drafts. What have you seen from any of the camp and what kind of excites you about him? Yeah, Miles. He's been balling. He's been showing out, making plays against the Vikings and just making plays out here. So it was big for him to make the team. I was happy for him. We all congratulate him and he's going to be a big piece on our team. I'm looking forward to seeing him come and going forward. And so often another rookie you mentioned making the receivers better. Where have you seen how have you made Jamari talked about how you've helped him as a rookie? What have you seen out of him in his development? Yeah, he's been looking good since he came in. I think he's been getting better and better.

1:11:57He's night and day from once he came in. So where he's at now, I believe. I think that's just his competitive nature and what he's been doing out there in practice. And that's going against one another out there. So he's been good and he's going to be a big piece as well. That's our offense. What sort of tip do you give receivers? How can you help a receiver? Yeah, I mean, it's a constant communication. If I were to win on a red, they may come and ask me what it is that you've seen on that play that you're able to get in position. And I'll tell them that. I may ask them a question. So it's just that constant communication on how we can get each other better. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. I just My ability with the ball. So I'm excited to do that this year. Some of that really showcased the first two years. So I'm excited to be with the quick game element of it just getting the ball in your hands.

1:12:59Yeah, quick game play action. More over the middle routes. It's a lot of different things that you can say that this guy's going to help that. But like I said, I'm excited. How would you describe the chemistry between you and Eric? We're getting 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 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 we got to do some to be good. Where do you kind of notice that difference? Just like you along around. What do you kind of notice now that it's here to the more natural? What do you mean? It's like it's more than that, man. It's NFL. Everybody. Everybody's good. So we just got to know what each other is thinking.

1:13:59Pre-Snap, post-Snap, cover cheese, where the balls going to just reads what read I am in the progression. Everything goes along with that. Just being on the same page being like I said, chemistry is built with time. So just little stuff like that that turns into big things is going to be huge. You caught one from Spencer Rallow to the two. What are your early impressions from? It's real talented. That's the first thing I've seen from him. His arm titles out the charts. He's a real natural feel out there. He's going to be real good. I want to see him in action. But from my first impression, he's going to be a real good player. He's going back to the machine that he talked about all the different stuff he 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 just be able to move around, run real routes. Feel like it's going to be a huge advantage for the same.

1:15:02So 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, you can get opportunities to run. Yeah, just getting more, you know, he hadn't really played too many plays in his first few years. He kind of just get thrown in there when he's getting the ball or when he's a decoy or something like that. But he's actually being involved in the offense, always being in, even on run plays. I feel like he's going to be a huge advantage for him to get a feel for the game and be more natural. How hard is a receiver like that for a 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 you can do more hard isn't to kind of shed that label or that perception. I mean, that's what life everybody is trying to label somebody as one thing or two things, but I feel like you can showcase. I mean, that's not really who we are, you know what I'm saying. As he gets more opportunities as you can see, you can see he can do more and more. That's what anybody on the team.

1:16:06I'm excited, like I said, and for his huge opportunities, I'm going to get this year. It's going to be a big one for the Saints. Does this scheme ask for more blocking from the receivers? Is there more responsibility? Oh, yeah. For so, I mean, that's what I told you to. 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, the 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. Yeah, so it's going to be a huge payoff. Like I said, most of our office is based on play action, all the inbreakers, all the yards at the catch of a play. So we got to go in there block. And like I said, take that next step and be able to be great for for our team. Like being here? Oh, yeah. So after I feel the weather out here, man, that's what I'm used to not using the war.

1:17:08And then it's out there trying to catch my breath. It's a great opportunity for us. You're going to chance to see family and friends at all. So this is their book right now. Not yet, but they're going to come by her soon. Appreciate you all. Thank you. What's going on here? I'm going to be talking with my sister. I tell you about that. I guess it is. First time I met her, we just found it really well. What do you think he can bring to the top? So like the lock. What's when like for you just when you're being out of control? This is a little while. I'm helping you just. Different being on a state group here.

1:18:08There's a one you were just a couple of. That is definitely different. So fly here. New generation of recruits where I don't think anybody outside looking in real questions, the strength of your commitment like you locked in the last eight and sent it over and over. But you're making visits around the country. You see other schools. It's almost a totally different mindset. How do you approach these other visits and how do you communicate with Ohio State about them? What's been the message? I just looked at the whole day. I'm always locked in. I'm still enjoying my visits. It's been a good week. This is only one time. I'm still enjoying the rest of my life. The other school that's out of line. Yes, I can be really hard to try to get into the flip. So how state? What does it mean you want to take those? Hand placement technique and I think it paid off in the game.

1:19:10How did that impact the game plan when you were talking about moving away from skiing towards those fundamentals? How did that impact you in game? It definitely was when you are playing D-Liam and you can just focus on your man and get off the ball. I feel like it's a lot easier to play that way. I don't want to say simplify, but make it so that you're not having to think too much. You can say that. You can say that. Not think too much. Just more so. Let's get off the ball. What kind of impact did you work with Brian Young, the Spatsby Cav? The defense line as a whole? I met a big impact. B-Y, obviously an old bit. We went back to the basics. Just on technique, footwork, just the fundamentals. I think that definitely helped prepare this for the game.

1:20:10Did Reels rotations on the defensive line different this week? Just getting maybe more plays to see once together, set a counter-retail while off? Yeah, it was more so six-play. If you got to get tired, rotate out. It's a cool rotation. It definitely helped us stay fresh. Even that last drive during the fourth, guys, we were just a lot fresher. Able to rush the passer. So I feel like it benefited us. Is there also, just getting in the big, with the game flow when you're not... Yeah, so you can get more into it rhythm. No, definitely. Cam, I'll put that sack in the fourth quarter. I don't know if it pushed him out of the throwball range, but obviously missed the throwball right after that. Cam's obviously a leader on this team. When he makes a big play like that, how much maybe does that give a boost to the adrenaline to the defense?

1:21:11A big boost. That's OZ Cam. I think it's Cam right there. All you look at and just smile. But it was a big boost. Definitely makes you get on your horse a little more. And just keep your head down and keep grinding throughout the game. That's key and prestige the way that he's kind of accepted his role this year. He's not playing as much as he used to, but obviously, and brace that and does it do anything for you. Yeah, I've been learning a lot from Cam, especially technique-wise. I would ask him about just how I would look at his old film, I would ask him about what he's seen. During this particular play, but I think he's an awesome leader. He welcome me and my open arms come here. That's my guy. When some real time stands up front of the team, I've played up to my own expectations.

1:22:12I will be better in the play. What does it mean when somebody hits the stage with a lot of people grew up watching him? Yeah, I mean, T5, he had to. Every game make him be your best game. That's the lead. But he came up clutch with a pick. Regardless of it all, he always finds a way to get interceptions on the high he keeps doing it. But he definitely, I smile at that too. I watched him high school, really just his whole career. So it's an honor to be playing with him. Rizzie talked about changing things every now and then to make people a lot of uncomfortable. What's the value of that from a player perspective? I think just in terms of staying uncomfortable, things that mental aspect, going through a game, things may not go your way. Just being in that uncomfortable state and always having the will to push him, fight through.

1:23:16How have you seen the changes with the benefits of those changes that you all make this week? I mean, from practice, the schedule, to your position, roles and life. I think we can see it during the game. We just watched film. I even though myself, during the run, I was just in my handplaced. It was a lot better. Because we were just refining a lot of the smaller details that BYU felt like we needed to fix. So I think it's paying off. You also talked about confidence. You all started to be out there, bigger rising on the past week. How much of the confidence boosts from what you get from this win? A lot. I feel like we were talking about the whole week. And to be more disciplined. And really focus on those attributes. And I know if we do, that will carry over to us being successful in the field.

1:24:21Being such a veteran. How have you seen social media impact? Well, it's impacted quite a bit. It's very interesting. It's taking me, you know, I got a while to get used to all of it. I'm not saying I'm great on it. But I'm on Twitter and all that good stuff. It's been fine. But it is having an impact on recruiting. That's for sure. The differences between the style of offense and the way it states. How does that affect you? Well, that's a great question. I mean, that was probably the biggest transition for me was just, and one of the most exciting things for me, was being able to be a part of this offense. Coach Gundy's offenses have been some of the best in the country, period. I mean, they've been awesome.

1:25:22So I wanted to be a part of it. But with that, it was, you know, it can't be state. We were, you know, ground in pound. And we were a lot of quarterback running games. And also just taking as much time off the clock as we could. So we could keep the ball away from other defenses. And so, just slowing down and that type of stuff. So here was playing fast and getting guys to just teaching my guys to, you know, to get up and make the calls and get the points. And that was different. But that's kind of where I was going to, where I was, you know, or hey, I just being able to resource Johnny and Marcus. Hey, you know, how do you guys do that? What were some of the things, you know, and Jason Meckenduth really helped with that as well. You know, so, but it's been a great transition. It's been a great transition. How does your job in Immutable with Sean Wilson, depending upon who wins the quarterback job?

1:26:25One may even work more with the other. What is that kind of working relationship like? What's been great with Sean? Sean's awesome. I mean, I've said that Sean's got a vision. He knows where he, what he wants. And he's very passionate. He's very intense, very detailed. And so, you know, he knows exactly where he wants this offense to go. So I'm really excited. I'm really excited to get a chance to work with him. And the whole offensive staff has been awesome. You know, Waz and Casey and Matt have all been great. So it's really good. Touchkundi talked to him fast about trying to occur to you. You can't just stay before it, obviously, at this time. Or those pitches, like in those conversations that I've got at the end of those times. Well, I mean, it was great. Coach Kundi's, you know, he's, he was awesome. And so it just circumstances, just, for whatever reasons, just didn't allow me to,

1:27:26to be able to do it. But, but, but I'm just grateful now for this opportunity. I'm just grateful to Gamed call. That's one thing I am very grateful for. I'm very, very thankful for that he, you know, he gave me that call. So I'm very, really excited to be here. It's very inspiring, you know, me and Dany were pretty close, like I talked to him a lot. So, you know, just seeing him move from guard to tackle and just make such a huge jump in that little time was just really cool to watch. Carter, especially the three primary coaches you're working on, do they all speak the same language if you follow my drill? Yeah. Who do you listen to most, I guess, in those kind of situations? You know, they're all from different places. So, at first, I think it was a little hard for them to mention the one that will linger open. Now they've got it now packed. They're all at the same exact thing. So that's been helping a lot. I mean, obviously they can explain stuff a little different if you like them too. Yeah. But they've been, they've been doing a good job of keeping everything together. And Coach Dickin, in particular, what's he brought? What's he brought to you? What are some tidbits or, you know, things he's brought to open your eyes a little bit? Um, just let the little older playstyle, I could say.

1:28:27I could say like too fancy on all the techniques stuff. Yeah. So I like just how straightforward he is with all the techniques stuff, for sure. Just very straightforward. I know you know Luke pretty well, both of you from Toledo. How have you just seen Luke Bro here so far going into this year? I think, um, I've been watching him for a while. You know, I haven't known him like you said. But I'm just seeing him grow as a leader. It's been really cool. Just seeing him a while back, you know, I think all the software he's just seeing you. We always play to each other. But seeing him move into that, that leader role has been really cool to see. What kind of leadership is he bringing to that unit right now? Uh, just always talking to the younger guys, then encouraging us, you know, tell us what we need to do. And not only the younger guys, but the other guys just encourage us as a whole. And what does his story mean to you? I mean, obviously this time of year ago, he wasn't even sure where he was going to fit in or whatever. Now, I'm certain, especially through the playoffs, he was a force. I mean, what does it just tell you about perseverance, but also a season? I think it really is just never give up. I mean, obviously you might not start the first game. Maybe not even the second game, but you can always make an impact if you really, that's your desire. Who you've been leading on. So that's going to be a place on team.

1:29:28Nice car kind of teaching ropes. I kind of teach you tricks and tricks. Here's some trade. Who, you know, all the offensive lines. I would say Austin and Luke a lot. You know, I talked to them for your office, especially about technique stuff. Austin's been playing a little different places. So he's been helping me a lot of my small technique things. Just what to do for sure. Is it the small stuff that is a big adjustment from playing top ball? Is that really what kind of getting it to be? Yeah, yeah. It's definitely the smaller stuff. There's like, you know, hand protection stuff like that. Nothing to address it. So it's been good. The trade is a house. I'm in too crazy. Exactly what positions have you been rep? Only a left tackle. Left tackle. Yeah, so far. You feel pretty comfortable there. I feel very comfortable. These are grown men you're going against. Can Yada and Kayden are like 22, 23 years old. Yeah, yeah. Obviously, that's a lot different than the high school you're playing. What? 16, 17, most 18. So it hasn't been a lot different. I first co-practiced where my best. I definitely adjusted pretty well this spring. Two more questions. Part of that. I asked Jay von's kind of the same thing. You guys obviously coached by it was very close.

1:30:29He came up to Lido, Hambo, and then all of a sudden, by the time you get up here, he's gone. How's it been getting them to move off into line good? It's been really good. Obviously, we had all the fresh matter. Really good relationship with coach Fry. Then seeing him leave was actually a little hard, but we all kept our minds open with coach Boan. And we're lacking him a lot. He's developing relationships with him. And he's been really good to us so far. All right, Carter. Thank you. Thank you. We're going to tie the end and then get moving the right leg back. So it's a diversity. We've been doing a lot of things. Big body guy that gets the bar. We can't run between the tacos. His feet are quick. And once you think for a big guy, you have really good feet. You get balanced. So that's what makes him good. That's what I saw. Is that a comment for a bigger back like him? That's a good opportunity. I'm trying to get a good play. Running back. Is it a tie-down back ground? Well, tie-down back ground. I don't know many with that type of back ground, but when he's high school, we see that they try to play as an H-Bat. Well, really good.

1:31:30What are you looking at the portal for running back to? We want to try to recruit running back to. Does it matter to you if you have two different styles of running back to me? One guy can do certain things better. One guy can do certain things better. Or is it, you'll just say the best running back you can find. Do you want to have different styles? Yeah, I want different styles. I'm not trying to take the same, but anyone who can take the same thing, anyone who can take guys with different styles. Whether they're big guys, small guys, talls, cancers, in-between the type of runners, I don't know. I don't want to take the same thing. They're all different, different backs. You guys know Will and clinch aren't doing a lot of that. It's lower red zone with story. You guys aren't doing it. Is it important to find the back the best size that the CJ has to help with? I have my own opinion on the size that they're going to come in the red zone. I had Jordan James out of order. He's my red zone running show yards, running some fresh men. Probably way to 2-10-2-5, which is not very big. But they ain't got anything to do with it.

1:32:31Some guys just got the most sticking the back of their zone. And you play with a lot of aggression down here running. That could be CJ, that could be James, or what could be the freshman, though Jackson? It's just who has no one to get in there. That's who I'm all over in. You don't have to be 62-2-4. No, just because you're being there on the back of the path. We knew we could obviously, you know, fresh men running back to them and then, as they're here, but what do you need to see from a freshman to feel comfortable with them playing? The first thing they want to do with it on the ball, whether they do it in a little small detail, or take care of the ball, the second thing would be how good they are in the passports. Because that's the hardest thing for high school best. Because they're not the leaders here in high school. You have to understand the passports. But all that falls on who you are. Me, so like Coach Day said, I'm the head coach in my head. So, that's why I need to see first, and everything else, I would understand to read this.

1:33:33Do you feel comfortable with Bowen and Isaiah, and where they're at, or at least, you know, where their time is, correct? Yeah, I think they're going to be fine. Like I said, I tell all the young guys, he's a miracle on that sprint. The first day, first, you've been an armistice, a spot on a special team. You know, you earn a spot on a special team. Then you earn the right to be a bugger, or a bugger. So, they get out there on the field. So, I think they're training the right way. It's your first practice. Like it was a merit, something built off. I couldn't have stuff to work on. Good? Yeah. Long day. It's on the wall because they kind of just show us that we are kind of like our, like, satisfied with what we have, and we're definitely still hungry. Still don't want to. I'll take it. He can take it. Oh, yeah.

1:34:35I mean, yeah, definitely. I mean, every day just having somebody to push you would want to be better and having those conversations. I mean, definitely going to need them. So, I mean, we definitely kind of have to have them in the stretch. And it's just great to have them all. I mean, his personality is definitely from Idaho. So it's different. So it's different. So getting to learn him and his experiences and his culture. So it's kind of fun to get to learn about him. And he just brings a different personality and just a different mindset. So it's fun. It's just, I can tell you, he works really hard to tell you that. So he's just a ball player and he's working every day. It's just like having that potential here. Definitely love Coach Patricia. He definitely brings a lot to the table and he definitely pushes us. And he definitely knows what that next level mindset is. And he's kind of building it to us and day by day. What do you notice too that he's well specifically maybe skewed whilst whatever you want to come and take it? I mean, he's definitely just helping us play better, faster, stronger.

1:35:35So I mean, it definitely helps us kind of push ourselves and it helps us get better day by day. I'm coming this in a transfer pool of the world. Can you offer it still here? Imagine you get that question from someone who's not equal to his face. I mean, honestly, it's because we love Coach Jay. We came here for the coach and we knew he wasn't going to leave us and we put all of our face in love into him and he put it right back in dust. Does it feel like it's paid off? It's paying off. Yes, I do. Because here you are leaving. I definitely have no regrets. I love Coach Jay and I love being here and serve the City of Columbus. Do you feel like a playing day zone? I'm just saying. I don't know. So maybe, I don't know. Going up again. Going up again. Going up again to do off into Tathlete. How have you seen what you guys have come along with? They're getting better every day and they're pushing themselves and you can tell they're getting better with their hands. Do you have other safety's? You can take them out there kind of, you know, everybody's doing it. That's something. I feel like that's communication that comes with Tathlete. Yeah, we got, I used to play with Lathel last year.

1:36:35So 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. Who's caught you? Who's caught you right in that secondary that's kind of making it a move this spring? It's turning out to you. I think everybody's done a really good job. I like the lot with Leroy Roker is doing. He's stepped up a lot and had a lot of improvements that I love to see. Jailin and Malik have 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. Mal's just got a strike off and he's been playing really well. So proud of him and what he's been doing. Those are the people that I would say. Just Devin Senche has looked like what you would call a five star. I mean, when he's out there and stuff, what you know the main guy comes in with a little bit of target and goes back to a certain extent of what's living up to a billing. How has he lived up to it, I guess?

1:37:36At the end of the day, even when I got to college, it really doesn't matter about your stars. You walk in and you're at the same type of stature as everybody else. So it doesn't really matter in terms of how would you walk in here with it. He's done extremely well. He's learned a lot. He's improved a lot from day one to now. So 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 McRory is helping 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 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 pushed me to increase and learn more football every day in our sport. Coach, what about this new coordinator baby brings a new idea of stuff?

1:38:47How could your role change or evolve or just be new to the parent? I mean, just being in new positions, the ability to play multiple positions in the secondary, play Don and stuff like that. Being 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 pride myself on. So looking forward to it. Yeah, Coach, are you feeling good while you're training? You've got the opposite. That's how you're feeling. You can be more opportunities with your thoughts as well. That's a good day and coach hard times. So I can't really think about that. But if I get the chance to go back there, it'll be on. I'll try to pick another play. It's a light walk in every day. It's been, 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 also. It's been great and then they have different pictures inside and everything. So it's been good. It's been eye catching where you walk by like that.

1:39:49We just accomplished that but it's a great situation to be in. You might have been asked to talk to you guys a couple of you kind of wanted some of the things I've taken down for this year. Because you haven't achieved anything yet. Yeah. One of the leaders that kind of like that. I mean, I think that's, you have to reset at some point. And I think at some point we had like, in the weight room, we had like, match or shape or stuff up there. And it was like, I mean, this, the new guys that walk in here, we have 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. How the opportunity to get to that point. Yeah. What is the lesson learned from an accomplishment like that? Kale, 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.

1:40:51And 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. And 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 like, okay, 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 they got to, we got to make plays with who we are. Coast taste is you've been limited from participation standpoint to a certain extent, right? But 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 it gets chippy sometimes. And that's that's always a good thing, just especially on the defense to have people that are willing to go there. They're willing to get to that edge.

1:41:52They're willing to be physical. I really like to see that. I'd love to see it. And I mean, I think we just need to continue to be more disciplined. Continue to work on our skills and everything like that. Continue to start to be better. You good? You see your... That's not what you're talking about. 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 under the big rules. How big is it that's been to have a guy like Sonny and how much have you been to see him grow as a leader through his 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 he's... To see where we had those conversations to where we're at now, it's just an honor to see. To see the growth that he's been a part of and a part of him and he's going to continue to get better. Continue to be the person that he's supposed to be.

1:42:52Recruited the other guys, especially on defense, but also on offense. He was a leader from the jump and being a buck I meant even more to him growing up in Columbus and Pickering, Tino Hyle, his family of just great people. This is a guy who overcame some things. He just didn't come in this freshman year and dominate, leave in three years and go on to the NFL to be a first shot on draft pick. This is a guy who, again, I say it all the time, where's a hard hat to work every day, brings his lunchpale to work and has the respect of his teammates. And you're seeing his play do his talking this year. I know he wants to play at his best this game, being a captain, again, in August having his teammates vote him in was a big deal for him. It was an emotional moment. Winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants. He wants to win a national championship more than anything.

1:43:54And that, I think, represents our entire team. I just think that this year with the 12 team playoff, it's just been a little bit different. There's a lot of great teams out there and a lot of things come into play when you make a run like this. Injuries and just different things. So we'll look at it at the end of the year and figure out the adjustments that need to be made. I think internally, but I also think that we all need to look at how this is playing and what this means playing 16 games. I think it's a great learning opportunity to see what that's going to look like moving forward. But I know it's been exciting for college football and for their fans.

1:45:03Yeah, I think they do a great job on offense. Coach Dembrox done a great job wherever he's been. Riley Leonard's an excellent leader. Jeremiah Love is one of the most talented backs we've gone against. They have a very good offense line. The heavens is really good at tight end. They have multiple tight ends. Receivers are weapons. So, you know, they're going to challenge us in a lot of different areas. And so we have to play big 10 football. That's what it's going to look like. And every play matters when you play in a game like this. And certainly against this team, it'll be the same way. Yeah, I think we built. We say this in all the time is that, you know, when you have momentum, you got to keep it. When you don't, you got to go get it. And, you know, we didn't have momentum at the end of the season. We had to create our own momentum.

1:46:04And then we started to build some momentum. And now we have to keep it. But I think the ability for our guys to sustain throughout the season has been significant here. And now it's going to be the best. It's got to ramp up. And again, the goal is to play our best game and to finish the mission. But we talked early in the season about building a foundation for down the road. And just like anything else, you build a foundation of a building. When storms come, it has to withstand those storms. But now we've got to finish. We've got to finish what we started. And that's it. And again, there will be time to reflect on some of those things after the game. Right now, we're just going to continue to look at Monday night and play in our best game. You know, it's been enjoyable to be able to start it off with the home game against Tennessee.

1:47:04And then one of the roads, the Rose Bowl to LA, that was an experience. And then, you know, so went through that and then went down to Texas and played Texas in Texas, which was very much like a road game. And so now we're into Atlanta. And we have a lot of guys on our team from the Atlanta area, from the Southeast. So for a lot of these guys, it's like coming home. So that's exciting. But it's allowed, you know, our families and team to kind of be on a road together for the last, you know, month. But we just like, I kind of say like we're like train rats. We just come to work and figure out what the next mission is and get back to work that way. You know, that's generally what it is. And every once in a while, you've got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. But now we've got to finish it. And so, you know, every once in a while, you take a step back, but then you get refocused on what matters. But to your point, it's about everybody. And certainly it all starts with the players and what they do. And I think the, you know, our energy has continued to grow.

1:48:05I think, you know, we talk about like the mental fatigue. I just don't see that with our guys. I think there's, it's only increased. The energy's increased. The focus is increased. I think our team is fresh right now. You know, I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks. But, but that just shows you the experience, the maturity, the depth that we have. And I think that's all important. But, but we're not going to play anymore. We got one more left, and it's going to be our best. Say that again. Yeah, yeah, we have, we have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, you can see how important relationships matter.

1:49:05And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes, you got to feel for what that's like at home. And, and you can certainly see how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter. So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab onto the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. Say it one more time. Yeah. Oh, I got you. Oh, yeah, we're kind of, I guess that that transition has been happening the last few years, but you can see obviously this year, it's really accelerated.

1:50:08And the thing that's hit me is that, you know, we're, we're in the middle to late January. We're still playing. And, you know, some teams are, you know, starting spring ball on another week or so. And so, you know, and so it's just very, very different. I think it's all things that we have to learn from when we assess what's going on. But it's been hard to take a step back and look at anything because, you know, you know, you'll have a short period of time to get back and win the next game. And like every single ounce of your energy has to be to go win the next game. And then you wake up and you realize you're on to the next one. And so we're not there right now, but I know after the season, you got to wake up, what just happened, you know. And then we'll try to assess it the best we can and make it better. I know there's a lot of things that we can do to make this all better. And I know institutionally we'll continue to make those adjustments, like you said, and do things the way we've done before, but also with Joss. But also, you know, I think in college football, we need to look and see how we can make this even better as it's gone on. Because every year it has gotten better. And I think it's great right now.

1:51:08But, man, when you think about the potential and what it can be for the players and these teams, it's pretty extraordinary. Oh, yeah. That's it. That's it. I think our strength coach, Mick Morati, really symbolizes kind of what that means. He has this old school work ethic, you know, because the line's still the line and the cone's still the cone. You still got to have your foot behind the line. You still got to run through the cone plus two. But there's so many other things now. There's sports science. There's GPS. It's just a longer season, and so having to be able to adapt with those times is important. I think it's the same way with our program and how we run things and the tradition is not going to change in Ohio State. And that's one of the reasons why these guys come here. It's one of the things we sell and recruit in. You know, is that you know, just, over 100 years of football and the great teams and players that have come before and what the expectation. And, you know, we have an obligation to be the best in a world of what we do.

1:52:09we do and that's the expectation whether you're a player or coach and we own that we absolutely embrace that and and but then also adjusting with the times and now we have a new playoff system in place so but all that being said here we are a couple more days before the game and we've got a chance to finish our our season and finish the mission and then again cement ourselves in the history of Ohio State football as the 19 to win an national championship and the third in over 50 years a lot of good teams along the way and that's been a message to our guys and it's not about how you start it's how you finish try not to get too much into those nostalgic thoughts because it's a distraction and there when

1:53:09you're in a game like this it's easy to get distracted players and coaches so what matters is what we do on Monday night how we execute how hard we play and that's it and then after the game I think there's a great opportunity to sit back and think about all those types of things but yeah there's a lot that I could probably go into if we were to sit back and talk about what Monday night means but but ultimately we have to we have to go win the game and that's it right now so 48 hours out I know a lot of people want to talk about different things we're just going to focus on executing at a high high level everybody doing their job and find a way to win the game in the fourth quarter and that's it I think you know in life you know you have to work through tough times and it's how you respond

1:54:25to those tough times and and that's it and that's been the message all along to our players and it's not always how how things happen in your life it's how you respond and I think our guys have learned a lot about that and again I said this before I think there's some great stories to be told about you know what went on behind behind closed doors and you know some of the things that were said and you know the personal challenges that we we had for each other and you know collectively the story but the only way that gets told is if a banner gets put up a nobody that's it and and that's the that's the sobering reality of this game that nobody cares about what you go through and you got to win that final one to finish the mission and so that's it for our guys and you know as much as some of these these wins have been great wins for us you know to me you know it's about winning this final game and so all that being said I think our guys have learned a lot about life over the last month I think it's been a tight group we we've seen the good the bad and the ugly and it's a special group of guys that care a lot about each other and they're going to

1:55:28go on to be very very successful moving forward because they're strong they're loyal and they're very mature you're going to see you know 10 20 30 years down the road these guys making an unbelievable impact not only on their families but in the community and in the game of football yeah it's it's it's football and you know I said my wife all the time like that's we signed up for it and you know it's the highest of highs and the lowest of lows this game will take you to knees and and give you some of the greatest experiences in the world and that's it you know not a lot of people get to experience those those highs and lows and you have to manage the tough times and you got to enjoy the good ones and that's it and you know the more you're in this game to where you're going to realize that and that's it and those are opportunities to show strength and

1:56:29and that's it so you know we're counting on that to make a difference on Monday night yeah you got it yeah that's it and set a great example for the younger groups one of the good things about having 145 guys on the roster is some of these new freshmen and and transfers that are coming in get to see what it's supposed to look like get the C great leadership if this wasn't the case they wouldn't get able to have an opportunity to see what you know a mecca book is like Wilhawer Travian Henderson Lathan Ransom Denzel Burke you to go through the list Cody Simon I mean these you know Tyler Williams you know what does it look like how do they prepare not only for one week but but several weeks and and these these guys are they're men they are and the way that they go about their business not only they love being Ohio State fuck guys but they love their teammates and

1:57:30all those things matter and so again they want to play their best game here and and finish themselves and cement themselves so that you know when they come back they can see that banner up there and you have a big ol ring to show for it so that's it you know we'll get back to the hotel here get back to work get to these meetings and focus on what matters right now yeah hard to put in the words what a mecca's meant to this team or to me or to my family or to Ohio State it started when he first got here he had a different look in his eye he's extremely competitive no jobs too small for a mecca he's selfless he's really made it unbelievable strides in his life but also just in his faith and you know he speaks people listen he's very well thought out

1:58:33you sit down and have a conversation with a mecca book or you're gonna walk away extremely impressed and but then when you talk about his play on the field he's made a lot of great plays he's been very clutch he's been very consistent and this is a guy I know who wants to finish his fish his career out with a great game Monday night I think when you're when you're starting out this season and you're putting a roster together you have to start from this game and move back and and I think when when that happens you you have to build a team and I think now the big 10 has allowed us to do that with with the addition of

1:59:35some different styles of play on the west coast and then certainly the traditional big 10 play it's a combination of being able to get big and strong and heavy and stop the run and run the football when it matters but also being a spread out game where you can be in a little bit of a track meet and have the skill to play with anybody in the country and I think that's the combination that you need to have and and that's the goal every year to do that you know when you when you need to go get that yard you get that yard and when it's time to get that stop you gotta get that stop but also having the skill to be able to run with everybody in the country and that's that's how we start and then as the season goes on we look to identify the areas where we have to you know get better or whatever that might be but but I think it all starts in the offseason with our offseason program and what Mick Morati does and I think our our offseason program when and I know it now because when I see players come from other teams that's you get great feedback you know you get you know guys who come in from different programs and say you know talk to me

2:00:36about what your program is compared to our program offseason during the season all that it really gives me confidence knowing we're doing the right things I think every year you learn and I think you know to be to be you know to be honest I think you know every year I learn and grow and it figure out what needs to be done to get it fixed and identify the issues and be honest and call it out for what it is and get it fixed and get it addressed and that's what leaders do and you know they look out in the horizon see what's coming because the soldiers are fighting right in front of you and that's what they are and so what's coming down the road and then obviously what what areas need to get addressed and get fixed and that always starts with you know who's in the right seats you know players coaches and staff making sure that's organized and then building it from there and so every learn every year you grow to try to get better

2:01:38and then you know identify it the next year and move on from there and keep growing and and we all have to continue to learn and I think you know I've done that as well yeah yeah Caleb is mature beyond his years is a tremendous player but he brings a work ethic that's tremendous he and Nathan ran some both and the way that they bring energy to practice every day and they let their play do the speak do the talking for them but but they're great leaders um during the recruiting process I went all the way down to the wire uh it's been told before and we were right there at the end and you know I wished them good luck and understood I mean coach saven is a um unbelievable coach and certainly uh his success speaks for itself but also just as as a defensive backs coach and I totally understood and was pulling for him in his freshman year

2:02:40and you can tell my my family and my wife and kids we were all pulling for him because he's just such a unique talent and great person and great family and then when when coach retired and you know he was in the portal it was an opportunity to reconnect with him and I think he had great relations with players and it's been it's been great to see him this year really flourish within our culture and you're seeing the best version of him now well it's going to be a great environment we know that um great crowds on both sides so it'll be electric um and you know different than uh in the past where you kind of had these you know bowl game and then a final game we we you know these playoff environments now or or something that you know we become accustomed to and so we need to focus on what really matters and the execution and find a way to win the game in the fourth quarter that's it um you know this is a team that continues to come at you so we know what's going to take four four quarters it went all the way

2:03:43down to the last play last time we played them and you know we have to be prepared for that but but that's it um great environment um you know and and you know we it's good to get over there today to have practice just to kind of see it again feel it again and um I know our guys will be ready all good okay thanks one more question here and then yeah I think he's built confidence as an offense alignman throughout his career and especially this year and uh he's become a leader for us up front and we'll need him to be at his best in this game as well thanks yeah yeah I I mentioned this before that um you know this is about these players in this game and

2:04:48it's all going to be about who executes well during the game that's it and I think our guys understand that and feel that um know there'll be a lot of conversation which is great it's exciting for the fans to talk about um but we know what really matters and that's what our focus is on is executing at the highest level we possibly can that thanks definitely as a competitor that's something that you compete for to as 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 uh definitely I wanted to be in this spot uh there were been what the best match will have the moment at the end of the game he thinks about uh Jeremiah saying things he ended the play early in the game with a bubble I mean great play by the defense of play how much do you think about that what would how do you how do you think about that play where you for replaying your mind you know that's past us now you know that game is past 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

2:05:49that same passion so that's all that matters that Murphy 24th up and forth you guys had some 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 uh we all have a big a big goal in mind and we know what that goal is so whatever it takes to stay focused that's what we're going to do awesome work podcast which on the way that you and trade now stuff the work will last week was that sort of the perfect design of what you guys envisioned a year ago as you started looking at the sun 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'll go forward to it Tony Gourmet fuck I hollum you try to do you got games to focus on

2:06:52I have you thought about once gonna have to be next year where you're gonna be no as a right now I'm just looking forward to this next game and trying to win it all any help for Quintcha Kevin news fuck I hollum I know it's looking back we didn't have a chance to ask you what's going through your mind on the first private uh where your first touch on is when the exchange between you and Will and the ball on your rear end what you know what what's the thought there uh I actually thought he was going to pull the ball and I kind of felt it and I just got an instinct so I just kind of grabbed it and just took my best thanks KJ Ken Craig get off the bar I'm okay like this this is the real deal for sure how do you how do you take that holy crap moment and then go for um I really just take that and I just uh I just think I have the challenge okay like we got all these attributes they they got all these things but can they get past me though can they beat you

2:07:54though so every day just working on that just getting better and better have you used the develop strong race tripping power transfers uh yeah that's my dog you know we came in together and just like talking to each other about the process especially when my coach fry left and I was like you know we're gonna do you and me and then we just stuck through it and uh me and him now I just talked to him every day that's my bully and working on different things because he's at the left I'm at the right scene things with different point of view so it's been great how's the transition going for you I was gonna maze and I feel every day get uh better and better uh going to get the best every day so you have to be on your AK and uh gonna get the news like CJ that's my boy just getting better and better and transition just not an hour half away from home so this has been pretty good you started for games last period so those so what do you kind of think you did with any November and those games what do you think you learned from it um I think like for my role I think I did just enough um when I like as a person I am now if I was a person I feel like

2:08:59I would have done laid better but just going into that role um helping that's helping uh Minnesota do what we got to do and uh I feel like I did just enough but there's always I could always do there's always one for improvement where did you see the building um that's specifically past pro and my first steps uh working on those things that I uh I had the lift and I have the power I just I was all over the place and just every I feel like every game I was understanding um how the game worked and um how to uh attack how to be passive how to uh work together as an online unit not just be by myself you mentioned the first step what looks what about that first step um really just uh make sure I feel powerful out of my stance that was the one big thing I had to work on and especially at my last school working on my stance from uh make sure I can push off and like gain ground and I felt like sometimes I wasn't doing that even mentioned but he had to lose 30 pounds and he got here did you have to change from your body at all uh definitely um I was three 20 coming in and I've known I played at three 20 I

2:10:05feel great and then uh they told me they wanted me to go down to three 15 and I was like nah I want to do that I got three 15 I started running I started they started putting me on the meal plan they started doing all this I'm like oh hold on I see the vision uh yeah um I definitely change for my body my arm is simply getting bigger uh weight room um it's been amazing um I'm growing every day it's it's hard every day but I love it though like I'm getting work after practice after the weight room I cooked but I can see the results and uh see the gains. What is it like uh you you leave a place you know you're probably breaking some people's hearts back there instead of that describe what it's like to make a move like this you know I mean uh and basically miss the college career um what were you seeking more of these things else uh it was it's definitely a big move uh what was I seeking just um just a development with um no and I can I wanted to go and get some of the best dudes every day and coming here I'll be able to do that um just a training program

2:11:10the culture here and uh it's summer Minnesota so it was definitely uh like a easy merge you had said you were lucky we hadn't really thought about Ohio State being an option when the hotel house quickly to sort of emerge just what do you remember about just was there we're gonna be um I remember coach fried call me when I hit the portal um he was one of the all the couple first people to hit me up um I was gonna I was gonna go home anyways because I was gonna go to my mom house because I fasted um when I hit the portal make sure I was making the right decision and I was gonna go home with my family and just talk about it and my cousin and I never got a variety of hours and half the way so you might as well just see what's up up there they want it they show an interest and I was like you know I'm not sure you mentioned the transition from fried a Tyler Bowen just wasn't like playing with both Bowen so far um I don't really know too much about coach fry you know just a little bit uh but what I was in here I definitely saw like uh dudes definitely develop like I can see it on tape not necessarily like really see that practice

2:12:12but with coach bowen um on every day just improving and he's just always telling me things uh little things I don't even notice um that I'm and I need to work on especially with coach jocs and coach dicky uh having no story in the room it's probably the best thing ever for you yeah I thought we have that we were where we wanted to be and when we were there we made some plays you know he was accurate even in in the game but we were close enough to make plays and that's kind of what we talked about all day and all week and uh we execute after the game the linebackers seemed to all say they felt like they had a really good idea of what he was going to try and do where he was going to throw the ball to whatever it would be in position but did you go into the game feeling like what do we have a lot of good prep in this game? Well we have some I'm not trying to cut you off there we have some outstanding assistant coaches and they did a tremendous job right man-align with the linebackers kitchen you exactly where to be and how to be there all the fears I have I relate to them obviously you know I've got Tim Dows that D-Line was incredible

2:13:16they're all over the place and they continue to get better and then you know archie collins and and gory sanders the secondary was around them all day and in a nice job so I give all the credit to those guys without those guys you know we don't we don't get it done the way we got it done they had them well prepared and and all credit goes to them. It's success on defense 50-50 thing 50 film study 50 athleticism. I believe so and I believe to like to the point I just made you have to also have some coaches that can teach them what we want how we want it in the game plan and I think they do a great job of that I have a I have a game plan in my mind and I relate to the coaches and and we all get together and and form a solid plan and I thought they got it to the kids so being a smart guy just as important as being a bad man absolutely being in the right place at the right time yeah rain vials his intersection was nothing more than being in the place he

2:14:17should be knowing what was coming and same in the love place. It seemed like in the game on Saturday night when SMU put against you they seemed to utilize it seemed on the perimeter or there was screen passes your wide runs thing looked at you you expect them to try to test I mean even later outside my doctor's just had three reception class with you expect them to test the against. Well that's what their offense is I mean they got great skill and great speed and the way you make it hard on the defense is to spread everybody out and make it be one on one's and you know how run them make them miss those kind of things so yeah I would expect them to run the offense they've been doing it for many weeks so they have a lot of success and I'm sure they will continue. You shot my under-duelist as my starters that you guys have written in the year where are they now compared to whatever we want. Well I think they are doing a great job and they continue to get better and as I believe the whole defense is continuing to just make a step each week and

2:15:21you know consistency is all that matters in college football and it really does in life at 18 to 22 year old men and that's what we're trying to teach. Jennings hadn't had a little bit of struggle Saturday night what do you think Jennings priors that game? Well I don't know if he had as much struggle as you know the ball just came out at times but he was close in all those situations to make big plays and I thought you know he made them but then you know they had problems either somebody fumbled it or he did or whatever and you know you have games like that and I give him credit they didn't have their best game and still found a way away. Not to get into too much specifics when it comes to defending our views and how you guys have evolved over the last few years it's like much better happened maybe work few years ago would you would you do that more to changing what you guys do or the players just give you a better idea of how you want them to defend it. Yeah I think a little bit of both I think we're all learning as we go through the process and you know that is a become just norm anymore so you know you have to evolve and you have to change some things and we've

2:16:27done that and I think our players are used to it more because they see it more so probably a little more important that is something something that is not going to be involved. Oh Sean's had great impact it's been nice to have him back and he's done a great job and all those guys continue it's nice to have a few reps off for some of the other guys because we're playing a lot of reps. All good? All right thank you. As you go along with your spring practice what have you learned from him and is it kind of expected to be? Just so for sure I feel like in the recruiting process he kind of let you know how he wants to coach all stuff and I feel like when you get here it's just it's a whole lot of level. He's going to keep coaching well he's going to be hard on you he's going to tell you what you're doing okay he's going to tell you what you're doing wrong and he's going to push you to be your best. Yes moving all over. What was it like for you just getting to be here and see you know this team

2:17:31you win an national championship in your first few weeks on campus. It was crazy I feel like I knew that they were going to do it from the beginning of the season I feel like they always had the potential and then they came out here that did it and the freshmen we had an opportunity to sit there and watch it so I feel like now we just got to do it again. What did you learn from back was watching about me. Just it's all hard work and it's just a bunch of guys and it's really a brotherhood and it's really just our family versus their family and we just got a person of beer and we got to win the games and get back to the men. I was talking about the tart line was saying that Park Allen ran and have really been leaders in the room so far. For sure. How have they both been leaders for you and the every-one seniors? They've been leaders just in multiple ways whether our column we're in their in the film room together on the jugs I'm asking them about this route hawk or run it better I'm asking them how I run this route on this play just many different things I feel like those guys they're like big brothers and all that they've done to help me. A valuable is that to have guys that are the play-alongable ballman also been a college for a while so we're good to ask them for various

2:18:32things about college life. I value what they mean. It's real valuable for sure because they're they're first round pit guys so I feel like just being in a room with those guys and if you're able to thrive with those guys you know something's going good for you. What are your impressions of that quarterback? I get specific with Tavian. What have you kind of known about him and learned about him? I had always had a good relationship with Tavian. He recruited me hard to come here so I feel like we always talked and he came here and he's been doing this thing they've all been doing their thing and Julian saying he's another Cali Kissel. I had a little relationship with him too so good to see Julian Lincoln and Tavian all doing real good. What does that next step for you to play? In terms of evolution, what do you want to get better at? Really just everything. I feel like you can never be too perfect and I feel like you just got to keep doing your job so I say maybe just just showing up more and just doing my job to the T.

2:19:37In high school I had a five-star corner DJ John Lee he's at Alabama so I always had good work with corner so I feel like it's just a lot I'm going against a lot of good guys now and say that it's just being one on one that practice with DJ John so it's real good for sure. Does it take more courage to play with Slot in outside? Does it take more courage to play with Slot in outside? What do you mean by that? Because there's more stuff but I think there's bigger hitters inside. You have to have a thing you've got to be aware of it but there's a thing more courage to do that. I guess you can say that I feel like I just always play Slot in them. I feel like that's what I've been better at so I feel like it's just what I have to do to be on the salt no matter who's in front of me how big he is how strong he is I feel like if I got an assignment I've got to do it. Okay well anyway the fact that the way that this DJ John says additions on every level

2:20:39you talk about chasing the people to mine and the trampoline there you guys have willing to second level and then the third level to go on with Sean and most of them how much pressure is on the St. Vincent's tip performed to the higher level of respect and the next one. 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 that we got that's what we're going to do. Which stands out about this offense just early this early in the game. Yeah we're not used to going against the normal offense I have been the past three years so

2:21:39it'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. Because every other team has some variations that they were going to miss. Does that kind of do you think that'll kind of benefit you because you've seen that more than for us as well? 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. So 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 a lowest at number last year but still one of the top teams scoring the defense. What do you guys really need to do to finish getting after the quarterback?

2:22:41Yeah I would just say place 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 and I would just say rush rush more. I mean there's so much that goes into it and 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 more staying off that means that we're doing a good job. And you're already asked about it from a competition standpoint before my collector standpoint having you wins a margona building on the field. What kind of a trio can do for a defense? When this guy's 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

2:23:44so I'm excited for it. Thanks for your time. It's hard to say. I would probably say the draft would have been my, you know, I was talking to some other schools that Miami and USC were in there in the mix but it was really I would say here in the draft at the end of it. You know, there was a lot of different things that went into it and it was a long hard process but yeah, I would say, I mean that was probably the most like the way we were talking about

2:24:45the politics of the fall. I mean nothing nothing crazy, you know, it was just appreciate that. I appreciate it. It's a fighter fan. Do I really? Yeah, do. I'm just confident. Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, there you go, a little sidetrack but uh, no, I, what was the question again? I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. It's a fighter controversy. What the Yeah, no, it was, I mean, it wasn't really anything crazy, I would say. You know, I just, you know, nothing really changed. It was really kind of, you know, they were kind of holding me off a little bit just to feel after that game, just in fairness. Um, you know, I was, I was patient and and waited my time and, and you know, it all, it all worked out. Did it come to you like, I know you could kind of make the question.

2:25:46It's hard to tell. I don't really know. It was a whirlwind of a process. You know, I started hearing initially they might be interested, but I hadn't really heard anything directly and then, um, you know, really getting in like, I really started to feel that interest. Did you come to say let you know there's a change coming? Good for later. You know, back. Right? Um, a little bit. Yeah, I kind of figured that. I didn't know for sure. But he kind of hinted at it and, you know, he, his point was, you know, it's in the best interest to him and the team. I was all in. You know, I completely understood, you know, the decision and why he did it. Your conversation, what was this, you know, about using engineering, other stuff in the area, and, um, Yeah, I mean, there were a lot of, a lot of things that were said, um, you know, a lot of, a lot of things that, you know, were attractive to me about this offense and about what he kind

2:26:47of thought about my name and how he thought he could, um, you know, elevate me to where I wanted, where I wanted to be. Um, and, you know, I feel like one of the biggest things was how, the Crow style would be offensive. And, you know, a lot of these other schools that I was looking at, um, you know, maybe these air raid type schools. Um, you know, they got great offenses. And, you know, I can put up a lot of numbers, but I don't know how much that was developed. You know, playing in a, in a system that coach up rhymes, I'm using the paper. I know how much, how much better can you prepare for the NFL than with, with somebody who's coach at a head coach level and an important head level at the NFL, you know, it's, there's just all the things pointed to.

2:27:58I just say ready and prepare for the NFL. How do you make it, maybe go into that adversity, back up, the stuff that I started to talk about, and prepare you to make up the talent of the NFL? It's just more so, you know, just, uh, whole, whole thing like, like, I was saying just the way that they were coaching the culture. That's, that's what I'm talking about. I haven't, I recently just got here, so I haven't found too much like, uh, different places yet, because I've been trying to hold man and be acclimated, but I'm for sure for us a couple spots. What are your impressions of Will? I mean, I know that Stan, you're going to have a backfield potentially transverse running back transverse. Before the back hat, come up with you guys to talk about him. I mean, through this, not recruiting process, but transverse process. Uh, 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, when you turn the off to feel, having that relationship. So, it's a great hot. Did you ever, you ever feel a fish with tried when you were talking about thinking about coming

2:29:01with, did you ever feel a fish with tried about what you used to have been or what's that background all of what you were doing? Like I said, like, I think with the time that I was in the portal, it was such a short amount of time in the process. So, I think, you know, uh, just trying to decide on where I wanted to go. I wasn't really focused on contacting anyone. And you've been to Ohio, have you been home? No, never been so high. But nobody wants, but I've never been so. Yeah, uh, 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, the things that will put you in the best position. And I think, um, that's what it's really about

2:30:08Yeah, you know, that definitely plays a factor, especially in today's game with the vice-band of run backs in the NFL. So, I think that, you know, with 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 did you mention? I think it's right. If I could be real, I'd encourage you something. Right? You know, like I said, any way that I could contribute to the team and do what I can to show and execute, that's what matters. You're given the right way to trigger this. There's a lot of carries up there too. Right? You like that and you think of that part of the curve, you know, you said from the outside, you know, you can't come there. Yeah, and not just that team as well. It's many other teams that do the same thing, you know, and, um, I think it's just really special that what they've done together, just seeing how they play together, how far they come and see themselves. The not just that, but how much it's carried at any time last year, having a quarterback that can run or two running bags, and then is that how much does that expect you to have a fact deal with that option of

2:31:10hopping? It's very exciting just to know we have so many weapons and so many different ways 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 time? How would you describe it? 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, um, you know, like I said, you don't really talk about it. There was much made though about used to play the heavyweight, a meeting with coach kidney, and there's something about it, about the direction of the offense. How much of that was true, I thought about everything to see it. Was it 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

2:32:14things for yourself, but just decided to be in it. Did you, in-rate thinking, oh, how I would say, I just walked up here a second ago, but you probably went all over this, but when did a high state get on your radar? Yes, impossible, really. Just in that chill, maybe. Immediately when I got in the portal, you know, I think, like I said, 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 focusing out and into do something that's bigger than themselves, you know, why wouldn't you want to go someplace like that? Love people saying you and trivia, and it's the same backfield, and even having dals in there, this might be the best running back, threesome in the country. Yes, they're fusing, do you feel that way also in life? Definitely. I feel like, you know, with everyone in our room, they contribute in their own way, everyone's a great player in our room, so I definitely agree. I just want to go down and listen to the conversation.

2:33:19Yeah, 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 road in school. So I think just more so just figuring out where I wanted to go and, you know, making that decision as soon as possible. Just like I say, the meetings, what Coach Day, everything that I was showcased, this is just the place that you want to be. Two quickies, the name Quint shot, what works that come from? That was, they came from my parents. Yeah, I know, but I mean, if there were a backfield, I would have been out of question. But I really don't know, I've never asked my parents that question, actually. Yeah, and then I would tell you the hairstyle, what's that? What's the tip? I came up with this hairstyle in March of last year, so I just decided one day. I was like, okay, I want to die out in the air. So I just went with it. I got a lot of great company, so I kept it the same way. Blondes get more, Blondes have more fun or have more fun.

2:34:21I would say more fun. I think that's the end of the year. That's the end of the year. The one that I was thinking, I don't think that's the end of the year. I think that's the end of the year. The end of the year. The series, the next year, the end of the year. How do you accept that and grace that? You know, I embrace it well. That's what everyone here works hard for. And that is the end goal. It's not to get a certain amount of wins. That's the goal. That's what everyone here wants to win the National Championships. I take it seriously. Everyone here is bought in. Whatever it takes to get that in. That's what everyone's trying to do. What do you think of the big first time? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? What about it folks? You know, you don't focus on things. Like I said, the most important thing is playing football.

2:35:23Especially for me, you know, the NIL, you know, that wasn't like, you know, something that I was focusing on. I was just going out there playing football and doing what I did. I was just, I'm sure you could have gone for a lot of places. There would be guy running back. Is there a fuel coming in? Sharing below the training area? You know, I think just more so the situation here, like I said, just coming here. Being not only with trade, but just great players all around. And being able to execute and contribute to the team and do what I can to help us win. That was the most important. Was there any thought about like, you know, taking some tread up your tires? Like, knowing that you have had something carried for the first two years? I think just like I said, like in today's game, that's something that is important for running backs, you know, to be able to value and to think about as far as the shelf life and things like that. And you know, just in my situation come here. That was the most important. What's wrong? Thank you. Thanks for the question. It's like exactly like every little detail with the D lines doing. That's not really what I didn't know every little aspect of it.

2:36:24I think I'm starting to learn that now because obviously, in my mind, I think you've 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 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 lineback here is not exciting because you can be dropping one minute past rest of the year being. I think some of that anyway. Yeah, actually said that. I think you can say it would be an online back here in the play. You're almost in every play. Obviously the play can run away from you. But you know, it's safe to sometimes you're just back there, you're playing every guest. You take two back pedals and it's a tackle. So I think yeah, lineback here 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 stay in that lineback? Yeah, I feel super comfortable with it. Like I said, I think it's just going to be adjustment. 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 I mean, do you talk to your dad and give you any advice on the new position? Oh, yeah, we watch table all the time. I'm just getting started with this.

2:37:24He gets a little shit with footwork and stuff like that. But it's good. I get good teaching him. Obviously coach Lord Knight is great player, great teachers for him, coach and goals. He knows a super smart football mind. So I'm getting great teaching all around. The lineback or everything happens quicker for you. How much did the experience playing some of that sandwich got faster? How much did the experience playing some of that sandwich got faster? How much did the experience playing some of that sandwich got faster? How much did the experience playing some of that sandwich got faster? It's a little bit like in terms of physicality being in the box down on the line. But I do think the run fit as a will and a Sam can be a little different. And in terms of like I said, like being an interior fitter, like your 30 backer, when A, you get pools, now 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, this is still going to be a lot of stuff for work on though. Do you feel more pressure talking to the media with your brother sitting there? Not at all. What do you think has been the biggest change from linebacker to safety?

2:38:33I think the biggest change would probably be that 10 to 5. It's a big adjustment because everything's happening faster and you got to react faster. And like I said, the waist and movements, I think footwork is huge. I think when you see the great linebackers, seems to play habits are going. They're not taking any waist and steps or not fall stepping, things like that. So I think waist and movement and being able to see what's happening in the effort. 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. You know, we call each other brothers, but you know, bloods, bloods, a little thicker. So that's always pretty cool. You know, it's always, it's never 101. Yeah, but when he tells you something, he doesn't observe what you, you know, it's coming from. Yeah, I think when you're blood like that, I think he's not scared to tell me the truth. You know, you know, 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 going to keep it 100% blunt exactly what you need to hear. Now what you want to hear what's your advice on playing?

2:39:33Oh, for him. I mean, he just so out of leather, he just keep trusting his instincts. No, I think he's going to be great. That I think what's huge for him is like I said, the athletic ability speed. You know, he blitzed off the edge. He's, he blitzed super fast. And he's just great in coverage too. So I think something really good. I think we'll be able to do a lot of different things. Kind of like you see a handcock. Obviously, a little different body than a handcock, but I think he's going to be really good at once. Except for not feeling. He's needs, he's needs his time. Thank you. Great. And go out there and try to put yourself on a map. It's starting early. It helps you with your growth as a player and as a person and learning who you are. And just having that mentality to compete and have that job. I would say just at my position, really something that you can always work on is just pass pro. Just one of the key things that you can always get better at. No matter if you're really good at it or whatever the situation is,

2:40:34it's something you can always critique yourself on. Most definitely. You'll see. Coast day is a great coach from my first time coming in when I took a visit to high state. When I was in a transfer portal, just the way when we sat down and how he explained how things are though, how you're stating what this culture means to not only him, but to everyone else here. How I can contribute and help the team just every way he broke the game down for me. It was super important and just getting to meet him for the first time. I got to see what type of man he was and it meant a lot to me. Yeah, most definitely. I feel like you look at the run-in backs in NFL today like Safequan, Derek Harry, those guys producing at such a great high level. Definitely helps the run-in backs like me and other guys in his class for sure.

2:41:41Yeah, most definitely. Just getting to see Coast Kelly again, seeing that smile on his face. Whether too long since I seen last time, but it was a great environment. Had a great time seeing him again and talking with the other guys as well. But, how do you remember the Patriots? No. Yeah, it was great, man. Not having a lot of time to prepare because we just played so soon, but just taking advantage of those days that I have and making the most out of them and doing what I'm best at. So, just taking advantage of that. I just felt, you know, with the training that I had and the people I trained with, they prepared me the best. So, why not?

2:42:41Yeah, so coming off that loss towards the end of the season and just the mentality we had as a team. And that stretch that we had to go on and just really, man, just locking in with ton of vision, going on a long stretch, trying to win all those games. So, I think that just helped me as far as, you know, going on in my future and how I post things for sure. I think just how close we are, close knit and how we protect each other, have each other's back and hold each other accountable. I think that's what was the difference maker in the SHRC. No, I'll say just approaching every game of the same manner, same way going about meetings, doing all the different small things, communicating with the whole line, making sure I'm on the right page with everybody. So, just approaching it the same way and okay, I'm out with the win. Nothing really, man, I think at the end of the day football is football. So, you know, learning some NFL terminology, but at the same time, it's just still football.

2:43:54That's something I already did. Coming into college, my freshman sophomore year, main guy, 1500 yards, back to back season, 1000 yards, so that wouldn't be an issue for me. Oh, yeah, so I'm a bigger guy with side speed, vision, eliciveness, and power. Get run between the tackles, also outside, and just have natural gray hands. So, I think I haven't seen, you know, any running back in today's NFL that can do what I do at my size, and especially, you know, that's what I bring with my skills to the game. I have some form of today coming up, yes. Really just a relationship that we have. Coach Loco's a guy that I didn't just meet overnight. He recruited me as well at Florida State since I grade, and just to have that continuous relationship with him, it meant a lot to me. He taught me a lot with the one year I had it with him at Ohio State, just how to, you know, be accountable and just continue to motivate others around me

2:44:58and continue to be positive. So, he taught me in trail lot in that room, and I think it spread across the whole room with the way I led and just the leadership roll I had. Man, I think James just said such a great player, and not only him, but the other guys in the room as well. Those guys were all produced. They learned a lot from me in trail, so I don't have any worries. Cool? All right, cool. Thank you guys. Jordan Hancock and stuff, so it makes sense why he had come in, then. I mean, you see what Coach G are doing, like, why not? Why wouldn't you want to come be a part of BIA?

2:46:16Yeah, I mean, I think Sonny is a spectacular athlete. I mean, Sonny has the ability to play safety, to play linebacking, and probably come off the airs. Sonny could probably play every position on the field. So, I think having him coached to the line, being able to make plays, it gives us more opportunity to change the defense and do different things in the defense that maybe we weren't able to do last year. So, I think wherever Sonny is going to play, he's going to be successful, so I'm excited to play with him. It's going great, I mean, Coach G was here when I, when I, my junior year and me and him, I mean, we geled together a lot, and I think he's a great coach, ridiculously smart, and brings a lot of energy every day, and I love being coached by him before, and I can't wait for him to be back here and have a year, another year with him. I mean, like I said, it should be the best defense in the country. It shouldn't be no other goals.

2:47:19Yeah, I think, I love how Coach G is getting more hands on, getting more involved in everybody. I mean, I think Coach G is the best head coach in the country, so for him to be in there, and I especially, to be pushing everyone to be better, holding the older guys accountable, making the older guys hold the young guys accountable, I think it's just going to make us a better all-around team. Oh, man, Jaylen is a, he, a dude that goes 100% every play, and as a young guy, that's the first step of, for greatness, just going as hard as you can every play, and I think Jaylen could be really special, and that's why I gotta say. Yeah, I think, like I said earlier, I'm not gonna sit here and lie and say, when it first happened, I wasn't crushed, I think I was really destroyed, but I think just knowing that God has a plan for me, and I'm facing this adversity for a reason, and I'm gonna come out stronger, smarter, and a better player, so I can't wait for what he has to store for me this year.

2:48:43Yeah, just knowing, I mean, knowing how much, like, it's funny, I talked about it before, like being a dude from Arizona, I didn't know too much about how I stayed before I got here, so just being here for the years I've been here, man, I grew to love it, I grew to really love my brothers, love Ohio State, and to be, not be able to play in that game, and I was crushed, I was crushed, and it was hard for you to watch, hard for me to just sit there and not be with my brothers and be a part of that, but I mean, I just, I had that much more feel in the fight this year, to go in there and to achieve our goal of being team on the North, winning the Big Ten, and winning the national championship, so that's why we came back, it's easy, all of us could have went to the NFL and achieved our dreams, but when we didn't achieve our goals here and didn't finish our legacy here, the way we wanted to made the decision to come back that much easier. I'm probably towards the end of the winner, I start feeling a little more like myself again,

2:49:44so just keep stacking those days and keep building that momentum to feel even better than I felt last year. You may have been asked for a week up here, but what does Caleb bring to that second very now, and you and him back there together, what does that feel like? Oh, yes, it's super exciting, like I'm saying, he's a really student of the game, me and him being the film room all day, I'm getting on the field competing in the way room on the field, he's a great competitor, and just having someone like Caleb to push you every day to get better and to hold you accountable, man, it's super exciting, and I can't wait to see how me and Caleb play, how all the safety's played, Jahaig looking great, Jelima Klan, Bonzou, all those dudes looking great, looking great, man, and just having BIA back, I'm excited. What are the quick, is you looking at this defense from your band? It's something you know, all the pieces there, you're saying that I'm saying, does it feel like this could be a special year, if everything holds together? Yeah, I mean I feel like the last three years it could have been a special year, but I mean yeah, obviously if you look on paper at the defense,

2:50:46we have the best defense in the country, so if you just, it just takes, it's on us to put it all together, it's easy to say you had the day's sleep and just that, but at the end day you still got to go on the field, sharp it, hum it up and show it every week. Lathan, thank you very much. Taya, we got you buddy. You just covered it for all this, or did you kind of have it in there? I think yeah, I was definitely surprised, I mean, I remember when he came here as a recruit, and he was on his official, and he really liked it, and then I know he's really coached with Jordan Hancock and stuff, so it makes sense why he'd come in, and then, I mean, you see what coach G are doing, like, why not, why wouldn't you want to come be a part of BIA? Lathan, with Lathan to, he'll come in here. That's great, but he's safe, and then also allows the defense to take a different game from the sun, and he would want some, when you look at him, like, for Fox here in the back, he'd look at that whole defense and finally, can you look at number six now playing off the closer line of scrimmage? How do you think it changes the whole game of how you play BIA? Yeah, I mean, I think Sunni is a spectacular athlete. I mean, Sunni has the ability to play safety, to play linebacking,

2:51:46and probably come off the edge, like Sunni could probably play every position on the field. So, I think having him closer to the line, being able to make plays, it gives us more opportunity to change the defense, and do different things, and the defense that maybe we weren't able to do last year. So, I think wherever Sunni is going to play, he's going to be successful. So, I'm excited to play with him. What's going on here? It's going great. I mean, Coach G was here when I, when I, my junior year, and me and him, I mean, we jelled together a lot, and I think he's a great coach, ridiculously smart, and brings a lot of energy every day, and I love being coached by him before, and I can't wait for him to be back here and have a year, another year with him. What's the big jump from your one, and that's your most fierce game? I mean, like I said, it should be the best defense in the country. It shouldn't be no other goals. Did you play the big role, especially to you two time yet? What's it been like watching it now with Ryan Day? Have you got a hand in hand from the game? Yeah, I think, I love how Coach G is getting more hands-on,

2:52:47getting more involved in everybody. I think Coach G is the best head coach in the country, so for him to be in there on our special team, and he's really pushing everyone to be better, holding the older guys accountable, making the older guys hold the young guys accountable, I think it's just going to make us a better all-around team. What did you see from Jaylen? And is it really good? Oh, man, Jaylen is a, you know, he, a dude that goes 100% every play, and as a young guy, that's the first step of, for greatness, just going as hard as you can every play, and I think Jaylen could be really special. He can play then, and that's why I got to say. What was it like in November for you, just feeling like every time you've got momentum and you're having a towards something, you can throw in another curveball. How did you handle this one compared to the other two? Yeah, I think, like I said earlier, I'm not going to sit here and lie and say, when it first happened, I wasn't crushed. I think I was really destroyed. But I think just knowing that God has a plan for me, and I'm facing this adversity for a reason, and I'm going to come out stronger, smarter, and a better player, so I can't wait for what he has

2:53:48to start for me this year. What did you find yourself doing watching? I just know you had a decision, you had a good, oh, future, I got it. I'm not worried about God, this is what I was doing. You wanted to be part of the team, be around me. I had to be frustrating for you to watch this time, considering how close you guys were, some of the plays that went the other way in the big house. Yeah, just knowing, I mean, knowing how much, like, it's funny, I talked about it before, like, being a dude from Arizona, I didn't know too much about how I stayed before I got here. So just being here for the years I've been here, man, I grew to love it, I grew to really love my brothers, love Ohio State, and to not be able to play in that game, and I was crushed, I was crushed, and it was hard for you to watch, to be a part of that, but I mean, I just had that much more feel in the fight this year, to go in there and to achieve our goal of being team on the North, winning the big team, and winning the national championship. So that's why we came back, it's easy, all of us could have went to the NFL and achieved our dreams, but when we didn't achieve our goals here

2:54:49and didn't finish our legacy here, the way we wanted to, made the decision to come back that much easier. When did you get over the last question? Last question, Maxine, you know what I mean? Getting back feeling, you can't talk to us right now. What time frame is that? Probably towards the end of the winner, I started feeling a little more like myself again, so just keep stacking those days, keep building that momentum to feel even better than I felt last year. You may have been asked for a week up here, but what does Caleb bring to that secondary now, and you and him back here together, what does that feel like? Oh yes, it's super exciting. Like I'm saying, he's a really student of the game, me and him being in the film room all day, I'm getting on the field competing in the way and I'm on the field, he's a great competitor, and just having someone like Caleb to push you every day, to get better, and to hold you accountable, man, it's super exciting, and I can't wait to see how me and Caleb play, how all the safety's played, Jaha, looking great, Jellima claim, Bonzou, all those dudes looking great, man,

2:55:49and just having BIA back, I'm excited. What are the things that you were looking at this defense from your band, all the pieces there, you're saying that I'm saying, does it feel like this could be a special year? Everything holds together. Yeah, I mean, I feel like the last three years it could have been a special year, but I mean, yeah, obviously, if you look on paper at the defense, we have the best defense in the country, so if you just, it just takes, it's on us to put it all together. It's easy to say you had the defense just in that, but at the end, they still got to go on the field, sharpen a helmet up and show it every week. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your effort. Thank you. Taya, we got you, buddy. Thank you, buddy. It's a bug guy, if you're a walk-on or a five star, whatever should help us win, you know? We could bury the bats, not hear you out. Yeah. You still work with them, a bar or a high attack, kind of work right? Yeah, we can. I mean, with Max and Toe, it's Face Times, and it's encouraging them to get here and watch practice so that when they get here, right after graduation, we could hit the ground running, but yeah, it's much prep work as we could do on the front end with, you know, setting up tip sheets

2:56:49and that's what it is. And we're technology nowadays. I mean, COVID, we had to do it, so yeah, we could get to work right now. Two more questions, folks. With the special teams' question, the collaboration that you guys have is three people in one room. Like, how does that work semantically where you guys are all putting your heads together to get one idea? Just how does that play out in the room together? Yeah, I mean, luckily, I mean, it's Coach Hart and I, and I mean, that guy, we worked, we see each other, every day for the last eight years, and luckily, I worked for years with him. So that's so organic. Hart and I just kind of bounce each other, thoughts off each other. We can read each other's minds by now. I think that's how close we are. So this is really organic in there, and then Coach Kees does a great job, of kind of setting the direction, giving us some expertise, and we just kind of have a flow off each other. Okay. I've seen the guys react to that, so you're coaching, but that's much of a team's. Yeah, I think, I think they like it, because the accountability, again, if my tight ends aren't on a permanent kicker joint, they're not playing tight end, and they know that. So I think across the board, it gives us a platform to coach other positions. In a time when the print transport is so big, and the guy like G,

2:57:49probably could have left multiple times if he wanted to, what does that do for the room? To have a guy who's a leader, just so step back, I'm gonna stay here, I'm gonna stay here, and make an impact, as he goes through the room. Yeah, I think it speaks volumes, that you hit the nail on the head, not just for G, but for the brotherhood, and I know it sounds cliche, and people read it on Twitter, and kind of roll their eyes to brotherhood, is why did think the entire defense came back? For the brotherhood, we've 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 just a little bit more difficult to get the right answer. It's like a 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. Like, is it different trying to keep kids around, maybe in the portal or at a 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, right? If you think I'm going to walk into a living room and say,

2:58:50come 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 good question earlier. I don't care if it's a senior or a 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've got to block Jack and JT, and then your dog tired next play, you're getting covered by Downs and Lathen, 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've got to be honest on the front end. Thank you very much. Awesome. Thanks, guys. Thanks, coach. Thank you. That's what I'm really counting for. That's what I'm really going to do. How different? I know it was a period spring practice and maybe called practice last year. And it's not even quite 50 years, but I've played for players. I'm going to hold my body's transform, but I, you know, the game will slow down. I mean, where are you going to play here? I'm going to put it right there.

2:59:50I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. I'm going to play here. So I just do it. But now I'm learning the game. And I know the assignments I got to do. And I'm just doing my job. That's what coach Johnson was really being on. What did you take out of last season? You mentioned coming straight out of high school. Don't play a ton. How much did you take away? What kind of things did you learn from freshman? I'll say it was tough, you know. But I'm learning from guys like Mike Hall. Time helmets and time league. These guys are pro at guys. So I'm just trying to get, I'm gonna ask many questions I have for them. It's really just getting better just everyday. There's a horseshoe on the back here at Canada. Full back, I'll get score. So what have you got? I'm the coach. How much did you get to the best area? No, no, no. I just wanted to do my job. I'm a team player. So whenever I got to do for my team, I'm a good one.

3:00:50Hey, what are you trying to do for Me? I've been putting in the work. I couldn't work my whole life, but I feel like coach make this all season. It's really big for me. I like being on it. You see the results. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm really happy. I'm not going to lose my job. I know. I'm going to lose my job. And I know. You got to step up. You got to step up. I'm getting ready to go. There's going to be something. You get to learn to do something. You get to motivate. I'm going to say I motivate me, but I'm here for a reason. A guy I'm here for a reason. Whatever happens, you know, happens. I love it here. I just know that's be great.

3:01:57That's a lot of times like the player of the year doesn't get that off the field. So I imagine there's some chip on the shoulder, but I'm sure people here are playing for gold. Really, yeah, I got a big chip on my shoulder, you know, I don't take no days for granted. I know because we've got to play every play like your last play. So that's how to do it. I'm just motivated. Some big teams are coming up 17 games. Somebody got to step up. And they leading on the young guys like me and Jason. He runs, Tom Warren to step up. Can we see a full back of the spring game? Can we get a touchdown in the spring game? I don't know. We haven't really been talking about it, but I think during the season, we're going to save it. We have a session. I want you to saw the sky. Can't let the opposing teams know when we got the spring. How did you think that went, sir? In the cut move? Yeah, with the full back. It was awesome, man. It just felt like high school days, you know. I'm excited.

3:02:58I'm blocking for guys like Christian, Train, Dallin. I mean, it's I'm open. Do you have to fight with Kayden for that role? Because he was just talking about it too. So clearly, is it good work? We share a couple of plays, but, you know, whatever it is for my team, what am I doing? Is it Kayden doing it or I do it? I think it was going to be a good thing for us. I think I'll bet you the line when you're going to DLO out, that gives you the best. The best look. We had the best matchups. I like going against Donnie and Fire. I feel like those are pro guys, you know. So I'm going against the best. You're at the Ohio State. So every day you're going to compete with the best. So you got to breathe. You mentioned 17 games in the past. There's got to be more depth inside. That competition likes when you talk about heroes. You know, I was really competitive. I'm trying to be them to the ball. I feel like all of us, we just work in, you know, getting better.

3:04:00You know, we know what's upstate this year. We're trying to be the type of North America last year. That's the only thing you have in mind. But we just go in the spring. We can go in for that. Of course, to get ready for the season. How have you been in the Ohio State? I'm a little bit tired of the set of standards. Those are best. I'm glad they came back. They showed me things, you know. Little things, like the little things I'm working on, like technique lines. Things like that. So it's not really good for them to come back. Kind of like the little districts. Thank you very much. You guys are playing well, but nothing really happens. The most I've done is necessarily never mirror it. Like you're trying to add all that to more phone starters. So you feel when we're in a groove like that when you get back to the field, I mean, you know, 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 I think that, you know, when you come here and you expect to hit the field, it's a certain way. You know, it's hard to get over that for a little bit. And I think you can look at all of us on the D line as a front.

3:05:01We all kind of had our own journey into how we're playing right now. And now it's all about building and not 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, we're just going to see a whole different level of play from all of us. I know you're trying to keep it up. But yeah, that'd be kind of a launch. Yeah, you know, I've knew all along what I was capable of. And 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 it. So, you know, you're good. Did you try to use the term, don't you, don't tell what issues? Well, it does. It's a bit like an emphasis of not focusing on the little things kind of owning it on that stuff. But can you guys really tell us what is it for you this way? Yeah, you know, I think you said it.

3:06:02You know, with, there's no talent issues here on this team. I think if you look at our team across the board, we're probably one of those talent 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 we've become the most, you know, discipline and sound team technique wise. There's not going to be a team in the country. It's not possible. So, 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. Where you got the talent, just got to go out there and work every day on little things. What are you specifically working on this spring? You know, I'm working on flexibility, you know, I'm working on bending the corner a little bit in hands. You know, at D line, you can kind of improve on everything. And so, Coach Johnson's, 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 of everything 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 TXD? I'm really excited about that.

3:07:02You know, it was cool, really cool. I mean, him going back and forth the whole time, deciding whether 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. I was a, you know, a hell of a player and, you know, a really good friend of mine. So, just having another year with him. You know, I'm going to enjoy it and, you know, hopefully have some fun. You know, we can have our comforts and support of us next fall. Even going back to the group, you know, the first guy to come in on this spring. You high guy over the bar, 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. And you could prove guys to come back into the pool and run back on the run. 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 at 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,

3:08:06we 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. So, 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 anyone's regretted it. And we're just really excited to, you know, to get back on the chase and, you know, not miss a day. Jack, can you take a wide view of the defense with the additions made by Caleb coming in? And now you see Sonny Wu, closer to Linus Vermich. When you just, when you have an opportunity to like look at what's out there, how does it change the capability with your defense? That's why being talking and changing the way maybe you deploy that you couldn't do a year ago. Yeah, I mean, you look at the defense one of the very like damn, we're big. You know, corner, we're big, lineback, we're big, D line, we're big, safe, we're big, fast. You know, we're just, you know, we're just got a lot of weapons to say the least.

3:09:10And so, 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're dependent, you can rely on those guys behind you. And I think that, you know, if we take that approach and everywhere on the field offense too, that, you know, we're going to have really fun here. But in actuality, I'm not because it takes great strength to make a decision and leave a place. No, a weak minded person wouldn't be able to make the decision that I make. So it took great strength to do that. So I'm telling you, my literally my deans, it's some great comedians out here that have been sending me like tons of cookies. And I like it. It's funny. Right behind them. Tony Gervin, Bucket Huddler. How have you been going about the assessment of the talent in the room over the past week or two? How much is that? Unfilled, off-field? Like, what's the process of getting to know who you have as players? Well, I broke down. Well, me being a guy that loves to run the back position. I already broke those keys down because I recruited him out of high school.

3:10:11You know, Q is from where I'm from in Montgomery. I was one of the first guys to offer him. Just watching him, great contact ballers, creative runner, great hands, and trade. I recruited him out of Virginia. Exceptional short area of birch and quickness and things. I'm going to help him get better on. And then I recruited James Peoples out of San Antonio, Texas. I knew what he was going to, what he was going to be. TC and Sam, those two kids I'm getting to know, and I'm going to help them improve their game. But we got different runners in there. I like to call myself, I'm in love with this position, so I get to break down runners and help their game. So, talent in the room over there, talent in the room. Far back, Jeremy Burmiham, podcast. How much square effect did you saw that? How much cookies are actually the best cookies that the building makes? One, those are way better than the crunchy chips and white things. What's your term? Do you have to first find a balance there? Well, for me, I'm actually not eating the cookies.

3:11:14Now, I'm not eating the cookies this year. I gave it up for a fast. So, no sweets for me for the whole year. That's something I gave up. So, the term, the soft bass cookie term, look, guys, I actually took that from my arm. I represent the high school coaches of Memphis, Tennessee. I actually took that from my guy and then coach Slocum. He's always said that soft bass cookie. I actually stole that from him. I give him credit for it. And I tell him, I should have branded it because you don't take it and run it away with it. But that's just where they come from. That night was standing. As you get to Ohio State, we'll start to look around the country. Oregon's a big place. That's a nature job. How do you think of wearing the Ohio State logo on your chest, wearing a walk-o, when you get out of the green trail? How does that change the way that you feel you're either received or visit at a different level to just feeling like I can go anywhere and get anybody in the country.

3:12:15It does a saying to me. This is a great place. Oregon is a great place too. But guess what? Whatever I put on, I know what I'm going to represent. For me. I know who put me here. I know I represent something higher. Like I told you, I know my purpose is. My purpose is supporting the people. So wherever logo I have on, I'm still going to be doing the same thing. This is a great logo. Great logo. But I wear another logo every day. It's across. I see around my neck. I know what I represent. So that's the greatest logo I could ever wear. So it doesn't matter what other logo I have on. I don't know. I'm going to any house in Bay Area Recruit. Deep right. Cameratee Robinson, the athletic. You mentioned the time of Memphis and them and the score and the Burmets. You mentioned there. You learn from that time that you can take over to managing the Burmets. What did I learn from them? I just been teaching the kids.

3:13:16We live in such a selfish world. And like I told you, it's all time. It's got to be much more than football. The ball going to go flat one day, as I always say. What being in that room there at Memphis is it wasn't for five. Teaching them how to be about being one. I tell them in all time, it doesn't cost you anything to celebrate another man's success. So teaching them how to be one and then once they learn to be one, they function and they feed off one another. So that's what I learned from being there at Memphis. Right in front of Andy Baxter, I'm not even in the road. Throw a set of your career and a long course of influence. You as a coach and you need to be who you are. Well, I just got through talking to somebody about that today. When I first got into this profession, I got my own room, a Western Kentucky, I was exed. No, how was I going to be in the handle? My room. I had a pile with 51 inmates. I was telling my me having got six or seven guys, like kidding me.

3:14:17I'm telling my me having to do traffic stops or going on domestic. No violence calls. It's simple, easy. No, people don't know what you care. Also, no, you got to have a certain demeanor about yourself. So when I walk into a room, it's the reason why I go training every morning. It's the same thing when I was a police officer. You look a certain way, kind of deter people from doing certain things. So it's just why I go training every morning. I'm going to look just as good as my boys look. So it helped out a lot in other words. Front row right, Austin Moore, the podcast. Carl, welcome to Columbus. What would it mean to revolutionize the way running backs or coach? What does that take? I'm not going to say revolutionize. It's some good running back coaches out here. Everybody's different. It's from great coaches out here. I just want the hit guys who said it on these jobs. The not just higher guys, all coaches on your staff should be great recruiters.

3:15:18Not just the running back coach. We coached the position. We developed the players as well. I just want the coaches to realize, let me look and be thrilled about this guy I'm hiring for this job. Is he teaching the position? Is he developing the position? Because you're not going to hire anybody. It's just coach quarterbacks already. Where it shouldn't be like that for the running back position either. I'm the passionate about it because I played it. I love it. It's on the position I want to coach. Could I coach other positions? I played DBN because it's too. But I love the running back position. I just want to see it coach well. Tim May podcast. A million questions. I'll ask a couple. Number one, when your wife, whatever, you got the message of stuff. Are we moving again? What was her reaction? No, she's just no guy that gave us a new assignment. It was never like we're moving again. Let me tell you guys something. My mom was in the military. So I lived everywhere. I lived in Panama, South America. I'm used to picking up and moving. I lived in Fort Riley, Kansas. My garbage home, Memphis, my second home.

3:16:19So I'm used to moving. Now my wife was different for her. But she's a new guy that gave us a new assignment. So it was time to go. What did Coach Day tell you when he hired you that he wants out of you that maybe different? He's not slamming somebody else. But what did he say he wanted you to bring to the running back room? I think he did his research on me. He said he wanted the guy to develop the position. That's not taking a shot at the coach that was here, who I'm friends with. And he said they didn't want somebody to really get the guys going. I can only be me. And I told him that. Coach, I'm gonna be me every day now. Because see, my mind said this when I step in this building, I got one mindset. That's to do my job so well that the living dead I'm born and can do anything better. So when I leave it, that's when my mind said this. Hopefully I'm here for a long time. But on the guy knows that. So, but that's my mindset. Every day I step into the woods of Hayson, that's my mindset. I'm gonna do my job so well that the living dead I'm born and can do anything better.

3:17:23So that's what my mind said is. Coach, we have time for one last question. Bill Rebeno, it's Columbus, this batch. Carlos, first of all, is it true that nobody calls you? Carlos, that will call you Locke? Is it true? Yeah. I prefer to be called Locke. I know Coach Landon would call me. I thought maybe he tried to take side of me every now and then, was that the organ? Called me Carlos. But I prefer to be called Coach Locke. So that's fine. You were in law enforcement. You had a head flip off, obviously, you had a new... What made you decide to leave law enforcement to get back into coaching? I was sitting at the very bottom and doing it. I mean, you had an established career. I'm gonna say this with you all, because I know a lot of people may not know this. When I first got to Memphis, that's not the first school I went to try to work at. I actually went to a small liberal arts school there in Memphis called Role College. They tried to get on this there. I was told I didn't have enough experience. I need to go back in, you know, Coach High School.

3:18:24I think at that time, God would tell me I was thinking too small. The decision for me to get into coaching football, that was God's decision. Because this is the extension of my ministry to poor and the people. So me getting out of law enforcement, I enjoyed my life in law enforcement. But I knew I could reach more people by me. Being able to coach the ball. I want to be a bridge builder. I want to help out young men. Not just young men, but the coaches that I work with help them achieve their dreams and their goals. So that was part of it. Coach, thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks Coach. And he believes in himself. And that's part of the just trying to understand what's my path, right? So, yeah, it's been great. It's tough to be made. He's growing. But he's nowhere near where he knows he's capable of being. And the only thing that's probably impressive is Jeremiah. I love the way he lives. I love the way he approaches things. I love the way the questions he asks.

3:19:26I love the way he makes mistakes and then corrects mistakes. It's very veteran-like. I mean, there's so much ball he has to learn. Like, he literally does things that are good. I'm like, do you know what that work that goes? Coach, I have no freaking idea. So, like, I'm trying to teach him all of that. Why it worked. So then, you know, the consistency at which it works just goes through the roof. And so, but I'm very, you know, excited and proud of the conversations we're currently having. And I'm excited for them to keep going. I love working with Chip. I love working with Chip. Chip is, I love talking ball. I love the viewpoints. I love the veteran that he has, you know. And I love, yeah, I love all of it. I think that, you know, early on, the biggest impact, you know, just, you know, feeling perspective, I think in the run game, it's been awesome, you know.

3:20:27And then, you know, off of the run game, some of the actions or relief throws or all that kind of stuff. I love where it's at. I love working with them. I would say that I sleep a little better. All right. No, it's, it's really a great combo because like, you know, we're obviously, we're doing a lot as a group. It's not just Chip and I. But, you know, obviously, Chip has an image and a view on things that I never had. So to have that experience and to have that viewpoint, I'm just trying to absorb as much as I can. But then also highlight some things that we've really done a good job of and make sure those, you know, nothing's really changing. We're just trying to enhance. We're not changing. We're enhancing. So where the things fit is perfect. You know, I think, you know, the rest of the dynamics of Sir Chip can talk about, but it's been, it's been awesome.

3:21:30So I'm excited about it. Are you talking about it? Yep. We talked to a mechanic. There's nothing I'm moving from slot to outside. You know how good you think in the slot. Is that a difficult move for you guys to just know how good a guy is? Once bought, but know that maybe for his long term future and the. No, I wouldn't say it's anything on his future because he's capable of doing whatever you want to get done. But I'd say that it says more about the room. I think it's the growth of, you know, Brandon, you know, gross growth of Bryson. That's really, you know, allowing my mind to say, Hey, Mac, be prepared. You're going to move around a lot. You're going to come out of that slot. You're going to be outside. We're going to create mismatches out there. I mean, his ability to move around is critical. But I would say between Mac and between car and L. T. It's going to provide a lot of flexibility for our room. And in those top, you know, six, seven guys that are really doing a good job right now. Yeah, heavy, heavy emphasis on what work he needs, you know, versus anything else.

3:22:39I rely on him. We have great dialogue back and forth. It's a two way, it's a two way conversation. And frankly, there's going to be times where like, Hey, Mac, what do you want to do today? You want to go outside? You want to go inside? And I don't care. So we're not there yet. We will be there. But it's just more about, you know, when the room is ready to start mixing things up. I mean, I would say there's got, I mean, I make sure I bring in guys that are able to do all. But I have not asked them to yet. So the only guys that in our room currently have asked to do that has been Mac and carnell. And those are probably the two guys that I would, you know, think heavily on doing moving around a lot. I'm not putting that on anybody else right now. I'm not saying they can't. But at this point, having two guys be able to swing, you probably don't need much more than that. I need guys being experts at what they're good at.

3:23:40So it helps the offense. Don't be great at everything and be an expert at something. And we can use that to our advantage. Do you think you're doing this here is different than you're doing? Maybe you guys should have more situational. The room's always different. Frankly, I mean, from 2018 and then 19 through COVID and those guys and then the depth of those guys and then where Mac and Marvin and those guys were as freshmen, you know, it's just, it's always different. And I expect this one to be different again. Not sure at what level yet. The last question about your relationship between the TV room and your wife and your room especially. You know, the fact that I was curious. The TV has a leader just like you, you know, play the Ohio State as an adult screen. I'm curious about how you've seen Tim kind of build the former backroom, especially on the recruiting building. So maybe you're gonna be effective. You're recruiting out how that's kind of enhanced. He would probably know more for that question than I would, but I would say that.

3:24:40Yeah, we obviously feed off each other, right? I mean, there really is a team sport and we can't do it without them and they can't do it without us. And we can't do it without the quarterback. We can't do it without the old line. So the more that can seep into other positions and we work as a team and operate as a team and identify where a team. And we're the health here we are. And when we are, we think that, you know, already, but I would say me and Tim, I've really, you know, met on that talked about it. Like we talk about technique, we talk about recruiting, we do all that together. And not at a crazy level, but definitely like, you know, more than I have in the past. So I love working with OG. I mean, he's, he's awesome. He's got a great perspective. And we definitely feed off each other in practice. And then maybe while building our rooms, we've done the same. Brian, thank you very much. Cool. Thanks guys. All right, folks, we have CJ Hicks on the 20s. From this one. You guys, Brian. Yeah, that was great. I just got to play in fast on her steam.

3:25:40So it feels fast. Yeah. It's all as fast. Yeah. It's all as fast. You got guys. Yeah, I mean, everyone's probably a bit of a UCLA. He knows how to create an explosive offense. So it wouldn't have to be good. It's a broad finish. How is he? Seth has a very high tether. I mean, he holds himself to the arc standard and his own standard. And Seth's been doing really good so far. So yeah, take a good addition to the real. Take a mention. His football. I think you're very. And that was pretty evident. Have you noticed that it was 100% yeah, it's a great point by Pedro. I mean, he's has my two. Four seasons and that's you see on his belt. So he's seen a lot different defense. And he's very smart. I know he has like two degrees from BAM or something like that. So he's a very smart dude. Definitely. What does a successful offseason look like for you?

3:26:41I'll say just improvement on one of the, I need to improve on. And just kind of competing and doing. Every time I can to be one of the five guys. And just kind of being myself and that spot. How do you roll? Assuming you get through that. How do you then roll that into fall camel? Successful. It starts to have a great summer. It starts with in bigger, faster and sharper in the summer. And kind of understanding the play with more as I leave in the fall camp. And just rolling with them and then into this season. Imagine getting better with this. I'll say just my like punching mechanics and kind of my run day and technique. What do you see in. Just. Touched by the name of those two. What do you notice? Yeah, they're very chemistry from what I've seen so far. I mean, I think they're both really good offensive minds and they kind of work off each other. So I think they've had really good success just as far.

3:27:43Chip obviously has experience run games, stuff like that. How much does that kind of offensive line play with a coordinator who kind of has his background in pushing it? I think they're in patch of the lot. I mean, I always want to coach that center run the ball. You know, I mean, I like faster on all that. But we can run the ball. And we're doing what we're supposed to do at front. So having coach tell you behind us, without same mentality. That's only a good thing for the line. There were obviously a big group that came back on the offensive line. Right. With that experience, does it feel different than previously just having as much? And I know guys spots are still up for grabs and things like that. Does this spring feel different with that much experience? I'll say, yeah, I mean, my freshman year, I remember like Paris and the one being here and seeing how they operated and trying to assemble a family. I have a lot of experience under their belt and kind of know what they would expect going into the season and going into the spring ball. Who are some defensive linemen that when they line up across from you? Not that you're scared, but that you're like, oh boy, I'm about ready to get into this one.

3:28:47Who are some guys that stand out to you in that regard? I'll say Jack, all of our D-ends are really good. I don't want to like snub anyone out. But I say Jack and J.C. are really good. I say, Ken and Terry, he's one of my roommates and he's gone a lot better. He's had a really good spring so far. What's it like in offensive linemen living with a defensive linemen? Are you guys getting into like some competitions? Yeah. There's arguments over things like on how to do things. There's every some arguments. Yeah, I mean, what kind of like bit over certain plays and practice and who won that rep? But at the end of the day, we're all just trying to give each other better and all like brother's for it. As far as who coats the meals in the house though, you guys being arguments over that or who keeps cleaning room stuff like that? A little bit. Yeah, I mean, not a little pissed by these dishes laid out and stuff like that. But yeah, I mean, now it's been since been raised with me that I'm so. And who are some guys on the defensive lineman honestly that you feel like they're pushing you to get better? Like I said, Jack, J.C., Tayden, Coyota, Mitch, all those D-ends are super, super good.

3:29:51The interior of these came at obviously tightly. They've all been giving the online a little bit of problems, but yeah, that's been a good competing game. So I'm getting better. Is there any other people who just is giving the first offseason where you kind of push yourself for a competition? You should be the one who puts the ball in. It just seems like you're making one. Yeah, I'll say, I'll say, yeah, I mean, so it's like last go up our last friend had the same goal, but I think I was there physically and mentally yet, mentally there yet, but like I've taken strides, there are no season right out there during the season, they're in practice. Now that I get a winter, I kind of put myself in a good spot for B1-5. I guess in what area mentally or physically? What was the figure? I'd say mentally you just get more plays on my belt and kind of have the game slow down. You know, when you first get here, everything's new, everything's faster. And you start seeing different events and formations and kind of recognizing different things that are going on.

3:30:52You can kind of aim to be the player a lot faster. And physically I've gone on a lot of sides in the stream, my lower and upper body, so it's helped me out of people at this level. Is it hard little preparation for all the people that you've been kind of monitoring? Everything you need to go out there and play, but the team also has its two starting titles. What's the mindset of every single player? I mean, I just got to worry about myself and do everything. I can kind of prove myself and the coach here that I won the fight, looking to help the team win. Thank you, George. Especially, you know, being a senior, there's not that many games left, so you're starting for the opportunity. Two games left, I'll tell you the other side. Man, it's been a long journey. It's definitely been emotional when that last game comes, but it just focuss on this game. And yeah, I think I'm just going to enjoy the moment, really live in the moment and enjoy my time. Played at UC Jordan, and Jordan Hancock really disordered my falling out there. I would do describe he's being used in a lot of different ways. I would do describe the latest play. Yeah, he's played great.

3:31:52I mean, he's going in there, playing different positions, or making a play when he's in there. And yeah, I think that it says a lot about him to be able to play different positions. It makes plays when his number falls, so it's exciting to see. Anyone who's the idea is out of this, RPO, how do you mean your upside? What's the key for your spot? I'm going to take it to success, being successful, depending on the game. Yeah, I think just read your keys. I think that's the best way. Just read your keys and not let the RPO slow you down or make you play hesitant. And then you know execute that coach knows a game plan. We'll help us play. When you've obviously gone through a lot of interviews, what do you say to stop and then help you? Yeah, first of all, my obviously thoughts and prayers out the set, because I know it's like to be there. But yeah, like you said, it's definitely tough since you've been at the end of the year. I'm getting injured like that. But I mean, he's been so great. Obviously handling it so well. Big, he's already out here. He was out here supporting us at practice. And you know, yeah, I think the biggest thing to tell him is just, everything's going to be all right.

3:32:53Like it might seem like the end of the world right now at this moment. But it's going to be all right. Just continue to obviously be there for the team. But I think just lean on God. That's really what I do. When I see guys one day, I'm going to be something to be able to do. I already got no problem with my hunting bag. Yeah, it means a lot of sets, sets so much about set, the type of players, type of leader. If I mean that's a leader, that's a leader of our team. And you know, when he's going down, he could have just been at home right now. And it's always, when he's out here helping the team out, man, that says a lot about him. And we appreciate him for that. What's the key to covering a back show? I feel like that's something for our DB coaches. I'm not going to give away the secret, but yeah, that's some of our DB coaches that have been working with this one. When IGB transferred to your last year, when did you kind of notice he was going to have to bring the copments and the match to the secondary? Yeah, I mean, immediately IGB came in as a fierce competitor right off the bat. You felt my practice from his first practice to now, you still feel him. And always talking a lot of tries, always competing at a high level, never giving up.

3:33:56So yeah, I think IGB has been a great add to the DB group. Thank you. Yeah, obviously. And I think both teams have proven that, and that's why we're here. But they do an outstanding job. You know, and they've got some real veteran leaders, you know, Cross and Kaiser. I think I've been there. This is your six for both those guys. Watts and the secondary has been around for a long time. So they've got depth, you know, up front, second level and third level. They're really smart. Like you can watch their communication that goes on during the play. And you can see how in tune they are to what the coaching staff is asking to do. So that's a huge challenge for us on Monday going up against a really, really well coached defense. That has some really, really good players that have played a lot of football. You know, I think both teams have guys that have played a lot of football. And then experience has shown through through the playoffs. And then you see, you see, we'll make, we'll make the safety made on the first drive with the second half. Trying to get the ball to Jeremiah.

3:34:57Is that like an aggressive mistake for Will and when you're trying to get the ball to Jeremiah and try to involve your best player? Like, you're not excusing something like that, but is there almost like a okay like, we're trying to get the ball there and like kind of understand why he didn't win. Yeah, he just didn't see the linebacker underneath in the coverage. He read the top of the coverage really well. He didn't see the underneath part of the coverage. You know, so we discuss it just like we normally do between each series about what just transpired. And then what are we going to do next? And you know, the one thing about Will is he owns everything he does. Because if you don't own it, then you're going to make the same mistake again because you don't realize how you did it. He knew right away. He just didn't see the linebacker. You know, he felt like the top of the coverage was deep enough and Jeremiah had pushed them out for. He could throw that ball into them, but he didn't spot the underneath coverage. So, you know, it's something he'll learn from and hopefully the one thing I love about Will is usually doesn't make the same mistake twice. So, you know, let's hope he has that out of his system. Can we take problems? And he has that? So they obviously came into the season. Probably one of the best moments in the country. And then Morrison, he's not, he's been up all year. But Leonard Moore stepped up pretty well against Ben Sayon.

3:35:58So you should be curious about the loss on him with that whole secondary. Yeah, I think the whole secondary, you look at how much man they play and the reason they do it is because they can't. You know, and no one's really exploited that with them. So I think they all can cover. You know, so it's not like, well, just stay away from him and throw against this guy. I think all of them are really, really skilled. And I think how coordinated it is with the whole group, you know, that they all have an understanding of where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there. And they do a really good job with it. So I know they did lose a corner early in the season, but they've seemed to just continue to roll on defense. And the statistics show you that. Dave Olf, WSY, actually. Chip, all year when you're prepping a game, you know there's another game to seven more games down the road. This is the last one winner of lose. I'm curious, does that change anything in preparation, lateness, I snap, distribution? Is there anything different about knowing that you have no games like that for this one? That's a good question. I don't think we've talked about that one yet, but we certainly don't save things going into games saying, hey, this is a really good deal.

3:37:04Let's not run it because we want to run a three or four games down the road because you don't know who you're going to have and what you're going to do. You make your decisions based upon the personnel that's available that week. And then what's going to help you win that football game? And those are the same decisions that are being made now. So snap count going into a game. We don't really talk about that. The only time that ever comes up is when you're up and you're starting to think about substitute. And so if the score is 42-7 and the third, when are we going to get Donnie out? And when are we going to get Seth out? Because you hate to lose a guy when the score is 42-7 in a game because we do have multiple games to play after that. But that's the only time we've really talked about that. The other day that's delivered that after the game run, talking about that screen, said it was something that was so far from his mind. It's not even sure why you guys even practiced it. What went into the decision to dial out of there in that situation? Well, honestly, there was 29 seconds to go in the first half when we run our 25-yard line. So let's see if we can get something here on the first play. If we can, then we'll get into two-minute mode. But if we can't, then you're probably going to take a knee and go in at halftime.

3:38:06So we thought it was a safe play to run and see if we could pop something. And obviously it worked. But it worked because it's a pretty good player. So if you can get him into open spaces like we did, he can stick his foot in the ground and get north and south really, really fast. Noah Weiss got a lantern. How have you seen Jeremiah respond to the game that he had? What do you think that says about his maturity at his age? Yeah, he's been great. We practiced yesterday. And he was flying around excited about the opportunity to go play in a national championship. So he's always a forward-looking guy. What's the next challenge? And what do we get to do? And that's kind of what his mindset has been like. And that does speak to his maturity because he's always what's the next challenge. And I think that's one of the things I love about him. Over the right, Adam Cain, WBNF, kind of twofold. What was your reaction to Jack's side down? He said, yeah. Okay, sorry. What was your reaction to Jack's side down? Just excited. I mean, you know, in that situation to be where that drive was, you know, it's first and goal from the one.

3:39:11You have to back-to-back penalties. And then, you know, you're in a one-score game and they're tying it up. And we're talking about when we get the ball back, how much time is left on the clock. And then what can we do in regulation? And then for that whole series of plays, just kind of watching them unfold and what happened. But for Jack and the impact that he has on this program and to see that whole thing kind of just, I was kind of a story book happening right in front of him. But it was anytime our defense can score or weekend return, punts for touchdowns. Offensive guys get really excited. Joey Coffman, plums this bad. How much, or if at all, have you watched the last yours gaming in snow today? We're watching them. Is there anything they did in their coverage of Marvin Zilliancic, three catches that would be applicable, how they might try to take away Jeremiah? I don't think we looked at it that way, but we looked at that game and then we looked at every game they played this year. So, you know, they've played man and every game they've played. So, it's not like they're doing something special in one game over another game.

3:40:11So, and they've played some good receivers. You know, there's some teams they've played that have some really talented receivers. And they've done a great job against everybody whether it's Louisville, SC, people that throw the ball all over the place, they still have done a great job in coverage. And in the numbers, we'll tell you that. So, we got to be prepared for all coverages. And that's the other thing they do that don't just play one coverage. So, you know, they're going to mix it up. They try to keep you off balance. They try to keep the quarterback guessing. They bring different blitzes and attack your pressures in a really good manner. I think Al's background is an NFL guy, you know, being with the Lions and being with the Bengals has really shown there's a lot of NFL concept studies run there. And their players do a great job of adjusting on the fly too. So, because people try to confuse them and line up on different formations and move and things like that. And they always seem to sort it out. Dave, middle 24-7 sports. Chip, there's like this narrative out there that I've heard from people that Ohio State wouldn't be here if they didn't lose to Michigan. I'm curious to get your thoughts on that. That the Michigan game woke you guys up or got you motivated or made you angry. Do you agree with that or do you think that's nonsense? I've learned a long time ago as a coach that I'm not in the narrative.

3:41:14So, you know, I think we live in a week-to-week world. And that's how we've always approached things. And I think our week-to-week is just, it's the beginning of the week. And what do we do on a Monday? What's a Monday look like? What's a Tuesday look like? How's your preparation, all those other things? Then you go play the game. And you get about 20 hours to adjust to what happened, whether it was a win or whether it was a loss. And then you move on to the next game. So, the narrative part of it isn't something I think coaches really talk about. That this set up, that set up, that's, you guys are the experts at writing narratives. We're just trying to get it first down. So, I don't look at that from that perspective. All right, we're going to pause locally and we're going to meld into the world wide web. And take a few calls on Zoom. Let's open up with Dan Tortora. Dan? Coach, the decision to come over to Ohio State, just reflecting on that hindsight, 2020, and what you can say about this experience and the opportunity that presented itself from Coach Day.

3:42:15Yeah, it's been awesome. And I think just really, you think about as a coach the day-to-day, so your ability to, what it's like every day you're in the wooding, to be with this staff and everybody that's in this building, and then to be around these players daily basis is, it's what's made this thing really, really special. So, excited that we get an opportunity to be together for one more week, because this is an extremely close-knit group. I think the connection from the players to the coaches and players to players, coaches to coaches is really kind of special. And one of the reasons that we've had this success that we've had, so we're going to enjoy these last couple of days here in the wooding, and then get on a plane and go to Atlanta and play a game on Monday night. We're going to Kirk Bolts. Kirk? Yeah, Chip, on the Jeremiah Smith thing, I don't know if your game plan called for him to be an All-American decoy, or did Texas just do anything special to take him out of your offense? I've got Pete and his staff that did a really good job on the defensive side of some bracket coverages on Jeremiah,

3:43:18and I think we'll really recognize it. That's why Cornell had a bigger game. Our tight ends were really involved. Ameca was really involved. The running back was involved. So, you know, that's the one thing about here is we have more than one weapon at our skill position, so quarterback's got to figure out what they're doing, and then take advantage of it. And I thought we'll did a really good job with that. I mean, hey, Haygans from the Wall Street Journal, please. Hey there, Coach. One of the things I wanted to know is about Coach Brian Hartlein, and obviously it's clear that he has been in the exceedingly good position coach and asset to the offense, but one of the things that he has done really well is just develop these guys, you know, regardless of whether they're coming in as a four or five star recruit, he's sort of able to pull more out of them. And even that you've been around many different types of position coaches in your time, what does Coach Hartlein do that's different, or that makes him so good at that specific aspect of his job? Yeah, I think whatever the word is that's better than really, really good is what Brian is.

3:44:22So, he's as good a coach as I've been around in all aspects. He can do it all. He can recruit, he can develop players. He can put together a game plan. You know, his knowledge in the passing game is outstanding, we really lean on him a lot in terms of what we're doing from a past standpoint, but his ability to develop players, what he demands from them and individual drills, how he can explain to our players how you can apply what you're doing and individual drills to the game itself, and then watch that manifest itself is really special. But I think Brian is an outstanding football coach and really fortunate they got a chance to work with him this year. And our final Zoom call question Tony Erwin, Bucket Hartlein. Yep, with regards to you guys have been planning for 16 or 17 games since even before you arrived. When you did arrive, how quickly was that made to your attention in terms of like the running game, and how do you think Trey and Quinchon have operated in this split system?

3:45:25Because they both look as precious as they did against Akron. Yeah, I mean, we talked about it from the beginning what our long term plan was, because of how long the season was going to be, and really didn't have any evidence at the college level, because at the FBS level, you never played this many games, because it was never a 14-4 game playoff for you to get to the championship game. So, you know, we talked about this being a long season, and how do we do that? That was the reason they went out and recruited Qt, and he got here before I got here, but how do you distribute the carries between those guys? And they're eerily close and yardage right now. I don't know the exact difference between the two of them, but it's pretty close. I know it was one yard going into the Texas game, so, but both those guys are fresh. You're going to need all weapons, you're going to need all hands on deck. We knew this was going to be a battle of attrition, these 16, you know, playing a 16 game schedule. Obviously, we've lost a few guys in Seth and Jimmy, and just like everybody else, but the core of our guys are still here, and they're going to be fresh when we play on Monday. All right, back to Columbus. Joe Nujan, WCMH.

3:46:28I'm Donnie. Did not allow any pressures in Texas. How much progress is he made since early November to now in left tackle? Yeah, Donnie's done, I think, really been an unsung hero there in terms of what he's done, because switching from guard to tackle is not as easy as I think maybe some people think it is. It's a totally different game. A lot of times you're out there on an island by yourself. You're obviously, you're also protecting the quarterbacks backside, because Will is right handed quarterbacks, so that left tackle position is critical for us. But from where he stepped in and what he did, he's been outstanding. I think he was one of our, he was the offensive player of the game. Him and Trey, they shared that award this past week against Texas. So in this building, we recognize what he's done and how he's continued to develop. But I think it speaks to his leadership and his whole mission of why he came back here and how unselfish he is, and that permeates through the whole offensive line

3:47:28and throughout the entire offensive. And I think we all look at Donnie as our leader on this side of the ball. Step on Christy, Cleveland.com. You're talking about the fourth and two run earlier. How big was that play run before with Gita to gain a couple of yards? How much does that have done the way you can hold that next play? Yeah, it puts it in a whole different perspective. So are you making a, are you punting, you know, if you're incomplete on that? Or then if it's fourth and five, it's definitely a different play call than what we had an opportunity to call. So when you get into fourth and two, you know, you have the ability to run it or throw it to potentially pick up the first down. So that was big. And I think sometimes you look at games and look at plays that are, you know, sometimes they don't, they don't, they go on notice them. But his effort, because he got hit and the yards he made after contact to put it into fourth and two was, was huge. But that's, that's G. And he's done everything since I've been here to just whatever it takes for us to win a game. And whatever role you want me to play, I'll play it. And again, one of those senior leaders that has really stepped up in a critical situation.

3:48:31Bill Landis, Kings of the North. Jim, last couple of games. There's been a little off take for Quint Sean and yards after contact. Hit a nice block on the ball. He got to trade me on. He's kind of ping pong off people on those touch-n-alty score. What does his physicality bring to your offense? And I guess what's it say about him that he's bringing that mentality, even though he's not getting the ball, 25 times a game. Yeah, and I think he's brought it all year long like that. You know, you look at the run he had in the martial game. You know, with the unblocked linebacker, you know, comes to mind right away. And a couple of the other physical runs that, you know, where he set the tone. And I think our players kind of expect that from him, whether he's blocking or whether he's carrying the football. But you got to have a physicality, you know, and you get in to win the whole thing. You know, you're not going to win it by being a passive group. And I think it just sets the tone and shows everybody else that, you know, what those guys are going to do. You know, you look at his block on, on Trey's run on, on, on that play on Friday night against Texas. And I think that Trey was reminiscing on the block that Trey had for him against Penn State.

3:49:32You know, I think that it speaks volumes to both those guys that they, whether they're blocking, whether they're blocking for each other, or they're carrying the football in a critical situation down in the red zone. You know, we can count on their physicality and that they're going to deliver a blow to the defense, whether it's as a block or as a ball carrier. Dan, let me order a ship. When you just evaluate what Will's done this season as a whole, what's impressed you most about what he's done to get you guys to this point? I think his leadership and how he, he grown into that role organically, obviously, almost everybody on offense besides Q. And him, we're already here, you know, and so to come in and just go to work, you know, and I think the players respected his work ethic. And, and the time he put in and they watched him grow and develop. And, and the football party was when they first saw him in the spring to the football party that he is right now. You know, you can see him growing and leaps and bounds. He's fitting great with all of his teammates. But they noticed the things behind closed doors. How hard he works at the game. How much he studies football. How he puts ourselves and gives us an opportunity because he handles a lot of checks for us.

3:50:34And we do a lot of things at the line of scrimmage because he can have that on his plate and he can handle it. And I think his decision making has really allowed us to do a lot of different things, both run in, passwise in games. Watching him continue each week to, we can put more on his plate. And so we're always not a, we're never going to be a play behind because he can put us in the right situation. Has really been a joy as a coach to watch him do that. Bill, we're been with Columbus Disbash. When you guys lost Josh and, and Seth, I mean, most people probably thought as you're in a lot of trouble. Was that a narrative? Yes. Very much so. Very much so. I'm learning. Thank goodness we were just day to day. What, what, what did you do and Justin and Ryan and the players do to kind of get it together and not be a liability? I mean, it's schematically, mentally, whatever it might have been.

3:51:34Yeah, I think it's a combination of all of it. You know, when you now have different players, different personnel pieces in there. You know, what do they do well and how do we actually went that and then how do we kind of protect maybe what a weakness is on those guys because you got two different guys in there. So, you know, it wasn't at the same time with both those guys. So there was a transition there for a little bit when, you know, when Jimmy went down and, and, um, donnie moved out and Carson jumped into a guard and Seth was still there. You know, really kind of running the show and I think kind of helped us whether that storm initially. And then when we lost Seth up in Carson and, you know, and then starting to rotate the guards, you know, it was a whole nother thing. So, you know, kind of two separate things. But I think Justin deserves a ton of credit for what he did and how he, how he worked with all those guys. And I think they got a really good understanding of what we're trying to get accomplished. And I think our job is, you know, to try to put them in position and play and then let them go play. And I think they've done a really good job with that. So, you know, that's that speaks to the depth of this team. We knew it was going to be tested when you play this many games. But the fact that we could weather that speaks to really how that whole line and the cohesiveness of the entire group.

3:52:44So, and finally, Tim May, that would have been real. It can add just two fast. Number one, following up on that, Justin Friedto made it. One of the things that stood out to him was the way we'll stepped up in a leadership way with the offensive line when Seth went down. You were out there on the practice field or wherever it happened and stuff. But what did you notice from that dynamic also? A quarterback literally taking ownership of a situation there and instead of hanging heads on the opposite direction. No, I think it's a good point. I think one of the things is conscious of, you know, what's going on? He's very aware. And so not only did we lose a great player in Seth, we lost a great leader in Seth. So, you know, there was a little bit of a vacuum from a leadership standpoint. And so, we'll did a great job. I think between Will and Donny, you know, those are the two real leaders of those guys up front and bringing those other guys along with them. So, that was evident to us after Seth went down. That, you know, both Will and Donny kind of stepping up and filling that void with losing Seth.

3:53:48Because Seth was such a great leader from that group up front. He's a remington award winner, too. The other thing, like Tony Gurderman asked you this while ago, but I wanted to follow up on this aspect of what is it like as an offensive coordinator to be going in the last game of the year. And all of your weapons are available to you. It appears. And your offensive line is founded, Seth, over the last four games. What is that feeling like as you sit there in your office and look at your playbook, your pad or your computer, whatever you have your plays on, etc. Do you feel like the whole world is open to you? Create. I mean, what is that, what is that sense? You do until you turn the tape on and look at their defense and say, I don't know if that play is going to work against them. I don't know if that play is going to work against them just because of how good they are defensively. Not just the one thing in our week of preparation and going into it is just how much respect we have for Notre Dame's defense and what they can do and what they've done against everybody they played. You watch those guys play as a fan of football, you just kind of admire how cohesive that entire group is and then how hard that group plays.

3:54:55So credit to Marcus and Al for how those guys got those guys playing right now. The rest of the day, you've had an answer. I mean, if people do take this away from you, you've got that. Do you feel like you've got that going into the year? You're still one of the same. I understand exactly where you're saying but I don't know any coach that ever feels like that. I don't think there's any coach six days before the national championship that thinks I got this. Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did. No matter if anybody has a Jeremiah Smith or a Colonel T and a Mecca Bucke, for example. I know and we're really, really, really happy that we have them but we also have great respect for who we're going against and it's going to be a battle. You know, and I think that's the great part of it. You know, you have the two best teams in football play against each other. And it wasn't voted on that these two teams play. It was earned by both teams. So, you know, it's the opportunity to go against Marcus and Al and what they're going to put out there defensively. And then those players, you watch Caross and Kaiser and Watson, the rest of that group play. As a fan, I admire how hard that group plays on defense.

3:55:58So, and if you're a competitor, that's what you want to play against. You know, you really want to do you get an opportunity to play against the best. So, we played two SEC teams and get an opportunity to beat them. You know, we played the number one team in the country and we beat them. So, now this is the next challenge and the next challenge is an outstanding Notre Dame team. We're excited about the opportunity to go play it. I'm going to improve my hands on this technique. I'm getting a SC, you know, things like that. Both Chip Kelly and Ryan Day both talked a lot about communication getting better from big two. How did you see that manifest on the field like communication and how it improved? It was last week compared to the opening. We put a lot on older guys like Seth and Fry, you know, stepping up and communicating. You know, leading this offensive line and Seth Fry and now Donovan, you know. So, yeah, we allowed the older guys to lead and we followed the rules. Tigers was something that connects us about those big rounds. You guys started turning out. The same plus you had done. Did it beat off each other? Absolutely. I mean, when you see defensive, when you see defensive start arguing with each other and things like that,

3:57:04I mean, that makes it a lot easier, you know, to have those 10-11 plays around something. What was that like, just so I suppose you should be able to start feeling like you guys would feel like a better first game on. I was good quite good at that. I hope they didn't think that I was good at the second match. I mean, it feels good to rip off these runs because I mean, we put on so much work. I was in practice and, you know, seeing a broader team of that hard work. You know, these guys are so much better. So, you guys are sensitive to offensive line-wise as you've prepared this week with Donovan back in there. They're all hope for some really good this season. You know, it's not particularly Austin. It's just more of Donovan Jackson, preseason all-American, etc. I mean, join the group, you know. Donovan Jackson is a very good football player, man. When he's on the field, he makes his presence tough. I mean, we love to train him on my home. There's no margin, just go through and you know, okay. It's him, we know it can be. Yeah, there's a secret being. There was a sense of watching you guys last week. You know, or even more of a course, it felt like watching you guys.

3:58:06Maybe even if you know, or did it feel like that? Yeah, I mean, we put in the work during practice. It's really a hard coach day. Really challenged us to practice hard. Positions, coaches really challenged us to practice hard. I was just a result of it. But when it's rolling like that, what does it feel like being in the midst of that being? It's us. When you work hard for something and you're able to see like what comes out of it, like that's, there's no better feeling in that. Hi, Grant. Can you tell me what you're doing? I'm just trying to get it right. It's about the way you do it. No, I mean, I was really funny to see. I think it's going to be a great day. Maybe I'm going to get it right. Take a look at what has set Ben off from the practice you guys should have first your games. What's it been like playing X&H for the last two? He's, you know, he's really calm and stormy.

3:59:07You never see real panic and having a guy like that next to you. You know, you're having really played as many meetings for snaps. There's no one outside of that. I left him in the right. For our end set. Those guys, they do so much for this offensive line. People have talked about his intelligence really kind of showing up in the film room and on the field. Where have you noticed that intelligence and how has that helped you? Yeah, like I said, and crunch time, you know, when things aren't exactly looking like how we practice it, you know, having a guy like that, we'll do this, this, this, and then we execute it. Having a guy like that like this, there's none better than that. Hero? What you got? I'm very from this one. What's my favorite cake?

4:00:10Well, I love it. I like one of Canada people. Oh, no, that's not me. I almost came back to Cobblestone and go some more. Take a look at it Marshall. They got to come guys with a deep into the world that has big tin rottings. What do you see when you look at their tape and see 15, 7, a couple of those guys are pretty big. Yeah, those guys, they're real players. They're real players. You can sell their coach well. They go hard, you know, they're real players over there. We've been practicing since the best of our abilities, you know, in the spec. And I'm prepared for that. You see, they made Virginia Tech last year. They're different. They're taking the game. They play a good ball over there and, you know, their defense plays hard. They challenge teams, you know, sometimes they might be overlooked and they still challenge teams.

4:01:10And so they come out there with the mentality like no matter who's in front of us. I'm going to go home now. What has been the biggest challenge? I mean, the actions right there right in front of you right now, which is kind of a good thing and kind of a bad thing. You should shake off the rest, you know, hitting back in it. Inside. You talk to your success. Yeah, I mean, I hear from Chris every once in a while trying not to bother him too much, but it's always good to hear from guy like that, guys like the one. Even Matt Jones will turn him back. All right, Tyler, thank you. I'm going to have more of the beer right now. I think KJ here is going to answer that. I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys think?

4:02:10I go against every day. This man is strong. I'm talking about like, you get the basketball field. You can just do a thing. He recalves really fast. Just the whole way I shake his head. And he got the grip. He doesn't give up on the play. Like you said, he's going to go in there and watch the film. He's doing everything better. You should see the 100 feet of my money. But when I just won, you knock out this night, you can see the improvement of the game. You know, if he was far off round, or I'll be like, you know, you're like, you sound like a coach, man. You sound like a coach. Chip Kelly's influence changed your mind about maybe like the idea of tack over his garden. Obviously, his offensive predilectionist would have like, offensive blind play. He's running here. Has he been a part of you settling into Garth? I want to say maybe I don't know, but I mean, when I'm pretty sure you got the job, I was really excited because I'm one of those guys who's the tempo. I can run with the tempo. You know what I mean? I'm playing basketball all life and set up football. And I feel like just the fast pace offense that we're running really fits the guys we have right now.

4:03:14I'm really excited for that. I know you can throw a football at 65 yards, but can you kick a football at 75 yards like Lincoln? No. Probably question. Lincoln, what's your question? How is your, your roommate at the beauty? He's a blessing, man. I can't complain. He's a great guy. What's his name? His name's Lincoln. Keen Holtz. He's a cleaner. Ooh, who's cleaner? I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of pick each other as roommates because we're very clean. We don't like our rooms really messy. Well, it's true though. It's true. They're real pretty clean stuff. Luke, are you still cross-training at Tag Bullsum or have you just been all guard this break? Oh, so far I've been all guard. I really don't know. Like I said, I'm taking it practice by practice. I could end up being back at Tag Bull I could not, but you know, I'm just really focused in on this past practice and connection with some. You've got to be in a lot of pressure. Yeah. Oh, that mean a lot. You know, you put a lot of work in to play here.

4:04:15And it's been a dream just for being in Ohio kid. It's from a Ohio kid's perspective. I mean, that's the biggest wish possible. I would say that's going to be pretty cool. What was it like just last year at first game getting on the field for the first time? It didn't feel like it was going to be a weird answer, but it felt like I was playing a game yet. If that makes sense. I was pretty locked in. I felt like just no anxiousness, no stress, no nothing. I just went in that first game. I was like, shoot out in here now. It's time to roll. You know, it didn't really hit me. I was like, it didn't hit me after. I was like, what would you feel there? And if like, get out there at Indiana, I just like, honestly, I don't know. I felt less nervous. I didn't high school and that makes no sense. What did you see in the back of the box in the sky? I mean, I'm learning from Josh Ann Austin. I think, prior to that, when my biggest role model is here, my bigger brother, my first game over here. Tell him I'm a PD. I don't want to say it. PD, okay. No. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, PD and Austin, those are my guys, man. I mean, even Miles too.

4:05:15I mean, all three of them. Those are my roommates and they're progressing every day as well. And I'm excited to see where they can get to. And I'm excited to play on the field with them. Oh, yeah, he's been really helpful. You know, just keep in my mind, just settled and straightforward on the next play. It's a great question. Like I said, I mean, I just need to stay consistent in my work. I think that's the biggest thing for me is just to be consistent and worry about the next play. Actually, that's the first complaint I was good. I was just rolling. Austin is a weird meme. I was trying to strike. I was trying to say it was also the first start. Yeah. You, yeah, it's, but like, I prepared well and camp and practice all week. And I was, I was ready. Um, yeah, I have two multi-year starters. I did a lot. I mean, I couldn't ask them, hey, what we got here, but I was prepared well.

4:06:17I mean, I was telling Jimmy and said, like, hey, we're going to the blocks. I'll be emotional. It's like, what's the guy from Ohio? What does it mean? It started to mean it. It was always my dream to come here and play and start. And having that like, I mean, I just like keep going, keep building those days and go games and keep building. What a much younger Austin, don't you, if you keep posting me with that? No, not really. I don't think even I told him like, wait, I asked him, yeah, younger self, even community, I wouldn't believe that now having a couple of starts to me. Yeah. Awesome. Has this happened faster than you? I think it doesn't need to be with our community. I think it's because you're technically a softball player who plays a richer question. No, I knew that year two, I was going to see you some playing time. Now starting week one, year two, I didn't see that, but like, I was ready in spring ball. Like, I knew I was going to play some softball players.

4:07:17But so. What does it mean to you to not only get the opportunities in the play, but to like keep playing well enough now, coaching staff trust you. About there, whatever situation. I'm going to earn that. So early on the year. I guess it shows like my preparation, my hard work and just everything I put into this. And I just finally show up on a field. There are moments. The top season in the end of this spring. I'm going to realize that you could play at this high level. I'll have with the ones. You know, if you need to. Yeah, the definitely was in training camp. I mean, blocking highly can tie every day. Like it feels, it feels a lot of confidence in doing it well and not like getting balled or anything. So there's defense attack wasn't that was the guy that you did in this spring. Hero in Jason Moore in Taiwan. All those guys. Pretty much anyone on the deepened line gets your face out of time. So, and came back as well. So yeah. I was going to put a lot of my work.

4:08:17I was more collected. How about the stability and the greatness of the line? How much can he help you? He helped me a lot. And I'm proud that he's our starting center not someone else's. But I mean, he's like the captain of the line. He's another voice on the line with guys like Josh Fryer and Josh Simmons dining and Tiger. That means another voice and another captain. Look, ways of having the men are with this much experience. Help. You're in the middle of the line. I mean, a lot of people tell you like before the play was going on. Like how to block someone like what you need to do. And it helps a lot. Tiger is talking about how calm he is. How much does that benefit of you? You have a guy who's kind of been there and seen a lot of us. It makes us more calm. Especially me and Dave, that's our first start. So like we were up here with what's said. Like he brought us down. I mean, we were like five. Like our emotions weren't high.

4:09:17We were settled in. Is that like something he tells you? Is that something you pick up on by how he's acting? How do you kind of sense what he's trying to do? It's by how he's acting. And what I mean, him. We're on the side of him. Both Josh Donnie. Like he was telling us like, hey, we're cool. Like we got it. But it's pretty much like everyone. Oh cool group. How much do that? As a first time starter, how much did you end that? Me a lot. That was my first time ever using iPads. We didn't use the iPads in high school. I mean, you can say like try to remember the defense. You can come on a silent and bring up. We're playing the help of really not. Probably the first or second, but after that, I thought we'd say all right. Awesome. Thank you very much. You're not growing. So it's just experience. Kelly and Stiff, WSYF. Going back to Denver, you mentioned his ability to bounce back.

4:10:19How have you seen him approach this week? Particularly. Same as always. Same as always. You know, professional, resolved, competitive. You know, Denzel has always been the same. He's always competing. And no matter who we're playing, you know, he's trying to get better. Jeremy Birmingham, podcast. I know the statistical output of that Oregon game in October is in an anomaly for sure on the season, but it was sort of an inflection point that seems, at least from the outside, looking in on some structural things within the defense. How confident are you that it's fixed based on the fact that in the last seven games, you really haven't played someone that that would be equivalent to what Oregon did to the offense. Yeah. I'm always confident that it's fixed.

4:11:19You know. And then, of course, you know, you always stay up at night concerned about other things. So it's a process. Obviously, we have to go out there and do it. You know, it's... Every game day is a test. You know, it's a test. Every game day is a test. So no matter what is done previously, you know, you don't get any credit for that. You got to go out there and prove yourself. So, David, tell me where is that? Andrew's a guy, obviously, who's played more and more. Why did you see for him when he arrived on campus, that legendably he could play early on at this point? And what did you see for him now, when he did get on campus? Yeah, he's got great strength and competitiveness. You know, he's one of those guys who comes in early and things don't seem too big for him. You know, a lot of guys need that transition time.

4:12:22He's a guy that, you know, he'll make mistakes, but he'll learn from them and he really lets it roll off his back. And that's what you need to learn to play early at this level. You got to keep your fire. You got to keep your intensity. And you got to know you're going to make mistakes, you know. And not let him get you down. I think that can hamper a lot of young guys early because you're going to make mistakes. But, Edrick, there's a guy who's got a great personality and great energy and he just keeps going. Dr. Berry, WBNS. Jim, you have said that you have great confidence in your defense. What gives you the confidence? What's the room like? Do you see a edge with your guys? Yeah, there's an edge. There's veterans. You know, I think that always gives you confidence when you have veterans. There's no panic, you know. If we give up a play or something negative happens,

4:13:25I mean, there's no panic. Guys know how to fix things. There's a lot of communication back and forth. You know, there's a lot of resolve to do whatever it takes to win the game. You know, no matter what happens during that game, our guys don't flinch. You see that they want this rematch? I mean, if this, I mean, obviously, you got to beat them the win the national title would get to the next level. But is this a game you guys have been pointing to that you want? I mean, you always hope for a second shot when you don't do well. And that's life, you know. A lot of times you don't get them. So we got it. We have a chance to do better and be better. But in terms of the week to week process, I think, you know, when you have a team that's together with veteran leadership, the week to week process stays the same.

4:14:26You know, no matter who we're playing, the point has always been for us to be at our best to get better from the week before, get better from earlier in the season and keep improving. Awesome. We're podcasting. We've seen games with JT at his best, wrecking opponents' jacket at the end of last year. But it feels like there haven't been many, if any, games where they were both as productive at the same time as they were last week. Is that a fair assessment? Would you agree with that? Can you think of anything else that was close from those two together? Yeah, I mean, in my mind, they're both great players and great young men. And you couldn't find better guys. So I probably don't see it kind of the way that you guys do. Because, you know, I'm seeing every play and every block and, you know, run game and everything that goes into it. I know, you guys with fans tend to just see the highlights, you know.

4:15:27But they've been consistent throughout my tenure here. There were been a lot of Columbus Dispatch. The word that was used out of the Oregon game was re-engineering for the defense. I'm not expecting you to divulge too many details, although be happy if you did. What really did change structurally, maybe psychologically, whatever? What was the big difference after that game? And how hard was that for you being a veteran coach and having to reassess where you did that, like, games? Yeah, it wasn't hard at all. I think if you're going to survive in this profession and grow, not just survive, but grow and get better. You always have to look at yourself. You have to, you know, see things that happen on the field and go back to how did I coach that? How did I prepare for that? You have to take responsibility.

4:16:27So, probably when I was younger, that was hard, you know, because you're, you know, you take it personally. I think now my job is to not be emotional about it. My job is to fix it, you know, that's my job. So, you got to evaluate it and you got to, you can't blame the players. I think that's the biggest thing, you know. You have to go back to how you're coaching in your process. So, you know, in terms of the changes, you know, if I could write them all down for you, I would, but I wouldn't anyway. I mean, I wouldn't anyway do that. But I don't think I could, you know, I think it's a, it's a, it's just a matter of seeing

4:17:29what's wrong, what happened and fixing it. Steve, it means, believe it or not, it's calm. I think the organum is the only thing that Germain didn't play in. I don't know if you remember what went into that decision to just stick with Dintel and Davis and the Ed, and the growth that you've seen from Germain, that maybe a lot of you guys think that he's maybe more ready to play in a game like this. Yeah, I don't recall what went into that, but I know Germain should play and we trust him. So, you know, he's been getting in there more and, you know, we consider him a starter, you know, kind of like Cody Simon was for the first two years I was here, you know, he's that next guy, but we can put him in the game at any time and we need to, and if anything happens, he could play the whole game. All right, we're going to pause the live portion of this press conference and go to the Worldwide Web. I think we have a question there from Joey Kaufman from the Columbus Dispatch, join?

4:18:29I don't understand. Oh! Hi Jim, I'm still live. Just with my... Where are you? We're playing California. But, hey, what did I ask about Dylan Gabriel and his ability to avoid sacks is good in his ability to kind of avoid pressures turning into sacks? What do you remember about that first match with him to make some tough in that area and just how confident you feel about your pastures being able to get home in those situations now versus where it was not over. He's really good at that, you know, so whether it was our game or any game, you know, you have to have a plan for that. And, you know, we're going to have a plan for it, but, you know, I think the fact that of the matter is he's going to get out, you know, he's going to try to make plays with his feet.

4:19:44And then deliver the ball or scramble. So we have to be very aware of it in both the coverage and the rush. We're going to stick with the Zoom call. We have an Andreas Soto. Andres, you're on. Hi Dylan coach, I'm on desktop from the LA Times. JT has really been one of your anchors defensively along that B line. What does he do that specifically that helps set the tone for you guys up front? JT does everything. I mean, you couldn't ask for a better player in terms of the combination of skills that he has, you know, both in the run game, the past game and making outstanding plays. So he does it all and he does it with a very consistent demeanor and leadership skills. And, you know, everybody looks up to him, including me. He's just an all round great player and a great person.

4:20:52How about the Cameron P. Robinson from the athletic camera? Hey Jim, I know organs often to a little different than some of the ones that you guys have played this year. But I mean, both Indiana Tennessee this year have been pretty explosive in the past game. And you guys were able to slow them down. You haven't given up a lot of explosives since that game. What do you think changed for you all or is it just just a mix of pressures and everything we're kind of working at once? Yeah, it's all in the mix. You know, you got to apply the mix and we talk about explosive plays all the time. So I think maybe when you get burned by summit becomes real, you know, even more real for you. So, you know, there's just been a continued emphasis on it. Okay, well, I'm back for the team. Maybe we're all Spencer. Let him in real. Yeah, Jim, I think you can't not have played the most. He's ever played against the right team. I probably just do it with something second half, something you do. But what have you guys seen in him and his growth and things you guys want to have in one of the feelings and put it along there?

4:22:01He's really talented, really talented young man. And you know, he's moved himself into that position through it through his work ethic and things he's shown us in practice and in games. He's moved himself into that area where you know, he could be a starter and he's earned it. I think it's a good penalty at all, but obviously the one that he had on Saturday, the question of going, yes. Do you like appreciate that almost even though he gets called for it, that he's being aggressive and makes that kind of mistake rather than being like a timid guy in that kind of atmosphere? He didn't do anything wrong. He didn't do anything wrong. So yeah, we highlight his effort. I mean, that's a really tough call because you're into the quarterback.

4:23:09So it's one of those things that's like, okay, I'm into the quarterback. If he pulled the ball down and I landed on him, that wouldn't be a penalty. I mean, so if I'm here, okay, well, pull it down, sack, that's not a penalty. But release the ball and then it's a penalty. So it wasn't late, it wasn't dirty, it was clean in my eyes. So we highlight it for sure. I think for a couple more, Tim May, Letterman, or on. Yeah, by the way, I think it's ACC officials again. Just, that's what Spenstone anyway. I call him three safes. Jordan Hancock, I count that group. Talk about this a little bit before, but going into this game compared to that sixth game, how much more do you feel free to do things with those guys? What I'm saying, I mean, those three guys, Caleb and, and late them especially. And I guess what was the lesson learned and safety use in that first game?

4:24:10I can't give away all of that. But you're right. You're right. We've grown Jordan a little bit, right? So he's able to do more things. So I think you're right. We're able to do more things. So those guys has really come on in the last six games from your opinion, Jim. Where they all three playing at a great level. I mean, just, yeah, they've been solid. They've really been solid. I mean, I can't, you know, I think they've all been great. So I think that's one of the most important, Bill Landis, Kings of the North. Jim, to the point of developing Jordan to do more things, it does seem like you're able to do a little more kind of three high structures where Caleb is in the middle. And sometimes he looks like he's playing middle linebacker. What is it about Caleb's skill set, I guess, that allows you to perhaps unlock some more with your safety. Yeah, exactly. I mean, I know you guys really watch the film and analyze it. So yeah.

4:25:19Yeah, I mean, you have a guy like Caleb Downs. You know, a lot of times you don't want to get him removed from a position to make plays, right? Because Caleb is a guy who can track the run and play the pass. So in that kind of setup, you kind of keep him closer to the action. And he's a guy that we need to make plays and he can't in the run in the past game. I guess what got you to the point where you sort of evolved to doing more of that? I don't know that we saw a whole lot of the first half of the season. You know, again, looking at how we can do things better. I've done it in the past. Just wanting to get him involved more too. He's a guy like I said, who can make a lot of plays and make a lot of things, right? He can make a lot of people, right?

4:26:21So you think about how to get him involved more and that's one of the ways to do it. Coach, thank you very much. You've been playing a photo high level for a long time and helped with the value of getting five or you know what that means. You know, especially with how long the season is going to be, it's not going to take five. It's going to take six, seven, maybe eight, hopefully not eight, but they could. So I think it's invaluable that we had those experiences together. The first five have to be able to do it in the first six or seven have to be able to do it too. So that you mentioned being like one block away on some of those sides. It's a bit of a new trend in your career. Like how long does it take for an offensive line to convert that and not be just one block away? Is it just kind of a randomness with every season with every team? Kind of randomness. We just have to keep going and you know sometimes when you miss one block it's kind of like go crap. I knew I was supposed to do that. It's just a matter of doing it. I don't know. Does it feel close though? Yeah, I mean the way the guys approach each day to prepare for the game.

4:27:23I think we're getting closer to that and it's game one. We got you know a few good games to you know really work on that and I'm not our technique and our chemistry. What it sounds like and it seems like you know watching guys too is it's a lot of coachable things and a lot of things that can be addressed in the film group rather than just guys getting beat out of the game. Would you that how you would assess it as well? It's just guys I mean we're coached to do we have the techniques we have the toolbox to do it. It's just a matter of doing it. What's it like having will being so a face is a quarterback to you to escape the sac when he needs to make plays on the run as a passer? What's that like having a quarterback? Yeah, it really helps. It definitely helps the offense line look better. You got a guy that you know that's just so experienced like that being able to avoid the rush as long as you're playing hard. You have faith that the guys back there's not going to get sacked so you just keep blocking through the echo of the whistle. Good things will happen to the align. Are you? I think I played decently well for being the first game but there's a good thing is there's a ton of things to work on.

4:28:28It's definitely not a finished project. I've never any of got it on the o-line but there's definitely a ton of things. You had a pump, a stamp, the one time you double clutch did I do? It was just a matter of communication thing. For you how have you felt your command and leadership like expressed in that first game? Are you where you want to be with that and I guess coordinating the protection everything that goes to? From a leadership standpoint I'm just challenging myself to be the guy that somebody can emulate. I've had leaders in the past that'll just yell yell yell yell. So hey we got to go harder go harder but he's not the one going the hardest. So I'm really just trying to put an emphasis on that for myself. Be the guy that people can emulate and when I say something I want it to mean something. So I have to put myself in the position to have that role. I think it's a different game. It's a high stadium. It was awesome.

4:29:28The school session was awesome. I walked in there and I was just so grateful to be here. I started tearing up at how exciting everything was and it's a blessing to be here and it's a blessing to be in this environment. It's seeing all the fans walking to the stadium. It's incredible. I'm still just going to view a new straight walk. We've been moving and got tacked and the rest are kind of what is that dude with the online run? It's definitely motivating. I'm not sure how much you weigh in or 220 whatever. When a guy like that can do it, hopefully guys that are 300 pounds can do it. I didn't see it. They ran an internal stunt and I was blocking the line back of this way all of a sudden I hear yelling and I was like what the heck? He got up and started screaming. Running backs that can be involved in protection like that. It's big. After three or four of those pops, those linebackers are going to be coming in and running down trying to get the quarterback. They're going to be like, oh crap, where's the running back at? I've got to avoid him before I get to the quarterback. Thank you very much.

4:30:29I appreciate you all. Size is the cause of the line. Being able to develop as a player. Obviously not going into super wide out now because I've played those games. I've played it team of North. I guess here against Penn State. I played out Wisconsin now. Sorry to play Hattenord name, which is an electric. So being able to develop that skill of being calm and kind of storm has been really developmental for me. And we can put that, especially this next year, you know, playing a new gene in Penn State and all those big places like that. It'll be useful. I'm going to be able to help him. I'm going to be able to help him. I'm going to be able to help him. I'm going to be able to help him. I'm going to be able to help him. Yeah, and like being as young as I was is very hard to kind of understand because looking at a guy like Luke Wuppler, you know, a Jersey guy, a big tough rug. You know, I want to be like that, but I'm not, I'm not that yet. And I think trying to be that kind of like bigger than I was at the time. Looking back on it wasn't really kind of the best for me.

4:31:31Like obviously playing was super awesome. It's just for me, it was more of a developmental year and looking into that as I'm going to grow a lot from this and looking back on that. I was going to do some mistakes. I'm like, there's no way I'd make that right now. There's no reason why I would do that, but I just needed that to develop into what I had today. So I'm super grateful for it. You know, I've been in a lot of trouble here early too. I've been in a lot of places. I was in a lot of trouble. I was in a lot of trouble. I was in a lot of trouble. Yeah. In my mind, I felt prepared. Looking back now, you're like, wow, that kid building, you know anything. But I think just the confidence I had, not only in myself, but like the guys around me, like Donnie and Matt, and leaning on their years of expertise and how much they've gone through has really helped. Because there would be sometimes, I would be looking at them, like I don't really understand this. And there would be Donnie or Josh Fryer, but I'm like, no, this is what we're looking at. I'm like, okay, that makes a lot more sense now.

4:32:31To help me become kind of the point of the line and stuff like that to make those kind of calls that we needed. Push Fryer always says, you know, the best FIBO play. That's regardless of the position. And I don't really have any like here or there when it comes to what position I, if I can play, I'll be more than happy whatever I'm at. But you know, the best FIBO play. And I think it's a really good job facilitating. And rolling as a different position and stuff like that. So I'm not really sure what they have in store for us, but now we'll see to the end of the spring and then going into the summer. Because all that can change as well. Currently I've been all centered. You mentioned that you're under size. What's your weight at now? Weight in today at 298. So I'd like to bump that up to 300, like 300 feet. I'm going to do a little bit more. I'm going to do a little bit more. Weight in today at 298. So I'd like to bump that up to 300, like 300, like 300, if I could. Like a real 300, not drinking gatorage.

4:33:32Trying to get up to 303. But that probably the end goal that really getting my legs into that leverage. Going ahead and skies like, you know. What has been like a bolting up as since you got here where you are now? You can ask here, or he's my roommate. He's been force feeding the kitchen social. I was just doing that, drinking and weight protein shakes, getting in touch with Kailer. Artificial science, her and Zoe are super awesome. Kind of they've developed a good plan for us to get up to that weight. Because, you know, if you can play heavier and more in your legs, like why won't you, you're kind of leaving money at the table. And I think for me last year I was like, I really struggled with that. Kind of discipline of keeping my weight up and playing like way, way lighter than I should have been. Like two of these weight too crazy. And I think that this year, like developing with coach making stuff like that, it's like real weight. It's not like kind of fake water, we water you weight. It's like real like I can play my legs now a lot more. So you were kind of giving too any time plus here?

4:34:32But I was really low. That was like the beginning of your back up. I got it back up obviously really fast. I was like, that's what basically you try. I don't know if it was that because I had all that like help on the line with me. I wouldn't say it was a trial by fire, but it was definitely a big learning experience. Especially for a young guy who wouldn't do it not playing a single snap. I remember I was so nervous before the Indiana game. I'm like literally shaking him like tearing up and stuff. And I'm like, oh my, I have real, you know, you know, you're going into it. You think like I'll put all this work on I should be there. And then you like I said, you go back and you watch it tape this year. I'm like, what what am I doing? So I think it's like it's such a good developmental year for me that I'm super so grateful for that experience. And then going into this year trying to learn off that and learn off of learn this spring into the summer. I think it's going to be really good.

4:35:37Mostly just playing in my like height and playing in my leverage. I would always have a problem with like really tight ankles and playing like tall on my toes. And whenever I got high hips and like, I'll be like, that's when I get snagged and tossed. And then just like more recognition of what's going on having the game slow down with you. Because the more you grow, you kind of feel like the game obviously doesn't really slow down. It's going to be a faster every year. But it starts to slow down a little bit for you. So like, you just kind of see last year and be kind of like, jeez, you're kind of figuring out what I'm doing. And then that's where I end up in those bad situations. But this year it's more like film study and more study with the coaching and stuff like that. I can find myself in better positions of power and making the right blocks. Is this not 100% knowing exactly what you're doing? And that's not a coaching problem. That's not obviously it's a me problem. But it just comes with rapid and comes with experience when you haven't had that before. How do you have noticed that I've got some good news or what's going on? Uh, jeez, I kind of have a rough word for it.

4:36:38But it's just kind of like, you know, you're an indecisive, as a bit better word. When you know, when you know you're 100% ready to make this block, you play so much faster. And this year when I've been able to do that, I played obviously off-essing. I'm going to go right down to 20. How many times do you think, and what does it take to perfect that? Uh, I think we read the least, I don't know how many times I practiced over the weeks that we had off. I mean, just came down to, you know, they pressed me. We were taking a shot. That's what they told me. The week we was off. And he told me, her before they gave it a locker room, I just got to give you a shot. And that's what he did. And I just made a play. And the first game against Oregon, just how tough was that challenge against their secondary? I know you have to finish them in the game, but you guys make plays all day long against them. Just what, what's your thought about the challenge those guys gave you? Uh, I say the challenge is going to be, you know, a good challenge. They have some great global guys there. Jabal Muhammad number seven, a Nikoari, a other corner of my nine over there.

4:37:39They're a great global guys. I mean, probably the best we go see all year for sure. We just got a good name, you know, B.O. Ohio State. That's all. Tony Nuretman, fuck I had a little bit. Derby, so why don't you not open? I don't know. Probably wouldn't hold a team on me, I should say. I mean, I'm always open for me, for sure. Me just, no, throw the ball to my area. I'm going to find a way to make a play as I always say. Step on Christ Nick, leave it on dot com. You talked earlier about, you know, some of the great athletes that you got challenged when you aspire to be like, I guess, where's that confidence kind of come from for you? How long have you had that confidence that, you know, you have the ability to be one of the greats in this sport? I mean, a lot of people tell me that I'm going to be great at what I do, since I was about going to high school. A lot of people tell me that, me just, you know, football is all I know, and that's all I really want to do.

4:38:40I'm going to live, breathe, sleep, football. Like that's all I really care about. Don't care about everything outside of football. Like, football is all I know, and I just want to play football rest my life. Thanks for all, bro. Letterman, bro. You seem like you have a role where you try to connect on some of those defaults throughout the year. You'll be able to finally do those in that moment. That was kind of carry that forward, was that? What was it say about the way that you guys have been able to continue to progress? Or just to the chemistry? I mean, just, you know, the weeks that we had all, we were just working on deep shots because they tell us, uh, the means that we have, uh, we got to take shots down and feel, um, we just got to connect on them and, you know, will tell me before, uh, before the games, like I said, um, you just got to throw the ball out, then just give me a chance, and I'm going to make a play for you. That's what I, that's what you told me, and I just got to make a play for you. Adam King, don't be a bad ass. We can all joke, we can all talk about the expectations and the start of this, become, you know, you were just 13 games. How do you handle that, I mean, through your disappointment, how do you take all these expectations, you know, when you step on the field,

4:39:41then you're always open and still go out there and play? Uh, I mean, expectations, I mean, I can't know how you're staying for a reason. That's what I wanted. Um, when it be challenge, I wanted the expectations, expectations, I should say, um, I mean, Coach Hotline just helped me, uh, throughout the whole year, just preparing me for each game, each week, uh, a mega booker, uh, Cardinal Tade, Brendan Enders, really the whole receiver on, uh, I mean, uh, stuff I don't really know about, uh, it just helped me throughout the whole week. And, you know, I can't really say it's all on me because my talent is, but they really been a big part of the reason I'm having the season that I'm having for sure. Andrew Gillett, what do you mean, Doc? Jeremiah, over a thousand years, 12th, 10th, 10th, 10th, and your first year, when you look back at your freshman year, what was the most difficult part about adjusting to the college game? What was the part that you had, you know, the hardest part about trying to train this one? Uh, learning that playbook. Uh, a playbook is something else, uh, just coming in, uh, spring ball, uh, me just new plays in every week, I'm like, well, what is this? Like, this new plays every day in Coach Hardline, like, you,

4:40:43you go, you go to be good, uh, we got, you know, summer fall camp, you go to be great. So, I mean, just, you know, that's it. That's definitely what's the hardest part to learn the playbook and, uh, a lot of other things, I have to say for sure. How long does it take to feel comfortable to playbook? Uh, my, I'm pretty, I'm pretty sure I got it down, Pat right now, but, uh, net season, I really want to learn everything, the H, Z, uh, yeah, I really want to learn everything in the, uh, playbook for net sure, for sure. That might be 24-7 sports. You mentioned, you know, how many guys it might take for you to not be a little bit. So, when you are one-on-one, and Will's talking about when he sees you, he's one-on-one. What is going through your mind as you wind up and realize, there's one guy covering you. Wind, that's all I could say. I mean, as a coach hard-law, uh, we do something like, in a hotel, uh, Friday night before the year, he asked me like, a question, like, you get one-on-one, something like that, he asked me, uh, what do you do? I say, wind, and everybody just start laughing. I don't know where I be like,

4:41:43it's true, like, you got a wind, you're one-on-one, up, out of the blue. So, yep. Are you familiar to the right, Bill Landis? King's of the North. Jeremiah, did you move to your round? I was going to send a seat to the point where you get a couple matchups against linebackers. What goes through your mind when you find yourself matched up against a linebacker? Uh, I just started laughing in my head a little bit. I mean, linebackers can't really cover receivers like that, so I just know, like, it's, I'm most likely going to be open. But, you know, they just try to move me around a lot, because, you know, people try to bracket me when I'm outside just alone by myself, so that's why they're moving me around a lot. Or, like, the Alabama Horn, the Lansford. Jeremiah, you mentioned the most difficult part of your freshman campaign, is they'll learn in the playbook. What has been the best part so far? The best part? Uh, just being in a room with a great group of receivers, uh, me just going out there competing, um, each and every day, learning from the best,

4:42:45uh, making a book of Cardinal Teja, learning from them guys, I should say, that's been the best part of learning from Coach Hartlin. Um, just gaining more knowledge, um, that I could use over the next two to three years that I'm here, I should say. Okay, we're going to wrap things up with a, uh, question from our Zoom call. Joey Kaufman, Columbus, this back. Uh, Jer, Jer, Jeremiah, how much, um, has, has, have you thought about the, the, the way the working game ended with the, for you, uh, and I covered with the passing experience call, is that, but on your mind at all, is you kind of get ready for, for this game and what are your memories of that calling? You're feeling about that? Uh, yeah, I think about our call probably every day. Um, I mean, just, no, this is a crazy call. I mean, just, I mean, the, the DB was holding me. I'll just clear this hands. I guess receivers can't be physical in football anymore, but DB's got hold, 10 yards, 15 yards down the field. So, I mean, I mean, it's behind me. I just know how, you know, the move here and now, um, when the DB is grabbing me, I just know how to move now.

4:43:47You know, can't be, I guess, can't be physical as receiver and call the football anymore. But, um, we'll just see how things play out this game. Jeremiah, thank you very much. Uh, well, I wasn't seeing eye-dice in certain areas and certain aspects, uh, with, with just, with my, uh, coach heart and, with coach day. But we, like I said, we cleared that up. Even though it took some time and that's what I had to do to get that and that's what it was. But I mean, we're pretty much past that now. We're just really moving on getting into strangers and really giving them all for them and giving them all to the team. We're at least three open spots in our top four. You also have to do a special year of situation. Probably not soon taking control of your brother. Did you just not see maybe the smoothest past that you know, to the field? Um, no, most definitely, um, I feel like I'm a very talented guy and I can compete here.

4:44:51Uh, and I can compete anywhere in the country. And I just feel like, uh, I just wanted to be valued somewhere and, uh, just really seen, uh, what I was doing and not really taking for granted. And I mean, uh, like I said, when I have them talk to coach Dan coach heart, uh, it was nothing taken for granted. It just the past got at me on and I just really had to get clarity and see that. And once I did see that, uh, I hit the ground running from there and it's just been nothing but great vibes and great energy in the building. And even my teammates are welcoming me back with open arms and it's been even closer bond with them. So I mean, uh, everything happens for a reason. And I felt like that was pretty good reason for me to do something like that and just pretty much have a company. There's a lot of things that you're recruiting that probably sound good, right? Right. But then like you get here, you see what that actually means. Yeah. Is that an icon for versus like when you're hearing versus actually experience what's actually necessary to be able to move up and pecking for you? Oh, yeah, most definitely. Like we say in our room and coach heart priests every day in our room is like, you got to be uncommon and uncommon.

4:45:55And that's the definition of a state can't have a bad day or a month of best athletes in the world and most of the players in the country. So I mean, just how you feel like hearing that sounds good. It sounds hard, but even being in that and being in them shoes or being a player and actually going through that, it gets real. Absolutely, it gets real. Uh, this day is your doubt yourself. There's days that you second guess yourself. But I mean, it's just all part of really just saying true to yourself and keep believing in everything you can do. And kind of get reps with him with them on their way to. Yeah, so that was sick. So not so much. But I think like, through all the back end of camp, I was in terms of building chemistry. Then how did that go? It seems like pretty senior. So you know, you know, except for all the things that it was. I was able to kind of grow a lot and we came to know like first two weeks that and a little bit of the buy. How they would play next and so. Well, you just see so much more comfortable confidence. I mean, that true. I mean, how much more comfortable and comfortable are you right now?

4:46:57Yeah, I mean, that's something that was there. It says the actual conference. And I go to the best D line unit in country every single day. So I think that alone build your confidence. And that really obviously time to lock in and forward on the game day. But when you go to this, what I'm going to get several week on. Not two stars, I guess. How do you just kind of already your talent? I think over before. Controllably trying to play discipline and make sure I don't put other players on my team. And that position, but I'm trying to maximize my potential. Josh, how did you get better at reading defense? That would be coach Friday for Friday as a genius. I guess not only teaching real play, but teaching you why the play is being called to a certain look and stuff like that. So when you kind of go through a whole offseason with that and buy weeks and camps like that, it's just going to it's going to marry you. How is your relationship with him in your high school and not college? A lot. So I mean, I kind of knew coach Friday had like a like gifted at this type of thing. Because he was like really smart. He kind of teach you a lot about offensive line and stuff like that.

4:47:58But enough, I didn't think it was going to be like this for my dad here. I mean, so him having him having him as like a resource to come to if I'm struggling. So say, I had a not so good day of practice. I can come to him and he can explain to me why this happened and stuff like that. And I can just go for him. What do you think has been the biggest difference in the game? It's not your last job on the ball. What do you think has made the biggest difference in the game for you guys to come to ball for offensive line? I think it's one of the reasons that our offense is starting to lift. I think we have some athletes on the offensive line. It's allowing us to kind of get out on space and kind of you know kind of destroy those the second level in the show. How close is that across the world? Big guys get out of the car and... Oh, that's fun. I mean, that's something that I love to kill it work because you can just get us a good knock down play. You know what I'm saying? You're saying it with nice and easy idea, no sir. Three, we have to get out to the thing the most. I said quote unquote, it's a good heavy back rather.

4:49:00So that's what you mean. You mentioned chips by Collin and what is the difference in the long game? It's just Kelly offense versus the offensive of the offensive line. It's not you're like standard offense like just now is kind of really simple. It's more you're going to have to kind of practice it a little bit. How challenging was that like the first few bumps of like the learning all the different points? For me, it took a minute but I think obviously the double coach tried stuff like that. You get out here, you get next to workies. It was all with it. You have to do anything you can do. Absolutely. It kind of puts you like if you think you kind of actually put yourself in the game. Just imagine you being up there and just kind of playing in the game. That was really good. Yes. And it's finished. What I'm going to do is I'm going to do something different. Going on the road.

4:50:00Absolutely. Going in to somebody else's home and you know, you can get in there for who it is. Probably best things you can have for the four of us. What's the chance for me to say in the club, getting adjusted to get those offense. I'm actually practicing in like the movement. So I've been able to so much to get the momentum of the basketball. The mental, like what is the hardest part of the training? I would say probably it's always changing. You know, nothing really says the same. So you can't really. You got to always be talking about this kind of. You got to be alert. I guess that's kind of what it is. Josh, you changed it. Or just look formation. I mean, yeah, it's just, it's always like different. It's my individual. Josh mentioned the athleticism on the offensive line. It feels like Josh Fryer really worked at that. And this offseason, get leaner, better bench. What have you seen from him on the other side of things? I've seen exactly that. He looks a lot more athletic. He looks very fluid in his sets. The backside cutoffs, he looks like an entirely different way.

4:51:01He's the one that I'm starting to take away from. Are you guys ever competing to see who can get farthest down the field on those big, like second level blocks? I'm just absolutely. Yeah. You can hit their faster MPH and stuff like that and practice stuff like that. Yes, definitely. I'm just sitting there. Sets out there a lot. Yes, like he says always. How much has said into this offensive line? You got to be kind of this pretty experienced in the middle. How much has he mentioned? A lot of him. He played in some really big games. I was coming from Alabama and playing in those really, really big games. I guess you can say he knows his way around this whole thing. So he can teach us how to teach us different tips and tricks on how to let's say it's a block. Obviously it's more interior, but hey, that's a flop. You guys have a lot of experience. That's why you guys have the offensive line. That's a popular obviously. You guys have almost heard a lot of experience. I don't know what I guess he could play like football. That's just the first couple of things. I mean, it matters a lot. I mean, obviously that's one of the biggest things is that when you have something like me and

4:52:04Anni played next to each other and then you know, said we're on fire. Like that's like, you can't play next to each other for a little bit. So when they go out there, it's really like your player for your brother and helps you play them. It's the hardest. Josh, thank you very much. You're welcome. I think I've done a pretty good job protecting football and being smart with my decisions. I think that I want to continue to push the ball down the field when I have opportunities to And be accurate down the field and get some more air on my deep balls. Those are just a couple things that I've thought about personally, but you know, I think one of the bigger things is, you know, what are we doing as a team? And obviously, you know, I'm thinking about myself and how I can be better. But you know, the bigger thing is how can we be better as a team? How can I facilitate that being a quarterback? How can I encourage somebody before we go out there to remind them, hey, if it's a running back, make sure on 60 on one of every protection, you know, you got these guys.

4:53:04Doing things like that is something I want to continue to grow in for my team, because that's at the end of the day, all 11 guys have to do their job every single play. And being the quarterback, you kind of have to facilitate that a little bit and help those guys and make sure that we're being the best team we can be. Yeah, yeah, I felt fast. It was nice to get out and running a little bit. You know, I, I, we made a little, made a little QB call on that play and got out and ran and. It was fun. You know, obviously, it's, it's nice to compete with those guys and running, you know, trying out runs and some BBs that are really, really fast. But yeah, it was a good play. I don't know when you're in your, you're like, you want to go to the past and I was a big, fire, if you come in, you feel like you're like, you send me a message. Oh, yeah, absolutely. That's a big part of my game and it's going to need to be a part of our game as an offense.

4:54:07You know, whether that's in a re-game and in the scramble game, whatever it may be. And, you know, I just want these guys on my team to know that, you know, I'm willing to run the ball and go get that extra yard when I need to, you know, because at the end of the day, that's what really, that's what it really comes down to. You know, are we going to run some quarterback, you know, run place, sure, but, you know, at the end of the game, when it's third and five and everyone's, you know, everyone's covered down the field. Am I going to be able to tuck the ball down and go, you know, go get six yards and run someone over like that's, that's one of the bigger things. And I think, you know, I want those guys, you know, they're out there with me to know that, you know, I'm going to go get that extra yard. I've been part of your game, some quarterbacks are able to run, but not willing. You know, I mean, folks, I want to be able to. Yeah, as a visitor, Peewee, I mean, I've always, I've- Yeah, I've always definitely, you know, when I was a young kid, I was a pretty good runner when I got to high school. I was a tall, you know, skinny pocket passer kind of. And I wasn't really known for my running ability. I ran it, you know, a few times a time. But when I got to K state, I put on a little weight.

4:55:09You know, I started to get a little stronger in the, you know, in my, in my leg areas and, you know, I'm actually my first start against TCU third play of the game. I ripped off like an 80 yard, QB draw, which I surprised myself a little bit. Like, you know, I had had some good runs in camp and people knew I was good athlete. I was like, man, I just really just do that. And from then on, you know, it just kind of became a part of my game. And, you know, I just got more and more confident with it. And, you know, the more you do it, the better you get at it. You know, throughout my whole career there, I obviously ran the ball. I get a mountain. I enjoy running the ball. I think, you know, people always ask me, is it more fun to run, to touch on and throw a touch on. I like to run it. I think it's pretty cool to, you know, run in there and celebrate with the teammates. But, you know, yeah, it's definitely been a, been a big part of my game. It's what we needed to do. So, the guys have said it. It's a good question. Everything is, everything's heightened here, you know. I think, you know, the, you know, you feel, you feel the eyes a little bit and you feel, I think, I think that, you know, the one thing I would say is that I don't feel like I have to be a hero here.

4:56:21And I feel like I have the guys around me to where I just need to facilitate and just get them to ball and make good decisions. And at the end of the day, I don't have to go out there and do anything super, super human, you know. I just have to be myself and trust the guys around me and, you know, in going through camp and through spring ball, like, they was talking to you earlier at them, like, going against this defense every single day is a, is a blessing. And like, I know it sucks at times and I'm sitting here like, cheese like, you know, in a, in a game like that guys, I can be guarded like that. You know, that's just in Zell being a dude for IGB, you know, making a really good play. But like, that's real and that is going to happen. And we're going to play some really good defenses. But like, I think we're playing, you know, one of if not the best defense in the country every single day. And that's just making me and us better. And, you know, for, for me, you know, it's just, it's elevating my game. And I love the competition and we all do so.

4:57:25I think they're doing a really good job. I think they hear in this offense, they're doing a lot of different things that are moving around a lot. They're, you know, they're blocking their catching. They're, they're doing a lot of different things and they've shown some really good flash so far in these first couple days of practice. And I'm excited for this group. I think, gee, you know, geez, doing some really good things. And obviously he's, and he's one of those alpha dogs in the offense. Like, everyone looks to him. You know, he's, he's one of those guys. And, you know, and Wilk has married so it's really good things to Lonnie's and with really good things. Like, everyone's kind of stepping up. It's been cool to see. I think that tight end rooms definitely bringing the juice coach. He's got him going. And I'm excited to see what they do. Yeah. He's still like you know, right? This one, you feel like you're the number one quarterback. You approach practice. You're the starter. The mindset wise, we have how do you go about that? Because obviously it's still a competition. I'm just trying to be the best version of myself every single day. That's, that's all I'm trying to do. And, you know, whatever, whenever I get thrown in there, I'm going to go in there and make the best out of my reps and, you know, show this team that I'm going to do.

4:58:27I'm going to fight for them and do everything that we need to do to win. That's, that's all that matters to me. Just getting better and being the best team I can be. This is the first year that the most and most guys were trying to see tricks of village and talk to you guys more. For the rest of the LCS, you are the new office. Has that been valuable? It's been awesome. Yeah. I think it was long overdue. I think, you know, we've had these guys that have ton of knowledge. You know, and have all these weird rules that they couldn't coach. But now being able to, you know, have Riley and Billy and Coach Kelly and Coach Day all coaching us. We got really two quarterback coaches on either field when we're doing like two spot like it's invaluable. And I think Billy's been awesome for the room. You know, I think Riley, Arkansas, some really good things. Obviously Coach Kelly and Coach there, you know, some of the best in the, in the country, you know, I've developed me quarterbacks and, you know, the coaching that we're getting is awesome. And I think having the analyst be able to be out there on the field has been really big and long overdue.

4:59:31Well, tips that there is no front line. You guys look and feel we're talking all the rest. At what point would it be helpful to know who the starter is and then be able to get those. We need a leader more fortunate to take it to the team. Yeah, you know, I wish I could say I don't really know. And you know, that's not up to me. That's that's not my decision. I am I'm just going to be myself, you know, keep fighting to be the best version of myself every single day and, you know, try to make the, make the most out of my reps and show this team that, you know, I'm going to, I'm going to give them my all. And that's all I can do, man. And then we're just going to keep competing, keep making each other better and have fun. Coach, you're passing. You feel like a different pastor. You work in a state of law. Yes, I do. I think I've, I've, I've tweaked some things in my mechanics. And, you know, I think the coaching that I'm getting here is not not mechanic wise, but read wise and peep wise and, and all these different things. And, you know, I'm just I'm getting a different deeper level of coaching.

5:00:33And I ever have before. And, you know, I have a deeper understanding of the offense and what the defense is doing. And, you know, my movement keys, my pre snap checklist, my post snap reads like everything's just been faster. And obviously, you know, my experience helps with that a little bit. But I think, you know, my work with my, with my quarterback coach has helped a lot Jeff Christiansen, you know, he's, he's helped me a ton. And, you know, I, I feel like I've just gotten stronger. And that's helped me a lot too. So I think I'm throwing the ball with a lot more confidence, throwing a ball a lot better. And a lot of that has to do with the coaching I've gotten. And, you know, that's a credit for those guys for, for getting me ready and, you know, making sure that, you know, I develop myself in the off season. And, you know, I've, I've become the best version of myself going into football. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Disnasp. I just want to have more fun with it and I did with coach, coach, Mick, AT, all those guys, especially they're getting the right in the weight room. So I just had fun with it because.

5:01:35I actually had fun with those kind of things. Scream and yell in. Just, I don't know. It's different. You got to be in there to experience it. It's just a fun environment. Coach, Mick makes it fun. It makes it super hard, but at the same time, like you know, look at it. It's being fun. Like it's your job. It's your supposed to be. Because you had guys out, Jeff, you've got to be in more. Got some reps with the second team. Yeah. I'm going to get sent to you. What have you seen out of him? This was young in the end of the period. Indiana pride, baby. I'm sorry to say. You know, Ian's doing well. He's the light years ahead of me as I was a freshman. He's going to be a really good guy. You'll hear his name a lot when he gets to the chance to play here. I was at show up light years away. How does that show up when you like that? I mean, you look at my film and then you look at his film from freshman year. I can go back and watch my film from freshman year. And he knows what he's doing. I had no idea what I was doing.

5:02:36Most of the time, the guard would tell me he blocked that guy or blocked that guy. And that's what it is. So there's no hesitation with him. Is that what shows up more than anything else? I mean, there's a couple times. But like that's a freshman state. That's what freshman has to do. But he's really impressed me on and off the field because I just did a transformation on the weight room from winter to summer. Dude squat seven in a pound. So I mean, I think it's pretty good. He's like, he kind of beat me on squat, but they helped me off. I don't know. I could beat him. But he's going to be a good guy. You're my bag just to hurt. When you said that, one-day-one of the things, you understand though why some people took shots at you guys based on the way the cotton bowl went. We were asking about that in the spring, right? How do you put that out of your mind? I mean, I'm just asking you as a player instead because you know the last time you all wore a national TV, you didn't go great at all.

5:03:37You're still on them saying so. That's why I love people are looking at the line as maybe that last, you know, as the line got this act together. Do you feel like it has? Yeah, I think so. Pass is the past. You can't do anything about it. You can't do anything. I mean, you can do stuff to change it, but you can't do anything that happened in the past. So I really don't look at the cotton bowl as, I mean, people do it as a judgment or an opinion. And I just said about opinions. They're just an opinion. Talking about some of those things that people said to you or people post to you, the answer to things like that. I guess how would you care to try to experience it? You don't have to think about a player. Obviously, a band gets a rabbit, a few. They're loud and mobile. But there's a good, a bad side of it. That's what you're seeing. How would you care to drive the other guy? When it's good, it's really good. When it's bad, it's bad. But at the same time, it's fun. I didn't expect this as a college football player, but at the same time, now we've finished and thought it's about,

5:04:40and it's different. It's completely different from my school. So thank you for your extra. The Tee and those kind of guys really got around me. It really helped me. But as a kicker, you kind of just wipe it clean and go to the next play. But yeah, you definitely want to make those kicks. Is that something that you had the process? Like a mix after, or is it just something that you got over a kick game? It's something that you have to get over a mid game as a kicker. You can't let their last kick affect you. So just trying to get through it and get through the game. I knew I could have made that kick. I mean, it's just one of those ones that got away from you. But you always look forward to the next one, and you always have to correct your mind and get ready for that. I'd probably say the same as last year. I feel just as confident as I did last year, even though I didn't get too many attempts from deep to show that. But still feel just as confident as last year. 55, 60. Yeah, right around there. Right in there.

5:05:41I'd say every kicker is true. That's every kicker's fate. I mean, you saw the guy from FSU a couple of weeks ago. That's my buddy, Ryan Fitzgerald. Really, really great kicker. But everybody wants that opportunity to show everybody what you can do. What do you do, Snipe? What did you mean, from year to year? Trying to become more consistent always. You can always become more consistent. You're going to miss every once in a while. They're just trying to limit the mistakes and the misses that you do have, just so that you can become as perfect as possible. I guess this is the way I would put it. I mean, the standard is the standard here. Even we didn't look up to it last year. So you got to correct it and get better. What is that consistent in you? Your book works? It's a lot of things. It's a ball contact. It's confidence in your teammates. It's trusting that the ball is going to be there when it's there. It's getting more down the field on your follow-through. It's not falling through straighter. Yeah, but sometimes I really work on a follow-through straighter this past all season. So a lot of my balls are going left towards the end of the year.

5:06:43So I had to correct that. And some of you can't really correct mid-season. You don't want to mess with it. But yeah, I corrected that this all season. Coach, as Coach Dave said, you want to have a little bit of experience in the ball, especially since now that guy's a coach. You've spent too many time following the rules and increased your friends on the side of the special. I don't have, and I really like it. I like Coach Dave being around the specialist and all the special teams. It's just for us more involved. It feels of a higher importance this year. I think you guys saw that in the first game. He's done a great job. Him and Coach Keees and Gunner Danes. They've done a really good job. So yeah, I feel I feel it. It's good. Why do you specifically feel now? Like, where does that show up do you think if you have Coach Lane and the higher teams? I think the fact that he's paying more attention to special teams. He's seeing the good things that we do. And so he has more confidence in us to put us out there and give guys like Joe a chance. And he pays more attention to things like that. So it's better for us so that we can thrive in those situations that we didn't thrive in last year.

5:07:44And he has the ability to put us out there because his call is a final call. So yeah. With Joe, your folder, or the ball camp, or is that the guy who's just starting plunder is also just starting plunder? Me and Joe got a lot of work over the offseason to get him there. And it's not always who the starting plunder is. It's just that he's the best at holding. So we got the John. I'm really your down-air coach, John. Second year and second being here. I'm exactly like you see better than I was last year. I mean me and John are like I said, me and John and Joe are like three best friends off the field. So we work a lot on stuff on the field and nobody's around. And so yeah, we've definitely built a good camaraderie between the guys and yeah, I love John. Great guy. How does it make a difference for you guys when you stay in the other position coaches and you know what I mean about you? It just makes you feel like he has more confidence and he's putting me out there because he's watched it a lot more. I know for sure, the kickoff reps, he watches kickoff coverage all the time. He loves to see the guys running down the field

5:08:45and we actually made that a really big point at the emphasis this past game to run through the goal lines. I joined my teammates running through the goal line. It was pretty fun. Yeah. How much has it helped you guys, but now there's only their coaches in Rob and Gunner from the other side? I mean Gunner was out there last year, but he couldn't give us coaching, critiquing on the field, but at halftime he would talk to us and Gunner played at BC. He was a long snapper, so he provides really good insight into kind of like a, I would compare him to like Brad Robinson, my freshman year, gives you good insight. It's kind of like a veteran guy. So like when things aren't going your way on the field or you're not playing up to the level that you want to, he's kind of there to calm you down and tell you like, hey, like I've been there before, like the veteran guy, even though he's a coach now. So yeah, it's very nice. What is last question you guys? Rob brings a lot. Man, he's, he's been having a coach. He brings a lot of pressure to it. He makes you feel that every kick really matters. He's really good.

5:09:47He definitely helps with the coverages. The coverages has been much better this season than they were having to have to cover. Yeah, but you can just tell from the guys running down. They're a lot more passionate about it. There's bigger emphasis on it. Thank you, Jay. Thank you. Thanks guys. Thank you. This, but here we're like playmakers. You know, we got guys like hero Taiwan. You know, we're not just there to fit the gap. We're trying to fit the gap and make the play. Thanks. We definitely want to be more disruptive and get more sacks. But you know, if anyone's going to get to Ohio State, they get the ball off fast. They're not going to let us rush them because they know that what's going to happen. So it's just smart. They know not to hold the ball. You know, they quick screens, quick passes. But if they hold the ball, it'll be a completely different story. Captain, Tony. It's frustrating, but you know, it is what it is. You know, we cut out half their game playing just by being explosive. Like, explosive dude. Like, what light is coming on for Thai Hamilton in the last couple of years? You know, you've been around him and stuff. What's different about him is a pro.

5:10:48It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. It's a pro. I'll say Thai is definitely more of a leader now. He leads the whole D-line, the whole interior. He's that head guy you go to if you need advice for anything. He leads as a great example for the young guys. He's almost like this silent partner a little bit. But he last year, especially. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time along. That's not a trick. I mean, what do you call that? A maturity? I mean, why would you call him? I'll say it's just his dedication to the game. He takes things serious, the way he's in the way he's in the room, his diet, his everything. He's top of the notch line recovery. Yeah. Everything you need is a player. And then for you, what's different about you three years ago? I mean, right now, as you get ready for this season, obviously you want to stay healthy.

5:11:49He thinks like that moment. Where are you better as a player? I think I'm better everywhere. I'm not trying to be like a big headed, but I think I've taken a big step since last year. I think the whole line has it, and I'm just ready to show it next Saturday. Yeah, and how long will that show up in this D-line? Because it's veterans across the board. I mean, where are you all going to be known for? I think we're going to be the most disrupted group in the nation. And yeah. I think what we're going to be talking about is how it existed in September last year. Is your hand on it? What do you see in your battles with Seth? Seth definitely knows what he's doing. He has a high IQ, you know, strong. Like he's stout. He's not like a pushover or nothing like that. He's a great player. I'm glad we got him. How do you kind of see him? We'll eat that line. Is it better? I mean, like I say, he knows what's going on. He tells other people what's going on. If you don't know the play, ask him. He's kind of that guy. Like he knows everything. He studies a lot. Strong, fast. I think we'll see what he's going to do.

5:12:55It's a big dude. But you know, it's good work. I think it's a day I'm glad. Glad he's that guard. I think it's a better position for him. And he'll be a great guard in the future. Great. Last spring, I think it was with Josh. We talked with Josh. And we said that he loved the Mitchell belt. And he was the last Russian style. How would you describe the way that you exactly did? Mitch is playing basketball on grass, is what Coach J called me. He has a unique style that cannot be reciprocated within anyone. He's just, he's a different athlete when it comes to things like this. Thank you. Hey, Masters, you just won three grand? Yeah. Yeah. You won three grand? Yeah. Okay. I bet you fell for something rather great. Okay, seriously. Just that, you've been taking place. Yeah. You were.

5:13:55One through there. Okay. Master. It's nice to be with you. Well you can't gid your nose. I'm not gonna stand here. Yeah, yeah. He's asking. Yeah. There's a bunch of trucks. There he is. Sorry, never mind. Okay. Yeah, and I think this is the last one. Well, we've found a soaked them a lot. And we'll give it a try to someplace. Oh, this is gonna get rid of the plane. You can't do that. You should be ready for any rubs. And he's doing a great job. I can see him. That's the sixth guy on the edge. Is the edge of the guy who's pushing to be that guy? Well, I think the edge of him, Josh, Josh's making a set of great camp. Yeah, he's coming to know who they are. We've got 30 pounds to make three pounds to get bigger. And he's had a great camp. So we can't say that's not the best. I think those two guys will be in the mix as well. We'll go for it. This is what we're gonna got. He's flashed. What the hell is going on? How did he help me? What did you think he made in there to help me that? Yeah, just stay healthy. He's got all the skill sets. He's got some fantasy players.

5:14:55I'm just going to play a lot of games. There's as much as the bigger. He's 262, 663. He's a 4-year struggle player. He's a 9-year-old. He's a 3-dowler. He's had a great camp. He's really has a great camp. He's been focused locked in. And that's what he wants. He's going to be a great addition to him. I said a 35 snaps before a game. Are you looking for like a 50-50 split? You want to choose? Yeah, not a 50-50 split, but you're playing a 6-a-play game. You like to see him get 25, but those players you just like to see happen. And different parts of the game you like to see. And that's why he's got to get ready. You want to play the board to see if something happens. So he's got to get a bit of time to play. You get a bit of time to play. And that's what he's trading for. There you go. You've talked about the call point. You've been sent to a contest. Got all my money. And they've made you all new. How much does that make you know? One year and a year. What other other than a lot of the top players? And the important is to have that strategy. And that's what I mean.

5:15:55I think what Tile E can do. You have to appreciate what Tile E can kind of give last season. In the middle. And go back and watch. We're going to take those guys to a great job of managing. And that's what I'm going to do up inside. And so what you want to get out there now, you want to get pass-wrestling. So you don't want to take those guys off. And you're going to be like, you know, totally can't rush your pass-off. And you're tied. You're going to get tied to rest of the pass-off. So that's the thing that makes people. You can find a guy to cross the pass-off. Play the ball. And you got a bonus with your guy. And leave that big guy to get it. So that's what we're going to talk about. You can get a second shot. I'm going to try to do it. One back at the end. Yeah, we're not chasing sacks. We just chased on the two of them. We're going to get a double first round. But I think the most important thing, the contents of our defense, how we have to play the final defense. We can do it in any way we want. And you know, I'm okay. I'm not the sacks. That's just a number. Is when you get in the hands of a chain of sacks, you get a corner ball. Is three steps five, six, seven, seven. I'm going to get in the hands of a guy. I'm going to say, get your hands, match your hands. I'm not going to grab it. I'm going to grab it. I'm going to grab it. I'm going to grab it. I'm going to grab it. I'm going to grab it. I'm going to say, get your hands, match your hands.

5:16:56I'm not going to grab it. Those are the chance to change things. And then what do you do? You're going to get more of us satisfied with the sack full of it. I'm actually a defense over the things. You're never satisfied, right? You're never going to satisfied with what you're ready. You've got to continue to prove like, you think our guys have done a great job. This spring, we're going to stand in this hall, we're going to stand in the sack. I hope we get a good question. But it really did tend to help us, right? The office is going to get in the hands. So you're going to grab all of these guys' ruts. But I can't control that. I hope the King goes control the truck. That's a nice thing. Hopefully we can get a shot. I think we're going to get a good, a good team. And it's going to be a really good team. So it really depends on the game. And if we can get going, I think we have to see a good passage. What is the joy of coaching a veteran defense apart? And what is the challenge? I think the joy is the fact that those guys are all the guys now have something to look up to. A year ago, we didn't have a guy to set the bar. The name of Jackson, D.T. is Italian. He's a good reddit and a great job. I'm setting the bar for him. So that's the bonus point. So now you lay on the veterans without the big roundbacks. Now the key is to stay consistent.

5:17:56It doesn't unit. It's a group. That's the biggest thing for me. Can we stay consistent? Can we play our play hard? You know, we just have to have talent. Talent is on a small part of what we have to do. Is it build a play hard? And play it already at the top before we arrive. Talent will be a day. A nice firm and believe that. And so now that we get those guys to play very hard, it runs before every play hard is there. And that's what we're trying to write. And we're trying to know the same points. How about the match that can lead to a lot of money? I mean, it seems like Thailand could that probably more exceptional than most of the other countries. How much of that is like the natural ability of the Alps versus that the stuff that you got? Well, we do ball. You know, he's got a Mac for it. But we do train that. We call it Mac and we do drills every Tuesday. Take away those part of our dream of seeing plants. But he's got to give sense of eye hand coordinates. I'm going to ball this point out. And sometimes this is best done. To me, those are sad. So I mean, it's effective all of them. To answer them, it's such a beautiful ball. But yeah, that's something we train. And he's got a great, great, great field. You do challenge time. Besides season, it's hard to get away from that. It's a good thing. You know what I have to say?

5:18:57The time you got to sleep. Yeah. We do it really well. Yeah. We challenge them all. It was just not one guy. You know, we don't train just one guy to train all four or sixteen to the same concept. So I think everyone has some good passwords. We don't take time to the science. We're just going to let these part of our unit play all the time. And I think he's proven to do it. Strong is powerful. He's just coming to his two blocks. What makes him more effective as well? He's a tough physician, the rest of the basketball knows about. He's going to get slid and get double lots. So he gets lost in this, the rest of the past. Do you read in one on one? He's got a chance to change things. You get a day to start. You get a day to get kind of help each other. You like to last. You know, you really can help each other. You know, you can't just spend time with each other. You know, this awesome thing. Yeah. It's been fun to watch football, it's got to practice. You know, they plan a real high level right now. I think again, the KJ and KJ both different players. I think they plan a great game. KJ runs from a side level to a side level. You can't even try climbing. So I think they got a pawn that they've really built together. It's two players going through the same thing. They only have a chance to make an impact.

5:19:57Do they have a place like another? Like now? Yeah, I think there was. I don't tell both of those guys are two. They're one. They've got to be in a cellop. They're just going to have to make a job. Really? And Mitch is the same boat. You know, we have five men, I think, really. The war, you know, is really one of them. I'm not worried about it. You should trust him. You mentioned Mitchell's weight gain. Like, is there a difference now, the meaning last year, from just being that full-fledged defense event, when you look at that, turning the line back up? Oh, no doubt about it. You could own an exit through your pile. It's from 2.6 and A. You can play it longer. You could own an exit through your pile. It's from 2.6 and A. You can play it longer.