Press Conferences (Malk Hartford) Elite Edition September 3

0:00And earlier just playing a lot faster, I feel like I'm more calm out there. I feel like the moment isn't too big. I feel like getting bigger throughout the year and when I was hurt definitely helped me. Caleb's missed the fast thing from this game. It's kind of like a winter which the world is playing. I'm just going to split up everything and get a lot of fun. I think the great thing about Caleb is he's such, he's such like a likable person, a likable teammate, a great teammate. He'll help any of the teammates. He definitely knows what he's doing. He's a great player. And for me he just pushes me to be better every day. I think with your room being so stacked as this, you guys, Kyle, right? Do you think that there could be the opportunity though for you guys to all see you quite a bit of playing time throughout the season and not just towards the end of games, mock up doing kind of playing time, but like some real meaning for reps.

1:01I think that our room definitely has a lot of great players, but as far as playing time, that's a question for your coach and all of us. What I mean if you guys kind of been prepping for that though, throughout the club camp maybe switching in and out and it really kind of seeing a lot of run to action? We're definitely, we're all getting like reps at each spot. So like it's not just the just our band anymore. It's not just you're here, you're there. We're all playing different positions. We're all learning different techniques. So it's making each one of us more versatile. So how comfortable do you feel about strong safety? I feel comfortable in any safety spot. So I mean the more reps you take, the easier it is. And I played both safety spots last year. So it's not really that big of a transition. What are the differences between the two spots that you have to be used to? Honestly this year they made it so they're kind of, they're, I mean, they're both, they're both, you have to do each thing in both spots. So like you have to come down and make tackles at the band,

2:02you have to come down and make tackles at adjust or, obviously it's boundary and feel so that the spacing is a little different. But I mean you have to do everything that both say these. What's different, what's different this camp compared to last camp? For me personally I feel like I have, I developed a better routine. I feel like I'm more mature and what I'm doing. And I feel like just go out there and play and have fun. I think that's the biggest thing for me. Don't get too caught up on the last play. What have you added or what have you approved to your routine? I think just getting here earlier and at times last year, you know, it's hard to maintain that routine throughout the whole camp or throughout the whole year. But this year it's easier to maintain that because I know what to expect. I know the requirements of me and I know that the team is kind of... Were there guys in last year's tournament that influenced you to show up a little bit early? Yeah, for sure.

3:02I mean everyone is required. BIA, our standard is so high that we challenge everyone. It doesn't matter if you're going to play this year, it doesn't matter if you're going to play two years from now. It doesn't matter if you're a true freshman. You're going to come in early and we're going to put in the work just like everybody else because it's not just the starters that are held to the standard as everybody. It seems like Jaylen McLean, one kind of a similar trajectory as you were last year where he's pushing for playing time right away. What have you seen from Jaylen and that's interesting? He's all over the field, man. I mean, he runs to the ball every play. He hits hard. You know, he's making plays on the ball. So I mean, he has, like I said before, he has a lot of potential and I'm excited to see what he does this year. You talk about it bigger, but like you can't play on the last half. Yeah. You can keep that weight on, where is it going to take to candy? So I mean, through the season, it kind of fluctuated, but right now I've gained even more weight, so I'm at like 195 now. The plan is to get to 200, but it definitely builds confidence

4:02when you got to go down there and feel like that. Yeah, I'm actually playing books in the ball. You said playing, so. Exactly, yeah. You were obviously on the edge of a play in that mission you gained last year. Just what did you learn from that? I think that coach preaches competitive excellence and that means putting yourself in position to make a play. And that means practicing harder, that means taking each rep like it's that big moment in the game, and that's definitely what I'll try to do this year. Is yours teams and teams in the past? The two I've been on, I would say this one's definitely the closest as a team like we've all been around each other. I think just ups and downs this year. It's been a whirlwind, like I said, and we just continue to get closer and closer through every game, and we obviously don't want it to end. So we have an opportunity and a chance for one more game to play, and we're going to go out and give it our all, and hopefully that's enough to get to us the next one. Cameron T. Robbins said the athletic. Luke, obviously Will has been the leader of this group since he got here.

5:05What can you say, or where you've seen him grow, or his leadership taking his step, just in this playoffs? It seems like he's taking a lot of stuff from the last level. Yeah, I think his leadership has been tremendous all year. I mean, he's kind of a guy that you kind of just get to know right out of the gate. He's very energetic, very positive all the time, and obviously talks a lot and very social like I am. So he's awesome. I think Coach Day does a great job with the analogy of just like, it gets more intense, like the more the more playoff ones you get, like just a ramps up. So obviously leadership obviously ramps up as well as that intensity goes. Will's intensity, like that intensity, everybody else? Yeah, I really think it's not even just Will. I just think it's us having an opportunity to play one more game, like Mark said. I mean, we have an opportunity and we don't want it to end. Jeremy Birmingham, the podcast. What makes Texas's defensive front room in the initial film that you watched

6:07and how challenging it is for an inexperienced group of all-per-all. Yeah. Well, I think first of all, we're going into their territory in Dallas. So obviously it's going to be loud. It's going to be a lot of fun. You know, they've said SEC team. It's not SEC team in the way, and they got a lot of great players up front. And they're kind of bank on you guys losing your one-on-ones and stuff like that. So I think it's an amazing opportunity to go and show how confident we are and play our ball. Luke, we're going to have a couple of Zoom questions on. Texas or around the world's gotty take away. Yes, sir. We have our first question coming from Stephen Means. Stephen, go ahead. Stephen, you're in here? No. I'm going to want some family stuff. Sorry. Luke, obviously with these being your first real meaningful snaps that you've gotten to get the last two games, what's the benefit of being able to rotate with someone in terms of, in comparison to having to play a heavy load the last two games for you,

7:08the benefit of the group? Yeah, I think the, obviously now, if I had to play a full game, I obviously would be able to. I think I'd be able to from day one, just because all the stuff we're doing here, like standing shape and our preparation and stuff like that. But I think for not playing for two years, two and a half years, in high school, I think the 30s, whatever snaps I played was a great amount. And obviously it just enhances as the game goes on. Your next question is going to come from Stefan from Cleveland.com. So long, go ahead. Hey, Luke, I guess kind of follow up on that. Just how much has it helped you to have, you know, Austin and Tigrid there kind of in that rotation to, you know, lean on and talk to between series and things along those lines? Yeah, I think it helps a lot. I think obviously they start the game with the first series or two. And I get to ask some questions. I'm like, what they're like, what their moves are, what are they doing up front? Are they doing anything different that we've seen on film and stuff like that?

8:11Your next question is going to come from Kurt Bowles with an enthused and chronicle. Kurt, go ahead. Hey, Luke, good to see you. To figure back on the defensive line question, anybody jump out at you and who exactly will you be going up against? Yeah, you know, I think I think they're all tremendous athletes. I'm talking to respect to Texas and what they've done this year. You know, it's a lot of fun watching them on film. They have a great defense. I think all their defense alignment are great players. Obviously, specifically speaking into your guys who want to be going up against, I think they're all really good. They have different moves and bring different things to the table. So we got to be ready for that. Do you think that kind of been of the past first kind of team and struggled with some with the run? Do you feel like y'all do better against teams like that that are maybe, I don't know if you think they're as physical as y'all are or not? No, I think everyone's the same. I think, you know, we'll see what happens in this game. Obviously, we're pretty new to the game plan here, but we have a big practice today and that's where we're really focused on.

9:13And obviously that time will come in the game. All right, we're going to take two more from zoom and then turn it back to Columbus. Our next one is going to come from Michael Cohen. Michael, go ahead. Hey, Luke, a question for you. When we spoke to Ryan Day on Friday, and he mentioned that at this time of the year, he's able to focus even more on the X's and O's and less on some of the other like CEO kind of stuff that had coaches have to do in college football. And I was wondering from your perspective, where have you seen that show up the most in the way that the offense has played the last two weeks? Well, I think it just goes, I mean, what you said right out of the gate, I think we have more time. You know, obviously school star and backup, but we haven't had school for a couple of weeks, and that gives us more time to walk through more time to have even more reps than we usually have. I thought coach Bailey said going in that organ game, we had like 977 reps in that week leading up to the game and stuff like that. And that's not just practice. That's that's walkthroughs. That's more walkthroughs and stuff like that. So obviously, when you have the opportunity to have more time to put in your game,

10:13then your game plan, it's going to go to show during the game. Okay, I found a question for Luke from Zoom. It's going to come from Dan. Go ahead, Dan. Luke, you started your career here at Tackle. Now you're playing guard to see what Dottie has done moving from guard to Tackle. Does how impressed have you been with his transition? I mean, he's a tremendous athlete, guys. I know he played Tackle in high school and it's a lot different coming here, but for him to do that, obviously just speaks more volumes than who he is as a person. I know that he wanted to be an all-American at guard and stuff like that and he still got that this year. But I mean, he's done a tremendous job going from guard to Tackle and not many people can do that. Jerry, over to you. Okay, we have time. Just a few more questions. We're going to Tim May, Letterman role? Yeah, Luke, picking up on the Diamond with Jackson. He was one of the players who just caught my eye and it was the long pass to do a Jeremiah Smith for a second touchdown. But Dottie was in, looked like a boxing match with Jordan Virge, you know.

11:14I mean, physically and stuff. What does he bring from that realm of just pure physical play in the game? I mean, if you were to build an offensive line, then I'd probably just point you at the Diamond Jackson. I mean, he's tremendous at all levels. You can get to the second level, he's fast, he's like very strong, obviously. And you can play all five positions and obviously thousands of NFL guys. I don't know why I wouldn't pick Diamond Jackson. Yeah, does he feel like an older brother? Yeah, he does feel like 100%. Yeah, he's, you know, he gives us all confidence, even more confidence that we already have. And he's a lot of fun. Obviously he's been here and done it for a long time. And we're doing this for him. So, you know, a lot of fun. Rob Hall or Columbus, this batch? Luke, obviously you don't know what an NFL season feels like. Is this feeling a long season at this point? Yeah, yeah. You know, it makes you learn a lot about your body and what recovery really means and what it does for you over time and stuff like that. And obviously high school, you play like 10 games and, you know, family, you know, like we weren't very great.

12:15So we didn't get to play much past 10 on the game. But yeah, I mean, the first season here for me was a whirlwind for sure. Second season, I kind of found my comfort zone and found what I needed to do to get my body right for going this long into the season. There's a last year, when you have a real bowl, a natural bowl, and you have that. Yeah. Is this to be almost like regular season? You're on to the next two per season? Yeah, and it's better than regular season, in my opinion, obviously, because we have more time, game plan and prep. You know, we get a couple extra days and, you know, whatever we can find that in, still in this game is what we're going to do. I don't know, care how long we're in this facility, but we're going to be here as long as we can to figure out what we need to do to win. Steve, how long do you get to play in the 24-7 sports? You kind of did have to wait a little while to get this opportunity. You know, Austin, you know, got in there at the beginning of the season and different things. Did you always just maintain that patience and believe that your time was going to come? And obviously, this is the beginning of what could be a great future for you at ISD.

13:16Yeah, I mean, you know, we have a tremendous defense here. I'll start it off saying that, like for me, being able to play them every day, I just treated it like a game. You know, maybe I didn't get the reps on Saturday, but my Tuesday and Wednesday practice and full contact was my game. And I needed to really do it, and hands out as much as I could to be able to be ready for this moment. Great. Both we're going to, we go to fight and the right there for a little over time. I've got Caleb waiting here. Luke, thank you very much. Thanks for all the seeing Sonny step into that lead. Step into that type of job. Being honest, sometimes I get weak, I think it's funny sometimes. Just because like I've been around him the whole process, so just seeing him like get comfortable talking in front of the team. At first, I'm a little, like I'm a big little brother, but like just kind of like trying to like take him serious. But then like when you really hear the message and like really started sinking, like he's really starting to mold into that role and really step into it. And adjustment, obviously, it's obviously that your brother, but also that somebody leading a football team. Has that been an adjustment kind of separating those two things?

14:16I mean, not really, because like we always been on a team in our whole life, and I've seen him being those leadership roles prior to this. I mean, he was stepping into it already last year, but we got eight guys in the defense leaves. And now he has to really just elevate that. Yeah, not really. I've been seeing him. I knew he was going to mold in this for a while now. What makes him a good leader? I think he just knows how to talk to different players. Different players require different approaches. Some players you can rip them a little bit. Some guys you might need to pull them to the side. Some guys might need, like they have some off the field things that like he just can give some insights. It just depends on the guy. Just being able to relate to each individual player and see the person connect. I hope that helps build trust with the mesolid. I was watching an interview with Lathan Ransom recently. He called you the most confident guy in the world. What do you think he meant by that? When I came here, I was seven on the depth tour. I was nowhere where I needed to be at, but I always knew like you got to have that confidence to be able to play DB here at a high level.

15:17And I think it's just going to show. I'm excited to go out here and ball this year. You got to be a little delusional. You got to be a little delusional coming into such a competitive place. I came here playing receiver. I want to show my boy Lathan really well. I wasn't delusional. So I'm going to put it all together this year. But I always just been a guy who's still talking trash. Even when I might not have it all together yet, just still trying to get better every day. As you worked your way up the depth tour, you were doing a lot on special teams. I know the coaches have been making that a priority with a lot of younger guys. What would your message be to some of those younger guys that are trying to find their way on some of these teams? Yeah, on special teams, it's not a free play like that down. It's critical when it has a direct effect on winning and losing games. You see if we miss field goals or if we are punt games, not right. We're not hitting 40 plus yards. Things like that has direct correlation on winning and losing football games. And really at the next level, I have some guys who have been there and we have a nickname Ebner. He played 10 years and he has a special team. So just especially for me being a guy in my role in my situation,

16:21special teams is the most important. And I want it to be a tour to keep me in that NFL for a while. And I think the other guy should look at it as a tour to do the same thing at least and even get an opportunity to get on field. Give up to still do or be a part of the kick return unit as the return. Yeah, I'm trying to get back there and return some kicks for sure. But that's also meet them the trust back there for allowing me doing it. I want to be on all four units. I know like playing nickel at the next level. You see guys, you got to be on special teams and I hold a string stand while I go play. So just being a set there will be is critical stuff in the team in the street. How much for a couple of years now? I mean, I don't know. I've been getting comfortable. I feel comfortable playing for a while now. I'm being honest with you guys in front of me who are good football players. But to me, it wasn't really really about that. It's continuing to get on the rise. I feel like my skillsets are getting better. My games getting better. And as long as I'm playing football, I still want to keep getting better. Give me your impressions of your main ball. Jermaine's a ball player. He's an energy, he's an energy giver. He's one of those guys who gets the team excited. He's talking a lot of trash.

17:25You know, he has a full cell, he has everything like that. But I think he's starting to really, I've been with him since he first came in. So I've been seeing him mature, growing to more of a leadership role. And really just he's continuing. He's a guy on the rise to getting better every single day. He's talking a lot to me. He's a talented football player. He's a talented football player. Yeah, I think I think he has a chance to have a great year this year. I really made a move thinking this great person. The first half of this spring is culture. I want to give a shout to my guy Malik Hartford. But it's, I don't really think it was just a spring like in the offseason. He was going real hard. We have this thing we've read our champion and he holds himself to a high standard. And he did that. And then it's just translating the field. I've been, that's who I've been watching a lot of my film with. I've been seeing my clients in the field and getting better every day. You guys can see we see a late the grants of leave. We've got to step into that spot here. Yeah, that's the evolution of football. I'm gonna say this is a high of a state too. So I mean, I know that's a late thing was a great player. Don't get me wrong, but they're kicking the ball off in the high of the state.

18:28And they're sandwiched the standards. So we got to have players make place. Who? Who's making? You know, people back whatever who's making some strides in that room. I was a lot of art. I'll give you a chance to join the competition. But how would you describe it? Oh, yeah. I mean, we have a lot of guys. We're position flexibility is a big thing here. So we put a bunch of different guys in that position. So I think Bryce West has been playing well. And I think Miles is coming along too. But I think the biggest thing for all of us is just really getting them to understand the defense, getting them to know what they're doing. And they all have the skill set. So really, as that mental part develops, the physical is already there. So just put it all together and they have the chance to be really good players here. When you got like a diva statue as well to a five star, what are the top players in the country? Is there an initiation process with players anymore? I could be a smart like Mark. I'm just going to do that. But is there, do they see a guy who grew up in front of your eyes? Yeah, I mean, the stars, like, yeah, it might show like the skills that you have

19:33or like the God given abilities. But I want to say about Devon, is just the type of person he is. He's a real good guy. I think his ego is not crazy. He's a real humble guy. And then he's trying to get better every single day. The stars and all that really don't matter. There's not really initiation process. If you come here, you're freshman. You got your black stripe on, you got to earn your way. And I think that's getting your teammates trust and getting the trust in your coaches. How do you see him just like, like in terms of like competitiveness, like putting himself so hard as her spring? Oh, yeah, he's competitive. But if I'm being honest, I don't really want to. I mean, he has the high piece of five star and all that. But like, Ohio State, like the standard to standard. So like everyone in our room is held to the standard. And I think he's getting there meeting that standard. Like he's getting better every single day. He has to continually get better. But the traits that you want and the thing about effort going hard, being a competitor, all those things that are not the technique, not the football part, he has that there. And I think when everything else comes along,

20:33it's a big, great player as well. How is that standard helped you personally going into your fair here now? Kind of your development over the last couple of years. I mean, yeah, I was challenged. I mean, it's either you, the sinker swim. I had guys in front of me. I had to make a choice. Like, do I want to continue to get better every single day or just be complacent? I could just sit here and be like, OK, like this is my situation or try to find a way. So I mean, that's it. I made away on the field. That was my goal. I had to go hard. I had to do certain things and how to go on special teams. And those things I weren't doing before, necessarily in my pressure near playing on those special teams. I don't know. I'm trying to learn Nickelback. I came here to play corner. I'm out here playing Nickelback. So it's sinker, sinker swim. So I think I did that. And now it's the time just to take it to another level and continue to get better. You mentioned the first question earlier. It said you have to be a little bit devotional. But is it important to have that confidence, either before maybe you have everything figured out and have an invitation or anything? I mean, clearly, I mean, I would never play it if I didn't. I would have never played it if I didn't. I came here to play corner. We have a bunch of guys here at corner. Now I'm trying to get at Nickel.

21:33We have a dude starting at Nickel. I want to play. I have to get it on the third down package. I have to go do this on special teams. I haven't done something on special teams. So yeah, you got to be a little delusional. You got to be a little delusional. All right, Lorenzo. Thank you. Thanks for coming. Come back, player of the year award. This Impostals was talking about your journey and your first year of your comeback. I guess what does it mean to you to get recognized? And that way, not just for the play on the field but for the stuff that will overcome as well. Yeah, it means a lot to me. I mean, obviously, I thank God. I think the people that help me get back to this point because I have faced a lot of adversity. This journey throughout my career obviously didn't go as I had planned it going in. But I want to change the thing for what I appreciate it. I've learned so much from it. I'm going up as a man. I'm growing my faith. And I made relationships. That'll how I've stayed that I want to change for the world. Jorikoff, what's this bench? Like, once it's been like in practice and just the preparation for playing off, that's like, can I see that you push the tempo as much as it does and you're going to play a fast-paced maybe in the waiting season this year? Yeah, I think our coach has done a great job, you know,

22:34trying to replicate that tempo at practice. I'm doing as much as we can, running from Joe to Drew. When we are doing 11 on 11, showing that tempo, always been ready to communicate at our high level. So I think our coach has always prepared, you know, for obstacles like that. Tim Mayton, you had a better memory of it. Yeah, I've fallen over to that. I know every game is critical for safety. But in a game like this, where they are lining up quickly, it's your job in hand, studying, or you may be more complicated. How can you describe it? Yeah, I feel like one of the keys to victory is always, you know, communicating. You can't run the defense you want to run without all being on the same page. So, yeah, I think that, you know, I say these DBS linebackers. We always do a great job communicating anyway, but, you know, in any game, you've got to be at the highest level of communication. I think that's what we're going to do. And you're running back. What just jumps out to you about your couple of guys and talk about your patients. You run intelligently for one another term. What just jumps out to you? Yeah, it's a great running back. It's certainly patient, a great contact balance. You really got to run your feet when you're tackling him. And, you know, it's explosive.

23:34It has that home run speed, so, you know, really excited for the challenge and excited for another great back. Rob, all of our clubs this batch were right. Now, that guy was just up there, and he said, it's kind of unique that players can hold coaches accountable in this program. What's that look like? How does that work? Is it done? Why is it done? Modeling? Yeah, I think that's what's so special about our team is, you know, obviously, when you say, you know, hold a coach accountable, there is no disrespect in that matter. As far as, as we're looking for ways that they can make us better and they look for ways that we can make them better. So, you know, having that relationship, you know, just benefits the team. I'm sorry. Good way. Tony, I've got you already. No, we've been on this public dispatching. Come back, Tony. Oh, safety. How much do you appreciate flying next to camp? And what does he maybe want to see? Even if it's two years younger. This is being around in the washroom. Yeah, I appreciate Kav, you know, he came here. And like I said beforehand, I'm stuff like a pro. Kav, you're asking a bunch of questions, you know, with the funds learned as much as he could at such a fast rate.

24:36He, you know, continues to learn. I think he just, being with someone like Kav, just something I constantly compete with. And he makes me better by doing that. So, I think we're always just in competition with each other. Obviously, we support each other more than, I think, anyone else in the building. So, I think just having a brother like that, that I can compete against at such a high level, with also having the support from him is extremely special. Almost the entire season, you guys have played lights out. Um, he has an instinct. It takes that to win an actual championship. You know, questions about the one, who knows how the game is going to go. What if it comes down to you guys having to win? How much confidence is there on this defense of the U.S.? You know, at the end of the day, we have complete confidence in our offense. Uh, first of all, but, um, I mean, as a defense, we go out there every time we step on a field, uh, in the back, uh, we're expected to, you know, to stop, expected to win the game. Coastal is a great job, you know, making sure that we feel that every day of practice, that if it comes down to the defense, I mean, we need to be ready for that moment. So, uh, I think we'll be ready. We have time for just one more, uh, that special needs get ready to come in here to Tony Gurman,

25:36fuck out. Lapen with the splits of Tennessee's receivers. How does that impact your job? Yeah, I think just, um, obviously, those are unique splits, and, you know, why is that a little more on this more space? But, uh, uh, it just, I mean, just preparing for that game. I want to say really affects our job, but we just have to be ready for that. Um, it's something that we haven't seen before, and I think our coaches and, you know, team has done a great job of showing us those looks, uh, to prepare us for the game. Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you, guys. Jalani's been here for a while now. Yeah. Um, and that's the best part about this unit coming back. These guys, we got experience. I mean, just look at the playoffs alone. We had six guys, six tight ends playing the playoffs. I only traveled six tight ends. So, I had six playing the playoffs, and in the national championship game, I had five play. So, like, there's a lot of veteran leadership coming back, so, a bunch of leaders in that. We're talking about your law. You don't have to be making strides. You don't have to be making strides. You never have to be seen through a lot of sudden. I guess we're as different now today, heading into the spring when he has been. Yeah, and so, how Jalani's different right now is, is all the non-glamour stuff. It's just that daily habits and stuff that you guys might consider boring,

26:36but just, just, what are your habits for when they did this standpoint? How do you attack the off-season? Like, him in the weight room with coach Mick, this off-season is like nothing I've seen yet. Um, so I'm super encouraged, and I cannot wait to watch it translate to football field. Going back to Max. Yeah, which one? A Max Flarecon. Gotcha. Last week at the Combine, Leith and Ransom said that you may have given you the idea to look at. Yeah, I don't want to give Leith too much credit, but no, no, there was no lies told there. So, every Friday night, Leith and Caleb Downs and I sit next to each other for dinner. Just a tradition we had last year, and every week I ask them about the opponent and kind of their game plan. I ask them about the tight ends that they're going to see. And when it was Purdue week, they were both going on and on about this kid. Um, so when it was, you know, when he entered the portal, Leith was like, yeah, that's what I was telling you about. So then we watched this film, and then, you know, conversations kind of started organically, and then the rest is history. But yeah, I'll give Leith and the whole thing. Since you said which one, I'll ask about Max and Vaughn. Yeah. What's his development been like year now,

27:36year after year? Almost, so you got to be right. Yeah, sure. Really good. Really good. This is a huge spring for Max, and we have high expectations. I mean, he had an awesome workout this morning and that he won a one-on-one competition in front of the team. And we've been feeling him more. He's a tough kid and super excited to coach in the spring. You didn't make it all thing secret at all. How much do you guys want to neighbor on the team to class last year? No. Yeah, no. What? What have you seen so far that makes you think that he's pretty good at things like that? Not maybe that this year, you got to treat large group of guys going back in the eye to act, but what, what excites you about him now? Yeah, I'm super impressed by his maturity. I mean, I think it's credit to go back to his high school coaches, Coach Beller and those guys at Washington and his parents. I mean, he had a brother who played college football. So he kind of gets a little bit, but he's been so locked in this winter. It has not been too big for him at all. Coming from a place like middle of the Norman Oklahoma to Columbus Ohio competing against these guys. Maybe there's an adjustment, but he has not blinked.

28:37And I'm super encouraged by how it's attacked the winter. I'm sorry, sorry, you have to look at this in the next corner. How have you seen the other guys, a staff of the house, how has Max stood in? And where do you see, how do you see the light in the middle of his head? That man, Johnny, all these guys. Yeah, no, I would just say that they've messed perfectly. And I think Max come in here and nobody leaving speaks to the room and the culture that's in the room. It speaks to Max one, because I told him, I said, listen, Cass is coming back, Benny's coming back, Lonnie's coming back. Like, it's not like the cupboards bear at all. And he understood that and he still wants to be a block eye, which says a lot about Max Claire. But then like today, in today's day and age, you bring in anybody from the portal. You got to think somebody's walking right out the door, let alone one of the better guys returning at that position. No one batted an eye and I told him on the front end. And I'm not surprised at all. Like the brotherhood in that unit is so freaking strong. And I told him the expectations to be the best unit in the country. I don't waver from that.

29:38It's a Ohio state. It's not just two B.U. Y.V.S. Super U. Like it needs to be tight end you. And they know that expectation. So I'm going to sign the best in the country. A portal guys, recruit guys, and everyone's on the same page there. So we're well aligned. Is that part of the conversation they gave? We weren't looking for someone to replace anybody in this room. But the best tight end in the country you want to become here. You can't say no. How does that work? Yeah, I don't know if it was that easy. Like, you could not say no. I mean, you can still, everyone else in the country wanted them as well. But the conversation I went to will, and I went to Bennett. And I said, listen, I have not taught to him yet. With your permission, I will. And if he's a culture fit, that's my only promise. If he doesn't fit you guys, I'm not going to bring him in. But I think he has a skill set that might be complementary to you guys. You know, and I think it might make the room better. And they were like, Coach, let's go get them. How much does it help everybody to play last year as a show they could play? They know they'll play. They can start working. Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. We're going to play the best 11. Think about two years ago when I took it. Like, it was the case to overshow.

30:39And then you go last year. We had six guys playing the playoffs. We have 13 personnel at Ohio State. We got 14 personnel at Ohio State. Like that, people probably would not have believed that two years ago. So our guys know the proofs in the pudding now. If you're one of the best 11, you're going to play. And listen, if you're maybe you're not one of the best 11, but you're the top 20, we're going to have a package, you know what I mean? So to your point, like, they saw it last year. And now we got to expand on that now. What does it mean? 16 packets. 16 personnel. I don't know if I have no body. We saw a little bit of it. People just thought it was like a block. It's a problem. So I don't know if it's organized or something. Obviously, Max does what he does in the past. Maybe we'll just better need to do. Maybe to show you that he can do those things. Because we haven't seen him do anything. Sure. I mean, I think he was the first tight end in the score last year. Yeah. I mean, he showed us that. But if you want to play tight end here, you got to be receiving threat. And you got to be dominant in the blocking area. Period. Going off for your same report, how would you define the culture that I can see from these tight ends? Well, you know, each year is different. That's OK. I had his own little thing going. Last year, we tried it ourselves. Like, we needed to be the baddest dudes on the field. Because I told him in the first meeting last year, I was like, we are the least talented unit on the team.

31:40Not just to insult them, but like, we're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. We're a better, Bowie. We're the best. We're the best. We're whoever. We're the best. We're the best. I don't know if this is paper but we can express this kind of problem that was probably decided so. But we want everyone to learn a little different. It's so sensitive. I don't know if you don't like to stop here. No, I didn't think I could get this left out. I wasn't teaching me that part of the team. Yeah, I think when you come out of spring, you'll have an idea of sort of the direction we're heading in and then throughout the summer and then maybe fall camp, you know, like last year of fall camp, you know, we all kind of looked around the room and the leaders were like, you know, if we block our tails off, like we got a shot and then obviously we

32:40got to do our job in the past game, but we got to do the dirty jobs and they embraced that up until the last game of the season. This year's going to be different. Like we've already talked about it, you know, it's not set in stone, but like the challenge is just winter in this spring is that the tight ends need to set the tone. Like you look around the team like we've got so many veteran guys who have played, we've got to set the tone. Like it should come through the tight end room, the energy, the effort, the toughness, the physicality, the production should come through the tight end room. And that's what those guys are saying. So I bought into what they're, you know, kind of pushing for. You say that wasn't leader for the room? Yeah, I mean, we've got a lot, but I mean, Ben has certainly been vocal. I mean, that was from the first day of winter training. He's been here for several years and, you know, he's definitely been probably probably the most vocal of the tight ends right now. What kind of leader is that? Is that an interesting, you know, four years? Yeah. Four years now. I'm going to say, I'll jump on this as a leader given. Yeah, this takes away from him. What do you see for the message? Yeah, I think to your point, you just made it great. When I think, show me a great tight end, I bet you I'm going to show you guys who has

33:42some scars. I don't know. It's trying to make believe for like a tight end to come into college and it all clicks right away. Ben has had ups and downs and I think guys relate to that. Like this is going to be freaking hard, man. So especially those young guys, those new guys coming in, Ben has kind of, you know, that veteran figure. He's been through hell and back and then we lead on him down the stretch and he's out here dominating and doing some playoff. So, I mean, he's a lead first guy, but he's been super vocal and I've challenged him to take these new guys in the maxes and the rates and, you know, show them the way. You know, you know, you know, Bill is nothing to do while he's with what stands out about him as a coach to get this shot. Yeah, and I don't want to compliment too much because he's one of my best friends, but Billy, right off the bat, his knowledge, he's one of the smartest football minds I've ever been around. Like, you got coach day and you got a couple of it and then like Billy's up, like right up there. Billy and I were roommates during COVID, sent my wife back to Cleveland and we don't want to get anyone sick and Billy and I room together. And like when that season got taken from us for a little bit, it was like football clinic

34:46every single day, 24 hours a day and I was learning a whole lot more from him than he was for me. So, I mean, one is football mind, but also how he relates to these guys. Obviously he's young and he played the position, but his ability to teach, he's off the charge. I was home run higher and super excited to work with him. Did you think last couple quite anything that you benefit for you guys having such a young office staff who's making this happen? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I absolutely love our office staff in the sense of, yeah, we're youthful, right? We can relate to the guys and we've got full of energy. You come to our practices. You guys see, like the starts with Coach Hart, he's out there running around like a madman and we all got to follow suit. But also the continuity. Like, I've been here going on, damn near a decade and my two bosses have been Ryan Day and Brian Hartline for 10 years. So like we know each other every day for whatever eight years. So that continuity, even you mentioned Billy Fessler. He was gone and came back. So yeah, we're young, but we've been together. Show me another staff that's been together for eight years that knows each other that well and that's been this productive.

35:46I don't think there is one. How much does it help you if you have experience in the being in all these different positions that you now take on that course? Yeah, I think a lot, right? I think I'm going to try. I mean, my job again is to make sure that Coach Hartline is a best version of himself and make sure he's organized and has everything he needs. But to your point, like I've been in the running game, I've been in the past game. Also to be the guy to help maybe Tyler Bowen out a little bit, hey, here's what we call that in the past or you know, bridge the gap between running past. That's what a tight end does and that's what hopefully I could do for the offensive staff. With Max Claire's skill set, I'm going to phrase this wrong. You guys have great slot receivers, Ohio State. You always do a backup with a stud. Could it tighten like that help fill in some of maybe what you lose with them after that physicality of the slot position? He's a tight end, but you could pass that. Yeah, I think I think we got several guys in the room that if we're in 12 personnel, they could go line up in the slot and they could line in line. I think that alone, the ability to do both is a is a mismatch for a defense.

36:50We we shot out two or three different tight ends. Like how do you get to treat that? We're going to pack the box and run it. But if we could also spread it out and attack you through the air, I think that could be a mismatch. Just like you said, with way Ryan and Ryan, you know what I call it here, do you think they like 12 personnel? What does a tight ends coach have to do to show like, hey, we can do this whenever you want to do it. I promise you, yeah, two guys were ready to do it. Like what's that? Yeah, sure. Sure. Yeah. And just like you said, challenge, that's exactly what it is. Because really, I tell my guys like, they don't have pride. The best guys are going to play. It's not like Brian Harlan coaches receiver. So they're going to live in 10 personnel. That's not going to happen. If I just know the guy like he's my brother, like if the four best are running backs, we're going to run the wing T or something. Yeah, like he's a competitor and he's going to put the best 11 on the field to win. And if that's you know, two tight ends, hopefully two tight ends, three tight ends, we're going to play with all of that. And that's why you come to Ohio State.

37:50We don't shy away from that at all. Both of those guys coach heart and coach day, you know, have NFL experience. Both of them have used 12 personnel in the past. And we're really looking forward to expand that role. But that's really on the tight ends. You know, they got to use this spring opportunity to prove they're one of the best 11 top 20, whatever that is. Anything else guys? Thank you. Thank you guys for your time. Appreciate it. What is it about his games? It's something that fits that technical position so well. His versatility and him being smart. Me and him watch film all the time and just break down things. If I don't see something, he'll tell me something that he sees and makes me better. And vice versa. So yeah. I was walking up the reddit just so that you said five hundred percent full set for you. So is that important emphasis for you guys? It depends on the middle one. It depends on the middle one. Or aggressive, maybe more turnover is more big tonight in place than you guys in a year ago. Is that how this defense can get better for more? Yeah, we're going to make some big time plays this year. We didn't really have too many last year.

38:52We need more turnover. So that's really the point of emphasis, whether that's getting punchouts on the ball or making intercept. Is that a mentality thing or is that something that you guys have to just be aware of on each and every play? You maybe get more aggressive jumping around because of how much talent you guys have on the game. How does that kind of play itself on a field? We go out there with the most uproar confidence in the world. So it's how we make the play. We're going to make a move. It feels like we have to ask about Jeremiah. What have you noticed for Jeremiah and what's been watching him go against his time? Yeah, he's just competing. But now just a super competitor. Oldsman competitor. Quiet within two. That's what makes it nice. He's quiet within two. But everyone knows what type of time he's on. He's just really good. A lot of players are talking about being pretty quickly. You could tell that this guy was real. When did you kind of have that moment that you could tell that Jeremiah was maybe ready to play right away? I knew when his first time caught a ball, two faye balls in a hand zone.

39:58I just kind of knew these. Do you guys know what you guys think? There was this expectation about AIA. What had happened a couple years before that. It seemed like the standard had slipped a little bit. And then, 2022, 2022, and two happened. And now it looks like he's back to it. It feels like he's back to it. I kind of feel like he's on the team. What does it mean that it's back to us? It means everything that has backed us. It means everything to the school. The people that came before us. Coach Walt, I mean we literally had talks. I remember in 2022 season, we're going to bring this thing back. We talked about it so many times. The revival of AIA. We really talked about this before. It happened last year. We just seen it happen and fruition is crazy. But we kind of knew it was going to come back to the standard and what those guys left behind us.

40:59Is it making things easier for you guys to come back here? Yeah. Try now, actually talk to him. Yeah, first of all, we finally got our respect a little bit. And we can walk around here with some respect. But we still have to go out next year. Prove, or this year prove that we are the best. And that's where we're up to the challenge for a certain. Jordan, you have more guys that share more coaches who can help out. Like some of the analysts like to do a very good job. How do those guys help you? First off, what Coach Dohar, the thing he's doing, the off season is a remarkable job. We're just recruiting those guys. And he's always with us. And there are a lot of 5 a.m. And the same with Coach Mike Hunter. He's in there 5 a.m. And it's Mike Hunter. He got a lot of those. He's a background interference. So he's given us tips because he played. And they're going with league. And so now he's talking to me what he's learning. And make me a whole better player. Like in the 5 a.m. server during practice? Everything. And I'm rolling.

41:59Yeah, just going to get the two day to go. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to get a good one. I'm going to get a bit of mistakes. In the States, maybe you just started two years? Yeah. That's a good idea. There's a lot of cold for different systems. But we're very exposed in Australia to American culture. So you were to expect a little bit. We get all your TV shows. We were sport. You know, sports events there. He's been over there. So it wasn't too bad. And I've been lucky that I should travel over to America a bit before I moved here. So I sort of knew what to expect. What are some of the bigger cultural ways you're going to react to? Just the way people speak to each other, like joking around with each other. The shite here can be pretty dry sometimes. And even though I go home and see my mates, I would say something that sort of doesn't seem like a joke, but it is. So you're going to get used to that a little bit. Yeah, it's the biggest ones, I suppose. It's a little more sarcasm than Australia's saying. Yeah, a little bit more sarcasm. And the way we speak to each other is, like, the words we use for different things.

43:01I mean, I just need to have the last time. I was talking about gardening with Ronald mates and we were talking about using a whipers in the back, which is a weed whacker. And like, just a little things like that. You guys have no idea what I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's exactly like, yeah, this is like a bunch of little words. I'd say that, you know, I think in order that I don't realise that he's actually Australian. I have to go back on it. Yeah, the guys are starting to learn. I hear that. One of the big things we, we, it's selective for the one. So you can't just sort of walk in, you have to try out. But most of the guys go out playing Australian football, which the primary way to pass the ball is by punting it, essentially. It's a little bit different. But then we have a whole bunch of coaches that actually played a toy football. And the Nathan Chapman played a few games at Green Bay. So he knows what to expect. He knows how to kick on. He still goes out and boots on his old age, 45 or something. So yeah, and then they sort of, they teach exactly what to expect.

44:06They don't give you any false hope really. They say, you're going to go there. This is exactly what it's going to be like. So it's sort of like a one, two, three year simulation of what it's going to be like over here. So guys are ready to go. We have a come. Two culture. It depends. It depends how good you are. A lot of it's your mindset as well. So it's very, it's, you know, it's a unique off season. We might get two weeks, two weeks break and then we're into winter and then spring and then summer and then fall in the season. So yeah. Two culture questions. One, have you ever had a Vegemite sandwich? Yeah, yeah. And two, I heard no real Australian with drink faster, spare. I've had my first forces in Nashville about two months ago. And? It's, it's all right. It's, it's fine. I won't be rushing back to it, but it's, it's easy. And Vegemite? I love Vegemite. It's awesome. Yeah, I, I miss it a lot. I actually brought it over to Jarlos from Los Alamos in Australia. So yeah, I love Vegemite sandwiches. Have you tried to share it with anybody other than Nick? I've tried, yeah, I mean, Nick doesn't mind it. I tried it with our one of our kickers, Casey Magger. He's pretty upset when he tasted it.

45:07Yeah, it's some pretty good reactions out of the guys. But yeah, if you, if you, you know, four to one ratio with butter on some toast, it's pretty nice. What's the biggest similarity between Australia and New York? To be honest, the foods, the foods seem like, I mean, we, we're very multi-calls from country. It's America. I suppose we probably have more Asian foods, whereas America has more latinian foods. That's probably the biggest food difference, but I mean, we have a whole bunch of Italian. I, where I'm from in Melbourne has one of the biggest great populations outside of Greece. I think it's the biggest, the outside of Greece. Yeah, I mean, you could go either. You'd be, you'd be in the city, CDR art. Do you have to watch everywhere you step? No, it's not that bad. Just every now and then you sort of look up and it might be a spot. There was something but sometimes I mean, there's a lot of daddy long legs, you know, these little ones with the big legs, but like you'll all be in six. So they're not sat around in the corners. But it's not too bad. Joe, you got glass. Thank you very much. Thank you, Joe.

46:07Here are Jason, where are the rest of that group at? Specifically, to protect and hand in, Kate, how does he sort of elevate it that knows Gargda. Kate is, you know, he's interesting because he's very talented. He plays hard, you know. I think it's a matter of consistency with him, you know, and predictability, I would say. You know what I mean? So if you flash outside your gap and you make a play great, and the next time you flash outside your gap and don't make a play, you know, then, you know, we have to be disciplined in our approach. I think he certainly shown the ability to mess things up in there.

47:08So, okay, so, uh, they helped a lot of us. Just to follow up on Taiwan. And Thailand wasn't able to go this week. Would you see him as your starting creeps at base on how he played? We haven't really discussed that yet because we're hopeful on Thailand. But I think there's a chance. Do you think just regardless of that Taiwan has earned himself more consistent playing time based on that performance? Well, based on that performance, yes. It's only one performance, but he did a good job. So, are you both further? I don't believe you're the defensive player in game with those? Correct. Why is the Worldwide Interval decision? Well, we just, uh, you got to speak truth, you know. And while we had some, some champions, we had no one that we thought, uh, really showed, uh, you know, a silver ball of the game performance. Oh, here's a part of the game. In terms of the defensive tackle, did you think going into this game that maybe there was more depth of the defensive tackle than maybe the film showed you or even live on Saturday showed you actually there was?

48:18You know, um, I think whatever, whatever I want, right? It doesn't matter until you actually show up in a game, you know, in front of 100,000 and do it. You know, so, um, I don't think you just really don't know until a guy gets a significant amount of plays. I mean, you know, you can get in here and spot performance here or there. Or when the game is in control, but, you know, you have to be able to do it when the game is on the line for a significant amount of reps. So you really don't know until it happens. Going back to the linebackers, Arbel, that's the last week that he had the ability to work much at the will, because maybe like, I hope that could one get in ready to play that position if you need to or is that just not an option that's always stable at the point? No, it's not an option. I mean, with Arbel, he's on a structured course to greatness.

49:18So he's climbing that step by step. So you want to throw anything, don't put a, throw a monkey wrench in there. What did you like from the secondary, the main development office on Saturday that you guys probably won't see a lot of, you know, in the world? Well, we only gave up one explosive pass. So, you know, I think, uh, gave up two explosive runs. So, five explosives over three games in terms of the way we look at it is, is a big deal. And I think that has a lot, a lot to do with our secondary, you know, making sure that we keep things in front, that we can test one, there's one, there's an opportunity contest. So, you know, these are very principles, it is not based on the option ever, but, you know, these one-off offices that you won't see a lot of good to play.

50:23What is different is that, uh, to see that, to fit it into office play, you know, and do you want to see that again? It's not because you're, you know, you have to have the concepts upon the mantles and disciplines of your defense. And they, they hold up, you know, you're creating new things every week based on the offense. I mean, you can change up your calls, obviously, based on the offense, but the fundamentals, the technique, those consistencies they apply across the board. Just to quick, he's, uh, Arvail, I won't fall up from that. I mean, do you remember in pre-season camp, was it in pre-season camp where you saw him, where the light bulb was really coming on? I mean, when did this start showing up, was it in spring, or was it, and sometimes the light bulb it flashes, and sometimes it comes on. You understand what I'm saying. I mean, if you've been in pre-season, pre-season, and I would say that's correct.

51:23It's a flat, a flashing light, you know, flashing light, blinking light, you know. So, we're just trying to get that thing to stay on consistently. And that's how I can move to F6 then. You called it, all out of blitz, basically. I'm, you know, for one of another term on one of their touchdown drives. Didn't quite get there. They converted, or it looked like it all out. I mean, CJ hits up the middle, things like that. I mean, you, I want to get in your head a second. And that doesn't quite work. You put it away for later. Well, somebody's already seen that now. We can't do that. The way they picked it up. How do you operate in that regard? Yeah, you got, you definitely want to stay multiple in those aspects. So, you know, you have, again, it's not impossible, but it's all, but I think when you're creating new things every week,

52:31you know, that's not as good as I kind of already have in the toolbox. So, you're right. Yeah, we have, you have a bunch of the toolbox and maybe you pick one. And then you say, okay, I've run a different, different version of that next time. Yeah. All right. I'm sure it's all gone. You know, it looks like Son was wearing the green dot on Saturday. He also did it against Western and he was keeping his keep wearing that with even a code attack. Or how does that work? Yeah. I can't remember if he did that against Western. I don't know. Did he go, I think Cody had it. I thought so. So, one sunny, Cody sunny. Yeah. Yeah, I think that can kind of flip back or forth. I think the more experience you get both those guys doing it the better. You know, and because one goes down the other guy does it. But so I think that can remain fluid.

53:33You know, that's kind of the goal. Yeah, the goal was to have, yeah, was kind of both getting around, you know. So they both can do it. We all know how the killer is. He hasn't had a chance to kind of make that signature play. He just hasn't come down yet. How, how pressurized he'd been even if he hasn't had that signature play? What is he added to his keep? Yeah, he's like, I've always said about him, you know, professionalism and seriousness to his work, you know. And coachability, you know, just makes mistakes. He's human, you know, but he fixes things. So the slight nuances that we do week to week, he picks him up like that. And he's real serious about it. Last week, basically, your defense played close to perfect. You were like, I want to hear the fact that you had some issues on Saturday.

54:33Is actually from your perspective a healthy thing where you can say, well, there's a reason that I can't let you get complacent because we do have, we did screw this up, we did screw that up. Is that a good thing heading into specialty? No, it's never a good thing. It's not a good thing, you know. But you have to make the best of it, you know. So it's, you know, learning experience, you know, everything happens for a reason. Okay, this happened. Here's how we didn't play it right here. So how we have to play it right. So we learned from it. You know, you, you learn, I think Bear Bryant said you learn a lot from a loss. We're not allowed to lose around here. So, but you learn even more from, you know, a win where you don't play your absolute best. So it's probably where you're, where you're heading. But I don't ever think it's a good thing. You just, you know, just take what you have and make the best of it.

55:35Straight into Saturday. Was I what? From straight into Saturday. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. You know, our expectation has to be perfection and domination all the time. You know, I thought, I thought we had a slow start. I thought I could have done a better job. And then you got, you get in the start, but you get into those situations where it's like third and three, third and four and you kind of scramble around and make it, you don't get off the field, you know, on a third play or a sixth play. And then, and then I think that's, that's why you get in trouble. You know, you get off the, you get off the field that first, third and three or even the second time. I mean, you know, maybe, you know, you may not see those two touches. You know, I mean, it's just kind of the way the game rolls, which, you know, brings up the importance of getting off the field, throw it down.

56:35You know, I mean, you know, I mean, that was totally different. Yeah, we did what was possible. All right, we got a lot of questions here to be brought up. Jim, kind of go back to some of you said, okay, you mentioned sometimes the flash, I was getting made a big play. And then next time, make a flash, I got something. This is what you're taking about, okay, you see guys make a play outside of the gap with a roller, as close to the end. How do you balance that with them? You know, that's not what exactly you're doing in this game. Well, if you do what you're supposed to do, you know, and then when you flash it to do something else, you make the play 100% of the time, I'm cool with that. Thank you. You know, football games. When you have your franchise quarterback, crush a conditioning test, how much does it kind of show

57:37it a rest of the group leadership and being a team leader and everything? Yeah, there's been so many guys that have stepped up into that role of example center, tone center, you know, here every day, every meeting, every weight room set, weight room session, every practice, engaged. I mean, every day, every hour, every minute, you know, nobody more than Durwin James and Justin Herbert. Those two have been really off the charts and incredible and set the tone and been leaders by example the entire off season. Justin, is there a moment from this spring that got you most excited, whether that's on the field in the classroom? That would be a long list. I don't have that list in front of me right now, but it's just a punch. You know, it's just, I mean, numerous throws, of course.

58:40You know, the smash in the conditioning test. I mean, just like child's play, you know, like the way he's picked up the system, you know, the cadence, the motion landmarks, you know, every, the protection, you know, his knowledge of a protection, yeah, I could point to a bunch of examples where he, you know, changed the protection, picked up the blitz, knew the blitz was coming, made this incredible throw or that. Boy, if I had to say the top of the list would be, you know, just the way he elevates teammates. I mean, he lifts them up, you know, kind of makes himself smaller and then bigger, you know, as opposed to the guy that pushes the others down and, you know, look at me, that that's the same humorous ones of those.

59:40I think right now that probably topped the list even though there's some other words too, but there's never any shameless self-promotion. I mean, he just, he's just been willing to do anything and everything for the team. How coachable is he? Like, he just wants to learn more and he got that passion for being a student of the game? Yeah, there's, there's no question about it. I mean, he always has the right, I mean, I would say questions, but it's the right answers too. I mean, I'm probably more so the right answer. Hey, what do you think of this? You know, and he's, you know, he's, he's got that, he's got that ability too. It's, you know, he's, he is, he's an expert at football. You Mr. Team, picking up the team, did that think a third team and a few years? How impressive have that been from a mental standpoint?

1:00:41Yeah, I think that's impressed everybody, you know. And we all had an understanding pretty much of what his, you know, mental capabilities are. He's a sharp, razor sharp, intelligent person, but the, you know, it's also diligence. It's study. It's, it's feedback. I mean, there's nobody, nobody in this organization has played quarterback at the high level that he has. So like I said, you know, that, you know, there's an expertise there that's been extremely valuable. Being around Justin, you know, seeing his mental attitude, he talked about some of the throws that he's made in fact is, how has that gave you no better on a personal level as a player, as a person that informs how you guys have gone about building the offense and molding the vision of the offense? Yeah, from day one, it's been, you know, we want this, you want, what, you know, how do you see this judge?

1:01:50And you're like it this way or this way, you know, you know, what are you like? What are you input, you know, over communications been that way since, since day one? The goal, Jury, for Justin, was that something you implemented or chose for a guy? Yeah, he did not want that. He didn't. And I get that, I understand that. You know, as a quarterback, I didn't like wearing a different color jersey than anybody else on the team. So I understand that that's not, you know, ideal for Justin, as it wouldn't have been for me, but, you know, quarterback, we try to have a two yard halo around him.

1:02:50So when we're in the off season and these, these kind of practices, you know, say we're from the quarterback. And the goal jersey is just a reminder, you got two yards for all the quarterbacks, but the guy wearing the goal jersey, let's make that two and a half or three. And it's kind of the kind of the, not just like that. Sometimes you got, hey, neither, neither decisions ideal, you know, but I'm going to take the lesser of the two, you know, worse, worst case scenarios there. But it, it happens, you know, I mean, you got to, you got to take that, that, that real worst thing that could happen. There could be, you know, young defensive linemen that's, you know, thinking they're making the team by, you know, by beating a pass rough and getting too close to the quarterback, you know, I could come from a young lineman that's, you know, backed up too far into the quarterback or running back that doesn't step up in protection.

1:03:52So we're just trying to, you know, ultimate goal, let him complete a throwing motion. He didn't win them for the last couple of drinks, the goal journey. Yeah, he's kind of, he's kind of, he's kind of, I got to adjust, he's kind of rigged system a little bit. So I go, we do the t-shirt jerseys on the odd days, and then we do the game jerseys and the football pants on the even days. So, there wasn't, there wasn't a, that's not a been a goal t-shirt made oversight there. Commanders oversight. We'll get that, we'll get that fixed. But yeah, when it's been the jerseys, he's won the gold jersey. You know, it's different, it's just with the jerseys. Typically, you have all the quarterbacks where, yeah, a different color. So is there something even further with the gold jersey that like, this isn't a back of either, like why not all the quarterbacks, like it's way different?

1:04:52Different colors. Yeah, that was a good question. That's a great question. And it, you know, came up, like I said, I mean, I really want to put any quarterback in a different color jersey than anybody else in all the quarterbacks. You know, you know, we're going to stay two yards away from them, create a halo around them. But with the guy who's wearing the gold jersey, make it two and a half three. That's, there's a difference. What have you seen from his competitiveness, whether it was last week at the golf course or here and during in the film room or out on field? Yeah, it's, you know, it's, it's at the highest level. Could you share some light into the 13 whole golf tournament that you like, where did that hard ball? Yeah, the hard ball. And then like, what did you, what did you maybe learn from your team like during that experience?

1:05:53This 13 holes of scramble golf and that, it was just a scramble that you play as a team, just like best ball and everything. And I had a great group. The guys from Hyundai were great. I drive a Hyundai. It was cool to be talking, talking cars with them and football. We had our chances. We, we didn't get, we didn't make the top five or anything. But, and then after that it goes to individual play. So your fourth team's hole, whatever was, whatever hole you're on, your fourth team's hole, you're playing your own ball. And the criteria to, it becomes playoffs. So double bogie or better, you get to move on to the 15th hole. Bogie or better, you move on to the 16th hole. Par or better, move on to the 17th. And par or better on the 17th hole, you go to the finals. And there's a, there's a one hole playoff for anybody that's made it through those tiers.

1:06:55So, it's something to do with your childhood or something like how you started. It did. It did. Yeah, to me, and my brother, John, golf has always really been a 12 hole, 13 hole game. We, we didn't grow up in a country club. So we, we snuck out a lot of golf courses. I don't know if that didn't give me trouble now. But, especially back in, in Ann Arbor, Michigan golf course, Georgetown golf course. And you couldn't, you couldn't, you couldn't tee off the first hole. You couldn't play the first hole. It was too close to the clubhouse or the starter. And then the second hole, you could see the tee box from the second hole was a par three. And you could really see the third tee box from, from where the starter was. So I kind of had to get on the fifth hole or the fourth hole. And then you could never play the 18th hole, 17th hole. And most of the time, not the 16th hole. So, we just get used to golf being 12, 13 holes.

1:07:56I'll try to prevent you from falling in professionally. I'll try to shift where my teeth are. Oh, it's amazing. I get, yeah, if I have a, if I have a Sunday off, that's where I like to do sit there. And, yeah, sometimes take a little nap. But, you know, definitely, definitely love watching the, the guys compete went to, uh, I've had the opportunity to go to the sub tournaments, been to Augusta, a daughter, Addy and Sun Jack. We went to Augusta in 2023, 2020, not 23, no, 2022. We went there. Um, there's great. Went to, all four days, you know, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We had our, our green chairs and, uh, darn it, went to every hole. Yeah, we're, we're big fans. Coach, is there any benefit with, in training camp, there's going to be five teams having training camps here in the greater Los Angeles area in terms of joint practices and teams not playing their starters and preseason games and using that.

1:08:59More is that a benefit for you? Yeah, we're, I think it will be. We're, we're, uh, I think we're, I mean, I don't know if the contracts have been signed or there needs to be, but we've, we've had those, uh, had those discussions and, and looking forward to the opportunity of that. What do you, obviously loved doing this, what is your favorite thing about this time of year? Is it building relationships? Is it seeming to be what your favorite part about this new process? Yeah, that's, that's a great question. I mean, probably all those things, you know, you just mentioned, I mean, you know, relationships, the, the rapport, you know, that's, that's built on a team. Yeah, there's a, there's a tremendous thing about just getting, just getting, why are we here? Get better, get better at football, you know, and to, uh, you know, watch that process go on every day. I mean, guys are where they're training. I mean, keep performance indicators, you know, watching, watching those improve on a weekly, weekly basis, um, coming through the system, you know, really the, um, both offense defense, special teams, you know, really fine tuning and detailing.

1:10:12That out, you know, just, uh, just an opportunity for a day in football, you know, and, uh, you know, got health in one day. We could, uh, you know, chance to be better today than we were yesterday. Yeah, be better tomorrow than we were today. That's the most exciting thing. Yeah, offensive on obviously, I have a better idea and training camp, once the past month, but what's your assessment of sort of where that group is at right now? Um, you know, really good. Um, I think it's on track to be, you know, top tier offense line in the NFL. Um, and yeah, Roshan, uh, Zion, Bradley Bozeman, uh, probably right now, tree pickpickins, uh, and Joe Alt. I think that's, uh, the fifth, uh, the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth offense alignment, you know, better choir pads to, uh, sort, sort those out because it'll be close.

1:11:20But it's going to be, you know, real, like it has a top chance to be a really top tier offense line and just doing everything right. I really see the coaching. I see this with defense too. I mean, you see the coaching. You see the guys buying in to what we're doing on defense. Um, cause you see it through the technique. Uh, when you watch the tape, I see the same thing in the offense line. Um, so that's, I'd be our top tier and then, uh, we'll, there'll be some positions, you know, specific, you know, to the depth chart that'll get sorted out and training camp. Training the move inside is something new for him. So what has he shown you moving from right tackle the right guard so far? Extremely capable, you know, um, of doing it. And he's a, he's an outstanding player. He's an outstanding tackle. Uh, he's, and he's an outstanding guard. He's, um, you know, the idea of our getting to our best five at all times, you know, and, and playing that it may, may shake out and, um, you know, what the, what the rotation is.

1:12:31But you just need, you need five really good ones. Uh, five best you have, you know, playing as, playing as one. I mean, you know, pretty much everything we play. And they have, they have really good edge rushers on both sides. You know, they have, they have interior rushers that are good on both sides. So, uh, you know, that, uh, not having a weak link, you know, is, is critical. Um, and I think we're, we're trending to, to really having a, you know, top to bottom. And I think we're going to have a lot of outstanding offense align. What were the discussions like as far as moving in the right guard? Was that something way early in the process? You saw film lines even while scouting jealous first draft plans that you can move them inside? Pretty much every offense alignment, uh, you know, has, has that versatility. Um, you know, guard tackle right left.

1:13:37Some, some don't have the versatility to snap, you know, some do. Um, so, um, you know, there's, I don't think that's a, a rare or uncommon thing, you know, especially for, you know, athletic and good trade-backers is. Do you expect full attendance today? Um, yeah, I mean, I would, uh, I would anticipate it. Um, I'm going to be here. Oh, um, no, I, it's nothing I've, uh, I've really focused on or, uh, you know, at all throughout the off season. And it's, it's, we've had, we've had perfect attendance. We've had near perfect attendance. Um, and we've had some guys working through something. You know, that, that happens on a, on a given day. Um, but they, I mean, they're training hard to. And I think we're really training, training toward having a, a, um, you know, our best and healthiest team going into training camp, which was the goal, which was the original stated goal.

1:14:45Of, uh, off season, OTAs, many camps, you know, get our, get our healthiest and best team to training camp. And, uh, you know, happy to say we're, we're training in that direction. We saw you guys. We saw junior, uh, lead of practice. We haven't talked to you since then. You hadn't really been in team drills. Is he dealing with, with something visited? Yeah, he was working through something. Back, back now. And then, um, down the farm, you guys have something. He tells them, trying to drill, I mean, he's getting, getting pretty close. Nature. Um, just working through something. Let's just, let's just go with that. I, I try not to step into the HIPAA, HIPAA, uh, you know, gray area. So, I mean, that'll be our, probably communication going forward. You know, guys working through something. I'll tell you if it's like long term or something. Uh, Jim, as far as keeping Joey and, and Khalil just not ain't gone to work with them.

1:15:49Yeah. What, what's been your experience getting to a two veteran, uh, head rush was like that? Um, you know, the whole, the, the, um, as I said, that, that defense is really, really coming together. I mean, I've just noticed a day after day, you know, it's been a real, real bright spot. I mean, um, the way they bought in, the way they're, the way they're playing them in the mix of veterans and, and young players. Um, I mean, we, I definitely think we got a starting, you know, 11, 13, you know, I would call it on, on defense right now. Um, and you can see it through the technique, uh, and the way they're communicating, um, you know, the way their plan has been, been outstanding. Joey, Khalil, you know, especially, um, Tually, Bud, great additions. Um, DP has been, uh, has been, been great. Our defense aligned.

1:16:51Didn't know where that was exactly. You know, when I first got here, but it's a strength. It's a strength for us. Um, really excited about it. Um, I don't think any team has two better safeties. And, uh, you know, we have, we have two really great safeties. Um, and we'll, you know, who the fifth, fifth is, who the sixth is. I mean, still to still to be determined. Uh, you know, right now, um, gotta get the pads on to kind of square out some of those battles, you know, figure some of those out. But, uh, hope, hope that answered the question. They're, they're dynamite. Uh, Joey and, and Khalil and, and tooling butter. Really good too. You know, it's, uh, it's, uh, fantastic to have, you know, that edge. I'm really excited about our theory of defense. It's good. Punas, Scotty. Um, so it's really good. Morgan Fox, Tito.

1:17:52It's, it's coming together really nice. Go, go and limit off season. Remember, did you have any expectations of where you would be at this point? Is it on schedule? I have a schedule? Yeah, you know, my expectations. I'm glad you asked that question. I mean, they're, they're high, you know, like, um, I think if you don't like high expectations, then you probably don't like to compete. But the expectations are, you know, they have to make it a great day. You know, um, my mood will always depend on how the football practice went. Not in a good mood. Uh, so that's the expectation today. You know, make it a great day. And, um, you know, it's got a lot of excitement today. We're going down to Camp Pendleton. That's going to be, uh, going to be tremendous, you know, honoring the honoring, encouraging commitment of the Marines.

1:18:52I mean, guys that are, they're heroes. They don't, and they don't get a day off. Um, I'm also excited about the, you know, the kids that live on the base, uh, we're doing a place 60 there today. It, it sold out or just, I don't know, signed the sign up list, you know, it's fallen about two minutes. I was told, um, I'm excited Morgan Fox mentioned him. He lives on a base, growing up in Colorado and overseas in Germany. Um, he does, does so much. He's got a camp next week. Um, it does, does so much for wounded warriors, you know, excited to watch that interaction. Um, you know, warriors on the battlefield meet warriors on the gridiron. Um, so that's, yeah, excited for an incredible day. Think about this yesterday as well, but you know, I mean, that's what they do. That's what they do. Maybe we should go out there and, you know, play our game and, you know, certain reason why not to play men on man.

1:20:07Two. Four. Three. One. I go five. That's good. That's good. Um, I'm not saying, you know, just go out there. My day just dominated the person I was confronting me. Uh, you know, just do what I've been doing for the last. Two to three weeks, I should say. Um, but you know, they play men on men. So I'm just ready for the challenge. I mean, feels good. Uh, just say somebody going out there and play men on men against Ohio State receivers. It's something crazy. But you know, we just ready for the challenge. Uh, they said it not changing the game plan, but we gotta go out there and show them the reason why not to play men on man.

1:21:24Um, I mean, I don't really, if I be on the curve, I'd be on the curve. I mean, it's not really a big deal to me. Um, may it definitely be a blessing for sure just to be on the cover of a game, but, you know, it's not really a dream. It's a dream of mine, but I don't really think too much of it. Yeah. Um, meaning no, not yet. Uh, probably hit me after this easier. Um, no, just, no. Planting the colors football players as a freshman, uh, playing the Rose Bowl as a freshman. Um, planting a carton bow or not in that some shape of silver. I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but I haven't hit me yet. Sure. I'm putting it right here. What's your favorite offense here? Maybe. My favorite catch, I would say we play Michigan State. The one I call over to defenders, definitely probably my favorite for sure.

1:22:24Or you go the one from Iowa, I should say, and the answer, probably them two. Sure. I mean, like you said, it's pretty frustrating me having a game that I had in the Rose Bowl. They're coming to the Cotton Bowl, just doing different things, changing their scheme up against me. But I mean, like you said, whatever I could do to make, I mean, help the team win. It's not really a big deal for me. As long as we win, that's all I really care about. And then you gotta stand out your championship.

1:23:28It means a lot. We put a lot of work in this season. We have highs, we have lows, we have people cutting us out. We here now, we just ready to pull on the show Monday. Oh yeah. Yeah. First of all, there's not some championship because there was means a lot. I mean, you see everything that he bent on this year, people saying he should be fine. I mean, I see everything that he bent through this year. I mean, I see everything that he bent through this year. I see everything. People saying my hand on Twitter. I wasn't here. He first got the head coach and job. But I know this year for sure, we definitely got a win. It's a lot of people in the league, I should say.

1:24:31I can't really say who, but I mean, you had guys like Odele. You had guys like Odele. You had Stefan Diggs. It means a lot of Michael Thomas, Chris Carter. Just a lot of guys I played in NFL and stuff like that. But yeah, really them guys for sure. Just keep going. You got it. You've got stuff for sure. Really, yeah, really that. Yeah, really that. Yeah. So they said physical defense, like people say, they like the play, man. They're not changing their skin. So we're just ready for the challenge. Like you said, the best defense we probably go see all year. And we just got to be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show. I'm excited for Will.

1:25:35First coming here in Ohio State, January our first workout we had together. Just everything that we built through this season. I'm just happy for him to be in this position right now, but we got to finish the job. And that's the winning out of the home Monday. It's pretty funny. Them saying that because I'm just only a freshman, but I miss the place for sure. People even say that, but I got two, three more years left for Carlos. And I'm just focused on Carlos right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. It's very special for me.

1:26:35Just being a freshman and playing the national stage, appear for national titles. Something that I dreamed of as a very young kid. I'm just happy to be here. And I just can't wait to put on a show Monday for you guys. I'm just happy to be here. All of the receives we were just sitting on the bench and we just sitting here and hitting the quarterback. And we all just got up and just started jumping up and down. We all decided. Happy for jacking that moment. And we just knew that that moment like, you know, we're going to the ad for sure. So I'm going to have to stay champion. Back to the set. Yeah. So like less than 40 plus. I have to be a higher school and a national champion. How does that feel? I have that. The attention. Me. Me. It's a lot of me, you know, going from high school or winning three state championships.

1:27:36I saw my daughter then, you know, coming to Ohio State. Just competing for national charter right now. Me just showed that I've picked two great schools. But I'm happy to be here and just came with the pool to show them a day. The coolest person. The coolest person. I mean, you got a lot. I can't really say just a specific person. You got a lot of great guys. Reach out and leave like, oh, Dale, you had guys like stuff on digs. A lot of other places were just getting cut off my mind, but really, really into guys with short of dollar stuff on this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like they say, they play man. So I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no put on the show. Thank you. The Vice Geno had gave me.

1:28:54I'll just keep golfers. I know the reason why I'm here. I mean, like he said, just keep golfers and just no keep the main thing and the best corner I face this year. I mean, I face a lot of great corners. I can't really say, but yeah, I face a great daughter. I really put a name on it. Oh, good. I say both respect and frustration as well.

1:30:00But I mean, I thought they come out there and tripple to me and they say stick it to whatever they're doing our year and that's playing man covers, which is ready for the challenge. Pretty good group Christian Gary 29 is a great corner. 15, Lenard Moore. Two great guys are right there. Very physical, but you know, we all highest never see this. So we ready for the challenge. I'll say just no understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what Coach Kelly was trying to get done. I mean, just coming in, I feel I progress from our first game gets Icarus and now feel

1:31:05I got better each and every week. I mean, they ain't slowed down a lot for me. But yeah, really just no understanding, diva says and no understanding what they're trying to do to me for sure. I'm two guys. Great. Part of the best we go see all year for sure. Two physical guys. So we're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man no man and we ready to go on Monday. Yeah. I mean, the environment is pretty crazy. Seeing all these cameras. Something I never thought I'd see it there in my life, but some blessings for sure this is the most important thing to do. We just had a prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer meeting and you know, we all, they all, we

1:32:10all discussed the issues because they discussed issues and you know, which is one of the work. We did not tune in how we, we had off before Tennessee game and we just played came out there on Tennessee game and we played with a chip on a chip on our shoulder. All throughout the playoffs and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and that championship on Monday. Do you know how that very impactful? Yeah, the very impact on my career, I should say, you know, just going to his games as a very young kid, seven, eight years old, him playing Westwood, him playing for Westwood year and they played Clemson, Orange Bull down at Miami. He just go like that, seeing his games. It's like, yeah, I definitely want to play on the stage and I can't wait till I get to know that moment for sure. There are you. Cause they're really just in his own, his own little space.

1:33:16He's just walking around trying to get his mark, right? Trying to get his mark ready for the game. But, you know, he just can't, everybody hype in the locker room and just trying to get us ready to go to win the game. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, you go play Vegas Ohio State receivers. I mean, just be ready. Cause, you know, we definitely go to court there and know, give our best. I mean, they said not to change what they do. So we're just ready for the challenge. I mean, just be ready to be in this position right now. It's, you know, a blessing. Just kind of looks like you've been in this situation for a while. Not a year later. Definitely sometime in my career in college, but not my first in college, I should say. I mean, just to be able to be in this position right now is, you know, a blessing. Just to get here from Miami and to be here. And I won't take it for granted.

1:34:16I'm ready to go out there and give them all. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching that game against, was it Georgia? Yeah. I'm going to be in a position right now. I'm going to be in a position right now. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching that game against Georgia. I believe. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was watching that game against, was it Georgia? Yeah. I was watching that game. I was pretty sick myself because I was actually committed at that time. So, I mean, yeah, they left a bad taste in them off. But, I mean, we ready to go out there and Monday to redeem myself. And they'll just put them show them Monday. Oh, I mean, I just laughed.

1:35:20But, you know, that's what they do. They're not going to change what they do, just because we were high last day. So, you got to go out there and put them on. Who didn't know why not to play Man on Man. It gets us. So, we just got to go out there and show them Monday. So. There you go. He said he, yeah. Sorry. You said again. Sorry. My journey here at Ohio State prepared me a lot for National Championship. Me just going through everything that I've been through. My first guy here, all the Matt Jules, all the hard work guys that we had, all the hard practices. Me just preparing all of this for this moment. And I'm just ready to go out there and give it up my all on my day. OK. OK. Yeah. I'm just going to squeeze this. 1 or 9?

1:36:26Theored is 20 או. 200? Me is big andמפ Ceranz. You're just going to throw the stuff? Yeah. I myself don't know until the National Games Super 하나둣 in Iowa. Naright out. What's 20? Yeah, that's pretty good. No problem. The one I probably like the most is the one against Michigan State when I caught over two

1:37:28defenders on the airside line. I'm not sure if I can do it. I mean, just will put in the ball in my area and I just know how to make a play for them. Even though somebody was gathering my face, I just know I still have to make a play because the ball touched my hand. So, I mean, just when the ball is the other thing, I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes at me. After a big game, I mean, they really feed us Chick-fil-A or piece after the game. So, it's really either Chick-fil-A or piece. So, yeah, probably Chick-fil-A for sure. Yeah.

1:38:42It went pretty good. Speaking with their thing is going right and what they think is wrong. We just lot of the older guys, what's in their opinions on what we need to do to come together as a team. But, you know, that me and DeFi helped us in a big way because it helped us on the field as well. We played at a great football right now and we just got to shoot out on Monday. We definitely got emotional. I can't really say what it really was said because players only and coaches only. But, it would definitely be some stuff said that people took, people took and they went with it. That's the reason we plan the way we plan right now. Yeah, Mac helped me a lot this year. Him being our older guy in the room. Me and Carl Nell as well and Brendan and all the guys in our scene room as well.

1:39:44Me just a great guy as well. It's very smart. I mean, Mac just been a big part of the reason that I'm having a seat that I'm having a well because he's been a big. You know, older guy been there, been a lot of great guys in that room. Like Chris Aliveway, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson, Smith and Jibba. So, he's seen all the grids I've been through there and he teaches us the right thing and the right way and the buck out way for sure. He feels good being able to go out there, put that seat out coming on. It means a lot to me. Geno 2, I want to say thank you to Geno and the rest of my teammates, receivers, gave me open and a line doing their thing. And hopefully, you know, it's just the beginning. I want to be staying in this one because you're not a game coming up in a few days. Yeah, I mean, we're going to definitely look at it tomorrow. We're going to go over it, fix our mistakes. And it's good that it's an early week, early week, Thursday game. So, you know, we will have to flesh it and move on. How did I lock it up? One of the state larger or before the game?

1:40:44It maybe hasn't been as much productive season. What's he meant to you guys in terms of leadership and maybe helping the young receiver like you? I mean, it means everything to this organization, how you carry themselves. Just everything he's done for this organization in the city. You know, he's a leader and I appreciate him so much. You know, I feel like I'm in the best position possible, you know, having T-Lock and DK and all these other guys. So, you know, T-Lock, he's a special guy and I'm just just blessed to have his friendship and him be my teammate. How do you guys bounce back from this one, Jackson? Just for you guys to ride and everything? When, you know, when, when next week and a week after that, you know, that's the best bounce back. Anything else? I mean, you guys have the greatest season. To him, to stand in front of you guys, a whole team, having a vulnerable like that, and to make changes, what is it say?

1:41:47I mean, it just speaks to how great a coach is. I think a lot of coaches would have had a lot of selfie girls going into that meeting and he didn't at all. I mean, he loves us, you know, all of us like for his sons and we felt that form, you know, that loss. You know, we knew that we had a rebound like we did. I mean, I can't say enough like how much he means to stand and means to me. The way he goes about business, you know, we don't go about it. Like a lot of teams do about fear, losing your job. We go about as a family and it's about love. And we knew we had to execute and we did that tonight. How happy are you for Coach Day? Do I know how close you are? You were his first kid, right? Yeah, I mean, it's a dream come true. Like I said, I mean, God is so great. During that, it took us down and it took Coach Day on. He was family on the main event. And then I'll be curious that we did a night and he just hung out with him. So, I mean, he needs everything to us. And to see him have the success, you know, it makes me so happy. I find on our face and it's up to see everything. It's going to be an excellent moment. And I guarantee it's going to be a good one.

1:42:48And to come out tonight and win this game for them, it's awesome. I think you dropped them. You dropped them and we come and burn them. The championship will bust all that expectations with this team at own point. You'll tell me things. You know, we knew what the expectations were going to the season. You know, we knew that we're at Ohio State and the job of hand every year as a knock-a-peer for a national championship and not doing your job. So, you know, what never a burden is kind of a motivating factor. You know, do what we're doing right now. We just did. And we'll leave a legacy. And we'll just left is something that, you know, you can't put in the words how much it means. So, we never looked at this as an burden. But it was an opportunity and we did that just tonight. Jack, you dropped your name in the night before. You got the chance in a championship. When did you send the sick? Well, look, we never know today was going to fight to the end. And it didn't just that. You know, during the season, it was during the season you felt that you felt that you felt it. I think that before the season we knew that we were capable of a national championship. Just because of the guys we had and the coaching staff, we knew that we were capable of this. And through all the ups and downs, we were able to persevere and keep fighting.

1:43:48Keep swinging coach day-to-day, always says, you got to fight your way out of bad times in life. And as a player, as a coach, as a family, really, for him, you know, he's got to fight himself out of bad times. And he did just that, made the adjustments, made the change out of him, made him, and now we're champions. So, like I said, God is so good. And the journey brought us on was amazing. Jack, I believe that was the last week who said you're the buck-eyed. Obviously, you grew up in Pickerington. When did you allow yourself to think about what this moment would be like? And what it would mean for your legacy at Ohio State if you could get this done? When did you allow yourself to think about that? Yeah, I know. I mean, honestly, I haven't still even thought about it. I'm just so happy to be able to celebrate this with the School of Guys. It's not about me at all. It's about this team and coach Day and the City of Columbus. I've been waiting for this for a long time for 10 years. And, man, I'm just so happy for this group of guys. And the stuff that we went through and heard, and we keep getting up and keeping shadow of the practice and going as hard as we can. And I'm approaching with a positive attitude and trusting God's plan. And you know, here we are in national champs. And they can never take that away from us. So, just so happy that we were able to finish the job and get it done.

1:44:50You can check. Now that it's a piece on the stage at one point, what were your thoughts on here, Jack? Is that how you're going to play? It's a bit like you kind of dropped your knees at one point and we're giving some kind of thanks or whatever. But what was going on there? I was just thinking God. I was just thinking God for all the ups and downs in my career and everyone else's career. And then to end it this way, it's just so special. I mean, you know, what do you put your faith in God? You know, he says it's not going to be easy. It hasn't been easy for any of us. And we kept trusting him and believing his plan. And here we are in national champions. You know, when I don't want to say all you guys didn't believe it, but I'm sure you guys are here doing the job. We did the job then at the weekend of Ember. So here we are in national champs. I feel it's great to say. Who brought the cigars? Who brought the cigars? Jack and Ben. Who brought the cigars? Jack and Ben. So what do you do when you're not doing that? That's like a long time ago. What did you guys do? We were 90 minutes behind. I don't know. I just was right. Listen to music. For 90 minutes?

1:45:50Warm enough. I mean, what else I got to do? I'm not about to play cards before the game. I'm locked in. Come on now. Steve, what did you make of this three-goes performance overall? Did you see the game kind of touchdowned in the way you were running for it? No, he definitely stepped up today. He definitely stepped up when his number was called. He was running out hard. We were able to stick to the run the day and he saw, you know, once you can't get those attempts, how that wears out in that defense. And it was a byproduct of it. What you've made with that is touched down the house there on the floor down there. We need it. We know when it comes down to it, for us, we're going to be there for us. That's exactly what we want. You got a new pre-sass, but sometimes you get the slowdown of the tempo, which you need to do. So you really got to know what you're doing. You're going to get to know how to play it. Did you find a part of that? A lot. A lot more space to work with. I said that. What did you think?

1:46:50Biggest adjustment. You coming out on national championship? What was the most important thing to do? You were a different team. I'm saying learner, learner, all the players. Learner play those by your heart. The rest of the team are passing those down. I didn't have any resources to do that. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I'm not a kid. I don't even feel like it's right practice. It's helped you win the rest. In all areas, but that's specifically a part of the world. I feel like I have a big improvement from going against BIA. Coach Harden, Coach Jordan, and getting better. All the other guys are helping me out. So I feel like it's best to get better. We've heard Coach Jordan made a lot of fun. Quite a bit. Obviously, Coach Harden like has been a bit different all this year. What kind of impact has he had for you and the babies and the other ones? Coach Harden, I'm the room. Coach Jordan stepped up and he's helped us out.

1:47:51Everything we do is a big help. And I just make sure we stand on top of my stuff. What are you talking about stepping into a bigger home slide? How much do you watch the I Like That every day? Try and take things. Whether it's preparation, stuffy those on the field. Just learning from a guy like that. Every time I watch them, I want to help. So I've detained some of this and I haven't had it to mind. And I'm writing a lot of this too. I take some of this. All the receivers. Yeah. They always help me out. And I need to go. Is what's in life walking into this room specifically at the higher state with all the history of minority smile? I mean, you know what it means to be a part of this world. What's that? It's a big step. It definitely holds a lot like a soldier. So you got to think quick. It's definitely a big dream for my life. It's a good job. I'm blessed to be here. You want that? Yeah, that's why you come. That's why you come. Yeah.

1:48:51What kind of advice you got from some of the workers that is already even before Springgolf started to talk to the Mecca. So what those guys did you want? I tried not to take everything personally. I'll say, when you know time will come, we'll make a comment. I made that play. I've been looking forward to it every day. I have a video playbook because that's going to get you to find your life and find it in this game. I liked it. Yeah, I liked it. As you got pregnant, you was a guy who I've been waiting for the last two years to make a gift for someone to give to. How much is patient to requirement? Obviously, you have to get off the field. How much is patient to afford to buy? Not everybody has the same amount. Some people always have a living term. You just have a meal. I can say a meal. You have a good time. You just have to make that play. It's going to go off from here. Awesome. Thank you.

1:49:54I mean, obviously, we had a couple of years before you did get here. I'm curious about how you get so high on stage. It's pretty good. I'm going to take a look at you. It's going to be a good time, right? Of course. It's a good time. I'm going to take this one. That's really good. I read a picture of him from a camera. I read it. I hear it. I read it. I hear it. I heard it. I'm going to take this one. I'm going to take this one. I saw what you impressed me with. You see me, I'm going to take this one.

1:50:56I'm going to take this one. I touched it. It's like a beautiful, dark, beautiful guy. Thank you for all those visiting toks today. Thank you very much. Thank you very much to all of you. First thing, thank you. Once again, your visit to America is on the way to the South. I tell you about the National School of Public Health. I'm actually on my way to the United States. First time I met up with you, we just found a road. What do you think you can do in Britain to the top? So, like, you do the lot to the people. What is the lot to get into this? What's been like for you between California being out of touch with that? This is a little lot of things. I don't really like how they're doing. They help me to just work. I don't think anybody outside looking at a road, questions the strength of your commitment.

1:51:57Like, you're locked in the last eight, you send it over and over. But, you're making visits around the country, you see other schools. It's almost a totally different mindset. What's it got? Coincidentally, it will last back a little bit. I think it's a great thing to do. I think it's a great thing to do. I think it's a great thing to do. I think it's a great thing to do. I think it's a great thing to do. It's a great thing to do. How do you approach these other visits? How do you communicate with Ohio State about them? What's been the message of the country? I think it's a great thing to do. I just let them know that I'm always locked in. I'm still enjoying the buses. This is only one time. I'm just enjoying the service. The other schools outside of life. I watch a lot of them ride myols. I do what you see on the street. What are your thoughts on the different paths? The帮o is the best!

1:52:59What do you do? What do you do? Do you take cars with you? That's hard to say. Coach, congratulations on the safe trip! Thanks very much. Coach Deka. Those who ride this week at home near theномpractice. proud of him and what he's been able to do. And he's not really going to have to step up big for us. You mentioned this very now to King's. Got a short week, just on Thursday. What are some things that you can take away from this game that you can build on? Is that good moment from in order to now be ready for the just on Thursday, but just to close out the season? Yeah, I was so, you know, just trust ourselves. You know, stay aggressive. And, you know, I think we can do a better job of getting seven and not three, you know, and scoring touchdowns in the red zone. I think that's a big thing. I think, you know, I thought our defense played really well. And, you know, I'm not the coach, so I'm not going to see it. And I don't know everything I haven't watched the film yet. But positive things, I feel like we can, you know,

1:54:01keep running the ball really well. I think that's huge for us. And our plaques and passes are going really well. We can work on our drawback pass and things like that. But yeah, there's a lot of things to learn from and, you know, to get it better at. So yeah, we got to just get ready because, you know, we're playing a really tough new or just team on Thursday. Couple more. Two more questions, CJ. First off, as you mentioned, only four days, you're playing again. Number one, how tough is that? And number two, the Jets are going to be really hungry because they got beat by the Patriots tonight. Yeah, I would say, you know, this is my first time playing on Thursday. So, you know, I'm leaning on, you know, leadership from older guys, you know, and the biggest thing is recovery. And, you know, mentally straining on the game plan. So, you know, it's a short week, but, you know, it's, you know, a primetime football. I got to be ready to play at a high level. And yeah, I believe that the Jets are going to be very highly motivated. You know, they got a lot of weapons over there. One of the best quarterbacks ever to play, you know, a big fan of his. Their defense, you know, they have some really good corners.

1:55:03DeLine is really good. And, you know, I think CJ and O'sley and Quincy Williams are two underrated defenders in his league. So, I mean, they're a great defense. We got to, you know, be able to withstand and serve early and, you know, just keep building and keep rolling. What's your DJ, what's your favorite thing? I've been saying, unfortunately, that, you know, stuff went down today. Throughout the first eight weeks, how much do you think, the chat that you guys and the other receivers have? How much do you think that's helped integrate stuff up to this point? Yeah, I, you know, I think the leader, I mean, excuse me, just the camaraderie, the brotherhood I've seen at room is just kind of what I had in college, you know, with Garrett, Chris, Jackson, R, Mac, you know, and even all the way to Duke, Sam Wiggles, like our walk-on is like, everybody was close. And you kind of look at this team like that is, you know, all the guys who are playing a lot, you know, look out for the guys who aren't really playing as much, you know, and they want to see those boys either. You know, so it's just, it's really cool to see. And I think, you know, sad, but, you know, that's the worst part of our game is just injury.

1:56:05So, you know, a prayer for Steph, you know, I think he'll be okay, but, you know, I definitely know that, no matter what, you know, we gotta be able to still win games. And I know he wants that for us within a day. You mentioned the defense, you know, on what could have been a really big momentum shifts with the pitch play. How big was it for your defense to, you know, go out there and have a three out and force that upon and give you guys a ball back to the end? Geez, man, you know, we gotta be better as offense and it can't happen, you know, we can't turn the ball over down there. We gotta find a way to just get on the ball or, you know, just not do that. So, yeah, I'm fully aware, you know, that's a big mistake and that could have cost us the game, you know what I mean? So, we gotta help, we gotta play a conference for the ball. We gotta help the defense. Just like, you know, and they help us, you know what I mean? So, yeah. All right, man, you guys have a good one. How do you kind of combine, get back together with everybody's own?

1:57:05I mean, I, Coach Staleis, to talk about connection and I think, us as a unit specifically, we do a good job of connecting with other teammates, whether it's like my roommate, my roommate was Tegra Shibola. So, it's like, I know the old one really well through him and then I know other players on the team just through coming around, doing stuff outside of the bootie. So, it's like, they understand that I'm doing my own thing and I'm not slacking off while they're working hard. So, it's just that I'm neutral understanding, like, they're not gonna give what I'm doing. And they can't do what I do, but I can't do what they're doing. So, it's, you know, just do your job, get in the deck, whatever you got in there. What did you need to get, or what is your focus on improving on the saucy? So, a big improvement from all these offices and it definitely is, cadence work, just working on changing stuff up and not giving up cues, first certain things and then technique, of course, just refining, refining, just putting in like, do you feel like you've seen that happen? Yeah, yeah, Coach Staleis, he always likes to say, you know, being uncomfortable gets you better at what you're mad at. So, I like to kind of suck a little bit,

1:58:06but, you know, my hope this spring is to get better than things in mad at, of course, and take it to the field against Texas. Let's see, I'll see some programs for a lot of time, I'm trying to take this here. Yeah, casual hand probably doesn't know. No, yeah, so I work with a coach up in Wisconsin, his name's Kyle Staleis here. I build a plan through him and then I implement that here, whether it's after practice, like I'll come in at like 6, 7 pm, all the minions guys know me, because I gotta get the lights on, and it's just fun. It's like, you're doing your own specialized thing that people don't understand, but they respect because of what you done in the field. And then working out, stretching's a big thing, and I like to focus on them. My sister and me do polonies, they don't like it, so I'm sticking with yoga, but it's fun. You say you like to test yourself and to be careful, so what does it feel like that you have to do for your sister? Yeah, honestly, like what's the amount of focus that I put on the sport and what I do for our specific it is?

1:59:07It's like last off season, I made a big change and I was just terrible. I absolutely got off of them. When I finally made that change and I had that click, it just felt like my life got better. So it's like this big cloud of my head went away, and now I'm older and more mature and understanding my body and what I gotta do. It's just making changes that I can improve on the side, but that just performing when I did perform. So it's a great feeling when you finally overcome that. It's like playing scratch golf and getting, being able to cut scratch, you know. I mean, what is the place to play in position in the perfect group that no one can notice you unless you're wrestling? Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of stress, but honestly, like the pressures, what you put on yourself, like everybody has to do their job and everybody has to do. You know, the black eye standard, obviously national championship, so whatever you gotta do, you gotta make that happen. Try not to think too much about outside pressure, just have people in your circle who are relying on them and have to. In those respectful way, have you ever been recognized?

2:00:08Yeah, yeah. But I mean, that's a good thing for a long time, right? Yeah, yeah. So I mean, I'm a very outgoing person, so like, yeah, yeah, yeah, me the guys, we like that a lot. As anybody ever been like taller, they're like, hey, I'm a junk phone. No, no, I never got that. It's funny enough that when I'm back home, I do. So like when I'm in my hometown in Arizona, it's like, oh, that's John, like nice to meet you. So it's interesting, because it's like, I'm nobody here. I'm just the guy with the backpack, you know, with the football tag on that. Nobody here, which is, I mean, you got me, you're starting to play on the highest day national championship. Yeah, it's kind of funny when you think about it like that. Like, I'm just a guy doing a job. So when you go back home and people recognize you, I don't get that here, so I was like, wow, I'm maybe kind of cool, I guess. It's a bit bare, but I guess I'm going to catch up to the public in the culture after I sit out with I. Yeah, yeah. So I have a job right now, hopefully I'll get one later. How do you evaluate yourself after your every play? Like is it pass-bale? Like I got the ball to my guy or is it, should I gotten it like a half a second off faster?

2:01:08Or what's going to be evaluation to process for yourself? So for me, I'm focused more on the process and the product. Like I know if I do what I've trained for the last five years, it's going to get there. It's more just like was that tires or four rotations, instead of three and a half, I'm sure it's now. It's little stuff like that. I get immediate feedback just by watching it. In game, you know, you just let it fly and think about it later when you watch it on. And if it's really pressing, you start to do a little bit stuff on the sideline. But it's nice. You just trust you're training and what you're worth so hard and doing the offseason. Do you have one point you consider a position about a position? Yeah, Gunner Daniels, she was a long snap at Boston College. She does a great job. Whenever I have issues that I don't. Like I work with them. I got to have North and Wisconsin. Whenever I've got stuff local, it's like I talk to him. We'll kind of talk stuff out. He's more about a guy who work with Metley. He just helps me reassure me what I'm doing. And I think it does a great job, not only for me, but for other specialists that you're doing. John, what do you do with social security? What do you work with? It's a good thing to bring in social security.

2:02:10I just like the competition aspect of it. It's funny when you think of like long snapers competing with other long snapers, but it's a thing. I've got a lot of my buddies at UMass now. He wanted to come and train with him. So I'll send him little jobs. I will send film back and forth. And you just find games in the game with other people and help you stay focused and lively with it. All right, so it hasn't been a fight with the guys in the locker room they buy in. And it's a lot of young guys. And I think they're hungry to learn, hungry to compete. And when the mandate of that locker's been? It's just an example. Whether it's, we talked about first day, heavy shoe. If you could spend the time on these small things when nobody's watching, I think, like I was saying, it seems like it might not have up to much, but I think in the long term it does. And it leaks in other things, whether you're doing your right assignment on the field, be in late to meetings, or all these things. If you hold a standard and you stay to that standard,

2:03:12I think it benefits you long term. It's been like working at Ben Robert. Has there been anything in his training program or working with you that you feel will benefit you in order to see? Yeah, definitely. He's been great. He's a nonsense kind of guy, but he's not old school in the sense that he's bringing his way of doing things. And that's the only way to do things. He understands that guys have been in the business for a long time, clear me. And we have a way of doing things. And all he wants to do is add to that and help you get better and perform the best you can. He stresses it all the time that he's a tool for us. And he's been great. The guy's a love on the energy, he brings us awesome. And I think the stuff that we're doing in the weight room is great, a great addition to stuff that I may do on the side or whatever that is. Yeah, I think we had a presentation today with all the certain measurables that are changing.

2:04:13And if you guys are in the meeting, you definitely see how beneficial he's been to the team so far. So obviously staying healthy is a huge factor to anybody's success. I'd say it's plagued us a little bit for a while. So yeah, I think he's definitely incredibly beneficial. What do you feel like the current end of my season? You might have been able to play. Yeah, no, I was not ready to go last year. No, tried practicing, tried coming back. And it was not good. But yeah, unfortunately, the year wasn't going great. And it just was unnecessary risk for my foot could have had some real issues if I came back too early. So yeah, it's been a great offseason. My foot's feeling great. Toes good, hamstrings good. I mean, there was a list of things last year in my hand.

2:05:14So all those things are good. Thing got surgery on my finger. So that's feeling good. Yeah, it's nice to be feeling better going into year 9 than you have since maybe five, six years ago, which I've said I've been feeling great the last couple of years. And telling you it's a real deal this time. But obviously, anything can happen. But I just feel it's fun feeling really confident in your body and being able to perform. So I could just go out during practice and go balls to the wall and do everything that I feel like I need to to be able to prepare. It's fun. My brother, whoever I train with, my trainer, taught back home. I think they'd be really proud of how I've been working this offseason. And it's just exciting. I was obviously pointing with the injuries. I remember the Green Bay game, you kind of didn't see it. I'm just pointing for it. Yeah, that was a bit of a buildup, a little bit of an overreaction.

2:06:16But it's just tough. It comes sometimes like that. And I just felt really defeated coming back at a broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah, I get to play boom for a series of foot pops that I'd have to get surgery and all these thoughts flooded through my head. I'm broke down a bit. And yeah, it just hurts. You're losing. You're getting injured. You felt like you prepared really well in the offseason. And then the year before you had growing surgery. So you know, a lot of things build up. Yeah, you don't get a break if you're injured. Everybody wants to go on. Fans are very nice. But no, I'm grateful that I feel this way. I'm still a nice, ripe 28. So not too old yet. But yeah, I'm just excited. I can't remember what the original question was at this point. You can do this. You can do this. You can do something about my body.

2:07:20That close you and Giff were out frustrating. Was it that you couldn't, you know, sooner or for one of those last three games? It was frustrating, but I mean, Giff was had my back the whole way. I think for Giff, for any, but for the whole team, just to show what it means to me, it would have been important for me to be out there. But I literally could, and I tried to practice injured my foot worse. The very first play I was in in practice. So no chance that was happening unless I wanted to throw my next season away as well. But no, I'm just, I'm proud of him for what he did with the team, how he handled it. And I need to call him back, actually. Sorry, Giff. Yeah, I'm happy he gets to stay close by with the Rams. And just proud of all we accomplished here together over the years. And we'll be close for the rest of our lives. What was the footage you did? It was the skydust thing, a foot strange.

2:08:22Yeah, I sprained one area of my foot then when I tried to return, I sprained another area, was able to avoid getting surgery, which is kind of the main goal. But yeah, it was tough. When it comes to the addition of foot debris, wouldn't you feel like he's kind of brought to the room and could bring on fuel? Yeah, when I heard my brother, I don't know, maybe my brother told me I'm like, really? We just got bund. Let's know, let's know small pickup. He's a seriously elite pass rusher. Has had some trouble with injuries as well. So I understand how that is. But not only him as a player, but as a personality, I heard Khalil just saying, he's a fun guy. He's a funny guy. And to have that in the room, another vet is always a great addition. But I'm just excited to have him and Tully and to be able to rotate like that and not drop off at all when we come off the field is huge. And now Tully's going into a second year.

2:09:25What are some of the maturity areas you've seen from him? You know, I'm going to say not much. And that's a compliment because he was already mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it. Everything play book wise, always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique and pass rush. I mean, we don't have pads on right now. So the real work will begin in six weeks now. So yeah, I love Tully. I've loved him since the first day. He's walked in the facility. And I know he's just going to continue to get better. Do you think of the addition of Joe Wolt? Yeah. Yeah, I'm going to need to beat him up a little bit in camp. So he's ready. But no, I think anything to protect our number 10 is a good investment. So he seems like a real solid dude. Haven't talked to him too much. Great build seems like he has good hands, good feet, strong.

2:10:28We'll see. We'll see in a few weeks when I lay a helmet in his chin. How he holds up. But I'll take it easy on him. There is a shot. No, a shot. Reshans a beast. Did you know Coach Arbonne before he came here? And if he did, just what were those first couple conversations like? Yeah, probably of cross paths with him, maybe not actually. I think what was his first year when I was a junior? So we kicked his ass as usual at Ohio State. No, no. They just want a championship side. Say they probably have the bragging rights right now. I'm like the guy talking about his old high school. Oh, I remember playing with him. We used to kick his ass. No, but no. Yeah, no. The rival reached dead. I was just saying this morning, nine years and kind of forget about that. I'm not a great alumni, sorry. Sorry Coach, but no, that's great.

2:11:31That's what's great about the NFL is you just have guys from all backgrounds. You can hate their guts one year. And then you come on the same team and your brothers and you're all working towards one goal together. So our first talk together was great. We just sat down with him when I opened his office and chopped it up about life mainly. And his opportunity here and how much it means to him. And yeah, I think he's a special guy. I think he's the way he conducts. He's an interesting cat for sure. And I'm still feeling him out. But one thing you can't deny is that he loves football. And his main goal is to win football games. And that's what we need. When you see him working out with you guys and pushing his lives and doing all this stuff, just how interesting is that to see him so interactive? Yeah, I mean, he was a great player himself. And I think he's always been built like that. Like a better term. But yeah, he's part of the guys.

2:12:31He's not this guy outside looking in. He really, I mean, he voiced that to me is that his favorite part of all that is being with the guys and the connections he makes. So yeah, to see a guy like that come in and embrace it all and kind of be part of it himself is important. Your initial questions of question and term the defensive scheme you've created? Yeah, it's funny. It goes from old gift to this little young guy who's my age. I wouldn't want to get thrown into a room with me and Khalilatos' age. But now he's been great. I love messing with him a little bit. We little sarcasm back and forth. But he's great. He's very talks very fast. And I don't, as you know, sometimes I get to be like, slow down, coach, come on. But he's great. I'm excited to get closer as the year goes on.

2:13:32And I think he has a lot of passion for the position. And all he wants to do is learn and help us to improve. So I'm excited about him. And I mean, I do miss gift. Obviously it was a long time with him. But I am excited to have a new face and kind of have that challenge for me. You've worked much with Jesse's dad since I know you coach linebackers in Michigan. Did you ask about Jesse? Did you ask about Dylan? OK, you asked about Jesse. Oh my god, I was talking about frickin' Dylan the whole time. You guys are so confused. I thought you mentioned Coach Roni. No, no. Coach Minter has been great as well. Yeah, both been great. Sorry. Run that back. No, he's been good. Yeah, very knowledgeable guy. Same thing, I'm excited to get to know him more as the year goes on. Have you worked much during the last season with Rick Minter?

2:14:36Jesse's dad? Yeah. No, I have not. I don't know if I've said one word to him, but more words to come. Down the road. Like you said, you've been here since 2016. Just what are some of this stuff? Have you? What's that? What's that? What's that you tried to do? I just went on a ramble about the wrong guy for 15 minutes. Here. Welcome. Welcome. What? It's a rough idea. Yeah, what the heck? Actually, that's literally not the person I like that much. I was wondering what he's going to do. Yeah, figured out. What's something that you worked under in the last season, something that improved your game or is there something that you can... Usually my answer is pretty consistent that I just continue to try to prepare myself physically, whether it's my sprint work or agility work in my lifting. But yeah, just to get everything feeling great, I looked out with those injuries, so I had

2:15:40to kind of ramp it up with my finger and foot and all those things. But now I'm full speed out there, and I'm just going to continue to do what I know. We'll prepare me for the season. And I know I'm going to get plenty of technique work and position work when I'm out here, so for now I'm going to spend these five weeks really getting prepared in my body. Does workouts compare to different? Another year of competitive events with you and Nate working on that stuff? Yeah, it's usually too hot out there for much competition. We're just trying to survive. But yeah, it's a silent competition between each other. I'd be like, peaking, I was like, what was his time? No, yeah, it's always... You could never have an off day when you're out there and he's warming up like a freaking robot every day out there, so there's no off days. Have you ever talked at all about...

2:16:44I mean, I mean, I just also knew you were having a contract. You have guys at the top of the off anyway? Yeah, I mean, it's a conversation. Not really a serious conversation, but something that's come up before. But yeah, I mean, it would be cool. It would be cool at some point. I always thought of myself being somebody that will play here and retire here, which I think not many people do on one team and I think would be a cool thing to accomplish. But you never know. I'm not worried about this year first. You guys are just kind of working on food story. So you guys have the lowest or second lowest food cafeteria in the NFL PAs or really last year. You guys are moving to the facility. If you talk a lot about food and eating sometimes is a fun video. You can say, yeah, I'm looking forward to the food upgrades and all of you thought about it. I know it's Wolfgang Puck, who whatever is the word.

2:17:45Yeah, it's great. I've been working with my chef for seven years now, so she's been great. So I've never really had to worry about that too much. But yeah, my weight's good. I've been eating a lot this off season, so that's good. But yeah, I'm excited to maybe be able to, sorry, Christina, but maybe I won't need a chef next year. I'll have my Wolfgang Puck food and that'll be good. So yeah, I'm excited about the move, Found a new spot. I'm excited to kind of learn the area and all that, even though I won't ever leave my house. It's a really weird knot. You think a lot of the facility, just a dish of chef, was doing it all the way? I'll eat here sometimes. It may not be the best set up, but they'll prepare you food that's plenty good. My man, Eric Kector, shout out. No, they work harder than literally anybody in the entire facility.

2:18:46So they may not have the best means back there, but they freaking work the butts off. And that's surveys. Not cool, man. I'm fair. I mean, you started at Charger Park and now here in the office complex, the last six, seven years old. Yeah, what do you think it'll be like moving into this break, teaming? Oh, it's great. I just drove by there the other day. Harbott said, what did he say in the meeting? He was like, yeah, he's like, this place is beautiful. He's like, it might not help, but it certainly won't hurt. So we're going to have everything we need there. It's going to be fun getting lost on my way to meetings again. I haven't learned my way around, but yeah, I'm excited. Got the house figured out. Move is going to be fun. Never is, but it'll be cool once we're all settled in. Too, especially during training camp that you can just walk from the locker room to the field instead of busing.

2:19:50Yeah, two miles. Well, we were doing that last year, I believe, out here. Or no, we weren't Jack Hammett God. But yeah, I haven't seen the place. I hear the fields are unbelievable. Yeah, it's always nice to have everything in one area. But Jack Hammett's done me well over the years. When you were a boy, you had to make a girl look. You had to sit on that floor and have a seat like that. Like this. You don't want to have a chair with a calculator and you don't like flipping your ear. You're not going to be on the floor. You're going to have a bright one of those colors. Yeah, um, yes. If I could, I'd guess I could still have a plane. With a million different pieces and skins.

2:20:50That's fun for you. It's not about me. It's about players that are developing the situation. What you're working on is giving a paramack to the player longer. It looked like Gabriel compared to the first game. He was sitting in a pocket watch longer, packed in all the areas. I think it's a good idea to have a little space. Yeah. Oh, it's a good idea. It's a good idea.

2:21:52I like the same hat. It's still a different kind of thing. It's really important to have a good one on the head. We're getting about the expectations. I'm not talking about anything else. I'm telling you, it's a good idea. Yeah, I'm telling you. That's not an ass-free out. I'm only on that off the hook. I'm on the hook. Now we're at the top of the hill. I think it's hard against the gun. It's been difficult. My opponent, I think. I don't play much of it. I'm trying to keep to our sightings and up to this. I'm just thinking to play with it. I'm playing with it. That's my job. I'm like a medal manager.

2:22:53I have to make sure those guys are ready. They're preparing for the game. I'm trying to get a good one. I'm trying to get a good one. I'm trying to get a good one. I'm trying to get a good one. I'm trying to get a good one. I don't have a lot of fun. Maybe because that's not my job. I'm trying to stay one step ahead. What do you think about this to me. I'm going to have fun because they say be kind. Yeah that's correct. Doesn't matter? I want the players everything. Then you'll get a good place are online orbokki, So my fun country just comes in.

2:23:56I'm going to let you win. And then the kids don't seem to enjoy it. I'm going to let you fly back to Thailand. I'm kind of sitting back with you. When you come back to your family, you can't play with everybody. I'm going to situate with my 50-month-old. So let's respect to this black people and I'm sure you know what the real situation is going to be. Well, I think where our family has been playing, back there, we're going to put in a virtual world game for a year. I've been trying to manage the situation. That's all you've got. It's all a situation for a year. I'm going to have to look at it. I don't want to be that guy. Just because I want to show my creative side. And then we end up giving some money. So we'll be giving it a household situation.

2:24:56I'm going to give it a little bit of a time. I'm going to give it a little bit of a time. I expect them to perform at a level of an executive. They are going to play really hard. If I want to see the news, see the sooner or later, I'm going to give it a little bit of a time. I sort of have to ask you to do something. I thought I wanted to change the thing. I'm going to make my mind go. Then you will be successful. That's ingrained like the DNA. That's carried over whether it's football or anything else. That's where I was learning to do it. Do you have a few things that stand out most to you since OTAs and mini camps that maybe like wow. I didn't think that was going to happen. Is there anything specific that you can bring up? Yeah, there's been some, definitely some huge seminal moments.

2:25:57Maybe I'll give you three. One and a half practices it. Way back in April, it was clear to me like Durwin James Jr. Okay, guys, do whatever Durwin James is doing. However, the way he approaches the training environment, where he approaches the meetings, the way he approaches the practices, what he wears, what he does, what he says, what the way he goes for meeting the meeting, the way he communicates, and also everything he does. That's how simple this is. It's hit me. I've been here a day and a half on the job watching practice. And you know, Coach, do we, you know, should we, you know, should I have a, should I work? Can I wear a sweatshirt with, you know, hoodie and, uh, is Durwin?

2:26:57Just look at number three. Look at number three and do, you know, everything that that he is doing. And you're going to be, it's going to be really good for you. Yeah, Justin Herbert, another tone setter, uh, in the, on the team, uh, you know, incredible in every way. There's that, there's that thought out there that, I've heard it said that, you know, people that, you know, they make a lot of money or they, uh, they get complacent. Oh, not true, not true. He is, uh, if it's been every minute, every hour, every day, completely engaged, uh, tremendous, uh, tone setter, example setter for the entire team. Uh, yeah. I did say that at a third. Okay, here's a third.

2:27:59Um, something I've noticed with the scene. We've, we've taken advantage of every, every hour, every minute, every day that we've been afforded by the rules. Um, you know, we've stayed completely, uh, you know, within those rules, um, and the mandatory time, uh, it's all voluntary, but we do have, you know, time, limits. Um, and I've, I've scheduled things within the team, uh, you know, to use every, to use every minute. What I've noticed about this team, uh, probably hit me a couple of weeks ago, uh, maybe three or four, but, um, when I say, okay, we're stopping early, or, you know, we're cutting 30 minutes out of, of this practice or this weight session, then I just watch them do more. They do more than, um, than they, what they would have had I,

2:29:02you know, scheduled it out, um, you know, player led, uh, hey, 30 minutes short, and then you watch, you watch it, it becomes like a beaver dam, you know, of activity, you know, the receivers and the quarterbacks are throwing. And it just hits me, okay, they get as much or more or better work, uh, that way, receivers, I mean, they're, they're carrying, center blocks for grip strength, um, you know, I could give, you know, multiple examples, defensive line, uh, you know, mortgage fox, Scotty Matlock, the way they, the way they set the tone, the way they lead, um, so, today's another one of those days, I mean, I know if I, okay, here's what it could be, shortening it to this, then we'll watch, we'll watch the guys do as much or more, that's just, that's just the way they're, they're wired, and that's, that boat's really well. I know, too, pretty fully with your data, Western Kentucky,

2:30:02but what's it been like the past couple of years, seeing Rick Minner and Jesse, kind of being the same staff, and that father of Sunday, am I? The, uh, the father of Sunday, dynamic is, is, uh, that's really near and dear, close to my heart, um, and I love it. I, I love, uh, I love, you know, Rick Minner, he's seen a lot of footballs kicked off, uh, love talking football with Rick, uh, love the interaction between him and Jesse. Um, my dad and, and myself, uh, you know, it's said, it's, how'd you get so lucky, you know, um, watching Derwin James with his son yesterday after practice. Uh, it just raises the small hairs, you know, on your, on my arm. Uh, you know, that's, that's what it's like. And what a great dad. I mean, just a great dad.

2:31:04And the other dad is a coming, or moms, you know, or sister or uncle, uh, or, uh, the come and come to practice. Uh, I just, I just love, love that dynamic. I mean, so many, so many guys have been coached by their dad, you know, since they were, you know, uh, whether, whether it be on the field, off the field, life and, uh, and they know them, they know them so well. Um, and I encourage them, coach them, you know, continue, don't stop now, just because they're professional football players. Um, or, or some of the, there's other dynamics too, you know, the, the dad that's been, you know, you know, really, you know, pushed, which of dad should do? I mean, who's gonna push some, who's gonna push you if it's not gonna be, you know, your dad or your mom, uh, or grandparent, you know, somebody close to you, you know, it's really pushed them hard. Like, hey, have your dad come, come watch it. And let them see it now. I mean, this, you're, you're an incredible, incredible player. Um, just so many, so many, so many, uh,

2:32:05they say it's all about relationships, you know, and I, that's, think of your own lives. I see that on our team and, uh, get a huge, huge thrill from it. Jim Colledo, Mac and Joe Vosibospo yesterday and said that they told you plain and simple, they want to win. What was your message to them when they, uh, when they told you that? Let's get it. Gonna be here. Gonna be here for you. Um, you know, that may be, that may be one thing, maybe no things, maybe, you know, 10, 15 things. Um, obviously they have done, they have done it at an incredibly high level throughout their career. And, uh, you know, tremendous respect and admiration for, uh, you know, not only what they've done, but where they're at now and their desire to help our team. It was about a month in between. Many champions trained can do encourage players to go take

2:33:07vacation, the time to really lock in in between that time. They're prepared for the same camp. Yeah, I mean, uh, and we go over that with, with, with each individual player. I mean, um, it's, it's definitely, uh, the time to do just, you know, the right amount of things. Um, you know, there's some guys that needs them, some, some fat mass to come off their body. It's gonna, it's gonna help them and they're gonna, you know, they're gonna be, you know, recommendation is gonna be do that, you know, that's, that's going to help you. That will help you. Um, so whenever the right amount is, you know, we'll be, we'll be available, um, to assist in that. Yeah. Good thing about where we live. You know, this is vacation is right here. Yeah. We live on vacation here. So, um,

2:34:08yeah, for us coaches, trainers, uh, yeah, we're here. B, when you say, you, um, you're watching when you give them their free time and have, have you noticed, here's a merge part, have you noticed leadership emerge? Can you see that before you put hats on before you really get after it's sort of figure out who the leaders are of this group and who's being followed in those moments when, when players are expected to kind of lead as opposed to you and the coaching staff? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's like it's, it's obvious. It's undeniable. Uh, yeah, there's, and guys lead in different ways. I mean, there's examples, headers, tone setters, you know, there's, there's a, all kind of, uh, examples of, of leadership, but yeah, I, it's obvious. I mean, it's, I know, named, named, you know, some of them. I mean, there's, there's others. I mean, there's, the ones I've said, Derwin, no doubt about it. Uh, Justin, uh, no question about it.

2:35:11Uh, Rashan Slater, no question about it. Trey Pipkins, uh, Bradley Boesman, lot, several from the, from the offense line, the receiver room, uh, the D line, Scotty Matlock, Morgan Fox, uh, Joey Collell, there's no doubt of Christian, uh, Christian in the secondary. Uh, there's nobody bad. I need Derwin and Lowey. Uh, it's just do anything and everything that those two are doing. Uh, you know, young, a young corner or young, uh, safety, don't have far to look. Uh, Denzel has been, uh, incredible. Is, is, there's, it's a growing number. It's a growing number, but there's, um, yeah. You can see it. They answer your question. Yeah, we can see it. Is there a certain thing you prefer in that? Like, hey, I'd like you to, you're clearly, you're their following. Can you do it? Like, this is how I like it.

2:36:11Is there something you prefer? No, I mean, prefer, uh, that, uh, it happens, it happens, I'll natural route, you know, in the team setting. Yeah. And, you know, mainly, um, like in all leadership positions, uh, you know, guys follow guys that, uh, that, you know, what they say doesn't conflict with what they do. You mentioned that Scott Malak, a few times. Yeah. What's, what's jumped out to you about them so far this spring? Uh, he just all about his business, all about the work, all about the, uh, all about the team. Um, what he does is like a lot of leaders is not about what they say. It's about what they do. What you do speak so loudly that can't even hear what you're saying. He, he smashed the conditioning test and then he felt the ground was a little too soft because it had rained. You know, we were in the late morning and I watched him go and, you know, uh, you know, pat down the, you know,

2:37:14the surface. So it was harder for the next group that was, uh, running, making the surface harder so they could get their, get their plant in turn. Um, but just everything that he does, every, every, every way that he, he goes from meeting to the training environment to the, to the practices there every day. I mean, the power of the there every day, Ted, uh, is so powerful. There's no question that you get better at football by being there every day. But, you know, that is, that's the, nobody has to wonder. Nobody has to wonder is Scott Matlock or somebody that's there every day. Are they going to be there? Yeah, just look out in the seat and, and there they are ready to go. Uh, you know, sitting on a spring ready, ready to get out to practice. You know, sometimes already taped dressed and, and ready to roll. So, um, not only do I see that, but everybody sees it.

2:38:14Jim, we had a great chat after, uh, your original news conference about the Rockford files. Yeah. And I'm curious, can you describe what it was like doing your Jim Rockford trek out here and what it was, was it the way you thought it might be? Yeah, it was, uh, it was everything I thought and, and even more so. I mean, we take over a new job. I didn't drive the RV. My brother, John Fearborn did, but he got it out here and then it, then it played out. Yeah, much like I, I really thought it would. It was, uh, tremendous experience. It just allowed me to do what I had to do was, which was, you know, work 16, 17, 18 hours a day and, and then return to the RV, you know, go to bed at, you know, nine o'clock and then be back, back to work, you know, three thirty four in the morning and no distractions, distractions were down to a, you know, to nothing and felt the production was high because of that. And, um, one thing I think,

2:39:18I think I, I think I probably learned out of it, uh, was that, the simple life's the best life. Um, no, unfortunately, it's not in the cards for me, you know, with, uh, seven kids and, and a full time job and, and, and lots to do, but, uh, you know, I realize it may, you know, maybe someday they'll be, hopefully not, but probably not in the cards. It's just, it's just probably not in the cards for, for guys like me, you know, and, uh, and guys, the other coaches and, and the players and the staff. And I, I just want to say the coaching has been phenomenal. I take myself out of that. I'm talking about the position coaches, uh, the coaches that are, you know, uh, backup position coaches, analyst, uh, I mean, you see them doing anything and everything, uh, you know, the making of the scripts, the, the breakdown of the tape. I mean, the throwing of the balls when, when you're out of practice. Watch those, those other coaches, uh, the way they're working.

2:40:19The position coaches have been phenomenal. Each and every one of them at every position. And you see the coaching in the tape. You see it in the, in the technique and the fundamentals that, that the, that the players are using. Um, also, also, bodes really well, but I've been, been total dedication from, uh, you know, the entire coaching staff, which, um, yeah, it's just a tip of the cap. Um, really been good. Yeah, I remember that day like I was yesterday, uh, it was super hot. I felt like we was in a cell. They were working as hard. I didn't think I was going to get through it yet, but I just kept pushing. Competing there is what I do. Just compete. You see me on the, I just, it just out like since a kid, I always, I hate it blue. So I just want to try to, just cry my best and try to win anything I did.

2:41:24I was very viable. It gave me, it gave me time to just, just feel like the college football ball out. I really feel like my first couple of games, it was, it was a test for me, for the test to see where I was at, just for me personally. I feel like this is, it's big for any person to get on the field and get to see some time, especially when you got that something that has, that's a plan. Yeah, what changes is, I was going to ask you, I mean, what, what changes once you've gotten experience? What just changes about your mindset out there? You belong, I mean, go ahead. More confidence, you just, you just get more confidence every time you got there. Airy, airy, airy, airy, play that you have, there's more confidence in the game. Yeah, and, good, I mean, how excited are you? Just playing in the first form, thank you. Super excited. I can't wait to hear it on Jerry's, there's some Jerry's, there's some Jerry's, I can't wait to hear it on him, so I'm super excited. It's just like any other game, though, just take it, take it, take it, play it by play. A value that, so the most I can, I just, try to make the most of that airy play,

2:42:25and I always try to do it from up, try to make it play that, that, that, for me, if it's for the play, I know to play it in one car, so it's really doing my job and being in the right place, my eyes and my response. Yeah, that's, that's what it's said, for me about you. Seem hunter, basically under control for one of another terms, you, out there, you're not just running around like a chicken with his head cut off, right? I mean, where does that come from? Where does that come from, to me? I think practice helps that, because I go through some of the best players in the country, in my opinion, so I think, when I go just down, I thought I didn't know about it else, to really approach that. We talked a little bit, we talked before, I even committed here, before he committed here, we talked a little bit, by a metaphor, I could do it in football. Probably about 10 to 11. I didn't know him from, I'm not sure if he was used to what he'd done, but he got here in the spring. A lot, so we was the first two, DBs in our class to get here, so it's really us, the only person that was here

2:43:25for the spring, and all of them, to the other, the other, our first became in the summer. So we really just been on each other, just making sure we straight, making sure everybody, I mean, making sure we both just, just had got our, our head and the right spine, that's our man, right? For the room, what did, what did that interception return, by Jordan Hancock, do for the room? I feel like it was a game, trying to play, just put a whole game. I feel like it was a play that we needed, bad, and we was down at that time, so I feel like it was a great play, and it shows with the cornerback room, doing how versatile we are. And that snippet, what, what, what, what, what concerns you most about Michigan State coming in here? What have you seen on video that concerns you? About their outfits? Not really too much, they really don't have that in the news right now, so they're going to throw everything out of service. They're really just, we got to keep our eyes on the right spine, just be in the right place, the right time. What kind of role did you see before these two guys got here to get to where he is now? Obviously, a lot of girls, he was, he got to start by with for me, so he was really working hard and spring, was getting up early every day,

2:44:25we used to be roommates, so he was getting up very, very day early, and just trying to get here, learn to deep-fence. He's been doing everything he's supposed to do. Did you get a firm, you took? Let's go ahead and talk to him. What's the out there with you? I feel good, because we've been saying play, so it just makes it easier to communicate and make plays together. My link is in our, your main thank you very much. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it, Joe. Thank you very much for your time. I'm a link, I love your ad. We'll be in play. Yeah, a couple of tough plays in the Red Zone, the fourth quarter that end to be an interception. But you're able to mount the drive down to regulation. What is your confidence that you know that he would bounce back and be able to reach you in a way that you did that final drive? Yeah, total confidence. I mean, he's done it, you know, again and again and again, honestly. And every time we go, we take the field, you know, again, the huddle. You know, I know we're going to give our best effort.

2:45:26You know, I know if we give him time, we run the right routes, we know we're supposed to do. He's going to put the ball where it's supposed to be, and that's all we can, you know, do. But yeah, we have total confidence when we go out there. We just got to stop beating ourselves, honestly. I don't have zero yards in a win, but you just had a career day. Well, I'm just wondering what you take from that is quite the loss. Man, I hate losing, you know what I'm saying? Whatever. I rather win, you know, 100%. You know, my confidence level, you know, it's always been the same. You know, I've known that, you know, I could break out and have an amazing game, you know, whenever. But it's the one that's that count. Can you kind of walk us through the last touch down there at the time of the game for you and taking the big hit and everything? Yeah. You know, corner out, you know, through a perfect ball, had to put it really back shoulder for me, you know, to make a play on it. And, you know, just made a play on it. Just thought it. What about this kind of, so what do you have to catch you thinking about

2:46:28to remain ahead of the tech and the ball then? Yes, sir. You know, I make sure, you know, I see my surroundings, you know, some guys trying to take your head off. So, you know, yeah, I do. But I think, at the end of the day, when I see the ball, it's about the ball and catching it, you know, that's my job. And, you know, I consider all those things, but, you know, getting the job done is first. What about the, the port 5, I said that, what did you guys see on that play? Port 5, Salt Man coverage. You know, I'm saying beat your man catchable. You know, thank you. I mean, the tips, you know, like you said, it's been crazy each and every week playing. But, you know, you can't, you can't let it get to my head, I should say. Let me just football at the end of the day, but, you know, just, you know, happy business position. Thank you.

2:47:32Oh, none of us think we could be covered, man, oh man. I mean, we'll actually talk about this yesterday as well, but, you know, I mean, that's what they do, that's what they do. I mean, we just go out there, you know, play our game and, you know, short of reason why not to play, man, oh man. Two. Two. Four. Three. You want? I go five. It's good. No problem. I mean, you need to be in it. You can't do it. You can't do it. I was looking for a mother to say, but, you know, you want to get one of that yellow hair, but, you know, because they have feelings for you. It's just like that, it's hard. What's your mother's phone and stuff? My mother says, you know, just go out there,

2:48:33my dad just dominated the person outside front of me. You know, just do what I've been doing for the last two to three weeks, I should say. But, you know, they play men on men, so I'm just ready for the challenge. What are you up for right here? You're up for the title, man, or you just ask about that red big small. I mean, feels good. Just say somebody going out there and playing men on men, guess Ohio State receivers is something crazy. But, you know, we just ready for the challenge. They said they're not changing their game plan, but we got to go out there and show them the reason why not to play men on men. We're in a celebration announcement of the month 2016, and some of you are talking about it right now. Sure, you're going to be the conversation. Yeah. I mean, I don't really, if I be on a curve, I be on a curve. It's not really a big deal to me. It may definitely be a blessing for sure, just to be on a curve of a game, but, you know, it's not really a dream of mine. It's a dream of mine, but I don't really think too much of it.

2:49:42I mean, no, not yet. Probably hit me after this easy. No, just no. Playing in the Carlos Fubá play-als as a freshman, or playing in the Rose Bowl as a freshman, playing in the Cotton Bowl, not in the National Championship. I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but it hasn't hit me yet. Sure. I'm putting it right here. I'm going to grab out with your fan mail, that too. My favorite catch, I would say, we play Michigan State on the one I call over to defenders, definitely probably my favorite for sure. Or you could go the one from Iowa, as I say, and the Ezra, probably the two. I don't, I mean, yeah, like you said,

2:50:43it's pretty frustrating me having the game that I had in the Rose Bowl, and they're coming to the Cotton Bowl, you know, just doing different things, chasing their scheme up for, uh, against me. But, I mean, like you said, whatever I could do to make, I mean, help the team win. It's not really a big deal for me, as long as we win, that's all I really care about, and it got us to the National Championship. It means a lot, we put a lot of work in this, uh, this season, uh, we have, how's we have loads, we have people kind of out, um, but we hear now, we just ready to put on a show Monday. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

2:51:48Uh, first of when is, uh, National Championship, because that means a lot, um, you see everything that he bent through this year, people, uh, saying to be fired, and this is not the third, but, uh, I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year, I mean, I seen everything that he bent through this year, and see everything, people saying my hand on Twitter. Um, I wasn't here, uh, he first got the head of Cushion Jard, but I know this year, for sure, we definitely got to win this for him. Uh, I mean, it's a lot, uh, a lot of people in the league, I should say, I can't really say who, but, I mean, you had guys like, oh, there, you had guys like, uh, oh, there, you had Stefan Dicks. It means a lot of, uh, Michael Thomas, Chris Carter, just a lot of, you know, guys I played in that field, and stuff like that, but yeah, really, them guys for sure. Uh, uh, uh, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, what if they said, uh, you know, just keep going, you got it, you next up for sure, uh, really, I really,

2:52:48really, that for sure. Yeah, so they said. Yeah, you know, guys, you see the other thing that, you know, they said the man. Uh, like, physical defense, like, like, you see, like, people say, like, they like to play men, they're not changing their skin. So we're just ready for the challenge, uh, like you said, the best defense we probably go see all year and we just gotta be ready to go out there Monday and just put on the show. I'm excited for will him. First coming here in Ohio State January our first workout we had together. Just everything that we built through this season. I'm just happy for him to be in this position right now but we got to finish the job and that's the winning out of the whole Monday. It's pretty funny.

2:54:01I'm just only a freshman but I miss a blessing for sure people to even say that but I got two or three more years left for college. I'm just focused on college right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. It's very special for me just being a freshman and playing on national stage. Up here for national titles something that I dreamed about is a very young kid. I'm just happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on some Monday for you guys. All of us used to sit on the bench and we just see him hit the quarterback in the ball come out and we all just got up and just started jumping up and down. We all decided. Happy for jacking that moment and we just knew that that moment like this we're going to the ad for sure.

2:55:03I mean it's still a lot going from high school when the three state championships are salmon on Madonna then coming to Ohio State. I just appear for national title right now. I mean just so that I've put two great schools but I'm happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on some Monday. The coolest person. I mean you got a lot. I can't really say just a specific person. You got a lot of great guys re-challenged the league like O'Dell you had guys like Stefan Diggs. A lot of other players as well just can't cut them out my mom but really really them two guys will show O'Dell a step on this.

2:56:07When you're looking at Notre Dame but something like that you got on your mind and trying to attack and try to dominate like you got there. Yeah. Yeah. I mean like they say they play man so I'm just ready for the challenge and just get ready to go out there Monday and just no put on the show. Thank you. We're going to back over there. The Vice Geno had gave me. I said just keep golf first. I know the reason why I'm here. I mean like he said just keep golf first and just no keeping the main thing and the best corner I faced this year. I mean I faced a lot of great corners. I can't really say but yeah I faced a great lot of great corners. I can't really put a name on it.

2:57:11I'm going to give it a go. My dream vacation is Teres and K-Codes. I'm going to give it a go. I say both respect and frustration as well. But I mean I thought they come out there and try to team me and they say you stick it to what they've been doing all year and that's playing man covers which is ready for the challenge. Pretty good group Christian Gary 29 is a great corner.

2:58:1115, Lenard Moore. Two great guys are right there. Very physical but you know we all highest never received us so we ready for the challenge. I'm saying just no understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what Coach Kelly is trying to get done. I mean just coming in I felt I progress from our first game against Akron to now. I feel like I better each and every week. I mean things slowed down a lot for me. But yeah really just no understanding the versus and no understanding what they're trying to do to me for sure.

2:59:12I'm two guys great part of the best we go see all year for sure. Two physical guys. But you know we're ready we're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man no man. You know we ready to go on Monday. I mean the environment is pretty crazy seeing all these cameras. Suddenly I never thought I'd see it in my life but it's a blessing for sure this is the main disposition right now. I mean we just had a prayer prayer prayer led meeting and you know we all they all the I mean we all discussed the issues because they discuss issues and you know which is one of the work. I mean that two and a half weeks we had off before Tennessee game and we just came out there on Tennessee game and we played with a chip on our chip on our shoulder.

3:00:16All throughout the playoffs and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder in that championship on Monday. Do you know how that very impactful. Yeah the very impact on my career I should say just going to his games as a very young kid seven eight years old. Him playing Westfield West Virginia and they played Clemson Orange Bull down in Miami. I mean just go there seeing his games. It's like yeah I definitely want to play on the stage and I can't wait till I get to know that moment for sure. There are you. Because they really just in his own his own little space he's just walking around trying to get his mind right trying to get his mind ready for the game. But you know he just can't everybody hype in the locker room and you know just trying to get us ready to go to win the game.

3:01:20Yeah. Oh yeah oh yeah for sure I mean you go play man against Ohio State receivers I mean just be ready because you know we definitely go to court there and know. Give our best and I mean they said not go change what they do so we just ready for the challenge. I just want to say that you know what you see this kind of situation felt. Not a year later definitely sometime my career college but not my first in college I should say. I mean just the better the being in this position right now is you know a blessing or just a young kid from Miami to be here. I want to take it for granted I'm ready to go out there and give him my all.

3:02:20Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean I was watching that game against was a Georgia. I was watching that game. I was pretty sick myself because I was actually committed at that time. I was just a name off but I mean we ready to go out there Monday to redeem myself and just go put a show Monday. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean I just laugh but you know that's what they do they not go change what they do just because we're a higher state. So you got to go out there and put it on why not to play man on man against us.

3:03:21So we just got to go out there and show them Monday. There you go. He said again. My journey here at Ohio State repair me a lot from National Championship me just going through everything that I've been through. My first guy here all the Matt Jules all the hard work guys that we had all the hard practices. I'm just preparing all of this for this moment and I'm just ready to go out there and give it up my all on Monday. Okay. We just squeezed this. One or nine. 200? Me he is big and strong.

3:04:26Yeah. What's 20? Yeah that's great. Yeah. It's pretty good. No problem. Yeah. And why not probably like the most is the one against Michigan State when I caught over two defenders on the airsoft line. Probably like one or the one after that I should say or you go the one against Iowa probably them three probably my best ones for sure.

3:05:36I mean just we'll put in the ball in my area and I just know how to make a play for them. Even though somebody was grabbing my face not just know how to make a play because the ball touched my hand. So I mean just when the ball is the other thing I have to make the play no matter how the ball comes at me. After a big game I mean we really they really feed us Chick-fil-A or piece after the game so it's really either Chick-fil-A or piece so yeah probably Chick-fil-A for sure. Yeah. It went pretty good everybody just speaking with their thing is going right and what they think is wrong.

3:06:42Which is a lot of the older guys what's in their opinions on what we need to do to come together as a team. But you know that me and definitely help us in a big way because it helped us on the field as well because we played at a great football right now and we just got to you that one Monday. What was that we were trying to get back to coaching? Yeah it definitely got emotional. I can't really say what it really was said because that's no players only and coaches only but it was definitely some stuff said that people took. And that's the reason we plan to win the row we plan right now. Yeah make help me a lot this year him being our older guy in the room. Me help me and Carl Nell as well and Brendan and all the guys in our city room as well. Me just a great guy as well. Very smart. I mean make just been a big part of the reason I'm having a seat that I'm having a look because he's been a big.

3:07:42You know older guy been there been a lot of great guys in our room like Chris Alivegaer, Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. Jackson Smith and Jibba so he's seen all the grids I've been through there and he teaching us the right thing and the right way and the buck out way for sure. I think CJ is going to be moved around a lot. You know it's funny when we got we hired an Appetrisher the first person I thought I was CJ because I think it's a. Like that. Appetrisher. Well some of the stuff that he's done was similar ish like I know Al Gold was with him at Detroit. You know, like there's some stuff at least we did over there at Notre Dame that we'll see if we're able to kind of implement some of it here. Sure some maybe others depending on what our guys do best. I was about CJ because it's like it's a fresh start. I do say the eyes on him and I think it's an opportunity to be multiple and use him and what he does best. You know so that's the exciting thing when you really studied what coach Patricia has done in the past is he likes to take like who are like who are players.

3:08:49And then let's build it around those guys and I think CJ has had a hell of a winner. I think he's one of those guys so I'm excited to see how we create a new zone into the spring. Does that mean you see how to be like flow is more of an edge defender? Definitely than you guys. I think yeah I think he has that I think that's exactly what kind of like potential CJ has is the ability to you know get on the edge move around. The nice thing about that is that you're not handicapped just with CJ doing one thing off the edge. You think you have the ability because he understands conceptually zone drops linebacker terminology right. You get really creative about how you use him. But I think he definitely needs to be utilized more as a just go after the heart attack go go be disruptive. What about Matt as a leader of you guys this coach has you. How's he all fit with you guys and how are you seeing that and how do you feel about the higher.

3:09:54I love the higher. I got a lot of respect for coach Patricia. I think ever since he worked me a Marcus out back here and what we were talking about that when he first was in the interview process is kind of how fast time goes but I'm really excited just to continue to learn like I said like there's some it's funny because there's some terminology that when I was at Notre Dame you can use and I can at least speak some of his language with what he's called things before and you're trying to morph everything together right with these things that we've done what he knows what we do like it's a lot. But he's been incredible with I think the staff he's very organized he's detailed. You'll have constant clear communication you know me hey we're going to get together at this time to be like you're sufficient in your woman and it's been a lot like when you're come from outside and you come back into it and you have to try to catch him up on the recruiting board. You know like you have a lot of these conversations. Okay, what are we looking for at these positions now?

3:10:54How do you see it? Because you know under one coordinator you might see a the mic line back and used to be this and under this coordinator while I think the mic back and used to be this. So you have to have those conversations at every position and you just kind of keep going through and I'm just excited to learn. I think the more systems I mean look play the system here college play the system underneath the Magnolo play the system or Tim Walden play the system under Greg Williams. That is Alan. Coach of Galgo and Jim. Every one of those there's like different terminology for everything so you're just you're learning a different language. You know I mean there's concepts and I think it is kind of collect over time what you think is really good stuff and how you do stuff that be a little different and I'm just really excited to learn from Matt and Tim's ton of success. He seemed very excited over there talking really to be here. Yeah. Focusing college with whatever so long. What's his person how they like to meet you guys and what you see?

3:11:56He's been great. He's in his energies incredible. He's very he is he's authentically excited to be back in college football. You can tell there's like a yearning to get back to like the why you got the coaching right is the impact young people is the impact. Teach the game of football. And so a few times it's been in front you know kind of like talking to the guys in a sense like he's excited to just teach ball. I mean and kind of ironically like you know similar to a lot of things that chips at last year right. Get back and you're like man I'm just excited to and so he has that excitement he's done a phenomenal job I think of being the other players. Just kind of like walking around versus like popping in making sure that he's in front of them and they get to know him and he gets to know them and it's a lot. You can imagine when you come in and you have all these guys right and try to learn all these guys. I'm learning recruiting, I'm learning staff, I'm learning dynamics like it's a lot but he's handled it really well. You know he's an old school ball coach so he's a grinder so he's really good job.

3:12:59James I probably not going to need to do much this spring how much more can you get done with the young guy. Let's tell him that so you got to do a lot. In terms of Ryan Daird he said you know 50% 75% or whatever. How much more can you get done with the young guys when they're not worried too much about the senior. Yeah I think I mean you're always just looking for competition especially like in spring ball of mess what it's all about right here. Trying to have it so cliche but it's true like iron sharpens iron mentality of you want your room to be super competitive to where. Hey the guy in front of me makes a play. My next set of four plays I go out there right up the on point right and it's a constant driving of the room. Forward so yeah sonny gets 50 or how many reps you know reps off 50% rubber coach said. That means more opportunity for somebody else to play right so that be more for our values that scheme flexibility with our value. I think it's really good to be a player who paid pierce around to be that TJ Riley you like all these guys stove.

3:14:04We're all going to get more reps I think it's great. It's what you got to do at this point in season. I think you'll guess there's still stuff that within their level of about sunny is that he's going to be. Claw and try to get those reps because he's a he's a true pro and. That's been the most enjoyable thing about working with him is like. You get a kid who's played safety his whole life comes the backer and he just wants to learn the why behind everything and. You know very similar to the fact of Cody like we have guys who are that easy to work with. You're not trying to like not worried about texting anybody in our own. About coming over trying to learn all you know what I mean like where you at you know like. They're obsessed with the game football they're always around when they're at class so it's like. It makes it really easy as a coach because they're passionate for the game and so strong. I think it's a lot of guys with a lot of length. It's about sunny styles long run or values long run like. It's crazy because you see sunny like okay this guy like.

3:15:11I wish I was built like that when I played and then you see our Val stand next to sunny like. You know what I mean it's like and then you look across the room like as the room warms up. You're like holy smokes like we just have a bunch of guys and that's a lot of credit to make coach made as a phenomenal job. I was just talking to Burm about it like. To see even our media guys what they look like when they showed up during like the bowl of the whole natty run. And they're kind of hanging out during practice and see the high school bodies to see what they look like today before they go away. And like the shoulders are all like everything is just different and they've been indoctrinated into the brotherhood. So I think you know there's just a lot to work with and so what he's really good at right is like he's talked about it. One year he has junior say I will get a spike for a bull you know Roosevelt Colvin and those guys.

3:16:13And a couple years later he has Brandon spikes so he's like okay I just put his blitz brand in the middle all the time. So he's 260 pounds and beast. He always says he was my best nose guard from Mike backer right and then the year after that he gets you know we got Jamie Collins and Dante high talent. So now we can do a lot of stuff right so. There's not just like hey this is what we're doing we got people and it's like hey here's what we got let's utilize it. So that's what spring will be. While going to lab and figure out what that means I'm sure through spring ball there will be like hey here's what we do really well as unit. Because this unit is going to be different right and you know we lose a lot of production so you know we'll be different. So you kind of got to reform your own identity and you're re-earned that silver bullet big name and mantra. How many guys can look at our bell and he's on a very good track is that it's just what's his ceiling talking to the start of our bell. He's just locked in right now he's locked in. He's done a great job becoming a leader coming out of his shell I think I think for Velley it's all about consistency and just preparation.

3:17:18And I'm proud of our bell you know he's through the season you got way better at you know a lot of it's little things just note taking and stuff. Like sometimes if these kids are always on their phones and stuff not like the meeting rooms or anything like that but just naturally. So like to get out of pen and paper and like you hear things and to me I got it. What you do until your dog tired and then you forget because you know I mean but when you really understand it you know I mean like go play faster. He got so much better through the year just a lot of that's because of Cody like becoming a pro. And then now it's like Sonny's pulling him along he's pulling pain along the pain to pull in TJ and Riley and Eli so they can still like. So I kind of love the competition right now the way it's made up. Yeah Velley is on a great path right now. How many different guys do you feel like can be in that Mike's spot for that obviously losing Cody and now having that. I think that's something that's fluid as we kind of go because you know week one Sonny actually started at Mike for us.

3:18:19And Sonny smart off to play them all. Our Vell is smart off to play them all. Paying pears is smart off to play them all. And that's also like how do you like depends on what what scheme you're running where they how do they being utilized as well you know what I mean. So you say my like my backer you know whether it's Tommy I convert raw film research to different people and Cody's different from those two so. I challenge to like a lot of the guys that come in and so we all learn both the more you understand about the scheme in general. The faster you will play you know what I mean like if I just sit here and I say hey I got a lot of Mike. My drop is this and that's all I need to know like. Or no football happens so fast and all the shifts emotions that like. If you're out there just playing and you're waiting for a call. And you're reacting like you're so worried about what's going on on your side of the ball you don't even recognize that the offense is telling you something's what they're doing. So.

3:19:20If I'm out there and also I'm not getting a call I know what the call should be it's like hey are we playing you know let's go. Now listen you get it you can look I can see okay here's what the tight ends doing that's the backstool and here's what plays are coming. You just line up the play it's rather passive time like you know staying a chance you got a lemonade plays in your mind by seeing what the offense is doing like they tell you a story every time they line up. They just window dressing people motion and chance to try to get a man's own indicators and they trying to make sure that. They gave the same formation on the same place but they just shifted people in the emotion and I move and they don't want you to recognize. So for always worried about what work you don't mean so the more you know. That's you can play you're not sitting there thinking oh what do I have for you react to see I know you have. So my challenge to guys like. There's always a no both so. I think a lot of just beyond. On depth sure guys get you know if sonny's only doing 50 to 75% of the place and probably more guys get more will reps than they had because we need. Well bodies is that's technically where sonny started. But.

3:20:20We'll rotate them through. Let the production kind of show what it does. And sometimes you know you'll live for some of the mistakes just from. In his spot that you'll be able to judge to like who's actually. Getting in the book you know I mean who's actually studying. How much of a great thing you've seen from sonny this time of year go through the national championship game and then. What's next. Man I mean. Definitely I know I know sonny has big goals and should. I do as well for him and. To see how far he's come you know first thing kind of stands out is just like his. His footwork has gotten so much better. When you're in the boxes linebacker you gotta be able to. Remember loop thickly say it all the time and you gotta be slow till it's time to be fast when you're twitchy like he is. A lot of times you know when you're about safety or you used to. You know pulling a trigger and rolling like you gotta. Learn how to shuffle and not cross over and he got so much better as a year or nine. A lot of people question whether he be able to hold up his cowdy wise and you know he was.

3:21:23He was great you know he's the season guy he's really good with his hands is a really natural ability to snag. Will keep challenging him I think he should be a dominant guy in coverage. He needs to be a guy that we can. Put on a tight end and be like he's not going to be in catching the ball. You know me because he has that athleticism. They've been in challenge in there. Challenge them I think everything is just. Missed times with sunny it's everybody's urgency in zone coverage. I mean the urgency with you have to break on the football to close that space. The not at the bulk area have so much space on you to. To cut making miss is critical. I think sometimes he's he can do so athletic that you know you can get away some stuff and he knows. Anything that I'm saying right now here he knows so. The best part is a lot of times like he'll come to me before film and already said man coach on that play. I should have you know what I mean like he knows. And the best part is that he's humble enough our whole. One is that they just want to be they want to be pushed and they want to be coached. And so. The heck was asked for right like.

3:22:25I was asked like what do you need for me just just keep making sure like you're pushing it. Let me settle. So. He's probably the best. The room with that. Do you look at sunny and our bell is being this kind of your top of the guys right now. Yeah I mean I think going into it you know I think it's sunny or well paintings right up there in that next. You know your accurate there and then it's like. Who else is going to emerge for really the fourth. The fourth guy you know I think it's a healthy way to put it. Um. Yeah I just. I think our I think our backers are so competitive. So competitive that it's. You know I know painting pierces chopping at the bit. I know that he's going to push you know Vell and sunny. I know that you look at Riley and TJ and Eli and stove like those guys are going at it. These work guys those guys are going at it and it's constant competitive. You know what I mean they're trying to fight each other everything. So. So really if it is their fight for reps right.

3:23:26So. This game is hard. It's winter loser every single day. And you know a lot of the guys are going to make our break and start with the mental preparation. To be honest with you. And because that's where trust starts right. If you don't know what you're doing I can't put you out there. So who preps mentally as we get rolling and then. The physical part of that but let's say it says it's sunny or well and painting probably have. Part of the top three and then. But I can always say it's always fluid. It's always fluid. I haven't done this. You know it's funny. There's one coach who said that I forget what kind of felt he was. But he said that what he does is he has the depth chart. Sit in the front of the room so if you're a starter you're the first to grow. You know and then the second row and these like it'll change weekly. Sometimes they'll camp like I can't do that. I got my shirt. I can't do that. Good. For me kind of like high school like I've done with like that journey like that's done.

3:24:30Like I'm here now it's not really so surreal. It's just like I'm here you know. Unless we get ready to work you know it's just keep improving each day. Keep stacking days. So I mean I wouldn't really say it's like surreal out of here. It's more just like it's not like you to wake up but like you're a book. I like work. Train with training every day. So you're. You're not. Yeah. Yeah yeah definitely I like I did earn that but just now it's just like we're here now. It's just go forward. So you've got to get what's next right? Yeah. Climb with the depth chart. Yeah. You got to see you get it under just a try now in the title of ball and what is that relationship? And like with Tyler? Yeah. It's been really good. I love coach Bowen. The guys who came in with him too coach Dickie coach Johnson coach fields. They're all great guys. Definitely great O'Line coaches like you get feedback from all of them and they're all in the same page every day. So it's really good. Have them. I'm really happy moments here. It's exciting. What do you think over these last couple of weeks of spring ball and what you work out?

3:25:32I guess where and what do you think your biggest growth has been? I'd say my biggest growth has definitely been probably like a strength factor. I'd say that's definitely like from the one side definitely like the strength and then getting working into spring ball for. Just being more focused kind of like to big more calm. Kind of that makes sense. Like just not freaking out before the play like what am I doing just playing football? That's probably my biggest growth. I was practicing. How is practice different before offends a line coach? Do you feel like it has changed the way that you're getting reps? You want to reps? No. I mean like after every play like you're getting feedback from everyone. So like it's great because you'll have coach Berlin and coach Johnson still coaching the ones or the three of the twos. And then like when you're running off the field you got coach Dick or someone else like coaching you uptown you want to do. So I mean I think it's really awesome that we are capable to have four coaches in the room with us. So that's that stuff. You've been strictly at center.

3:26:32Are you playing some guard? Play a left guard right now. Yes sir. Do you feel like there's a shift to center potentially down the road? I know. I don't know. I mean just left guard that's what I've been taking reps there right now. That's just how it goes. As a freshman offends alignment with this nation this is pretty important. It's just because of the developmental part of that position. How do you as a guy who was playing on high school? How do you develop that patient's knowing it might be a year or two since you're out of use? I take it as like you know you just got to keep just stacking days like you can't get down on yourself if you're not playing. You just got to keep developing. And like the guys we have in our room are awesome like all the you know uppercise my glue, Josh Austin, Austin, Carson, Taggart, all those guys like they're great dudes. So it's really awesome being able to learn from them. Like watch them get mental reps of them every day to see what they're doing. And then just take that back and just use what they use.

3:27:32So I mean it's definitely just like keep stacking days. Just keep working don't really pay attention about that. It's just work. It's really interesting. The interior of it's a line up. You see a lot of guys played a lot of football. He played a lot of important football. Who would you kind of lead on to try and learn very steady how to learn small things? Definitely I'd say Luke Montgomery. That's a guy who like I just every practice I'm just when I'm not here. I'm just watching him take his reps like see what he's doing when he has like a 2-I or a 3-1 in front of him. What footwork he takes, what he puts his hands instead. So I definitely said Luke is a guy that I never watch. Clothes just try to see what he does. Is that one of the biggest transitions to make even you leave the jump from high school to college on the offensive light? Just leave the small things. Yeah, the steps and the hand placement. That's definitely a huge thing when I first got here was like there's different forward, friendly, pretty much every block you got to take. That's like I think it's the most detailed position on the field.

3:28:35It's like you just need everything needs to kind of be perfect in the block. I tell you you're taking steps and placement. How do you feel about it? Oh it's good. I'd say it's good. I mentioned a lot of bars. Is that a position you see yourself sticking with or is that just kind of where it's where it's starting? I mean I could see myself sticking out of the board. I mean I could play pretty much anywhere. Obviously it's here. But yeah, right now it's just been less guards. You've been at the top of the block. Jake, you had the opportunity to watch those bowl games first and kind of get that experience on what it's like to be part of a championship roster. What was kind of the biggest thing you took away from that whole experience? Yeah, I would say definitely watching all those bowl games and the national team Egypt just watching the guys carry themselves out of it. I mean how they, like the preparation it took to get ready for that, just how they go about their days, like what they're doing when they're out here practicing, how they practice.

3:29:38It was pretty much just like kind of just feeding off the moment with their doughnut. I kind of got a glimpse to see what it takes to kind of get to a stage like that and just start acting. Jake, thank you very much. It's a heavyweight balance and national championship. That's what it's all about. I'm trying to take some shots and keep swinging. Can I speak to the coach? In that meeting you guys had a great, very easy work. To him, to stand in front of you guys, a whole team having a vulnerable like that and to make changes, what is it say? I mean it just speaks to how great a coach he is. I think a lot of coaches would have had a lot of selfie girls on that meeting and he didn't at all. He loves us all of us like when his sons and we felt that form. We knew that we had a rebound like we did. I can't say enough how much he means to me. The way he goes about business, we don't go about it. A lot of teams do about fear, losing your job. We go about as a family and it's about love. We know we had to execute and we did that tonight.

3:30:39How happy are you for Coach Day? You know how close you are? You were his first committee for him to build a health fitness. Yeah, I mean it's a dream come true like I said. God is so great and during that it took us down and it took Coach Day on. He was family on the meet. And then I'll be curious that we did a night and I'll stay on the team. So I mean it means everything to us. And to see him have the success, it makes me so happy. I know I saw the smile on his wife on her face and saw the she had a good day. It's gonna be an excellent set of things and that gag time is horrible. And to come out tonight and win this game for them, it's awesome. That's the drop that was come a bird on the ball. The championship for the bus, all that expectations with this team at all point. You know we knew what the expectations were going to the season. We knew that we're at Ohio State and the job of hand every year as a knock of being for a national champion and not doing your job. So you know what never a bird knows kind of motivating factor. You know do what we're doing right now. And we just left is something that you can't put in the words on what they mean.

3:31:44So we never looked at this as an opportunity and we did that just tonight. Jack, can you drop your name in the night before? We never know today was going to fight to the end. But you know during the season, it was during the season you felt that you felt that you felt that you felt. I think that before the season we knew that we were capable of a national championship. Just because of the guys we had and the coaching staff, we knew that we were capable of this. And through all the ups and downs we were able to persevere and keep fighting. Keep swing coach. They always say, you've got to fight your way out of bad times in life and as a player as a coach. As a family really for him, you know he's got to fight himself out of bad times. And he did just that, made the adjustments, made the change out of him and now we're champions. So like I said, God is so good and the journey brought us on was amazing. Jack, I believe I was going to be able to say who said your the buck guy. Obviously you grew up in Pickerington. When did you allow yourself to think about what this moment would be like and what it would mean for your legacy at Ohio State that you can get this done. When did you allow yourself to think about that? Yeah, I know. I mean honestly I haven't still even thought about it. I'm just so happy to be able to celebrate this in the squad guys. It's not about me at all.

3:32:46It's about this team and coach day and the City of Columbus has been waiting for this for a long time for 10 years. And I'm just so happy for this group of guys and the stuff that we went through and heard. And we keep getting up and keep trying to practice and go as hard as we can and approach with a positive attitude and trusting God's plan. And you know, here we are in national champions. And they can never take that away from us. So I'm just so happy that we will finish the job and get a grasp of what we're going to do. You can check now that it's on the stage at one point. What were your thoughts right there, Jack? You look like you've kind of dropped your knees at one point and we're giving some kind of thanks or whatever. But what was going on there? I was just thinking God. I was just thinking God for all the ups and downs in my career and everyone else's career. And then to end it this way is just so special. I mean, you know, what do you put your faith in God? You know, he says it's not going to be easy. It hasn't been easy for any of us. And we kept trusting him and believing his plan. And here we are in national champions. You know, when I don't want to say all you guys didn't believe it, but what do you guys think we're doing?

3:33:48We did the job then at the weekend of Ember. So here we are in national champs. I feel it's great to say. Who brought those regards? Who brought those regards? Jack and I think that was the mindset. Did it make Letterman Girl? Yeah. JT, I know you get to watch a little bit of video of Caleb and Nathan and Jordan. What stands out about that group from your vantage point? Oh, they're respected. They're relentless, man. I mean, Nathan, Caleb and I mean everybody in that BIA core. Yes, they can cover, but you know, when it's time to stop the round, they'll come down to 12 yards out. However far off the front line, Scrimber is coming, you know, through the nose in there. And I respect them for that because there's going to be times where we need them to make them tackles. And I mean, they're displaying it this whole season. Yeah, how critical are they in a game of this magnitude? Obviously, everybody's critical. But you know what I mean? Yeah. Sort of the last line of defense, but sometimes the last line of defense is in the middle of it. Yeah. I mean, they play a huge role. I mean, like you said, it takes everybody from the front four. It's like a check reaction. The front four don't do their job.

3:34:49Then you know, it falls, you know, the back end. So we off to work as a collective unit. And I think there's a reason that there's 11 of us out there. And you know, it's crazy if one person is doing their job, then you know, something can go wrong. But if we just all continue to stay, communication with one another, continue to just lay each other. You know, we have each other's backs and just trust one another. And man, I think that that performance is going to be off the charts. For the right, Kelly and Stitz, WSW. DT, how would you describe the mentality of the defense right now, getting this opportunity for Greenhouse and the Warden? Yeah. Hungry and thankful. I mean, we know how the last time when, you know, we had a chip on our shoulder. I mean, we were riding high before that game and we took that loss. And we came back, had to make a couple changes. But I think we understand what, you know, everything's at stake right now. You know, just fighting to where another house, stage, or anything like that. And that's what's on stake. And just to be able to represent this state and this team. I mean, we understand what's on the line. And, you know, we're just hungry and blessed that we get this opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl.

3:35:50Right behind your Adam King, WBNS. What do you remember most about walking off the field in Eugene? What was kind of all your minds in that moment? I mean, there is a... I don't think anybody imagined it. Imagine us losing. You know, I didn't. That's for sure. And I think after that, it was kind of head deep. But understanding that, man, we still... There's still a lot of ball left to be played. I mean, you can let it sting for a little bit. But, you know, if you let it carry over too long, then, you know, there it goes. There goes your whole season. But I think we did a great job of just understanding, coming together in this room right here. Not being afraid to display or hold accountability for one another. And, you know, as that happened, we came back regrouped and, you know, we're just going right now. And I'm just blessed for those specific moments, you know, losing. I mean, no one wants to lose, but the testimonies and the things you're taught within those little situations speaks of all of you.

3:36:55After all of our letterman draw. Jay, what did you see from Kenyatta in the last couple of weeks? Was there like a push from him? And there were many conversations with him. He seemed like he was playing since the best of all intensity. Yeah, I mean, that's my boy. He's in the R2X club too, but, you know, Keata. I mean, every time his numbers call, he goes out there and makes the most of it, no matter where we add in the game. When he goes out there, he's just hungry. He wants to go make plays. And, you know, we see it in practice, so it's not surprising to us. Bill Rebino, explain this back. Dylan Gabriel is obviously very elusive and he's not very tall. How important it could be to just kind of stay in your past rush lanes and neglect a lot of balls and kind of make a difference that way? Yeah, I think it just comes out of being disciplined. No one who you're playing against, like you said, he's very elusive. I mean, he can, he is making throws. I mean, he get out the parking to everything. So I think for us, we just have to discipline him and just continue to just meet with Coach Jay.

3:37:59Me with the Coach Knows and understand how we can just eliminate that. One question about you and Jack. I mean, your personality seems to be a little different. More on the quiet side. He's not. Yeah. How about you? You've played together four years, both five-star guys. Do you want to describe your relationship with him, friendship with him, and just kind of how you complement each other? Man, that's my brother. Like he said, we're different but very alike. I think outside, like you said, he's louder and quiet, but, you know, once we're on that field, we're like the same person. We'll do anything for this team. You know, we'll die for our players and we'll give everything we got. Room together for four years, correct. Yeah, ball camps. Every room, we trade. Yeah, sometimes to go over there. So yeah. The neat one who's the messy one. We have our share of days when we, when I'm neat, he's neat or we might both be messy, but we do a good job. Yeah, I'd probably say I would better kick the jack though. Tony Gertman, Buck I Hell.

3:39:02When you're playing a team for the second time and that was almost a season to go by now, how much of, are you at square one with the scouting and preparation or how much do you take from that game? How much do you avoid taking so that you don't have any pre-trophy notions of what you're going up against on the offensive line? I say it's pretty 50-50, I mean that game, like you said, it was a while ago, but at the same time they elevated as a team, so did we, so we understand that they had, they made some changes for sure. You know, there's a certain tendency we can take back from that game, but we also understand that they went on a little run after that and we can see that they elevated as an offense, so we just got to continue to watch those games, dissect the other games and just continue to see what stands out and what they changed from the past game. We got a couple calls on Zoom that will wrap up with, first we have Nick Hamilton from Nightcast Media. Nick? I just wanted to ask you basically about the synergy of this defense and how you guys

3:40:04were able to not only celebrate the triumphs but get through the adversity, be able to be this top-notch defense that you are in college football today. Here, you have the question one more time? Yeah, no problem. I wanted to ask you about the synergy you were able to develop over the course of the season, obviously celebrating the triumphs but also getting through the adversities to where you are, all the top-notch defense that you are today. Yeah, I mean, like you said, we went through a lot of trials to trials, but there's also, there's a lot of things we can take away from all the wins and losses. From those wins, we understood that we can be the best defense in the country and from those losses, we understand that there are still things that need to be fixed. I think when you take all that in at once, that comes down to the common goal or the common talk which is, there's always learning points everywhere. Depending how I set those games or how we just continue to come as one and elevate, we continue to just collect all those learning points and just continue to grow from them.

3:41:08And one final question. Joey Coffin, Columbus Dispatch. Joey? JT, what have you guys done better in the Tennessee game and just late in the season, you think about turning some of the pressures that you've got on the quarterbacks and the sacks and getting home in some of those situations? Yeah, I think it was more just understanding the defense as a whole, understanding everybody's job. I think as the season went on, we had to understand that, we have to know what's going on in the backhand, we have to know what's going on with the lineback recruits to understand what plays we have, room of freedom. And I think once we understood that and got a better understanding of everybody's job, I mean, it showed this play because everybody knows what each other is doing. It's not like the lineback is not what they're doing. The corners and B.I., they know only their job. I think we all know each other's job and we continue to ask each other questions on, if they're bliss and how they can get to the quarterback and if I'm dropping and playing quarterback's back and ask Cody on how to open field tackle it.

3:42:10So we just kind of lean on each other's understanding because like I said, Denzel knows how to play corner-bedded and I know how to play corner. So he has more wisdom at that position than I do. JT, thank you very much. Thanks, Ben. Well, we're a way kind of panic starts to set in. What do you guys as players need to do to combat that? Yeah, I think it's just not getting too high, not getting too low, you know, setting in a nice even medium and attacking each play at a time no matter what the score is and doing it to the best of your ability. What ails this offense the most? I think just saying ahead of the chains and getting past those third downs, converting on those third downs, I mean that's what we got to be better at. At the end of the day, we got to put him in zone, we're not doing that, we're not doing our job. So, are you guys creating more explosive plays as an other offense? Right, I think you stick with it.

3:43:12You know, the explosive plays are going to come and now we've got to trust that and they'll be there for us for sure. No extends has been here for highs and lows over the many, many years he's been with this program now. What sort of his message to your group right now or when you're turning to him, what is he saying as far as how to get through this? Yeah, so I think it's just really just coming and attacking every day as you would, regardless and staying even through hardship and attacking it the same way every day. That's really all you can do and you just get a little better every day and see where it takes you. The way things are already we're setting up but then also we chase some assignments we're calling the game on Saturday. It seems like tight ends are going to be a big part of this as you guys are trying to pull out and what role do you think you guys are going to have in trying to get this offense? Yeah, I think the role is always try to help the offense move the ball and whether they were called upon to do that.

3:44:12In the past game or the run game, we just got to step up and do our job at a high level and whatever you ask from us, we just got to do it at high level and let the offense go. You're some of the leaders on the offense. Some of the leaders have to say Gus is a big leader. I mean he's been doing it for a while and someone that everyone trust is going to do his job at a high level and I think we have Hudson's a good leader too as well. Obviously he's a quarterback so he takes on that leadership role and I think we just have a good amount of leaders throughout the offense. We were told George might be fairly close to getting back what we mean to get him back in the mix with the tight ends. Yeah, it'd be great. I mean George is a great athlete so having him out there can only help. You know, we're really excited about him and what you can do on the field so it'd be great. But I mean here like the guys are really close knit. They're all pushing each other and trying to be the best. So we stood out about this interior off to my wife and my wife.

3:45:14Really just like how the nose up it has, like they're really good into helping me understand the system and they're really good at points and everything. They're really good communities which is something that I have and it's how they need to be. To be the case really good. It really is. Yeah. Yeah. I mean just how would you say and how about tennis training, how about you? Yeah, I mean the connection and chemistry is incredibly important because I mean these are people who are playing with them and they work with them and you're going to see them every day so we have to at least get along with them understand where their mind is especially in the game. You played both right tackle. What do you do most of the time? Left tackle. You had one year there at Rice and I left tackle. I just five years back to that. I mean I saw a play right and then by my junior, the moment I saw it, by senior, like moving to left and yeah, I mean it was a pretty serious process to me.

3:46:14The coach is a rice because they have some really great and helping me with the position and I didn't even thought it was significant with these challenges. There was some driving and I was surprised that you were trying to pull us on a completely good set on top. I'm shocked that you didn't have to be a second off like you did. Did you hope that you'd consider turning pro? Yeah, I mean I was on my mind back at the same time. I also realized I wanted to continue to the Dolphin. I think to be great, which is why I wanted to find a good school where I can have a good olympic. She's going to help with mental and I mean, because you're going to sit like that. I've always known so it's all getting better and improving things that were big discrepancies in my game. You do stuff in the game. Obviously we've been using Dr. Jackson, Josh Hart. A lot of guys back in the national championship team. You think about the depth of your life? It's an amazing thing. We're all pushing tough to be great. It's competitive, which is a best place to get better. Did you seek out Ohio State or they seek you out or was it kind of a choice?

3:47:15No, I was definitely seeking out a Ohio State. You did? Yeah. How did you know you had a shot that even come here? How does that work in the portal? Honestly, I really didn't know. I was just kind of a hope thing. I put a lot of prayer to it. My family and my agent, my old coaches, the rice and they're really helping through the processing. Without them, I don't know whether I'll be here right now. But by the grace of God, I ended up here. Obviously, Justin Fry was the coach when you came here. What was that kind of transition like of him leaving and the type of going coming in? It was pretty seamless. I mean, both of them are incredibly good coaches. They're both known when they're talking about they're really tuned into the fine details. So, I mean, I wasn't worried at all. It was just business usually. What are the biggest things you like about playing for Coach Bell in so far? He's a really good communicator. We meet a lot and he's really good at just kind of putting out the fine details and how you can prove your game.

3:48:18And then when it comes to different skills and everything, just how to fine tune it and practice it. Will the beat spine triple-priced time? I'm trying to live by being the hardest working person in this field. That's why I want to spend the most time watching films. I think after practicing the game, it has to work to a higher end. I feel like that's how I would describe myself. What about the efficiency of being the one you try to reward for? Well, I mean, I can always be better at a lot of things. But, you know, just really like for working everything. That's the biggest thing. That's the biggest thing you know, it's the biggest thing that's assistant. That work is born and it's really important. If you'd talk about the rest of the way that you play, you'd say that's the best thing. Is that been an adjustment playing in that way for your team? I feel better. You feel better, okay? Yeah. So you didn't lose any strength at all?

3:49:19Did you know you got to lose better? Yeah, I knew and then I was talking to the diet dishes and everything. How did you diet change? Well, I focused a lot more on getting the right macros into my meals. That was really the biggest thing. I mean, the biggest thing about losing weight is diet. But it's like a lot more protein that's part of stuff like that. Not shit-base. And everything. All right. So you can thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Chip. All right, y'all are good, then. It's been an honor to feel it. They have helped me with just simple stuff. Like, if I didn't know where to go, get something down. They'll tell me or they just like hanging out with me doing good and closer. Just a lot of different small things that got brought us closer to my glacier. They already started going this year. I haven't started yet. But I'm going to give it to you. You feel them? Yeah, I feel like, uh, maybe we teach now that anybody can be a leader no matter what year.

3:50:22First week, so I'm going to join your senior. Or even if we're walking, everybody can be a leader. Just, uh, yeah. I think that the wind that hits you last year that, yeah, this technique, this thing can work for me. I mean, don't need to get, you have to grow into it. I had to grow it until a little bit. I was very new, especially playing D in my own life. But I had a talent to help me, like I said, throughout the whole process. Yeah, when did it really strike you that I could be a factor? Oh, you know, what game or, you know, how do we do to feel comfortable on this? Or anything else? I would say closer towards the playoffs, meeting with Tally, a lot. I would feel comfortable by, okay, I can actually do this because it showed me some stress I have. Like, see, he might see you can do this and that really helped me get the confidence in other than I can. Yeah, but then you became a factor. You became a factor, especially, you know, basically through the playoffs and stuff. What did it mean to you to be a factor that early? All the word of God, first of all, to keep me healthy, to keep going out. But it's been a lot that Coach James trusted me enough to go on end of the big games like that.

3:51:26And I knew that I would be able to produce. You're still setting things up, you think, good so far. Definitely speed and strength was my main two. And I was saying, will help me inside of those yards. I think I was really running inside. When you were at high school, you wanted to be a champion right to it. What's the changes in home? The changes in real life, the your body's taken you there anyway. What is the moment for you to do what you're actually doing? Definitely. The Marma Day thing, also, and some, I know the interview, some of those interviews I said, the main thing was being a team player and moving the three teams was going to help the team. So I was really moving to handle it. Let's look up for sure. Jason and Will and Tim Tawar are dating. Just hold them up and contact us. It's very competitive. We all come in trying to see where we need to get better and just to keep moving forward.

3:52:28So it's pretty good competition and I love them. And Drake, you made the move during the bi-week last year, was that right? What was the toughest part about that whole crash course? Really, Nathan, I really embraced it. I knew that I made the move inside in order to help out the team. And we had some really great years last year, much more in. JT Jack, Kenny Kerry, Kenny Jay, so it was pretty good, I had a moving the three-take. I also asked him down there while still been able to showcase what I got there. Did you feel like you just needed to get done quickly? Did you feel that pressure to get it done quickly because you needed to be ready for that next game? No, they were all in on me just whenever I'm ready. Just let them know how I feel about moving in or saying that. Can you just get asked about? You know, three pressure, now it's the room with you. You played as a freshman and you see what it takes for you to play as a freshman. So you see John Williams and those guys actually think that they're doing it the best they can. JT Jack Williams, Tracy, all the guys that came in, they continue to work hard every day.

3:53:33Even if they don't give it the first time, they don't ask us what are they doing in this situation to help me out. So the ability to keep trying to learn from people that's played in their big stage, that's where it really gonna keep going. Were you surprised how quickly things did start to click for you inside? Just given you said they were gonna be patient with you. But by the time you get to the playoffs, you're playing like that. Is that a surprise? I'm quickly interested in trying to happen. Not really. I knew once I got it, Jose was gonna trust me a lot more than you go on out there each and every time. So I appreciate them. Like I said earlier, thank you Lord. Thank you guys. Thank you. Comment in here playing immediately. Is that inspire you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman? I mean definitely. You know, just what he did last year is a true freshman. You know him being able to play an impact team like that. Obviously I want that for myself. So you know, I'm gonna push myself to that limit. You know, try to be on the field here when that's my plan. That's the biggest reason I came here because I have an opportunity to play here with one.

3:54:33So me having that opportunity is good and you know, I'm gonna come out here and compete. Like I said, I'm putting myself at the bottom. So I'm working. I'm gonna work every day like I'm at the bottom and I gotta get to the top. How, what do you feel like it's gonna take for you to get from the bottom to the top? You know, just discipline. They're big on discipline here and you know competitive and excellent. So it's just staying consistent every day. Just doing the rights. Having little to none, mental errors. That's gonna give me on the field. And you know, I do, I do what I'm supposed to do. That's gonna give me on the field. How do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one, like the season comes around? How do you manage people? You know, I don't really let it get to my head because, you know, like I'm here, I got dudes in the room that are like IGB, you know, he's in a big three-year start. I got to main person all American, you know, he's gonna play this year too. So I can't let what people say on the net get to me because, you know, anybody can say, oh, he's gonna play this year, but you know, I actually got to prove it. So I actually got to come out here and you know, work and earn that spot.

3:55:36What's your most important career learning so far in your three months here? Competing every day. That's the biggest thing. Having to compete, you know, these guys appear, they take winning and losing to heart. So, you know, my first week up here when we did our competitions, you know, I was winning, then I actually, I got that first loss on my belt and you know, it kind of opened my eyes. Like, these guys take it to heart when they lose, they don't like it. So, you know, I kind of got that now where I don't like losing. You had the opportunity to be around the team for that, you know, CFP Ron. What did you learn from just those few weeks seeing this team make that run? You know, being real tight with your brothers, you know, they're real tight. You know, they push each other, you know, it's a real brotherhood. They don't let nobody down, they always got each other back. So, I mean, it's a new team now. So, you know, we got to build that chemistry with each other, you know, just get tight. And I feel like when I was there for that playoff running and I practiced when they were at the National Championship, you know, I just got to watch, you know, how guys are, you know, real locked in.

3:56:38They're close with each other. They're not letting nobody slack off. And, you know, I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now. How did you handle losing? You handle that first lock. That first lock, you know, it kind of got to me. It was the IGB, you know, he let me hear. So, after that loss, I was like, nah, I can't let this happen anymore. It's because it's like, now it's not high school where you used 17, 16 years old. And if you lose, you lose. Appearance, nah, if you lose, the coach will see that. So, and they go see how you respond to it. So, I feel like I had to, you know, open my eyes, I had to go and lock them. Like, yeah, I can't let this happen anymore, you know. So, I got to grow up. And, you know, these guys are counting on me too. So, it's really important that I don't lose. If you had to describe yourself as a competitor, how would you do that? I'm a great competitor, you know. I like winning. Who doesn't like winning? So, I mean, winning is, it's in my blood. You know, my parents taught me that at a young age, you know, going out there competing for anything that you want. And I feel like if you can go out there compete for it, you know, it's yours. And if you compete for it all the time, who's going to take it from you?

3:57:38So, I mean, I'm a good competitor. I'm always going to go out there and try to take what's mine. If it's out there, then anybody can have it. And I'm going to be the one to get it. There's some role-talkers in your room, obviously. Are you a talker? What's your natural approach? Yeah, I mean, it could come out on me, you know. But I don't really know my game to the talking for this part. But, you know, if it gets there, it gets to that point where, yeah, I can bring it out. Because, you know, regardless, I'm not just going to let nobody just come out here and just, you know, kiss balls on me. So, if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently getting TPUs, yeah, I'm going to talk. But, you know, being in that room, you kind of got to talk. You know, Jermaine, you got IGD, you know, those real talkers in that room. So, it kind of makes you want to bring it out. And, you know, when you bring that out, that just brings energy out of the whole defense. And when you got the whole defense clicking, I mean, you can see what's happening. Is there anyone that's kind of, like, a competition in the atmosphere? I'd be the champion. It was during the winter. We were doing, you know, just stuff on the field. We were just having the time of the field. Just a lot of competitions. So, I mean, he just kind of, it was a day where, you know, they had us going up against just the freshmen.

3:58:41And then they kind of threw us in there and fired against the older guys. So, we had to, you know, we had to wake up and, you know, we all kind of lost. And it all kind of, like, we all kind of came to get that professional group, like, what are we going to do about this? Because, you know, they're kind of nice to step up in those roles. Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely, my work on the college moment. You know, just showing that, you know, it's real now, a mental Ohio State. I'm not in Houston, Texas, no more in my school. Far from my family, you know, I got to wake up, I got to grow, I got to mature fast. And, you know, I just got to get ready for the next level. You've mentioned high school a couple of times. How did, you know, grow it up very in Texas, playing at that level. How do you feel like that helped you prepare a real house state? I feel like you prepared good, you know, I feel like I went to a power house in Texas. We obviously ran the Houston area. You know, we've been running the Houston area for a long time now. And I feel like, you know, we're a real college program. We live just like these guys who do the same lifts. You know, the level of ball I play, the highest level of ball in Texas, 6A. You know, we're going against guys like Dunkin' Bill, North Crowley, those top schools, you know,

3:59:43receiving the Coyote more I go against. And I want to get some three times in my career. So, I mean, those that really prepared me for this level, you know, coming in like, this is not where it's a little school where, oh, they don't believe that I can come here and make an impact. I came from big schools so they're counting on me to make an impact because, you know, I think, I mean, everybody would say Texas is one of the highest football players in the country, you know, they go as Florida and they're probably Georgia. So, I mean, they're counting on me to be ready and that level of ball prepared me real, real well. How'd you do against DeCory? You know, it was when lose, when lose. You know, I went some, he lost some. So, I mean, it's just getting better, I'm not sharp and higher because, you know, he's the top receiver, obviously, in our class, you know, I feel like he's going to have a good impact at the working. So, I mean, it's just, it's just, it's just, just, what's going to happen next? Looking forward to seeing him again? Yeah, definitely, definitely. And you know, I plan on planning against him. We don't, we want to see him this year, hopefully we see him in the big team championships. So, you know, I want that rematch, man.

4:00:44DeVin, you committed super early in the process, six months after that, you shut things down and quite frankly, someone of your caliber didn't have to do that. You could have, you've seen kids play the game a little bit longer than that, but you chose to not do that. It's kind of a lot getting here. Why? You know, because this was, this was, this was where I felt, this was home. You know, I didn't really feel like, you know, standing Texas was a good thing for me. I didn't, I didn't feel like that was home for me. Up here, I just felt like it was home, you know, because of law and because they, you know, they're making it, you know, making me feel important up here. And then, you know, like you could ask, because how many times I came up here, do I, my high school career, I came up here 13 times. So, it got to the point where I was knowing the guys on the team, I had the numbers just like that, when I come up here, you know, I don't got to always be able to coach as I can go chill with some of the guys on the team. So, it was just, just me, you know, knowing what I want to play in my college ball at, you know, knowing where I felt like it was home and then, you know, it was also my parents too, you know. My mom being, you know, feeling safe that, you know, I'm up here, you know,

4:01:45I'm in a business and not having to worry about me, and she goes to sleep. We're in concussions. And also back then, it's like if you got a concussion, they were sending you right back into the game. So, now it's a lot different, we got a protocol and it gives your brain time to heal and everything. So, I think things are setting plays now where it's a lot better than before and that time where we're making problems later on. So, that's why I'm not really too concerned about it. But, you know how many recommended to you? Say it again. So, how much recommended by the trainer or Michael's dad? Oh, no, I just wanted to get into a new home. I mean, people have a refer to, they also, during our team meeting has said how there's a number of helmets that are better than other helmets right now. So, I just wanted to check those out and see what they are. Is this concussion any more severe than the others you had? No, that's one of the other things. I mean, I'm not going to give a whole seminar on concussions over here. But, no, it's not necessarily more severe. Each concussion, like just what I learned, each concussion is its own specific concussion. And, you gotta give that time to heal

4:02:45and then once that's healed and ready to go, once you get back out here, you're good. So, it's not like concussions are building on top of each other. Like, if you give it time to heal, but I think like before, what guys were getting trouble with the long time ago, is like, they get a concussion, not fully healed, then they go right back out there and playing. Then, does a captain see a side or maybe part of it? Can you just reflect on how you've grown since showing up here in fairly 21, into the player's personal argument? Yeah, I've been here for a little while now. I've been enjoying every second of it. I always came in trying to be a captain and trying to lead these guys as best as I can. And, I definitely feel that I've grown vocally and just trying to help build the team up and build myself up. So, I'm just trying to do anything I can to help this team. How about in a concussion situation like this? You're so close to your mom and your brother. Do you have to sort of involve the family's decision on that go? Yeah, definitely. They came down with me. When the team was here doing meetings, I was driving up to a Pittsburgh meeting with the concussion specialist and everything.

4:03:45And they were with me and just easing their mind. That's the biggest thing. easing their mind. They were all there worried and everything, but they'll be okay. Can we show the play with the Elijah Mothers, your head growing? Say it again. We saw the play at practice. Did you think you'd be out for two weeks after that? I mean, I was good. It was that day that I was kind of had a headache and everything. But I was pretty much good after that. But it was just about going through the protocol. And I mean, there was no rush back. We weren't playing regular season games. So, I mean, I was just really getting the time to heal. It wasn't any rush. You both already had and still had a helmet to helmet. From your perspective, I'm actually an expert. Are those doing what they're intended to do? You know, you have to take care of it when he got to. You know, I'm saying like, guys are still getting concussions and getting where. Yeah, it's definitely still a physical sport. So I mean, concussion, I happen to be a regardless. I know if you were in a guardian cap or not.

4:04:46I think it could be looked at too. I know and just talked about it on the guardian cap. I don't think in the back that is as much padding as I would like. I feel it could be looked at. But I think you get a concussion whether you were in a guardian cap or not. So, I mean, stuff happens. This is a physical game. Sorry, we didn't just clarify this. You said you're going to get any helmet. Also, where the guardian cap is during the game? No, I'm not going to. You feel good about this game helmet. Yeah. Yeah. What's the name of the brand of helmet? Like any details you have? Oh, I'm not sure the brand of name yet. I have the get it from those guys inside. But you guys will definitely be seeing this on the. And how do you feel about not playing in a preseason game? You have to say your career is not a big deal. I want to say it's not a big deal, but I don't feel any pressure any like, oh, I just needed to play in a preseason game. I feel that's a great opportunity for the younger guys to get out there and showcase what they're able to do. Well, I still been practicing and playing and working out and getting ready for the season.

4:05:46So, I mean, I know the game. I'm looking forward to that first game. And I'm not really concerned about not being able to get a snap of the preseason game. We think about MJ did feeling that he particularly during the joint practice is in-stuff herself. Yeah. MJ is the number one corner. I mean, you guys see it. He's going to be big for us this year. And I think that's what's special about this team. We got three number one corners myself. MJ and Greg. I thought we all number ones and we able to do different things out there on the field. And one guy's out. Another guy can step in and not lose track or not lose pace on what we got going on. MJ, how do you say MJ grow as a leader in the middle of the year three and he's trying to pick up on this one. As a guy that's bringing energy and also trying to bring people along. Yeah, definitely. Like you said, bring it in. That's exactly bringing energy, bringing guys along. MJ's real vocal out there and he competes as he's in competitor out there and just working hard and trying to be the best. The mindset of wanting to be the best and he is. So we just go out there and compete with one another. We're happy to see CD Lam get his contract signed and be ready to go out there.

4:06:49I play this game so you can face the best. No, I'm definitely happy for him. That's like changing contract and everything for him and his family. So definitely happy for him and looking forward to going to having that match up in the game. I always love going against the number one guys and best guys on that team. So I'll be looking forward to it. It tends to wake up more to history and concussions that we're talking about. I think when you suffer the latest one, people who cover the team and fans are wondering how loud and discussion could you contemplate the tie-in? Have you ever go through your mind or do you immediately know that you're going to come back? Yeah, I said this is a game I love. I love playing this game. Being with the guys out here. I really don't see myself doing too much other stuff. Unless I'm just really physically unable to play this game. I don't see myself stepping away from football no time soon. Like I said before, I can't take it easy on these receivers out here. So me being out here, I got to give them a good look and just go out there and play.

4:07:52I answer your question now. I haven't seen myself walking away though. Are you actually out of protocol now? Yes. I did so. Greg called Miles Harden this deal with drafts. What have you seen? Say it again. Sorry, Greg called Miles Harden this deal with drafts. What have you seen from him over camp and what kind of excites you about him? Yeah, Miles, he's been balling. He's been showing out, making plays against the Vikings. And just making plays out here. So it was big for him to make the team. I was happy for him. We all congratulate him. And he's going to be a big piece on our team to come and going forward. And so often another rookie you mentioned making the receivers better. Where have you seen it? How have you made Jamari talked about how you've helped him as a rookie? What have you seen out of him in his development? Yeah, he's been looking good since he came in. I think he's been getting better and better. He's night and day from once he came in. So where he's at now, I believe. I think that's just his competitive nature and what he's been doing out there in practice. And that's going against one another out there. So he's been good and he's going to be a big piece as well. That's our offense. What sort of tip do you give receivers?

4:08:53How can you help a receiver? Yeah, I mean, it's a constant communication. If I were to win on a red, they may come and ask me what it is that you've seen on that play, that you're able to get in position. And I'll tell them that. I may ask them a question. So it's just that constant communication on how we can get each other better. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Glad to be back. Glad to be back. I just... And you sometimes get away by the way why I was going. So it's a lot more than those with the same. I'm fast, you think it's moving inside when you get all that going on. And then how much can you worry about it when you need it, that you're out in the car? You got to move pretty fast, but sometimes you get the solid area of the tempo, which you need to do. So you really have to know what you're going to do in a good and high-play way. Did you find a part of that? A lot. Yeah.

4:09:53It's not more space to work with. I said that. What's your big biggest adjustment for the other players? Maybe a team coming up and asking a champion, or what? It was a different week. I was learning all the play modes. I learned a lot of play modes by our student. And this has to go get that down. Time it every day hasn't been before. It's an awkward movement. But I'm getting down type and time. I would feel like this fight practice has helped you get arrested in all areas. But that's specifically a part of the party. I feel like I have a big improvement from going against BIA. Coach Harding, Coach Jordan, and getting better. All the other guys helping me out. So I feel like we have to get better. We've heard Coach Jordan came up quite a bit. Obviously, Coach Harding, life hasn't been a bit different all this year. What kind of impact has he had for you and the others in the other players? Coach Harding, I'm the real coach of Jordan and Step-up.

4:10:54And these help us out everything we need to do. He's a big help. And I just make sure we stand on time and all that stuff. We're just talking about stepping into a bigger hole in the slot. How much do you watch? I like that every day. I take things, whether it's preparation, stuff he goes on the field. Just learning from a guy like that. Every time I watch him, I watch him. So I've detained some of his game. I had it to mind. I have a bright new largest too. I take some of this. All the receivers. Yeah. They always help me out. And I need to do this. What's it like walking into this room to the civility and tired of staying with all the history? I mean, you already smiling. I mean, you know what it means to be a part of this room. It's a big step. It definitely holds a lot like a soldier. So you got to get a big quick. It's definitely a big dream for mine. It's a good job. I'm blessed to be here. You won that. Yeah, that's why you come.

4:11:54That's why you come. Yeah. What kind of advice you got from some of the workers that has already been before Springgolf's started to talk to the Metka. Some of those guys are so hot. I try not to take everything personally. Like, I'll say like, when your time will come, when you're making comments, trying to make that play. And I'll be looking forward to that every day. And I'm staying up late, but because I actually am going to get you in the father of life. And father in this game. Yeah, like that. Yeah, like that. As you got right now, you was a guy who I've been waiting for the last two years to make the difference out of two years. How much is patient to require me to? Obviously, you've got to get off the field. How much is patient to have? 45% of the time. I'm not saying everybody has the same route. So, yeah, some people always have a written term, but you just have a... I can say a native tongue, you just have to make that play. And it's going to go on from here. I'm pretty well outside of football because I mean we're together in Baltimore for years.

4:12:57But... But I... I... Let's just put it this way. He's a good friend of mine, off the field, and he's a good friend of mine on the field. So... That one's a... That was a tough one. I like that one. I like that one. You're pretty outgoing. Is he the same or... What you think? What would you say about this? I would say it's difficult to be more outgoing. You think about going? Yeah, you come in, you smile. You know what I mean? Is it a bad thing? No, I'm not going. You're a... It's kind of a seam opposite. You're a good personality. Like, Gus seems very... Like, you seem very bubbly and talkative, or Gus seems very like... You know what I'm saying? So I think I said we're trying to kind of get it. Like, what? Like, how does this work? Are you... Opposite a track. Look, look.

4:13:58Look. Gus could be outgoing sometimes. He could be outgoing sometimes. But I mean, I just... I don't know. Maybe, God just gave me a gift to be a light. Maybe. You know what I'm saying? Because even through hard times, I'm still smiling though. You know? Because every day is a blessing, you know? And especially to do the job that I do, it's a blessing. Especially after all the stuff that I've been through on the field, I got no reason but to smile, right? What do you think? Still here on the 53 man roster after the stuff that I've been through on the field, but I have to feel the same way. Hey, I hope it's not a bad thing. But look, let me tell you this though. When I'm losing, you will not see me smiling. There's only time, like one of the only time you will see that. On the 3rd, was it to see the offensive line blocking

4:15:01and seeing those holes open up and kind of imagining how you could fit in with that scheme? You know, man, those guys are beast. You know what I'm saying? Like I said earlier in camp, like, I got a little bit of experience under me, so like, it's always chemistry. Like, when you first get into camp, when you first put a whole line together, and then you put the runner backs with it, it takes chemistry, always does. It's never going to be like, sometimes it is. You know, rarely it is. Like everybody's on the same track every time. And the offense last year was nothing, I don't think it was anything like the offense we have this year, right? So you got, these guys are trying to get their chemistry together and me with them. You know, I'm trying to get chemistry with them, and we're seeing it, make sure we're seeing it the same way. And now, like, what you're talking about, I think everybody's seeing it the same way. We have a chemistry, which is a beautiful thing to see, because it's going to keep getting better and better and better.

4:16:02And that's what you're going to be like, you're going to be like, this is different, you know? So, I think that's what it is. And I love seeing it. I love seeing it, because all those guys are my guys. Even if the years you were healthy, did you ever not play in a preseason before, like this, just getting up going in a week one? Yes. What was it, my third and fourth year, my third and fourth year? The one time I did play in a preseason, because my rookie year, I didn't play in a preseason, we had COVID. So the one year that I did play in a preseason, we all know what happened. Nightmare. That was a nightmare. But maybe a better man, you know? So I appreciate that moment, too. I can look bad going in now and be in smile about it, because I made it through that storm. You know, you always got to make it through the storm. I ran into the storm, like, I think it was, I want to say, it's bulls compared to cows.

4:17:05Like cows run away from the storm. Bulls run to the storm to get through it faster. You know what I'm saying? Have you ever heard of this story? So yeah, my name is El Toro. You know what I'm saying? So if it's me, like, they made it in Baltimore, and like, I'm running to the storm. Let's get this over with, because I know I'm going to get through it. You know what I'm saying? So I mean, whenever, because I didn't know that, I really didn't know that one set of cows, I guess you could say, they run away from the storm and the bull runs to it. I didn't know that. That's pretty cool to know. And then my name, so it happened to be from Baltimore, El Toro. So, I don't know man, some things, I know, I'll be stacking up. Oh, this guy named David Andre. He's a reporter, I think. Yeah, he's a reporter. He gave me that name, because I started speaking Spanish. So good. You know? But yeah. You know, I really like that.

4:18:06You know, I'm like, you have to be a man. No, man. What? I'm not talking about that. Look, look, look, look, I'm open-leg. Me and this nice looking young lady right here, we were talking about how we, like, just learning, I love to, you know, be, learn people's cultures. You know, learn about people. Like you, I would love to learn about you. What makes you you, right? Oh, you got it. We could, I bet you we can get it out in 15 seconds. Where are you from? Where are you from? Here. You from here? Mostly. Mostly, what's that mean? I was born in Milwaukee. I was there from here. We can fill it out here. Take the boy out of Philly, but you can't take the Philly out of the boy. Okay, so you look, look, look, I already learned. I already learned. You, you a tough guy. You, you, you a tough guy, but you got a soft spot in you because you've been living out here. You can be tough out here too. You can only four or five of us.

4:19:06Five or five, right? Yeah, but you got it. You got it, man. You got it. A good, a good mental thing, you know, having to give myself ready to go against guys that are, you know, 2020 when you're old, you know, being 18, you know, they don't care about that a bit. So, you know, it's developing yourself to have a great mindset early, you know, having that grown man mindset at 18 years old. It's, it's really important because not a period they don't really care about feelings. So, it's about, you know, just coming up here, you know, being a man that you think you are, you know, having to go out there and, you know, improve it. David, what's been the easiest thing in the most difficult thing about your transition years so far? The easiest thing, I would say, I mean, it's really not easy about this, you know, coming to a top program like this, you know, especially when I'm coming off a national championship, it's really not easy, you know, they're pushing for the same thing and they're trying to go back and back. So, I mean, we just got to come up here, we got to step up. But the hardest thing I would say, you know, just, just having to grow up, you know, going from high school where, you know, I've been the man there for three years.

4:20:06So, I mean, coming up here where you started the bottom again. So, I mean, I told my parents this all the time, like, you know, I think my history is repeating itself because when I went in the high school, the high school, I went to her part house. So, I was at the bottom there and had to work my way up. And I feel like that's your repeating self here. And I met the bottom here, you know, I put myself at the bottom. So, I have to work my way up to the top. And so, you know, just going to get these guys, they're competing every day. You're not going to get a day off where, you know, she was just coming out here and just be essence. So, I mean, you got to be in your piece of cures all the time. When you see what a guy like Jay, go ahead. Sorry, David, can you just get a shot? When you see what a guy like Jay, Jay, did last year coming in here playing immediately, is that inspire you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman? I mean, definitely, you know, just what he did last year as a true freshman. You know, him being able to play an impact team like that. Obviously, I want that for myself. So, you know, I'm going to push myself to that limit. You know, try to be on the field here when that's my plan. That's the biggest reason I came here because I have an opportunity to play here with one. So, me having that opportunity is good.

4:21:06And, you know, I'm always going to come out here and compete. Like I said, I'm putting myself at the bottom. So, I'm working, I'm going to work every day like I'm at the bottom. And I got to get to the top. How, what do you feel like it's going to take for you to get from the bottom to the top? You know, just discipline. They're big on discipline here and, you know, competitive equity. So, it's just staying consistent every day. Just doing the right, having little to none mental errors. That's going to give me a lot of feel. And, you know, I do what I'm supposed to do. That's going to give me a lot of feel. How do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one, like the season comes around? How do you manage people basically? You know, I don't really let you get from my head because, you know, like I'm here, you know, I got dudes in the room that are, you know, like IGB, you know, he's in a big three-year start. I got to main, first in all, American, you know, he's going to play this year too. So, I can't let what people say on the net, you know, get to me because, you know, anybody can say, oh, he's going to play this year. But, you know, I actually got to prove it. So, I actually got to come out here, you know, work, you know, and in that spot.

4:22:07What's your most important career learning so far in your three months here? Compete, never did. That's the biggest thing. Having to compete, you know, these guys are a peer, they take winning and losing to heart. So, you know, my first, my first week up here when we did our competitions, you know, I was winning, then I asked you, I got that first loss on my belt and, you know, it kind of opened my eyes because, like, these guys take it to heart when they lose, they don't like it. So, you know, I kind of got that now where I don't like losing. You had the opportunity to be around the team for that, you know, CFP Ron. What did you learn from JustBose few weeks seeing this team make that run? You know, being real tight with your brothers, you know, they're real tight. You know, they push each other, you know, it's a real brotherhood. They don't let nobody down, they always got each other back. So, I mean, it's a new team now, so, you know, we got to build that chemistry with each other, you know, just get tight. And I feel like when I was there for that playoff running and I practiced, when they were at the National Championship, you know, I just got to watch, you know, how guys are, you know, real locked in.

4:23:09They're close with each other. I let nobody slack off and, you know, I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now. How do you handle losing? You handle that first lock? That first lock, you know, it kind of got to me. It was the IGB, you know, he, you know, he let me hear. So, after that loss, I was like, nah, I can't let this happen anymore. Because it's like, now it's not high school where you 17, 16 years old, and if you lose, you lose. Appearance, nah, if you lose, the coach will see that. So, and they're gonna see how you respond to it. So, I feel like I had to, you know, open my eyes, I had to go, go in there and lock them like, yeah, I can't let this happen anymore, you know. So, I got to go up and, you know, these guys are counting on me too. So, it's really important that I don't lose. If you hadn't described yourself as a competitor, how would you do that? I'm a great competitor, you know. I like winning. Who doesn't like winning? So, I mean, winning is, it's in my blood. You know, my parents taught me that at a young age, you know, going out there competing for anything that you want. And I feel like if you can go out there competing for, you know, as yours. And if you compete for it all the time, who's gonna take it from?

4:24:09So, I mean, I'm a good competitor, I'm always gonna go out there and try to take what's mine. If it's out there, then anybody can have it. I'm gonna be the one who's gonna get it. There's some roles in your room, obviously. Are you a talker? What's your natural environment? Yeah, I mean, it could come out on me, you know. But I don't really, I really know my game through the talker for this part. But, you know, if it gets there, it gets to that point where, yeah, I can bring it out. Because, you know, regardless, I'm not just gonna let nobody just come out here and just, you know, catch balls on me. So, if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently getting TPUs, yeah, I'm gonna talk. But, you know, being in that room, you kind of got to talk. You know, the Jermaine, you got IGD, you know, those real talkers in that room. So, it kind of makes you want to bring it out. And, you know, when you bring that out, that just brings energy out on whole defense. And when you got the whole defense clicking, I mean, you can see, you can see what's happening. Is there anyone that's kind of, like, competition in the records? IGD? It was doing a winner. We were doing, you know, just stuff on the field. We was just, just having the time on the field. Just a lot of competitions. So, I mean, he just kind of, it was a day where, you know, they had us going up against just the freshmen.

4:25:12And then they kind of threw us in there and the fire against the older guys. So, we had to, you know, we had to wake up and, you know, we all kind of lost. And then we all kind of, like, we all kind of came to get that professional group, like, what are we gonna do about this? Because, you know, some of their kind ofness to step up in those roles. Yeah, kind of, you're welcome to call it. Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely, my work in college moments. You know, you know, just, just showing that, you know, it's real now. A metal high old state. I'm not in Houston, Texas, no more in my school. Far from my family, you know, I got to wake up, I got to grow, I got to mature fast. And, you know, I just got to get ready for the next level. You've mentioned high school a couple of times. How did, you know, grow it up very in Texas, playing at that level. How do you feel like that helped you prepare for Ohio State? Well, I feel like you prepare good, you know, I feel like I went to a powerhouse in Texas. We obviously ran the Houston area, you know, we've been running the Houston area for a long time now. And I feel like, you know, we're a real college program. We live just like these guys who do the same lifts. You know, the level of ball I played, the highest level of ball in Texas, 6A. You know, we're going against guys like Dunkin' Bill, no crowdly, those top schools, you know, receiving the Korean where I go against him.

4:26:16I want to get some three times in my career. I mean, those that really prepared me for this level, you know, coming in like, okay, this is not where it's a little school where, oh, they don't believe that I can come here and make an impact. I came from big schools, so they're counting on me to make an impact because... Because you guys are challenging him, it's not a positive. It is a positive, it's a super positive. Just going against Andrew and Mario, that's going to make Saturday super-hid. Do you guys feel like, does that kind of mindset that you take an everyday in practice? You just say you're not happy during my catch-up level. I have a 98 out of 100 receivers. Does that actually probably or not catch-up? That's what... Is that kind of... Is it keep that in the back of your head when we're going against Jeremiah and Carnell and Brandon and Michael? Yes, that's my mindset. In practice the whole day, I want those boys to give me everything that they have. So, like, in Saturday's, it's going to be easy for me and I'll be prepared.

4:27:16What have you seen with Grocery, the young, the mourners? Obviously, we saw that it's not a Jeremiah last year. They're your mates, sorry. But Calvin and some of the Aaron's and the young guys, how have you seen them come along? And Scott has gotten completely better from his brain. Glad completely better. Is that just time in the program? I'm just getting used to the speed of college super-hid. I would say. What about Calvin? He was obviously here last year. He was. Calvin has gotten a lot better. I would say that he's gotten a lot smarter. And then he also write GB. I think he's got Calvin's intelligence, you know, where he's grown. Where specifically is it? The film room? Is it kind of picking up the playbook? Where have you seen that brain up? I would say Calvin has gotten smarter just like his game knowledge, like expecting, like, a different kind of routes and stuff like that. What did everything start to click for him in the last year? Was it in the soft sea? When did you feel this comfortable? I would say it in the spring.

4:28:17I started to get a lot more comfortable in our defense. We said you break up the past yesterday with the German name. I'm sorry if you're asked, but just earlier. But what is like going up against him to you? It seems like you enjoy it. Yeah, I love it. He's tough. I like going against him a lot. He's really good. What have you improved in your game just from that, for example? Those 101 matchups this preseason or whatever. You know how ball-a-hoo this game is. So, Jeremiah, he forces me to play the ball. If you don't play the ball against him, he'll go get it. Yeah. And you, Dave, send it. How would you describe this defense now compared to this time of year ago from this standpoint of a confidence factor? You don't mean that you guys feel on the field? How would you describe it? It's different about it, I guess. I feel like everybody has a lot more smartness here. Everybody's like, I would just say that we're going just smarter. Yeah, when you look up and lay some of the sides to come back and Caleb down, transfer it in.

4:29:22What did you feel about that? Did it just grow stronger in that one week span, two weeks span? You're still on up saying? I feel like those guys have played at that level. The level those guys have played at? Yeah, I would say that. A down's coming and then what they say he was coming back, zero, zero, it's coming back, it's just still like, we'll be happy to be the native. Yeah, Drake, you know? Thanks, Brett. Of course. Well, I think it's good. We talk a lot, we communicate a lot, pretty snap. I think it's good with everybody saying we'll pay in there. A lot of those guys. When you look at what you've learned, you have Cody last year. How much do you take that, try and use it? How much do you also have to be part of it? Oh. Man, I try to prepare liking. I like that from, you know, he prepared when he prepared, he's intentional. So that's definitely something I try to do like him better. Like you said, I'm, I'm, I'm leaving. So, but when it comes to preparing and being intentional with studying and how I prepare for practice, I'm definitely taking that to it.

4:30:25Anything from the leadership scheme, we do. Now Cody Lee, Cody different type of person in here. Those big things, then when you go to the other ones, that bit, I don't know something. Yeah, what's that? Where's that come from? Just being honest, like, you can't be more than those guys, what they ask you, what happened to you, you try to lie. And you get in the film room, and it's obviously, obviously lying here. So, it's the other thing I know. How, how much, what is it that you don't know something? Yeah, I can't really tell the last time that happened. So, that's a good thing. Those big things to fill the county down from a leadership standpoint, what is he taking out the door with? Is he being on the main or the main? Somebody's got to fill in that slot. Yes, sir. I think it's definitely some big thing to fill. And like, like, Chris Lauren, I said, though, you got to be who you are, not who that guy was. Yeah, I can't just say to be him, but definitely that's what he's been.

4:31:25When did you feel like you blossomed last year, where they could truly count on you and stuff? I mean, you remember how it came along? I think it started in like fall camp just flashed in there. I have to like the first days, weren't around, saw him, saw him, and all that. I'm just being great. I like this person, and I like him a lot of field, and that's not supportive. Yeah, and the life-fathers, what kind of difference is the responsibility of the assorting the system, or is it going to be the same or the same kind of thing? Oh, we just learn it right now. We just work it out. We just work it right now. We just learn it. What do you think about CJ Hicks and what he can do in this defense? I think CJ Hicks, you said what he can do in his defense? Or just what he can do this season, you know? We can do this season. I think CJ will pop up this season for sure.

4:32:25I think this definitely going to be one of his years for sure. Got to. What do you think is the biggest difference between French and North Georgia and North Georgia? To me, it's no different. They both coach you, and they both, they hard on you, but they want you to be great. So I don't think there's no difference. Where Nate was talking about huh? Orирu, are you looking out to what you guys would do in fitting in fantasy? Do you think Judith or you can jump into it in three reflection sometimes? I think Sonny a great year. First before anything. Sonny a great year. I feel like he liked the voice. He could be thinking something. Sonny just can't worry about for the whole team. I understand. So Sonny definitely a great year. Before anything. It's a matter of not just for white guys or for

4:33:27people or people. That's it. How does that show itself? It's either obviously low point. Yeah, that's it. Yes, sir. There's something that you need to wrap that up. On the top of the whole field or when it's leadership. Whatever. Man, like I said, he's just a great leader. Like he, a vocal guy. And like you said, it shows up on the field too. So he's. It's hard to follow up to a guy who says something don't. And like they not own their stuff. So Sonny one of those guys who he's own his stuff. So when he lead everybody listen, it's obviously been long string of linebackers success or higher stage. I mean, look at like Sonny taking that next step this year. I'm motivated. Are you going to be part of that? Lineon to be one of the great linebackers. I'm ready for it. That's what I'm here for. In beat every day too. And he's learning from those, you know, so in the spring time. You know, we have saying in our room, we're like in the spring. It's yes and it's no. And I know it's KNOW. Why didn't it rip work? What happened? And how do I make sure I don't repeat the same mistake? And so whether he's coming in and watching the tape on his own and

4:34:28then come back to me. I'm going to be a great leader. Whether he's coming in and watching the tape on his own and then come with questions, he's grabbing me and watching tape with me or we're coming doing stuff as a unit. He's learning so that same deal the game can slow down and he gets more comfortable there in friction. So I mean, he's his weights up, his strengths up. He's spending all season with Mick. You know, there's a lot of development that still has to be had. Obviously not a finished product, but being able mentally for a guy to handle that, you know, helps a lot. Are there any good? Sir, sir. The car. Luke a leaner guy. Did you tell him that? He paid you to say that. That might be the first time you ever heard that in his life. No. No. You know, like Luke Carson, whoever maybe that jump of 18 to 19 to 19 to 20 year old kid, that plays a lot into it to be

4:35:31in in a full year with Mick. I mean, all those guys, you come in and mid you're like your Devo and Dion and Ian more right now. You're keeping your head above water. That's your whole first year. Now you can actually get and we can sit. So when you sit and talk about a jam combo or a lock or whatever the call may be to Luke, he registers that and I like something new because then there's paralysis by analysis. So I think the middle part on top of another year, natural maturity of getting bigger and stronger, that's always going to help. You're not going to guys here. They're not going to regress. It's going to keep adding progress and how fast can we get that going? Is what we're working on every day with him. But Josh said that he would have been all guard to this point and coach days mentioned this several times that Josh could play guard to and you guys are trying to work through that fire. All right. He's I mean, Josh could play all five. I mean, he snapped the ball in high school. You know, Josh had a great off season. But for you when you're going to spring and it's fact finding and experimentation, how much do you want to put them in different spots or not?

4:36:33Because you also have an eye on August to try and settle on five minute rotation. What's the balance of that for you? You have to get a really good, great, double set so that everybody has numbers of, you know, just like we said before, how many times have we done? A run blocking or pass blocking in this situation so that that all evens out. So that's the it's not experimentation. It's just making sure that you get a good book of work to work out and grade that. So as we, you know, work guys around the platoons and go just to make sure that everybody gets good, great, able reps so we can sit back by the end of spring and say, all right, this is your comparing apples to apples and oranges oranges and not, you know, apples to oranges because it's completely different that way. So that's kind of the thought behind that as you're going through the spring. When you got here a couple years ago, because I was a full student, you know, you're still now, Chip Kelly is going to be here as office and courtman, what would you say? Not a laugh. You know, but then I said, you know, it's college football. So who knows, right? What's up in like, uh, I'm sure you're enjoying it. What's up in the last? Yeah, I mean, he just added to another piece of just good people here.

4:37:34I mean, you still, you're coming to work here with guys every day, you know, but the kids we talk about a thumb, but then for us as coaches and staff. So adding just another good dude that's in the room. Obviously, as he says something and, you know, he might speak in old terms or terms that we had, you know, maybe be a little bit of a rosetta stone. Like, no, no, this is this. He's like, yeah, that's right. Because that happens to all coaches that happen to me when we got here. First, I was at what coach day sometime with Ryan's like, you know, what do we call this because he was in a system like that before. And he's, oh, this is this now. So I think just the, you know, uh, translation of rosetta stone there help, but just overall standpoint of adding a great guy. That's a great coach that's been around. That's he's going to supplement the room and every time you add something new to the room, then that makes the room better, it makes you individually better. Oh, look how he does that. Maybe I could do that. Maybe I can bring that to my meeting room. Maybe I can bring that to communication to the staff or to the kids or whatever it is. Because he's, he's done it for a long time and he's done a high level for a long time. So it's good to add that guy to us and then continue as us to rest the staff for me and

4:38:36Brian and key and, and everybody just learning and growing with that. From a talent standpoint, is he seeing sometimes the others don't see? I mean, does he, I mean, what, what does he kind of bring from the chalkboard aspect? Well, I mean, what you're saying? So what does he see? It's good to have fresh eyes come in that maybe, you know, you get in a routine and you get in a rhythm and all of a sudden. Football football. You know, he's one of those guys that I think goes into categories, forgotten a lot of football and some people have learned in their life. But no, his, he, I believe he coached every position on the field, both sides of the ball through his whole career. So as he looks up and he writes when he's talking about, well, this will linebacker's going to do that. Then he might have coached that at Columbia, right? Or this is what the three techs going to read on the down block of a tackle, because he's coached the offensive line and he's been a coordinator for a long time. So just a really good vision of big picture, understanding and,

4:39:37you know, the next step and not just being right now, yeah. Yeah, it was competing his butt off. I mean, he's kind of living that way. You know, that's why we have that, the, the, the red line over there. When you cross the line, you know, coach, they talks about that here. Like the, it's, it's, the game doesn't care. You're off the field. You got to come out and step out and do your job. It doesn't care about anything off the field. Right? That can sound really negative and harsh. But then it also, if you just spin your tone, like, isn't it beautiful that the game doesn't care? It doesn't care. Your skin color, your socioeconomic background, where you've come from. If you just want to do it the right way and the 53 and a third, the game will love you back. You know, so I think it's the approach mentally that guys take that way.

4:40:40So yeah, for Tegrit, he's, he's taken that approach. Like he, he wants to come in and be a guy. So he's fighting and clawing and scratching every day. So when he makes a mistake, he's trying to correct it when he does it well. He's trying to enhance it. And that's what competitive people do. And that's what he showed up to do. So I, that's, that's good that he said that. What's his, what's his, come on, what's it on the field been like as a center? Is that difficult when you're coming into a new offensive line to have that? Or is there something made about the center position? If you've been experienced at it like he has where you kind of have that, I guess, a command on field over with any offensive line. So I should say it over, it's all over again. You're saying the comfort of center with who now? Seth. Okay. Yeah, I'm saying like how has his, his command of the field been and hasn't been difficult, I guess to adjust for him if he's to have a certain level of on field command, you know, at that center. Yeah, I mean, the on command is just great communication getting everybody on the same page. Yes, having a bunch of banked reps helps. But then when you do come into a new offense, just like we talked, you know, chip a little bit earlier.

4:41:44You know, he might have called it yellow and we call it green or something. I don't just make it stuff up, but the transition of that in your head to get going with that. But yeah, the comfort of having a ball on your hand, having a guy, I mean, you talk about acclimatization of football, like play one handed and have, you know, tie leak this far from your face. You better have command of something, you know, so you got to understand the communication and the technique and those things there. So yeah, I think him coming into a new place, the game's not as fast as it probably would be for a younger guy. But also, there's mistakes there that he can learn from and grow from and the same day, he's, you know, the one thing we're not having concerns with. And we're not driving right now as the guys just competing and trying to get better after a mistake or like we said, they're enhancing as they've done some stuff really well and he's adapted to that really well.

4:42:44They both have been ripping its center. Yeah. For the competition aspect, could they roll out and play guard? Yeah, probably both of them could. How do you assess that? You just got to give them a bunch of guard reps, but if you send guys out too much that way, then that's not good coaching, you know, so we got a good plan with everybody. Those two guys included as we're moving ahead, but yeah, they've been really working at center position right now, both of them. No, I have. Obviously came after spring practice here. How does that seem down here? How has he been in this spring? You kind of speak to how what the challenge must have been for him last year, not having spring practice, stepping in, playing that position here in the experience for a back. Yeah, same. He's been here not even a four year yet. So coming in the summer, doing what he did, coming into the fall. And then now I mean, the same with him. Sound like a broken record. I think the game's slowing down for him. Those mistakes that may have showed up are the questions that he had through the fall.

4:43:44And as we got going through the season, those are starting to erase a little bit, which is good. You know, his communication level is just talking more. That's probably the best thing that he's done so far. He's a highly, highly talented guy. We're just developing that skills and discipline and does go into communication. So as he communicates and talks, that's probably the biggest thing I've seen from him, which I think, you know, volume and communication equals confidence. And so he's playing much more confident right now. He obviously has talent. He also would have a few plays of game or, you know, the penalty or whatever. Have you seen him reduce those? A bunch. Yes. Coach, thank you very much. Hey, sure. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks, Jeff. You're by Bear Fans. Thanks, Jeff. I understand. All right, folks, we will come back when? Yeah, I mean, you start to get like more, like physically obviously, you gotta be like ready.

4:44:50But I think mentally, actually, you gotta start like tightening up a little bit. If you can't stop planning those Notre Dame games, they've been state games and you realize like a penalty like that can literally like, be sure the whole game. And once you kind of look at it through that lens, you know, like, you can't, like, go there and don't know what to have. You didn't really run it, but I talked to you last week, last week, last week, and then you had a couple of games that you were going to stay in. You have such a deep dream, but also takes a good job in the level of the game that you look like against. What did that mean to you? You just stick right in that and you kind of use that as an example of like, yeah, it was a good deal pretty well. Yeah, I don't really try to look back, but I definitely try to look forward and keep climbing up the ladder. I was kind of looked at it like some tape from like, from the past and then from like, from the beginning, like, the last time. It was kind of, it's kind of definitely gave me the sense of, I don't really know what I do actually, I just had to keep going, put all the games. What was it on the field? It was a different game, just like that a lot of season. I think it was just kind of just awareness, obviously.

4:45:51But another thing is like chemistry, knowing how a dining place and knowing the communication and how everything works. It really just understand the football, and what you kind of understand, like how the essential linemen work. You want to get some best events in the post-JV and the rest and so on. I think that's what I'm talking about. How can that chemistry do different things in the dining room, or in the room outside of the game? I think it's an idea. I mean, even here, like, there'll be things like, sometimes you won't even have to communicate, so you just know, you know, like, you don't do it in Europe. The ball together, it was great. I don't know, it's like, it's all the best type. It's all the best type of event. What did you come to this spring? You know, what did you, what did you, what did you want to do in this round? I came in knowing that just about everything. I mean, like, obviously, I kind of feel like, in terms of, like, physical attributes, I can kind of, like, move and strong and stuff like that. But I think, like, there's a lot more to it than I need to work on, even to come close to what I can do. To me being able to help a team, like, such as technique, awareness, just everything.

4:46:55Definitely communication, I think that's, like, the biggest thing. Openerinal's big games, but you gotta be able to, you know, call it out, like, like, the pressure might come and stuff like that. So, it's awarenessable. I'm curious about the two-hour round. I think it's good for I, it's good to come in the summer and get the start round. I have no spring. Is there a level of understanding how good coaches and what he wants to use for years? And how do you like it down better than helping you? I think folks we have Dalin, Hayden, not the 20. Yeah, he wants just 100% effort and just work hard. Like, obviously, like, there's more to it, but those are things that he wants to do. He wants to put that back. Like, basically, that's the sum I pick at every day. Someone out here gets the best to go for. I'm just going to go forward on. Can you go back and ask me? Is it almost like you have all the stuff that was thrown in me, all the stuff I had to adjust to? I don't really think that is. That's a great amount of needs to be put in the future. Definitely, but I kind of, like, when I come here, I knew Coach Fry and then the staff, like, they were going to, they were going to definitely, like, scope me into the player.

4:47:57Like, that I would, yeah, scope me into that. Yeah, like, they know that, like, scope, I mean, like, scope me into that. Like, just kind of make me into that type of player. I mean, the development factor from Coach Fry and I mean, getting these, like, I didn't even, it's like magic almost. So, I mean, I'm just kind of keep going with him and keep riding with him. Yeah. How do you get spring back this time, or all that stuff? How much better is your vision? I guess we'll see. I'm going to keep picking that in. Sure. We'll see what we'll be. One of my players, I hope you describe it as a big bad thing. First of all, do you agree with that? What do you think, what do you think? I guess, yeah, I would say sure, but I mean, I can't really take credit for something like that. You know, the boy like that is, you know, the man above, kind of put that in my dream. So, how much is running game changing? New odds, whatever you want to call it, with Chip Kelly in charge. What if you noticed this little bit, little new odds as her stuff? I mean, maybe like little things. I mean, little things add up to big things, right? Yeah, I mean, yeah.

4:48:57Yeah, what do you think you guys were lacking at some point last year in certain, some of those matchups? I mean, it was a whole new line, so I mean, like, I know the site came to shoot each other, but other than that, it was, I mean, it was a hard game. Nothing's going to be like, for sure, what's going on, you know, you can have some hard times. Yeah. Did Missouri test y'all about as well as anybody? Just about, yeah. Yeah, they were pretty good. What did you know coming out of there, y'all had to get fixed? To be honest, I felt like we just tried to go out there and just play hard. Like, obviously, we know, number six was a really good player, so we just had to make sure keeping either back good as much possible. So that's really, we should try to go to... Describe your game a little bit, Josh, when you do well, when you're still in the top of those, just describe your dancing. Yeah, so as a left tackle, I feel like the number one job is to make sure nobody gets to the quarterback. And that's something that I try to do, make sure nobody kind of get around me or goes through them or anything. Just keep the quarterback playing out of here, there's a lot more. You gotta be able to do well on the player, you know, more people in the run and stuff like that.

4:49:57But like, that's probably one of the biggest things, make sure it's for the back. Another biggest thing. What block did you, how was it essentially, self-counter? Yeah, so I mean, we got, I mean, yeah, the main deal I'm going to go through, if I was twisting and stuff like that, so in the run, no twist, too. So you just kind of like, I guess you just got a really state technically sound, that's something I'm trying to do in the run. Josh, if you're going to get Mitchell Melton much this spring, what stands out about him? Obviously, he came back from a couple of knee injuries and stuff, but what just jumps out at you about him? Yeah, you wouldn't even know he had the two knee injuries. I mean, he's so, like the way he rushes, it's so, like, it's his signature rush. Yeah. It's something that you can't, it's probably the hardest person I've got to block here, if I'm being honest. He's very twitchy, great with his hands, amazing get off. And he has that sneaky power, that if you're not really like, setting for it, he'll get you. And I want to get your take, you know, he came here from San Diego State, your center, the guy's transferred in Seth McLaughlin, whether he starts or not, we'll see, right or no, he's from Alabama.

4:50:59He's an amazing you have college football teams are put together anymore. Yeah. Because he could be a key thing, and what does that just tell you about the game these days? I mean, yeah, I mean, it can go anyway. I mean, Seth is a great player. I mean, he tells me like, you know, stuff that they did differently than the stuff like that, I try to take some of like, maybe some advice he has, because he's been in college football for a little longer than me. Yeah. Yeah, he seems like a grown up, doesn't he? Yeah. He comes across that way then. Yeah. What's the line of the line that you're absolutely right? What's the line of the line that you're absolutely right? What's the line of the line that you're going to be going to? Play fast, play physical. I mean, there's obviously more that we're working on, and we're learning like, each other to be honest. I guess it's like, you know, the right side is like kind of like going a little bit. I mean, not with fire, but like, you know, we have like some people that compete. I mean, we're all competing. I know I am. And stuff like that. So I just, we're just trying to play hard and play through. How true most of the way through is real fast. How helpful is, how, how necessary is really a spring that you have to have?

4:51:59Yeah, I, it's very necessary, especially when you kind of got a new OC and stuff like that. It's best to kind of get, you know, comfortable with the scheme now. Then maybe like, post the camp is in like, in like, a few weeks in here. Yeah, we've got we going so. Yeah. This time last year, you know, like, Jim, you know what, lead on to get a future. Uh, I mean, Donnie's like, dude, I owe Don a lot of, like, he's an amazing player. He gives me like, inside of him just, but it's like Notre Dame. I've never been like more nervous for a game than Notre Dame. I mean, I just kind of talked to him. He said, we got it. Keep doing what you do and we got to it. We got to put that in. Probably going a lot. Oh, yeah, especially. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, just a brotherhood, you know, everyone was coming back and saw me. And what I looked like just going, going and leaving. But I just want to leave out of here to the Nassau-Tabuse ship. And we just left so much behind.

4:53:01I feel like our class came in one of the best class that ever come through Ohio State. And we need to leave out of here with something. So that's why that's why I came back. What did you know that you were going to come back? I kind of knew just after the board game, I was going to come back because you've seen everyone. And kind of before the board game, we all had a discussion. And we just want to come back and finish with our end goal of Nassau-Tabuse ship. What's their kind of feeling like? We've done a lot. We're here. That's all. It's an individual decision, but it's also a group decision. We had an individual decision, but we had to leave out of here with something. I feel like this year, we've finally put it all together. The conversation was a text thing. It was both. We had a conversation. And it says, Tom? He's had a conversation.

4:54:01During last year, we were talking to coach Moles about basically kind of having a sonny. It was maybe early in the year, maybe half a year. He was still almost kind of into meeting, I like, well, if you're talking about it, it's sort of a different same thing. Maybe that's not a group. That's exposing you in a way that he wants to. But then having to replay that full time down in the second half of that last year, what did that do for you? Do you think it made you a better memory than before coming back this year? I think maybe a better Niko, just learning from sonny, put me on with a lot of games and stuff like that. I've really had to flip my mindset from just playing corner and then just playing Niko. But now I just want to be the best Niko in the country. That's kind of my mindset right now. What is the biggest issue with your play, one of those new positions? A lot of runfits, you got to be in the runfits. You're guarding quicker receivers in that slot, so that's kind of the whole, it's a two different techniques from outside and inside.

4:55:02I've been really working on it. If you see last year, I got a lot more comfortable in the slot when I was kind of like the main slot, when I kind of focused on it. It's just my game, elevator from there, I'll just keep on elevating and I'm just excited for this. What's the specific work you've been doing there to get there? I've just catch technique, just not giving as much ground and line excrements and stuff like that. What's your vantage point? What's it been like to see Sonny the second level of the game? Oh yeah, he's a dog out there, you can see there's a huge transformation with him. We can go out there and play Dye. This is so much versatility, I'm just happy to be able to change. I know Lorenzo's been playing some Niko a few. What kind of growth have you seen from him? He's always in the film room, he's always going to go hard. He's going to be a great ball player down the road. What you have to do with him, you're a very skilled corner now you're in this situation where you're talking about what fits and that's just part of what you have to do now.

4:56:02What you're going to play in there is that something you have to get used to or how did you get ready to play? I've never really had to get used to it. Most people at corner they can't go play inside but I just like hitting. It's just something about it so it's just a natural transition. It is pretty crazy right up. When you're playing in there you have to be physical enough to play the run but then you have to be quick enough to play all these little quick slavers. It's crazy but that's why I feel like it's the most fun position on the field. I had to gain a little bit more weight in this off season to bring more power into it because I got to take office of guards and tighten in every time. I had to gain some weight and I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger. I think it's a gain that weight and keep your foot down. Right. Which is like constantly trying to strike that balance right? Yes sir. I feel like they serve mixing you in the last summer training camps in the morning. Maybe before that but when did it feel like you were starting to pull the embrace and like I love this position I want to make it.

4:57:05Probably I fully embrace it. It was like was constantly you know I played a lot of I was going like splitting reps and all that but then late then he got injured. And so that move suddenly the strong safety so I had no choice. I'm just really happy to play that position like I'm thinking for it. You're forcing up to that? Yeah, of course if I'm I had a lot of production that week somehow it was like a night game. I want to make make plays out there. General said that you really stepped up at that point during during the season once late then went down. You say that that week is when you really had to like embrace it fully and then how much did that game spearhead the rest of the season for you? Like give you that confidence that you can handle all that. Yeah it was it was crazy. I think that whole October just from October to to November like that I'm there I had a really crazy stretch like almost every game in October I had an interception.

4:58:05Well I just kind of dropped one gives Michigan State but I feel like every game in October November I that's when I saw that position. So how much does the guy like wall help prepare you for that kind of switch in the middle? Oh yeah if I didn't have Coast Wall like I don't know if I could make that position switch. There's just so much cerebral things you have to know at the position so Coast Wall he got an info background and he knows every single unit. D line so I had a North LaDeline linebackers because sometimes I do the same thing but still tamer is going last year in the same position. So if I didn't have Coast Wall I don't know how long. So it takes a lot of like behind the scenes work that like sometimes I assume you like I don't even know this because I'm not playing nickels like how much work goes behind the scenes because wall watching film talking stuff. Yeah people don't see we in here at 630 like Coast Wall he comes to the building like 5 am so I went in here at like 630 watch film with him. After practice meeting watching film and just walk through and you know it wasn't it wasn't easy at first but he got on me stayed on me a lot.

4:59:13He helped me accountable and just I'm thankful for that. Yeah it's going to be good you know he's a real good football player he can hit he can cover so it's going to be good having him back. Yeah he's going to be a good good fit for us you know he played a lot of ball like started started and saw something for years. Oh it was great good to have him back when I was having him back. The best defense is the last five years and the last three and common thread see having a slot corner slash like you yourself shot away from the club things together. Who's next? Who's next? Yeah like who you think next to that role? I think Miles you know he's you know he's under size but I feel like he just brings it like he's got the mentality to play and he really likes to love the game.

5:00:22He really studies hard and I feel like he's going to be up next for the nickel spot. What have you seen out of Aaron's got the crisis? I'm going to understand what have you seen out of Aaron in these first couple weeks that they've been here too. Aaron's good he's competing real hard he's running to the ball he's learning he's getting better every single snap he's getting better so that's what I've seen. Think about the difference in just top to bottom talent in that room and the last from when you got here to now and how much you think? It's crazy you know coming in I don't even know how to explain it but our room is so talented right now like anybody can go out there even our two's and three's going to go out there and start anywhere else in the country. From top down is super talented we got young dudes like Aaron, Miles and Bryce so they're going to go out there and ball in a couple of years and I'm excited for the future in potential. Those guys give you any crap about you and Denzel Droneback and keep it up to you.

5:01:23They're talking about it a little bit but not for real they just want really want to learn from us they're super smart kids and they just there's real eager to learn. Along those lines how much ownership is your veteran guy do you feel as to what this defense will look like next year after you're gone and those second and third spring guys are now the top of the deck. Yeah it's going to be wild because right now they're going to be ready because what stays on me, Denzel we stay on them, Dave stays on them so they have no choice but to carry on the tradition. I feel like they're going to do it real with Miles and Bryce and Aaron they're going to hold up and be eyeed. Hey Jordan is it too early to assess the for you to assess the spot receivers? For you to assess the Ohio State spot receivers that you're going against? Oh I played them last year I went up against some last year they're all good, Bryce and Brandon and Keon plays a little bit in the slot and yeah they're going to be real good. There's going to be a mech, mech too of course mech we know what mech does so one of the best slots in the country so it's going to be fine even when mech leaves it's going to be no drop off.

5:02:32Thank you Jordan thank you very much. Appreciate you. Have a safe break too. Thank you. Really got a lot of reps and you saw him improve and then McLean I think is a great plus. I mean he is a guy that has football intelligence he's picked it up you know he's kind of of those incoming freshmen who still should be in high school. He's a guy I think you're going to point to and you can see right now he's going to be a player. Over to the right Austin Ward the podcast a healthy Mitchell Melton how does he fit in for your defense what does he bring to it? Yeah he's you know Mitch is that combination player you know and in our four down you know he's a guy that can do a lot of things drop fold in there and make plays you see some of that all the time. Really athletic you know we're kind of loaded at that end position so he's going to play there but like I said last year we we haven't needed it but he's a guy you would point to along with C.J. Hicks you know for the for the long season.

5:03:51People get injured you get a little light inside it's always hard on the defensive tackles but if you're going to play with three ends you know that's Mitch is a guy who definitely can do all that he has that. Over to the left Joey Kaufman Columbus dispatch Jim you talked about this before but I think in past years where you're going up against a really talented receiver group offense to encourage your players to it's not okay if they give up to the play and to go nearly almost the first half. Today were you the offense didn't get in the end zone until the late second half just and you guys have guys down the second area just what what did you think of that sort of trend and how it's involved in the way you guys almost shut them out the first half. Yeah I think it's become you know an expectation now you know our DB's you know our BIA best in America we led the country in past defense right I think there's 96 what I I think. And it was number one last year so they they've taken that spirit so it's a competitive spirit it's an expectation now it doesn't matter who we're going against it's it's they view it as a standard so that was good to see in the first first half.

5:05:08Over to the right Spencer Holbrook Vladimir Roach Jim we've talked about safety changing the way that you play defense in the Leo and the linebackers but how much does having the depth that you guys have a defensive tackle change the way that you can do things defensively yeah I mean you're going to play to your strengths you know and that's that's my job is to what do we have and what do we do best and when you have defensive tackles we've said it before it helped our defense so much last year. When you have defensive tackles that actually make tackles which is what we have right now it changes the way you call a game you know it certainly helps you be in better shape on explosive plays on the back end you don't have to do a whole lot to help those guys out because they're making tackles so you got to go you got to go with that you know you got to let those guys play and and they're good so you can't get too far away from the back end. You can't get too far away from the scheme of having those defensive tackles make place because they're doing it and it works.

5:06:12Over to the left Tony Gurdman Buckeye Huddle Jim Ryan talked about the quarterback run being more of a thing with the offense here during the season how much of when you're facing a team like that how much does that impact your day to day throughout the week prep prepared for that. You know it I think it changes everything you do on defense you see it everywhere from the NFL on down if you have a quarterback who can make plays with his feet your scheme better be designed that you know to to take that away into account for it so it changes the way you look at everything when you're game planning. Thank you Donovan over here to the right Tim May the Tim May podcast. Yeah Jim you got the game when I asked Ryan about just for example Calvin Simpson Hunt but the corner seemed to be playing almost with the chip owner shoulder to a certain way to make a big stand in me Davis and Nick Benoson took today personally look like you know to make is some of the height going into the game but what what do you see from that group in particular that. Who is you going into this off season yeah when you can when you have corners that you can count on again just like having defensive tackles in the run game when you have corners you can count on that are going to compete all the time no matter what the situation is.

5:07:29I don't know if that began to change is the way you called the entire game I mean you you're able to leave those guys on an island you're able to switch up couverges and they know what they're doing and they take great pride in it so having those guys out there in the development it's a big deal it really is. And it's not just a little bit. Yeah I mean he's he did come in late and you know he compete he's one of those guys that just competes every day doesn't say much you know he's trying to live up to the standard of the other guys. And you see him coming along you know you see him step by step coming along and you know put him in a you know competitive atmosphere same step up that's a great sign. And final question for coach Knowles Dan Hope 11 Warriors you mentioned CJ Hicks a few minutes ago have you seen him take the strides you need to see the spring to trust him as a guy who could be a potential starter on his defense.

5:08:30Yes I mean I think CJ has shown that he has talent and I think it's my job to put him in the best situations for him because he can be a force you know he's much better when he's not saying or he's directed because he's able to use his athletic ability but he has certainly shown that he's going to be able to help this defense. Coach thank you very much for your time. Alright and we will bring offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Hey look you know we all come back you know look what would you do we could do and I think that once we once I thought about that and you know I got some other guys on warrior I was kind of a no brainer because you know we got the team to do it this year and you know we're just out there next you know. You seemed pretty confident in Dallas I mean you wouldn't tell us for sure but it sounded like you made up your mind by them is that fair to say that you were leaning at least coming back at that point.

5:09:32I just said I probably was leaning towards coming back then you know I just I try to block it out you know before a game and just focus on ball you know just take care of the other stuff after you know the games are done so I think that you know I definitely probably was in the back of my mind you know I was going to come back regardless so like I said you know I just want to be on top of me to leave this year and with the opportunity we got you know you only got one more chance left to you know to go do something not many people get to do you know I'm alive so we're in a blessed position. I just think that I was putting good positions just kind of let you know let loose we're not there in played ball like I know how to and you know my team makes play great too coaches called it the game defensively I mean you know we give a 14 total points was 17 14 14 I mean 14 it's a good offense like that great team I mean that's a good day so obviously we didn't get the results we wanted

5:10:36which is frustrating again but it's a whole different story yeah I mean I just think it was it was collectively a good day on defense and I happen to be fortunate the game position makes me good place. You know I think I felt like I was in a group probably the whole second half of the season I felt like myself again and I was just out there playing a heavy phone with my teammates and you know I think that you know when you come here and you expect a hit the field it to be a certain way you know it's hard to get over that for a little bit and I think you can look at kind of this all of us on the D line as a front we all kind of had our own journey to how we how we're playing right now and now it's all about building not looking back and playing how we know how to play and being confident out there and and using our ability that God gave us so I think that this whole next year you know just going to see a whole different level of play from all of us.

5:11:38I know you're trying to keep up with that but yeah and that be kind of a launch. Yeah you know I've knew all along what I was capable of and I know it's frustrating for a few years you know not being able to you know not playing for whatever reason on the field to what I was capable of but you know once you just put that that stuff to the side just got there and play ball you know how it's just going to take care of it so. Okay. No you're good. Did you use the term? No, I don't think that's what you're using. I don't know what it does. It's not like an emphasis of not focusing on the little things kind of on you on that stuff but can you guys really understand what is it for you to say? Yeah you know I think you said it you know with there's no talent issues here on this team. I think if you look at our team across the board probably one of those talent teams in the country. If not the most talented team in the country and so you know that's God given though and what we can work on is our discipline or skill or technique.

5:12:40I think if we become the most you know disciplined and sound team technique wise there's not going to be a team of countries to stop us. But it's you know it's a long process to get to that point and to get to that season so I just think that when Coach Day talks about that you know it's true. We've got the talent. Just got to go out there and work every day on the little things. What are you specifically working on this spring? You know I'm working on a flexibility. You know I'm working on bending the corner a little bit and hands and it's at the line you can kind of improve on everything. So Coach Johnson's our emphasis is just you know just taking care of the little things hands, hips, foot placement. So it's kind of a little bit every day in the spring. There's a lot to be excited for especially all the guys coming back on defense. But how excited are you to play again with your team? Oh really excited about that. You know it was cool really cool. I mean him going back and forth the whole time just talking whether we're going to come back or not. And you know when we you know I kind of knew I knew before you guys knew when he was coming back. So you know I was excited. I was a you know hell of a player and you know really good friend of mine. So just having another year with him and you know if I'm going to enjoy it and you know hopefully have some fun.

5:13:45You know we can have a comfortable time. It's nice. Even going back to your recruitment. You know the first guy to come in this was your class. You guys over for barbecues in your house. What was it like I guess to see a kind of comfortable circle in a way that you could kind of almost leverage that relationship. And you could come back into the pool to run back on the run. Yeah you know it's unique you know I think it's a really unique position. That great group of guys coming back man. You know it's just so exciting and I just wanted to you know for me you know and at the same thing for those guys. How much they care about this program and care about the team and coach day and and guys you want to do it for in the city and. You know the chance we we all knew that you know we had great opportunities going in the field. And we also have a great opportunity to put another one of those banners up here. So and you know get some revenge on you know the guys up north all that stuff. So you know when you put in a nutshell you know it was a really simple decision for a lot of us.

5:14:47And you know we thank God for being in this position and coming back. You know I don't think any of us have regretted it. We're just really excited to you know get back on the chase and and you know not miss a day. Jack you take a wide view of the defense with the additions made by Caleb coming in. And now you see sunny move closer to line of scrimmage. You just you have an opportunity like looking at what's out there. How does it change the capability of your defense? Last week how can it change the way maybe you deploy that you couldn't do a year ago? Yeah I mean you look at our you look at the defense one of the three like damn we're big. You know corner we're big line back we're big. De-line we're big. Safe to we're big. Fast. You know we're just it's you know we're just got a lot of lot of weapons to say the least. And so you know when you got when you know you got those guys behind you you know you just make you play so much more free up front and you know you you're dependent you can rely on those guys behind you. And I think that you know if we take that approach and everywhere on the field offense too that you know we're going to really fun here.

5:15:49Jack thank you very much. Who we are as many of what this culture just is. What are the biggest improvements here looking to make this year? For me is just getting a leaner twitch here just to continue to have a react quicker. And I feel like I'm thinking out there and just being able to just run around 24-7 or every every Saturday every time we play on the field and just just having that motor under me for me is just I think that starts here in the weight room. And then now we're on phase two where it starts on the field and after after spring one they goes back to square one and going back to that weight room and cleaning up areas that are critiquing all the small things. Jack, when you take a look at the defense overall when you're having a moment to look at like from a third party view you look at what's out there. You've got all American now at safety we wasn't here last year. You've got you guy that wasn't safe. He was a freakish athlete now playing closer line of scrimmage. How do you view those changes and what it will allow you to do as a defense that maybe you couldn't do a year ago

5:16:50or the way you can use those chest pieces? I think it just allows us to open up our game. You know moving, moving, having Caleb and having Sonny in those positions. We just have athletes everywhere and I think for us being three years in the system now we kind of we should know it and we know it on the back of our hand to where now we can make a lot of different adjustments and just allowing it certain moments and points where just dudes are going to be dudes. You know understand what you what your assignment is and your job but as well as knowing that you have a lot of dudes around you to where they know how you play they know what skill you are and so you know they're counting on you to make that play and they also have your back as well. How important is Jack in terms of getting this group to come back to you? I think you know me and Jack talked a lot.

5:17:55A lot is probably understanding but you know we've had so many goals coming in our freshman and I feel like we're meeting him both decided to come back and we have played a speed bomb and just allowing us to understand that the goals we had set upon us as a set for our defense individual groups. Individual goals and as well as a unit for the B-line I think our goals were just right there. They're all reachable and I think once we thought about that we just became even more motivated to come back and get straight to work. I think we're close to just not announcing you all find out during the spring ball but you know who we did we end up announcing stuff. Is there sense of with this group there's no excuses now I mean when you look around this field the talent or hand special on the defensive side. I feel like we all the pieces that we need to come back we came back and I think right now all we're doing is trying to gel trying to get more closer I have our bond be stronger than ever.

5:18:55You know a lot of people are looking at it as a you know a natter bust or you know you have no excuse but I think for us we're just keeping it keeping in between these walls and just understanding learning more of who we are as players and what makes us us and just continue to grow and develop. When you first got the news or learn the news at the yes Caleb Downs the leading actor for Alabama is joining you guys what was your first reaction. I found out I was cooking one night and our group chat team like groups have we just take to just a boom I had no idea what that meant and I had to throw all the way up and read what we're talking about. And you know once I found that it was coming I think it just you know very blessed and very glad to have him part of the brotherhood and I mean he's a workhorse he keeps his head down has blinders on and there's just always a player to game and just learning. He never continues to just stay saying what's part of stay sagging he always keep growing.

5:19:55I love brother you know just having him just allows us to feel like time is not fun by too quick you know me Jack always talking like man we're already the old guys you know everybody's calling his best but you know just being able to have that little brother just bond with him as well as coach him. He makes it just a just enjoyable you know we're once in this shoes and just looking at him you know we just take a man with open arms and he's a he's a funny dude he's just always working he's always wanting to know more I was just in the back just teaching them certain certain little keys and you know assignments are just technique on how to how to get better so he's a student of the game as well.