Press Conferences (Ezekiel Elliott) Elite Edition September 2

0:00You're the family of dry. Man, beautiful. Beautiful. I think I'll start with Rico. Rico's running at ball hard. Definitely got the team going a second half and finish it up. I mean, just draw that line. You guys do the finale three plays for the other three. How did you see if you were in the final three years? You guys are great here, man. I mean, yeah, but I mean, honestly, I instantly thought of like 2017. I played at Denver. At least we didn't start the game and have to come and sit the locker room for hours. So what did you do when you got to the final three? That's like a long time ago, right? What did you guys do when you were in the final three? We were 90 minutes behind. I don't know. I just was right. Listening to music. For 90 minutes? Warm enough. I mean, what else I got to do? I'm not about to play cards before the game. I'm locked in. Come on, no. What did you think of just three goals of performance overall? You've been receiving game kind of touchdowns.

1:01Is that the way you were running for? He definitely stepped up today. He definitely stepped up when his number was called. He was running out hard. We were able to stick to the run the day and he saw, you know, once you kind of get those attempts, how that wears out in that defense. And that was a byproduct of it. What you've made with that touchdown pass there on the floor down there. Oh, we need coverage. We need it. You know, when it comes down to it, force is going to be there for us. And so that's exactly what we do. I eat and bed. Yeah. I do. I'm going to tell you better, but you do your own thing. Hey, my name is Doran Jones. I'm here to talk about how my diet impacts my trainer. The philosophy behind my diet, you know, just to have lots of veggies, a big broccoli and spinach. That's a big, spinach guy. I would say how I'm protein, too, you know, lean protein at that.

2:02So chicken, grill shrimp, my daily schedule for my diet. I wake up and get to the facility normally, I give me about two eggs or three eggs, turkey bacon, probably a little bit of wheat toast during the football season. You know, we're doing a hard training in the morning, whether it's lifting. And then after no time, we're going to yell in the field, you know, hitting and banging. The next step with, you know, after your practice, you're most likely starving. And so, you know, I feel like I kind of like fill myself a little bit more. I normally go to see the salad with a little bit of ranch. I go with a bison burger, you know, it's kind of not the same as a beef patty. It takes off. Like I said, a calories off your diet. It's definitely outside of my diet. Then there I normally wrap up with grilled chicken, mashed tails, and broccoli half the time, you know, it's like one of my go-to's. My pre-workout foods, I try to eat some predsuits, you know, it has a little bit of carbs on there. So it gets my body started. I know everybody's different, but for sure it works out for me. And then after, I don't just do a shake. I feel like I took kind of two full before lunch.

3:02So I definitely just do a shake, you know, after practice or after lift, you know, just to make sure, you know, getting a protein and just getting everything back that I was while I was working out. All right, it's time for some rapid fire questions. Do I count my macros? I try to, you know, you're supposed to eat brown, for me, it's like 2,500 to 3,000 calories. And so I definitely try to make sure I'm accumulating them every day until, you know, how much I need this day and that day. Because, you know, sometimes, you know, my appetite's kind of different depending on how I'm on my days. My favorite carbs, for sure, I have to eat one of my favorite foods is french fries and so, you know, it kind of definitely plays a hurt in my diet. For sure, breakfast, you know, it's my favorite meal. So, you know, it's the easiest day to make. If I did my piece of crust anything, it had to be cheese or, man, I thought you can't go wrong with either one. I eat in bed, yeah, I do. You know, I'm a big guy, you know, I'm not a friend of you, I'm back before, from where I'm at. I'm all talking about it, but, you know, you do your own thing.

4:03My dream taco, I think, is just normal bread tacos, you know, it's pretty good. I wanted to say, this guy is the protein in my pan. You know, sometimes it gets just a little gritty and, you know, once she makes it that will, I think it really helps like the shake a lot. I just want to say, just work hard to stay dedicated to whatever you're doing. Everything's not going to be all right sometimes, but, you know, it's going to be all right half the time, but, you know, it's no work out at the end. Yeah, and that pissed us off too, they're getting them three points up. But, you know, we're really excited for the opportunity to, you know, hopefully get one of those this year. As you really feel. Jack, Jack, how did you see Grown just in the last several months? What do you see about him from this Irish stand, Polina? You know, I was asking him that day, he's kind of a boss, asked me out, I have a Penn State game. Ever with that. Yeah, I say so. But we're surprised. I mean, we're surprised that differently I get spun into this season.

5:04Yeah, I mean, he's just, you know, JT's just, you know, he's taking that next step. He's super focused in, you know, this whole offseason, and we've been really downed in and trying to pinpoint stuff that we can get better at, you know, and specifically attacking it and really trying to, you know, focus on and get better on those things. I think that he has. He looks great, you know, this whole fall camp, leading up to this game so far, this game prep week. So he's definitely taking, you know, huge strides. And, you know, I think a lot of people would give him unfair criticism too, because they do all expect to end up in Penn State game every game, which is, you know, that's one of the best defensive games he ever played. So it's unfair to say that, but he's been consistently one of the best defensive games to call a football if you turn on the tape. So I'm really excited to get out there with him this year and, you know, Rickson Haddock, I'll find that out. You move the expectations for both of you guys, you know, came in. Yeah. You feel like this is the year it comes to fruition from the standpoint of dominance. I don't know. I don't want to pick that word, you know, for what you're facing since then. Yeah, I mean, no, that's something that we talk about. I think that's something all four of us, and, you know, really eight of us on the D-line talk about is, you know, being dominant.

6:04You know, there's no ceiling to how good we can be this year, and we know that it's all about us going out there and doing it. You know, we can talk about it all day, but until we go out there and do it, you know, it doesn't mean a damn thing. So, you know, we're all excited to get out there, man. We're hungry, and, you know, I've seen this at a different level with determination, you know, to chase greatness, and I've seen so that I've been here. So, you know, like I said, we're just, you know, we just can't wait for Saturday. I know the question. You never remember all the other times. Yeah. Good trip playing a team here. A few points, David. You got a couple of other covers. David, you don't play Notre Dame this year. You're definitely in the same team. What's the challenge when you, please, we're not going to be in the test season for a way that will be getting the team to finish the challenge? No, I think the challenge is that, you know, we're playing an opponent's coming in our house in the shoe this week. We only get eight shots up in the shoe, and we've got to make everyone one count and Akron's a good football team. You know, good head coach. I believe he was the offensive coordinator for Oregon when they beat us here in my freshman year. You know, so they're going to be well coach.

7:04You're going to run their offense well and, you know, play good defense. So, to us, you know, in Coach Day always says, it's never about our opponents always about us. You know, if we're executing on the high level and playing fast and physical, then, you know, things will take care of itself. We got to get a opponent Akron and, you know, works out of playing the side of it. You're on the sheer early on as I actually felt like, and I think there's a more big hatred since Oregon and business are not going to have big fights. You know, on the against playing, you guys playing a lot more sound, I guess. Yeah. The sort of thing, this year, Jim, we'll just talk about opening the up and opening up and getting running more work. This is not leading to how you are playing along the against blind. Is there more of an emphasis on attacking the line of experiments playing the wrestling? Yeah, I know I think that, I think that, you know, a huge emphasis, this fall camp and leading up to this season is to, you know, kind of let us play more downhill, more free with less thinking. So, I think that's been great, honestly, the last few weeks and, you know, in the camp as well. And so, you know, I think that we are going to, you guys are going to see a more downhill team.

8:05And, you know, more of us coming off the edge, we're going to have it. You guys all want to see. So, I think that, you know, we're really excited to go out there and, you know, and, and, and, and roll it out there and play. So, you know, we're really excited for that. Have you seen science theater yet? Did you watch it on that play? No, I haven't watched it yet. I got no comment on that. Where do you feel like you've grown the most personally from where you are here in here? I think that this off season was big for me and, you know, get my body right. I think that, you know, I don't really like to talk about myself, but I think that I'm a little more exposed than I was maybe in years past. And, you know, I was really excited for the work that we put in. I think all of us have grown in so many different areas with our hands and hips across the defensive line. So, you know, like I said, just, just super excited for Saturday. What do you do more playing as a real life? I just, I just want to get a little more leaner, you know, really work on that. And, and I just work on my technique, you know, my stance, my get off and stuff like that, of that nature for the defensive line. So, I think that I have, and, you know, I'm excited to put on put on the field center. Jack, what's the big difference between the guys sitting in the chair right now

9:09and the fresh face kid that came in four years? They're not like on the field stuff that you learned, but off the field that maybe even translated on the field, you know. Yeah, I think that when you come in here and, you know, you're an 18-year-old kid, just leaving high school that there's a ton of things you can learn, you know, just as becoming a man and, and on the field, and the woody as well. And, that's why I tell all these young kids now that, you know, you gotta make the main thing, the main thing, make people the main thing. You know, and everything else will take care of itself. So, I think that, you know, coming in as we were all highly recruited to, you know, didn't help with our expectations and how it really, how it really goes in the first game here. So, I think that, you know, when you get, you're used to starting to plan 80-staffs of games since you were five years old when you first get here. You know, you don't really see the field much as a freshman kind of. It kind of takes you back a little bit. But, you know, the growth that we've all had, you know, we're all just laughing about that. Actually, it's a great question because me and Tyler, you can JT, we watch it film us from our freshman year, we're like, holy shit, we came a long way.

10:09You know what I mean? So, you know, it's been good. Being able to, you know, grow up with those guys and, you know, see the maturity level that we've all grown to from our freshman year on the football field. And, you know, it's funny that it comes full of circle. So, it's been awesome. So, if I'm on... Alright, Jack's up. Thank you guys. How are you doing? We're coming back. You were the only one who made that decision before the concert. What was it like from your perspective behind the scenes as all the dominoes are falling on as all these other guys on the defense are coming back from the year? Yeah, I know. It was definitely a weird time, you know, for, I guess, fans. But, you know, I talked with a lot of coaches and I felt like, you know, there was stuff we needed to, you know, come back for. Like, we had some unfinished business. I know that's the term people use, but, you know, I think everybody realized that, you know, there's more to give here. And, you know, I commend all the players who did come back because I know those are tough decisions.

11:14You know, you could be a first round pick and you decided to come back for your brothers. And I think that's... It spoke to the brotherhood that we have here, you know, the guys are being selfless. And they work out suck, like everything sucks, but like, you go through that together. And so that's what really makes that bond between teammates. And, you know, I can't thank my teammates enough because they could have been in, you know, Lucas always stayed in last week and doing their own things. But, you know, they made a decision to be there for their teammates and the young guys and to carry on the legacy of how to stay. I would say, how's selling the world? He's super, super athletic and he knows the game really well. So I think he's coming to the role really well. I mean, obviously we're in practice too, so, you know, there's a lot more to go, but he's coming into the role really well. Is he eventually ending up at Leibhack? We've always joked about it because he's heavier than half the linebackers in the room. But, you know, for him, he can play really any position he wants.

12:14You know, he's that dynamic as a player. And, you know, really it's for my job as physically just to keep up with him because he's the most athletic on the field. So he's a super talented player and he works really hard too, so it goes really well together. How much are you saving it? How much do you want to take advantage of it? You know, that's a big thing. You know, you want to appreciate those moments that come because they really are fleeting. And, you know, it's only like after being here for five years now, it's like every day goes by so much faster. And, you know, you want to appreciate these moments. And, you know, I don't really want to read into it as much because I've prepared every day like I was the guy. And, like, no matter what's anything that happened in a game, you know, and like all this stuff has come out from last year, but like guys can get hurt and it's your job. And, you know, I feel like I've prepared since my freshman year to be able to contribute. And so right now, I'm not taking it too to heart, but like I understand the moment and I want to embrace it.

13:17Being in middle-eyed life for here is kind of a special thing. Yeah. That part of it, how much the responsibility part of it being it will lead to that's how much do you... You know, I know you're taking a seriously serious thing. Yeah. No, I love having that on my shoulders. I love being the guy that people look to for help. And I want to be able to lead these guys. And I can say I've been preparing my whole life, like even since I was young, like my brother, like we always try to be that first guy in the room that, like the loudest, you know, the most vocal and the most responsible, you know. And so I think all those little intangibles playing and playing Mike here and it all helps. When you say unfinished business, what are the biggest things in your mind that you need to accomplish this year? Yeah, I mean, right now we don't want to look too far in the future, but our goals, you know, always to be team of north, always to big 10 championship and we want to win the whole thing. So those goals have never really changed and, you know, that we haven't done it in years. That's why that's the unfinished business for us.

14:19Cody, how do you describe your relationship with Coach Noles? He always says that he kind of wants to be on the field like through time he was. Yeah. How do you guys kind of go about each other in the real relationship? Yeah, no, Coach Noles is a great guy even. You can still contest that. But, you know, I think as we, as I've grown and been here longer with him, you understand his mindset and how he wants us to, he doesn't want us to stress while we're on the field. So he puts that stress on us in practice and he wants us to get it right. And he knows that we're not perfect, but he knows that as long as we are, we're pushing towards it and every day we're getting better and we're working on our new techniques. He's always positive and I mean sometimes he can get a little negative, but you take that. It's constructive criticism. And that's something we develop as players. And you take the yelling because you know the message behind it. He wants you to get it right in the game. So he's going to get on you because at the most important is the game because every play is so important for us. Do you chambers ever truly be replaced?

15:20No, never, never. I've never seen a person ever like steel and I'm happy I don't because he's hilarious. When you look at your advantage, describe that front four that's in front of you right now, the veterans, HG, how would you describe it? I say all even more than the four, but they're all just dominant. Like the physical hand violence speed. They could probably fasten most of the linebackers and you know they're just super physical. And you know I like they've gone through so much here too and you know I think they're really good players. That's what I'm saying is it's show up more in the than else that they've been around. Oh yeah, yeah. How does that show up front four? You know experience is definitely like you got guys it's tough like playing with playing strong with your hands is tough. And like it's something you develop in college and you know I'd say probably the best in the country we have with our hand violence at upfront and it was a knockback.

16:20And it shows up in the games and on film and you know I think they're exceptional at that. The first two days you'll ever really play real football. Yeah. You're keeping your eye on the defensive side. I'm talking about some people aren't talking about right now. On office? No, the defensive side of the Camiga rise. Oh, there's a lot of players. You want a young guy or old guy? I mean I'm always going to push for from my guys from Jersey. I think Bonsu and McLean have played really well these first two days and I'm really excited for them because they're really like hometown guys. And I think the competitiveness here has helped them a lot. And you know they're really coming up in the bucket. But you put a nut job in the bucket and you continue to do it. You'll look back over time and you'll have a full bucket. So is that kind of mindset that you know we're coming into practices? You might not see yourself getting that style to get better. It's like working out. You don't go in the mirror after a workout and see yourself getting stronger. But you have the faith and the trust that you continue to put days in.

17:22You'll look back and nothing will be the same. You'll be a better team. For better or for works if you're not putting the work in you'll look back and you won't be where you want to be. So I believe that I'm confident that this team has put the work in. We show up weekend and week out. We put jobs in the bucket and we're going to be able to reap that this weekend. And you know, both Brandon and Cody kind of parlaying off the work. He said if I'm making a change in trying to kind of feel different if you will, especially with the practice aspect. They said that they you guys have been playing for the work. He's practicing for work and bench this weekend. Coach Cody said maybe that started last week before high level. Your thoughts on how you guys do practice here this weekend? I think going back to this our foundation of the team. We believe that we're built on toughness. It's one thing to say, but I believe that we show up weekend and week out when we show toughness. But to your point last week, I believe there was position groups that were challenged. Not necessarily taking it personal, but just challenged to practice harder.

18:22Let's see how hard can we practice. And so I think ever since then there has been another step that we've taken. But that's the whole goal. I mean, I hope in two or three weeks from now there's even another step that we take forward for where we are now. That's just the evolution of getting better as a team. One thing I've noticed with this football team is I think every single week we play, we continue to get better. But I mean, that's just life, right? I mean, the thing you continue to do, you have the hopes to continue to get better at it. But I think we're seeing that here with this football team as well. I think when we talked to you in camp, you said you were excited about how you guys are going to run the ball this year. Yeah. What point did it become clear to you guys were going to be able to kind of hang your pants on the ball the way you are now? I just think we're such a balanced offense. I think it's kind of going against our team, especially specifically against our offense. I think there's just too many things you have to remember. You've got to respect the perimeter and you have to respect the run game. You have to respect the stretch and the inside zone, all the different things that we can do, putting the ball over the field in perimeter or even take a shot down the field.

19:23You have to respect some of the things that just leaves gaps in the ability to gash the ball for six and seven and eight yards. So I guess to answer your questions, the more dynamic wherever to be on the perimeter, the more we're able to connect when we hit on shots, I think the better it's going to be able to open up the run game as well. But I think Coach Kelly and Coach Day they do an amazing job just putting us in the right position and we don't have to think about that kind of stuff. We just all hope mine that is 4 to 6, 8 to 8 plus 2 to play as hard and as violent as we can. And we'll look at the scoreboard at the end of the game and see where we are. Is that balance the best you've had in your career? How would you guys characterize the balance of the ball? Yeah, I just think I don't know. I don't want to sum up. I don't want to compare. But I think we're just a very balanced team. I don't there's not much weakness. When I say that, we still have the humility to know that we must continue to be better weekend and week out. But when I just look at our team as a whole, I don't just see like, let's go pick on this guy because this guy can't do X, Y, Z or we can leave him.

20:28I think we have 11 guys on both sides of the ball that are able to be dynamic and the physical and strong players. And I think we're just a complete team. But again, I say that with humility. We want to continue to weekend and week out, be the best team. We know we have to show up because on any given week you can lose. So we show up every week with the intentions of the National Championship. What's going to help you grow as a leader and what's going to help you grow more comfortable? I guess it's being able to voice a lot of things. I would just attribute that to my faith. My Lord, David Jesus Christ. I think before you can lead anybody else, you have to have a sense of foundation who you are. Having a sense of self and I think the more that I've been able to be strong in my faith, the more confidence it is given me to be leaders to other people. Being able to be a leader to other people. But I think that's where it starts.

21:28How can you lead people if you're not really sure of where you are? When it comes to practicality of football, I think the more you have an understanding of the offer, the more vexing you are in this offer, the more that you know, the more ability you can then hand knowledge to the next group of younger guys coming behind you. So that all helps with leadership. But I would attribute that to my faith, my strong foundation, and knowing who I am. Maybe some of the better instrumentalist of the years that you were able to learn from as well. I noticed that they were pretty good leaders as well. You asked who were some others. There were so many. This being my 50 year, I've seen many, many leaders all the way going back to my freshman who was just in and past school and Jonathan Cooper, those guys to the next group of guys with Chris and all those different guys going up coming through here. I've seen many great leaders and I think there's something I would definitely say that's something special with the leaders on this team.

22:29I would say that there's not the leaders that we have on this team, but not just leaders due to seniority, due to it's just my turn. But I would look at the leaders that we have on this team and say they're sincerely leaders. Not just by leaders, but it's not as hand-me-downs. They're truly, we have great leaders on this team. The first question, Brandon was saying that he feels like Will is just built for the moment. Do you kind of feel that way too? Yeah, I feel like he never gets too high, he never gets too low. He's always locked in and focused. That's the kind of, I don't know if temperament is the right word, but the right attitude, if you will, for lack of better words. That's the right attitude that you want from the quarterback. No matter what spot we are in the game, we can look to Will and who will be able to lead our huddle. We have confidence in that. All right, Keith, thank you. We have one-on-one matchup, obviously. We'd like to take it with our guys. There's quarter safety steps down. What are your thoughts about James Keefer and Sam Williams' decks?

23:31They've been doing a good job. For the first fall camp, there's a lot of things that go on for a freshman. There's a lot of things to stress about and worry about, but I feel like they're taking it one step at a time and trusting in Coach Log and Coach Log has done a really good job with them. Have you seen progression from Jeremiah? Obviously the ball isn't spring and we saw some of those things. Have you seen him take some of the steps you need to see from a younger student? Yeah, for sure. Obviously he's very gifted and he has all the abilities to do whatever we need him to do. But you can definitely see that change in mindset from the spring to now, especially with his knowledge in the offense and knowing how to utilize his skills in different co-brages. How does he handle those things? It's a lot of times for a freshman coach. He handles it like a pro every day. There's really nothing that affects him. We just kind of steady on and doesn't really think about anything else. He just logs to play ball. What's the Ryan city like the name of the start of the first couple weeks? Should kind of laugh and walk that back a little bit there. Do you have a sense of the time? I have they communicated to you guys what they want to do. No, they just been rotating us through everything and everybody's in reps.

24:33Running game, offensive line, it says better. Yeah, for sure. I think we just have weapons everywhere and with this new offense we're able to utilize every weapon differently and make it really hard on the defense to figure out what we're trying to do. The takeaway one option, there's a lot more options to go after. For sure. Obviously last year when you were in games or in practice you had Marv. Now it was kind of a cheat code. But you had all of full practice without him doing much and obviously part of the game you played. How much does that help when you're getting ready for this season without a guy like that? Yeah, obviously Marv's diamond and dozen but there's five other guys in the room that can do all the same things with Jeremiah and Carnell and Ameka and Brandon and Bryson Raj.

25:34The list goes on and on. Whoever's in the game we trust them to do their job. Do you like the helmet car arms and how does that change your friend doing the huddle? Do you know their opportunity to meet? Yeah, I like it a lot. It makes it a lot more clear for us just to get the full play and not have to look at a signal. We can get to play first and figure out what the defense is doing and then get able to rally our guys and get them going pre-play. What do you think about Jeremiah Smith just in terms of his ability to be ready when he gets here? Our explosion has been somewhat limited but you're in the room with him and I'm the field with him. What's impressive to you about that guy? I said it earlier just handles everything like a pro. For only being a freshman how gifted he is, how strong he is. No matter what anybody says about all this hype and all the talent he has, the dude works hard, works really really hard. He's ironbunk guy. That's never happened as a freshman. The first true freshman ever do that. That's just a testament to who he is as a person and who he is as a player. Like I said, he's taken a huge step even from the winner so I can't wait for him to get on the field. There's more guest zone. There's more guest zone to the run game so far.

26:34Obviously the five praxis in. You know, you're never really playing for putt. What's your sense of what's different about the run game? I feel like there's just a lot more options. I think we've made it a lot harder in the defense to know what we're doing. I feel like we're less predictable and like I said earlier we just have so many options to make it harder on the defense and protect our runs. I just get back there and get excited because you know that guy's going to go make a play. Thank you buddy. Hey guys. We all want it now. That's maybe not the case all the time. So for him to get those real reps and show up. So no, I think we've built that with the tackle. I can say I'm naming those guys. We've even had change and Morris had to run out there and play some two reps. It looked pretty good for a guy that's not even been here a year. So I think the positive is that it's been visible.

27:37Obviously you're the same from what you guys have to match really. Don't wait until you have what you've started going to the tackle tackle. How different is that? What does that feel like for you to see these guys develop? What are you? Well, I think it's not for me. It's for them. Like that's his young guy. So he said like you got a guy like Tegris. He's put in a lot of time and a lot of work, changes his body and some stuff. Carson got here at you know, 255, 259 and now he's a 300 pound guy and he's 12 games started under his belt and he's battling and playing and doing some things. So I think for them when it starts bearing a little fruit of the things that you do tell them when you're coaching like if you work this technique you work this fit, you work this communication and this is going to show. And so from a coaching standpoint, yeah, it feels a lot better when you're not looking around like, well, help. You put your right hand down there. Now it gets so we had the sickness going back around and it was taking you slide outside and you're going to two platoon and go both cards today. You got to coach and that was good for both parties as a coach who we can so practice and then for the kids getting really good reps out.

28:42How much does it make this year in the state? Is there a way you can do it there? It's just psychology. Yeah, just yeah, I just put the calendar of an offensive line unit anywhere. You're going to take the criticism. I think the maturity of these guys is probably what sounded or showed with Donovan. I wasn't over there, but like. Yeah, the oldest. That's our position. That's who we are. That's when you want to coach this position or play this position. And you're going to take those. So I think the maturity and the growth of those guys understanding what they need to do, why they need to do it. It's going to pay dividends when we get on the field and start playing in the games. What we're playing more and continue to play more like linemen and not lines on the page. I think as young guys and new guys you get in, you're kind of like, all right, who do I have? Oh, I got burned. Okay, I'm going to go get the burn. No blocking you.

29:42I don't want to block you. You're right. I want to block you. Right? Thank you. Okay, you can get. Thanks, guys. Yeah. But just trying to not screw it up or get there, figuring it out, you know, schematically or whatever. We're now the ownership and, you know, we're going to burn. And this is how we're getting here. And this is the technique I'm using. That's showing up a lot more than that. And like I said, that starts playing the truth because we're not. You're not blocking a pop up them. Like we do pods. We do individuals. Larry's guys. And you got good on good. And it's showing. And that's the positive. And it's worth as a coach now. I'm sitting there feeling like. Feeling better about it because we're doing it. And they're doing it because they understand it. And they're not just saying, I'm a line on the page. I got to go block the nose. You know, you mentioned Larry's guys. How much is it almost shining a light if you see a weakness on your line going against those guys? I would think it would expose it pretty well. You get a good read on what you have. Yeah, it's another proof though. When you're in a matchup game, Ryan talks about this all the time. It's you versus you. If you don't take the right step. If you don't communicate or get the right fit to the right identification, then really

30:44good teams and really good players are going to take advantage of that. If you give them something that way. So you're playing you. So for us to answer your question. Yeah. They expose like, why did I get beat right there? Did he beat me or did I give it to him? And he took it. And then Larry's guys can do the same. And when we get whatever the technique may be on a zone player or a gap player or whatever you can be. And we hit something big. He can watch us say, hey, did you miss their fit? Did they miss their hands? So that good on good that we're getting the goal is going to expose a lot of things. Not necessarily how good you are, but when you don't play as good as you are. If that makes sense. Hey, Justin. This might be general question, but how would you see your, I guess, recruiting approach, recruiting pitch, mold change over the course of your team? It's still all about in my mind or in my like the evaluation. Like you have to be a guy that can come here and grow and perform and play. The changing has really been with the NIL landscape.

31:45And so figuring out what that piece really is, how vested and how far you have to be in that, what's their priorities. So I think that's always, that's going to be a fluid thing. But at the end of the day, like, you know, I'm sound boring and cliche, right? But like if a kid loves football, it wants to be great, wants to get developed, wants to be around and play against Larry's guys and those guys in practice. And we feel like we've evaluated through camp or through tape and we've offered those guys to win, want to go get those guys. Is that 40 is that 60 is that 90? I mean, that's, that's off our evaluation and what we have. So from a, you know, the game football hasn't changed recruiting change. Yeah, and all that, but you still got to take guys that you can don't develop because that day one ready made guy in the offensive line set. Point of mind if you're finding for me because they're feeling far between. You see a roster full with five stars. Whatever. And it seems like there's been a little bit of a struggle to get those hot guys. Those hot guys, do you feel like you're approached with NIL as a part of it?

32:46Do you feel like it's working? Do you feel like it's a high state here? Yeah, because we're not done yet. I mean, you know, keep your head on the swivel here. We're not in December the long way away and weekends coming up soon. And you know, where guys are where they get recruited while positioned before. That's what we have to do. That's that's my job. That's that's coaches job as we go together. It's like evaluating guys that we feel can come here and develop and play and help us to continue to win. And so yeah, stars matter share my wife could point out. That's a, that's a really good guy, right? But as I said, those, that pool lineman is not as big as some of the other. I mean, we shouldn't get him. It doesn't mean we're not working to get those guys. Like I said, it doesn't mean that we're done either. That's a long way to December too. How do you turn this thing? A couple more questions. There's one superstar guy in the seventh one. Is that a start-up pipeline or is it hard to really get these different places where you're getting those guys in the past? Yeah, I mean, I think you just look at the recent history all the way through or all the stickers on the wall in there.

33:50I mean, you know, yeah, we had Paris. He was a national five star guy, right? But then we had other two other draft picks there that the one was in five star guy, right? Luke was in five star guy, good players and they got developed. And I know those guys before. I got here all the guys on the wall. I mean, yeah, that's, you'd love to go get all those guys. But do they fit the next step around guys? So the four star guys, are they really a four star? Do they really fit? Do they really want to do that? From a pipeline online? No, you just look on the wall in the room and we've seen all those guys that have come from all different levels. How would you put that into your evaluation style when you're dealing with so many people wanting to hear before they even play the game as a junior? I needed to offer for my last days. It seems like the process is just kind of lost. It's a way of being about a valuation, right? It's about attention in a lot of cases. But how much harder does that make you to know when you're looking at a kid who's gotten the size you've looked at,

34:52that you're looking for, but maybe the film isn't there, maybe the kids performance wasn't what you wanted to see. How do you get him to understand? Yeah, I think you got to feel through the relationship of what the kid, maybe the relationship with the coach, and just being frank and honest with him. I'm not smart enough to tell this guy one thing, this guy the other and circle back and all of a sudden you come back and he's like, what was the message you gave here? Just trying to be as straight and communicative as you can. I still don't think though you get into early junior year first two or three games, which we're going to do on guys that we felt like right there you needed to see. That's when the next wave of offers and recruiting stuff goes into. If the kids just looking for a check mark on the internet, I probably failed at that my entire career early on until you know that they're a buck. So, you're a decent up-not-a-pop dummy, can I have a stomachache? You? Yeah. I wouldn't love to block you, but... With one leg or both, for two legs. Just three.

35:53I'm trying to do anything you're doing. Got you. Three guys. Last question for coach. We got Josh, he's a dryer and he's dad. He's 15 years old. We got one, he's going to have 12 or have none. Where do thoughts and opinions show up with the air and watches the day down this album? It could be, depend on the day. Like you're in the dull germs and the grind of camp, practice 12, 13, 14. That veteran guy that kind of grabs the guys like fellas, we've been here. Let's go. This is a lot of tough. We got to pick it up. We got to go. Could be in a situational field. It's an incident where it's like, hey, it's, we're going to third down period. Well, it's not just another play. Hey, it's just third down now that come over walls or butts in, watch the picks, watch the twist, whatever the patterns may be. I think we'll show them in the games. When we hit the first real adversity through whatever game or whatever quarter or whatever drive that shows up. Then that's the next time I'm going to show up because they, as you said, there's, there's gamesmanship there.

36:54They've been in and they know now it's not the first time like, whoa, what's happening? It's, hey, this is happening. Here's how we get through it. I think it's super 2020. Is that something that you think that you guys put this in the last period with a brand new set of two examples that obviously had gone in the way? You think that you were missing a little bit of that or a little bit of a contrast to the previous game? Yeah, you just a veteran, veteran experienced guys, you know, and you had Matt there, played a lot of ball. He had Donnie was coming into it, but then yeah, you're replacing the three new guys, you know, one coming from across the country and the other two guys that were coming into it. So yeah, an experience helps a ton in what's the experience you decided. I've started this many games, which means he's played this many thousand reps. I've started this many games. I've had this many reps in the red zone or this many in whatever situation it may be. Hey everybody. What's the first thing I call a training camp in like some football? It's been good. A lot of learning, obviously. Just trying to adjust everybody, adjusting this game and see where you fit in that.

37:56But it's been good. Can I ask you the other night of the game? Game action? The first time since you played in a bowl game, how did you feel? I felt good. Good. Do it where to get your feet wet, especially to do it close to home here. You're special to me, so it was good. I'm glad it happened that way. You know what you family there? Yeah, I had a bunch of family there. I got to see a bunch of people, so yeah, couldn't ask me anymore. I just can't win. I wouldn't have been thinking about how much I've lost. It's been good. I mean, just trying to, it's just a different way of play, different terminology, different, it's a whole different scheme. So just learn how they want things done compared to how you used to do things. So like being in that tight end room, everybody's got to have the skills to see. Everybody's different, but y'all do some at the same place. Right. Yeah, no, it's a great room. A lot of really good guys have grown really close with a lot of those guys. So everybody helps each other. A really nice learner from Dalton, breadin' those guys. Dalton's done it for a really long time, so he helps me a lot with things that really aren't coachable things. You know what I mean?

38:56You mentioned how the family at the game, but what about working out here at this high school? Are you still in Ohio that you don't feel good? I don't know if your high school is like this man, if you can't feel the focus, what's your different name? I went to Lexington, how it's about the eighth of the size of this place. This is not like my high school, but this is a healthy place. It's super cool to be home and just be back and give you a little sense of comfort, I guess for me, especially being away for as long as I've been. So I was a man who kind of wore around the city and you've been there, you've seen a bunch of f*** out fans that have wanted to get your autographs and take a picture call you've been here? I don't get, I don't go out of the hole. I actually went home yesterday. I went back to the farm for a little bit, which was great for a couple of days. He did all my family and stuff and see my grandparents and everything, so it was good. But I really haven't been out enough to know, so I try and keep her inside. I think it was good. That's good. You think it was a fun vlog about you, you can come this. What do you think of your play and I really showcased itself? That's a good question. I don't think that's for me. I'm just trying to give.

39:58Every time I think you can play this game for 50 years, there's always going to be something you leave the field with. I wish I would have been better in that area. I wish I would have been better in some other way. You know what I mean? It's never going to be. This is absolutely perfect. Right now the hardest part of this is just mental toughness of it all. Physical toughness, I mean you either have that or you don't in my opinion. I've always felt like I was kind of bred in that area of the things and that's just kind of what happens naturally. So just play after play. That's kind of how we roll. Thank you guys. We got to get you on the bus. You get on the roll and that's the end of the game. defense is more sound and those guys are more stiff as far as giving up yards. As the game goes it's like okay guys are starting up so let's keep running. But you kind of see it especially right now. What do you see from Indiana's defensive front? That's the strength of their team. Yeah undefeated team right now. I think more so sound and you know those guys are super disciplined. They like they want to give up yards so that's our job to go out there and make a give it up. We talked to Trey last week about just kind of how fresh he felt. How about you obviously?

41:00I have a workload last couple of years. Yeah man I think right now I felt the best ever but especially mentally and physically it felt great. Just having a great group of guys around me to go out there and try to go win it all. So having Trey around as well he's been such a asset to this team and just supporting each other throughout this whole year and just trying to go win it all. Richard you expect the offensive line to pick up work left off obviously losing Seth is a huge blow and what have you noticed like today from the Espree to Corva that group? Yeah I don't know there's anything out of the ordinary whoever steps in those guys are going to execute so I don't have any doubts of anybody. I don't know how for the line I know there's a guy you know they're going and he's good and playing their best. Thank you. So what was it about a high state staff that maybe correlated between what you were going into with Alabama that you felt you could transition over here? I felt like there was a really good quarterback development. Coach Day, Craig Fortback, Westport you know the quarterbacks they've had just the past five years shown the credit rate numbers and I just really done things the right way.

42:05I wanted to come to this office because my coach Kelly you know make a just look line. So what is that? It's definitely a lot of user professional. I hadn't been much contact with them and they weren't really a I didn't know that so I couldn't really do. Really one of the things that Coach Day says that you don't like to have your hand held and you can't process. You played up a need a lot of time football there. What is it about you to try and to want that hard version? I would say you know in high school I had a coach that you know he would give me a lot of responsibility and I he would you know kind of a lot of responsibility I mean make things hard on me. And so I just you know I want to be the best for back in the week and take the need to feel the feelings the right way and just do things around. I love watching Joe Barrow you know he makes a just look line. He's a really good decision maker. I like just the very very good way out of charge and so I'm watching him play on some of those guys.

43:05You know the decision makers who make these. I would say I'm a little bit more quiet but I'm working on the focus I you know Coach Day is trying to get the female. The vocal leader out there with the guys and I think I'm going to try to be a really good friend. Definitely quite confidence. Definitely confident in your ability to play. I know a lot about the club. I actually I think I've only been here once in a period of process and I love it. I really good to be places to be hang out with friends. I think I visit maybe freshman or sophomore. Yeah just for the camp or the visit just the just the super solid. I know it was only a few days but being in the Alabama program especially as they prepared for the ballpoint out front. What did you take away from that short period of time?

44:05Yeah it was really good with the coach of recent coach say it and they were coach and players hard and I saw the work that takes to get to the playoffs and then coming here. To see and the order guys put in the work and throughout the winter you know seeing our older guys and older leaders put in the work and then showing the athletes. How much of a relationship is you have with air obviously coming in he had been committed. What was it like before and what's your relationship? We didn't have much relationship prior we mentioned that we were going to let them. We knew each other a little bit and then come in here and you know we're back room everyone here is really close. So we're all pushing each other to be better. We're all taking push points from each other trying to get the training done. I would say we are a cop I surprise you know come back from the game. It was a little bit high experience because of the team training. How did you feel in America?

45:05Did you like your own or did you decide to make this more? There was definitely a lot of emotions but I'm not that way lean on helping me through it and making the relaxation and the clear and the magnet. I think it's a little more but I think it's a little more important. I have a true question. I can't really explain how that would be. I'm just really trying to develop and take push push today. I can break one of my course and then take push push and push Kelly. I just want to develop and run the offense when they want it and then take their push points and then try to figure out how to do it. What do you think, what about your game? I think that I can be a really good decision maker for the offense and someone who would be absolutely never interested. It's a game called you.

46:06You bet. I think it's kind of a lot of things. I was always around football. I was a quarterback at Penn. I used it quite a back in the eighth and I was in high school and I was following his footsteps. I've always been around football and then I just been at high level of offensive high school and just really just had it a lot of effort. Who's your favorite Tayden? Packard. What are you saying? I'm a high school player. I'm a high school player. I just keep it like you. He's certainly making a case to get on the field this fall. I think it's been a really good spring for CJ. You know, whenever you have a good day, you've got to follow it up by another good day. You know, and kind of stack days. I think that's what a pro does. You know what I mean?

47:06You want to be a pro, you've got to keep stacking and that's the expectation. I think he's had some really good days and then he's had some days where you're like, you're trying to push him a little bit. But I think CJ, where he is now compared to where he was last fall, he's a lot better football player. We've heard a lot of good things about a lot of business here. Going down the gate hours are really easy. Are you envisioning right now that you want this to be a five, six person operation? Yeah, well, I think Coach Day's talking about it a lot, right? It's gonna be a long season. And so I think we need to have, I've always been on the opinion, if you have two guys, you have two guys. When you ride with them, right? If you have six, you have six, not the blessing. So I would say right now we're probably at five. That I would feel confident rotating out there on the field. And look, I'm old school, right? So I come from the era, I used to yell at Luke Pickle, what he was taking out. Oh, I get so mad. I get some, maybe 42, whatever against Youngstown State. I'd be so upset coming out of the game. But seeing how violent this game is from this perspective, now you have to say, hey, okay, not only within games, can we keep guys fresh?

48:15Right? But can we do that so that when you get to the last few games in the season that act that are the big ones, right? The ones that you're judged off of, when you get to the game, are we healthier? And I think that's, it's kind of a both, a both-hand, right? So I feel confident with five guys and that's gonna be a week to week. You know what I mean? Like these guys know, I think honestly, who starts to be week to week? If you display during the week of practice that you're locked in and somebody else has a bad mental week, well, I can't reward you with starting if you have six mental errors during the week, you know what I mean? Just because you started last week. So I think it's gotta be that iron sharpens iron and constant complications due to the whole fall. That doesn't sound like something I did for a night as we would be doing it in the play. It kind of is you, as you just alluded to, but is that part of which one has to drive you then? Was it, was it driving you then? Then you just assumed that was kind of the case when you played anyway. I always felt when I was here that they were trying to out-and-recute me, which is the reality, right? Yep. And why it prepares you so well for the National Football League? That's why Ohio State prepares you so well for the League because now it's like they're trying to out-draft you.

49:17And so I used that as fuel, but I also thought firsthand, you know, like there was a season where it was John Kerr, Marcus Freeman, certain guys rotating week to week. And so I thought like, should it fit the half of the dynamic that can happen to me? So I just tried to be a certain way in practice. Like, I tell the guys all the time, you have to control the things that take no talent. You have to eliminate all loves. Like if you, if you loaf on the field, you're a traitor. Like you should just go play for the other team. Like, that can't, you can't be coaching effort. And then you can't have mental errors because if you have a mental error, then you can't trust you. So those are the two things I always had the player was like, all right, you're not going to catch me loafing and you're definitely not going to catch me not knowing what I'm supposed to do. I might get beat, and that's, that's inevitable. It's football, everyone got scholarship, right? But those two things you can control every single day. And then the next step is on the straight. I think it's just, you know, we haven't, we haven't done like any of my series. You know, we know you can tackle and all that. But I think it's just the repetitive grind of a football game from in the box, the constant.

50:21And he's been, he's been willing so far, you know what I mean? As far as his hand placement has been good, even rolling the strike, he's tough. So it's just continuing to, to have him challenged to, there's plays right now where he's seeing it. From the first time from the will backer. So the next time he sees it, maybe throw catch tackle is at the intersection. You know what I mean? Because he's seen it before from that perspective. Everything he's seen before this has been from top down off the shelf, right? So now it's dropping back, settling the stride. And so he's made great progress and I'm really happy with how son he's done. James, look at that recruiting. This is like it's going really well for you. Obviously you can't talk about specific recruits, but just overall, how do you feel like that's going in? And are you enjoying your feeding? I am, I am enjoying it. I think it's fun to build relationships and get to know so many different types of kids, you know? Ohio State presents opportunity, right? And so many different ways. You're not going to get developed better anywhere else in the country.

51:22You have the largest fan base, the largest alumni, it makes this opportunity everywhere, right? So you try to just explore, like explain your passion for the school that did so much for you, you know, especially being an out of state kid, not being from Ohio. And then realizing how much Ohio State changed my life. And so now you communicate that to other young kids who kind of see it and try to tell them the vision, like where do you can get to? And I think the fun thing for me is that most of the kids I'm recruiting are way more athletic than I ever was. So it's like, I tell them if I can, the only way I survived in the NFL eight years was the fact that I had football intelligence, like I knew where I was going. You know what I mean? I knew where I was fitting. And so if I can impart that information on kids who are extremely athletic, well now you're, now you got something special, you know what I mean? How much of you guys have this step already talking about the long season and the need to play more guys? Well, I think yeah, you're going to have to have depth. That's just a reality, right? It's a longer season. There's more games.

52:27And there's no excuse to have a place like here. Like if you're all on playing with a maybe a guy who was third or fourth, you know, no matter, you know, like you got to be ready to go. So I think depth is crucial at all of the vision. Because injuries are going to happen. There's part of football, you know, you never want to wish it upon anyone and you're certainly not. But it's just you can't be naive to think that you're just going to have every single starter healthy for the whole season. You talked about your mentality as a player and then you're recruiting different players than you were. How do you, how do you marry that when they made that same mentality that you needed? What you want them to have? Well, you figure that out when you get to know them. And there are certainly some kids that you start to recruit to where you see like, you know what? Ohio State might be too big. It might be too big for them. You know what I mean? And so it's not for everybody. You have to want to come in and compete against the best and realize that you have to win every single game and be the best in the world of what you do. That's the expectation. That'll have state.

53:28And that's certainly not for everyone. And that's okay. But you have to through the process kind of find out who has that mentality, who really craves football. You know, like who craves football versus a lot of the other fluff that kind of comes with it? Who craves ball? Because when they craves football, then the other stuff will take care of itself, right? And we'll just keep getting better and better and better if they want to be the best. Two more questions for games. Yeah, that's I mean, that's I think that's your job as recruiters. You got to figure out what's the mindset of the kid. And are they are they serious about football? And you have to talk to the people that are around them. You've got to figure out how to talk to coaches. You just got to try to figure out like who loves ball. And the NFL they do the same thing, right? Now they're attending the massive amounts of money. And they're saying, okay, we're going to give this person money as a change their motivation. Or they still love ball. So now it means in college with the same thing. Like who actually wants to be the best or who just likes the attention that comes with playing football? James, I've known as a VRT talked about him. But he's a little bit of the elevation from our bell from end of class.

54:32Obviously missed the time last year with the injury, but where he's at now versus the expectation that he had to move this way. Our bell is I mean, showing a lot of progress. You know, most importantly, you know, mentally with the playbook and everything. I think our bell last year, there was a couple things, right? Because of injuries on the D line and camp. You know, he moved to end for a little bit. Then we brought him off the ball and then he had an injury and he kind of missed some time. He wasn't an early mid year, you know, so he comes in right in the summer. And so he missed some reps there. So the see where he's at right now is extremely impressive. And for a guy of that size and that much power and his ability to run. He's a special athlete. And so our bell is had a good spring. He's got to continue to dive into the playbook and got to continue to learn all the little things. And as you go, right? Like week one, we two start seeing new schemes, new schemes, things build. And it becomes kind of a lot. He's just got to continue to comb through it all because athletically, you know, he's one of the most gifted guys that we have in the room. I know. What is change?

55:34You've been recruited to now that you're with me. Like, are there any mental differences you've noticed in your own area? No, I think it still comes down for the most part. Like NIL is certainly an aspect for some. For some, it could be the most important thing. It's always a factor. But I think you still just need to find out who are the kids that love football and they want to be developed. And it's about the relationship to an extent. Like, a relationship gets you to the final stretch. For some kids, NIL might be the thing that pushes them over the top. I mean, I don't know. Like, every kid is so different, right? I try to view it as you're just building relationships. And are you going to get a young man to trust you to develop them? And to not only the player that they want to be, but the person that they want to be in the future. And can you convince mom and dad that you're the right person to do that? You know what I mean? So I think one of the things that is helpful is my playing experience. I think, you know, when you've played and you've done it and the drills that you're doing, you know that they work.

56:37You're not going to waste your time on stuff that doesn't work. And then the fact that, you know, I am blessed to be at my alma mater. You know, so there's no sense of trying to leave here. You know, and then the question I get a ton is, what do you see yourself in five years? Like where I'm sitting, my alma mater, you know, my kids love it in Columbus, obviously. I love Ohio State. So I think those are things that can kind of be in the band. Okay, but I know you've been working with, you know, kick off and put teams as well. What's that that's like for you in terms of getting involved with that thing? Yeah, it's awesome. Maybe I love it because it gives you an opportunity to coach the whole team. You know what I mean? Like special teams in a spot where the whole team probably minus the quarterbacks, right? It is all in one team room in one meeting room. So you get to actually directly impact other positions and just your own. And I think it also gives, it gives a little bit of urgency to your own room. Like when you're in there every single time, you better be making an impact on punts if you're aligned back. You better be making an impact on kick return or on kick off kick off return, punt return, all those things. You better be making an impact, right?

57:40Because your coach is in there all the time. So it's been nice and there's a lot of stuff that I think our coaches have done to kind of push that that sense of team when you're in special teams that we every position matters. If you're interested, someone has been in the NFL. What do you think what being a belt is doing to kick off now? And you think that's like it could be good for college? I mean, the thing that stinks is it takes away like the surprise on side. You know what I mean? But all these rules are changing so much for the safety of the game. And I mean, I think it's only a matter of time before it triples down. It seems like everything is tripled down. So we'll see. As of right now, we'll keep things going the way they are. All right, James. Thank you. Yep. Thanks, guys. I think when you go to a game like this, one of the most important things is to avoid distractions. So I'm letting my wife handle that right now, which is a lot, but the number one thing for us right now is focusing on this game.

58:47And so I said that to our team that we have to avoid all distractions right now. We have a lot of family, a lot of friends, a lot of people who certainly want to come to the game and obviously those things need to get taken care of, but ultimately we have to do our job. They're all there to see us. And that's what we're going to focus on. So no, it's it's an opportunity, obviously, to be on stage and finish our mission. But we have to make sure we avoid all distractions. It just makes me realize I've grown up a lot since then. You know, again, I feel like our guys are men.

59:48We have 145 guys on the team right now, which is, you know, when you when you hear it, it just kind of blows you away. You have that many guys and everybody's job on the team. And that includes coaches and staff is not to be a distraction to the other player as they prepare, but also just in general, you know, avoiding distractions for the for yourself in terms of your focus. And so when you know the question right there about tickets and all the different things or some of the stuff that you know, the stories that are written, you know, talking about, you know, previous years or previous games or things that make that has nothing to do with what's going on in this game and just being focused on this game and how we execute. And that's been a message without overdoing it, but our guys understand what the message is and I believe they're locked in. Yeah.

1:01:02Well, I know that we need everybody. So, you know, former players, you know, people who are going to be at the game and having a great presence in Mercedes Ben Stadium and being allowed. Yeah, we'll need them. So we're playing for them. You know, people who are back home in their living rooms, whether it's back in Ohio or, you know, another country or across the country, you know, just said in great energy. Our guys feel all that. So, you know, we're playing for everybody who's pulling to be a buck. I were playing for Buckaillet nation for sure. We're also playing, you know, for each other and for this team and that's it. I'm not going to get too far into that right now, but that's it. Yeah. Yeah. He's like family. He is, you know, being the first really commit and guy who recruited the other guys, especially on defense, but also on offense.

1:02:12He was a leader from the jump and being a buck I meant even more to him growing up in Columbus and Pickering, to Ohio is family of just great people. And this is a guy who overcame some things. He just didn't come in this freshman year and dominate, leaving three years and going to the NFL to be a first round draft pick. This is a guy who, again, I say it all the time, you know, wears a hard hat to work every day, brings his lunch, pale to work and has the respect of his teammates and you're seeing his play. He was talking, talking this year. So, I know who he wants to play at his best, this, this game, being a captain, you know, again, you know, in August having his teammates vote him in was a big deal for him. He's an emotional moment and, you know, winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants. You know, he wants to win a national championship more than anything. And that I think represents our entire team.

1:03:29No, I just think that this year with the 12 team playoff, it's just been a little bit different and there's a lot everyone has their own story and there's a lot of great teams out there and, you know, a lot of things come into play when you make a run like this injuries and just different things. So, you know, we'll look at it at the end of the year and figure out, you know, the adjustments that need to be made, I think internally, but I also think that, you know, we all need to look at, you know, how this is playing and what this means. You know, playing 16 games, I think it's a great learning opportunity to see what that what that's going to look like moving forward. But I know it's been exciting for college football and for their fans. Yeah, I think they do a great job on offense coach Denver, I've done a great job wherever he's been. Riley Leonard's an excellent leader. Jeremiah Love is one of the most talented backs we've gone against and they have a very good offense align.

1:04:31You know, Evans is really good at tight end and 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. You know, that's what it's going to look like and every play matters when you play any game like this and certainly against this team, it'll be the same way. Yeah, I think we built, we say this in all the time is that, you know, when you have momentum, you got to keep it. When you don't, you got to go get it and, you know, we didn't have momentum at the end of the season. We had to create our own momentum and then we started to build some momentum and now we have to keep it. But I think the ability for our guys to sustain throughout the season has been significant here and now it's going to be the best.

1:05:32It's got to ramp up and again, the goal is to play our best game and to finish the mission. But we talked early in the season about building a foundation for down the road and just like anything else, you build a foundation of a building when storms come, it has to withstand those storms. But now we got to finish. We got to finish what we started and that's it. I think again, there'll be time to reflect on some of those things after the game right now. We're just going to continue to look at Monday night and play in our best game. You know, it's been, it's been enjoyable to be able to, you know, start it off with the home game against Tennessee and then went on the road to the Rose Bowl to LA. That was an experience and then, you know, so went through that and then went down to Texas and, you know, played Texas in Texas, which was very much like a road game.

1:06:32And so now we're into Atlanta. And we have a lot of guys on our team from the Atlanta area from the southeast. So for a lot of these guys, it's like coming home. So that's exciting. But it's allowed, you know, our families and team to kind of be on the road together for the last, you know, month. But we just like, I kind of say like we're like train rats. We just come to work and, you know, figure out what the next mission is to get back to work that way, you know, that's generally what it is. And every once in a while, you've got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. 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. I think, you know, we talk about like the mental fatigue. I just don't see that with our guys. I think there's, it's only increased. The energy's increased. The focus is increased. I think our team is fresh right now. You know, I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks.

1:07:34But, 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. See that again. Yeah, yeah, we have. We have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, and you can see how important relationships matter. And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes, you got to feel for what that's like at home. And, and you can certainly see how, how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter.

1:08:36So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab on to the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. I think it's a great one more time. Oh, I got you. Oh, yeah, we're kind of, I guess that that transition has been happening the last few years, but you can see obviously this year, it's really accelerated. And the thing that's hit me is that, you know, we're, we're in the middle to late January. We're still playing and, you know, some teams are, you know, starting spring ball in another week or so, you know. And so it's just very, very different.

1:09:37I 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're going to wake up, what just happened, you know. And then we'll try to assess it the best we can and make it better. I know there's a lot of things that we can do to make this all better. And I know institutionally, we'll continue to make those adjustments, like you said, and do things the way we've done before, but also adjust. But also, you know, I think in college football, we need to look and see how we can make this even better as it's gone on because every year it has gotten better. And I think it's great right now, but man, when you think about the potential and what it can be for the players and his teams, it's pretty extraordinary. Oh, yeah, that's it.

1:10:38That's it. And I think our strength coach, Mick Morati really, you know, symbolizes kind of what that means. He has this old school work ethic, you know, because the line's still the line and the cone still the cone. You still got to have your foot behind a line. You still got to run through the cone plus two. But there's so many other things now. There's sports science. There's GPS. There's a longer season. And so having to be able to adapt with those times is important. And I think it's the same way with our program and how we run things. And the tradition is not going to change Ohio State. And that's one of the reasons why these guys come here. It's one of the things we sell and recruiting. You know, is that, you know, just over a hundred years of football and the great teams and players that have come before and what the expectation and, you know, we have an obligation to be the best in a world that what we do. And that's the expectation, whether you're a player or coach and we own that we absolutely embrace that and 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.

1:11:39A couple more days before the game and we got a chance to finish our season and finish the mission. And then again, cement ourselves in the history of Ohio State football as the 19 to win an national championship. And the third and over 50 years. A lot of good teams along the way. And that's been a message to our guys. And it's not about how you start. It's how you finish. I try not to get too much into those nostalgic thoughts because it's just it's a distraction. And there when you're in a game like this, it's easy to get distracted players and coaches. 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.

1:12:42But yeah, there's a lot that I could probably go into if we were to sit back and talk about what Monday night means. But, but ultimately we have to we have to go win the game. And that's it right now. So 48 hours out. I know a lot of people want to talk about different things. We're just going to focus on executing at a high high level. Everybody doing their job. And finally, to win the game in the fourth quarter. That's it. I think, you know, in life, you know, you have to work through tough times. And it's how you respond to those tough times. And that's it. And that's been the message all along to our players.

1:13:45And it's not always how how things happen in your life. It's how you respond. And I think our guys have learned a lot about that. And again, I said this before. I think there's some great stories to be told about, you know, what went on behind closed doors and, you know, some of the things that were said and, you know, the personal challenges that we had for each other. And, you know, collectively the story. But the only way that gets told is if a banner gets put up on a witty. And that's the sobering reality of this game that nobody cares about what you go through. And you got to win that final one to finish the mission. And so that's it for our guys. And, you know, as much as some of these, these wins have been great wins for us. 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've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. And it's a special group of guys that care a lot about each other. And they're going to go on to be very, very successful moving forward because they're strong.

1:14:48They're loyal. And they're very mature. You're going to see, you know, 10, 20, 30 years down the road. These guys making an unbelievable impact. Not only on their families, but in the community and in the game of football. Yeah, it's football. And, you know, I said to my wife all the time, like that's we signed up for it. And, you know, it's the highs of highs and the lowest of lows. This game will take you to knees and give you some of the greatest experiences in the world. And that's it. You know, not a lot of people get to experience those highs and lows. And you have to manage the tough times and you got to enjoy the good ones. And that's it. And, you know, the more you're in this game, the more you're going to realize that. And that's it. And those are opportunities to show strength. And that's it. So, you know, we're counting on that to make a difference on Monday night. Yeah, you got it.

1:15:51Yeah, that's it. And set a great example for the younger groups. One of the good things about having 145 guys on the roster is some of these new freshmen and transfers that are coming in. Get to see what it's supposed to look like. Get to see 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 Will Howard, Travion Henderson, Lathan ransom, then Zell Burke, you 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 with 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 Buckais, but they love their teammates and all those things matter. And so, again, they want to play their best game here and finish themselves and cement themselves so that, you know, when they come back, they can see that banner up there and have a bail ring to show for it. So, that's it. You know, we'll get back to the hotel here. Get back to work. Get to these meetings and focus on what matters right now.

1:17:05Yeah, hard to put in the words what a mecca is 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. You sit down and have a conversation with a mecca book or you're going to walk away extremely impressed. But then when you talk about his play on the field, he's been 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.

1:18:24I think when you're when you're starting out this season and you're putting a roster together, you have to start from this game and move back. And, and I think when when that happens, you have to build a team. I think now the big 10 has allowed us to do that with with the addition of some different styles of play on the west coast. And then certainly the traditional big 10 play. It's a combination of being able to get big and strong and heavy and stop the run and run the football when it matters, but also being a spread out game where you can be in a little bit of a track meet and have the skill to play with anybody in the country. And I think that's the combination that you need to have. And, and that's the goal every year to do that. You know, when you when you when you need to go get that yard, you get that yard and when it's time to get that stop, you got to get that stop, but also having the skill to be able to run with everybody in the country. And that's that's how we start. And then as the season goes on, we look to identify the areas where we have to get better or whatever that might be.

1:19:32But, but I think it all starts in the off season with our off season program and what Mick Marotti does. And, you know, I think our our off season program when and I know it now because when I see players come from other teams, that's you get great feedback. You know, you get, you know, guys who come in from different programs and say, you know, talk to me about what your program is compared to our program off season during the season, all that. It really gives me confidence. No one were doing the right things. I think every year you learn and I think, you know, to be to be, you know, to be honest, I think, you know, every year I learn and grow and figure out what needs to be done to get it fixed and identify the issues and be honest and call it out for what it is and get it fixed and get it addressed. And that's what leaders do and you know, they look out in the horizon and see what's coming because the soldiers are fighting right in front of you.

1:20:35And 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, every year you grow to try to get better and then, you know, identify it the next year and move on from there and keep growing. And we all have to continue to learn and I think, you know, I've done that as well. Yeah. Yeah. Caleb is mature beyond his years is a tremendous player, but he brings a work ethic that's tremendous. He and Lathen ran some both. And the way that they bring energy to practice every day and they let their play do the speak, do the talking for them, but, but they're great leaders.

1:21:35During the recruiting process, I went all the way down to the wire. It's been told before and we were right there at the end and, you know, I wish them good luck and understood. I mean coach Sabin is a unbelievable coach and certainly has success speaks for itself, but also just as a defensive backs coach and I totally understood. And was pulling for him in his freshman year, you can tell my family and my wife and kids, we were all pulling for him because he was just such a unique talent and great person and great family. And then when coach retired and, you know, he was in the portal, it was an opportunity to reconnect with him. And I think he had great relations with players and it's been great to see him this year really flourish within our culture and you're seeing the best version of him now. Well, it's going to be a great environment. We know that great crowds on both sides. So it'll be electric. And, you know, different than in the past where you kind of had these, you know, bowl game and then a final game, we, you know, these playoff environments now or something that, you know, we become accustomed to.

1:22:47And so we need to focus on what really matters and the execution and find a way to win the game into fourth quarter. That's it. You know, this is a team that continues to come at you. So we know what's going to take four quarters. It went all the way down to the last play last time we played them. And, you know, we have to be prepared for that. But, but that's it. And great environment. You know, and, you know, it's good to get over there today to have practice just to kind of see it again. Feel it again. And I know our guys will be ready. All good. Okay. Thanks. One more question here than it is. Yeah, I think he's built confidence as an offense, Aliam and throughout his career, and especially this year. And he's become a leader for some front. And we'll need him to be at his best in this game as well. Thanks. Yeah. Yeah. I mentioned this before that, you know, this is about these players in this game. And it's all going to be about who executes well during the game.

1:24:07And I think our guys understand that and feel that. No, there'll be a lot of conversation, which is great. It's exciting for the fans to talk about. But we know what really matters. And that's what our focus is on is executing at the highest level we possibly can. Thanks. So we're excited to be back home for a couple weeks and need to stack another one. How do you manage your own expectations when you have 14 pressures, but you're not putting getting the sack numbers that you'd like to get? I think just stay in the course and continuing to get better, which I think I've done. And then hopefully that day comes where the stats come. But I think I affected the game. I think we're going to mount last week. So that's good for the team. Nick, I'm sure we're super motor playing plays you think about. And we've done better. But what comes with the fifth line on the home's run over time is that one particularly greener or with one? So it's not guaranteed.

1:25:09But is that one particular? Like the bulb to get over? Yeah, no, that's tough, especially because we have calls that could negate that. And we just didn't really like they ran the zone read a few times. I mean, just didn't find an answer to it. But yeah, I mean, I definitely thought he was going to hold it or keep it, but I got to do my job, especially in a big moment like that. You can't go out of your job. But we definitely have a plan for the zone read this time. So hindsight's 2020. That was, yeah. But then you like made player kind of like, yeah. Did a shrug, but not a solid character. Yeah, even the hint at what should have happened. I mean, there's a couple of variables. I think the tight end came across so that changes some things to the guys behind me.

1:26:14So I honestly don't know who it is, but I just tried to try to make it decisive for the guys. The ideas from that team, just watching in terms of how you try to attack them this time around from your experience. Yeah, yeah. I mean, like any game that you played a team before you watched tape and learned from it. Does this often define the torres they get kind of less, I guess, less in trouble for holding or is it just depending on the kind of stuff? Last year for sure. Last year they had two of the top penalized guys in the league. But it doesn't look too bad this year, but we'll see. Is there more crews or are there referring crews that let it go more than others? It seems different every week. So let's see. Do you counter steps throughout the day? Is that why you use a scooter? Ah, that's kind of how it started. I don't count them great. I just take a little off the legs. Why not? It's a lot of walking from building to building.

1:27:15They've always been a few teams having worked with your saw back. How do you think they're going to get out of this? Good morale boost. Yeah, it's good to have them. And I'm excited to watch them play. Recent history has been changed so I'm going to put this on the camera again. It's been like they go back and be looking at them on three out of there. It's definitely a little emotional, but at this point it's just a game. So we're just looking at the tape trend to learn from it. A lot of similarities from last year. Two new guys, but really good defense and offense that obviously has 15 back there. So always dangerous. You said it's a little emotional. Do you try to tap into those emotions or do you kind of want to just put the distractions to the side and treat it like another football game? Yeah, the latter. Yeah. You have lots of last year that you feel better running against an offensive. I don't know if you feel like you're at a good weight right now.

1:28:18Or you can do things against them, no matter what offensive. Yeah, I mean this year is kind of different because I obviously I'm pushing to the ball. But I kind of feel the same thing I like being able to play. So he's like tiny things up and being able to run full speed and be able to hit somebody and catch them off guard. And that's just what I'm able to do now. There's only ball and closer to him. Some of those guys who have talked to you about this kind of stuff, you have seen the civil society. We haven't really talked about like a few guys, but he's talked to me about like winning the Guinness. I had a chance to work with him with my junior at the opening, but I was different because I was playing off-guard. But yeah, that's the only guy that knows what Smith will do. Let's see the way that he coaches. I mean, he doesn't work a lot in this season. So I was too weak. And what is his style? It's very intentional, but he knows that we're human.

1:29:18So he knows nobody's going to be perfect and it's okay to mess up. But the thing is being able to learn from that mistake and not do it again. How different is this? How different is your future? What's your future? It's different, but like I said, I've just been enjoying the ride. I like why I am now, so I'm just going to grow at this fight and get to where I want to go. And that can only be a process. 100%. It's a nice set. It's very hard. We want to just look at our 22-2 class. We've got a lot of guys, so now we're probably going to have like five or six guys here. Exactly. So being able to stick it through and just, you know, I feel like me staying here. Each year, I feel like I was telling this thing. Because yeah, it was opportunity to transfer, but I kept telling my God to stay. Let his will be done.

1:30:18Let his will. I'm sure of what you like when you know you may make him his position change. You know, I try to, every little drill that we do, I try to make sure I'm doing it to the team. I don't like to mess up, and that's why you see me after practice working with Coach Johnson or Coach Patricia. Because of the fact, I know it's very urgent, but I still feel like I have time. I'm going to spring. You have 158 days probably to work with him. You've been rapping there throughout December, obviously. What exactly did you start to make that transition though? And when you heard they were hiring, I'm not sure if it was going to be okay. Um, obviously in December it was different because we had Coach Knows here. And Coach Knows was more, he was telling me different ways he was going to use me with the Jagged and where he was going to have me line up and things like that. Coach Day, what he was telling me was, we're going to bring in different coach and just, you know,

1:31:19there'll just be a specific coach just for the position I was playing. That way it could just be easier on everybody. And that probably was just going to be Coach Knows because obviously it's his decency. But with Coach Patricia coming in, I feel like it's a lot easier on everybody because of the fact, like I said, his experience and everything that we're doing now, it just feels like everybody can just play faster to be themselves. When you see my last question, 158 days, what was he known that? We talk about every day. Coach Day brings it up every day because of the fact we got to, like, yeah, we have one good day today, but we do have to stack day on top of day on top of day because of the fact that we played sex, the sex is just in the playoffs, you know, they're not on saws here, you know, that they're probably in the same mindset as we are right now because they lost a lot of starters, but it still doesn't mean that. When you see guys like the parts of the real part, they start to get clear of time back with the move to the edge. How much does that inspire you to see what kind of success that you guys have? No, I feel like watching those guys, I feel like you can see like it helped them a lot more, especially with the bull, especially with the gay last year because of the fact it was,

1:32:27it's the first year on the line of scrimmage, but I'm obviously, I watch those guys, I watch other guys, but I'm on play. What's that tell you about the possibility of going into this season? Are you, with your step ups? I mean, it means that they can happen really soon. I must have to learn right now about a lot of your success. Does it seem like it's a big, big glove? I mean, how would you describe it? I mean, I guess you just got to learn everything slowly, of course, there's a lot to learn, but I got a lot of hope, so. You can set a very unique experience on the early and early, so you got a chance to go to semi-final. Some of you went to the Rose Bowl, there's nothing caught in the national championship game. What was that like? How much did you take that help to you? That was incredible. You just see how other leaders led in that position and just seeing what they did and how they prepared. What was the highlight of that time, other than winning the national championship? Was there something that stands out to you?

1:33:27I mean, the child won't get to meet everybody, meet all the players, everybody I won in Addy, and meet all the early and early. It's been a most difficult part of making the transition from Liza to the World. What has been the most important part of the season? I was really just living on my own, got to be independent. That's pretty much it, though. And you feel comfortable on that, are you still trying to get on the South of his palies? I mean, of course there's adjustments, but I'm getting adjusted for you. Yes sir, my name is 100% Did you have any security or anything else? I mean, of course there's always miss on senior year, last year when I was on my best friend. What did you do to you, right? I think you did my best to get in, right? It was an interview really good. Sorry, miss Nassar, how long have you been training in the South?

1:34:30I was a baby, my dad, my dad and my master partner. I was like one of the first to be in the South. Like one of the first to be in the South. Why did they pick that? My dad looked up to me and I'm a junior, so I'm just working again. I think you should be your first name in the North, right? Okay, so you could wear eight, too. You got two choices, right? You got two choices, right? It's a desire that can be addicted to people. I fell into that, I know I'm younger age, but I'm super bud, that's not. Oh, I am. Is it sitting again? I watched the last episode of Lambian on the plane, I downloaded it, it's a great show. What do you think of it?

1:35:30I don't know that, this wife seems a little like older. I don't know how he handles it. It's a ticker show, bro. The viewer seems to be coming on the film, but all this mineral rights. I'm excited to see how it goes. I'm excited to see what you're doing, Jerry. Oh, I thought I'd been a good channel. I was surprised, honestly, it seemed like you knew what he was doing for Jerry. It was cool. So maybe you put your question, you say you pay your mom a salary. If you guess, you win it all, just mom will get a pay raise or... I don't know what to talk about that, right? Is there a meeting or something? You can choose. I'll figure it out. Everybody should have a meeting about the track. You know, I'm a piece of another one of the best. I don't know if you're going to be involved in it. I'm going to be a really good person. I'm just going to hang out with you. There's another people that I'm going to find my manager. Yeah, well, I mean, first off, I think I'd be doing a disservice to my teammates.

1:36:32You know, me even think about what's next. This is the day I was sitting there. What's right in front of us is an over-youther. And that's another thing I got to tell me. So much through is just being pure as an episode of the moment that I'm in. You know, not looking too far ahead because I'm tripping on what's right in front of me. So again, that's too self-insub for shouldn't have thanked you for meeting me. If you think about what's next to me. Did you, or you at least, were wearing the clothes that you were wearing? The speculation out there that people have been a throw of huge numbers that you were going to go in the forehaul of the season? I mean, right now I'm just not worried about all that stuff. I mean, people can say all they want to say. You know, I'm just focused on focus on Friday. What's your first plan? Nervous. I mean, I just feel like you're nervous for sure, but I just don't think... I think I'd do a good job of just understanding that. That moment, whatever moment it is that I'm nervous about,

1:37:33it doesn't define who I am as a person, and it doesn't define who I am and God's eyes. And understanding and knowing that has just kind of put like this force field of peace around me that I think gave it, allows me to be able to be calm in certain situations, but it doesn't, that's not good. What makes you nervous? I mean, I just love the game so much. If you don't get nervous or a little bit of butterflies, I would think you have that same love. I mean, I've got butterflies since, you know, going into football games since I was, you know, five, six years old. I don't know what that feels like. Football just doesn't mean as much as it did to me back then. I want to tell always that much. I've been told, but I think so. I think so.

1:38:33I'm just going to have to stay down there. I'm going to plan as much, so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt, so I can know, bring younger guys with me because I've been through a lot. One of those younger guys, we're seeing it out here, it's the first time I've heard all these last years. What have you seen for Will? I've kind of felt like last year, we all forgot about it because he was hurt. I'm not going to help him run in almost a second man up behind you and Ty. What have you seen in the coaching? Will is a workhorse, he goes, stay quiet, he's going to work hard. And that's what I love about him. He focuses, he don't really talk much, he's just going to get the job done, do a job right. Rarely has any mistakes. What would be a successful season? A national championship? A ring? When all the games we don't want to lose anything, we got a mindset that we can't be beat. And I wish we got to go show it. It's like, is that mindset different? It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year, this year even more so. You guys have all come back for this, you guys have all decided like an opposite mindset.

1:39:35Does that just keep feeling different? Or is there not really any difference? It's just the same for us. It's definitely a difference, everyone working harder. We noticed our last run, most of us don't have any years after this. So we got to go bigger, go home then, we're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan, but when you look at what they did, they won the national championship. And you guys took them down to the final minute, right? You know what I mean? You were right there, something goes a little different, you guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that, hey, you guys want to win a national championship? But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year, like you're that close. So I'm saying, we just like work harder. That's kind of coach makes a saying, you know, nobody cares, just work harder. Like those, you know, when we played Georgia, it's the same thing. Yeah. Last, last play, you know, they went on the win in 90s. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles.

1:40:38Of course, it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, you know, come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change. Is that as you get older, you kind of learn, I thought that was working hard, and you always find out there's a little more than you could have been doing? Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how, that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought, Frank, from here I was working as hard as I could, but now I look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything. If you're standing as a 60, then they answered it like, what do you need it to be to be your best? It is at 75. 80, 85? I mean, I can, it's all on me. I just, I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder in shape. So, Sam, you have to hide it. It's been a pleasure. The idea of a potential to stick to this everything right to you. I have about that idea that's making it nervous about, can you last that long?

1:41:41Do you really need your worries? I think, I think we, I definitely can last. I was just, you know, we got to get the young guys that come along with us. We can't play 50 snaps a game. That's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody, like, online, online. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D-line and online. And everywhere else, so we can last that long. Speaking of the last game I've done, that was a bad one. Did you like playing that mini snap to the end? Not a year, because I don't know. I don't know if any of us were really expected to play that mini snap. Yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought, like, there are no small mounds you know, I can go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games, like, you know, Notre Dame too, or no, those kind of games. Of course, I want to be, because I know I can contribute. And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job done. What stands out about Kaden McDonald is he got the key of the guys in the second year. Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac's animal. Y'all, you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows all the time. He's just, he's grown right now.

1:42:42He has the work ethic. He just has to get, you know, in the playbook, things like that. You guys are about the exact same size. Listen, you're both, listen, six three, you're three twenty seven. He's three twenty six. Yeah, he's a very often. I kind of look at him like my junior, but, you know, K-Mac, he's going to be a great player. He's just got to develop more and get into playbook. So really a lot on you older guys. There's a large group of young guys, and then there's the seniors in your back. Is that part of your task for this year to bring those guys along as well? Yeah, definitely. We got to be leaders. Like I said, we got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work. And we got to get them right, learn all season. So they can play. And not just play, they want to like contribute, like, make plays, tackle, sex. It's still a lot of work to stretch. It seems like these guys get big. Each one of the first in the class is a bigger, bigger. Do those guys kind of, those are going to kind of while you want to solve the person? Yeah, they definitely need some big dudes. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of some of the day too when I'm passing on.

1:43:42But throughout the workouts, they've been working hard, you know, they're determined. I would say that. And it looks like they're ready to work with me. How important is this? It feels like there's a lot of great defenses that you have big athletic defensive tactics who can eat up space, but also move, you know, right? That is that. Is that an inquire maybe for a great defense to have guys like you that have some balls, but also a great team? I think that is definitely. I think if you look at the last couple of national champions and winners, like, see my North, they got two good, uh, detaco, two athletic detacos. Look at Georgia, two athletic detacos. I think that's definitely need if you want to go on a big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they're going to be fired by the defense attack. It's like, what's Georgia? Jordan Davis and Daniel Carter. Let's miss you again. It's Chris Jenkins. Couple more questions for you. You can just find it like how, I mean, you understand this because you play it.

1:44:43But I feel like sometime I don't know. Are people realizing how important defense tackles are? A little bit more than they used to? I think so. I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detacos. Yeah. Like in the combine, just now, you see in like those guys, they're moving forward to 478 and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think about those freakish attacks, how do you think you fit into that old of that kind of player? You watch that and say, yeah, that's me. Yeah, definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacos, but I don't want to, you know, get a big head, but you know, watch the combine. I watch the dude do the drills. I have tape to you like, you're looking like my film. So I think I'm looking at all this. I'm telling you, do you become like an artist who comes to the bad end of passes? I think your legs can't be things. When you're going to spring practice, you're not doing it as much as a weapon or weapon. That's the thing. How do you work on that? Do you have like a goal or mine? I don't remember how many I've last tried to do. Do you have a goal or mine?

1:45:43How many do you want? I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that. I think it counts. I think it counts some of them. And it's some of them where I like just missed it. So, but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's, uh, goes big. And, uh, what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter of Vegas. Any way you can. It's just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing you cover in his eye, you know, he might go it. A little bit to the left to our player. So, so let's something that you really, really have to work on. You know, that's one of the things that you've maybe worked on the most. I think I just have like a, like, uh, eye for the ball kind of. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just, I see him, I load up. I just try to get in his ways. And sometimes he just throws it to me. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better.

1:46:43We're just getting better. Watch a lot of, a lot of different backs, man, they just learn to grow for them. You got to pick your top three backs. You got to go right now. One, two, two. Uh, I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey. Auto, he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey. Who's the best captain? Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all, that's y'all decision. Playing well, Howard, what I'm going to remember most. We're a Howard, man. He's just such a great lead, such a great leader, man. It's just like in moments where, you know, usually a lot of players they fold, man. He was just always calm and relaxed, man. He just the leader that he was, man, that's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Yeah, he's, he's going to be really good, man.

1:47:45He's on Coach Lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia. Just that one, two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs. And so James, people's man, he's smart. The way that he goes about his business, man, he's mature. And so man, he's growing, you know, just as a person and as a player. And so man, yeah, definitely Ohio State, you know, that running back room is in great hands. Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartline, man, he's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well, you know, just learning from him as well, you know, trying to run more outside the backfield. He was being able to learn from Coach Hartline. And so he's definitely creative at what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that would do really good. And it's a way to play on the right track. That's what we want to experience it. Just intensity, man. And since he got the playoffs, every game, man, it's like the intensity got higher and higher.

1:48:46And so, you know, being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, just every game and intensity, it keeps getting higher and higher. And so, yeah, you just, I know you got to bring it, you know, each and every day and come in and work. And just like Ohio State, you know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that. You know, I just remember even before going through this process, I'll talk to a lot of players before then. And they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know, for the NFL. And so, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know I took a couple of days off after the National Championship. And then, shoot, right after that, I'm writing Sample Florida and I'm writing to it. And so, yeah, I think while I trained, I trained that your performance. I think it's called the House of Athlete or the Compound now. They did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us, man. They did a really good job.

1:49:47The Bucking Nears, no, I haven't. Tampa, Tampa, nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40, the broad and the vert. You've been in the past three, since it's an awesome locker. Do you speak to your mentality of like when you've got a linebacker, so you're in the past, think that you and your in-ready just weren't all of it. Yeah. Yeah. No, man. It's really all about technique. And then it's all about mindset as well. And so, I say, you know, it's for the love of my brother. I'm a real love of will, how, it's for the love of the receiver, so I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get sacked. And I tell will, I think it was before the first game. I was like, I got your brother. It's, I said, man, I'm not going to let you get hit, you know. And so I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that, but I know if I did, I haven't given up too many. And so, man, it's for the love of my brother's, though, man. Making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside

1:50:49are making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you can work on right now when you need to? In my game. You can't really work on this, you know, in all season, I feel like. It's more so, you know, you got to put the pads on. You got to go through some inside run, you know, maybe. It's really just continuing to run through tackles. And so, that's, I feel like that's one of the areas in my game. You know, I want to continue to get better at it. I feel like I did a good job of that in my senior year. And so, I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So, people say you look like a little bit more out there. You get back in there and say, you can be better with your ball. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera shoe. Yeah, man, I have a Camera great, great back, man. Just what he does and those 101 matchups, he's dangerous, man. And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not going to lie. He's smooth. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill.

1:51:56And I'll say the next one is probably just an option out of the backfield. You know, a man in man coverage, you're getting on that linebacker. So, you have the perfect question. Yeah, I say the man, the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man. And the way that man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot, I don't know, every good, I think he had a, every game was a good game for him. And so, but still, man, he always has the mentality to mindset that, you know, he's going to come in each and every day. He's going to continue to work and get better, man. And so he's definitely man. He's going to be a special player, man. He really is.

1:52:56Man, a lot of ups and downs, man. It's just how you respond to adversity. And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this, I'm not having something to lean on now. You know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity, I had nothing to run to. You know, you can run to people, but they still can't, it's not too much. They can't truly help you. You know, I feel like, you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you, in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's slow. And when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about, he gives you that peace and comfort, you know, even in those moments, man, where it's so hard that you can't explain. It's like, man, I'm going through this, but like, how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so, that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you. And so...

1:54:02Um... Man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really loved their mentality? Especially Q as well. You know, I talked about Will Howard, his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a mentality, man. Um... That boy just, yeah, that boy just gifted, you know. You see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like, you know, he should have a negative five yards. And then as soon as you know it, you know, he, that running through somebody, still farming somebody, and she was just getting a 10. And so... It's like... Do some of the things that he does, he just realizes that he's different than God. Yeah. Um... Shoot, I think... Yeah, man, I think it just like... He's just gifted, man, too, beyond it. He's just gifted, you know, he's a big back, you know, he's strong, and so, um... You know, he's able to do it, he's able to do those things. And so, um... Yeah, man, it's definitely... You know, I look at this game, and I want to, you know, at the same time, I want to learn from Quinch, you know, I want to look at this game and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better, man, I'm always looking to grow as a player.

1:55:02What's your last interview at San? Druly San. Oh yeah, he's gonna be a great back, he's gonna be a great quarterback, man. He's so, so accurate, and so, um... He's definitely, man, I know Coach Dez is definitely going to get him right, just, you know, um... Continuing to grow as a leader, continuing to grow as a player. And so, he's gonna be really good for how I stay. Thanks, guys. Uh... He's, I know just the quarterback position, um... I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've definitely been vocal. And so, I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to, um, ask them truly and say in as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the, um, and lead the offense and lead the team. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. Shoot, man, he has a build like JK Dobbins, and um... I kind of see them, you know, similar, similarities in their game as well. And I know JK Dobbins, he was a great running back. I feel like he's not talked about his none. Um, a lot, but man, his career here, you watch his highlights, is great. I remember, um... Before I recruit, before I committed here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights, like every...

1:56:05Every, um, one of his years here, like four or five times. And so, man, he was such a great back. And, um, I feel like, you know, um, when I see JK Dobbins, when I see, um... James people, I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same. And so... Appreciate you all, y'all. You're going to be back. This...

1:58:20Well, I got coming in last round, I knew it was all so I just attacked every day. Really the same way. It's technically a van very rough. Physically, how different are you? Weight-wise, body-wise, all that from a year ago. Um, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240, you know, like 244 right now. Last year, I played it like 236 to 377. What does it feel like at 244? Or maybe I'll need to feel like an almost different machine out there. Yeah, like a... What does it feel like to be running around out there like you are, but with more, uh, more back? I just feel like I'm like... Like, like more downhill, like stronger, like I'm taking all blocks better. It's a big... You see, it's daunting. Uh, maybe that's not the correct term. But to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year. And you played quite a bit last year instead of... What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? You just got to get ready to just play 30 more snaps.

1:59:21So... But are you... How would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an age standpoint? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My, I'm ready for it. The Texas Opener, it's a rematch, so to speak. But it's not really two different teams compared to the last time you all played and stuff. How has that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the... We're an opener of that magnitude. Yeah, we're an opener like that. We've been, um... We've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming, so we know we got to do it. We've been prepared for it. Already this is probably what the... Yeah, I think it's probably what the... Um, I think Riley ready to play right now. He, he advanced freshman, like he in the... He in the book, he stood in like he advanced. And his measurements was crazy. Like he saw like a saw line to it. Or, like you said, you said you're ready. Right? What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself becoming more and more ready? So every team needed for me? Yeah. Because that's pretty much what my role was, just... Whenever I was needed, I had to step up, so... I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year.

2:00:24When you say ready, is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing? When I say ready, I think it's pretty much like everything physically, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there. A different piece of that, feeling it's here at the end of last season. That's just not the best thing I've ever had. Oh, asked that one more time. How different is that response available? That's just the most powerful thing I've ever had. If it was last year, do you know you were a home player? I feel like it's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year. But I kind of go about it the same way. Like last year, I was intentional with everything I did. I feel like this year is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. For somebody who's some reason, I'm just trying to help you with this. It won't work. How many words do you want? I say, describe like, when you think of me, you would think of like a bully, like a silver bully.

2:01:27I don't really bully. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think. You know what I'm gonna body that? No, I ain't, I ain't got to be my nickname, but. I'm not saying that the thing can be that sort of thing. Oh, yeah, yeah. You want to body that? Yeah, yeah. I was like, I got more questions about the nutritious style and how it's free. I mean, how does that fit you? And what are you and your way about, the playing in that kind of style? Um, think of fit me because. I don't know, I just like the defense. I feel like we got, like you said, we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot. A lot of the terms is like, you know, I don't know. I don't really not answer that. That's okay. Does it, you get to go on your instincts a little bit more, baby? And it's not so thinking of too much. I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like, I just like it's deep, I like how it's pretty deep because I like what you got going on. What was it, sad when C.J. left me? Uh, now I wanted to my sad. I was kind of like happy for you. No, miss.

2:02:27That's what you want. No, no. No, that's my dog. I'm gonna say it. Kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for you though. I don't think you go ahead one last question. Coach Daze talked a lot about the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for that wasn't maybe your national championship. You guys will win your own. How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and along the summer year your classmates? Yeah, I do feel like, um, yeah, I do feel like I did win a nati last year, but like you said, my role wasn't the same as how it's gonna be this year. So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experienced that like feeling with me, be on the field, a lot more place. I said, great. Oh, well, thank you very much. I've been using you, you know, in that almost at safety role of stuff. How much is it grown that you could put your finger on? Yeah, I was growing immensely. I mean, Caleb, he makes a lot of checks. Latham makes a lot of checks. Uh, I listen to them. Whatever they need, if I need to cover somebody out, I'll go cover anybody.

2:03:29If they need me to do run support, I'll do run support. And it's really, uh, what Caleb does, what we do and Latham, it just goes back to the coach G's preparation, um, and everyone's preparation to give us more flexibility. And it doesn't matter who's in those positions. And we can all play every position, whether it's covering somebody or running, running and tackling. Did you feel like that was the case before the Oregon game? You're saying what I'm saying? Is that something that's been added? Uh, it just, you know, rely on a little bit more. Go ahead. Yeah, it did. Probably been a broska game. Me getting more safety reps. And we had a five week to prepare. So I really learned to play, but a lot more, even though I knew the playbook, I learned a lot more. Mounting like in debt, you know, so, uh, really just after the Oregon game, it helped me a lot to go back to safety, go, go to nickel everywhere. And then, uh, you know, Latham, are you sure you guys had a lot of issues of giving up big plays in the passing game of the first game against Oregon? What do you feel if you guys need to do better this time around?

2:04:30So make sure that doesn't happen. Uh, just the same, same mindset. We got to challenge these receivers, you know, every dog has their day. Maybe some people didn't have their day that, that game, but, um, we'll look out there and hopefully change the narrative. And we still play with the same confidence, same technique. And, you know, Bill Rebino, it's a bonus this batch. And Denzel obviously had a tough game on that one. What have you seen from him and how he's responded? Do you get a sense of from him? How, how he is for this rematch? Oh, yeah, he's super stoked for this rematch. Um, his preparation has been very good. Um, he's always been preparing, you know, it didn't go the way he wanted to go that game, but he just always had his confidence. And we're going to see a big game out of him this week. And, you know, I know you guys wanted to play them in anapolis. Um, but the fact that you get to play them at the Rose Bowl, I mean, get a second chance and people have said, you don't get that very often. How determined are you guys to take advantage of it?

2:05:31We're super, super determined. We watched film. I mean, we've lost a lot of film. The first time we played them, now we've got another six games that they played up film to watch. And it's just, they've grown a lot as a team. Same as us. We've grown a lot. We're not the same team. We were when we played them week one or weeks, weeks, weeks or whatever. But now we're out there and going to play thighs, physical and everything like that. All right, Jordan, we're going to jump to the, to assume a question here from Joey Kaufman. Columbus Dispatch. Oh, my bad. Not you, Joey. Cameron T. Robinson, the athletic. Hey, Jordan, you've moved around a lot in the second day in your career and now kind of getting some many more safety reps. What is it like at this point when, when Walt or Coach Mills comes to you and asks you to do something else and just how much can you lean on the experiences you've had and moving around when you're trying to learn something new in the middle of season? It means a lot. We always talk about, and this is if it's being on selfish,

2:06:31whether that's making plays or not making plays, or doing your job so another person can make plays. That's kind of what we pride ourselves on. And it's just fun. We've moved around different positions. I'm always up for a new challenge. And a lot of people in the country can't do that. I just hold myself to that standard where I can play any position and excel at it. Okay. And anybody else needs a question? Let me know. But otherwise we can go to Austin more of the podcast. Jordan, when you were talking about watching film Oregon, which one do you think is more valuable to you watching that against yourself? Seven games ago, even if you've changed, or the ensuing six games for Oregon? Which one do you put more stock in? Kind of both. For me, I kind of watched what I did, things I did well, things I didn't do too well against them. And their team, their scheme has changed. Some players have been out those stretch of games. So I really watched the past game we played.

2:07:31And I know they're going to go back to some of the stuff that they liked, of course, and different games like Penn State, maybe Illinois, they run a lot of men. Just watching stuff like that. Every game matters. So yeah. Jordan, thank you very much. Thank you. I really plan as much. So I just wanted to get more experience under my belt. So I can bring younger guys with me because I've been going on for a long time. One of those younger guys, we're seeing it out here. It's the first time I've scored all those last years. What have you seen from Lill? I kind of felt like last year we all forgot about it because he was hurt. Now he's running almost a second man up behind me and tied. What have you seen from Lill? Well, it was a workhorse. He goes, stay quiet. He's going to work hard. And that's what I love about him. He focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done. Do a job right. He rarely has any mistakes. What would be a successful season? A national championship? A ring? When all the games were going to lose anything?

2:08:31We got a mindset that we can't be beat. And we just got to go show it. It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year. This year, even more so, you guys all come back for this. You guys have all decided that that was an effort. Does that keep feeling different? Or is it not really any different? It's just the same work. It's definitely a difference. Everyone working harder. We noticed our last run. Most of us don't have any years after this. So we got to go bigger, go home, and we're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan. But when you look at what they did, they won the national championship. And you guys took them down to the final minute. Right? You know what I mean? You were right there. Something goes a little different. You guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey, you guys want to win a national championship. But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year. Like you're that close. So I'm saying, we just work harder. That's kind of coach makes a saying, you know, nobody cares.

2:09:33Just work harder. Like those, you know, one plate Georgia is the same thing. Yeah. Last, last play, you know, they went on the win in the 90s. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. Of course, as you know, it's frustrating. But you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, you know, come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change. And as you get older, you can't learn. I thought I was working hard and then you always find out there's a little more you could have been doing. Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought, Frank, me, I was working as hard as I could, but now I look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything. If you're standing as a 16, then the answer to like, what do you need it to be to be your best? Uh, 85. 80, 85. I mean, I can, it's all on me. I just, I think it's a little higher.

2:10:34I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder. Get the shape. The idea of a potentially 16 or 17 year. I think. I think we, I definitely can last. I was just, you know, we got to get the young guys to come along with us. We can't play 50 snaps a day. And that's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody like online, D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the online and everywhere else. So we can last that. Speaking of that, if you like playing at me, snap the game last year because I don't know if any of us were really expected to be playing that next time. Yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought like there are no moments you know, I can go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games like, you know, Notre Dame two or North, those kind of games.

2:11:34Of course, I want to be because I know I can contribute. And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job done. What stands out about Peyton McDonald? You got the thing that you guys are a little stuck in here. Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a K-Mac's animal. Y'all, you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows it all the time. He's just, he's grown right now. He has the work ethic. He just has to get, you know, in a playbook and things like that. You guys are about the exact same size. Listen, you're both, listen, six three, you're three twenty seven, he's three twenty six. Yeah, he's very open. I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, K-Mac, he's going to be a great player. He's just got to develop more and get into playbook. So really a lot on you older guys. There's that large group of young guys and then there's the seniors in the back. Is that part of your past for this year to bring those guys along as well? Yeah, definitely. We got to be leaders. Like I said, we got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work. And we got to get them right, burn all season so they can play. And not just play, they want to like contribute, like make plays, tackle, sex.

2:12:36It seems like these guys get bigger. Each one of the first in the class is a bigger, bigger. Those guys kind of, those are going to kind of why you want to solve the first. Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes. And they all work hard. I'm only seeing much of something day two, not bads or anything. Throughout the workouts, they've been working hard. You know, they're determined. I have to say that. And it looks like they're ready to work at me. How important is those? It feels like there's a lot of great defense that you have big athletic defense attacks that could eat up space, but also move, you know, right to this battle. Is that important, maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some balls, but also a great feeling? I think that is definitely, I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners, like Team on North, they got two little, two athletic, two athletic, two athletic, two athletic, two athletic. I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams.

2:13:38If you think about this, if they're going to fight by the defense attack, what's Jordan Davis and James Carter? Let's Michigan. It's Chris Jenkins. How's the four questions? It is funny how, I mean, you understand it because you play it, but I feel like some time I don't know, are people realizing how important defense tackles are? A little bit more than they used to? I think so. I think they're starting to develop more and more of these like freakiest detacles. Yeah. Like in the combine, just now you see in like those guys, they're moving four to four, seven, eights and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think about those freakiest outtacles, how do you think you fit into that bowl of that kind of player? Will you watch that and say, yeah, that's me? Yeah, definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacles, but I don't want to, you know, get a big head, but you know, I watch it come on. I watch it do the drills. I have tape here, you're like, look at my, my film. So I think I'm up there with all those. I mean, I think I have more than that, but I think they're counting.

2:14:59I think they're counting some of them and some of them were like just listed. So, but I think we work on drills matching the hand. I think that's goes big. And what we do is a deal on, you know, just affecting the quarterbanks. Any way you can is just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing you covered is I, you know, he might throw it a little bit to the left to our player. So let's something that you really, really have to work on. It's very, that's one of the things that you've maybe worked on the most. I think I just have like a, like a eye for the ball kind of, I kind of just look at the quarterback and just, I see him like load up. I just try to get in his ways. And sometimes he's just throws it to me. I mean, they get frustrated, but you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting ready. We're just getting ready. I should lot of, a lot of different backs, man, and just learn and grow for them.

2:16:01If you had to pick your top three backs, you had to go right now. I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey. Auto, he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey. Who's the best back in this drive? Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all decision. Playing well, Howard, what I'm going to remember most. We're a Howard, man. He's just such a great leader, man. It's just like in moments where, you know, usually a lot of players, they fold, man. He was just always calm and relaxed, man. He just the leader that he was, man, that's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Anything James people should remember? Yeah, he's going to be really good, man. He's on Coach Lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia.

2:17:01Just that one, two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs. And so James, people's, man, he's smart. The way that he goes about his business, man, he's mature. And so, man, he's growing, you know, just as a person and as a player. And so, man, yeah, definitely Ohio State, you know, that running back room is in great hands. I would write more like I'm looking at some U of C spotting for them as well. The way he's doing personality and approach, he's got all things in the same hand. Yeah, Coach, Coach Hartline, man, he's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well, you know, just learning from him as well, you know, trying to run more outside the backfield. He was being able to learn from Coach Hartline. And so, he's definitely creative at what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so, I think that would do really good. And it's always a way to play on the way to that's what we want to try to say to that. Just the intensity, man. And the intensity of the playoffs, every game, man, it's like the intensity got, you know, higher and higher. And so, you know, being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, just every game and the intensity, it keeps getting higher and higher.

2:18:05And so, yeah, you just, I know you got to bring it, you know, each and every day and come in and work. You just like Ohio State, you know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that. You know, I just remember even before going through this process, I'll talk to a lot of players before that. And they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know, for the NFL. And so, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know I took a couple of days off after the National Championship and then shoot right after that. I'm writing Sample Florida and I'm right to it. And so, yeah, I think while I trained, I trained at your birth performance. I think it's called the House of Athlete or the Compound now. They did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us, man. They did a really good job. The bucket in the airs, no, I haven't. Temple, temple nice.

2:19:05It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40, the broad and the vert. You've been on the races and awesome lockers. Do you speak to your mentality of like when you've got a linebacker or something that's happened, bigger than you and you're getting ready to score a top of the top. Yeah. Yeah. No, man. It's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well. And so, I say, you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of Will Howard. It's for the love of the receivers who I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get sacked. And I told Will, I think it was before the first game. I was like, I got your brother. It's, I said, man, I'm not going to let you get hit. You know, and so, I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that, but I know if I did, I haven't given up too many. And so, man, it's for the love of my brother's, though, man, making sure that the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you'd be working on right now when you need to?

2:20:07In my game. You can't really work on this, you know, in all season, I feel like it's more so, you know, you got to put the pads on. You got to go through some inside run, you know, maybe. It's really just continuing to run through tackles. And so, that's, I feel like that's one of the areas in my game. You know, I want to continue to get better at it. I've got a good job of that in my senior year. And so, I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So, people, try to look like, I'll let them run out there. You'll get back in nursing. Have you met them before? I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera shoe. Yeah, man, I have a Camera great, great back, man. Just what he does and those 101 matchups, he's dangerous, man. And he's so smooth. I'm not going to lie, he's smooth. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill.

2:21:07And I'll say the next one is probably just an option out of the backfield. You know, and man and man coverage, you're getting on that linebacker. So, you know, he needs to be here a couple of years. You have the perfect question. What's the best out of it? How impressive is the way he's doing that pressure? You're going to get too close. Like I said, man, the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man. And the way that man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot, I don't know, every good, I think he had it. And the game was a good game for him, man. But still, man, he always has the mentality to mindset that, you know, he's going to come in each and every day, he's going to continue to work and get better, man. And so, he's definitely, man, he's going to be a special player, man. He really is. I think he's a master of champion. When he looked back on him, what do you want to do? What do you want to do? I'm going to start getting in and read that with some entries. I think he's a master of champion. When he looked back on him, what do you want to do? Stamp down the roof.

2:22:07Man, a lot of ups and downs, man. It's just how you respond to adversity. And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this, I'm not having something to lean on now. You know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity, I had nothing to run to. You know, you can run to people, but they still can't. It's not too much. They can't truly help you. You know, I feel like, you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you, in those moments, where it's tough, you know, where it's slow. And when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about, he gives you that peace and comfort, you know, even in those moments, man, where it's so hard that you can't explain. It's like, man, I'm going through this, but like, how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so, that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you. And so... The back of the firm, Peterson Howard and John Jackson, is through our back of the firm. Which aspect, the future of those other individuals,

2:23:08you want to follow the path of being around Howard and John Jackson? Um, man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really loved their mentality? Especially Q as well. You know, I talked about Will Howard, his leadership, but Quenchon mentality, man. That boy just, yeah, that boy just gifted, you know. You see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like, you know, he should have a negative five yards. And as soon as you know it, you know, he, that running through somebody, still farming somebody, and she was just a game to 10. And so... You some of the things he does, he just realizes two different guys. Yeah. Um, shoot, I think... Yeah, man, I think it's just like, he's just gifted, man, too, beyond it. He's just gifted, you know, he's a big back, you know, he's strong. And so, you know, he's able to do those things. Yeah, man, it's definitely, you know, I look at his game, and I want to, you know, at the same time, I want to learn from Quenchon. You know, I want to look at this game and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well?

2:24:08You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better, man. I'm always looking to grow as a player. What's your last interview? Druel and San. Oh, yeah, he's going to be a great, but he's going to be a great quarterback, man. He's so, so accurate. And so, um, he's definitely, man, I know Coach Dez is definitely going to get him right. Just, you know, um, continue to grow as a leader, continue to grow as a player. And so, he's going to be really good for high state. Uh, he's, I know just the quarterback position. Um, I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've, they've definitely been vocal. And so, I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to, um, ask them, truly, and saying as well, it's to be that vocal leader and lead, um, and lead the offense and lead the team. Thanks, Druel. Thank you. Thanks, Druel. Shoot, man, he has, he has a build like JK Dobbins. And, um, I kind of see them, you know, similar, similarities in their game as well. And I know JK Dobbins, he was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his, not a lot, but man, his career here, you watch his highlights is great.

2:25:09I remember, um, before I recruit, before I committed here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every, every, um, one of his years here, like four or five times. And so, man, he was such a great back. And, um, I feel like, you know, when I see JK Dobbins, when I see, um, James people, I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same. And so, appreciate you all. Yeah, I have a good one. This. Yeah.

2:26:32Yeah. Yeah.

2:27:33Well, I got coming in last year, I knew it was all just tacky every day, really the same way. It's taking advantage very well. Finsically, how different are you? Weight wise, body wise on that? From the year ago. Um, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240, you know, like 240 for right now. Last year, I played it like 236 to 37. What does it feel like at 244? I feel like almost a different machine out there. Yeah, like, what does it feel like to be running around out there? Like you are, but with more and a more bad. I just feel like I'm like, like, like more downhill, like stronger. Like I'm taking all blocks better. It's a big. No. Is it daunting? Uh, maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year. And you played quite a bit last year and stuff. What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? I just got to get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So, but are you, are you, how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an age standpoint?

2:28:38Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My, I'm ready for it. The text is open. It's a rematch. So, but it's not really two different teams compared to the ones that I'm going to play. How has that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the, we're an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, with an opener like that, we've been, um, we've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming. So, we know we got to do, we're prepared for it. Already this probably worked today. I think Riley ready to play right now. He, he advanced freshman like he in the, he in the book, he stood in like he advanced and his measurements was crazy. Like he saw like, saw like to. I said you're ready. Like you said you're ready. What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself becoming more and more ready? Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was, which is whenever I was needed, I had to step up. So, I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year. When you say ready, is it more a physical thing?

2:29:38Is it a mental thing? When I say ready, I think it's pretty much like everything physically, mentally, mostly. I think I'm there. A different is that feeling this year than last season? I asked that one more time. How different is that response ability? That should be that you could just say, all that. If you want to ask me, you knew you were a home player. I feel like it's a, uh, it's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year. But I kind of go about it the same way. Like last year I was intentional with everything I did. I feel like this year is going to be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more. For somebody who's some reason, I'm just trying to help you. And what work? How many words you want? Uh, I say, describe my game. I say, like when you think of me, you would think of like a, like a bullet, like a silver bullet.

2:30:38Like I'm really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think. I think that's what you want to. No, I ain't got to be my nickname. But I'm not saying that the. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's like, I was. I took the first question to the nutritious style and how it's free. I mean, how does that fit you? And what are you enjoying about? The whole lane in that kind of side? Um, think of fit me because. I don't know. I just like the defense. I feel like we got, like you said, we got a lot of freedom and we're moving around a lot. A lot of the times is like, no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that. That's okay. Does it? You can go on your instincts a little bit more, baby. That's not so thinking of too much. I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like. I just like his defense. I like how the pressure deep is. I like what he got going on. What was it? Sad when CJ left the. Uh, now I wanted to my sad. I was kind of like happy for him. Yeah, that's what you want.

2:31:38No, no. No, no. That's my dog. So yeah, kind of missing a little bit, but I'm happy for him. Well, don't think go ahead one last but coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for that wasn't maybe your national championship. You guys will win your own. How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and along the summer year. Yeah, I do feel like, um, yeah, I do feel like I did win a national championship, but like you said, my role wasn't same as how's going to be this year. So yeah, I definitely want to go get another one experienced that like feeling maybe on feel a lot more place. That's it. Oh, Bill, thank you very much. I mean, I feel like I should be able to take you right now. Sometimes like basketball, I want to be on that just like the fed, but you know, you know, you're on a state. You stay squaring some flies. Exactly. Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, I feel like these two can answer that for the year.

2:32:45I think KK and Hero can answer that. Well, I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys say? I don't know. I go and say, every day, you know, this man is strong. Well, I'm talking about like the basketball team. You sound like you can just do a thing. I mean, he's the college, really fast. Just to hold on to his hands. And he got the great thing. He doesn't give up on the playing. Like you said, he's going to go in and watch the film. He's doing a good thing. And you can see the hundred feet of my foot from my chest. Now, I'm going to have to see the movie. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. I'm going to be on the game. You're going to be on the game. You sound like a coach, man. You sound like a coach. You should tell you, in full exchange, your mind about maybe like the idea of tackle versus guard. Obviously, his offensive predelictuous for offensive blind play, green game. Has you been a part of you settling in the guard? I want to say maybe I don't know, but I mean, when I'm sure you got the job, I was really excited

2:33:49because 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 in Southern football and I feel like just the fast pace often so we're running really fits the guys we have right now. I'm really excited for that. I know you've been going for ball in 65 yards, but can you kick a football? 75 yards of Lincoln. No. Probably question. Lincoln, what's your question? How is your room amp? He's a blessing, man. I can't complain. He's a great guy. What's his name? His name's Lincoln. Keen Homes. Who's Cleaner? I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of picked each other as roommates because we're very clean and we don't like our rooms really messy. Well, that's true though. It's true. They're both pretty clean. Luke, are you still a cross-training at tackle? Some or if you've just been all-guard this spring? 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 tackle. I could not, but you know, I'm just really focused in on this past practice and the next

2:34:52one. That mean a lot. You put a lot of work in to play here. You spend a dream just being in Ohio kid and I'm from Ohio kid's perspective. I mean, that's the biggest wish possible. I would have said that would be pretty cool. What was it like to 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 that made 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 here now. It's time to roll. You know? It didn't really hit me. I was like, it didn't even hit me after. I was like, what'd you feel there? If I get out there in the end, I'm just like, honestly, I don't know. I felt less nervous at that high school and it makes no sense. What did you see in the back of the box? What did you see in the back of the box? A lot. I mean, I'm learning from Josh Aniston. I think prior to one of my biggest role models here is my bigger brother and my first baby.

2:35:53Tell him I'm a padea. I don't want to. This is padea, okay. Yeah, no. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, padea and Austin, those are my guys, man. I mean, even Miles too. I 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. I'm excited to plan and feel with them. Oh, yeah, you know, it's been really helpful. You know, just keep in my mind just settled and straightforward on the next play. What do you think of Biggest Stun? 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 staying consistent in my work. I'm not the next one. So you got it from the guy you were playing. Yeah. Wow, that's weird. Yeah, I mean, I guess they didn't want to get my nerves up, but like I was ready. I mean, I did, I took most of the ones that solved camp and I mean, I was already, I was pretty much it. Yeah. I wasn't really nervous. I started the game. What was his advice to you? Yeah.

2:36:53He said, you got it. You got a lot of things going on. I mean, I'm not trying to be against Thai League and Thai every day in practice. I mean, it's not different. Almost different. Are you now about two weeks into the two-star tenders as a player, you know, having that under your belt? Yeah, I'm more confident. I know what's going on. I can see what's going on with the defense. I know what's going on. I know what's coming. I mean, I understand the game's a lot better than what it was. But you have to up to what? Fast and start and mean, etc. Yeah. I mean, if we get out early, it's get the defense change in place. It's changing their defense. You start fast. I mean, they're trying to get the call in the play, but you start fast. I'm not going back. But trust a lot of touchdowns. Yeah, of course, Dave is pretty much dead, though. You deserve to play, man. You know, some ball will pass. What were you expecting this week in terms of your role? Wherever they need me, if it's left right, wherever it's I didn't go in, I go in and go talk to you in front of me. I'm just like playing tackle. Took me back to high school days, but I should back in high school.

2:37:57I wasn't really brand of ball, what really in doing passes, but it was fun. Change and got my feet better, I would say. How confident you feel like you could play there if you need. If they want me there, I'll guess I'll play there. I mean, they need me. They need me. Awesome. The illness that swept through the office of the line room. A lot of times coaches and players have said that I was still relying for the groom, you know, getting you experience among others. What was that like for you and double dipping, playing some tag or playing some guard in the same practice as that? It was based on a group effort. Like for me, we had guys out and we just had to go back practice. All five guys, wherever they were playing, we just got to go. How much of that accelerate your development, like that time with the ones you were actually going to play? Then I was jumped in there. I didn't really know. So we wanted to practice with practices, but like after those, I was like, you're my confidence grew.

2:39:03It seemed like there was sort of a settling in process for you and the Akron game, maybe play got better if the game went on and it really seemed to, especially in the ground game, things seemed to take on. But was there a moment when it clicked on the field for you? Like was there nerves and then a time of settling in? I guess how, taking you through kind of that first game mentally? Yeah, first game, obviously you're going to have nerves for the first time in a starter. But then like after the first couple of plays, meaning you have nerves naturally. So that's the first couple of play that I was good and I was just rolling. Also, there's a weird meaning for the first time in a striker play. I was saying it was also the first start. Yeah. But like I prepared well and camp and practice all week and I was, I was ready. 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. I mean, I was telling Jimmy and said, it's like a way of flocks.

2:40:06I'll be emotional. What is it like to start a game? It was always my dream to come here and play and start and having that like me. I was like, keep going, keep building those days, keep building. What a much younger Austin, do you have people coming to you with that? No, I don't think. I told myself, like, I asked my younger self, even committing it, I wouldn't believe it. Now, having a couple of starts, I mean. Awesome. Has this happened faster than you had been building these days? I guess you're technically a soft one. 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. I knew I was going to play some soft ones. What does it mean to you to not only get the opportunities to play, but to be like you play well enough now,

2:41:07but maybe coaching staff trust you, if they could be able to put it out there, whatever the situation was, but if they earned that, so where are we on the year two? 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, the end of the spring, and the end of the season. I realized that you could play at this high level, with the ones, you know, if you needed to. Yeah, the definitely was in training camp. I mean, Black and highly can tie every day. It feels a lot of confidence in doing it well and not getting balled or anything. There is defensive tag wasn't that easy. Hero and Jason Moore and Taiwan, all those guys, pretty much anyone on the deepened line gets your face out of time. And Kay and Mack as well. Yeah. We've heard a lot about him. I would have more collected how about this ability, and the great thing about him. How much can he help you?

2:42:07He 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, Donnie and Tiger. He means another voice and another captain on the line. He's got ways of having that, and I'm with this much experience. He helped during the game in the middle of the line. I mean, a lot. He can tell you, like before the play was going on, 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's us more calm, especially me and Dave, that's our first start. So we were up here with Seth. He brought us down, and we were fine. Our emotions weren't high. Is that something he tells you? Is that something you pick up on by how he's acting?

2:43:07How do you kind of mean sense what he's trying to do? How he's acting, and what I mean, him, when we're on the side of him, both Josh and Donnie, 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 you do that? As a first time starter, how much did you add in that? I mean, a lot. That was my first time ever using iPads. We didn't use the iPads in high school, but you can say, like, try to remember the defense. You can just come on a silent and bring up a play and get help. That's really nice. Probably the first or second. But after that, I thought we'd say all right. Awesome. Thank you very much. It seems like training part is important, but it's not the whole thing. It's getting bigger and stronger. It's like the culture of the part. The mentality of how much of the factor is that in a part of your change? It's also, it's a lot. I feel like you can't be able to transform your body like I have with people here come and do that

2:44:12without having that mentality part with it. It's like we always talk about competitions here and our culture is fight, so we're always here to compete. I feel like that is just, that's what gets you in this mindset. When you talk about that transformation, can you just give us a little sense maybe with numbers or body fat or what you do in the weight group, how big is that transformation? I don't have really specific numbers, but I just like... It's more just like I can just, I feel like feeling when I'm playing. I remember how I felt the play when I just got here and now. I know how it feels to play like just today. It feels physically different on my body. It's like it's getting used to that makes sense. I can't imagine feeling like that. Hadea also said about you that you are just a completely different guy from last year. You hear the word?

2:45:13Let's get it done. Do you feel like you weren't at that place mentally? I think I was, but I think I had some... I would say like, kind of like confidence issues, like I was just... I mean, I work past it and I know why I am and I know I can be here. So if you have confidence issues, how do you get through it? Is it yourself, is it teammates, is there someone in your family that makes you believe that you can do it? I know I can do it. Those are all, it's all in the past now. Did the past play time in a very obvious opportunity guys had to step up and be able to be on the business? Did that help you get over that confidence issue there? Because it's now a memory and security. So, kind of, it's just like...

2:46:15Just, I mean, it's just being here. I feel like being here every day, working with the guys every day. You know, you become this person that you might not have like... You might not have felt like you were before that, but like coming here, working every day, stacking these days. Like, you know, I just feel like I realized who I am and I know what I can do now. Well, I want to be able to have everyone in this world, but are you? This is a second kind of adventure, so that you actually belong here in the good... I knew I could play here. I mean, it's just, it was like the... Like, I just... I don't know how to explain it. I've always known I could play here. It's just... Like, let's go. Like, I'm ready to attack. What are the guys that helped you to figure that out? First, I think KJ was a big influence. Tye Hamilton, Tye League, they all helped me a bunch last year.

2:47:15Kind of just pushing through, you know. We plan as much, so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt, so I can know, bring younger guys with me because I've been through a lot of good. One of those younger guys we're seeing right here, it's the first time I've heard all of your lectures. What have you seen from Will? I kind of felt like I should have real forgot about him because he was hurt. Now, if he's run in, you know, almost a second man out behind you and Tye. What have you seen in your regularly? Well, as a workhorse, he goes, stay quiet, you go and work hard, and that's all I love about him. He focuses, he don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done, do a job right. He rarely has any mistakes. What would be a successful season? A national championship? A ring? When all the games we don't want to lose anything, we got a mindset that we can't be beat, and we just got to go show it. That mindset is different. It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year, this year even more so.

2:48:15You guys have all come back for this. You guys have all decided that nothing is going to happen. Does that keep you feeling different? Or is there probably any difference? It's just the same work. It's definitely a difference. Everyone working harder, we noticed our last run. Most of us don't have any years after this, so we got to go bigger, grow home, and we're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan, but when you look at what they did, they won the national championship, and you guys took them down to the final minute. You know what I mean? You were right there. Something goes a little different. You guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that, hey, you guys won a winner national championship, but you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year, like you're that close? I'm saying, we just work harder. That's kind of a coach that makes a saying, nobody cares, just work harder. Like those, you know, when we played Georgia, it's the same thing. Yeah. Last play, you know, they went on the win in the 90s, so we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season.

2:49:16I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two nights on the title? Of course it is, you know, it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to, you know, come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year, and hopefully the outcome will change. Is that as you get older, you kind of learn, and I thought that was working harder than you always find out there's a little more than you could have been doing? Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought, fresh me, I was working as hard as I could, but not look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now, so just to learn anything. The statement is a 16th, and the incident of like, what do you need it to be to be your best? It's like, is it 75? 80, 85? I mean, I can, it's all on me. I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder. Yeah, the shape. So, I think, I think, I think, I think,

2:50:16I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I definitely can last. I was just, you know, we got to get the young guys to come along with us. We can't play 50 snaps a game. That's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody, like, online, online, we got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D-line and online, and everywhere else, so we can last that long run. Speaking of that, if you like playing that new snap again, I don't know if any of us were really expected to be playing that next time. Yeah, I did, unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought, like, there are no moments you know, I can go sit down or something, but we're playing them big games, like, you know, Notre Dame 2 or Notre Dame 2, those kind of games. Of course, I want to be, because I know I contribute, and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I need to job them. What stands out about Taden McDonald's, you got to get on with your guys in this second game?

2:51:16Oh, yeah, definitely. K-Mac is a, K-Mac's animal, y'all, you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice, he shows all the time. He's just, he's growing right now. He has a work ethic, he just has to get, you know, in the playbook, things like that. You guys are about the exact same size. Listen, you're both, listen, six, three, three, 27, he's three, 26. Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but, you know, K-Mac, he's going to be a great player. He's just got to develop more in getting the playbook. So really a lot on you, older guys, there's that large group of young guys in the middle of the seniors in the back. Is that part of your task for this year to bring those guys home? Yeah, definitely. We got to be leaders. Like I said, we got to have them play this year. We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work. And we got to get them right, learn all season. So they can play. And not just play, they want to like contribute, like make plays, tackle, sex. Let's stay down. We'll work this first. Okay. Okay. Seems like these guys get figures. Each one of the freshmen class is much bigger or bigger.

2:52:17Do those guys kind of, does it kind of why you don't solve them first? Yeah, they definitely use some big dudes. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of some day too. I'm not going to pass on. But throughout the workouts, they've been working hard. You know, they're determined. I have to say that. And it looks like they're ready to work to make them. How important is this? It feels like, you know, there's a lot of great defenses that you have big athletic defense attacks to get eat up space, but also move, you know, right? That is that. Does that require maybe three great defense to have guys like you that have some fall. But also a great seat. I think that is definitely. I think if you look at the last couple of national championship winners, like team of North, they didn't know they got two bit of detaco, two athletic detacos. Look at Georgia. Two athletic detacos. I think that's definitely the need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they want to find why the defense attack is like, what's Jordan Davis and Daniel Carter?

2:53:17What's Michigan? It's, Chris Jenkins. Tell us more questions. What is, like, how, I mean, you understand it because you play it, but I feel like some time that I don't know, are people realizing how important defense tackles are? A little bit more than they used to? I think so. I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detacos. Yeah. Like in the combines, it's not you seeing like those guys, they're moving forward to 478 and things like that. So we'll see. And when you think about this freakish attack, how do you think you fit into that old of that kind of player? You watch that and say, yeah, that's me. Yeah, definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacos, but I don't want to, you know, get a big head, but you know, watch the comment. I watch it through the drills. I have a tape here. You're like, you're looking like my film. So I think I'm up there with all those guys. Do you become like a artist and it comes back down past this? The way I get things. When you're going, you're not doing as much a weapon

2:54:19or a weapon. How do you work on that? Do you have like a gold one, I don't remember how many you had last year. You have a gold one, how many do you want to have? I mean, as many as I can have, I think I have more than that. But I think they're counting. I think they're counting some of them. And it's some of them where I like just missed it. So, but I think we work on drills match in the hand. I think that's goes big. And what we do is a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter of the against. Any way you can is just great for the defense. You know, just that little thing covering his eye, you know, he might throw it. A little bit to the left to our players. So, so let's something that you really, really hacked a work on. You can do that with what you can do. It's one of the things that you've maybe worked on the most. You can do it in your time here, because there are a few guys that I've seen. Like, oh, that past few guys. We don't have to ask for this title. We kind of expected for this. I think I just have like a, like a eye for the ball comment. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just, I see him, I load up. I just try to get in his way. And sometimes he just throws it in his. Oh, no.

2:55:19I hear it. You're a T. You're a T. You're a T. You're a T. You're a T. I mean, they get frustrated by, you know, we're a team, you know, we're just getting better. Yeah. That's a lot of, a lot of different backs, man, they just learn and grow for them. You got to pick your top three backs. You got to pull right now. One, two, two. Uh. I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you, I'll give you one. I would say, say, Juan Gibbs and... I like McCaffrey. Although he was injured this year, I like McCaffrey. Who's the best back in this drive? Best back in this drive? I'll lead that up to y'all. That's y'all decision. Playing well with Howard. When I'm going to remember most. Uh. We're a Howard, man. He's just such a great leader, man. It's just like in moments where, you know, usually a lot of players, they fold, man, he was just always calm and relaxed, man. And he just the leader that he was, man.

2:56:20That's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Yeah. He's, he's going to be really good, man. He's, um, Coach Lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia. Just that one, two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs. And so James people's, man, he's smart. The way that he goes about his business, man. He's mature. And so man, he's growing, you know, just as a person in as a player. And so man, yeah, definitely Ohio State, you know, that running back room is in great hands. Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartlein, man. He's full of energy, man. And he's creative as well. You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to. Run more outside the backfield. It was being able to learn from Coach Hartlein. And so he's definitely creative at what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that would do really good. Just intensity, man. And since he got a playoffs, every game, man, is like the intensity, and it's like the intensity. And so I think that's what I'm going to do. It's like my first time playing a game. I think that's what I'm going to do. It's like I'm going to be a player.

2:57:20It's like I'm really, really good. It's like a player. It's like a player. It's like a player. It's like a player. It's like a player. Every game, man, is like the intensity got higher and higher. And so being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, just every game, and the intensity, it keeps getting higher and higher. So yeah, you just, I know you got to bring it. You know, each and every day, and come in and work. And just like Ohio State, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that. I just remember even before going through this process, I'll talk to a lot of players before then. And they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them. You know, for the NFL. And so yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know I took a couple of days off after the national championship. And then shoot right after that, I'm writing sample Florida. And I'm right to it. And so yeah, I think while I trained, I trained at your performance.

2:58:20I think it's called the House of Athlete or the Compound now. They did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in. And the way they went about training us, man, they did a really good job. The Bucking Nears, no, I haven't. Temple, temple, nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40 to broad and avert. Yeah, yeah. Nah, man. It's really all about technique. And then it's about mindset as well. And so I say, you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of Will Howard. It's for the love of the receivers who I got on the perimeter. Just making sure, you know, first of all, my quarterback doesn't get sacked. And I'll tell you what. I think it was before the first game. I was like, I got your brother. I said, man, I'm not going to let you get hit. And so I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that.

2:59:21But I know if I did, I haven't given up too many. And so, man, it's for the love of my brother's dumb man. Making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now? In my game. You can't really work on this, you know, in all season, I feel like it's more so. You know, you got to put the pads on. You got to go through some inside run, you know, maybe. It's really just continuing to run through tackles. And so that's, I feel like that's one of the areas in my game. You know, I want to continue to get better at it. I feel like I did a good job of that my senior year. And so I just want to continue to build on that. Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So people say you look like a little more out there. You look like a nursing, every man on the floor. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camarro. Sure, yeah, man, I have a Camarro. Great, great back, man. Just what he does and those 101 matchups, he's dangerous, man.

3:00:23And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not going to lie. He's smooth. Yeah. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill. And I say the next one is probably just an option route out of the backfield. You know, a man and man coverage, you're getting on that linebacker. And so. Yeah. Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man. And the way that man, he approaches the game. He comes in with the mindset, you know, he's going to work every single week. You know, every practice, you know, he's working hard. You know, even shoot. I don't know. Every good. I think he had a every game was a good game for him, man. And so but still, man, he always has the mentality to mindset that, you know, he's going to come in each and every day.

3:01:24He's going to continue to work and get better, man. And so he's definitely man, he's going to be a special player, man. He really is. I'm not going to be a playtor. I'm not going to be a last game. I'm going to be a hot start kid. You know, some injuries and then he's a match to take. We're back running. But the stand time is like. Man, a lot of ups and downs, man. It's just how you respond to adversity. And I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better. Is this, I'm not having something to lean on now. You know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity, I had nothing to run to. You know, you can run to people, but they still can't. It's not too much. They can't truly help you. You know, I feel like, you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ. And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you, you know, his moments where it's tough, you know, where it's slow. And when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about, he gives you, he gives you that peace and comfort, you know, even in those moments, man, where it's so hard that you can't, you can't explain. It's like, man, I'm going through this, but like, how am I still filled with this internal joy?

3:02:27You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you. And so. The back of the firm, the power of judgment is through it. Which aspect, the future, those other individuals that you want to model and from being around power to heaven? Um, man, those guys have such a great mentality, man. Am I just really loved their mentality, especially Q as well. You know, I talked about Will Howard, his leadership, but Quincham mentality, man. Um, that boy just, yeah, that boy just gifted, you know, you see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like, you know, he should have a negative five yards. And as soon as you know it, you know, he, he's running through somebody, step on somebody and shoot, it's a game to 10. It's a. You some of the things he does, he just realizes two different guys. Um, shoot, I think. Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted, man, to be honest, he's just gifted.

3:03:28You know, he's, he's a big back. You know, he's strong and so, um, you know, he's, he's able to do, he's able to do those things. And so, um, yeah, man, it's definitely, you know, I look at his game and I want to, you know, at the same time, I want to learn from Quincham. You know, I want to look at this game and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better, man. I'm always looking to grow as a player. He's really saying, oh yeah, he's going to be a great, but he's going to be a great quarterback, man. He's so, so accurate. And so, um, he's definitely, man, I know Coach Day is definitely going to get him right. Just, you know, um, container, grow as a leader, container, grow as a player. And so he's going to be really good for a high state. Uh, he's, I know just the quarterback position. Um, I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've, they've definitely been vocal. And so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to, um, ask them, Julian, saying as well, how important are you to carry around in that field while that goes into Crypt, Jonah,э and you know, just that yeah. So, um, for me as I know, um, I think we have, I guess, uh, I'm glad for concealing the path, um,

3:04:31um, I've heard about how Aliis is going to be picking up, uh, let's say we can probably say the八, one, two, three somewhat ansanly. I answered your question, uh, and uh, we're learning bandら λέing past the nine, you know. Before I committed here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every on one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and I feel like you know when I see JK Dobbins when I see James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same Appreciate you all you have You

3:05:45You You

3:06:45You You All I got coming in last I knew we're also I just tacked every day really the same way I'm like 240 you know like 240 for right now last year I played it like 236 to 37 What does it feel like a 244 or a belt you feel like an almost a different machine out there? Yeah, what's it? Feel like we run around out there like you are with more More back I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all the blood's better. It's big

3:07:47You see don't think maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year instead of what you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more You got to get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So Are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an 8th Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. It's a rematch So it's not really two different teams compared to last time y'all play this How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, what an opener like that we've been we've been emphasizing in a lot of we know we got coming so we know we got to do we've prepared for it I think Riley ready to play right now. He's he advanced freshman like he in the here in the book He's studying like he advanced and his measurements crazy like you saw like the saw line to Or you said you're ready

3:08:51What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself? Becoming more and more ready Yeah, cuz that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you stay ready Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally mostly I think I'm there I I It's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I Kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year It's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more

3:09:57It won't work I Say Scrub my game I say like when you think of me you think I like a like a bully like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play a thing No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but oh Yeah For the style and how it's free Think it fit me because I Don't know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the terms is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that That's okay I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like his deep

3:11:00I like I'm pretty deep. I like what you got going on No, I wanted to my sad I was kind of like happy for you Kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for you Coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship guys How much do you feel that is guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and along the summer year Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win a nattie last year, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's my beaters here So yeah, I definitely want to go get another one experienced that like feeling me be on the field a lot more place Unique offense

3:12:05Yeah, um, I mean, I think he likes to really push the ball down the field He likes to be balanced. He likes to Give different looks to a difference. You know, we're gonna Not to try to get too much into it, but you know, we're gonna use some motion move some guys around and things of that nature I think for myself. I feel comfortable playing any of the positions that is that is asked whether it's the slot the outside positions and Unique part about our offense is I don't think necessarily you play the X or the Z because the pit on the formation of the hash You can be the opposite you could be the X but then you're to the field now you're the Z So you got to really learn The entire concept and know where you're out in the field which I think Makes everybody smarter players because you don't pigeonhole yourself. I just play X You know, I'm only know this position like you get in two minutes. You're the Z now. You got to know what to do You may have the clear out router. You may have the backside dig like you got to know What you're doing? So I think he doesn't just say like we're gonna do this offense He's really trying to create an office that it's our personnel really well that that field boundary thing

3:13:10Yeah, that's a thing in college, but it seems like it's more unique to clip is that is that something you're used to seeing with other offenses? Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think if if I'm on the left hash like technically I'm I'm the X you know, I'm in the boundary, but if we're on the right hash. I'm still on the left side I'm really the Z in the concept because I'm to the field and to the strength of the tight end so I've been in offenses like is similar like that before and You know, I just think he he one thing I think that's really stood out as the compliments of our routes that we have so far I feel like we have a chance to really Run similar stems, but there's different routes off those stems and things like that which I think for receiver like myself who You get you know a really good look at DB's and they study your film. They study your splits like having routes That look the same, but break off a different Different angles is extremely important because it feels like you have some versatility in your bag to go out with versus like You got this hitch again. You're backside. You like that's all you got, you know, I mean so

3:14:14Yeah, he's just been a really good player's person to work with and he's been really communicative with the leaders and how we want this offense to look like in Some of the ideas that we may have as well. So it's it's been a really cool transition You talk about the transitions you've nerd offense in three years probably your fourth and Six years. Yeah, how do you not kind of build up some barriers? Yeah, man. I got to do this again. Right I think you know human nature is is always A factor in whatever you do in life, but I think I try to make a conscious choice of coming in with a new year mentality Each and every year and I think it's easy because we've had so many changes in it's been great working with Marcus and Jaden and Jeff and Sam all of everybody like it's it's been great with working with all the quarterbacks and um I just have a mentality and not really being complacent like I try to really focus on the things that I I can come back better at this year and I've been working my my butt off to do that so

3:15:17Um, I think the easy thing and when I was younger, you're like dang like you just want that consistency, you know, I mean like you want that um Something you could depend on, but like life isn't life isn't always like that so um I've been reinvigorated because of just the The energy that dq brings into our building each and every day and and the coaches as well like it's fun competing You know, I mean and sometimes I could get lost in the grind, but um I think the reason why you make it here at this level is because you you fall in love with the competition of it and I think the competition breathes the success because um That is really where you the iron truly sharpens iron. So you know other guys are going to make plays, but you get excited to go in there and and know that um, the next day we're going to go right back after the defense so um For myself, I'm just looking forward to continue to grow with the quarterbacks that we have um, I mean year six now, which is extreme blessing and um leader one of the leaders in our room and I just try to take the bull by the horns with that and so

3:16:21That's really been my focus and Uh, you know, I'm excited for another year to us. It's looked like you're being more vocal on the sideline. Yeah, help young guys Definitely something you decided this offseason or uh, I think that's uh been a part of my maturation process as a leader um I've always seen myself as somebody that was a uh A leader by example um, but From coaches and other teammates. I've had over the years um guys like to hear what I have to say for whatever reason sometimes You know and I think the biggest thing where I've tried to Figure out where I sit in with my vocal leadership is I never wanted to be like a dictator You know, I mean, I never wanted to tell guys what to do or or be a yellow or things like that Like when I say something I wanted to have power. I wanted to have meaning and I hope you know The guys would feel the same way if they were to ask them that question Um, because I want to see all these guys win man like it's it's hard to make it in this league and stay in a career And so anywhere I could help The receivers the DB's I'm talking to some alignment Johnny who's who's rehabbing his foot, you know what I mean like everybody has a role and everybody has a different story and path

3:17:27And so if I could share what I've been through my testimony to help them or Uh Do things that kind of slow down the process. I'm gonna try to do that because um, we need everybody from the rookies to the 10 year vets to make this thing work so um more so I try to speak to What I what I know and and really those honest conversations that I try to have with guys where they know I'm coming from a good place and I think I'm not the type of guy where I'm just going to talk in at them like if they see something like I could take a coaching point from Luke McCaffrey I could take a coaching point from day on me from johan from uh Marcus from anybody, you know, like I think that's what makes you a great player when you can really Uh, be coachable from anybody and and not take it from a personal standpoint Hi Good um going back to what you were saying about cliff and offense. How is he as a teacher in teaching all this? Yeah, I mean, I think he does a really great job of making things simple first and foremost

3:18:27He doesn't over coach and I think that's the trust that he has in our group and his in his coaches our position coaches to fill in the details so we'll have an install meeting and It'll be a good amount of time, but then our position coaches will have time and we'll make it specific to that position and so um Then we'll come in and have a walkthrough um and then after that we'll have another walkthrough And so I don't think there's been a time where I've come out here and I'm kind of worried about what I got You know, I mean and when you get into certain offices, there could be so many details where you could be overwhelmed and I think then it If forces it kind of separates guys in the sense that like one guy may study more than another guy But when you have these these sessions that we have where we're having installs in the morning We're having two walkthroughs and then we're coming on the field and doing it like I think you notice a lot of guys are playing a lot faster and more Confident because he's keeping it simple, but also he's very particular in in what he's expecting, but it's not a lot so There's not a pressure of to get it right, but at the same time

3:19:29You know it's expected of you and and you know you're going to have the tools given to you to be successful out there on the field In this offseason just the totality of change Front office players coaches the turf field. Yeah, what What does that been like for you just to see what's going on? It's been fun You know, I think from Mr. Harris and the entire ownership group down to Adam Peters down to DQ down to Jada who he drafted and bringing in Marcus and Jeff and all those guys and Down to leaders we have on our team. I think it was extremely specific on the way they tried to build this thing going into this year First having the right people bringing in leaders bringing in guys who love to compete first thing that DQ said when he came here Was in his first meeting like if you love to compete this is going to be the place for you. I love it You know, I mean I love bags and and going at it with the db's every day like the little mundane stuff can seem a little boring But that's I think that was the Where you make the gains during the offseason where you're really focused on I'm hey like I'm a I'm a give all I got for this day

3:20:33And I'm a get better and then I'm a I'm a learn from the film and come back tomorrow and ready to do it again And he also understands like the the benefits of having breaks like he's giving us breaks We've had you know weeks off here in there that we can compose ourselves But then come back and give it all we got you know what I mean and when you got a coach that understands the physicality of an entire season where you guys do need breaks by the time same time We're going to get after it it makes it fun as a leader because you can take that to your room and be like yo We got these we got this week, you know, I mean that's extremely important But you know, we have this little break coming up Where you're going to get your your mind and your body and your soul right so Coming into this season. I'm really optimistic. Oh what we can be this year And I think it started with the foundation that The ownership group and the entire staff has built and now it's on myself as a leader to continue to hone that in into the locker room But I think it's great because we have so many great leaders from all across the league Who have one and Hell we got Bobby Wagner in there, you know, I mean I asked a hall of famer so like

3:21:36You know being able to have kind of guys like that that you can lean on that can sometimes take over that leadership Rollward doesn't fall on one person. I think it's Extremely refreshing and knowing that everybody's on the same page and the message is the same Allows you to go out there with confidence and always expect to know you Terry you seem to spend money of your off seasons Learning about things beyond football. How do you do anything this all seasons so far? It's a Hobbies are increased your knowledge of this the world around It's a good question Play a lot of golf As they just keep my competitive juices flowing Planning awaiting that's going well and Man, I've just been grinding like honestly, you know, I mean, I've been hungry this all season like I started working out you know pretty early and You start to see guys like coming back and it's just fun to like to be here and compete and feel like everybody's on the same page

3:22:37You know what I mean like and so for me I'm a grind every offseason, but just This one just feels like it's the start of something you know new and special and the foundation of his extremely important and to be a part of that to have a hand in that You know, it's it's an honor, you know, and I put a lot of expectation on myself to come out here and be the guy that I know I'm capable of and also like taking the next step and being somebody that our quarterbacks that can trust and believe in so This all season was pretty simple for me It was just really about you know, working and and and grinding and getting better He talked about jaden before and so far. I know we haven't seen everything But in terms of his arm strength the throws he's making anything surprising so far about the types of his ability in that regard definitely I think after the second or third crosser that he threw I started telling receivers like hey you gotta get your head around You know, I mean because again each quarterback throws the ball differently and sees the field differently

3:23:38So sometimes on crossers a lot of quarterbacks may like to see you cross the ball and get into that open zone over there If it's a man flattened off they like to see you get open where him He has a really good anticipation over the middle of the field where he can make those throws and give you a Chance to catch and run and He's really accountable to like we had to play today where he felt like he missed me and you know It's not a big deal at all, you know I mean him and I could talk to those things and there's been a play that I've talked to him about I could do a better job But but again like that open that open former communication from a rookie I think is it's very rare and I think it speaks to the confidence he knows who he is But he's also not afraid to say when he's wrong and he knows he needs room to improve But his touch on the deep balls is it's amazing You know, I love getting extra reps with practice after practice with him We're just catching the top end of a deep ball as big for me, you know I mean I get to track the ball over my shoulder and it's big for him to be able to Get used to dropping the ball in the bucket But he just naturally has an ability to throw the ball He sees the windows really well and now

3:24:39He's just you know continue to get adjusted to the speed in the past rush. I think he's these reps that he's getting our unbelievable during 11 or 11 Because he's getting the field pain and Allen and DA and Clealing Farrow like we got some dogs up there who are gonna come after them You know what I mean? And we got some great guys up front who are gonna protect them And so these reps I feel like are even better than just seven on seven seven on seven I think he could do in the sleep to be fair like he throws the ball really well But when you get this 11 on 11 and two minute drill you're putting them in game like situations And I'm looking them in his eye. I'm like we play real ball now like we we we plan you know, I mean and You just see no no anxiousness in his game in his demeanor which is extremely exciting and and then you know He's extremely lighthearted and he's always smiling So he's joking with lime and D line. He's just cool with everybody and like I said like for a rookie quarterback to come in like that Where guys are gravitating to him and he's not afraid to be who he is That's dope. I think he has a bright future for himself The tough losses the tough seasons. Mm-hmm. Can weigh on a player

3:25:42Sure you're entering the prime of your career Jay kind of mentioned it last year. All he cares about is winning. Yeah wants to win now Is there a sense of urgency you obviously always want to win? Yeah knowing that you know, you're you're getting to the prime Your career like you want to win now. Yeah, I think that's a fair question. I think um, you know You start to evaluate when you I'm in year six and you know how fast it goes and I try not to put the cart before the horse were looking too far ahead by at the same time You do want to win you want to be a part of a winning culture and have a chance to win the Super Bowl and the playoffs and all those things Like that's why we we do this personally and I'm just excited with being a part of a organization in a environment where now like everybody's on the same page in the In the message is uniform and it speaks from the top down and It reflects in the guys that they're bringing in you know all the guys that they brought in are guys who are hungry who are competitors who Not only fighting for spots, but we're going to help us win games and when you're around environment like that like that

3:26:47That makes you excited makes you hopeful and you know, you don't know how that's going to turn out until we start playing games But um the foundation is extremely important. I think this offseason. We've really done a great job of building that They have and then when a coach Quinn guy here building with this team. So I feel like we're going to be going into this offseason really Knowing what we all got to do individually to become ready for camp, but the met uh the message is clear to come back to camp ready to compete and And be ready to win thanks. Sorry Appreciate you guys You Really playing as much so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt So I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been One of those younger guys we're seeing

3:27:55Uh, well as a workhorse he he goes take quite a good work hard and that's what I love about him The focus is he don't really talk much. He's going to get a job done do a job right really has any mistakes Uh a national championship I ring When all the games we don't want to lose anything Uh, we got a mindset that we can't be beat and we just gotta go show it So that mindset different Seems like you guys expect the national championship over here this year even more so you guys have all come back for this You guys have all decided like that Is that this is to feel different or is there not really any difference? It's just the same word I was definitely a difference everyone working harder um we noticed our last run That we most of us don't have any years after this so we gotta go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home Finish big we know what you guys think of Michigan but When you look at what they did they won the national championship and you guys Took them down to the final minute right you know what I mean? I mean you

3:28:57You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one that came against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship But You played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close This I'm saying uh, we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes uh saying you know nobody cares Just work harder like those no one played Georgia is the same thing Last last play you know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine Oh frustrating is that you're that close against the last two national title Uh, of course as you know it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome You can't really dwell on uh dwell on it. You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change Yes, that is you get a order you kind of learn. I thought I was working hard But then you always find out there's a little more you could have been doing yeah, definitely I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought fresh me. I was working as hard as I could but now I look back at it

3:30:00I really wasn't working hard at all Compared to what I'm doing now, so just to learn anything Uh 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just gotta run harder The idea I think I think we I definitely can last I was just you know we got to get the young guys to come along with us We can't play 50 snaps again. That's just too much on our bodies uh Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know Get that pieces on the D line and all line and everywhere else so we can last that

3:31:08Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a line I thought like there are no moments you know I can go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too on North those kind of games Of course, I want to be because I know I can contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else When I know I get a job there. Well, it stands out about Kaden McDonald And it's you guy that you guys have a second. Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a Came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice he shows all the time. He's just He's just he's growing right now. He has to work at the he just has to get you know in the playbook things like that You guys are about the exact same size Listen, you're both listen to six three you're three twenty seven. He's three twenty six Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know, came out he's gonna be a great player He's got to develop more and get into playbook Really a lot on you older guys. There's a large group of young guys and then they've seen you're back as a part of your Task for this year to bring those guys Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders um like I say we got to have them play this year

3:32:09We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work and we got to get them right They're in the all season so they can play and I just played they want to like contribute like make plays tackle six You Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um and they all work hard. I've only seen much of some day too Pass on but throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work Defensive tackle so you can eat up space I'm trying to maybe for a great defense To have guys like you that have some fault but Also a great feeling. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last

3:33:10Couple of national championship winners Like see my north they didn't know they got two good Detackle two athletic detackles look at Georgia two athletic detackles I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run to beat those big teams That's it. They were defined by the defense with like What's Georgia's Jordan Davis and Janet Carter? Let's miss you again. It's Chris Jenkins You understand it but I feel like some time it's I don't know it's our people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Like in the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving We're in the 478s and things like that so We'll see and when you think it when you think about those freakish Yeah, definitely I think I'm top-notch when it comes to detackles But I don't want to you know get a big head, but you know watch the comma. I know watch it

3:34:12Do the drills I have tape here like you like my film. So I think I'm up there You become like a artist Counseling I think they didn't counsel some of them and some of them were like just listed But I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's goes big and We do as a deal on you know just affecting the quarter Vegas Anyway, you can it's just great for the defense, you know That little thing covered his eye, you know, he might throw it a little bit for the life to our players

3:35:18Kind of I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball comment. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him I load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he's throws it to me I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're a team. You know we're just getting better I Should a lot of a lot of different backs man. They just learn to grow for them Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say Sequan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Who's the best back in this draft? I lead out of the yard. That's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with howard when I'm going to remember most Uh

3:36:20We're a Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like in moments where you know Usually a lot of players they fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man. He Just the leader that he was man. That's one thing I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's Shoot He's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're gonna be really good backs And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing, you know, just as a person in as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely oh, hi estate. You know that running back room is in gray hands You know Yeah, um Coach coach hard line man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, um trying to run more outside the backfield It was being able to learn from coach hard line and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does

3:37:25And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that do really good Just the intensity man then since he did other playoffs um every game and it's like the intensity got you know Higher and higher and so um, you know being able I know in the lead. It's it's the same thing Even if it's not the playoffs just every every game and then since it keeps getting higher and higher And so yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work Just like Ohio State, you know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process how I'll talk to a lot of players Before then and they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um Not in the championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm right in right in sample Florida and I'm right to it

3:38:28And so um, yeah, I think where I trained I trained that um your morph performance. Um, I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now Um, they did they did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us man They were they did a really good job The bucket near know what I haven't Temple a temple a nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert Yeah No, man, uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of will highway It's for the love of the receiver. So I got on a perimeter just making sure you know, um, first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother

3:39:28It's uh, I said man, I'm not gonna let you get hit, you know, um, and so um, I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack I'm not sure that um, but I know if I did I haven't given up too many and so man It's for the love of my brothers though man making sure that the ball get in their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed In my game uh, you can't really work on this, you know, in all season I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing to run through tackles and so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game You know, I want to continue to get better. I I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I've a comrade sure

3:40:30Yeah, man, I've a comrade great great back man um, just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man He's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not going to lie he smooth Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and I say the next one is probably Just an option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker and so Yeah Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game He comes in with the monster, you know, he's going to work every single week, you know, every practice, you know, he's working hard You know um even shoot. I don't know every good thing. I think he had a every game was a good game for him

3:41:31And so but still man He always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's going to come in each and every day He's going to continue to work and get better man, and so he's definitely man He's going to be a special player man. He really is Man a lot of ups and downs man, it's just How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um, and I have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to, you know, you can run to people But they still can't it's not too much. They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough You know where it's low and um when you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about He gives you he gives you that peace and comfort, you know

3:42:31Even in those moments man, where it's so hard that you can't you can't explain this like man I'm going through this but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so Um Those guys have such a great mentality man. I'm I just really love their mentality especially um Q as well, you know, I talked about Will Howard his leadership, but Quinch, I'm a mentality man Um That boy just yeah that boy just gifted, you know, you see, you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like You know, he should have a negative five yards And as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody stiff arm and somebody and she that's a gain of 10 It's uh

3:43:33Yeah Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted You know, he's he's a big back. You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things And so yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinch, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am I'm always looking to get better man. I'm always looking to grow as a player Julian san. Oh, yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach day is definitely going to get him right Just you know, um container grow as a leader container grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state Uh, he's uh, I know just the quarterback position um, I feel like you know the quarterbacks in the past They've they've definitely been vocal and so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um ask I'm Julian saying as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead the offense and lead the steam

3:44:38Shoot man, he has he has a build like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know Similarities in their game as well and I know JK Dobbins. He was a great running back I feel like he's not talked about his none Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same. So appreciate you all. Yeah, I've been going

3:47:21Well, I got coming in last year. I knew the world. So I just attacked every day really the same way It's been very rare physically Are you weight wise body wise on that from America? Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 You know like 240 for right now last year. I played it like 236 to 37 What does it feel like a 240 for a belt? You feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what's it? What does it feel like to be run around out there like you are but with more More back I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all bloods better. It's a big no You see don't think uh, maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year and stuff What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? I Just gotta get ready to just play already more snaps. So But are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an 8th

3:48:23I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it. It's open. It's a rematch But it's not really two different teams compared to the last time y'all played and stuff How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, with an opener like that we've been um with the emphasizing in a lot of we know we got coming so we know we got to do we've prepared for it Um, I think Riley ready to prepare right now. He's he advanced freshman like he ended he in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements was crazy like he saw like saw like so Said you're ready What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically

3:49:28Mentally mostly I think I'm there Is that Oh I feel like it's uh It's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did I feel like this year is gonna be the same thing And what word? I say Scrub my gun I say like when you think of me would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet I don't really do bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think

3:50:28You know, I ain't ain't got to be my nickname, but Yeah Um think it fit me because I don't know. I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we moving around a lot A lot of the times is like no, I don't know. I don't really not answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like I just like his defense. I like how the truth is I like what he got going on Uh No, I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for him That's what you want No All right, that's my dog. I'm gonna say yeah kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for him though

3:51:32Well, don't think go ahead one last but coach days talked a lot about the guys who played some last year But maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship you guys will win your own Yeah, how much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year? But we'll be in this bigger role and along this summer year Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win the nattie last year, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's gonna be this year So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling maybe on the field lot more place Oh, Bill, thank you very much Kind of has a lot of leaders on the D line at the D in position so we kind of all kind of just kind of tough for children You And we love it. We all competitive people we all love to fish each other

3:52:32And I feel like the spring the best side of all this We're all just Kind of bouncing off each other to see what one person does and we kind of build it into archival box And we all kind of just kind of build one great thing Jackson So I definitely didn't high school I was pulled back and a little bit tired and so I feel like It kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson I was really watching it too before you left and Feel like you playing that seed and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and try to do the best I could Is that continuing now? You know new playbook I did not know you got that far Um, I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any position on the field you need me to just give me a Weak or two to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Kid Jack, you're the same thing. Oh, yeah

3:53:36Graphically that's what Hey, it's talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of sought you and Got out to have some conversations after JT and Jack decided to come back But I went into those Respect to me and out of that help you maybe get the right mindset I guess Definitely kind of seeing all the way through if you like people kind of just see what happened and they don't know Everything that goes into it how long the season is now what you got to do prepare for and what they happen in all that time from here to To this so I feel like we definitely just coached in me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-to-man And uh, he kind of just said straight to me and I feel like We kind of both Making each other better every day. We got the four best the ends five best the ends honestly College football and we're gonna be one of the best derives in football You feel like a better player today than you were in Oh, I feel like I've taken big steps in my rules of just being

3:54:36Responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team and kind of bring people in and Feel like I'm kind of helping out more I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow, it's already weekend So now it's kind of getting more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save it because There's a my Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks all those practice I mean he has to talk about we know about it. We've seen it every day. We watched the film We see him all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become so we know we we're right at the same

3:55:40At the right place at the right time and god wanted us to be here and he knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and Be able to bounce off and just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt so I can know bring younger guys with me because I've been Real proud of him because he's hurt Well as a workhorse he he goes stay quiet you go work hard and that's all I love about him Focus is he don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes So what would be a successful A national championship When all the games we want to lose anything Uh, we got a mindset that we can't be beat

3:56:42We just gotta go so I was definitely a difference everyone working harder um, we noticed our last run I mean most of us don't have any years after this So we got to go go bigger go home then we're not trying to go home Finish big But When you look at what they did they won the national championship and you guys Took them down to the final minute, right? You know what I mean? I mean you You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one night game against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship But you played to the 59th minute with the team that won the national championship last year like you're that close So I'm saying uh, we just like work harder. That's that's kind of coach makes of saying you know Nobody cares. Just work harder like those no one played Georgia is the same thing

3:57:45Last last play you know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that You're that close against the last two national title Uh, of course is you know, it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome You can't really dwell on it. You just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change As that as you get older you kind of learn I thought that was working hard but then you always find out there's a little more Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought friends from here I was working as hard as I could but not look back at it Really wasn't working hard at all compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything Uh, 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder

3:58:53I I think I think we I definitely can last. I was just you know, we got to get the young guys to come along with us We can't play for the snaps of the game. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know Give that pieces on the D line and online and everywhere else so we can last that Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there are no mom easy not gonna sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too on North those kind of games Of course, I wouldn't be because I know I can contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I get the job Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back animal y'all you haven't really seen it yet, but in practice he shows all the time

3:59:58He's just he's growing right now. He has to work at the he just has to get you know in the playbook and things like that You guys are about the exact same size Listen, you're both listen six three you're three 27 he's three 26 Yeah, I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know, came in he's gonna be a great player He's got to develop more and getting to play Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders um, like I say we got to have them play this year Just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work And we got to get them right during the all season so they can play and I just play it I don't want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um, and they all work hard. I'm really seeing much of somebody day two when I'm passing on

4:01:01But throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work with me I'm poor this There's a lot of great defenses that you have big athletic defensive tactics you can eat up space Is that Requirement maybe for great defense to have guys like you that have some fault, but Also a great feature. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple of national champions and winners like seem a Northeastern they got to that Detackled two athletic detackles look at Georgia two athletic detackles I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams Oh, if you think about this, they're going to fight by the defense What's Georgia Jordan Davis and Janet Carter? Let's miss you again. It's Chris Jenkins You understand

4:02:07More than they used to I think so I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest Again the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving for the 478 and things like that So Oh, yeah, definitely I think I'm top-notch when it comes to detackles, but I don't want to you know get a big head But you know, I want to come on I want you to do the drills. I have to see you like you're looking my my film. So I think I'm up there You're going You're not doing as much a weapon I mean as many as I can have I think I have more than that But I think they're counting I think they're counting some of them and it's some of them where I like just missed it

4:03:10So but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's goes big and We do as a D line, you know, just affecting the quarter bag is Anyway, you can't is this great for the defense, you know, just that little thing covered is I you know, he might throw it a little bit to the left for our player I think I just have like a like a eye for the ball comment. I kind of just look at the quarterback And just I see him like load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he throws it to me I mean they get frustrated by you know, we're team, you know, we're just getting back I should lot of a lot of different backsman and just learn and grow for them

4:04:12Uh I don't really have a top three, but I'll give you I'll give you one. I would say say quan Gibbs and I like McCaffrey auto he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey Best back in this draft. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with well Howard when I'm going to remember most uh We're Howard man. He's just such a great lead such a great leader man. It's just like In moments where you know usually a lot of players they fold man. He was just always calm and relaxed man He just the leader that he was man. That's one thing I'm gonna remember about him Yeah, he's shoot he's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal lock. I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well They're gonna be really good backs and so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man

4:05:15He's mature and so man. He's growing you know Just as a person in as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely oh, hi estate, you know that running back room is in gray hands Yeah Coach coach hard line man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, um trying to run more outside the backfield Was being able to learn from coach hard line and so he's definitely creative at what he he does And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think they'll do really good Um just intensity man then since he got to playoffs um every game and it's like the intensity got you know Higher and higher and so um, you know being a bad knowing the lead. It's it's the same thing Even if it's not the player. I'll just every every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher and so Yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State

4:06:18You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process. I'll I'll talk to a lot of players um before then And they told me a lot of just about how much Ohio State prepared them, you know for the NFL and so yeah Yeah Yeah, I know I took a couple days off after the um National Championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm writing writing sample Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think while trained I trained that um your morph performance. Um, I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now Um, they did they did a good job, man. They're just um bringing us in and the the way they went about training us man They were they did a really good job The Bucking near know I haven't Temple attempt a nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert

4:07:29Yeah No, man. Uh, it's really all about technique and then it's about mindset as well And so um, I say you know, it's for the love of my brother. It's for the love of will highway It's for the love of the receiver. So I got on the perimeter just making sure you know, um first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked And I I told will I think it was before the first game. I was like I got your brother It's uh, I said man. I'm not gonna let you get hit you know um, and so um I don't know if I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that um But I know if I did I haven't given up too many and so man It's for the love of my brothers though man making sure that the ball get in their hands You know the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed In my game uh, you can't really work on this you know in all season I feel like it's more so you know, you got to put the pads on you got to go through some inside run You know, maybe uh, it's really just continuing run through tackles And so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game. You know, I want to continue to get better

4:08:31I I feel like I did a good job of that my senior and so I just want to continue to build on that Yes, I did yes, I did Uh, I did me with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I have a comar Sure, yeah, man. I would come here great great back man um just what he does and those 101 matchups he's dangerous man And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not gonna lie. He's smooth Yeah um Inside zone from stack being able to hit that thing downhill and um, I say the next one. It's probably Just a option route out of the backfield, you know, and man and man coverage. You're getting on that linebacker and so

4:09:37Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man and the way that man um, he approaches the game He comes in with the monster, you know, he's gonna work every single week You know every practice, you know, he's working hard, you know, um, even shoot it. I don't know every good I think he had it every game was a good game for him, man And so but still man he always has the mentality to mindset that you know, he's gonna come in each and every day He's gonna continue to work and get better, man, and so he's definitely man. He's gonna be a special player, man He really is You know Man a lot of ups and downs man is this How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um now have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ

4:10:40And so being able to lean on him, you know, he gives you in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's low and um When you're behind the scenes and you're going through things that people don't know about um, he gives you he gives you that peace and comfort you know Even in those moments man, where it's so hard that you can't you can't explain. It's like man I'm going through this, but like how am I still filled with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so Um Man eight those guys have such a great mentality man. I might just really love their mentality especially um Q as well, you know, I talked about will Howard his leadership but Quinchiam mentality man um That boy just yeah that boy just gifted, you know, you see you know sometime he put in a situation where he looked like you know

4:11:41He should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody step on And somebody and she just gained a 10 it's uh Yeah I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted, you know, he's he's a big back You know, he's strong and so um, you know, he's he's able to do he's able to do those things. It's so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at this game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinchiam, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better man I'm always looking to grow as a player What's your last experience? Julian San, oh yeah, he's gonna be a great but he's gonna be a great quarterback man He's so so accurate and so um, he's definitely man. I know coach day is definitely going to get him right Just you know, um container grow as a leader container grow as a player and so he's going to be really good for high state Uh

4:12:42He's that I know just the quarterback position. Um, I feel like you know the quarterbacks in the past They've they've definitely been vocal and so I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to um Ask Julian San as well. It's the beat. I vocal leader and lead the um and lead to offensive lead to steam Shoo man, he has he has a build like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them you know similar Similarities in their game as well and I know JK Dobbins. He was a great running back I feel like he's not talked about his know Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man. He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know When I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games I feel like they play the same and so appreciate you all y'all

4:14:18You You

4:15:18You You You All I got coming in last round to the world so I just attacked every day really the same way It's a very rare Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240 you know like 240 for right now last year I played it like 236 to 37 I just feel like I'm like Like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's big

4:16:22Is it daunting? Maybe that's not the correct term but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year And you played quite a bit last year instead of what do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more This is gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So But are you are you how would you describe how you how much you're looking forward to it from an Now I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Yeah, we're gonna open like that we've been um we've been emphasizing it a lot We know we got coming so we know we gotta do we look prepared for it Um, I think Riley ready to play right now He advanced freshman like he in the here in the book he studying like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like saw

4:17:25What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Yeah, cuz that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year When you say ready is it more A physical thing is it a mental thing when I say ready I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally mostly. I think I'm there Oh Oh I feel like it's uh It's a way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but I kind of go about it the same way like last year. I was intentional with everything I did. I feel like this year It's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more

4:18:31And what work Uh, I say I Subscribe my guy. I say like when you think of me you think of like a like a bully like a silver bullet I don't really know No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but oh yeah I Um think of fit me because I I don't know. I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you said we got a lot of freedom and we're moving around a lot A lot of the terms is like no, I don't know. I don't really know how to answer that I don't even know if I say that because there's a lot of thinking going on, but it's like

4:19:34I just like it's deep. I like how it's pretty deep because I like what you got going on So Now I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you Yeah That's my dog. I go see it kind of missing a little bit. I'm happy for you About the guys who played some last year, but maybe weren't the starters and the hunger for That wasn't maybe your national championship you guys How much do you feel that is guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and along the summer year Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did one of the last year, but like you said my role wasn't Same as how's gonna be this year. So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling Maybe on the field a lot more place Championship unique and you know before and everything like that and

4:20:34Also need your your teeth knocked in you know first game and you know can't have that happening Because then you know really doesn't mean anything and so just the constant mindset to continually get better But on the forefront of my mind and forefront of anyone Here you can ask Yeah Yeah, I know we uh we look at the uh the class sets every now and then I'd be like oh man. They're gone. They're gone Um, no, it's been um, it's been good. I mean the guys who are still here. I must have definitely kind of bonded together pretty good Yeah, I mean Marv came in the other days like That class 2021 best class ever and like yes, you know, I can't really even you know Just sitting to that you know, not much left but um Uh, yeah, I mean to do what we can and do what we can for this team has been really important for all of us and I think

4:21:36um us Now realizing where the veterans, you know, like with all guys now in group has been um kind of strange at least to begin with you know because you go from Um all those guys you like Donnie and Josh and those guys most sudden it's Sunday. We have a team meeting after the um Like the celebration the shoe and all of a sudden the next day there's gone and you know, it's just very different So I think us being able to step up as you know leaders and as um as vets to help bring out, you know, along the team our units and This program has been really important Yeah You No, it's been doing really well. I mean I could go and he goes to work Um, he's extremely athletic, extremely flexible um, you know, he's a young kid obviously he's a lot of

4:22:38A lot of development a lot of he's a little adversity at all of us do Um, but I think he's going through that right now, but he's been um coming out on the better end of it so far and Um excited to see what he can do because he's very impressive at this young stage I think we're all level excited just to be back with the rest of this interview off the line Yeah, extremely excited. I mean um trying to just build that culture back up again, you know like what we had last year I'm trying to do a little stuff here in there and I can know I think we're going to Rayres of barbecue. I think tomorrow Uh, so shout out Rayres, but um, but yeah, just trying to uh get that brotherhood back get that you know that oblock spirit back Uh, sure it's coming soon hopefully um But uh, just to kind of get those uh Not those same faces, but those same kind of mindsets back and uh our our group is important right now and it's it's been fun to Meet new guys and from different backgrounds and stuff like that um and try to

4:23:38Figure out how to you know build that and mend that together. It's been pretty cool. Now as you are one of the most experienced veterans on this team How much do you feel like you have to be a leader for the students here? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think that comes um I It's it's obviously I don't feel like it's natural to anyone to immediately step up and there's something I've been working on every day and talking to God about um, but I have to understand that and that's something I want to continue to work on. I want to be able to um Be a guy that people can fall back on and like coach was saying before like we're gonna have highs in those but the great players The ones being set are clocks too and I kind of want that's my goal as to be one of those people that you can do that um And I think for especially a very new set of eyes um in the woody Not only coaches but players. I think it's very important to kind of keep that steady mindset and I think for me learning how to be a leader has been important just uh Not be too hard on myself, but also not let myself kind of slack off in some departments. They try to keep um steady

4:24:39Just your story itself though is Testament What it means to like for perseverance is stuff too though right car something You know that's there and that's gonna have to stand up from somebody to say that right. I mean just Yeah, what do you what do you think you've shown more than anything else in every card? Yeah, I mean I've been blessed You know, I've you know, I've been blessed with a lot of adversity. I think it's definitely made me better on the back end and um You know Coach to it coach day always talks about it and you don't You know great leaders aren't you know they can show it But you know a lot of people can show it a lot of people can just talk about it Um, but to be about it is important and I think um to me now I've went through a lot of that adversity. I went through a lot of that stuff and um my testament you know has been Written in an interesting way, but I think for me to take that next step is really important for not only for this team But for myself personally Yeah, uh, he's been doing great. I mean he came in um big freaking strong. He's fun to be in the weight room with

4:25:40He's uh He's kind of quiet like that's kind of my first impression on but he's actually pretty funny, dude He and his dad come over and they kind of joke around and he's so he's been doing a great job All right, I can't talk he's been a great job um for his size. He has like freaky athletic feet like I watch and do the ladders and I was a lot of massive over on of those things, you know doing the little itch shuffle But I mean he he was killing it and so he's been doing a great job. I can't wait to see um how it kind of continues to develop Throughout this summer and throughout this fall camp Yeah, piggy's been doing great. I mean he um He stepped up piggy. Yeah. Yeah, everyone first of us piggy is his username one time nice everyone's piggy But anyway, um, you know, piggy's been doing great. He uh He's been able to step up and kind of bring around along those younger guys You know, everyone's kind of trying to figure out their their new roles and I think he's been uh He's been doing a lot of things big body guy they can catch the bar can run between the tacos

4:26:42His feet are quicker than once you think for a big guy that really good feet and good balance so That's what makes him good. That's what I saw Uh, well tight end background now. I don't know many with that type of background He's high-speed. They try to play as an aspect Well When you look in the portal for You have two different styles running backs me one guy can you sort things better one guy can use you You'll just say the best running back No

4:27:50I have my own Running show y'all In probably way to two ten or twelve five which is not very big But they ain't got any new game and some guys you gotta know so sticking down his own And you play with a lot of aggression down here running And that could be CJA that could be James or it could be the freshman go Jackson You know, it's just who has a nose for getting his own No, that's that's one more over here No, just because you're being there on the top We knew we get obviously you know fresh running back from it and But what do you need to see from a freshman to feel comfortable with that In the first thing we're there on the ball Well, they would they do the little small detail. Take care of the ball Um, the second thing will be how good they

4:28:52Passport because it's the hardest thing for high school backs because they're not really here in high school You have to understand the past but by all their fathers and who Me You feel comfortable with with go and I say where they're at or at least you know where their time is Yeah, I think they're gonna find I can say I tell all the young guys. He's a marathon. I was playing The first day first you've been an armistice to Know your own spot. I'm supposed to then The earn the right to be a buck out So they get out down the field so I think they're turning the right First practice

4:29:55About Patrick Houston is coming in this year seeing him working with you guys Josh will make it and I feel like they're definitely picking up quick I mean, I was in their shoes one time and I had Zach Harrison, Javante Tyler Freidel in front of me So I feel like I'm just trying to be kind of one of those peers that they were for me and kind of just give them the steps to get there And I feel like they're definitely picking up quick and they're definitely going to be one of the great Russian To Um, I feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big course learned and I love that side I ask for a step forward. I love getting more reps because I just like protecting my craft So I mean some people may not need it some other people needed but I mean I just like you as me I mean for me is always just kind of getting my little details

4:30:58Perfectly like my steps my footing kind of just affecting my toolbox is what we call it my craft and trying to be a So I can whenever I could play some kind of Yeah, um, definitely just getting stronger faster everything all the above But uh one of my big things is being a leader and kind of just not trying to look still look up to jack and jatine kind of have my own kind of leadership and be able to bring people into so I feel like I kind of have a lot of leaders on the D line who had to be in position So we've kind of all kind of just pounds off the children and how it's done I'm competitive and we love it. We all competitive people. We all look at fish each other And that's what the screen is the best side of all is To like we're all just kind of bouncing off each other and see what one person does and we kind of build it into our toolbox

4:32:00And we all kind of just kind of build one great thing So I definitely didn't high school. I was pulled back and a little bit tired and so I feel like It kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson Honestly, he left watching it too before he left and uh Feel like he playing that seat and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and uh Oh New playbook I did not know you haven't got that far Um, I like to think myself as a football player. I can really play any position on the field You need me to just give me a week or two to learn it and kind of perfect it and I'll try to do my best for you Graphless that's why kids is talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of sight you and

4:33:05Conversations You're kind of waiting to Um definitely kind of seeing it all the way through I feel like People kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it how long the season is now What you got to do to prepare for and what happened and all that time from here to to this So I feel like we definitely just coached in me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-to-man and We kind of just said straight to me and I feel like We kind of both are Making each other better every day and we got the four best the end five best the end honestly College football and we're gonna be one of the best allies in football Oh, I feel like I've taken big steps in my rules of just being Responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team And kind of bring people in and I feel like I'm kind of helping out more

4:34:12I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow starting to be 10 so now it's kind of Gives you more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save for it because Not place yourself there. I mean there is a Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks all those practices I mean he has to talk about we know about it. We've seen it every day. We watched the film We see them all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become so we know we we're right at the same Got the right place at the right time and god wanted us to be here and he knew me One of us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and Just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and you come together

4:35:21So I feel like I've made the plays that came to me and that's really all I can control Um had more opportunities as he has progressed and been in the spot to be here on the ball um, but the expectation was to come here and contribute to the team and try to help find a way to Push the team to win games at high level And to be better than They were actually and for me to play better than I was actually So really just coming to try to grow with myself and with the team So that was my big goal and I feel like I've done a good job and the team has done a good job progressing through the year and getting better So yeah, that's all I can say about that Okay, the right person made it up in the row Yeah, I can't stand here right now This is feel like like a different season. What's it feel like for you going into playoffs? You know, y'all didn't get to go. You wanted necessarily to make your mistakes, but here you are You know, right? I mean look what is that sense that you have right now? That's different

4:36:21Like I mean everybody wants to say it's a new season in terms of because if everybody's more zero and zero right now If you when you keep going if you lose your done So I mean, but genuinely that's how you play every game. You know, they play every game like it's your last game So for me, I don't think it's really any difference. You gotta go play I love every game that can't be based upon Is there a player who can't play every game like this is the same thing So I would say in terms of that no, you just have to play the game and play the game is there Well, what feels difficult about this defense right now going into this so y'all feel even more Finally, you know, done by tied I mean close together what would that mean? What was your sense of The brotherhood so to speak of the defense I feel like we progressed throughout this season We did make a change after Game six because we lost and we didn't play well that game and I feel like we'd grown from that and add to a better place and

4:37:24Over these past two weeks off just realizing okay, these are the things that we messed up throughout the year These are what we need to fix these are what this team shot at is going on us So just really going back to everything and seeing what can do better for this kind of game and for the next one How does the I feel like it makes the game more I make you receivers or dbs at the place that we're getting than the guys up front And it makes it truthfully like those guys have to do their job when these guys have to do your job You got to be able to stop the run with the people they have from the run fit and yet to get a stop the path with the people they have out there So that's that's what they do when they do it. I'd really leave them So

4:38:35It allows you to get your feet Senator and I said earlier just a ability to see the formation see what key to you have before the play and have knowledge of your job and not really thinking Being able to play and I think during the games are really big thing So whenever you can get the call that faster and play at a high level and play without For such a Because you're a judge actually So I definitely didn't high school. I was pulled back and a little bit tired and so I feel like It kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson obviously he left watching it too before he left and Feel like you playing that seat and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and Try to do the best I could to do it. Is that continuing now? New playbook I did not know yet and got that far Yeah, look at back I like to think myself as a football player I can really play any position on the field you need me to just give me a weaker to to learn it and kind of perfect it and then I'll try to do my best for you

4:39:40Kid Jack, do the same thing. Oh yeah Graphically that's why Kings is talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of side you and Out to outside conversations after changing track so We're waiting to those And other than I thought you maybe did the right mindset gets me Definitely kind of seeing it all the way through you feel like People kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it how long the season is now What you got to do to prepare for and what to happen in all that time from here to to then so I feel like we definitely just coach day me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-on-man and Be kind of just straight to me and I feel like You kind of both are I mean Making each other better every day. We got the four best the ends five best the ends honestly in the college football And we're gonna be one of the best the lines in college football Oh, I feel like I'm checking big steps in my rules of just

4:40:42being Responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team They kind of bring people in and I feel like I'm kind of helping out more I mean it sounds bizarre, but I mean the season goes by so fast already So when you're kind of like week 10 and you're like wow, it's already weekend So now it's kind of gives you more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save it because That pace yourself Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks all those practices I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it. We've seen it every day We watched the film we see them all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become

4:41:45So we know we we're right at the same At the right place at the right time and God wanted us to be here and he knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and Just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together Great you get like good coaches who believe in you and like they give you the tools to go out there and just play with confidence You know, not there doubting yourself like you got your teammates who got your back like our first play when I got up there to the seat Like when to sail IGB and Jermaine like first thing they say is like no where he just got to play with confidence You know you know the tools is usual tools. It was got to make a play and where about a play coming to you No, it's so time to show job. You just do it and then like Same with coach why he's like he gives me He puts me in a position like at the drills we put in the work you put in the 101 So I just go out there and perform at the highest level. How much better are you right now then maybe last month? I mean I got way better just because I've I've transitioned a little bit to the inside. Nick was far. So I'm like now. I seem to like catch catch technique in his

4:42:47Yeah, often covers not. It's not always press at the line So it's like not maybe like move my feet move my hands like See like what I gotta do just like just a case. I gotta go back in corner. I can I'm playing off now. I'm very confident out there Do you think that Nick was an actual player? Have you had the kind of convince yourself to transition around? I mean, I feel like it's natural for me because I feel like me Individually on the fast learner pass learner like coaches help us like learn fast And like because they're always on us about the techniques and stuff So you like you play down like you pick up on all the things And then like when we get out here they coach us to like the techniques always you just go out there and play like fast spot And then be like it would like reversitility You're able to just go out there and just compete Is that where you kind of stuff this spring or even kind of mountain? Uh So I've really been stuck there this spring a little bit right Whenever you get it's like other things I just bounce out there every once in a while just like have just have fun See if I still got it every once in a while so it's as good as going to compete at most spots You mentioned the technique what technique you know tips and things if you had to pick up and learn

4:43:52From what you're from taking the inside. I mean, this is what I always say. You're like because what Preaches are asking hands like see it You see it move your feet and then get your hands on the man so it's like when you get like Were you out there? You able to like process like the way the receiver comes off the ball looking at the hips and seeing like the way he moving Are you able to pick up like the row concepts you can get out of that like so it's being like other coach walls for me Like as a player and just like him breaking out football to you like one-on-one It's like very beneficial The hardest part of making that transition from outside in sense I really say like the corner you got your cover two you cover three each you cover one Like it's easy but you got nickel now so many responsibilities you got to see like the row concepts You got to be able to process fat like dying those rows faster than what you got to do my corner and just be able to like everything Quaid like a transition you got like you got to move fast Move fast is like game recognition I

4:44:53Definitely say When you get to like college just a little bit different high school Don't worry about things like that when I when you get to like college in a school like this Like your recognition of plays and like you know your jobs the way like the coverage is supposed to be played Understand all your teammates or plus if you haven't feel like it's easy Very talented He's a great dude. He's a humble guy great teammate very supportive That's like a guy that you don't want to rob because you like you can feed off your energy because like You can see like we make a place. He's like he like IGB. It's like IGB two-pointer So he's like maybe after what guys like that with good energy I made you play a little bit harder and it's like And then like when you make a play is out there like it's helping you like it's being out there with him He's a good player one of those guys Question and for kids Now what is it about one bill that gets you to play it?

4:45:54It's a big question Let me just ask a couple of people because we have so many kids come out of global and just play games I mean I mean schools and they like like chats a big part of it because So after you know global everybody that I run a track like this made it to our you know You don't really get a choice you able to just like get out here and like know how to compete and then like G like Game bills that mental toughness into you so like Have you like I heard now you got to be mentally tough because I mean Life's not gonna be easy. So it's like being out here being able to pee when you down just pick yourself back up I mean that's what he is down for me and that's what he is So we asked you to how do you describe the mentality of the defense right now? It's opportunity for a great person to work in yeah hungry and thankful I mean, we know how the last last time when you know we We had a chip on our shoulder. I mean we were riding high before that game and we took that loss And we came back had to make a couple changes, but I think we understand what you know everything's that stake right now You know just fighting to where another house stages for next year

4:46:56And that's what's on stake and just to be able to represent this this uh this state and this uh this team I mean we understand what's as uh What's on the line and you know we're just hungry and blessed that we get this opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl Right behind your Adam King WBN What do you remember most about walking off the field in Eugene? What was kind of on your mind in that moment? I mean there is a I don't think anybody imagined it imagine a solution You know I didn't uh that's for sure and I think after that it was uh Kind of hit deep Understanding that man we still there's still a lot of ball left to be played I mean you can let it sting for a little bit But you know if you let it carry over too long then you know there there goes there goes your whole Season by I think we did a great job of just Understanding coming together in this room right here um not being afraid of display um or hold accountability from one another and you know as as that happened We came back we grouped and you know we just

4:47:59You're going right now um and I'm just blessed for those specific moments, you know losing I mean no one wants to lose but the the testimonies and the things are taught within those little situations speaks of all you You can see like he's playing since that's what we're going to see Yeah, I mean that's that's my boy. He's in the r2x club too, but um you know Keyata, I mean every time there's his numbers called he goes out there and makes the most of it no matter Where where we at in the game when he goes out there he's just hungry He wants to go make plays and and you know we see it and practice those it's not surprising to us There were been ones plus this back Don't gave us oxygen and lose seven or two and he's not very tall How important it could be to just kind of stay in your Past rush lanes and neglect a lot of balls and kind of make a difference that way

4:49:00Yeah, I think it just comes on being disciplined No one who you're playing against like you said don't he's a he sure but he's very elusive I mean he can he is making throws. I mean he get out the parking to everything So I think for us we just got to discipline and just continue to just Meet with coach Jay me with the coach knows and understand how we can just eliminate that You and Jeff I mean Your personality seem to be a little different you more on the quiet side. He's How about you play together four years both five store guys kind of describe your relationship with him Friendship with him. Yeah, how you compliment each other. Man, that's that's my brother like he said We're different but very alike Think outside on like you said he's louder. I'm quiet, but you know once we're on that field like the same person We'll do anything for this team. You know, we'll die for our players and we'll give everything we got Yeah, fall camp Yeah, sometimes go over there. So over there

4:50:05We have our share of days when we when I'm neat. He's neat or you know, we might both be messy, but we do a good job Yeah, I'd probably say I would better kick the jack though When you're playing a team for the second time and that was almost a season to go by now. How much of Are you at square one with with the scouting and preparation or how much do you take from that game? How much do you avoid taking so that you don't have any previously? I say it's pretty 50 50 I mean uh that game like you said it was a while ago, but at the same time they elevated as a team So did we so we understand that they they had they made some changes for sure You know, there's team there's a certain density we can take back from that game But we also understand that um they went on a low run after that and we can see that they elevated as an offense So we just got to continue to watch those games dissect the other games and just continue to see um What stands out and what they change from the for the past game

4:51:06We got a couple calls on on zoom that will wrap up with first. We have Nick Hamilton from nightcast media Nick Just wanted to ask you basically about the synergy of this defense and how you guys were able to Not only celebrate the triumphs but get through the adversity be able to be this top notch defense that you are a college football today Uh Here you need to question one more time. Yeah no problem Want to ask you about the synergy you are we're able to develop over course of the season Obviously celebrating the triumphs but also getting through the adversities to where you go all all the top notch defense that you all are today Yeah, I mean like you said that we went through a lot of trials the trials But there's also there's a lot of things we can take away from all the wins and losses Um and from those those wins we understood that hey we can be the best defensive country and from those losses We understand that there's still Things that need be fixed and I think when you take all that in at once

4:52:06Um That comes out to the the comical or the comment talk which is you can there's always learning points everywhere and Depending how we dissect those games or how we just continue to come as one and elevate You know, we continue to just Collect all those those learning points and just continue to grow from them And one final question Joey Coffin Columbus dispatch Joey JT uh what have what have you guys done better and the Especially in the Tennessee game and just latinist season you think about turning some of the the pressures that you've got on a quarterbacks and the sacks and getting a home in some of those situations Yeah, I think it was more just uh understanding the defense as a whole understanding everybody's job Think as the season went on we get to understand that you know, we have to know who's going on the back And we have to know who's going on the linebacker crew to understand uh What plays we have room of freedom and I think once we understood that and got a better understanding of the of everybody's job

4:53:07I mean it it showed this play because you know everybody knows we each other's doing It's not like the lineback's know what they're doing Uh the corners and be I they know only their job I think we all know each other's job and we continue to ask each other questions Um on you know if they're listening how they can get to the quarterback and you know if I'm dropping Play quarterbacks by I can ask Cody on how to open field tackle So you know, we just we just kind of lean on each other's understanding because uh, you know Um like I said like Denzel knows how to play corner bend it and I know how to play corner So you know, he has more more wisdom at that position than I do JT thank you very much Uh definitely a little bit of both Um Obviously I just wanted the team to win. I think we got a chance to win No deathly towards it into the stretch that last drive Uh, I was a couple plays here a couple calls that you maybe should have gotten but um I think the frustration more so it just comes from no wanting to win or anything You said he was a little surprised how much attention you got right away from the defense. How about you?

4:54:10Yeah, definitely always we'd maybe kill the more one-on-ones kind of how uh the game plan was set up um Didn't got like no different covers out of cloud to my side and this is kind of how the game goes Why would the process been? Where whatever reason just just see that Yeah, definitely um especially in college a lot of the game fans defensively were taking your life um You know, he had a lot of success at a pilot stay out But one of the boys had a different um the weapons and kind of still get the victories and Um, I was the idea to continue to do better jobs when I hear My mom's the communication the process been like post-game Getting on the same page with Kyler Just you guys exchange text or you guys Yeah film them definitely um kind of ask me what did I see there kind of go over and play and um I just I give him what I saw and kind of different feedback there Exchange words mark. I get it. We're asking questions about the previous game bar Are you the type of guy to let a game like that winger or how do you flush it?

4:55:12You got to move on got him once in a long season got What 16 more of them? Hopefully, no, I can stay healthy throughout the year and uh, just continue to build and get better each week You guys did so much work throughout the offseason to get on the same page How different is it when you get into that regular season? Yeah, it's totally different. It's totally different Maybe do a lot of things, you know, inserts and shorts and then once you go out there put practice and you got pads on You do like the point practice you do with the colds, but there's nothing like actually going out there No, I lied actually I really kind of get a same case so I think that relationship will continue to develop Is that it just a matter of course then? Yeah, I do definitely definitely um Like I said, I was kind of my first live action together um, so I can continue with me when you're early impressions Yeah, but now I was the I've a debt service like no jg's call or preseason I was to be off over really healthy. That's kind of That's the most important thing. I was a debt-well healthy even going for it so um

4:56:13Marvin, what are your early impressions of the Rams? What do you think of the Rams? Yeah, I mean they're a good team. They're good physical team I got a new lot of new guys upfront. I think that's kind of where they're strong suit is um kind of a little different to Buffalo come more a little match coverage So I'm excited to go against it The belts gave you one of my Wasn't many of them Wasn't many of them so I thought maybe I'm just where you think game versus just playing you know not get any preseason game and I change it a lot It's definitely definitely thinking a lot out there and um You know, I think I'll come with reps. I think to think and less you just going out there and playing definitely come with reps And it's something you're all getting better at but They definitely say I was taking a lot of them Yeah, I mean you just got to team you get open for You know yourself making yourself available on the one the ball does good way making the play Uh, this he's just taking you away that means other guys are having a chance to get open

4:57:15Uh, that's not kind of how I look at it. It's no longer since you know offense That's the best thing of course Uh, hopefully sooner or later. I think um, I'll continue to see. Let's see. I don't think we're in a bad place right now at all Obviously, I don't really think that but just a live reps will continue to grow and show Going on Really my whole life on the NFL Team captain like specifically and I felt I wasn't a captain in high school Wasn't a captain in college But I'll make a joke on high school. So I feel like I'm not gonna be a captain like it's that I felt Yeah But that would be awesome, you know, but you know that happens. I'd be great, but not either way

4:58:20I want to assume a grow As a captain from the Perspective guys onto a video word and get back to that Yeah, I mean, I can't say that um, I mean, I guess the biggest thing is that I felt like I was used to in the past But it didn't take just the first LTAs and took Train and left and right once this season and because I don't know what it was gonna be So I'm gonna go out of reps Just to get back to feeling like myself for day one LTAs And then that whole first week But now like today specifically just changing some small things with my feet that is it talking about the long coach Some things I'm doing my feet to get to that to sell that traditional angle that I love to sit on So even I thought I felt I felt great already But I felt even better of it. Sorry, the more excited tomorrow now I'm getting my feedback and how I like the right side and on the left side

4:59:23So I'm excited. I mean, obviously I feel like In the league whether you're left or right you're still going against Premier guys obviously your high expectations for the left angle I tackle But um, it's definitely like the level of energy Like the expectation definitely taking the human side because now tonight it flies like that's the Has a detackle well, you know, so So yeah, I would say in terms of communications far as this Outside of the facility stuff like that like really creating that but tackle core back Bond even more off the field I think has been something that's Cool I've been training both I've been training both you know, I asked after the season there like honestly You know, we'll talk to you some things in and I just got a text I have this with the free agency Then so I was like, you know what I have Oseason right tackle

5:00:27So if I get the word I'm going I'm standing right tackle I just do what I did before I'm built on that But I was almost trained to let tackle now As if I'm going to be left tackle And I'd rather do that than train on right time for the color Oh You know what I mean so I'm like let me just prepare an advance I was like yeah, it's got you know I think occasionally on third down there be a lot of twists And I think that was my mindset for like the first half of the season Like I didn't have to go into game with some pros like oh my gosh I did that I try to figure it out okay This is this is the type of rush man again. This is how this guy usually rushes If I get the vibe this is how the ends like the rush you know tackles that first year guys we got the premier patch on Already know what it was gonna be already know we'll be every stunt and honestly just knowing that's kind of an advantage To so you're not you're not you're not oh the problem twist on my side

5:01:28It was never airy-doll but Come out the hot like three plays in a row Two minutes I do that You know what I mean I'm watching more everybody else ain't really you know it goes out there The third down You know what I mean so Fact it's kind of it's also kind of an engine away. That's also exciting. I'm gonna get the hardest look you know those are real real reps Really out on our way to kind of process That I was like hey when I tell me Let me know about my mom's gonna train it. I was training all that To TAs I guess if I didn't hear anything about TAs out of camera like So you know what I mean Cuz just like I'm cool with training both continue. I would have been cool training both continually But I feel like anybody any position will be like okay You want as soon as possible

5:02:39But Stand on one side but I think having that the weeks that we had the transition was seasons over You know I'm gonna turn you up But when it comes back I'm gonna show him that you're in the house. I've got a house now too far from So I told him, I got that house, I could yell outside. DJ. You know what I mean? So yeah. That doesn't have any stock or anything. It doesn't mean anything. So we have to play on Friday, and that's really all that matters. We're going to take two more from Zoom before turning it back. I've got first one's going to come from Stephen from Cleveland.com. Go ahead. It's the fun. I'm sorry. Hey Caleb, we've seen you were talking about the Ohio State Office, the success that they've

5:03:43had. Obviously Jeremiah has been a big part of that. What's it been like this year going against him in practice, and you know after doing that? Does it surprise at all to see him having a success he's had as a freshman? No, it doesn't bring surprises. It was pretty easy to see the talent that he has and the blessings that God has put on his plate. But it's always a challenge going against Jeremiah and the other receivers and Mecca and Karnel and practice. And even guys like Brandon and his impression Rogers, they do a great job bringing looks for the defense and create a lot of obstacles. I'll find a question from Zoom is going to come from Dan Hope. Go ahead Dan. Hey, look, you, Quinn had a lot of success against you guys when you played him at Alabama last year. Just what do you remember from going up against him last year and what can you learn from that game? Really smart quarterback knows how to operate their offense, push the ball in the right places, and then Coach Narkeeson does a great job putting him in positions to win. All right, back to you.

5:04:45Jerry back to you. Yep, thank you Rob Aller, Columbus Dispatch, Caleb, JT and Jack Lannopson's side so they are on in terms of personality and just the people they are. They're offices but they're also like one of the closest people I know they spend a lot of time together. They've come from different sizes of the country so they're different people for sure, but they're both really great people and really great men. Sorry, I respect both of them. How would you do that? I'm not going to do that, I'm sorry, I'm not going to do that. Throughout the season we would always see you on Wednesday nights you and Nathan would be some of the last people off the field. For the things that you're working on after a practice, always the same, is it a routine? What are the things that you're hoping to get out of those extra moments after practice?

5:05:47So routine pretty much the keys that we need to go into the game with and then also changes week to week based on what our jobs are going to put us into doing. So every week we go through the same things and then we add certain things that we do for the what the team that we play is going to ask us to accommodate. Bill, we've been on Columbus Dispatch. Yeah, I already got one here. Oh, okay, Joey Goffman, Columbus Dispatch. Killvin? When Texas uses play action and Nathan uses play action in a fair bill, what do they do well in those spots and what's the key thing for you guys in those moments with Quinn? They do a really good job with I-Candy and it creates a lot of challenges for defense in order to see if it's runner pass and see because that's when they're going to take those shots too as well. So really just having great eye discipline seeing the line and seeing what is telling us. So that's what it does. Deep break, Nick Walker, Letterman, roll. Hey, you guys had a pretty good game plan for Tyler Warren when you guys played him.

5:06:49You guys have another Texas guy that's a good tight end and Gunnar Hound. What do you guys have to do to limit him and what do you think about his game? He's a really good player. He makes a lot of plays and he has a lot of receiving yards this year. So really just do the same thing we've done all year just be disciplined in our responsibilities and if you're on him you've got to make the play when it comes. Right, one of the main drillers, play them.com. When you look at their receivers, they spread ball around and see what stands out about the way they can spread the ball around with the guys. A lot of really good athletes. I played with Isaiah Bond last year who's a really great receiver, a lot of speed. And then all the receivers have made a lot of plays. So everybody has to be on their peasy cues if we're going to stop them and have a do a really good job. From all here, Tim May, Letterman, roll. Yeah, Kel, but you moved up here. I don't have to tell you when you moved it basically a year ago.

5:07:50And stuff, it was a little bit of a leap of faith because you know how many athletes are on this team and get athletes to stuff. But why don't you really feel this defense come into its own. And then past that, man, watching you in the Rose Bowl, you're recognition of what was coming seem to be on point. Did it feel like that? I mean, you personally. I think the defense has played really well throughout the season. I think we've had games where we've played better and games where we haven't put it all together. But I think that's how all defenses are. So I can't say there's a certain moment where I think we put it together. But what's your second part of your question? You seem really on point against Oregon about recognizing what was coming. I mean, you were really active out there directing and things like that. Did it feel like that, I guess? I feel like, as Luke said earlier, the preparation that we put in goes into that and just feeling comfortable and what we're doing, what we're seeing with the other teams. I feel like that allows us to play fast and me and Laketon to communicate to everybody

5:08:55else. Do I miss anyone's questions here? Steve, how long have you been playing in sports? Yeah, Caleb, but you came to Ohio State to play for National Championship and there were a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. Just to be in this position, the last four teams still live. You feel validated by that and did you always have faith that this is how it was going to turn out? I came to Ohio State to become a better player and to help the team be as good as it can be, not to win a national championship. I think that wasn't the only goal for me coming here. Really just wanted to be in the team and be with the brotherhood. But it's a great feeling being in the final four and being with the team and everything that comes with that, but it's a blessing to be here. And one final question, Bill, where Ben wants to come us this bad? Yeah, I did want to follow up. When I talked to you at the after the game, you said, when they scored their first and second touchdown, you were really hot on the sidelines. What was your message to the team? And you know, that's a good offense. They're going to score against most people.

5:09:55Why were you so hot? Really just because we didn't execute, which let them score. So we've done that a lot, which is something we can't do in these big games and these games where it's winter go home. So we got to make the plays when they come and get our competitive excellence as Coach Desa makes the play where your number's called. Caleb, thank you very much. I feel like they're definitely picking up quick. I mean, I was in their shoes one time and I had Zach Harrison, Giovante, Tyler Friedel and Frank and me. So I feel like I'm just trying to be one of those peers that they work for me and kind of just giving them the steps to get there. And I feel like they're definitely picking up quick and they're definitely going to be one of the great rushmen. So we got to just talk about it. JT and Zach probably don't need it. It's not a big screen. It's a great experience. I'm a lot of opportunities for you. Do you have a different sort of work going on? Does there be a difference in the work going on? Does it be getting through the half of the champ? Or the last double? I feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big point. I think that's a great thing. I think that's a great thing. I think that's a great thing. I feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big course load and I love that. So I asked Coach J4, I love getting more reps because I just like perfecting my craft.

5:11:00So I mean, some people may not need it. Some people need it, but I mean, it's like he has made it up to something. I mean, it's a little bit on that course load. So what's on it? I mean, for me, it's always just kind of getting my little details perfectly, like my steps, my footing, kind of just perfecting my toolbox and what we call it and my craft and trying to be a, like, a winner every place we're trying to do. Yeah, I'm definitely just getting stronger faster, everything all the above, but one of my big things would be the leader and kind of just not trying to still look up to Jack and Jake, team, kind of have my own kind of leadership and be able to bring people in so I feel like I kind of have a lot of leaders on the D line at the D in position so we kind of all kind of just kind of talk about the children. Is that been a tough time? I'm just doing the buildup. I hope you've got a task, guys, playing with them all. We'll do that. We'll do it on the field and just like that, we'll do it on the field.

5:12:00And we'll try to do the best we like. So the leaders, these guys, what does that mean? They're competitive, and we love it. You're all competitive people, we all love the fish together. And that's the way we're bringing the best side of all of this. I feel like we're all just kind of bouncing off each other and seeing what one person does and kind of building into our actual box and we all kind of build one great thing. You have a role last year and you've got to get the shot of the full bag hit and blow. And they approach you with that idea and you approach them. I mean, I'll get to them about it. Because you're a Jack's R-year slot being. I guess I'm testing that. So I definitely did it in high school. I was full back and a little bit tired and so I feel like it kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson, honestly. He left Washington too, before he left. And I feel like he playing that seed and coach Day's head and coach Day kind of just went for it and tried to do the best I could to do it. Is that continuing now? Do you need anything in the screen? New playbook, I do not know yet. And got that far. How toposet is there?

5:13:00I like to think myself as a football player. I don't really play any professional field in E-Me 2. Just give me a weaker 2 to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Can Jack do the same thing? Oh yeah. And what about what? For athletes, that's what. Kids is talking to Coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and reassaut you and not out to absent conversations after you're JT and Jack decided to conduct. Just got to win into those from your perspective and how do that help you really get the right mindset I guess community in school. I definitely kind of see it all the way through. I feel like people kind of just see what happened and they don't know everything that goes into it. How long the season is now. What you got to do to prepare for and what happened and all that time from here to there. So I feel like we definitely just coach Day in me kind of connected and we kind of just talks man-to-man and he kind of just sat straight to me and I feel like we kind of both are pretty honest. And we know we're making it yada. We make each other better every day and we got the 4 best D-ins, 5 best D-ins, honestly.

5:14:00And we're going to coach football and we're going to be one of the best D-Lines in coach football. What do you feel like the better player today than you were in this season? I feel like I'm taking big steps in my roles of just being responsible and being more of a leader and kind of stepping up and taking a step to kind of get out there more on the team. They kind of bring people in and I feel like we're kind of helping out more. How do you record your hand around the past season? That sounds bizarre but I mean the season goes by so fast already. So when you're kind of like week 10 in you're like wow it's already week 10. So now it's kind of give you more time to kind of enjoy it and kind of savor it because you've come already here for a really freshness place. But you don't want to spit on your powder for the first month of the year right? Oh yeah. There is a light set there. Yeah definitely definitely going to have that mental stability to handle all those weeks and all those practice. How much is Larry talking to you guys around like that?

5:15:00Last question right here. The K-16C 2017 4 NFL D-French Awards are in San Francisco. How much does he talk to that guy? I mean he doesn't have to talk about it. We know about it. We've seen it every day. We watched the film. We see him all working together. We know what it could be. We know we could become. So we know we're right at the same place at the right time and God wanted us to be here. He knew we wanted us all to come together and kind of play together and be able to bounce off and just perfect our craft together. And I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together at something special. Great. Doing it? What were the deliberations? I'm surprised it's even a conversation. Like it should always be live. Let's tell you. Tell you. Tell you play football. So obviously there's a proximity to the season which is a little reckless I understand that. But in spring we're here competing for jobs. I mean if I'm a quarterback I'm asking to be live so I can show him how I'm different than anyone that can't be live. You know what I mean? You're always trying to find an edge. And if you're never fully alive I don't think you fully give guys opportunity to be who they want to be or who they can be.

5:16:04So that being said, you know I will cast my vote but that will not be my final decision on that. But I will cast my vote. I think I said, hey I want to do well. It was good for all parties involved. And more we can do that the better but I'm sure that is coming to a close here very quickly. So. That's where we are for the 27th. Right. General Maya off the field we saw after practice on the Saturday that the mob came to get autographs and things. When you're working with him on all these things you're talking about but also dealing with the life of being one of the biggest names in college football. How do you help mentor him in that aspect? Yeah I mean it's a blessing to be able to be in a position where you know can provide insight or I wouldn't say recommendations but just give perspective. What he chooses to receive the perspective or not one and not he always does but which is fine.

5:17:05But to be in that position is really humbling that being said. He does a really good job on his own. He doesn't need to check down too much. He's really done a great job. Again the way he was raised and his morals and humble would always sign and taking pictures. I'm always trying to be the bad guy for him because he's not going to be and just says again more about his character. But he's not the only guy. Any guy would kind of do that. We have a group full of awesome young guys but Jeremiah has done a great job with it. He's handling it and it's definitely growing at an exponential rate to say the least. But I think he's built for it and he's been handled at a high level. But those around him were trying to help him out a little bit. What made Quincy the first freshman to do this black striker issue? Yeah I mean that's a good question. I think that you know, frankly, you know, I don't know.

5:18:07I'm not really fully evolved with that. So I can be but I wasn't. You know, I think that people on the outside would be defense or even coach day or anybody brought it to my attention. You know, we're kind of just going about practice and that's our expectation to make plays not make mistakes. And he was starting to make a lot of a lot of plays consistently. I think the consistent level that he's been as a person, being on, being on time and doing what his job description on each play and the ball is coming your way and making some big plays. And you know, it starts, it starts being seen by your peers and your peers are asking for it. They start barking, getting a stripe off all those kind of things. That's the ultimate sign of respect. I think with your peers, you know, go to your bat. He's not going for his bat. No one other people are bringing it to your position coach. I think it speaks volumes of the general respect that you're earning through the process. So I think it's something like that happened. And you know, as well as they're based on his peers and the other coaches. Step on creation. Cleveland.com.

5:19:08Ryan Day was talking about how impressed he's been this spring with Austin Sarovale. All that he's been able to do and Tyler Bones talking last week about the importance of the cross-training and all that that goes into that. How much have you seen Austin benefit from this spring and everywhere that he's been and helping with peace? Do you think he's going to be regardless of where he fits on this offensive line? Yeah, I think Austin's been awesome. I mean, he literally, I mean, you know, what was they say? He played every split, every position. We just move around, you know, and he handles it. And you know, he's one of those guys. I feel like he watched film over and over again day after day. And his name never really gets brought up, you know, in a good way. Like, you know, the old line, your name gets brought up when, usually not going. You know, I mean, they're literally at the point of attack on every single play. So there's nowhere to hide. And so, but Austin, when his name is brought up, he's like, man, that was a good job. Very good job. Pass off that combo. Whatever. It's always positive. And they're really impressed with him. He started in the winter. They did a great job through the winter. Again, continue to build their respect for his peers.

5:20:08And then he's got a good job. Really good job just being very consistent through spring. Are we left, Jeff Gilbert? Press pros. Brian, since you've been working more with the whole offense, when it comes to quarterback play, what has grown in your, I don't know, appreciation of that position and what those guys have to do and go through? What do you think more about those guys versus maybe what you've done before? Or is there a wide receiver guy? Yeah, I mean, I mean, there's just a wide receiver guy. If you are just a wide receiver guy, you won't be a very later on. It's all about quarterback play. So I think in that same world, though, to the point is that, you know, there ought to be a great receiver or a great receiver guy, whatever you want to call it. There's only one page, just the quarterbacks page. So everything is based off them. Whether they're progression, they're timing, the stresses they have is what we're trying to minimize. So if you don't fully understand the quarterback play, it's hard to maximize receiver play, I think.

5:21:09That being said, yeah, I'm still always learning. I think that I can't say anything's jumped out massively right now. But I would say that, you know, I guess I would say that the preparation level, I mean, what is required to execute and play at a high level, it's just not capable in the a lot of time, right? I mean, there's only so much time where I'd be with players. If you're not willing to spend, you know, your own time getting prepared for practice to be, to maximize one's ability, there's a good chance you're not going to maximize your ability. So, you know, other positions, I mean, aligns, same thing. I mean, receiver play sometimes can, you know, get away from it. We do a great job studying and being in the room extra for sure. But the requirement of a quarterback to know, the fixed protections, the BR run game coordinator based on the calls, you know, to get us in different checks. I mean, there's so much to need to know. And frankly, the, you know, the online is good as the quarterback,

5:22:11the receiver's going to the quarterback, the offense is going to the quarterback. And it's our responsibility to put guys in position to maximize what they're capable of maximizing. But their inability to notice that they need to spend extra time outside the a lot of time, I think is critical. And the amount that it takes, I guess that was maybe a little naive too. I think guys are doing a great job doing it. And time, just a couple more coaches got a meeting, Rob Aller, Columbus Dispatch. Brian, you know, get reached the mount top. You got a banner out there in national champs. I think you keep these guys grounded. Being in the moment, looking ahead, not back. Do you have a tougher on them? Because, no, I think that, I mean, I think we have a lot of guys, you know what? I think it's understanding that we were trying to build the map to get to where you wanted to get to. But now that we have the map, doesn't mean we've traveled the path. So, like, we know what it looks like. The guys that are here know what it's supposed to look like.

5:23:11The guys that for us, say, unbelievable example, how to get to where you want to get to. So, the focus is on trying to replicate what they just did and how they operated. We can't say we've done that right now. So, it's very easy to stay motivating because they already know it's not good enough, frankly. And so, the last thing they want to do is put in a ton of effort and then not reach their goals. So, motivation, I don't think, is needed. I think there is a catching up of those and maybe aren't quite sure what it takes, you know. But overall, motivation is not what we've needed. A clarity of message is definitely what we've been focused on. And I think the message is being received. So, not concerned about, you know, motivation and the looking back, if you will. I think everyone's pretty focused on being forward and knowing we haven't accomplished anything. Steve, please go ahead. Who would you say is the leader of your wide receiver, right now? I would say, Colonel Tate, Brennan-Annis, probably done the most outspoken, you know, in the room.

5:24:18Yeah, I would say they're doing a good job. Those are probably the two guys that would jump out of my room. Yep. I mean, Brennan, he's been in trouble. Obviously, Colonel taking on that role more and being more vocal. He's a good football player, opposite of anything. He's the only other, but that process for him and becoming a more vocal leader took for you to say that along him. What was the question? Colonel, like, what do you think, like, the growth of a part of it? Yeah, I mean, he's, I think he's pulled guys aside. You know, it had one-on-one conversations with him. He's locked in, you know, just, I think he saw the impact that I met him made in the role he played. And to think that you're going to lose that and then be a better group, probably doesn't mathematically make sense to him. So someone's got to set up in that role. And one, I don't want to respect them too. He knows he's capable of it. And it's just the desire and the appreciation, I think, to be at the table now, at the overhead. And appreciate the way I met him, probably, went about his business. And so he probably valued that, appreciated that.

5:25:18And he's just being assured we still have that. Final question. Bill Reben, what's the bonus to this guy? Could you assess the running back room? I think it's pretty much assumed. Both those running backs.