Press Conferences (Joe Cullen) Elite Edition September 2

0:00I know when I came I had a little extra energy but you know when you come to a place like this to you know from our owner to coach Reed, Brett Veech, Spags I mean come you know Nags and coach Toll I mean it's an unbelievable environment and the record speaks for itself so when you come here you know maybe it's a breath of fresh air from where you've been I don't know and it's an opportunity with a guy like Pat my home is his quarterback and Spags is your defense coordinator whatever it may be and so I think he's excited to have an opportunity to play with the guy like Chris Jones in the room Mike Dana who is his college teammate and just a room that we have and obviously playing for coach Spags. You mentioned a couple of times Chris Jones you know a problem for everyone who's been trying to have to try to block him you maybe doesn't have all the sacks that he might want to have you can go and tell the season care about personal operas we know he does a little bit. When you grade him out if you're in a journal grading how good has he been for you guys this year? Oh he's been he's been as disruptive as he's ever been I mean he's not only playing the

1:03pass really well but he's really physical inside in the run game and taking up two sometimes three blockers but he's he's really having a fantastic year. How impressive he'd been with the depth behind Chris inside of the church and Mike Panell in that group. Oh I mean that whole group when you when you look at Turk where he's come from I mean he's having he's doing a great job Mike Panell Derek Naughty Marlin who we got from Philadelphia and we have a really deep group and the guys are really working hard and you know like in Coach Spags once guys rolling and when the guys are in there they're starters and I've been impressed with the way the guys have been playing. Joe how much of the week is about you and Chris discussing where he might move in certain matchups to maybe get a one-on-one and I guess what's it like for you to watch him go through the game and sort of try to find his one-on-one that he's switching positions right before you know the ball is mad essentially. You know there are certain things like I said the the chess

2:06match and Coach Spags does a great job you know it will you want to put him what you want to do this is where we can put him so we decided all that but it's really an opportunity he has an opportunity to win on certain plays of five spots on the line of scrimmage and there are certain ones where he's delegated to a spot on the line of scrimmage so I mean obviously that's decided as you go through the week see the opponent that you're playing and and maybe who would try to exploit but it's just it's a weekly deal. Who is that? We're managing most of whether it's someone you've coached previously in your career or just watching other guys about the league who have that amount of flexibility freedom and obviously some some responsibility to it. Well when you look at it it's within the scheme and Coach Spags does it like I said a great job with that and Chris is good at defensive player I know I'm being biased in the league but that I've coached I've coached some good ones and and he has that unique ability to go outside and beat a tackle or stay

3:07inside and beat a guard not many can do they have some ends that can do that but not many true defensive tackles you know can go outside and beat an offensive tackle. What's the what's the your role in the timeline we're making an in-season trade as far as you know when Brett made bring up a name and talk to you and you can kind of contribute. No I think when you when you look at it and not necessarily Josh but other guys but you might have done them in the past you might have did them in the off season as you're attacking free agency so you have a familiar familiarity with the player but Brett does a great job he'll go to if he's looking at a guy coach Spags or the position coach and get your opinion he does a great job of that. Thanks coach. Appreciate it. Thank you. Breaking free you turn around and you saw them coming? Well no the first 40 I was like oh yeah bye bye because I was putting away from him and then after that I was like oh shit I got heavy so I was like alright let me just cover

4:11the ball I got tackles. I think you're the great guy coach my great Justin. I got Justin back. I quarterback is special right I quarterback is great he can't be Superman you know that's what the team is for and that's what they brought me here for to have his back next week I bet you feel better with that. We kept hearing this is gonna do Jim I was gonna run the ball I was gonna run the ball you could just really have it more especially in the second up because you feel them stopping the opposite game and on you know what you're working the first time. Oh yes I always took with it always believe in always fighting I knew we were gonna crack you know I knew we're gonna crack some runs I mean you're offensive and I was gonna fight I want to fight with you I'm gonna have their backs and you saw Jake hey after everything how how did that after everything how did that feel to have their performance out there for your first team or game with the Chargers hey look look look look look look look look get him okay get him okay but just looking at that's how you eat right now

5:13right now man it felt good though it felt really good but now I'm don't get ready for next week you know the type of guy who will have a good game go back to the draw more it let's get better but you know I think this guy is still what plays a key and you know one in a ball game but I think you he's seen every coverage it's not like you're gonna fall that much but you know got to have good disguise good communication you know good execution yeah you know I think Aaron's always done a good job of putting the ball we're gonna say go and you know there's routes that Devante likes his outs back sort of fade you know that's nothing I can really need to worry about but I think just a relationship there and how they want to play and how they want to you know dominate a game

6:14you know you got to be ready for that space in the area is fairly similar to what you guys have a deal with the black coat and then it's a better way to get rid of the ball quickly and break down the defense and it's not gonna kind of allow it all any easy you know they're different in some approaches but you know like you said well you know they do spread the ball around and he's able to get it out quick so that relies on our secondary to be you know pretty close in coverage and may make sure we mix it up you can't just be into a rhythm where he knows where to go you know playing and playing out but you know we'll see we can do can we've seen Queens numbers grow week to week with a loud that you feel like it's he's kind of settling into the role of the defense you know I think he's just getting more and more comfortable in how we play you know there's different styles of football and you know we didn't play that much the preseason all together but I think he's going more comfortable more confident hopefully that's not just the ceiling

7:18I think he can continue to keep growing and the best is just to come can you guys have talked a lot about communication is that more of a concern or more of a point about this is when you're playing a better quarterback like Aaron Rogers is known for getting those replays and catching events on balance you know I think communication you can't have those breakdowns especially on the back and you know you could hide it up front to extend and you can just move to it but on the back end it definitely stresses a lot of people sometimes you know that's our own going trying to do too much or you know but we have to execute a high-level war you know who's gonna have a lot of success you know one thing Aaron's always been good at is substitutions taking advantage of as well so you know for some guys we've got to make sure we run off the field we're ready to have eleven guys on it you have your own super bowl winning better in quarterback in consideration to play this week where not potentially getting rust back for this one for something like football against

8:19Rogers and I just think we got to support both of those guys Justin and Russ you know Justin's had a hell of a start I don't know who's starting you know I'm not going to pretend to tell you I know but you know on that side of the ball I'm really worried about it because it doesn't change what we have to do we got to make sure we take care of our business and you know make sure we get them ball back as best possible pretty unique situation with rail and allen the change of pace back is actually maybe the bigger move the bigger one what does that do you have to deal with a guy like grease hall and then he wears you down the next guy is he could be the bigger strong yeah you know I think I think when you have to run him back it allows everybody to stay fresh and it really stresses the defense look at back of a green bag when they had their two monsters you know even here we know we have knives you got jailed a little bit of Quatero Patterson I think you know running back by committee committee really stresses the defense what they're

9:20going up there is just you know they're totten the Rockers of light you look at Buffalo game they had a lot of rushing yards and you know it's really allowing their office floors all the Wisconsin guys have any intel on him I'm sorry who I was constantly you know I you know I ask and see if they got anything but they haven't mixed anything when you look at their personnel it seems like this is a team of super colleagues when you see an office like that what do you make of that do you like how do you kind of go into a game knowing it he thinks it might be better than that record you know I think between good and great is the very fair align and they're just into the way from it so we have to be ready for it all we got to make sure that we actually at a high level to prevent that but you know it's no shortage of talent they have plenty of talent on there and you know they're looking to build it to all the right time we do in Vegas after the game how special the performance that was like you jab it after

10:23watching the film you guys have been more of an appreciation for what you did or you guys have fun watching them watch those balls out no we expect them you know we practice them we get a week out and you know I think we get to see you know how the how the sausage is and you know T.J.'s work ethic explains it all and I think when he does it on Sundays we've just come to appreciate it that's what I'm gonna get a guy who this first time out here sorry Kim what do you and T.J.'s work so well and compliment his captives I don't know I think you know we we've been around each other a lot you know he was on my side then he left you know I don't know what that's about but you know good communication between ourselves and you know what we expect out of the group and

11:27we're not afraid to challenge each other you know I think when we have that in the room it allows us to be better what is the most proud of the camp? I think experience you know leadership and professional I think you know Russ is a professional knows how to work you know how to prepare it's a lot of a lot of younger guys the stuff will be good as far as you might talk about the way you guys were able to finish or through there about the only running game being able to finish is that something you can go off is it what did you see things watching film maybe that even look better than what you saw in the books on there? Yeah man I saw all of 11 in this Dick John Dick out blocks and working down fill for blocks too like Pat had that one that's probably loose but things like that like I said in the press conference I'm after the game is that's what makes the big plays the big runs that people see that we want to is just the extra block and that happens downfield you know I mean getting through the line is coming just one thing but getting back to the second level and helping out with blocks too that's what springs the big plays sorry all across the league and that's what we're up top four.

12:28As you what's the Katie Kering that over building on that practice you know I mean practice finishing blocks and you got guys finishing plays and straining all the way through the play and you know just because it may look like the plays over with you still should I get on blocks man because anything I have you know I mean it's people could break more tackles and you know I mean think it happens so just really straining and working down fill for blocks. What do you feel like having less on the field? We got to actually the game plan I mean like you guys focus so much on one player as if like it's like it's all 11 of us you guys will worry about the quarterback but I'm worried about all 11 the quarterback in the line and the receivers in the Renneback you know I mean so you know breast being out there I mean he got to do the same thing that Justin was doing Justin was doing a great job for us oh this is the best start I think I had throughout my years being here so you know I saw some comments that Justin said about him being doing the best that he can but I think that he did the best he possibly can I

13:28think I think he did a really good job and he shouldn't I know he was trying to but you know just me saying publicly that we're all proud of him man I mean like you know we don't be so hard on yourself we got you back I got you back but you know I think that this all 11 of us got a pitch in and and being there because we need both of them for sure so I'm sorry I'm sorry Brian McCullough yeah he's been good you know he has a little he's very very smart so you know his IQ of the games is very big so we wasn't really you know tripping off of that because you know his experience just just knowing the IQ of the games they can cause doing things like that the protection slides and whatnot that other people don't see I think that he does a good job with that so you know we're all excited for him too like I said it's the next man up mentality you know we all got to be ready for what's going to for you know next man to be up how do you impact Brian you've grown it's teammates and friends that's

14:28me and Pat that's the homie man Pat me and Pat came in together that's why I was extremely excited for him to get that extension because he was telling me all you know all throughout the process how I was doing stuff like that so you know me seeing Pat you know get that extension is kind of like you know in a way is like I got the extension because Pat is like my brother so you know see him see him see him happy and see him smiling and it's seen him providing for his family is always a good thing so me and Pat's been we've been locked in everything we got here so you know we joke around a lot and do things yeah I think our whole de-line gets held you know every game I don't know what the rest are saying or what's going on with that but you turn on the tape and really look at it we're held almost every play so there's something do you guys be better actors you need more dramatic what do you think has to happen for you to get called in your favor one time this season we can be actors but you know we don't really teach none like that but I don't know if it's where I'll because we're Ohio State you like you know letting things go or what it is but it's been you know pretty bad

15:33I know y'all see it too it's every play almost every game I have a thing WBNF we have a chance to see a glimpse of Coach Dave's pretty games to each the intensity that you've seen for the last two games in the playoffs is that different than you've seen throughout the year and what does that do for this week before you got him I want to say it's different he's been like that his whole year but just now it's you know getting recorded and posted but definitely when you see your head coach is fired up like that likes the fire and you you know go out there and do better and you know you can't thank Coach Dave enough because you know he he's our leader of his team and he's like that he makes you want to you know go out there and do great for him for like the guys around us Scotty we're gonna go to you with a couple on zoom yes sir we're gonna start with Andy Anders and he go ahead yeah Aliq Texas has a runs a lot of outside zone schemes that you just watch it what's important for the thing

16:36those kinds of plays on the ground and I guess just straightening out those those kinds of so to speak he said ever again kind of unmuted again there yeah just Texas runs a lot of outside zone in their run game running schemes just what's important for defending that kind of play as it is a tackle for a detaquin versus stretch team you always want to talk about penetration like penetrating the line and not catching because once you know you penetrate the stretch it basically stops the stretch and makes them you know cut back to you know unblocked players so really just attacking this game and not catching next question is gonna come from Dan Hope then go ahead Aliq you were in a freshman class with Quinn now you're playing against him a few years later just what's that like for you you know Quinn's my guy you know he's a great competitor great quarterback I think it'll be fun going against him you know trying to get him right around next question comes from

17:42Kurt Bulls Kurt go ahead yeah tell me I don't know if there's one thing you can pinpoint why y'all been so dominant I would think maybe it comes back under the physical brand of football do you feel that's gonna be the survivor in this game who's the more physical team I'll say definitely the more the most violent team you know the team that plays the fastest excuse the most and you know exceeds their game playing the most is gonna win this game I found a question will come from Stefan from Cleveland dot com Tyleek what's kind of your relationship been like with Ty Hamilton especially as the season progressed and just how in sync do you feel like you two are playing on a defensive line together me and Ty are you know we've been at roommates for the past two years we live in the same apartment complex we play the game together it's really like one of my best friends on the team you know

18:43we talk about a lot of football things so we're really on the same page with a lot of you know plays teams like to run against us and who could be some stunts we run we're always you know connected in some kind of way Jerry back to you great thanks you got that just a couple more questions Joey Coppin Columbus this bad Tyleek what does it say about your defensive line and have pride for you guys when you can get eight sacks 13 tackles for loss though I have an upbringing a ton of extra guys and pressure but you can just forward do a lot of that I'll say cool to store coach coach Jay this is a lot of technique and you know sometimes it doesn't show up because you know team scheme you different ways but when you have a team one dimensional like they have to pass the ball that's when all you know the pass rush technique and stuff comes out and I think we've gotten Tennessee and Oregon to those situations where they had to pass the ball and you know just let us rush free instead of worrying about the run that makes sense yeah I'll say we're definitely

19:47winning way more 101's now and you know they're not keeping as many guys in the box to block us because they have to you know they're trying to come back so I think it's like I said it's just cool to sort of offense you know creating these big leads and making teams one dimensional before left David the goose been WCME Tyleek we've talked about how better the team has gotten to getting off to fast starts on those sides of the wall but there has been some scoring lead in the first half like it's had to see in against Oregon has there been renewed emphasis on controlling the middle and how important will that be against Texas? Definitely you know that's one of Coach James biggest points you know controlling the middle eight you control the middle eight you like chances are you winning that game goes you know skyrocket so definitely verse Tennessee Oregon we give up touchdowns you know lay in the you know second half I mean first half but we you know we just got to keep our full on the gas we can't let up like at all because these teams we're playing our great teams like Texas is a great team you know the great offense great offense a line great quarterback great

20:48receivers great running backs so you know we just got to just keep executing like we know we can and see how it plays out Okay final questions for Tyleek here Tim May Letterman Role Telly K you know Aaron Dulley you used to talk about everybody's hurting at this time of the year but when the lights come on and the and the snap goes what goes off in a guy like here's mine I mean from the standpoint of making the play I mean can you explain that the people don't get to play down in the middle of it all I would say you know like I said you're right everybody is hurt around this time you know we're what 15th week 14th you know deep in the season you know you just got to just got to show up that's my mind so you just got to show up no matter what I'm going through I got to make that play I got to be disruptive you know just to help my team out because when I'm when I'm on my A game you know everybody else can you know feed off of me or we can feed off it like you know JT Jack Ty but I said you know coach make always says like nobody cares like it's true nobody really cares if you're a hurried

21:50stranger you just got to go out there and play and make plays just a little bit explain the drive you have personally to get to through this next one into the next one but I know it's one step at a time but you know he came back etc explained people what's going on in your brain about your motivation my motivation you know we all have our wise you know while we're doing things you know we have family you know family here our team our brotherhood but he's got he want to do right for your brothers you know on this team you know we're trying to win the big thing we're not just you know trying to go win two games and lose we're trying to win the big thing you know as long as we stay motivated is they you know humble know like you know take the rap poison you know things like that and just execute and just play our hardest you know we'll be fine thank you very much yes I could knock out a couple pushups every now

22:52to go yeah no up downs but pushups I'll finish off the first couple weeks I think we're growing don't think we've hit our stride we want to play much better obviously I mean our jobs put points on the board and we're not doing that at high enough level it's taking us too long to get going I did thought I did think we made some improvements in starting fast last game that was a big improvement something we hearted on all week but there's a number of situational areas that we have to improve on third down has been an issue at times that's been a point of emphasis red zone obviously red zone score and touchdowns particularly in the last game so those are things we're talking about and going through his coaches and and echo into the players of what we need to change to move forward to be better in those areas but we've we've got to play much better what we talked about coach fries the intent of the offensive get drones playing this fast every time yeah focus is not that and maybe so I step in that direction last week did you feel the same thing and what did you think that maybe he did better last week compared to first couple weeks yeah I

23:54thought he was comfortable thought he played within himself thought he was able to open up things see him man coverage taken off things that I've seen him do a million times I thought he just played more like himself it's always good to get him involved in the run game early I think that has an effect for our for our offense so it was good to see that in the last game keeping us efficient and keeping us on track but not just you know not just Kyron you know for the whole offense our message has been we're gonna get better every day like the whole idea it's not results driven obviously we want the results we know that that's gonna be a byproduct of just getting better I think we're to that mindset right now I've enjoyed this week of practice watching these guys come out and work and everybody individually and collectively getting better starting with him starting with myself record game last year his first start yes sir seems like he's come a long way yeah what did he see in his biggest areas in Toronto I mean we've said it but you know it always starts I mean when you're talking about a quarterback starting first time just just

24:54confidence comfort level comfort level with who he's playing around you know he's been at this place for a while now right he's been at Virginia Tech for long enough he's got a good comfort level good bond with his teammates and I think that all plays in the part for him being able to play like himself I mentioned fast starts aside from the you the Vanderbilt Marshall is that more is that partial feeling out what you know those defensive or part execution on you guys I mean I think it's we can always blame everything on execution or feeling it out I think it's I think it's some of both I mean I think the you know the margin for starting fast very similar to last game is exactly that it's a small margin you know we've moved the ball and that it's not like I don't know if I'm remembering regularly but I don't think we've had a three-and-out on the first drive so far okay so we're moving the ball but it comes down to those situational areas are we able to convert a third down are we able to you know deliver the ball on the screen-class you know over the defender and it doesn't

25:55get tipped in there I mean all those things going there there's a multitude of things starting fast execution's part of it I'm always going to blame it all of myself it all starts with me like him I'm always asking myself am I putting us in the best position to succeed particularly on the first drive but obviously throughout the game you know it's not something we take lightly TFLs right now have been an issue for us I think that that has an opportunity to slow your offense down right any offense is much better when you're playing on schedule so that's been a big message to our group and and us looking at his coaches and how can we be better in that area to make sure we start fast but not only start fast but continue that throughout the game where there's not a lot yeah that play lane touchdown first day last week we're in parkers out wide doing jumping jack based on how long you've had that sort of cooked up and what is the balance of those trick plays only when to break them out you know moments to use those well yeah you know we don't call them tricks we call them deceptives the first off but we want

26:57to use them when it makes sense right they don't make sense for every team you know whichever one's makes sense for that defensive structure we may have a couple on the sheet we may not you know so that's been the MO I mean we're looking at that play no different than a dropback pass on third down or a run on P and 10 you know we we we practiced those to work and there's a progression to them and things like that but I also think it's you know it's fun for the guys it causes some stress to the defense but that's something that we've you know tried to do over the last year and a half here price and he's he's faced that deception before as a defensive court have you run that as an offensive it's a pretty good to do the jumping jacks out I did not I did not I was I was I was too stiff to be on the field so I was not I was watching it from the side line but I mean it's fun that that one's a pretty common one you know we want to break them out when the times are right and if it can cause a defensive coordinator spend a little extra time on something then then it makes sense for us as long as it's gonna work we want them that we want to execute for sure second half the last few games you just I think only 11 pass attempts to turn ball

28:02handed to the patient it's hiring what's been the mindset after half time last year is that a mindset of the identity of the scene that I'm just gonna pound it down a rock and we've got lots of charts and carry we certainly want that to be an identity we we certainly want that to be part of our identity but I think you know you look at the course of the game it's all a byproduct of what happens the entire game right are you able to do that if you if you only start that way you know I don't know you know I there's a there's a flow to the game you know as you're playing it looking at it and I think that's what's led us to do that in the second half is that also a die-partly first week in Vanderbilt down success doing the ball in the second half is that that product of getting fuel for the teams in the first half of the coming say this is the strength we can get for sure I mean we're always you're going in with a plan based on what you see you're also trying to forecast how you need to adjust beforehand right it's not just the adjustment during the game it's also the adjustment that may be necessary for how how within their structure will they try to play us depending on what they've seen on film comes

29:07down to self-scout things like it so those are all all parts of it that we look at every week I think I was able to do it obviously a different play call but it had shades of Stevens backside over Tushan I think was against UVA that's similar play where Jaylen brought on the sideline how does that kind of help you layer play call from Karen's rolling out the right there yeah I mean Karen's obviously he's decent on the move he's shown that the entire time but you you know we always try to build those in as far as the layering right we're going to have multiple things where we're able to attack the defense inside and get the ball on the edge we want to be able to do that I think changing the launch point certainly stresses the defense you don't want to be in the pocket all game you want to have to have the mix you'll be able to get the ball out of your hand fast move the pocket then be able to launch it over people's heads so I think it's all part of layering if that's what you're asking them understand your question question correctly I think Joe Stoffins and I was born on I was want to attack Ali's based on the second touchdown to bring people in there walked in how would you judge their I think it's I think it would be our

30:09entire offense right I'd be lying to you if I told you different I think we're we're inconsistent right now you know we've got to find consistency and I think that groups that way the quarterback plays that way and and ultimately we've got to find the way to make that consistent going into this stretch of games I think with the way you guys play offensively in the second half of the season people look at Ross and they're all these guys coming back next year maybe just expect you to pick up or you left off right and it's a trickier than math and just said you know nine months later or whenever it is that you just like pick up or you left up the up and I don't think I think every team's different right every it no matter the same players are not every team's different but I'd also I'm not going to shy away I think continuity certainly helps right and we're you know we've all been disappointed at times how we how we've started right I mean that that's the whole deal I think we're all reflecting on that and and putting the plan forward to be better right but the continuity certainly helps but I also say on the same hand even with everybody backing on every team takes on a different identity you know there's a there

31:11people change people change their bodies skill sets change both positive and negative so we've you know we're we're finding who this team is right constantly we've been able to do that in spring and fall camp but the even though it's the same the team's different but I think you know we'll be excited to hit our stride and I think as long as we continue with the process based based approach of just getting better every day I think we can do that Saturday was the second game where we've seen Kyron and Beishel both go for over a hundred yards what makes them so effective as as a tandem in your eyes balancing off of another well it starts with two right I mean it does even though you know we've talked about K.D. getting runs early things like that it certainly starts with Beishel I think he's just got a punishing effect to the defense right which eventually starts collapsing edges which provides thing to the quarterback if you're you know if you're gonna stay in the run world also can provide some things for past opportunities so I think that's what makes the one two punch you know and Beishel's got a unique ability to attack the perimeter attack then

32:13side he can catch the ball out of the backfield so I think his skill set lends him to be more versatile and what we're allowed to do with him. Price it yesterday he's okay with Kyron down the field sort of delivering supplies to defensive back he's okay with that as the offensive coordinator you okay with that. No comment it's it's certainly a tone setter for sure I think I think Kyron's got a way when he when he does run like that at a NYX team we've seen that before but we certainly got to be we've got to be careful with that for sure. Johnny's Johnny stepped in after Xavier went down and he basically played the entire game for you guys would impress you about the way he was kind of able to to step in and play well. I wouldn't say impressed because I see him practice every day and I thought leading into that he had had his two best week of practice you know two best weeks of practice going into it he's prepared himself well and we feel comfortable with him going in the game at any point whether that be a rotation or or just getting in the game in general like he had to step enough you know we talk all the time about next

33:15man up mentality I think he's a perfect example he was ready for when his number was called because of how he's prepared. Ron said three seasons that Johnny's moved to left side start punching harder start playing with physical you notice that when you got moved to left tackle plan on the lines I like you got a little bit more physical. I did you know it's sometimes maybe it's like a you know it's like a basketball coach or a baseball coach just making a lineup change you know maybe maybe change is good you know just at different times and I thought you saw that and now you know Johnny's been doing a nice job bouncing around all over the place for us so I think you provide us some versus the building. Thanks guys. Thank you guys. Good to see you. Yep. I mean it was good at rip off these runs because I mean we put on so much work on this practice and you know seeing the scene and brother Tech Reserves since that just off its line wise it's just prepared this week

34:16with the dot from back in there. It's our hope for exactly this season. You know it's not particularly in Austin it's just more of down with Jackson preseason all-American etc. I'm enjoying the group you know. The down of the Jackson is a very good football player. When he's on the field he makes his presence up. I mean we love to train him on my home. There's no tomorrow just go through. You know we know it can be. Yeah there's a secret being there's a sense of watching you guys. No or even more of a force. It felt like watching you guys. Maybe even in the open. Did it feel like that? Yeah I mean we put in the work during practice we practice really hard. Coach there really challenged us to practice hard. Positions. Coach is really challenged us to practice hard. I was just a result of it. When it's rolling like that what's it feel like being in the mix of that? It's it's us. When you work hard for something and you're able to see like what comes out of it like that's there's no better feeling in it.

35:29No I mean I was really funny to see. What has Seth been off on? You brought some of you guys for the first of your games. What's it been like playing next time for the last two? He's you know he's really calm and stormy. You never see real panic and having a guy like that next season you know you're having really played as many meaning for snaps. There's no one else that read the apps in my left and some in my right. For our end set. Those guys they do so much for this offensive item. People talk about his intelligence really kind of showing up in the film or then on the field. Where have you noticed that intelligence and how is that helped you? Yeah like I said in crunch time you know when when things aren't exactly looking like how we practice it you know having a guy like that will do this this this and then we execute having

36:30a guy like that like this there's none better than that. You wrote? What's your got? What's my favorite cake? Right brother. Uh huh. Yeah. You want to get in there? Uh huh. No. That. I almost came back with Cobblestone. I guess some more. Take a look at it Marshall. They got a couple guys in the deep hits of red that have big 10 bodies. Absolutely. I mean what do you see when you look at their tape and see 15, 7 a couple of those guys are pretty pretty big. Yeah and those those guys there they're real players. They're real players. You can sell their coach well. You can sell they go hard you know they're real players over there. We've been practicing to the best of our ability to you know expect and I'm prepared for that.

37:31Okay but we see they made for G&T back in the last year. Another day? They're taking the playing game. Yeah they play they play a good ball over there and you know their defense plays hard. They challenge teams you know sometimes they might be overlooked and they still challenge teams you know and so they come out there with the mentality like no matter who's in front of the season. I mean the actions right there right in front of you right now which is kind of a good thing and kind of a bad thing. You should off the rest you know hidden back in it inside. You talking to your shots? Yeah I mean I hear from Chris every once in a while trying to nuts it by there and so much but it's it's always it's always good to hear from guy like that guys like the one even Matt Jones returning back.

38:39Really experienced it. It's tough. I have your head between your legs for about 25 seconds but I passed out that's a little tough but no it was awesome and then playing at Wisconsin is pretty cool. My dad got me this big like 10 pound bag of cheese. We put in the lock and we were really sharing it on the bus and stuff like that. Like besides just the calls on the line like being able to develop as a player obviously not going in there super wide I know because I've played those games I've played it team of North I've played it I guess here against Penn State I played out Wisconsin I started playing that in the other game which is electric. So being able to develop that skill of being calm and kind of the storm has been really developmental for me and especially this next year you know playing a new game in Penn State and all those big places like that it'll be helpful. Yeah and like being as young as I was is very hard to kind of understand because we can get a guy like Luke Wouplier you know a Jersey guy a big tough rug you know I want to

39:44be like that but I'm not I'm not that yet and I think trying to be that kind of like bigger than I was at the time looking back on it wasn't really kind of the best for me like obviously playing was super awesome is just for me it was more of a developmental year and looking into that as I'm gonna grow a lot from this and looking back on that there's some mistakes I'm like there was no way I'd make that right now there's no reason why I would do that but I just needed that to develop and do what I am today so I'm super grateful for it. Yeah and my mind I felt prepared looking back now you're like wow I can't really know what you think but I think just the confidence I had not only in myself but like the guys around me like Donnie and Matt and leaning on their their years of expertise and their how much they've gone through

40:47has really helped because every sometimes I've been looking at them like I don't really understand this and they'll be Donnie or Josh Fryer but help me but no this is what we're looking at I'm like okay it makes a lot more sense now to help me become kind of the the point of the guy from the line and stuff like that to make those kind of calls that we need to Coach Fryer always says you know that the best fiber play um that's regardless of the position that I don't really have any like here or there when it comes to what position that if I can play I'll be more than happy whatever I'm at um but you know the best fiber play um and I think it's a really good job facilitating and rolling as a different position and stuff like that so I'm not really sure what they have in store for us but no we'll see to it's another spring and they're going into the summer because all that can change as well uh currently I've been all centered you mentioned that you're under size what's your weight at now?

41:51weight in today at 298 so I'd like to bump it up to 300 like 303 if I could like a real 303 not drinking gator is trying to get up to 303 um but that probably the end goal to really get my leg into that leverage going downstairs again. What has the product that's been like over bulking up as you've got where we are now? And you can ask your old, he's my roommate uh he's been force feeding me kitchen social um but as you're doing that uh drinking and weight protein shakes getting in touch with Taylor the art and triceps her and Zoe are super awesome um kind of they've developed a good plan for us to get up to that weight because you know if you can play heavier and more your legs like why won't you kind of leave them money out the table and I think for me last year I was like I really struggled with that kind of discipline of keeping my weight up um and playing like way way lighter than I should have been like two of these weight to crazy um and I think that this year like developing with coach and making stuff like that it's like real weight it's not like kind of fake water we

42:54lottery weight it's like real like I can play my leg now a lot more. So you were trying to give you two 88 times last year? Uh I was really really low that was like the beginning of your but I got it back up obviously really fast. I don't know if it was that because I had all that um like help on the line um with me I wouldn't say it was a trial by fire but it was definitely a big learning experience especially for a young guy who um wouldn't do it not playing a single snap. I remember I was so nervous before the end of the game I'm like literally shaking out like tearing up and stuff and I'm like oh my leg is real you know you you going into it you think like I'll put all this work on I should be there and then you like I said I'd go back and you watch it take this year and I'm like what what am I doing? So I think it's like it's such a good developmental year for me that I'm super so grateful for that uh experience and then going into this year trying to learn off that and learn off what we learned this spring into the summer I think it's gonna be really good year. If you want to go to yourself now for just like a

43:56practice, you're sitting prepared to watch and take what you do last year. What were you think finding yourself like the biggest game we experienced? Um mostly just playing in my like height and playing in my leverage uh I would always have a problem with like really tight ankles and playing like tall my toes and whenever I got high hips and like I'll be like that that's when I get the snake and toss um and then just like more recognition of what's going on having the game slowdown with you because the more you grow you kind of feel like the game obviously doesn't really slow down because you actually get faster over here but like it starts to slow down a little bit for you so like you just kind of see last year and be kind of like jeetering kind of figuring out what I'm doing and then that's where I end up in those bad situations but this year it's more with more like film study and more study with the coaching and stuff like that I can find myself in better positions of power and making the right blocks right. This is not 100% knowing exactly what you're doing and that's not a coaching problem that's not obviously it's a me problem but it just comes with reps and it comes with experience when you

44:58haven't had that before. Oh jeetering is kind of a rough word for it but it's just kind of like you know you're an indecisive as a better word when you know when you know you're 100% ready to make this block you play so much faster and this year when I've been able to do that I played obviously I'm still off as you see how I'm saying. I make the same mistake twice I think he learns from every experience when he's out there we have really good conversations in between drives when hey this happened you know if it comes back and that look comes up again he doesn't do what he did the play before he moves on doing so I don't know I think he's done a good job protecting the football you know we don't we never want to turn it over but he's been really good from that standpoint so far in the first four games so his congratulations percentages gone up in every game so excited about where he is there you know if we continue to to complete the ball at a high 60-70% rate then I think we'll be really successful in the fish in the past game he's used his legs a little bit you know I think that's one aspect that I think he's he's good at it but it just

46:00depends on how defense defend are defending us as if he has to do that so I have a very good role off of that we'll talk about something after they came about well there's still some things that we really wanted to get you that we're excited about it's been the opportunity we wanted to talk about I know that's asking about game playing specific stuff when you look big picture of your offense and the playbook how much have we seen and how much more is there at your disposal as a skills board about there's always more at the disposal but I think it's what is applicable in the game that you're playing you know I think you you have a course of x amount of plays over a season but then that's cut down for what you're doing that week because you can't practice all those plays during the week and then even the plays that you practice during the week you don't get called in a game because that specific situation may have not come up in that game you know so you know as you go through it sometimes you find yourself in the red zone more than you thought you were going to be in the red zone other times you find yourself you were never in the red zone you know you can go two or three weeks we don't have the ball inside the five yard line but you got some really good goal line plays but you never get a chance to call those goal line

47:03plays because you scored from 20 yards out as opposed to punching it across the goal and so each week is different I think we always over prepare probably more than often than not and say hey we got some really good stuff in these situations but if that situation only comes up once you only get the call one play you had five that you thought were pretty good but you only came up once so those are the four you know you kind of put them in the Tupperware and tuck them away and and then try to bring them back out again next week but we spend a lot of time of how many reps do we have at this particular player this particular scheme and then maybe two weeks from now you're playing somebody that's similar to who you had three weeks earlier and say hey let's take some of those things out of the Tupperware that we practiced that we and really didn't give a chance to run so you get one more four times four times and I got about one of the aggressive and when the game was five footworked in the situations but you're the last one four times and those four are just hitting work yeah there's an analytic aspect to it but I don't think it's

48:04always analytics I think you also have to get the flow of the game and kind of how that's going on so it's a combination of both you know what are the percentages if you go for in terms of success rate but also you have to factor in what's what what does that do to our team if we don't get you know I think everybody is always hey we're all in we're all in well you're playing poker and you're all in and you only have a pair of twos you know they may have a better hand in you and that's that's where the situation is you know it's easy to sit there and say four times you should go for it all the time well that's not necessarily the case but I also think you always have to think about what how is your defense putting at the time and you know we willing to put our defense on the field right now if we don't get the first down so that's that's part of it and then we have certain packages based on down a distance that if if we get to a fourth and fourth and have it situation then we're going to dial these plays ups I think our players are really comfortable because we're calling something that they they practiced and run a lot.

49:04I think you've had some of the kids much more you can do right but there's always your group of development what would you like to see in the fellow in every pass I mean that would be one chair golf did it last night right I think he went 18 for 18 so and then I'm on Rossane Brown one for one so they were they were 19 for 19 as a team so what about do you think you lost time receivers a little lunch and be from the other train guy I think we'll do a good job I think there's always a growth with all of that you know sometimes it may be a newer route that had gone in and it doesn't have as many reps in the bank as he does with some of the other things that we've run since they won of spring you know I think but I think that every quarterback can improve every coach can improve every player can I think it's this this is a growth game you know and how you develop and and I hope in game eight we're not playing like we played in game four you know I think it's as you continue to go on and start to add different elements different things that are happening different opponents that that's always

50:05part of it but the growth is is how do you develop over the course of the season so I'm pleased with where will is right now but that doesn't mean that he's arrived I don't think you ever arrive in this game I think every day you got to try to be just a little bit better than you were the day before and that's that's what I love about world over that's kind of his mindset is how do I get a little bit better and how do I how do I improve and how do I help this team one yeah I don't think all guys have it but I do think it can be developed you know I think for everybody you know it's no different than the first time you move into a city you're going to have to take a map out and try to figure out your GPS like how do I get from point A to point B and then after a while why was I going this way if I could have gone around I would have been there a lot quicker you know so it's it's just part of the process that you go through when you're new when it's you're trying to figure your way around and you need a map to look at but after a while you kind of figure it a little later and then you're a lot more comfortable in your environment the more comfortable will get in our offense I think the more successful we're gonna have

51:09obviously game clamps dictate something where where balls can go you guys have as many weapons as you do do you find yourself as you in build the game okay well this guy maybe hasn't had as many touches can you even do that in in this offense where you're trying to get guys more involved I mean I think at times theoretically you can do that but you also have to factor in what is the defense's decision on how they defend how they decided to defend you know we're not when people can say we're not gonna let you run the ball well then we have to throw the ball so okay you know we're equal opportunities it doesn't matter if you run the ball across the line across the goal lane or throw the ball across the goal and it still counts at six points so you know we're not caught up in it has to be totally balanced in 50-50 run pass or whatever it is it really is it's indicative of what they're doing and if we can kind of figure out what they're doing and get a really good beat or what they're trying to take away then you are you know there's

52:09sometimes you plan things going into a game and saying hey if I was defending us this is how I would do it and then you get into a game they're like they're not doing that all right well then we need to take advantage of that you know what I mean so we talk about it and we want to be balanced and I think we're pretty good at distributing the ball through but there are some games where the tight ends may catch the ball more than the running backs catch the ball that's just the nature of how the game kind of expressed itself you know but there are we have specific plays where we think we're trying to get the ball to him but we're never going to force it you know if they're going to double cover a guy then then they double cover the guy if they double covered him then someone's singled and that's the beauty of having as many weapons as we have as if you're going to double one guy then that means somebody else is you can't double them all if they did it's a penalty because I get to meet you guys on the field so but it when you have as many weapons as we have I think that's that's always a bonus and that's always a benefit

53:13it's been smooth you know I think we're our guys have an understanding you know in terms of because we spent so much time together during the weeks of you know how it's going to flow and I don't think there's anything that has gone on in a game that's been a surprise like hey what was that and what do we do that you know there's a constant dialogue going on but I when we're in a third and short situation we only have four or five options on third and short you're not making plays up at the time they're they're what you practice what you've gone over you know because you want you're going to call something that your players have a lot of confidence in running because their their confidence is based on their demonstrated ability of doing in our training sessions so I think it's been smooth you know we've we haven't really faced any a ton of adversity on the offensive side of the wall so I think that's really when you know it's it'll show but I'm confident that our communication systems and our protocols that we use right now are our solid

54:18I missed the first part was there anything you'd like to better being an offensive board they surprised you as opposed to being a headroom you can go to the bathroom between series if you have to and put the only difference I think it's always kind of tough coach coupe you can tell you that on the sideline it's really difficult to say hey I'm going to leave you know I mean but there's there's a bathroom upstairs by the booth so if need be obviously you have a lot of players that are big less like this kind of side mode is there a full worry or a risk sometimes you're getting too far over the skis being aggressive knowing that you have almost like get out of your three cards like you're my Smith out there that you can just throw enough to or you know Ryan was talking about trying to outskim and get the guy like the partner and you know you enjoy that that challenge but is it sometimes hard to die off at when you have the ice that are that because yeah because it's not we're not trying out scheme anybody we're we're

55:19trying to put our players in positions where they can make plays I mean anybody can draw a playup and say you should do this you should do that then my question is well how many reps do you have that running it you know and and do we feel really good because we've seen the four or five different ways they can defend that so we're not trying to and you're not going to outskim Phil Parker you know that's this I think maybe people think a little bit too much into that part is that these people ready to hit that people's number this this game has always been about the players and always will be about the players so you know who can who can really show up in those matchups and that's what this game's about you know there this is a it's good to defense as we talked about as we faced but there's gonna be a lot of one-on-one battles you know we have to win against her their interior defensive linemen are outstanding so that matchup with our center-owned guard against the two interior defensive linemen and the all-american linemaker are a huge matchup and that comes down to just fundamental football do we block better than they get off of blocks you know can we give the quarterback enough time for our receivers to run the proper depth of the routes

56:20to get the ball thrown is the quarterback throwing the ball on time where's he holding the ball too long you know it's it's it's all of that so but we don't sit in there and dream up because you have a Jeremiah or you have a Mack or you have a Q or a tray that we should do this this and then I think we're always trying to action with their strengths and play to it but you have to look at all eleven when you're making those decisions because hey let's just go with the him well then how long are we gonna protect for you know if Jeremiah is gonna run a 60-yard route you know I learned a long time ago every inch on a piece of paper is a second of protection so can we protect for that long can we hold up and now what are we gonna do for that we're gonna keep eight guys in and protection you know I think there's a lot that goes into it but I think the ability to have weapons at all spots makes the defense have to defend all those spots so we're not trying to specifically go to one or another I think we're just trying to see how they deploy versus these formations and what their tendencies are and then what are our best chances and and then we gotta go play and then we

57:21gotta go execute because the scheming's done once the ball snap you know it's it's do our guys hold up long and and protection and do our receivers get to the right depths and as a quarterback to live in the bulk on time to a location where the defender can't get his hands on it. Just follow up on that so does it when you go against a parker does it feel like a chest match where the pieces can move you know independently type thing and then what is the tail that you've gotten into a defense of coordinators head for one of another term as a game goes on. There it is a chest match where the where the the pieces are moving so what happened on play one may not be the same thing happened on play five you know it could be different because he could make a different call and I don't think any coordinator neither side of the ball everything's about am I getting in this person's head you know we're really microscopic in terms of our vision on what's the next play and what's the situation it's second and ninth on the left hash you know

58:27what our calls on second and ninth on the left hash on the plus thirty or mine that's really where you are you don't you're not thinking about it in my in his head not in his head if you're thinking that then he's in your head and I don't have enough space for anybody else in my head so I'm just going to concentrate on what's next down it's you know it's me. That's one of quick follow up. This is just this is awesome. We're going to chance you. You said the tone. Yeah. Well I think it's it's easy to see when you listen to our guys speak like those three that you just mentioned but you could listen to a tray or G or Donovan Jackson and I can go through the list of guys and you just you come so impressed so fast and I think Ohio State brings out the best in all of us. We all have to step up our game everybody because the expectations are so high and so I just think it makes us better across the board and but I think to answer your your question specifically you know we haven't reached our team goals yet we have one more game to go

59:30but to see these guys overcome adversity and have success is really what we want to see as coaches and so I'm proud of who these people are. I love these guys. I love this team and and that's why you know I just you know our focus has got to be on winning this game so these guys can tell that story and be able to cement themselves in Ohio State history which I know means the world to these guys. Now now real healthy it was just I don't know I guess a blood vessel or something that looks a lot worse than it is he's doing great guys are healthy we had a great week of practice and you know for game 16 we're doing good. No no and I think it's a great lesson for our young players to see

1:00:35somebody who came back to be the best guard in the country and had to transition and tackle midway through the season but then take that on never make an excuse never complain and just own it and then the leadership that he's shown has been tremendous. We had a lot of conversation around this time last year actually it was before this it was yeah I mean it was probably the first or second week of January and you know he was on offense he had an opportunity to go play on the NFL and would have been drafted you know significantly high and I think there was a point where he actually said he was going to go to the NFL and then had to change your heart and I think that everything to do with the brotherhood everything to do with his teammates and having unfinished business. I think when you go into games like this there's a lot of ways to look at it there's a lot of

1:01:39stats we can look at the truth is we played these guys three years in a row well this will be our third time in three years so our guys know who these who these guys are and have a lot of respect for them and are excited to play in the game so this game has nothing to do with the past and what's gone on it's all about what's going to happen in this game and that's that's what we'll focus on. Yeah I think when you go to a game like this one of the most important thing is to avoid distractions so I'm letting you know my wife handle that right now which is a lot but yeah the number one thing for us right now is focusing on this game and so I said that to our team that we have to avoid all distractions right now we have a lot of family a lot of friends a lot of people who certainly want to come to the game and obviously those things need to get taken care of but but

1:02:42ultimately we have to do our job they're all there to see us and that's what we're going to focus on so now it's it's an opportunity obviously to be on stage and finish our mission but we have to make sure we avoid all distractions. It just makes me realize I've grown up a lot since then. You know again I feel like our guys are men we have 145 guys on a 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

1:03:45to the other player as they prepare but also just in general you know avoiding distractions for the for yourself in terms of your your focus and so when you we 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. I Yeah. Yeah. Well, I know that we need everybody.

1:04:50Yeah. People who are going to be at the game and having a great presence in Mercedes Ben Stadium and being loud. Yeah, we'll need them. So we're playing for them. You know, people who are back home in their living rooms, whether it's back in Ohio or you know, in another country or across the country. You know, just said in great energy. Our guys feel all that. So we're playing for everybody. It's going to be a bug. I were playing for a bug. I nation for sure. We're also playing for each other. And for this team and. And that's it. I'm not going to get too far into that right now, but that's it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

1:05:50He'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. He just. He 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. 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. I mean, this. This is a guy who again, I say it all the time. You know, where's a hard hat to work every day brings his lunchpale to work and has the respect of his 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 game. Being a captain. You know, again, you know, in. And August having his teammates vote him in was a big deal for him. It was an emotional moment and. And. You know, winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants.

1:06:50You know, he wants to win a national championship more than anything. And that I think represents our entire team. I just think that this this year with with the 12 team playoff, it's just been a little bit different. And there's a lot everyone has their own story. And there's a lot of great teams out there. And. You know, a lot of things come into play when you make a run like this injuries and just different things. So. You know, we'll look at it at the end of the year and figure out, you know, the adjustments that need to be made. I think internally, but I also think that. You know, we all need to look at, you know, how this is playing and what this means, you know, playing 16 games. I think it's a great learning opportunity to see what that what that's going to look like moving forward. But I know it's been exciting for college football and for their fans.

1:08:01Yeah, I think they do a great job on offense coach Dembrox done a great job wherever he's been. Riley Leonard's an excellent leader. Jeremiah Love is one of the most talented backs we've gone against and they have a very good offense align. Evans is really good at tight end. They have multiple tight ends receivers are our weapons. So, you know, they're going to they're going to challenge us in a lot of different areas. And so we have to play big 10 football. You know, that's what it's going to look like. And you know, every play matters when you play in a game like this. And certainly against this team, it'll be the same way. Yeah, I think we built. We say this in all the time is that, you know, when you have momentum, you got to keep it. When you don't, you got to go get it. And, you know, we didn't have momentum at the end of the season.

1:09:01We had to create our own momentum. And then we started to build some momentum. And now we have to keep it. But I think the ability for our guys to sustain throughout the season has been significant here. And now it's going to be the best. It's got to ramp up. And again, the goal is to play our best game and to finish the mission. And we talked early in the season about building a foundation for down the road. And just like anything else, you build a foundation of a building. When storms come, it has to withstand those storms. But now we've got to finish. We've got to finish what we started. And that's it. I think again, there'll be time to reflect on some of those things after the game right now. We're just going to continue to look at Monday night and play in our best game. You know, it's been enjoyable to be able to start it off with the home game against Tennessee.

1:10:02And then one of the roads, the Rose Bowl to LA, that was an experience. And then, you know, so went through that and then went down to Texas and played Texas in Texas, which was very much like a road game. And so now we're into Atlanta. And we have a lot of guys on our team from the Atlanta area from the southeast. So for a lot of these guys, it's like coming home. So that's exciting. But it's allowed, you know, our families and team to kind of be on a road together for the last, you know, month. But we just like, I kind of say like we're like train rats. We just come to work and figure out what the next mission is to get back to work that way. You know, that's really what it is. And every once in a while, you've got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. And but now we've got to finish it. And so, you know, everyone's sort of why you take a step back, but then you get refocused on what matters. And but to your point, it's about everybody. And certainly it all starts with the players and what they do. And I think the, you know, our energy has continued to grow.

1:11:04I think, you know, we talk about like the mental fatigue. I just don't see that with our guys. I think there's, it's only increased. The energy's increased. The focus is increased. I think our team is fresh right now. You know, I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks. But, but that just shows you the experience, the maturity, the depth that we have. And I think that's all important. But, but we're not going to play anymore. We've got one more left. And it's going to be our best. See that again. Yeah, yeah, we have, we have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, you can see how important relationships matter.

1:12:04And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes, you got to feel for what that's like at home. And, and you can certainly see how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter. So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab onto the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Say it one more time. Yeah. Oh, I got you. Yeah, we're kind of, I guess that that transition has been happening the last few years, but you can see obviously this year.

1:13:04It'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 on another week or so. You know, and so it's just very, very different. I think it's all things that we have to learn from when we assess what's going on. It's been hard to take a step back and look at anything because, you know, you know, you have a short period of time to get back and win the next game. And like every single ounce of your energy has to be to go win the next game. And then you wake up and you realize you're on to the next one. And so we're not there right now, but I know after the season, you got to wake up, what just happened, you know. And then we'll try to assess it the best we can and make it better. I know there's a lot of things that we can do to make this all better. And I know institutionally we'll continue to make those adjustments, like you said, and do things the way we've done before, but also 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.

1:14:06And 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. That's it. I think our strength coach, Mick Morati, really, you know, symbol by fall. I mean, the team, the team, the team, it's what it's all about. But in order to add to a team, in order to add to a collective, you got to focus on the individual. The individual must improve so the collective can improve. And so building the base, I think schematically and fundamentally culturally is what we're attacking as we head into spring. How much is Brandon looking forward to a different spring and different opportunity? I know it wasn't fun for him having to take a little bit of a backseat to a Maka. Where do you see him, the fire, the passion right now? He gets right for this one. Yeah, I think when you come out of a season, you get out of January and kind of take a breath.

1:15:09Then when you get back in the winter, it's the first opportunity to reestablish the new role that I want to have. I mean, across the board, there's not one guy that doesn't want to improve roles. Sure. So, I think they're all attacking it that way. I think Brandon's one of them, but he's one of 50. And I think that it's our job to provide opportunities to grow, to separate themselves, to see peer-to-peer evals, to allow these guys to check, you know, and chase a role, at least through the winter they've gotten that started, to continue that through spring. And I think Brandon's, you know, fits in line with that. I think Brandon did a great job looking back of finding his role last year and excelling at it. We know we talk a lot about if you want to be a starter, you have to be a starter before you do the starter. And if you're not, then you're never going to be the starter. So, I think he embodied that, you know, he gave himself an opportunity to get into spring, and get into us. And he's been, excuse me, into winter, continuing who he is, continuing to build, you know, his base, build his leadership.

1:16:14And then now he's got to get that into spring. So, all the great things you do prior, doesn't mean anything, if you don't have to go out there and do it in spring. So, you know, that's the harsh reality of this sport. You know, what have you done lately? And I think all these guys are chewing at the bit to get back on the field. Brian, everybody brings their own experience. If I rhyme with quarterback, you're a receiver. And then, to become a play-puller, obviously you have an understanding of the whole offense. But what was the process like for you up? Protections and the run game and quarterback play, and just continuing to grow with your knowledge of that part of the game as you prepared for this position? Yeah, I mean, I think you're always growing, I think, that you still have a specialty here. You still have an expertise in one area, and seeing you have an expertise in all of it, that's just not true. And in my opinion, I've seen multiple coordinators, and I know that as a fact. So, you know, for me, I think it's just, you have an opportunity to be with the best staff in America every single day with the best coach in America.

1:17:21So, just stay off your phone and pay attention and take notes and actually maximize your time. It's amazing the amount of people that don't do that. So, every time in a meeting, I just try to make sure I'm getting a nugget, or I'm getting information, or when things are said, do I truly understand it? And I really, the guys will say, I don't care. I'll ask the question. I think I'm, I look dumb, but I don't care because I want to know the information. So, I think that approach, I think a lot of guys have that approach. That approach allows you to just build, you know, over time. And then, that'll continue to build from now to game one and enough build to the season. So, the opportunity to grow is literally daily. So, I just try to make sure I'm finding those opportunities. I'm aware of those opportunities when they're writing my face. You make sure you're going to do a role in the offensive meeting room. How important is that? I don't know how to reach you guys. Sure, it's always been a huge part of other receiver room. I think that, yeah, he's just understanding that my pull away is real, that can happen.

1:18:24So, he's going to be on his toes and being ready that we're ready to not skip a beat, right? So, information-wise, communication-wise, he's got to be locked in on that and just on to assume that, you know, Coach Hard's got it. He never really has. I expect him to continue to do that, and he's been a big part of everything we've done. Is that almost like taken from what Ryan did last year where he shipped away from play-calling? And he ended up somebody else and shipped him away from being a quarterback's coach? Or like, get to have somebody you trust and how long did it take you maybe to develop that trust and that relationship with them? And to where, like, you know that, hey, if I pulled away for a second, I'm like, Devon's got this. I don't have to worry about, like, what my room is here. I think it's more important that I do a great job being organized, so I'm never pulled away. I will be in that receiver room and they will be coached at the very highest level. So I think there's ways to eliminate being pulled away by being organized on top of things, having the right work and working great help before that receiver meeting ever happened. Is that important for you, because that's the way you're going to emphasize?

1:19:25Nothing's going to change in terms of here. There's no, nothing's going to change in my involvement in receiver room. Ryan, for my land to be going through a full spring, full oxygen for the first time, what do you look at everything? It's areas he can grow to push for playing time is here. Yeah, I mean, my land is doing a great job. He's growing at an exponential rate, getting stronger, getting bigger, he's got weight added. I'll tell you, like, you know, I always explain to him, like, you don't realize how much you've missed when you come in June versus the mid-year. Like, it's massively different. Not saying you can't overcome it, some do. At the end of the season, you know, some have. But, you know, I think that's probably reliant on the room. You know, I know Chris had an opportunity to lay a lot of a, you know, in the season to kind of make an impact. But it's very, very rare. And now, you know, he's going through the winner workout, his growth, his everything he's done. He's like, hey, Coach Hart, you know, I know what you're talking about now, and when you miss that, that section of winner workout. So that being said, it makes you laugh, but he's doing a great job.

1:20:26I expect expectations for him through spring. And I don't see that changing. The only staff, the only staff this year is this younger than it's been past years. I think it's the makeup book that you don't have somebody to use. What's the average? It's like the average like 30 is the average age. Does that include support staff? No, it's just the primary. What's it? What's it been in the past? A couple minutes. Two more minutes. No kidding. No kidding. Yeah. We'll know. Kevin Wilson. I don't know. Dan Lanings, the head coach in Oregon, I was his average. I'm asking. I don't, I'm 38. Can you Dylan Hamles? 30s and 50s. So I don't know. I gave zero thought to that. Yeah. I think that, you know, I think your ability to kept with players is important. I think you probably see a little bit of that happening in the NFL as well. I really have given zero thought to that. I don't want to just ramble on that. Yeah, I just didn't know if it was solid as an amateur.

1:21:26No thought to it. You were in proportion with Bryson. What's the next step for him? Because we've heard him make a talk to him about like, he and Mr. consistency catching a lot of things. He's like, he seems to generate a little bit of buzz, but has limited role. Like now he's got an opportunity. What's the next step for him to get that out? Take the next step and be a be everything he's capable of being, right? I mean, I think the guys that, you know, we're out there are, you know, very consistent in all job phases. You know, like, again, I think he wants to be a full rounded receiver. And you know that I think he loves playing in the slot. The great job there. I asked him to come out to the outside a little bit. Did a good job out there. I think it's natural positions and is in the slot doing a great job there. But it's just another opportunity to establish himself based on his peers, right? I mean, it's kind of like the draft to try to explain sometimes to these guys like, you come to Ohio State to compete with the best. It'd be alongside the best. It's always pure to peer evals. Like that's how it works. Like the draft embodies that. Like if it's easier to go play somewhere else, then that's fine.

1:22:28If that's what we're kind of looking for, per se, I'm not saying that's pricing. I'm just saying it's a very competitive room. And you chose that because of this room. Now you got to beat your peer to play more and do more and all that stuff. So, you know, I think that you got continue to build worries at. And the guys that seem to be, you know, starters in our room, you know, really, I think over the last eight years have been NFL quality guys. So if you're in it, become a starter Ohio State, it's a good chance. You're probably an NFL caliber receiver. I mean, again, just go off the numbers. So you're chasing that. Can't get discouraged. Or maybe not being, you know, not doing what you think you should have done. And that goes for everybody. It's not just Bryson, but all these guys are chasing that. That's not a rambulant about Bryson. But, you know, I think that it's not just him. It's at B.I. It's car now. Everybody wants, it's chasing a higher level of play. And this spring is another step forward to do that. Which is a freshman. You have a transgender multiple play callers like this. How much in your estimation is that a gift?

1:23:30Do we have to do it? How much of it is learned? And where do you stand on that? Oh, never gave it a lot of thought to it. I've never, I've never called a play in a game. So for me to have an opinion, I think that'd be a little brash. I would say that, like anything, it's probably a skill that you can improve on. And do better at it, do good, do worse at it. I think being surrounded with guys and seeing how they do it has been a blessing. And it's very clear, others more than one way to do things. So being aware of that, I've noticed that. What's your impression of the three freshmen and how they may be transitioned here? Yeah, all four freshmen, I'm like very encouraged, impressed with. They carry themselves the right way like we have hoped. They worked their tails off. If all improved, I would say that they're the right mode, they're the right fit. They belong in the room. And now they have to just improve. Now they're competing both, you know, first individually between each other. And then, you know, as we get into spring, they'll start competing against each other.

1:24:33But the rest of the guys want to mean by that. So, but as a group, the freshman group, very impressed. And they're off to the right start. Great. Go, Charlant. Thank you, Brick. You get on the roll and that's the end of the game. Defenses more sound in those guys are more stiff as far as giving up yards. And as the game goes, it's like, okay, guys are fiddling up. So, just keep running it. 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 in the yard. So that's our job to go out there and make a give up. Talk to Tray last week about just kind of how fresh he felt. How about you, obviously? Have you worked with the last couple of years? Yeah, man. I think right now, you know, I felt the best ever. Like, especially mentally and physically, felt great. Just having a great group of guys around me to go out there and try to go win it all. So, you know, having Tray around as well. He's been since I sent to this team. And, you know, just supporting each other throughout this whole year. And just trying to go win it all. Which I'm going to expect the offensive line to pick up where it left off.

1:25:37Obviously losing a set is a huge blow. Except what if you noticed like today from the spree to cover 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 far the line I know. They're going in as good as I can play their best. Thank you. Thank you. Part of what I got there. So I just probably need to be invested in the field. So what was it about a high state staff that may be correlated between what you were going into with Alabama that you felt you could transition over here? I felt like there was a really good quarterback development. Coach Day, Craig Fortback, Westport. You know, the quarterbacks they've had just the past five years shown the kind of great numbers. And I just really don't think the right way. And I wanted to come to this offense because my coach Kelly, you know, made the adjustments for the line. Staff it. Staff it. I had pretty much contact with them. And they weren't really a high-end one that I thought really good. I think that's something that's really good. And one of the things that Coach Day says is that you don't like to have your hands held.

1:26:37And it kind of process. Now you've played up in the age of a lot of time and you're going to go up there. What is it about you to drive? You want that much better? I would say, you know, in high school, I had a coach that, you know, he was giving a lot of responsibility. And I hear a lot of, not a responsibility on me, make sure I'm there. And so I just, you know, I want to be a best quarterback and be. And take the need to feel a few things the right way. And this depends on how. I love watching Joe Barrow. He makes that adjustment line. He's a really good decision maker. I like Justin Herbert. I try to understand what's in him play. And some of those guys, the other folks, you know, good decision makers who make these mistakes. I would say I'm a little more quiet around working on the heck with that. Coach Day is trying to get me to the point. I would say I'm a little more quiet around working on the heck with that. You know, Coach Day is trying to get me to the point. I would say I'm a little more quiet around working on the heck with that. Coach Day is trying to get me to the point. I'm going to be right there with the guys that are doing my impression just trying to be a really good friend. I do.

1:27:37I think you're going to be a good boy. That's why it's definitely quite a conference. That's why I'm a conference near the very side. I know what we do up to. I'm happy to be here. I actually, I think I've only been here once in a few months, and I love that. Really good good place to be and our friends. I like that a lot of the stuff. I think I've visited maybe freshman and sophomore year. Boy, yeah. Yeah, just for the camper and visit just the super-synomy of these. I was really good back here. I know it was only a few days, but being in the Alabama program, especially a big prepare for ballpoint upfront, what did you take away from that short period of time? Of course. Yeah, it was really good with the coaching recent, give a say in a name where coaching players hard, and I saw the work that takes you to the playoffs and then coming here, just seeing the older guys putting their work in there, throughout the winter. Seeing our older guys and older leaders putting their work in there, and showing them the happenings. How much of a relationship did you have with Air?

1:28:37Obviously. Coming in, he had been committed. You come in, you're both freshmen. What was it like before and what's your relationship? We didn't have much relationship prior. We measured it in 11. I knew each other a little bit, and then come in here, you know, quarterback room, everyone here is really close. So it's a raw push in each other, be better. We're all taking push points from each other trying to get the training done. The coaching is, the tournament is going to be quite exciting. I was expecting it. I would say we are caught by surprise. You know, come back from the game in your service, a little bit high-spirited because of the team of champions, I know, and it's kind of caught by surprise. How did you feel when you were playing for the playoffs? How did you feel when it happened? You were coaching the play for the playoffs, you were just signing the playoffs, you were coaching the other teams, you were coaching the other teams, I don't know how to get transferred all that. There was definitely a lot of emotions, but I might be able to lean on a helping spirit and make the right decision, and then to learn on what to do more, but I think it will not make any difference. How's the true question of what you could do

1:29:37for your coach today? Yeah, I can't really explain how that happened to me, just really trying to develop the tournament, take push for coach day, and I'll be recording my course here. I'm going to take push for coach Kelly, so I just want to develop and run the offense when they want to come and take the coach and play some of the chess for them. If you look at your skills, then you can create a table and then they'll be fine. And I'm going to play. But what about your gauge in the game, and how does it work? I think that I can be a really good decision-maker for the offense and someone who's the active in American chess. That's what I call you. And the coach you play is awesome. Is that an actual thing that you can do? I think it's kind of a lot of things. I was always around football. My boat was a quarterback at Cannes. So he was a quarterback in the eighth, and I was in high school, and I was at football in his fifth step.

1:30:37So I've always been around football. And then I just been at high level at the high school, and just really just had a lot of money. Who do you want? Who's your favorite team? Packer. What are you saying? Well, I've tasted my opponent. I'm not the type of person. I'm the type of person. Why are you always the type of person? I just keep it like you're your favorite. And he's certainly making a case to get on the field this fall. So I think it's been a really good spring for CJ. There's always, you know, whenever you have a good day, you've got to follow it up by another good day. You know, and stack days. And I think that's what a pro does. You know what I mean? Like there's always, you want to be a pro, you've got to keep stacking. That's the expectation. And I think, you know, 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, I think CJ, where he is now, where he was last fall, is he's a lot better football player. We've heard a lot of good things about a lot of good players. So I was here going down to eight hours out of these.

1:31:38Are you envisioning right now that you want this to be a good five, six person operation? Yeah, well, I think Coach Deis talked about it a lot, right? It's gonna be a long season. And so, I think we need to have, I've always been on the opinion, if you have two guys, you have two guys, and you ride with them, right? If you have six, you have six, and I have to blessing. So, I'd 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 with who taking out. Oh, I get so mad. I get so, maybe 42, whatever, against Youngstown State. I'd be so upset coming out of the game. But, seeing how violent this game is from this perspective, now you have to say, hey, okay, not only within games, can we keep guys fresh, right? But can we do that so that when you get to the last two games in the season, that act that are the big ones, right? The ones that you're judged off of, when you get to the game, are we healthier? And I think that's, it's kind of a both-of-a-thans, right? So,

1:32:38I think that's, I think that's kind of a both-of-a-thans, right? So, I feel confident with five guys, and that's going to be a week to week. You know what I mean? Like, these guys know, I think, honestly, who 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 got to be that iron sharpens, iron, constant competition through the whole fall. This is how I make something in the game, or not, it's what it's going to be doing. It's what it's going to do, but is that part of which one has to drive you then? 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. Which is why it prepares you so well for the National Football League. That's why Ohio State prepares you so well for the League, because now it's like they're trying to out-drat you. And so, I used that as fuel, but I also thought firsthand, you know, like, when I was a junior, it was John Kerr,

1:33:38Marcus Freeman, certain guys rotating week to week. And so I saw like, should it fit in the half of the down, that could happen to me? So I just tried to be a certain way in practice. Like, I tell the guys all the time, you have to control the things that take no talent. You have to eliminate all the loves. Like, if you loaf on the field, you're a traitor. Like, you should just go play for the other team. Like, 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 inevitable. It's football, everyone's on scholarship, right? But those two things you control, everything you need. What's the next step in the sun's crazy? I think it's just, you know, we haven't done, like, any of my series, you know what I mean? So we know you can tackle and all that, but I think it's just the repetitive grind of a football game from in the box, the constant. And he's been, he's been willing so far, you know what I mean? As far as his hand placement has been good,

1:34:38even though on the strike, he's tough. So it should continue into to have him challenged to, there's plays right now where he's seeing it from the first time from the will backer. So the next time he sees it, maybe throw catch tackle is up in the reception. 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, looking at recruiting, it seems like it's going really well for you. Obviously, we can't talk about specific recruits, but just overall, how do you feel like that's going? And are you enjoying your food? I am. I am enjoying it. I think it's fun to build relationships and get to know so many different types of kids, you know? Ohio State presents opportunity, right? And so many different ways. You're not going to get developed better anywhere else in the country. You have the largest fan base, largest alumni, and there's this opportunity everywhere, right?

1:35:39So 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 you try to tell them the vision. Where you can get to. And I think the fun thing for me is that most of the kids that are 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 now 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 been staff 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 the reality, right? It's a longer season, there's more games.

1:36:39And there's no excuse that a place like here, like if you're all on playing with a maybe a guy who was third or fourth, that doesn't matter, you know, like you got to be ready to go. So I think depth is crucial at all of the position. Because injuries are going to happen. There's part of football, you know, you never want to wish it upon anyone. And you're certainly not, but it's just, you can't be naive to think that you're just going to have every single starter healthy for the whole season. You talked about your mentality as a player, and then you're recruiting different players than you were. How do you, how do you marry that when they made that at the same mentality that you needed, but you want them to happen? Well, you figure that out when you get to know them. And there are certainly some kids that you start to recruit to where you see like, you know what Ohio State might be too big. It might be too big for them, you know what I mean? And so it's not for everybody. You have to want to come in and compete against the best and realize that you have to win every single game to be the best in the world of what you do. That's the expectation that Ohio State.

1:37:41And 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. You guys said you were two more questions for games. Yeah, that's, I mean, I think that's your job as a recruiter is you got to figure out what's the mindset of the kid and are they, are they serious about football? And you have to talk to the people that are around them and you got to figure out how to talk to coaches. You just got to try to figure out like who loves ball. And Dan, I felt they did the same thing, right? Now they're attending the massive amounts of money and they're saying, okay, we're going to get this person money as a change, their motivation, or they still love ball. So now it means, and college is the same thing. Like who actually wants to be the best or who just likes the attention that comes with playing football? James, I've already talked about it. But can you tell a little bit of the elevation from our bell

1:38:42from end of the class? Obviously, missing time last year with the injury. But where he's at now versus the expectation that he had to move his brain. Our bell's, I mean, shown 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's 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, week two, you start seeing new schemes, new schemes, things build. And it becomes kind of a lot. He's just got to continue to comb through it all because athletically, you know, he's one of the most good guys that we have in the room.

1:39:43I know, you know, NIL's probably the easiest way to do that. What has changed since the time that you've been recruited to now that you've been sitting, like, are there other mental differences you've noticed? No, I think it still comes down for the most part. Like NIL is certainly an aspect for some. For some, it could be the most important thing. It's always a factor. But I think you still just need to find out who are the kids that love football and they want to be developed. And it's about the relationship to an extent. Like, a relationship gets you to the final stretch. 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,

1:40:45and the drills that you're doing, you know that they work. You're not going to waste your time on stuff that doesn't work. And then the fact that, you know, I am blessed to be at my alma mater. You know, if there's no sense of time to leave here. You know, and then you have the question, I get a ton. What do you see yourself in five years? I'm like, where I'm sitting? It's my alma mater. You know, my kids love it in Columbus. Obviously, I love Ohio State. So I think those are things that can kind of be in advantage. Okay, so I know you've been working with, you know, a tick off and punch teams as well as what's that looks like for you and try to get involved with that thing. Yeah, it's awesome. Maybe I love it because it gives you an opportunity to coach the whole team. You know what I mean? Like special teams in a spot where the whole team probably minus the quarterbacks, right? Is all in one team room, in one meeting room. So you get to actually directly impact other positions and just your own. And I think it also gives. It gives a little bit of urgency to your own room. Like when you're in there every single time, you better be making an impact on punts if you're a linebacker.

1:41:46You 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? Because your coach is in there all the time. So it's been nice and there's a lot of stuff that I think our coaches have done to kind of push that that sense of team when you're in special teams. That we every position matters. If you're interested, someone has been in a foul. What do you think? What be in a foul is doing a kick off now? Do 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 triples down. So we'll see. As of right now, we'll keep things going the way they are. All right, James. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, guys. You're welcome. Have a good day. Thanks. Have a good day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. I think when you go to a game like this, one of the most important things to avoid distractions.

1:42:50So I'm letting my wife handle that right now, which is a lot. But the number one thing for us right now is focusing on this game. And so I said that to our team that we have to avoid all distractions right now. We have a lot of family, a lot of friends, a lot of people who certainly want to come to the game. And obviously those things need to get taken care of. But ultimately, we have to do our job. They're all there to see us. And that's what we're going to focus on. 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'm growing up a lot since then. I'm going to be a lot of people.

1:43:58You know, again, I feel like our guys are men. We have 145 guys on the team right now, which is, you know, when you, when you hear it, it just kind of blows you away. You have that many guys and everybody's job on the team. And that includes coaches and staff is not to be a distraction to the other player as they prepare. But also just in general, you know, avoiding distractions for the, for yourself in terms of your, your focus. And so when you, you know, the question right there about tickets and all the different things or some of the stuff that, you know, the stories that are written, you know, talking about, you know, previous years or previous games or things that make it 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.

1:45:01Well, 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-Benz stadium and being allowed. Yeah, we'll need them. So we're playing for them. You know, people who are back home in their living rooms, whether it's back in Ohio or, you know, in another country or across the country, you know, just set in great energy. Our guys feel all that. So, you know, we're playing for everybody who's pulling to be a buck guy. We're playing for buck guy nation for sure. We're also playing, you know, for each other and for this team. And that's it. I'm not going to get too far into that right now, but that's it. Yeah. Yeah.

1:46:12Yeah. He's like family. He is, you know, being the first really commit and guy who, you know, recruited the other guys, especially on defense, but also on offense. He was a leader from the jump and being a buck I meant even more to him growing up in Columbus and Pickering, 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. And this, this is a guy who, again, I say it all the time, you know, where's a hard hat to work every day brings us lunchpale to work and has the respect of his team teammates. And you're seeing his play to his talking this year. So, I know who he wants to play at his best this, this game, being a captain, you know, again, you know, in August having his teammates vote him in was a big deal for him. It was an emotional moment and, and, you know, winning some of these games has really built him more and more confidence in knowing that this is what he wants.

1:47:19You know, he wants the winning national championship more than anything. And that I think represents our entire team. No, I just think that this, this year with, with a 12 team playoff, it's just been a little bit different. And there's a lot, everyone has their own story. And there's a lot of great teams out there. And, you know, a lot of things come into play when you make a run like this injuries and, and just different things. So, you know, we'll look at it at the end of the year and figure out, you know, the adjustments that need to be made, I think internally. But I also think that, you know, we all need to look at, you know, how this is playing and what this means, you know, playing 16 games. I think it's a great learning opportunity to see what that, what that's going to look like moving forward. But I know it's been exciting for college football and for their fans.

1:48:30Yeah, I think they do a great job on offense. Coach Dembrox done a great job wherever he's been. Riley Leonard's an excellent leader. Jeremiah Love is one of the most talented backs we've gone against. And they have a very good offense align. The heavens is really good at tight end. They have multiple tight ends. Receivers are our weapons. So, you know, they're going to, they're going to challenge us in a lot of different areas. And so we have to play big 10 football. You know, that's what it's going to look like. And, you know, every play matters when you play in a game like this. And certainly against this team, it'll be the same way. Yeah, I think we built, we say this in all the time is that, you know, when you have momentum, you got to keep it. When you don't, you got to go get it. And, you know, we didn't have momentum at the end of the season.

1:49:30We had to create our own momentum. And then we started to build some momentum. And now we have to keep it. But I think the ability for our guys to sustain throughout the season has been significant here. And now it's going to be the best. It's got to ramp up. And again, the goal is to play our best game and to finish the mission. But, you know, we talked early in the season about building a foundation for down the road. And just like anything else, you build a foundation of a building. When storms come, it has to withstand those storms. But now we got to finish. We got to finish what we started. And that's it. I think again, there'll be time to reflect on some of those things after the game right now. We're just going to continue to look at Monday night and play in our best game. You know, it's been, it's, it's been enjoyable to be able to, you know, it started off with the home game against Tennessee.

1:50:31And 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. And so now we're into Atlanta. And we have a lot of guys on our team from the Atlanta area from the Southeast. So for a lot of these guys, it's like coming home. So that's exciting. But it's, it's allowed, you know, our families and team to kind of be on a road together for the last, you know, month. But we just like, I kind of say like we're like train rats. We just come to work and, you know, figure out what the next mission is and get back to work that way. You know, that's generally what it is. And every once in a while, you got to come up for air and realize that, you know, it has been a great run. And, but now we got to finish it. And so, you know, every once in a while, you take a step back, but then you get refocused on what matters. And, but to your point, it's, it's about everybody, you know, 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.

1:51:37I think there's, it's only increased. The energy's increased. The focus is increased. I think our team is fresh right now. You know, I think, you know, if you had to, we could continue to play for a few more weeks. But, but that just shows you the experience, the maturity, the depth that we have. And I think that's all important. But, but we're not going to play anymore. We got one more left. And it's going to be our best. See that again. Yeah, yeah, we have, we have. And, you know, excellent football players with, you know, just great focus on family. And, you know, just, you can see how important relationships matter. And, you know, when you have an opportunity to recruit families and get into their homes, you got to feel for what that's like at home.

1:52:43And, and you can certainly see how, how, you know, in the Haitian community, family matters, relationships matter. So that when you bring somebody into your family and the football family, you know, they grab on to the culture. And, and it's been a huge asset to our team. See it one more time. Yeah. 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 we're in the middle to late January. We're still playing. And some teams are starting spring ball

1:53:46in another week or so. And so it's just very, very different. I think it's all things that we have to learn from when we assess what's going on. But it's been hard to take a step back and look at anything because you know, you know, you have a short period of time to get back and win the next game. 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 onto the next one. And so we're not there right now. But I know after the season, you've got to wake up, what just happened? 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.

1:54:47Oh, yeah. That's it. That's it. I think our strength coach, Mick Morati, really symbolizes kind of what that means. He has this old school work ethic, you know, because the line's still the line and the cone's still the cone. You still got to have your foot behind the line. You still got to run through the cone plus two. But there's so many other things now. There's sports science. There's GPS. 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 the Ohio State. And that's one of the reasons why these guys come here. And it's one of the things we sell and recruiting, you know, is that, you know, just over 100 years of football and the great teams and players that have come before and what the expectation and, you know, we have an obligation to be the best in a world at what we do. And that's the expectation, whether you're a player or coach. And we own that. We absolutely embrace that. And, but then also adjusting with the times. And now we have a new playoff system in place.

1:55:48So, but all that being said, here we are. A couple more days before the game. And we've got a chance to finish our season and finish the mission. And then again, cement ourselves in the history of Ohio State football as the 19th to win an national championship. And the third in over 50 years, a lot of good teams along the way. And that's been a message to our guys. And it's not about how you start. It's how you finish. I'm trying not to get too much into those nostalgic thoughts, because it's a distraction. And there, when you're in a game like this, it's easy to get distracted players and coaches. So, what matters is what we do on Monday night. How we execute, how hard we play.

1:56:48And that's it. And then after the game, I think there's a great opportunity to sit back and think about all those types of things. But yeah, there's a lot that I could probably go into if we were to sit back and talk about what Monday night means. But ultimately, we have to go win the game. And that's it right now. So, 48 hours out. I know a lot of people want to talk about different things. We're just going to focus on executing at a high, high level. Everybody doing their job. And find a way to win the game in a fourth quarter. That's it. I think, in life, you have to work through tough times.

1:57:53And it's how you respond to those tough times. And that's it. And that's been the message all along to our players. And it's not always how 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 what went on behind closed doors. And some of the things that were said and the personal challenges that we had for each other and collectively the story. But the only way that gets told is if a banner gets put up in a hoodie. And that's the sobering reality of this game that nobody cares about what you go through. And you've got to win that final one to finish the mission. And so that's it for our guys. And as much as some of these wins have been great wins for us, to me, 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.

1:58:54And it's a special group of guys that care a lot about each other. And they're going to go on to be very, very successful moving forward because they're strong. They're loyal. And they're very mature. You're going to see 10, 20, 30 years down the road. These guys make an unbelievable impact, not only on their families, but in the community and the game of football. Yeah, it's football. And I said to my wife all the time, we signed up for it. And it's the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. This game will take you to knees and give you some of the greatest experiences in the world. And that's it. Not a lot of people get to experience those highs and lows. And you have to manage the tough times. And you've got to enjoy the good ones. And that's it. And 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.

1:59:57And that's it. So we're counting on that to make a difference on Monday night. Yeah, you got it. Yeah, that's it. And set a great example for the younger groups. One of the good things about having 145 guys on the roster is some of these new freshmen and transfers that are coming in get to see what it's supposed to look like. Get the see great leadership. If this wasn't the case, they wouldn't have an opportunity to see what a mecca Bukas like Wilhawer, Travion Henderson, Lathan Ransom, Benzel Burke, you can go through the list, Cody Simon. I mean, these tie league Williams, what does it look like? How do they prepare? Not only for one week, but with several weeks. And these guys are their men. They are. And the way that they go about their business, not only they love being Ohio State fuck guys, but they love their teammates and all those things matter.

2:01:01And so again, they want to play their best game here and finish themselves and cement themselves. So that when they come back, they can see that banner up there and have a big ol' ring to show for it. So that's it. We'll get back to the hotel here, get back to work, get to these meetings and focus on what matters right now. Yeah, hard to put in the words what a mecca 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 when he speaks, people listen. He's very well thought out.

2:02:02He's sitting out and having a conversation with a mecca buco. You're going to walk away extremely impressed. And but then when you talk about his play on the field, he's made a lot of great plays. He's been very clutch. He's been very consistent. And this is a guy I know who wants to finish his career out with a great game Monday night. I think when you're when you're starting out this season, and you're putting a roster together, you have to start from this game and move back. And I think when that happens, you have to build a team. I think now the big thing is that you're going to have to look at the team and look at their own. And you're going to have to look at the team. And that happens, you have to build a team. And I think now the big 10 has allowed us to do that with with the addition of some different styles of play

2:03:05on 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 that's the goal every year to do that. When you need to go get that yard, you get that yard. And when it's time to get that stop, you get to get that stop. But also having the skill to be able to run with everybody in the country. And that's how we start. And then as the season goes on, we look to identify the areas where we have to get better or whatever that might be. But I think it all starts in the off season with our off season program and what Mick Morati does. I think our off season program. And I know it now because when I see players come from other teams, you get great feedback. You get guys who come in from different programs and say, talk to me about what your program is compared to our program.

2:04:07Off season, during the season, all that. It really gives me confidence knowing we're doing the right things. The first thing maybe works is I want to know if I would be able to go back to the road because I don't feel like I need to work so hard. But I think I can go back. I think every year you learn. And I think to be honest, I think 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 they look out in the horizon, see what's coming because the soldiers are fighting right in front of you. And that's what they are. And so what's coming down the road? And then obviously what areas need to get addressed and get fixed? And that always starts with who's in the right seats, players, coaches, and staff making sure that's organized, and then building it from there. And so every year you grow to try to get better. And then identify it the next year and move on from there and keep growing.

2:05:11And we all have to continue to learn. And I think I've done that as well. Yep. Yeah, Caleb is mature beyond his years. He's a tremendous player. But he brings a work ethic that's tremendous. He and Lathen ran some both in the way that they bring energy to practice every day. And they let their play do the speaking, do the talking for them, but they're great leaders. During the recruiting process, I went all the way down to the wire. It's been told before. And we were right there at the end and I wished them good luck. And understood. I mean, Coach Sabin is an unbelievable coach and certainly has success speaks for itself, but also just as a defensive backs coach. And I totally understood. It was pulling for him in his freshman year. And you can tell my family and my wife and kids, we were all pulling for him because

2:06:13he's just such a unique talent and great person and great family. And then when coach retired and 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 different than in the past where you kind of had these bowl game and then a final game, these playoff environments now or something that we become accustomed to. So we need to focus on what really matters in the execution and find a way to win the game in the fourth quarter. That's it. 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.

2:07:13And we have to be prepared for that. But that's it. Great environment. And 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. 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 us up front. And we'll need him to be his best in this game as well. Thanks. Yeah. I mentioned this before that this is about these players in this game.

2:08:17It's all going to be about who executes well during the game. That's it. And I think our guys understand that and feel that. 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. It's executing at the highest level we possibly can. Thanks. Being here. But you know, it takes another level of dudes to be able to receive that reward, especially as a freshman. So, you know, that's kind of what I knew. Steven, what do you mean? More on that. When you and Mara first got here, Garrett and Chris were adamant about the way that you guys, even as freshmen, were pushing two guys who were about to be first round draft picks. And then Mara kind of said the same thing about Carnail and Brandon last year. How did JJ push you guys when he first got here as the young guy and now you guys are the older guys? Yeah. I would say it's very similar. It's kind of the same exact thing. And I don't know what it is about the culture and its own stakes, but we keep bringing in these type of people year in and year out. That's what makes our room so great. And I think that something that JJ was able to push me in was just, you know, he was

2:09:20able to push me in my leadership. I needed to grow in that aspect, but he also was able to challenge me when it came to the weight room and on the field because we were always paired together when it came to summer and when our workouts were always lifting together. You know, I get a couple wins. He get a couple wins. So, it was really that next level step of competitiveness that I needed and that edge that I needed. Pat Murphy, 24-7-4. You guys came into the Tennessee game with a lot of outside motivation with Michigan loss and kind of the three weeks of talk. I know obviously there's still that motivation to go on and win a national championship, but how do you keep that kind of edge to life with better term mentally after that? Some of that stuff has kind of gone away and probably the big one. I would say kind of if you lose your edge, I wouldn't really call you a true competitor. I think that the way with the college football playoffs is structured, the intensity cranks up every single week. So if you're not more intense than you were the last week, then something's wrong with you. I think that Tennessee was a great win, great for our momentum, but we have our full

2:10:23focus on Oregon, not worrying about anything in the past, nothing in the future, our full focus is towards this game. And then we win this one, we go on to the next one, our full focus is going to be on that one. So it's just, you keep moving down a ladder like this. I think that's on Crankstake, Cleveland.com. Michael, there's been a lot of change in college football in the playoffs. It makes it that nature, but the way in some of you and some of your team coaches talk about the Rose Bowl seems like that's one game that's really maintained a lot of that tradition. You play the net, you know what it's about. Could you explain it to, you know, also, you would never have a chance to play the Rose Bowl. There's maintained, you know, that level of respect from players and coaches. Yeah, I think, I don't know, there's just something about it, something in the air down there in the Pasadena. It's just a beautiful venue, especially that time of the year. Like you said, the tradition is held year in and year out. And it's kind of the game you dream of playing in when you're a little kid, you know, playing back yard football with your friends. The Rose Bowl is always one that tends to come up, so just having a chance to play in it is definitely very surreal. And this is going to be my second time, so I'm going to do my best to take it all in while

2:11:24also being fully focused on Oregon. Dan, let me worry. Mackleys Will said he still has 90 minutes about that first game in Oregon. Just what kind of drive you see in this week wanting to get back to this one? Yeah, Will is a, he's a laser focused person. He goes about his business. He's very loose and he's very calm and he's able to rally the team, but you can see it in his eyes that this game means everything to him. So every single practice, every single huddle, making sure we're sharp, making sure we have a better practice than we had last than yesterday, a better practice than Oregon's having. So his full focus is on being this team. And obviously it's hard not to think about the stuff of the past, but I know he's laser focused on what we got coming up. Tony Gurman, Buck I have. Mackleys, when you were a kid playing in the backyard doing what team we played for? Honestly, I was never really a Buck I fan until I really committed here and I saw what it was all about. I was a big fan growing up, especially on the Pacific Northwest.

2:12:28My grandpa went to UW and stuff like that. So I like the Huskies too, but there was a legendary football player named Foto Liatto from my high school and he went to Oregon. And a couple of y'all probably know that story from a couple of years back, but he tragically died in the car accident. And he was, he was someone I looked up to in high school. You know, I was relatively close with him even though he was a bit older than me in age, but I'm just seeing what he did at my high school and then going on to play big time football in Oregon. That was a school that I really dreamed of going to. They build a bit like this back. I think that's another Germanic question, but I have to ask it. Is there one moment, one play, one something that made you go, oh man, I've never seen it before. That's just incredible. Yeah, I'll say it's happened multiple times. There's not really one. I can pinpoint, but the more he does it, the more I tend to react. So I would say probably my earliest memories of it were in spring bowl. Kind of getting the first glimpse of him when he's making all these ridiculous catches.

2:13:28And he still does it time and time again even now, but it's just more common now for me. The land that's on this, the gate to the north. I think you had, I think, those 12 touches in the first game against Oregon, 10 receptions, two carries. Is there something about this matchup that favors you? And now that you have, where that productive, the first time you played this team, what kind of attention, or I guess maybe different defenses are you expecting to see? Yeah, I mean, we're not entirely sure what their game plan is going to be, but we're paired for everything. You know, I'm not going to get too much into schemas like that, but we know that if the ball comes our way, we've got to make those plays. So whether I have 10 receptions again coming up this game where I have zero or one, we're just looking to get this win on the road, because it's really a road game for us, you know, flying across two times zones. So I think that, you know, it's going to be a great matchup, whether they tend to focus on me more or not. It doesn't really matter to me because I know our team has a great plan regardless. That time for a couple more questions, Spencer, over a letterman role.

2:14:28You guys ever surprised when the game ended? You look at it, it's actually a car house only, I think, water two games. You can kind of feel it throughout the game, I would say. You know, he's a true competitor. He wants to get involved, but at the same time, he's super selfless. He's really humble. So he's going to do whatever it takes for the team to get a win, but it's the competitive nature in him that wants to contribute as much as he can. So, you know, I try to be in his ear to tell him to be level-headed and stuff like that, not that I need to. He's a very level-headed and selfless guy like I'm saying. But, you know, sometimes that's just how the game goes. You know, I had a game this year where I only had one catch, but you know, we ended up winning by lot. So, I think that, you know, it's hard or it's easy to be focused on the personal attributes that you could have game in and game out, but no one's really going to remember those if we're holding up the trophy at the end of the year. He could be a number one, like, 90-95% of the Bar-Obs. We've got him, but he's like number three. You see his work as like all of those things that he does, and that makes it play. And you guys ever been hiking like, yeah, this guy can absolutely be a number one of those

2:15:31guys in Bar-Obs. I would disagree with you. I think that he is a number one. I think that we don't have a number three receiver. I think we have three number one receivers out there. So, whatever the defense, you know, if they want to put their attention on one guy or a couple of us, they're not really doing their selves any favor because we're going to have a favor, we'll match up on the other side of the ball. So, that's never how we view ourselves. We know we're alpha dogs out there. Every single one of us knows we have the capabilities to be a number one receiver, and we are number one receivers. And final question. Steve, how long has 24-0 hours worked? Yeah, and McAthena, that game, you made one of the clutch plays that passed down the sideline. At any time, when you make that play, you think, did you ever, your mind, we're going to win this game after we're now close to field goal range. I mean, did that play in your mind, say, my goodness, we've got a chance to get out of it with the win? Yeah, I definitely knew where I caught the ball, and I knew we were, you know, closer being in the field goal range. So, you know, there was a sense of, you know, I knew it was a big play that I made, but in those moments, you have to finish out the game no matter what.

2:16:32You can't get a big head. You can't get complacent. You have to finish the game until the clock hits zero. So, that's something we've been working on, you know, we work on two minutes every single Wednesday. Every single Wednesday practice, so today we'll work on our two minutes, and we don't even call it two minutes. We call it clutch, because in those times, in those games, in those big moments, someone has to make a clutch play. So, we're focusing on that every single game, knowing that we're going to have to make one of those plays coming down the stretch here. What would it mean if you're able to finish this one off and get to the final four of this playoff? What in your mind just would this be, you know, just the ultimate, I suppose, to be a team that's already beaten earlier this year? No, I think the ultimate would be winning the National Championship. So, you know, we're focused on this. This just happens to be the next team in the way. We're not focused on where we played them earlier this year, whether they got the win over us. They're just a nameless, faceless opponent. So we're going out there, fully prepared, not worried about what's happening in the past. You know, we played them before. We felt them out. But I didn't want to, though, controller supposed to say about me and it didn't go that lightly

2:17:38out and about. But what a great feeling, you think it did. I'm not going to get out there by the way. For what happened to you? Lend me a chair, a chair, a chair. Thanks. Very good. Thank you. Alright, great, you've brought me. Oh no, I missed him. Game. All right, OK. All done. Thank you. Come with us tonight. We'll see. Is this the last talk we won? Are you going to give me that presentation question now. I like being able to play these eye-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 with this only ball and closer to them. What's the other guy that you talked to about this kind of speed of passing in a civil society? We haven't really talked about like a few guys but he's talking about like winning the Guinness. I got a chance to work with him by my junior at the opening but I was different because I was playing off-road. Yeah that's the one we got and no more Smithy will do. Let's see the way that he coaches. I mean he doesn't give a lot of this to his eyes too weak.

2:18:39And what is his style? It's very intentional but he knows that we're human so 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 problem? What's up? How different is your future? Um it's different but like I said I've just been enjoying the ride. I like riding on now so I'm just going to grow at this fight and get to where I want to go. Imagine that we're crossing to the end. 100% 100% It's a nice set. No it's very hard. We were just looking at our 2020 hoop class. We had a lot of guys and now we're probably going to have like five or six guys here. Exactly so um they able to just stick it through and just no I feel like me staying here each year I feel like I was telling this thing because yeah it was opportunity to transfer

2:19:41about just to keep telling like God just stay. Let his will be done just let his will. No It's a good question. Do you work for like when you know you may not make him his position change? You know I got a lot of time to share. No um I try to every little drill that we do I try to make sure I'm doing it to to the team you know I don't like to mess up and that's why you see me after practice working with Coach Johnson or Coach Patricia because of the fact I know it's very urgent but um I still feel like I have time you know I'm just only the spring you have 158 days probably to wait for the time. You've been running there throughout December obviously. What exactly did you start to make that transition though and when you heard they were hiding in the pressure of the point of forearms? You were having them. Um obviously in December it was different because we had Coach Knows here and Coach Knows here so he was telling me different ways he was going to use me with the Jack and where he was going to have me line up and things like that. Coach Day what he was telling me was we were going to bring in a different coach and just

2:20:45you know uh there'll just be a specific coach just before the decision I was playing just that way could just be easier on everybody and that probably was just going to be Coach Knows because obviously it's just decent but um 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 he's everything that we're doing now it just feels like everybody can just play fast you need to beat themselves. When you see my last question 158 days what would you know that no? We talk about every day. Yeah Coach Day brings it up every day because of the fact we got a idea 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 sexy Texas just in the playoffs you know they're not on saw shoot or even on that they're probably in the same mindset as we are right now because they lost a lot of starters but it just doesn't mean. Are you see guys like like a part of the real part of they started their career playing back as they moved to the edge? How much does that inspire you to see the kind of success that you guys have? No um I feel like watching those guys I feel like you can see like they helped

2:21:49them in the long run especially with the blue especially when you get last year because of the fact it was it's first year one month on a lot of scrimmage but um no obviously I watch those guys I watch other guys but I'm on the way so. I mean I mean I think they can happen really soon. I mean I guess you just got to learn everything slowly of course there's a lot to learn um but I got a lot of hope so. You guys had a very unique experience all the early and early as you got a chance to go to you know say my final. Some of you went to the Rose Bowl getting into the top little national championship game what was like what was that like how much you think that helped you? That was incredible just see how other leaders led in that position and just seeing what they did and how they prepared that's gonna help a lot with everybody. What was the highlight of that time other than winning the national championship?

2:22:51Was there something that stands out to you? Oh just being able to uh trouble and get the meat on everybody. Meat all the players um everybody at one in the 90 and meat all uh early and royalties that earned. I was really just living on your own you gotta be independent um that's pretty much it though. I mean of course there's adjustment but I'm getting it just for you. Yes sir. Uh yes sir. One me is 100% I mean of course it's hard to miss my senior year last year kind of with some of his friends. What did you do to me? I think you did my skid right? All right it was an interview really good. Yes sir. Yeah.

2:23:52Sorry but I'm sorry but how did you get your uh like certain in the comments? Uh really it was just uh uh uh baby my uh gas like my guy my monster partner. Like my wife. Like once I was born. Okay. Why did you invite him to pick that? Uh uh 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 for the heart right? Yeah. Okay so you could wear eight too. You know I'm just wearing a third of the board. Yeah you got two choices. It's a desire that can be addicted for people. You know I think I fell into that no younger age but super bad that's not. I'm just going to check my phone. Is it sitting again? I watched the last time you started a land band on the plan I downloaded it's a great show.

2:24:56What do you think of it? I don't know that just as wife seems to be like well. I don't know how he handles it. It's a good show. The order seems to be coming on the film open. It's been a while right? I think I've heard you've been a good show. I was surprised and honestly it seemed like you knew what you were doing for your period. So you've reported a question. You say you hit your mom in the salary. You can get winded at all. You can get a pay raise or... I don't know what to talk about that. You can share a meeting or something. You can see it. Everybody seems to have been a bad show. People are getting a lot of money. I'm just going to get a real attention. I'm just getting out there and there's another people that I'm going to find out about you. Yeah well I mean first off I think I'd be doing this service to my teammates.

2:25:58But you know me even think about what's next. What's right in front of us is an opening. That's another thing I've got to tell me. So much grew is just being present in every single moment that I'm in. I'm not looking too far ahead because I'm tripping on what's right in front of me. That's too selfish of a thank you for being here. But what's next to you? Are you at least aware of what the speculation out there are that people are going to throw a huge number of people going to court hall. I mean right now I'm just not working on all that stuff. People can say all they want to say but I'm just focused on. Focus on Friday. I mean nervous. I mean I still get nervous for sure but I just don't think. I think I do have a good picture of it. Just understanding that.

2:26:58That moment, whatever moment it is that I'm nervous about. It doesn't define who I am as a person. And it doesn't define who I am and God's eyes. And understanding and knowing that. It's just kind of put like this force field of peace around me that I think it allows me to be able to be calm in certain situations. But that's not good. I mean I just love the game so much. If you don't get nervous or a little bit of work because I don't think you have that same love. I mean I've got butterflies since going into football games since I was five or six years old. I don't know what that feels like. I just don't know. Football just doesn't need as much as it did to me back then. I want it to always be that much. I've been told. I think it's going to be a lot of things.

2:28:00It's going to be a lot of things. I'm going to be playing as much. I just wanted to get more experience under my belt. I can bring younger guys with me because I've been through a lot. One of those younger guys we're seeing out here. It's the first time it's hurt all the life. It's really hard to go out and get a job done. It really has any mistakes. What would be a successful season? A national championship. A ring. When all the games are in the middle of the season. The national championship? When all the games are in the middle of the season. I don't know. I don't know what the national championship is. I ring when all the games are going to lose anything. We've got a mindset that we can't be beat. And we just have to go show it. It's like you have mindset different. It seems like you guys expect a national championship every year. This year even more so. You guys all come back for this.

2:29:00You guys have all decided like enough as enough. Is that just to keep feeling different? Or is there a drop of really any difference? It's just the same work. It's definitely a difference. Everyone working harder. This is what is going to happen in the years after this. We've got to go bigger. We're not trying to go home. Finish big. We know what you guys think of Michigan. But when you look at what they did. They won the national championship. And you guys took them down to the final minute. You know what I mean? You were right there. Something goes a little different. You guys could have won that game against them. Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey, you guys want to win a national championship. You guys 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. Nobody carries just work harder. Like those, you know, when we played Georgia. It's the same thing. Last play. They went on the win in 90. So we just got to get over that hump at the end of the season.

2:30:01I think we'll be fine. How frustrating is that? You're that close against the last two national titles. But you can't change the outcome. You can't really dwell on it. You just got to come back and work harder. Do things better than you did last year. And hopefully the outcome will change. Is that as you get older, you kind of learn. I thought that was working hard. Did any of you always find out there's a little more than you could have been doing? Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought freshman year I was working. It's 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. I just didn't learn anything. But for stamina, it's a 16. And the answer to 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 think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but. I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder. Get the shape. The idea of a potential to 16 is 17.

2:31:03I 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 steps again. That's just too much on our bodies. Just everybody. Like, online, D line. We got to get those younger guys to play, you know, get that pieces on the D line and the online. And everywhere else. So we can last that long. Speaking of the top last game. If you like playing that new snap to me. I see your development. I don't know if any of us were really expected to play that next. Yeah, I did. Unless we were like winning by like a lot. I thought like there are no mom and see nothing go sit down or something. But we're playing them big games like, you know, Notre Dame too or North, those kind of games. Of course, I wouldn't be in because I know I can contribute. And I won't want to put that on anyone else when I'm just playing. I'm not going to be in the middle of the game. I'm not going to be in the middle of the game. I'm not going to be in the middle of the game. I'm not going to be in the middle of the game. I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job done. It stands out about Taden McDonald. He got the key. You guys in a second.

2:32:03Oh yeah, definitely. Came back as a. Came back as an 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. He's got to get him like my junior. But you know, came back. He's going to be a great player. He's got to develop more in getting the playbook. It's 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 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. They're in the all season. And I like contribute, like, make plays, tackle, and sex. It's straight to our work. It seems like these guys get bigger. Each one of the freshmen class is a bigger, bigger. Do those guys kind of, does it kind of why you want to solve the first?

2:33:03Yeah, they definitely do. And they all work hard. I've only seen much of some of the day too. I'm not bad at all. But throughout the workouts, they've been working hard. They're determined. I have to say that. How important this do? It feels like there's a lot of great defense. You have big athletic defensive tactics. You can eat up space, but also move right to this category. Is that inquiring? Maybe from a great defense? To have guys like you that have some balls. 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, see my Northean and they got two good, two athletic detacles, look at Georgia, two athletic detacles. I think that's definitely neat if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams. If you think about this, they're going to find what's Georgia. Jordan Davis and Janet Carter. What's Michigan?

2:34:03It's Chris Jenkins. Couple of more questions. Do you understand this because you play it? I feel like some time it's, I don't know, how important defense tackles are. A little bit more than they used to. I think they're starting to develop more and more of these freaky detacles. Yeah. In the combine, you see those guys. They're moving four to four, seven, eights and things like that. We'll see. When you think about those freaky attackles, how do you think you fit into that ball of that kind of player? You watch that and say, yeah, that's me. Definitely. I think I'm top notch when it comes to detacles. But I don't want to get a big head. But you know, I watch it come on. I watch it do the drills. I have a tape here. You can look at my film. So I think I'm up there all the time. Do you become like an artist who comes to the bad guy's. The figure wags can be things. When you're going spring practice, you're not doing as much a weapon as I'm watching.

2:35:03That's how you work on that. Do you have like a goal one, Martin? I don't remember how many guidelines you're going. How many people on that? I mean as many as I can have, I think I have more than that. I think they had counsel on some of them. And some of them were just listed. But I think we work on drills matching the hand. I think that goes big. And what we do is a D line. Just affecting the quarter thing is anyway you can. It's just great for the defense. That little thing covering his eye, you know, he might throw it. A little bit to the left to our players. So it's something that you really, really have to work on. And that's one of the things that you can maybe work on the most. You can bring your time here because there are a few guys that I've seen. Oh, that past few guys. We don't have to ask. We're kind of kind of expected. I think I just have like a eye for the ball kind of. I kind of just look at the quarterback. And just I see him like load up. I just try to get in his way. And sometimes he just throws it to me.

2:36:03I'm irritated if you want to be a high state quarterback. I mean, they get frustrated by you know, we're team, you know, we're just good. That's a lot of a lot of different backsman. It's just learning to grow for them. You got to pick your top three backs. You got 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. Although he was injured this year. I like McCaffrey. Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all decision. Playing well. How are when 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. He was just always calm and relaxed. Man, he just the leader that he was.

2:37:03That's one thing I'm going to remember about him. Yeah, he's shoot. He's going to be really good man. He's on Coastal like I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia. Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs. And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man. He's mature. As a person and as a player. And so man, yeah, definitely Ohio State. You know, that running back room is in great hands. That was right. Like I'm looking at his body. And I'm just talking about his personality. And I'm just trying to keep that up until the same way. Yeah. Coach, Coach Hartline man. He's full of energy man. And he's creative as well. You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield. It was being able to learn from Coach Hartline. And so he's trying to play out for him. But what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that would do really good.

2:38:03Just intensity man. And since he had the playoffs. Every game and it's like the intensity got, you know, higher and higher. And so, you know, being able, I know in the lead, it's the same thing. Even if it's not the playoffs, just every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher. 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, 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. Yeah. I took a couple 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.

2:39:03I think it's called the House of Athlete or the Compound now. They did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us, man. They did a really good job. I mean, that would be pretty easy. The bucket and the ears. No, I haven't. Temple, temple, nice. It's a nice city, man. Really nice. The 40 to broad and avert. You've been on the praises and awesome lockers. Do you speak to your mentality of like when you've got a linebacker or something to jab? Think of the view when you're in for a walker. 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 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.

2:40:03And so, I don't know if I gave up a sack. I'm not sure that. But I know if I did, I haven't given up too many. And so, man, it's for the love of my brother's, though, man. Making sure the ball get in their hands, you know, the guys on the outside and making sure they get fed. You had to hit the practice field later today. What is something you've been working on right now? 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 an LL tomorrow. You're the impact of nursing. Have you met them before? I did. I did meet with New Orleans as well. I never got that comparison. Actually, I know I have a Camera. Sure, yeah, man. I have a Camera.

2:41:03Great, great back, man. Just what he does and those 101 matchups, he's dangerous, man. And he's so smooth. He's so smooth as well. I'm not going to lie. He's smooth. Yeah. Inside zone from stack, being able to hit that thing downhill. And I'll say the next one is probably just an option route out of the backfield. You know, and man and man coverage, you're getting on that line backer. And so. Yeah, I say the man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself, man, and the way that. Man, he approaches the game. 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.

2:42:07He'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, I'm not have something to lean on now. You know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity, I had nothing to run to. You know, you can run to people, but they still can't. It's not too much. They can't truly help you. You know, I feel like, you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, 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 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?

2:43:10You 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... From being around power to being in the right place. 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. 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, stiff arm, and somebody, and shoot, that's a game to 10. And so... It's like, do some of the things that he does, he just realized that he's different than God. Yeah. Um... Shoot, I think... Yeah, man, I think it's just like, he's just gifted, man, too, beyond it.

2:44:10He'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 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 Quenchingine. You know, I want to look at this game, and it's like, man, where, where can I get better at as well? You know, that's the type of player I am. I'm always looking to get better, man, I'm always looking to grow as a player. What's your last experience in San? Druel in 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... Continuing to grow as a leader, continuing to grow as a player. And so, he's going to be really good for high state. He's, I know just the quarterback position. I feel like, you know, the quarterbacks in the past, they've definitely been vocal. And so, I feel like that's something that they're definitely going to ask of Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader, and lead the offense, and lead the team. Thanks, Druel. Thanks, Druel. Shoot, man, he has a build like JK Dobbins, and I kind of see them, you know, similarities in their game as well.

2:45:16And I know JK Dobbins, he was a great running back. I feel like he's not talked about his none. A lot, but man, his career here, you watch his highlights is great. I remember, before I recruit, before I committee here, I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every, every, one of his years here, like four or five times. 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. Thank you.

2:46:35Thank you. Thank you.

2:47:36Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I got come in last round to the roll, so I just attacked every day, really the same way. It's taking a very rare physically different are you weight wise body wise on that? 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 240 for a belt? You feel like almost a different machine out there. Yeah, what's it? What does it feel like 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 blocks better. It's a big Is it daunting? Maybe that's not the correct term, but to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year

2:48:37And you played quite a bit last year instead What do you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more? This is gotta get ready to just play 30 more snaps. So Are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an age gap? I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it It's open. It's a rematch So it's not really two different teams compared to one time. You'll play stuff How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, we're the opener like that. We've been We've been emphasizing it a lot and we know we got coming so we know we got to do we've prepared for it I already just probably I think Riley ready to play right now. He he advanced freshman like he in the here in the book He studied in like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like the saw line to What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself?

2:49:38Becoming more and more ready We're the team needed Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year When you say ready is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally Most of me I think I'm there a different Is that feeling this year? Oh, I still one more time 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 it's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more

2:50:40One word I say Scrub my guy I say that when you think of me you think of 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 Think it fit me because I 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 Just 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 it's

2:51:43I like how pretty the difference I like what you got going on Now I wanted to my sad I was kind of like happy for you That's my dog 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 How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year? But will be in this bigger role and along some of your Yeah, I do feel like Yeah, I do feel like I did win a naligia, but like you said my role wasn't Same as how's gonna be this year, so yeah, I definitely want to go get another one experience that like feeling we'll need be on the field a lot more place

2:52:46Yeah, I was growing immensely I mean K. L.A.P. makes a lot of checks late and makes a lot of checks I listen to them whatever they need if I need to cover somebody out I'll go cover anybody if they need me to do run support I'll do run support and it's really what Caleb does what we do and Nathan It just goes back to the coach G's preparation and everyone's preparation to give us more flexibility And 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 It's been added to it just you know rely on a little bit more go ahead. Yeah, it did I've Probably been a broskin game a me getting more safety reps and we had a five week to prepare So I really learned to play book a lot more even though I knew the playbook. I learned a lot more it amount like in debt You know, so really just after the organ game it helped me a lot to go back to safety go go to nickel and everywhere

2:53:50A lot of issues have given up big plays in a passing game with the first game against Oregon What do you feel if you guys need to do better this time around just to make sure that doesn't happen? Just the same same mindset. We got to challenge these receivers you know Every dog has her day Maybe some people didn't have their day that that game but We'll look out there and hopefully change the narrative and we still play with the same confidence same technique and Yeah Bill Rabinowitz Tenzeh obviously had a tough game and that one what have you seen from him and how he's responded? Do you get a sense of from him? How helped he is for this rematch? Oh, yeah, he's super stoked for this rematch His preparation has been very good He's always been preparing even though it didn't go the way he wanted to go that game But he just always had had his confidence and we're gonna 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

2:54:52I 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? Well, we're super super determined. We watch film. I mean, we've lost a lot of film the first time we played them Now we've got another six games that they played Of film to watch and it's just they've grown a lot as a team same as us. We've grown a lot We're not the same team we were when we played them week one or weeks six or whatever But now we're out there and going to play fast physical and everything like that All right Jordan. We're gonna jump to the to assume a question here from Joey Kaufman. Columbus this back Oh my bad not you Joey Cameron T. Robinson the athletic Hey, Jordan um you've moved around a lot in the second day in your career and and now kind of getting some many more safety reps What is it like at this point when when wall or or coach knows comes to you and asks you to do some else and it's How much can you lean on the experiences you've had moving around when you're trying to learn something new in the middle of season?

2:55:54Means a lot we always talk about in this deep is being on selfish Whether that's making plays or not making plays or doing your job so another person can make plays That's kind of what we pride ourselves on and it's just fun. We moving around different positions Uh, 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 Anybody else need to question let me know but otherwise we can go to Austin more of the podcast Jordan when you were talking about watching film or again Which one do you think is more valuable to you watching that against yourself? You know seven games ago even if you've changed or the ensuing six games for Oregon which one do you put more stock in? Kind of both for me. I kind of watch What I did Things I did well things I didn't do too well against them and Their team is saying that like their scheme has changed some players have been out those those stretch of games

2:56:55So I really watched the past game we played and I know they're gonna go back to some of the stuff that they liked of course and Different games like Penn State maybe Illinois. They run a lot of men. So just watching watching stuff like that every game matters So yeah Thank you 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 One of those younger guys we're seeing I'm real forgot about it because 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 gonna get a job done do a job right really has any mistakes A national championship I ring

2:57:55When 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 Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year this year even more so you guys have all come back for this All decided like that Feel the difference or any difference. It's just the same word. Oh, it's definitely a difference everyone working harder We noticed our last run like we most of us don't have any years after this So we got to go go bigger going 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? I mean you You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one like any against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship? 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 that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody carries just work harder like those

2:59:02No 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. How frustrating is that you're that close 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 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 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 Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college I thought freshman year I was working as hard as I could but 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 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

3:00:03I mean, it's all on me. I just got to run harder I 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 of game. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody's 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 I Yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there are no mom easy not to go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games. I of course I want to be because I know I can contribute and

3:01:04I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I get the job Well, it stands out about feeding McDonald's he got it. You guys in a second. Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a Came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen the yet, but in practice he shows all the time. He's just He's just he's growing right now. He has a work. I think he just has to get you know in the playbook things like that You guys are about the exact same size Just you're both listening six three you're three twenty seven. He's three twenty six Yeah, he's I kind of look at him like my my junior, but you know He might be a great player. He's got to develop more and getting to play A lot on you older guys. There's a large group of young guys and then there's the seniors in the back as a part of your This year to bring those guys Yeah, definitely we got to be leaders. Um, like I said, we got to have them play this year We can't just play all the snaps. They got to get in there and get some work And we got to get them right during the all season so they can play and not just play They want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex

3:02:05You Seems like these guys get bigger Each one freshman class Those guys kind of those kind of while you yourself the first yeah, they're definitely some big dudes Um, and they all work hard. I'm really seeing much it's only day two I'm not passing 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 with me Big athletic defensive tactics. We can eat up space Move, you know, right? That is that Is that an inquire maybe through great events to have guys like you that have some balls but Also a great senior. I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple of nice and championship winners like team of Northean and 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 and beat those big teams

3:03:05Believe you think about that you they're going to find what Defense was like What's Georgia is Jordan Davis and Jill Carter and let's Michigan is Chris Jenkins You understand if you should play it but I feel like some time I don't know if 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 seeing 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 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 watch the comma and I watch it do the drills I have tape to you like you're looking like my film. So I think I'm up there You become like a

3:04:07Way You're going I mean as many as I can have I think I have more than that Counseling I think they may encounter some of them and it's some of them where I like just missed it But I think we work on drill the match in the hand. I think that's uh goes big and uh What we do is a deal on you know just affecting the quarterback is Anyway, you can it's just 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 to our player So it's something that you really really have to work on It's one of the things that you maybe worked on the most There are a few guys that I've seen Kind 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 like load up

3:05:09I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he just throws it to me I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're seeing you know we're just getting better You Watch a lot of a lot of different backsman and 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 backman? Best back in this drive. 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 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

3:06:13Just a leader that he was man. That's one thing I'm gonna remember about him Yeah He's shoe He's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal like I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're going to be really good backs And so James people's man. He's smart the way that he goes about his business man He's mature and so man. He's growing you know just as a as a person in as a player And so man. Yeah definitely Or higher state, you know that running back room is in great hands You Yeah Coach hard line man. He's full of energy man and he's creative as well You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield It was being able to learn from coach hard line and so he's definitely creative at what he's he does And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that'd do really good Just the intensity man and since he did other playoffs

3:07:21Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher and higher and so you know being able I know in the lead it's it's the same thing even if it's not the playoffs just every every game and the 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 It's 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 National championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm right in right in Tampa, Florida and I'm right to it and so um Yeah, I think while trained I trained at your worth performance. I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now They did they did a good job, man. They're just bringing us in and the way they went about training us man

3:08:23They were they did a really good job The bucket near know I haven't Temple Tampa nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man really nice Uh, the 40 to broaden avert Yeah 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 Howard It's for the love of the receivers who 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 brother's dumb man making sure that the ball get in their hands

3:09:25You 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 at 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 meet with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I have a comrade Sure, yeah, man. I have a comrade 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 smooth

3:10:27Yeah 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, 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 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 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

3:11:34Man 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 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 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 Even in those moments man, we're 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

3:12:40Um 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 Wil Howard his leadership, but Quincham mentality man That boy just yeah that boy just gifted you know, you see you know, sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like you know He should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody stiff on Somebody and she was just a game to 10 it's uh Shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted You know, he's 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 Quincham, you know, I want to look at this game is like man Where working I get better at as well, you know, that's the type of player I am I'm always looking to get better man. I'm always looking to grow as a player

3:13:43Julian 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 dad's 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 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 them Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead the offense and lead the team Shoot man, he has he has a bill like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know similar similarities in their game as well And I know JK Dobbins he was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his 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

3:14:43Every 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

3:16:32You Well, I got coming in last round of the world. So I just attack every day really the same way Things to say in the band very rare Oh, 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 37. What does it feel like at 244? You feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, what's it? What does it feel like be run around out there like you are but With more More back. I just feel like I'm like

3:17:34like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's better. 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? This is gotta 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? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it. I think it's open. It's a rematch But it's not really two different teams compared to the last time you all played stuff How has that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the where an opener of that magnitude? Yeah, with an opener like that we've been um, we've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming so we know we got to do we've prepared for it Um, I think Riley ready to prepare right now. He he advanced freshman like he ended he in the book

3:18:36He stood in like he advanced and his measurements was crazy like he saw like the saw line too What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up so I feel like that's what built me into Me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready. Is it more A physical thing is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally Most I think I'm there Is that I feel like it's uh Way bigger responsibility with me having to step up this year, but

3:19:36I 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 won't work I say Scrub my gun I say like when you think of me you would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play a thing Like what My nickname but oh Oh think it fit me because I 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

3:20:37A 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 deep I like how to put it deep because I like what you got going on Uh Now I wanted to my sad. I was kind of like happy for you Yeah, 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 you All right, don't thank you. Go ahead one last question. 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 as a guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and I wanted to some 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 gonna be this year

3:21:42So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling maybe on the field a lot more place Oh, Belle, thank you very much Sometimes like basketball Want to be on that just like the fed, but you know you gotta stay Yeah, that's a great question. I mean I don't think I feel like these two can answer that for the year and now I think KK here I don't know what to say about that Just

3:22:51Something like a coach man Like That's um I want to say Maybe I don't know, but I mean when I when I'm for sure you got the job I was really excited because I'm one of those guys is the tempo I can run with the tempo You know me and I'm I'm playing basketball all life in set of football and I feel like Just the fast pace often so we're running really fits the guys we have right now and really excited I know you think so for ballad 65 guys, but can you kick the football 75 yards of wake up? Lincoln, what's your question? How is your Your roommate? He's a blessing man. I can't complain. He's a great guy Zan's linking clean hoes Oh

3:23:52I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of pick each other's roommates Because we're very cleaning. We don't like our rooms really messy Well, it's true though. It's the truth. They're both pretty clean Luke are you still a cross-training at tackle some or if you just been all guard this break? Oh so far I've been all guard um I really don't know like I said I'm taking it practice I practice I could end up being a back attack But you know, I'm just really focusing on this past practice is the connection we've found I'm bored of me Yeah, oh that mean a lot um, you know, you put a lot of work in to play here And it's kind of dream just from being in Ohio kid is I'm from Ohio kids perspective. It's I mean that's The biggest wish possible out if I would say that's that'd be pretty cool What was it like last year first game getting on field for the first time? It didn't like this can be a weird answer, but it can feel like I was playing a game yet if that makes sense I was pretty locked in I felt like just no anxiousness no stress no nothing really. I just went in that first game was like

3:24:53She'd on here now it's time to roll, you know You didn't really hit me. I was like it didn't even hit me after but my mom was like what'd you feel there? And if like getting out there at any end? I just like honestly, I don't know I felt less nervous. I didn't ice school and that makes no sense You're curious about the life that's known what it is What it is you know, it's a nice thing to say Um a lot I mean I'm learning from Josh Ann Austin I think prior to one of my biggest role models here is my bigger big brother My first game Come up with me? No, I don't want to do it. Okay. Yeah, no Yeah, yeah, yeah So yeah, for the Ann Austin those are my guys man I'm even miles to I mean all three of them. That's those are my roommates and they're progressing every day as well And I'm excited to see where they 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 You just keep in my mind just settled and straightforward on the next play It's a great question. Um like I said, I mean I just need to take consistent in my work. I think that's the biggest thing for me is just ain't consistent. I don't worry about the next play

3:26:01So you got it from the guy you were in the play? 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's all camping. I mean, I was already I was pretty much that yeah, I wasn't really nervous. It started the game What was his advice to you? Yeah, he said you got it. You mean you're going against high league And Kyle every day and practice me and it's not different Almost different are you now though to attend to the two-star attend to him As a player, you know, having having that under your belt Um, yeah, I'm more confident. I know what's going on. I can see like 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 them the games a lot better than what it was Which adds up to what faster I mean we get out early. It's get the defense change in place. I like changing their defense Start fast. I mean they're trying to get the calling play but you start faster. I'm not gonna back

3:27:02But trust a lot of times. Yeah, of course. They's pretty much there You deserve to play What would you expect this week? Um, where they need me is it's left right Wherever I didn't go in I go in and go back to do the front of me Um, took me back to high school days, but I should back in high school was really Random ball up really into impasses, but It was fun Change got my made my feet better. I would say They want me there. I guess I'll play there. I mean they need me they need me Also in the illness that swept through the office line room A lot of times coaches and players just said that that was still relying For the groom, you know, getting you experience among others What was that like for you and double dipping playing some tag or playing some guard the same practice Um, it was based like a group effort like for me knew we had guys out and we just had to go back practice

3:28:05Um, all five guys is Wherever they were playing we just got to go You know how much of that accelerate your development like that time with the ones you actually get it. They really said it then Um, I was jumped in there. I didn't really know So So we like one or two practices with practices, but like After those I was like, you're my confidence grew um Yeah, it seemed like there was sort of a settling in practice process for you and the Akron game Maybe play got better if the game went on it and really need to especially in the ground game Things seem to take off but what 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 Um, first game obviously you can have nerves for the first time starter But then like after the first couple plays Meaning I'm nerves naturally. So that's first come play that was good. I was rolling Also, there's a weird mean first time striker player. I was also

3:29:05Yeah You Yeah, it's like I prepared well um And camp and practice all week and I was I was ready Um, yeah It did a lot I mean I couldn't ask them a what we got here, but I was prepared well. I mean I was telling Jimmy and said it's like a way or blocks I'll be emotional excited. It wasn't just as a guy from Ohio. What does it mean to start it? Um, it was always my dream to come here and play and start and Having that like me I just like keep going keep building those days and go games and keep building What a much younger Austin No, not I don't think Even I told like me I asked my younger self Even committing and I wouldn't believe that now having a couple of starts to me. Yeah

3:30:05Awesome has this happened Faster than Play as a rich No, I knew that year two I was gonna see you some playing time Now starting week one year two. I didn't see that, but like I was ready In spring ball like a new I was going I was going to play some soft What does it mean to you to it's not only get the opportunity to play but Like you play well enough now Coaching staff trust you About there whatever the situation I guess it shows like my preparation my hard work and just everything I put into this and I just finally showing up on a field There a moment the top season Yeah, uh, the definitely was in training camp I mean blocking highly can tie every day

3:31:07Like he feels he feels a lot of confidence in doing it well and not like getting Ball or anything Hero in Jason more in Taiwan all those guys me pretty much anyone on the deep and mind you know And came back as well. So yeah He helped me a lot and I'm proud that he's our starting center not someone else's but um I mean he's like the captain of the line. He's another voice on the line With guys like Josh Fryer and Josh Simmons dining Tiger. That means another voice and another captain Me a lot he can tell you like before to play what's going on and like how to block someone like we need to do and like

3:32:08That's a lot It makes us more calm like especially me and hey, that's our first start. So like we were up here What what said like he brought us down and we were like fine like our emotions weren't high. We settled in Is that like something he tells you? Is that something you pick up on by how he's acting? How do you kind of sense what he's trying to say about how he's acting and what I mean him when we're on the side of him both Josh Donnie like he was telling us like a Bucool like we got it, but it's pretty much like oh everyone How much do that as a first time starter? How much at the end that? Me in a lot That was my first time ever using high pets. We didn't use the iPads in high school, but I mean you can say like try to remember the defense. You can just come on a silent bring up a play Really

3:33:10Probably the first or second, but after that I thought we say oh Awesome. Thank you very much Getting bigger Yeah That's it's also it's a lot and I mean it's and I feel like you can't Be able to transform your body like I like I have with like people here come and do that without having that mentality apart with it It's like we we always talk about competitions here and our Our culture is fight so we're always here to be and I feel like that is just that's what Gets you in this mindset When you talk about that transformation you just give us a little sense maybe with numbers or body fat or What do you know the weight room 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 like I remember how I felt to play

3:34:15When I just got here and now I know how how it feels to play like like like just today like it feels Physically different on my body. It's like it's just it's I'm getting used to Did you also said about you that you are just a completely different guy from last year We're here to work Do you feel like you weren't at that place mentally? I think I was but I think I had some I would say like Kind of like confidence issues like I was just but you know, I mean I work past it and I know I can I know who I am and I know I can be here. So So if you pass confidence issues, how do you get through it? Is it yourself? It's teammates there's someone in your family The big people you can do it. Um, I know I can do it. It's not like that's those are those are all it's on the past now

3:35:20Did the past the play time in a very obvious opportunity guys had the stuff up to be able to be on the business that helped you Kind of get over that confidence issue there because it's now a neverance of your opportunity So Kind of is just like I mean it's just just being here like I feel like being here every day working with the guys every day Just like you know you become this person that you might not have like Uh, you might not have like felt like you were before that but like coming here working every day stacking these days like Like you know, I mean, I just feel like I realized who I am and I know what I can do now Maybe I'm the first to throw but are you This is the second time to like We've been to yourself that you actually belong here. You've been I knew I knew I could play here. I mean, it's just it was like the

3:36:21like I just I don't know how to explain. I just like I've always known I could play here. It's just I'm just like let's go like I'm ready like I'm ready to attack With our guys the room to help you figure that out For sure, I think KJ was a big influence tie Hamilton and Tide League. They all they all helped me a bunch last year kind of just pushing through you know All right, well 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 through a lot We all forgot about it because he was hurt Now he's running Tie Well as a workhorse he he goes stay quiet you go work hard and that's what I love about the focuses. He don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes

3:37:22So what would be a successful season? A national championship I'm reading When all the games we want to lose anything We got a mindset that we can't be beat and we just gotta go show it Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year this year even more so you guys have all come back for this You guys have all decided like You feel the difference or is there really any difference? It's just the same word 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 and 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 that came against them Does that tell you anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship But

3:38:23You 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 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 How frustrating is that you're that close against the last two national teams? Uh, of course as you know it's frustrating, but you can't change the outcome You can't really do it on uh do it 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 soon as you get older you kind of learn and 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 freshman year 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

3:39:26Uh 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 in shape I About that 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 as we can't play for the snaps of game There's just too much on our bodies uh just Everybody like online D line we gotta get those younger guys to play you know get that pieces on the D line and O line and everywhere else So we can last Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot

3:40:27I thought like there are no moments you know I can go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games. I 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 the job done Oh, yeah, definitely came back as a came back to animal y'all you haven't really seen the yet, but in practice he shows all the time He's just he's growing right now. He has a work. I think 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 listening 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 in he's gonna be a great player He's got to develop more and get the playbook. It's really a lot on you older guys There's that large group of young guys and the seniors in the 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 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

3:41:30They're in the offseason so they can play and not just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackles sex You see like these guys get big Each one first one flies Those guys kind of doesn't kind of why you don't sell the first Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um and they all work hard. I've only seen much of some day too I'm not on 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 with me I think I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple nice in the championship winners are like team on North. They didn't know they got two bit Detackled two athletic detackles. Look at Georgia two athletic detackles

3:42:34I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and because big teams Think about this if they want to find why the defense is like What's Georgia Jordan Davis and Jim Carter and what's Michigan is Chris Jenkins You understand it because you play it, but I feel like sometime I don't know it's about 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 when you think about those freakish 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, watch the comment. I watch you do the drills I have to see like you're looking like my film. So I think I'm

3:43:36You become like a artist You know You're going I mean as many as I can have I think I have more than that But I think he said it on I think it counts some of them and it's some of them where I like just listed But I think we work on drill matching the hand. I think that's uh goes big and uh What we do is a deal on you know just affecting the quarterback is Anyway, you can it's just 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 to our player Kind of

3:44:36I 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 I load up. I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he just throws it to me I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're a team. You know, we're just getting better Yeah, I should lot of a lot of different backsman and just learn and 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 I appreciate who's the best back in this drive best back in this drive. 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 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

3:45:42Usually 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 He's gonna be really good man. He's um Coastal 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 Ohio State, you know that running back room is in great 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 I'm 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's he does and he brings a lot of energy to the team as well

3:46:42And so I think that do really good You Um just intensity man and since he did other playoffs Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher and higher and so 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 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 It's 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 Notch in the championship and then Shoot right after that. I'm right in writing Tampa, Florida and I'm right to it

3:47:43And so um, yeah, I think while trained I trained that um your worth performance Um, I think it's called the house of athlete or the compound now um, they did they did a good job, man I'm just 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 Tampa Tampa 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 receivers who 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

3:48:44It'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. Don't 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 of my game You know, I want to continue to get better at 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'm a commander sure

3:49:45Yeah, man, I'm a commander 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 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, I say to 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. I don't know every good thing. I think he had it every game was a good game for him

3:50:47But 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 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 in those moments where it's tough, you know, where it's low 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, we're so hard that you can't you can't explain. It's like man

3:51:51I'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 about Manate those guys have such a great mentality man. I'm not just really loved that mentality. Especially Q as well, you know, I talked about Will Howard his leadership, but quench your 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 Then as soon as you know it, you know, he the running through somebody step on somebody and shoot it's again to 10 it's uh Yeah Shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted you know, he's he's a big back

3:52:56You know, he's strong and so 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 quench time You know, I want to look at this game is 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 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 Dan's definitely going to get him right just you know 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 I'm Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the lead to offense and lead to steam Shoot man, he has he has a bill like JK Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know similar similarities in their game as well

3:54:01And I know JK Dobbins he was a great running back. Um, I feel like he's not talked about his none Um a lot but man his career here you watch his highlights is is great. I remember um Before I recruit before I committed here. I remember watching JK Dobbins highlights like every Every um one of his years here like four or five times and so man He was such a great back and um, I feel like you know, um, when I see JK Dobbins when I see um James people I see similarities to both of their games. I feel like they play the same Thanks up. Appreciate you all. Yeah, I'll be going You

3:55:29You You

3:56:29You All I got coming in last round in the world. So I just attacked every day really the same way It's been very rough physically different. Are you weight wise body wise all that from the year? Oh, 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 37. What does it feel like 244? I don't know. You feel like almost a different Machine out there. Yeah, like what's it? What does it feel like to be running around out there like you are but With more than a more bad. I just feel like I'm like like Like more downhill like stronger like I'm taking old blocks better. It's big. Yeah You see if don't think uh, maybe that's not the correct term But to think you're going to be playing much more than you did even last year and you played quite a bit last year instead Would you have to get straight in your head about being on the field that much more Is it got to get ready to just play?

3:57:31There are even more snaps. So Are you are you how would you describe how much you're looking forward to it from an 8th Then I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for it This is open. It's a rematch So it's good. It's not really two different teams to bear the ones that I'm going to play this stuff How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Openers Yeah, we're the opener like that we've been um with the emphasizing in the line We know we got coming so we know we gotta do we prepare for it Um, I think Riley ready to play right now. He he advanced freshman like he ended here in the book He stood in like he advanced and his measurements was crazy like he saw like a saw line to him Said you're ready What was that process like during last season could you feel yourself Becoming more and more ready We've got the team needed for me. 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

3:58:34Me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready. Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically mentally mostly I think I'm there a different Your 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 And what word I say Scrabber can I say like when you think of me you would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet

3:59:39I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think What No, I ain't got to be my nickname, but Oh Um think it fit me because I I don't know I just like the defense. I feel like we got like you say 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 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 her pretty deep because I like what he got going on Uh I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for him Yeah, that's what you want

4:00:43That's my dog. I'm so yeah, kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for him 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 Yeah, how much do you feel that as a guy who certainly contributed last year? But we'll be in this bigger role and along the summer year 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 my beat is here 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 Oh, Bill. Thank you very much You need to offense compared to NFL especially with the way he uses receivers How do you anticipate your role changing it? How do you view the offense from a receiver perspective? Yeah, 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

4:01:43Not 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 of 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 route or 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 offense that it's our personnel really well that that field boundary thing Yeah, that's a thing in college, but it seems like it's more to you to clip is that is that something you're used to seeing another offense?

4:02:45Yeah, 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 um I've been in offense is 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 um, 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 um Yeah, he's just been a really good player's person to work with and he's been really communicative with the leaders

4:03:47And how we want this offense to look like and 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 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 um, I think you know human nature is is always um 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 um, 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 um, 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

4:04:52um Something you could depend on, but like life isn't life isn't always like that so um, I've been Re-invigorated because of just the The energy that dq brings in to 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 we 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 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 That's really been my focus and You know, I'm excited for another year

4:05:53So us it's looked like you're being more vocal on the sidelines. 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. I've always seen myself as somebody that was a uh A leader by example 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 fit in with my vocal leadership is I never wanted to be like a dictator You know, I mean I never wanted to tell guys what to do or 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 and so if I could share

4:06:55what 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 ten year vets to 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 What they know I'm coming from a good place and I think I'm not the type of guy where I'm just going to talk in at them like if they see something like I could take a coaching point from Luke McAfry I could take a coaching point from day on me from jahann from uh mark is from anybody, you know like I think that's what makes you a great player when you can really Be coachable from anybody and and not take it from a personal standpoint Hi, how are you doing good? Um going back to what you were saying about Clevve 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 He doesn't overcoach and I think that's the trust that he has in our group and his in his coaches our position coaches to

4:08:02Fill in the details. So we'll have an install meeting and it'll be a good amount of time But then our position coaches will have time and we'll make it specific to that position and so Then we'll come in and have a walkthrough 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 It forces it kind of separates guys in a 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 an installs in the morning We're having two walkthroughs and then we're coming on the field and doing it like I think you notice a lot of guys are playing a lot faster And more confident because he's keeping it simple But also he's very particular in 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 You know is 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

4:09:02And this offseason just the totality of change from 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 we drafted and bringing in Marcus and Jeff and all those guys and down to leaders we have on our team I think it was extremely specific on the way they tried to build this thing going into this year First having the right people bringing in leaders bringing in guys who love to compete first thing that DQ said when he came here Was and his first meeting like if you love to compete this is going to be the place for you and I love it You know, I mean I love bags and 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 Hey, like I'm a I'ma give all I got for this day and I'ma get better And then I'ma I'ma learn from the film and come back tomorrow and ready to do it again

4:10:06And 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, 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 the same time We're going to get after it It makes it fun as a leader because you can take that to your room and be like yo, we got these we got this week You know, I mean that's extremely important, but you know, we have this little break coming up Where you're going to get your your mind and your body and your soul right so um 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 Hey, we got Bobby Wagner in there. You know, I mean, I asked a hall of fame or so like You know being able to have kind of guys like that that you can lean on that can sometimes take over that leadership

4:11:08Rollward doesn't fall on one person. I think it's uh 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 know what's expected. Oh you Terry you seem to spend many of your off seasons Learning about things beyond football hobbies. What happy did you do any of this offseason so far? It's Hobbies are increased your knowledge of this the world around you See the question um Play a lot of golf That's that they just keeps my competitive juices flowing um Uh Planning the wedding that's going well and uh 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 You know what I mean like and so for me I'm a grind every offseason, but just

4:12:10This 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 um You know, it's it's an honor, you know, and I put a lot of expectation on myself to come out here and 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 um This all season was pretty simple for me um 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 his arm strength the throws he's making anything surprising so far about the types that his ability in that regard Definitely uh, 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 So sometimes on crossers a lot of quarterbacks may like to see you cross the ball and get into that open zone over there

4:13:10If 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 too 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 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 D ball is it's amazing um, you know, I love getting Extra reps with practice after practice with him. We're just catching the top end of a D 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 He'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 11-11 because he's getting to feel pain and

4:14:15Allen and DA and Clealing Pharaoh like we got some dogs up there who want to come after him You know, I mean, and we got some great guys up front who are going to protect them And so these reps I feel like are even better than just seven or seven seven or seven I think he could do in the sleep to be fair like he throws the ball really well But when you get this 11-11 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 Guys are gravitating to him and he's not afraid to be who he is That's dope. I think he has a bright future for himself The tough losses the tough seasons Can weigh on a player sure you're entering the prime of your career Jay kind of mentioned it last year all he cares about is winning. Yeah, he wants to win now

4:15:16Is 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 It's 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 uh personally and uh I'm just excited with being a part of a Organization in the environment where now like everybody's on the same page in the in the In the message is uniform and it speaks from the top down and uh, 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 That makes you excited makes you hopeful and um, you know, you don't know how that's going to turn out until we start playing games

4:16:20But 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 Know 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 uh and be ready to win Appreciate you guys Okay 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 One of those younger guys we're seeing it out here it's the first time it's hurt all year We've seen from well I kind of felt like i shouldn't we all forgot about him because he was hurt Now he's running you know almost a second man

4:17:20Tie Uh, what was the workhorse he he goes stay quiet. You don't work hard. That's all I love about him. He Focuses he don't really talk much. He's going to get a job done do a job right rarely has any mistakes Would be a successful season Uh the national championship I 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 gotta go show it Seems like you guys expect the national championship every year This year even more so you guys have all come back for this you guys have all decided like It's definitely a difference everyone working harder um we noticed our last run like we most of us don't have any years after this So we got to go go bigger going home and we're not trying to go home Finish big we know what you guys think of Michigan but When you look at what they did they won the national championship and you guys

4:18:21Took them down to the final minute, right? You know what I mean? I mean you You were right there something goes a little different you guys could have been one that came against them 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 that's kind of coach makes of saying you know nobody cares Like those know won't play 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 Of course is you know it's frustrating but you can't change the outcome you can't really do it on Duel on it you just gotta you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome change Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what growing up is basically in college. I thought freshman year

4:19:24I was working as hard as I could but now I look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all Comparative what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything To be to be your best 80 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean It's all on me. I just got to run harder I think 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 again. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know The debt pieces on the D line and O line and everywhere else so we can last that long

4:20:26Speaking of that last game Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a line I thought like there knows mom is you know I can go sit down or something But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too or North those kind of games. I of course I want to be because I know I contribute and I won't want to put that on anyone else when I know I can get the job 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 growing right now. He has a work. I think 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 listening 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 out he's gonna be a great player He's got to develop more and getting to play So really a lot on you older guys that large group of young guys and then there's the seniors in the back

4:21:29Part 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 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 tackles sex Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um and they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two when I'm passing on but Throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work Also

4:22:34I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last uh couple of nice and championship winners Like team of 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 and beat those big trees What's Georgia's Jordan Davis and Janet Carter? Let's miss again. It's Chris Jenkins You understand I think so uh I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Yeah, I get in the combine just now you see in like those guys they're moving We're in the four seven eights and things like that so We'll see and when you think it when you think about those freakish Uh, yeah, definitely. I think I'm top-notch when it comes to detackles

4:23:36But I don't want to you know get a big head, but you know watch the comment. I watch the dude do the drills I have tape to you like look at my film. So I think I'm up there I Mean you're going I mean I think I have more than that I think they encounter some of them and Some of them were like just listed so but I think we work on Joe's matching the hand. I think that's uh goes big and We do as a deal on you know just affecting the quarterback 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 to our player. So So it's something that you really really have to work on

4:24:36It's really that's one of the things that you maybe worked on the 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 just throws it to me I Mean they get frustrated by you know we're team That's 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 Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all that's y'all decision

4:25:42Playing with well Howard when I'm going to remember most Uh 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 And 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 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 hardline man. He's full of energy man and um he's creative as well

4:26:43You know, I'm just learning from him as well. You know, I'm trying to run more outside the backfield Was being able to learn from coach hardline and so he's definitely creative at what he's 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 the intensity man then since he got the playoffs Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher and higher and so um, you know being a but 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 So yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State You know, I definitely feel like Ohio State. They definitely do a good job of preparing us for that You know, I just remember even before going through this process. I'll talk to a lot of players 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

4:27:45Yeah 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 I trained I trained at 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 on bringing us in and the way they went about training us, man They were they did a really good job The bucket nearest know I haven't Temple a temper nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man. Really nice Uh, the 40 to broad and avert Yeah 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 receivers who I got on the perimeter just making sure you know, um first of all my quarterback doesn't get sacked

4:28:52And 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 I was really just continuing to run through tackles And so that's I feel like that's one of the areas in my game You know, I want to continue to get better at 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 meet with um new Orleans as well um, I never got that comparison actually um, I know I have a comar

4:29:57Sure, 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 line backer and so Yeah, I say to man the biggest thing is the way that he carries himself man in 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

4:30:58And 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 is definitely helped me to do better Is this um and to have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know, I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so I'm 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

4:31:58Even 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 Quinch, I'm 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 look like you know He should have a negative five yards and as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody step far from somebody and she That's a game to 10 and so Yeah

4:32:59I 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 and so um Yeah, man, it's definitely you know, I look at his game and I want to you know at the same time I want to learn from Quinch, 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 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 dead 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 He's that I know just the quarterback position 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 Ask Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the lead to offense and lead to steam

4:34:05Shoo 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 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 and so appreciate you all y'all

4:35:22You You

4:36:22You You You All I got coming in last round to the world. So I just tacked Eric Dave really the same way It's been very rough 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 more downhill like stronger like I'm taking all blocks better. It's big. Yeah

4:37:27Is 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? Just gotta get ready to just play there. He more snaps. So Are you are you how would you describe how you how much you're looking forward to it from an age? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. My I'm ready for How's that enhanced this camp for you and this team getting ready for the Yeah, we're the opener like that we've been um, we've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming So we know we gotta do we're prepared for it I think Riley ready to play right now he He advanced freshmen like he in the field book. He studied in like he advanced and his measurements crazy like he saw like the saw line to

4:38:27Said you're ready What was that process like during last season? Could you feel yourself The coming more and more ready So the team needed Yeah, because that's pretty much what my role was just whenever I was needed I had to step up So I feel like that's what built me into me being able to say I'm ready for this year when you say ready Is it more a physical thing? Is it a mental thing when I say ready? I think it's pretty much like everything physically Mentally mostly. I think I'm there Oh 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

4:39:28For somebody It won't work I say Scrub my gun I say that when you think of me you're thinking like a like a bullet like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet That's how I like to play a thing No, I ain't ain't got to be my nickname, but oh 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 know how to answer that

4:40:34I 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 to put your defense. I like what you got going on Uh Now I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you No All right, that's my dog. I'll say yeah kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for you I 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 How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year, but will be in this bigger role and I wanted some of your Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win in that elatio, 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

4:41:37I kind of have a lot of leaders on the D line at the D-In position so we kind of all kind of just count off the children You Um, we love it. We all competitive people. We all love to fish each other And that's really the best side of all We all just kind of bouncing off each other and see what one person does and we kind of Better than the archival box and we all kind of just kind of build one great thing I So I definitely did it in high school. I was pulled back and a little bit of tidan So I feel like it kind of saw what I could do there and coach Wilson I was the youth watching it too before he left and uh Feel like you playing that seed and coach day's head and coach day kind of just meant for it and uh try to do the best I could do

4:42:44Oh new playbook I did not know you got that far I 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 Weakertu to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Kitchak you the same thing. Oh, yeah Rathleen that's why Hey, he's just talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of side you Out to have some conversations after JT and Jack decided to come back Go to win into those Um 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 happened in all that time from here to to then So uh, I feel like we definitely just coach day and me kind of connected and you kind of just talks man-to-man and Be kind of just straight to me and I feel like

4:43:45You kind of both of us and we know we're making it together better every day We got the four best the ends five best the ends honestly and college football and we're gonna be one of the best D lines and talk to the ball. I feel like a better player today 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 we're 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 in you're like wow starting week 10. So now it's kind of Gives you more time to kind of enjoy it kind of save for it because That pays yourself yeah, I mean there's a light Yeah, definitely definitely gonna have to have the mental stability to handle all those weeks and all those practice

4:44:49How much is Larry talking guys around the good last question right here? Talk about we know about it. You see it every day. We watch the film. We see them all working together We know what it could be. I know we could become so we know we very right at the same Got 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 go to bounce off and Just perfect our craft together and I feel like we all are just great individuals and we come together We plan as much so I just wanted to get like more experience under my belt. So I can know bring the other guys with me because I think Real forgot about it because he's Well as a workhorse he he goes take quite you go work hard and that's what I love about he

4:45:50Focuses he don't really talk much. He's going to get the job done do a job right really has any mistakes So what what would be a successful season? 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. We just gotta go so I said that mindset different Seems like you guys expect a national championship over here this year even more so you guys have all come back for this As if all decided like I was definitely a different everyone working harder um we noticed our last run Like we most of us don't have any years after this So we got to go go bigger going 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

4:46:52Is that telling anything about like that? Hey you guys want to win a national championship But you played to the 59th minute was 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 uh saying you know nobody cares Just work harder like those no one plays Georgia is the same thing Yeah last last play you know they went on the win in 90 so We just got to get over that hump at the end of the season. I think we'll be fine I'll 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 do other one uh do well on it. You just got to you know come back and work harder do things Better than you did last year and hopefully the outcome will change As that as you get older you kind of learn I thought that was working harder than you always find out there's a little more Yeah, definitely. I mean that's how that's what Growing up is basically in college. I thought freshman year. I was working as hard as I could Now look back at it. I really wasn't working hard at all Compared to what I'm doing now. So just to learn anything

4:48:0480 85 I mean I can it's all on me. I just I think it's a little higher. I was just trying to be funny, but I mean it's all on me. I just got to run harder I 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 again. That's just too much on our bodies Just Everybody like online D line. We got to get those younger guys to play you know get that pieces on the D line and the online and Everywhere else so we can last Ah, yeah, I did unless we were like winning by like a lot I thought like there are no mom these you know I can go sit down or something

4:49:05But we're playing them big games like you know Notre Dame too on those kind of games. I 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 done You guys 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 a work. I think he just has to get you know in the playbook and things like that You guys are about the exact same size Listen, you're both listening six three you're three 27. He's three 26 Yeah, I kind of look at him like my junior, but you know, came out here 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 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 They're in the all season so they can play and I just play they want to like contribute like make plays tackles

4:50:14You Yeah, they're definitely some big dudes um, and they all work hard. I've only seen much of something day two when I'm not as one But throughout the workouts they've been working hard, you know, they they're determined And it looks like they're ready to work Let him defense attack I think that is definitely I think if you look at the last Couple nice and a championship winners are like see my North. They didn't know they got two good Detackled two athletic detackles look at Georgia Two athletic detackers I think that's definitely need if you want to go on that big run and beat those big teams Think about that they won't define by the defense because actors like

4:51:17What's Georgia? It's Jordan Davis and Janet Carter. What's Michigan is Chris Jenkins You understand this is you play it, but I feel like some time that I don't know it are people realizing how important defense tackles are a little bit more than they used to I think so I think they're starting to develop to develop more and more of these like freakiest detackles Like in the combine just now you see him 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 I watch the combine I watch it do the drills I have to see like you're looking like my show. So I think I'm up there And do you become like a artist? You know

4:52:17You're going I mean as many as I can have I think I have more than that But I think he said it I think they can count some of them and It's some of them why 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 Will we do as a D line, you know just affecting the quarterback is Anyway, you can this is great for the defense, you know That little thing covered his eye, you know, he might throw it a little bit to the left to our player I Think I just have like a like a eye for the ball counter. I kind of just look at the quarterback and just I see him like load up

4:53:17I just try to get in his ways and sometimes he's those I mean they get frustrated, but you know we're a team. You know we're just getting better You watch a lot of a lot of different backsman and just learn and 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 drive? Best back in this drive. I lead out of the yard. That's y'all that's y'all decision Playing with Will Howard when I'm going to remember most Uh 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

4:54:21Just 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 like I think he got the transfer in as well from West Virginia Just that one two punch with them both as well. They're 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 as a person and as a player and so man. Yeah Definitely oh, hi estate. You know that running back room is in gray hands You 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, I'm 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 And he brings a lot of energy to the team as well. And so I think that do really good Just the intensity man and since he did other playoffs

4:55:28Every game and it's like the intensity got you know higher and higher and so um, you know being Maybe I know in the lead. It's it's the same thing even if it's not the playoffs Just every every game and intensity it keeps getting higher and higher So yeah, you just I know you got to bring it you know each and every day and come in and work just like Ohio State 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 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 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 why I trained I trained at um your worth performance. 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 the way they went about training us man

4:56:31They were they did a really good job The bucket near know I haven't Temple temper nice. This is nice. It's a nice city man really nice Uh, the 40 to broaden 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 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 is 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 getting their hands

4:57:33You 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 I want to continue to get better at 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'm a comrade Sure, yeah, man. I would come here 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 gonna lie he's smooth

4:58:35Yeah 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 I 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 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 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 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

4:59:42Man, a lot of ups and downs, man, it's just How you respond to adversity and I feel like that's something that God has definitely helped me to do better Is this um not have something to lean on now, you know, I remember before I met him, you know, going through those adversity I had nothing to run to you know, you can run to people, but they still can't it's not too much They can't truly help you, you know, I feel like you know I feel like the only person that can truly help you is your relationship with Jesus Christ And so 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 Even in those moments man, we're 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 feel with this internal joy? You know, how do I have so much peace in this situation? And so that's something that only Jesus Christ can give you and so

5:00:48Um 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 Wil Howard his leadership, but Quincham mentality man That boy just yeah that boy just gifted, you know, you see you know Sometimes he put in a situation where he looked like you know, he should have a negative five yards And as soon as you know it, you know, he that running through somebody stiff arm and somebody and she was just a gain of 10 It's uh Um shoot I think Yeah, man, I think it's just like he's just gifted man to be honest. He's just gifted You know, he's 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 Quincham, 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

5:01:51Julian 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 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 that 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 Julian San as well. It's to be that vocal leader and lead the um and lead to offensive lead to steam Shoo man, he has he has a bill like jk Dobbins and um, I kind of see them, you know similar similarities in their game as well and I know jk Dobbins he was a great running back 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

5:02:51Every 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 Appreciate you all y'all y'all be going

5:05:11All I got coming in last round. I knew we're all so I just Attack area day really the same way It's taking advantage very rare Oh, I think I got a lot bigger. I'm like 240. You know, I'm like 240 for right now last Sure, I played it like 236 to 37. What does it feel like a 240 for? Or maybe I'll be like almost a different machine out there. Yeah, like what's it? Would 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 old blocks better. It's big 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 instead 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 8th

5:06:13Now I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it. The text is open. It's a rematch But it's not really two different teams Compared to the ones that I'm going to play this 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, we've been emphasizing it a lot. We know we got coming So we know we got to do we've been prepared for it 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 crazy like he saw like the saw line to him 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

5:07:18Mentally 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 it's gonna be the same thing. It's probably a little bit more And what work? I say Scrub my gun. I say like when you think of me you would think of like a like a bullet like a silver bullet I don't really a bullet. I'm always on the ball. That's how I like to play and think

5:08:18No, 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 terms 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 it's deep. I like how it's pretty deep because I like what you got going on Uh No, I wanted to much sad. I was kind of like happy for you Yeah, that's what you want No All right, that's my dog. I don't see it kind of missing a little bit, but yeah, I'm happy for him

5:09:22All right, 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 How much do you feel that is a guy who certainly contributed last year, but we'll be in this bigger role and I'm here Yeah, I do feel like um Yeah, I do feel like I did win a nati last year, but like you said my role wasn't same as how's my beat is here So yeah, I definitely want to want to go get another one experience that like feeling we need to be on the field a lot more place Oh, thank you very much Championship in Nican, you know before and everything like that and also need to get your your teeth knocked in You know first game and you know can't have that happening because I don't you know really doesn't mean anything And so just the constant mindset to continually get better, but the forefront of my mind and forefront of anyone Here you can ask Yeah Yeah, I know we look at the class sets every now and then I'd be like oh man. They're gone. They're gone

5:10:27No, it's been it's been good. I mean the guys who are still here. I'm as I've definitely kind of bonded together pretty good Yeah Yeah, I mean Mark came in in the days like That class 21 best class ever in my yes, you know, I can't really can't really even you know to sit sitting to that You know, I'm much left, but um Yeah, I mean to do what we can and do we can for this team has been really important for all of us and I think Um us now realizing where the veterans, you know, we're the old guys now in the group is been Kind of strange at least to begin with you know because you go from All those guys you like Donnie and Josh and those guys and old sudden it's Sunday. We have a team meeting after the Like the celebration the shoe and all of 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

5:11:29As vets to help bring out you know along the team our units and This program has been really important Yeah No, it could spend doing really well. I mean I could go as an egos of work He's extremely athletic extremely flexible Um, you know, he's a young kid obviously he's a lot of A 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 I'm excited to see what he can do because he's very impressive at this young stage Yeah, extremely excited. I mean Trying to just build that culture back up again. You know like what we had last year

5:12:32I'm trying to do a little stuff here in there. I can know I think we're going to Ray raise a barbecue. I think tomorrow So shout out Ray raise, but um, but yeah, just trying to get that brotherhood back get that you know that oblock spirit back sure it's coming soon hopefully but just to kind of get those Not those same faces but those same kind of mindsets back and our our group is important right now It's been fun to meet new guys and from different backgrounds and stuff like that Um and try to Figure out how to you know build that and mend that together. It's been pretty cool now As you are one of the boasters 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 don't it's obviously I don't feel like it's natural to anyone to you need to least step up and that's something I've been working on Every day and talking to God about But I have to understand that and that's something I want to continue to work on. I want to be able to um

5:13:33Be a guy that people can fall back on and like coach is saying before like we're gonna have highs in those But the great players the ones being set our clocks to 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 um, 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 Just your story itself though is Testament Of what it means to like for perseverance is tough too though right car some mean You know, that's uh, 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 that's definitely maybe better on the back end and um you know Coach to it coach daily talks about it and you don't

5:14:35You 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 be know 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 um 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. Uh, he's fun to be in the weight room with uh, he'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, he can talk he's been a great job Um for his size. He has like freaky athletic feet like I'll watch him do the ladders and I've had a lot of massive overrun on 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 Howdy kind of continues to develop um throughout this summer and uh throughout this fall camp

5:15:42Yeah, Piggy's been doing great. I mean he um He stepped up piggy. Yeah. Yeah, everyone prefers him as piggy is his username one time nice everyone's piggy But anyway, um, you know pig'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 Who may be a lot of things big body guy that you catch the buyer can run between the tacos um His feet are quicker than once you think for a big guy Yeah, really good feet you get balanced so Best for Mason good. That's my son Well, tight end background now I don't know many with that type of background But when he's high-spiracy, they try to play as an age that Well When you look in the portal for Actually, we want to try to recruit right back. Does it matter to you if you have two different styles of running Back to me one guy can be sort of things better one guy can use you

5:16:44Other is it you'll just say the best running back to you I want to have different style I'm gonna try to take the same thing We'll take guys with different students Uh, whether they're big guys small guys Cause cultures in between the type of runners I know Yola I don't want to take the same thing. They're all different different different I Am on Side I had drawing James out of work He's my Running show y'all In probably way to two ten or two five, which is not very big But then you got to do with him. You know some guys you got most of sticking about his own You take what a lot of aggression down here running And that could be CJ that could be James or it could be the freshman go Jackson

5:17:47You know, it's just who has a nose for giving his own But that's that's why I'm going over here Nah just because you're being there. I'm like We need to get obviously fresh running back to him and then Oh, it's there here, but what do you need to see from a freshman to feel comfortable with that So in the first day with it on the ball Well, they would they do their little small detail Take care of the ball Second day will be how good they Pass for them because it's the hardest thing five school backs because they're not You're the one high school You have understand the past but by all their falls on who Me so Like they say So that's why I need to see first everything Jackson I You feel comfortable with Yeah, I think they're gonna find I can say I tell all the young guys he's a marathon

5:18:49The first day first you've been an armor spot on specials to know your own spot Then you the right to be a book out So they get out down the field so No, I think they're training the right first practice Like it wasn't better About like at your cousin is coming in this year seeing him working with you guys Joshua making so I feel like they're definitely picking up quick I mean, I was in their shoes one time and I had Zach Harrison, Javante And Tyler fried out in front of me So I thought I'm 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 gonna be one of the great Russian

5:20:00I Feel like all the camps I've definitely gotten a big course learned and I love that so I asked go for it 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 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 is what we call it my craft and trying to be a It's like whenever you play some kind of Yeah, um definitely just getting stronger faster everything all the above But uh one of my big things is being 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 kind of have a lot of leaders on the D line We had to be in position so we kind of all kind of just kind of talk to children and others

5:21:15I'm excited and we love it. We all competitive people. We all live with each other And that's what we're bringing the best side of all this To like we're all just Kind of bouncing off each other to see what one person does and we kind of build it into our toolbox and we all kind of just Kind of build one great thing You know, unless you get the shot Did they put you that idea in So I definitely did it in high school. I was pulled back in a little bit tidied and so I feel like It kind of saw what I could do there in coach Wilson. Obviously you love watching it too Pretty left and uh, you know, he planned that seed and coach day's head and coach day kind of just went for it and I tried to do the best I could to do it 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

5:22:17Weakertu to learn it and kind of perfect it and try to do my best for you. Jack you the same thing. Oh, yeah What's your athletes? That's what He was talking to coach Johnson on Tuesday about some of the conversations and sort of sight you and Out of some conversations after JT and Jack decided to come back Just got to winning today's perspective and how did that help you maybe get the like mindset against Um definitely kind of seeing it all the way through if you like People kind of 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 that So uh, I feel like we definitely just coached getting me kind of connected Maybe trying to just talk man oh man and uh, he kind of just sent straight to me and I feel like You kind of both are pretty honest and we know we're making it yada 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 all the best the lines and coach football You feel like a player today that you work in

5:23:18Oh, I feel like I've taken 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