Press Conference (Jim Harbaugh) Elite Edition September 2

0:00do, then you will be successful. So that's ingrained like the DNA. And that's carried over whether it's football or anything else. That's the way I was learning to do it. Jim, a few things that stand out most to you since OTAs and many camps that maybe like wow, I didn't think that was going to happen or anything specific that you can bring up. Yeah, there's been some, you know, definitely some huge seminal moments. Maybe I'll give you three. You know, day and a half, you know, one and a half practices it, you know. Way back in April, it was it was clear to me like Derwin James Jr. Okay, guys, do whatever Derwin James is doing. However, the way he approaches the training environment, where he approaches the meetings,

1:07the way he approaches the practices, what he wears, what he does, what he says, what he goes for meeting the meeting, the way he communicates. And also, you know, everything he does. Just 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 I have a, should I work, can I wear a sweatshirt with, you know, hoodie and is Derwin? Just look at number three. Look at number three and do, you know, everything that 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 center in the, on the team, 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,

2:07you know, they make a lot of money or they get complacent. Oh, not true, not true. He is, if it's been every minute, every hour, every day, completely engaged, tremendous tone center, example center for the entire team. Yeah. I did say that a third. Okay, there's a third. 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. You know, we've stayed completely, you know, within those rules and the mandatory time, it's all voluntary, but we do have, you know, time, limits. And I've, I've scheduled things within the team, you know, to use every, to use every

3:14minute. What I've noticed about this team and probably hit me a couple of weeks ago, maybe three or four, but when I say, okay, we're stopping early, or, you know, we're cutting 30 minutes out of this practice or this wait session, then I just watch them do more. They do more than, then they, what they would have had I, you know, scheduled it out. You know, player led, 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 that way. Receivers, I mean, they're carrying sender blocks for grip strength. You know, I could give, you know, multiple examples, defensive line,

4:16you know, mortgage fox, Scotty Matlock, the way they, the way they set the tone, the way they lead. 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 boats really well. I know you coach briefly with your dad at Western Kentucky, but what's it been like the past couple years seeing Rick Minner and Jesse kind of being the same step and that father of some dynamic? The father's son dynamic is, is, that's really near and dear close to my heart. And I love it. I love, I love Rick Minner. He's seen a lot of footballs kicked off. I love talking football with Rick. I love the interaction between him and Jesse.

5:20My dad and myself, you know, said, Mrs. I had you get so lucky, you know, watching Derwin James with his son yesterday after practice. Just raises the small hairs, you know, on your, on my arm. That's, that's what it's like. What a great dad. It was just a great dad. And the other dad's are coming, or moms, you know, or sister or uncle, or that come and come to practice. 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, whether, whether it be on the field, off the field, life and they know them, they know them so well. And I encourage them, coach them, you know, continue. Don't stop now just because they're professional football players. Or, or some of the, there's other dynamics too, you know, the, the, the dad that's been, you know, you know, really,

6:23you know, pushed, which a dad should do. I mean, who's going to push some, who's going to push you if it's not going to be, you know, your dad or your mom, or grandparents, you know, somebody close to you, you know, that's really pushed them hard. Like, hey, have your dad come, come watch it. Let them see it now. I mean, this, you're an incredible, incredible player. Just so many, so many, they say it's all about relationships, you know, and I, that's, that's, think of your own lives. I see that on our team and, and, yeah, get it huge, huge thrill from it. Jim, Khalil Mack enjoyed both of those football yesterday and said that they told you plain and simple, they want to win. What was your message to them when they, when they told you that? Let's get it. Gonna be here, gonna be here for you. You know, that may be, that may be one thing, maybe no things, maybe, you know, 10, 15 things. Obviously, they have done, they have done it at an incredibly high

7:27level throughout their career and, you know, tremendous respect and admiration for, you know, not only of what they've done, but where they're at now and their desire to help our team. It's about a month in between many champions. Train can do encourage players to go take vacation, the time to really lock in in between that time to prepare for training camp. Yeah, I mean, then we go over that with, with, with each individual player. I mean, it's, it's definitely the, the time to do just, you know, the right amount of things. 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.

8:30So whenever the right amount is, you know, will be, will be available to assist in that. Good thing about where we live. You know, this is vacation is right here. We live on vacation. Here. So, yeah, for us, coaches, trainers, you know, we're here. B, when you say you, you're watching, when you give them their free time, and, and you know, it's gonna be, there's a merge, have you noticed a leadership, a merge? 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 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. You know, there's, and guys lead in different ways. I mean, there's sample setters, tone setters, you know, there's, there's all kind of examples of,

9:34of leadership, but yeah, 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. Justin, no question about it. Rashan Slater, no question about it. Trey Pippkins, Bradley Boesman, a lot, several from the, from the offensive line, the receiving room, the D line, Scotty Matlock, Morgan Fox, Joey Calil, there's no doubt of Christian, Christian in the secondary. As nobody, I mean, Derwin and Loey, it's just do anything and everything that those two are doing. You know, young, a young corner, a young safety, don't have far to look. Denzel has been incredible. Is there's, it's a growing number. It's a growing number, but there's,

10:40ladies. They can see it. They answer your question. Yeah, we can see it. The mischievous how did, like, it done, is there something you prefer? The, It happens, it happens,annoatsura and the inter You know, mainly, like in all leadership positions, guys follow guys that, you know, what they say doesn't conflict with what they do. You mentioned that Scott Mattlock, a few times. What's jumped out to you about himself farthest from you? He just all about his business, all about the work, all about the team, what he does. And it's like a lot of leaders, he's not about what they say, it's about what they do, right? What you do speak so loudly that can't even hear

11:42what you're saying. 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, pat down the surface so it was harder for the next group that was running. Making the surface harder so they could get their, get their plant in turn. But just everything that he does, every way that he goes from meeting to the training environment to the practices there every day. I mean, the power of the there every day, Ted, is so powerful. There's no question that you get better at football by being there every day, but that's the, nobody has to wonder. Nobody has to wonder is Scott Matlock or somebody that's there every day. Are they gonna be there? Yeah, just look out in the seat and there they are, ready to go, sitting on a screen,

12:45ready to get out to practice. Sometimes already taped dressed and ready to roll. So not only do I see that, but everybody sees it. Jim, we had a great chat after your original news conference about the Rockford files. And I'm curious, can you describe what it was like doing your Jim Rockford trek out here and what it was, it's the way you thought it might be? Yeah, it was everything I thought and even more so. I mean, we take over a new job. I didn't drive the RV. My brother-in-law, John Fearborn did, but he got it out here and then it played out. Yeah, much like I really thought it would. It was a tremendous experience. It just allowed me to do what I had to do was which was work 16, 17, 18 hours a day and then return to the RV, go to bed at nine o'clock and then be back to work 3.34 in the morning

13:49and no distractions, distractions were down to nothing and felt the production was high because of that. And one thing I think I think I probably learned out of it was that the simple life's the best life. Unfortunately, it's not in the cards for me with seven kids and a full-time job and lots to do, but I realize that maybe someday it'll be hopefully not, but probably not in the cards. It's just probably not in the cards for guys like me. And guys, the other coaches and the players and the staff. And I just wanna say the coaching has been phenomenal. I take myself out of that. I'm talking about the position coaches, the coaches that are backup position coaches, analyst.

14:49I mean, you see them doing anything and everything. They're the making of the scripts, the breakdown of the tape. I mean, the throwing of the balls when you're out of practice. Watch those other coaches the way they're working. The 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 technique and the fundamentals that the players are using also bodes really well. But I've been total dedication from the entire coaching staff, which it's just a tip of the cap. Really been good. Yeah, I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was super hot. I felt like we were gonna sell. They were working as hard. I didn't think I was gonna get through it either, but I just kept pushing. I could be competing there. What I do is just compete. What's that for? You see what I do? Just compete? You see me? I don't know. I just, it just like, since a kid I always,

15:51I hate it to lose. So I just want to try to, just try my best and try to win everything I did. I was very valuable. It gave me time to just feel the college football ball out. I really feel like my first couple of games, it was a test for me, it was a test to see where I was at, just for me personally. I feel like it's big for any person to get on the field and get to see some time, especially when you got that's in front of you. That's a plan. Yeah, what changes? What changes have you got in experience? What just changes about your mindset out there? You belong, I mean go ahead. More confidence. You just get more confidence every time you got there. You play, every play that you have, there's more confidence in the game. Yeah, and, good. I mean how excited are you to be playing in the first ball? Super excited. I can't wait to win in Jerry's.

16:51I'm very excited. I can't wait to win in him, so I'm super excited. It's just like any other game, though, just take it, take it, play by play. I value it. Most I can't, I just try to make the most out of the area play. And I always try to do too much. I don't try to make a play that I, that ain't for me. I put a play, I know the play is going to come. So it's just really doing my job and being in the right place. My eyes and the right spot. Yeah, that's, that's what it's said to press me about. You seem under, basically under control for one of another terms. You, out there, you're not just running around like a chicken on this headcut off, right? I mean, where does that come from, you make? I think practice helps that, because I go just some of the best players in the country in my opinion. So I think, I go just down. I don't know if anybody else can really approach that. We talk a little bit, we talk before I even committed here, before he committed here. We talk a little bit, by met him, like, I could do it. Probably about canceling the management.

17:52Not for fun. I didn't know him. How much of a few views do you want to be covered if you got here in the spring? A lot. So we were the first two DBs in our class to get here. So it's really us. The only person that was here for the spring and all the other, the other of us 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 had got our head and the right spine. That's our man, right? For the room, what did that interception return by Jordan Hancock do for the room? I felt like it was a game, changing play. I just put a whole game. I felt like it was a play that we needed bad and we was down at that time. So I felt like it was a great play and just showed with the corner background, how versatile we are. And I snippet, what concerns you most about Michigan State coming in here? What have you seen on video that concerns you? About their off-ass? Not really too much. They really don't have men to lose right now. So they're going for everything out of service.

18:53We got to keep our eyes on the right spine, just be in the right place at the right time. I've seen a lot of girls. He got to start by with for me, so he was really working hard and spring. He was getting up early every day, we used to be roommates, so he was getting up very early and just trying to get here, learn to defense. He's been doing everything he's supposed to do. Did you get a permit, too? Let's go ahead and talk to him. What's the out there with you? I feel good because we people are saying play, so it just makes it easier to communicate and make plays together. My weekday, Mark, your main thing, thank you very much for the guitar. Appreciate it, John. Thank you, Mark. Okay, let me put it. Yeah, a couple of tough plays. The Red Zone, the fourth quarter, that end to being in interceptions. But you're able to mount the drive down the regulation. What is your confidence that you know that you would bounce back and be able to reach you

19:56in a way that you didn't have final drive? Yeah, total confidence. I mean, he's done it again and again and again, honestly. And every time we go, we take the field, again, the huddle. I know we're going to give our best effort. 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 do. But yeah, we have total confidence when we go out there. We just got to stop beating ourselves, honestly. You either have zero yards in a win, but you just had a career day. Well, I just want to, what you take from that is height of 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 wins that count. Can you kind of walk us through the last touch down there at the time of the game for you? I'm taking the big hit and everything. Yeah.

20:56You 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. It's about it. What about his kind, so what do you have to catch you thinking about absorbing the hit of the second ball that's... 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 in five has set that up. What did you guys see on that play? Port in five, something man coverage. You know, I'm saying beat your man catchable. You know, I mean, the Tissue, you know, like you said, is very crazy each and every week playing. But, you know, I can't let it get to my head, I should say.

21:57Let me just football at the end of the day, but, you know, just, you know, happy being this musician. Oh, none of us think we could be covered, man, oh man. I mean, we're actually talking about this yesterday as well, but, you know, I mean, that's what they do, that's what they do. I mean, we just got guard there, you know, play our game and, you know, short of reason why not to play, man, oh man. Two. Four. Three. One. I'll go five.

22:57It's good. The problem. I'm not saying, you know, just go out there, Monday, I just dominate the person I'm suffering me. You know, just do what I've been doing for the last two to three weeks, I should say. But, you know, they play man on man, so I'm just ready for the challenge. I mean, feels good. Just say somebody going out there and play man on man, guess Ohio State receivers is something crazy. But, you know, we just ready for the challenge. They said they're not chasing their game plan, but we got to go out there and show them the reason why not to play, man, oh man. And then I look for the reason to announce the month of 2016 and the summer is not right now. Sure, you're going to be the conversation. Yeah. When you would call us back, you have some other guys, states and case, why is he going to come?

23:57I mean, I don't really, if I be on a curve, I'd 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. I mean, no, not yet. Probably hit me after this season. No, just no planning to call us football players as a freshman, planning to Rose Bowl as a freshman, planning to call it a bow or not. The National Championship, I mean, it's a blessing for sure, but it hasn't hit me yet. I'm sure. I'm putting it right here. I'm about what your fan moved down to. My favorite catch, I would say we play Michigan State. The one I call over to defenders, definitely probably my favorite for sure.

24:57Or you could go the one from Iowa, I should say, and the answer, probably them two. Sure. I mean, yeah, like you said, it's pretty frustrating me having a game that I had in the Rose Bowl. They're coming to the Cardinal, just doing different things, changing their scheme up against me. But, I mean, like you said, whatever I could do to make the, I mean, help the team win. It's not really a big deal for me. As long as we win, that's all I really care about. And you got to send out your championship. Right here.

26:00It means a lot. We put a lot of work in this, this season. We have, how's we have lows. We have people kind of out. But we hear now, we just ready to put on a show Monday. Oh, yeah. Yeah. First of all, when this national championship, because there was means a lot, I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year. People saying he should be fired and this, that, and the third. But, I mean, you see everything that he bent through this year. I mean, I see everything that he bent through this year. I see everything. People saying about him on Twitter. I wasn't here. He first got to hear the coaching job. But I know this year for sure, we definitely got to win this for him.

27:00I mean, it's a lot, a lot of people in the league, I should say, I can't really say who, but I mean, you had guys like Odele. You had guys like Odele. You had Stefan Dicks. It means a lot of Michael Thomas, Chris Carter, just a lot of, you know, guys that played in NFL and stuff like that. But yeah, really them guys, for sure. Okay. No, just keep going. You got it. You've next up for sure. Really, I really, really that. Like a physical defense, like you said, like people say, like they like to play man, they're not changing their skin. So we're just ready for the challenge. 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 him first coming here in Ohio State January our first workout we had together.

28:20Just everything that we did through the season. I mean, I'm just happy for him to be in this position right now, but we got to finish the job and that's the winning at the Oman Day. I mean, it's pretty funny. Them saying that because I'm just only a freshman, but I miss the blood for sure people to even say that, but I got two, three more years left for college. And I'm just focused on college right now. I'm not really worried about the NFL right now. It's very special for me. Just being a freshman and playing the national stage up here for national titles, something that I dreamed of as a very young kid. I'm just happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on some Monday for you guys.

29:27I mean, all of us, we were just sitting on the bench and we just seeing him hit the quarterback 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, you know, this we're going to the daddy for sure. I mean, it's a lot of me going from high school or when the three state championships, I saw my daughter then coming to higher state, just appeared for national charter right now. Me just showed that I've picked two great schools, but I'm happy to be here and I just can't wait to put on a show Monday.

30:27What's the coolest person to reach out to? 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-challenging the lead like, oh, Dale, you had guys like Stefan Diggs. A lot of other players as well, just kidding my mom, but really, really them two guys, for sure, oh, Dale, a Stefan Diggs. 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 go back over here. The vice-geno had gave me. I said just keep golf first.

31:29I know the reason why I'm here. Yeah, like he said, just keep golf first and just no keeping 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, great corners here, really put a name on it. It looks like a teammate, I have a buddy. My dream vacation is Teres and K-co's. I'm good. I'll go. I'll go. I'll go. Yeah.

32:29I say both respect and frustration as well. But I mean, I doubt they come out there and try to team me and they say stick it to whatever door in our year and that's playing man coverage, which is ready for the challenge. Pretty good group. Christian Gary 29 is a great corner. I'm a great team, a lot more. Two great guys are right there. Very physical, but you know, we all have to receive it, so we ready for the challenge. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'll say just no understanding the defense, understanding the defense, understanding the game plan, understanding what coach Kelly is trying to get done.

33:33I mean, just coming in, I felt I progress from my first game against Akron to now. But I got better each and every week. I mean, things slowed down a lot for me. But yeah, really just no understanding the defense and no understanding what they're trying to do to me for sure. I'm two guys. I'm just going to see all year for sure. Two physical guys. But you know, we're ready, we're ready for the challenge that they're coming with and that's the play man on man. And you know, we ready to go on Monday. Yeah. I mean, environment is pretty crazy. Seeing all these cameras. Certainly, I never thought I'd see them alive, but it's a blessing for sure to be in this position right now. Yeah. We just had a prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer meeting and you know, we all, they all, we all discussed the issues because they discussed these issues.

34:47You know, we just want the work. I mean, not two and a half weeks we had off before Tennessee game and we just came out there on Tennessee game and we played with a chip on our shoulder. All throughout the playoffs, and we go continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and that's championship on Monday. Do you know how that very impactful, he had a very impact on my career, I should say, you know, just going to his games. I was a very young kid, seven, eight years old, him playing Westwood, Westwood, Westwood, and they played Clemson, Orange Bull, down in Miami. I mean, just go there, seeing his games. It was like, yeah, I definitely want to play on this stage and I can't wait till I get to know that moment for sure. I'm going to have to go out of here. I'm supposed to be able to go out of here, because they really just in his own, his own little space.

35:49He's just walking around trying to get his mind right, trying to get his mind ready for the game. But you know, he just gave everybody hype in the locker room and you know, just trying to get us ready to go to win the game. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, you go play, man, you get all high of the receivers. I mean, just be ready, because you know, we definitely go come out 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 wonder if the year ago this time, I didn't watch the playoffs. Just kind of what you're doing. Do you have a vision like you've seen this kind of situation felt? Not a year later. Definitely sometime in my career in college, but not my first year in college, I should say. I mean, just to be able to be in this position right now, just a blessing, just a young kid from Miami to be here.

36:49I won't take up for granted. I'm ready to go out there and give him my all. I mean, I was watching that game against Georgia. I was pretty sick myself, because I was actually committed at that time. So, I mean, yeah, they left a bad taste of name off, but I mean, we ready to go out there Monday to redeem myself and just put a show Monday.

37:52I mean, I just laugh, but you know, that's what they do. They're not going to change what they do just because we're a higher state. So, when you got to go out there and put it on, put it on, why not to play Man on Man, it gets us. So, when you got to go out there, show them Monday. Sir. Here you go. Who said he is? I'm sorry. My journey here at a higher state, prepared me a lot for the National Championship. I'm just going through everything that I've been through. Now, first guy here, all the materials, all the hard workouts 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. Yeah. Who just squeezed this?

38:52109. 200? I mean, he is big and strong. Yeah. What's 20? Yeah, that's great. Yeah, it's pretty good. No problem. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

39:55Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

40:59Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It went pretty good. Everybody just speaking with their thing is going right in what they think is wrong. We just a lot of the older guys, if we're sitting there peeing zone, what we need to do to cut the get out of the team. But you know, that me and definitely helped us in a big way because it helped us on the field as well. Yeah. Definitely got emotional. Can't really say what really was said because that's not players only and coaches only, but it would definitely some stuff said that people took people took and they went with it.

42:00And that's the reason we plan to. Yeah. 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. It's very smart. Me and make just been a big part of the reason that I'm having the season. I'm having the world because he's been a big. You know, older guy been there. Been a lot of great guys in that room. Like Chris a lot of way. Garrett Wilson. Marvin Harrison Jr. I think CJ is going to be moved around a lot. You know, it's funny when we got we hired an Appetition the first person I thought it was CJ because I think it's a. Like that. Appetition. Well, some of the stuff that he's done was similar ish like I know Al Gold was with him at Detroit. You know, they're lying so like there's some stuff that at least we they you did over there at Notre Dame that we'll see if we're able to kind of implement.

43:06Some of them here I'm sure some maybe others depending on what our guys do best. I was seeing it because it's like it's a fresh start. I knew said 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. You know, when you really study what coach Patricia has done in the past is he likes to take like who are like who are players. And then let's build it around those guys. And I think CJ has had a helpful winner. I think he's one of those guys. So I'm excited to see how we get creative and use him to the sprint. That many seem to be like flow is more of an edge defender. Kind of differently 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?

44:09You get really creative about how you use him. But I think he definitely needs to be utilized more as a just go to the heart pack. Go go be disruptive. What's happening? So you got to be a new coach. I don't know. I don't know. Find out on Monday. What about Matt as a leader of you guys? Just coaches. How are you? How's he all fit with you guys and how are you seeing that and? How do you feel about the higher? I love the higher. I got a lot of respect for coach Patricia. Like ever since he worked me a Marcus out back here. And what we were talking about that when you 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, 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. It's a lot. But he's been incredible with.

45:12I think the staff he's very organized. He's detailed. You'll have constant clear communication. You know, I may have you were going to get together at this time and you're just efficient in your role. 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. It's it. You know, like you have a lot of these conversations. Okay, what are we looking for at these positions now? How do you see it? Because you don't under one coordinator. Anybody see the mic line back and used to be this and under this coordinator. Well, I think the mic back and used to be this. So you have to have those conversations at every position and use kind of keep going through and. I'm just excited to learn. I think the more systems, I mean, look, play in the system here in college, play the system underneath the Magnolo, play the system or Tim Golden, play the system under Greg Williams. That is talent. Coach of the Al Gold and Jim.

46:12Everyone of those, there's like different terminology for everything. So you're just you're learning a different language, call and think, you know, I mean, there's his concepts and. I think it is kind of collect over time. What you think is. Really good stuff and how you do stuff a big deal different. I'm just really excited to learn from that. It's a lot of success. He was seemed very excited over there talking really to be here. Yeah. Focusing college, which whatever. So long. What's his personal? How do you like to wait for you guys and see? He's been great. I mean, his energy is 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 while you got in the coaching, right? This impact young people. It's the impact and teach the game of football. And so the future has been in front, you know, kind of like talking to the guys in a sense like. He's excited to just teach more. You know what I mean? And kind of ironically, like, you know, you're going to be a lot of puked with the things that chips that last year, right? You're going to get back and you're like, man, I'm just excited to.

47:13And so he has that excitement. He's done a phenomenal job, I think, of getting 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. And then you can imagine when you come in, you have all these guys, right? And trying to learn all these guys. I'm learning the recruiting, trying to learn the staff, and learn 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 doing a really good job. James, son, he's probably not going to need to do much this spring. How much more can you get done with the young guy? Let's tell him that. So you've got to do a lot. But in terms of Ryan Dair, he said, you know, thank you for saying 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 at Sprimball. And that's what it's all about, right? You're trying to have it so cliche, but it's true. Like the iron sharpens, iron mentality of you want your room to be super competitive.

48:13To where, hey, the guy in front of me makes a play. My next set of four plays I go out there. I have the point, right? And it's a constant driving of the room forward. And so, yeah, son, he gets 50 or how many reps, he'll reps off 50% wherever coach said. And that means more opportunity for somebody else to play, right? So that'd be more for our Val. Is that scheme flexibility with our Val? We're going to pay Pearson round. Is that TJ Riley? You like all these guys stove? We're all going to get more reps. I think it's great. So we got to do it at this point in the season. But I think, you know, yes, there's still stuff that within the level of a Sunday is that he's going to be. Clon to try to get those reps because he's a true pro. And that's been the most enjoyable thing about working with him is like, you get a kid who's played safety his whole life comes to the backer and he just wants to learn the why behind everything. And, you know, very similar in the fact of Cody, like,

49:15we have guys who are that easy to work with. You're not trying to like, not worried about texting anybody in our room about coming over and trying to learn ball. You know what I mean? Like, where you at, you know, like, they're obsessed with the game of football. They're always around when they're not at class. So it's like, it makes it really easy as a coach because they're passionate for the game. And so strong. You mentioned TJ in terms of the higher with the map. Just what can sunny like what do you envision more with him with all of that stuff? I think I think we just have a lot of guys with a lot of length. It's about sunny styles long, can run our Valries long, can run like. It's crazy because you see sunny. You're like, okay, this guy, like, I wish I was built like that when I played. And then you see our Val stand next to sunny here. Like, you know what I mean? And so like, and then you look across the room, like, as the room warms up, you're like, holy smokes. Like, we just have a bunch of guys and that's a lot of credit to make. Coach made it as a phenomenal job.

50:15I was just talking to Burm about it, like, to see even our maybeir guys what they like. When they showed up during the full of the whole night, he run and they're kind of hanging out during practice. And we see the high school bodies to see what they look like today before they go away. And like, the shoulders are all 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. So what he's really good at right is like, he's talked about it. One year, he has junior say, oh, we'll get us Mike variable, you know, Roosevelt, Colvin, and those guys. And then a couple of years later, he has Brandon spikes. So he's like, okay, I just put his blitz brand in the middle all the time. So he was 260 pounds and a beast. He always says he was my best nose guard from Mike backer, right? And then the year after that, he gets, you know, got Jamie Collins and Dante high telling him. So now we can do a lot of stuff, right? So they're not just like, hey, this is what we're doing.

51:16I put people in there and say, hey, here's what we got. Let's utilize it. So that's what strength will be. Walgone the lab and figure out what that means. I'm sure through spring ball, there'll be like, hey, here's what we do really well as unit. Because this unit is going to be different, right? And then you know, there's 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-hearned that civil bullet nickname and mantra. I don't know guys. Look at our bell. It seems like he's on a very good track. Is that it? Is it a record just what's his ceiling? It's how he gets to start a bell. It's just a lot. And right now he's locked in. He's done a great job becoming a leader. Coming out of his shell. I think, you know, I think for the belly, it's all about consistency and just preparation. And I'm proud of our bell, you know, he's through the season. You got way better at, you know, a lot of it's like little things. There's no taking and stuff. Like sometimes these kids are always on their phones and stuff. Not like the meeting rooms or anything like that, but just naturally.

52:16So like to get out of pen and paper and like, you hear things and I mean, yeah, I got it. What you do until your dog tired and then you forget because you know what I mean, but when you really understand it, you know what 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 paint along. He paints a full of TJ and Riley and Eli, so I didn't stole it. So I kind of love the competition room right now. And the way it's made up. Yeah, he's on a great path. How many different guys do you feel like can be a man Mike's spot? Three. But that was 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 out Mike for us. And Sonny smart off the play of mall. Our bell is smart off the play of mall. Here's a smart off the play of mall. And that's also like how did you like depends on what what scheme you're running. Where they how do they be utilized as well?

53:17You know what I mean? So you say my like my backer, you know, whether it's Tommy, I can very grow up there on research. Two different people and Cody's different than those two. So my challenge to like a lot of the guys that come in. It's just got the other both the more you understand about the scheme in general. The faster you will play, you know what I mean? Like if I just sit here and I say, Hey, I got a lot of Mike. My drop is this and that's all I need to know. Like, well, no, football happens so fast and all the shifts and motions that like. If you're out there just playing and you're waiting for a call. And you're 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 if I'm out there and also I'm not getting a call, I know what the call should be. It's like, Hey, are we playing? You know, let's go. Now listen, you get it. You can look. I can see, OK, here's what the tight ends doing. That's what the backs doing. Here's what plays are coming. If you just line up the play, it's rather passive every time. Like you know, stand a chance. You got to eliminate plays in your mind by seeing what the offense is doing.

54:19Like they tell you a story every time they line up. They just window dressing. People motion and she has to try to do man's own indicators and they trying to make sure that. They're getting the same formation. They're on the same place, but they just shift the people and then they motion and they move. And they don't want you to recognize it. 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? You're reacting. So 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 of sure guys get, you know, if the sun is only doing 50 to 75% of the plays, then probably more guys get more will reps than they had because we need more will bodies. That's technically where sun is started. But. Rotate them through. Let the production kind of show what it does. And. I think sometimes you know, you'll live with some of the stakes just from. Feet in news spot, but 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 break have you seen from sunny this time of year ago?

55:21Through the national championship game? And then what's next? Man, I mean, definitely, I know, I know, sunny has big goals and you should. I do as well for him and. To see how far he's come, you know, first thing kind of stands out is just like his. His footwork has gotten so much better. When you're in the boxes and linebacker, you got to be able to remember Luke. Pickle you say it all the time and you got to be slow until it's time to be fast. And when you're twitchy like he is. A lot of times, you know, when you're about safety, you're used to pulling a trigger and rolling. Like you got to learn how to shuffle and not cross over. And he got so much better as a year or not. I think a lot of people question whether he'd be able to hold up his Cali wise and, you know, he was. He was great, you know, he was the season guy. He's really good with his hands. He's a really natural ability to snag. We'll 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 what I mean?

56:21Because he has that athleticism. And if they've been in a challenge in there, challenge them. I think everything is just. It's not just sunny. It's everybody's urgency in zone coverage. I mean, the urgency with you have to break on the football to close that space. Not at the ball carrier have so much space on you to cut making this is critical. I think sometimes he's he can be so athletic that, you know, you can get away some stuff. And he knows anything that I'm saying right now, hearing notes. So the best part is a lot of times like he'll come to me before film. And I 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 room is that they just want to be they want to be pushed. And they want to be coached. And so the heck of a loss can be asked for right? Like, how is that like what do you need for me? Just just keep making sure like you're pushing it. You don't let me settle. Let me settle. So he's probably the best in the room with that. Do you look at sunny and our valentine that's kind of your top of these guys right now?

57:21Yeah, I mean, I think going into it, you know, I think it's sunny or valentines right up there in that mix. You know, your accurate there and then it's like, who else is going to emerge from really the fourth? The fourth guy, you know, I think that's a healthy way to put it. Yeah, I just I think our I think our backers are so competitive. So competitive that it's, you know, I know Peyton Pierce is chomping at the bit. I know that he's going to push, you know, Vell and Sonny. I know that you look at Riley and TJ and Eli and Stove like those guys are going at it. These work guys, those guys are going at it and it's constant. You know, I mean, they're trying to fight each other everything. So it's a reality of it is they're fighting for reps, right? So this game is hard. It's winter loose or 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?

58:23If you don't know what you're doing, I can't put you out there. So who preps mentally as we get rolling and then the physical part of that blood. Let's say it says, it's Sonny Arbella and Peyton probably have probably the top three. And then, but like I always say, it's always fluid. It's always fluid. I haven't done this. You know, it's funny. There was one coach who said that I forget what kind of felt team was. But he said that what he does is he has the depth chart. Sit in the front of the room. It's like if you're a starter, you're the first to grow, you know, and then the second row. And it's like they'll change weekly. Sometimes they'll camp. I can't do that. I got it. I'm not sure they can handle that. Good. For me, kind of like high school like I've done with that journey. That's not like I'm here now. It's not really. So it's just like, oh, I'm here, you know, unless we're 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.

59:24It's a more just like it's not like you need to wake up. You're a book. You just work during this training every day. You're doing that back. Yeah, I have a look at it. Yeah, yeah, definitely. I did during that. But just now it's just like we're here now. Let's just go forward. So you've got to get what's next, right? Yeah. Got it. Climb up the depth chart. Yeah. You got to see you put it under just some try. No, it's not about what is that relationship been like with Tyler? It's been really good. I love Coach Bowen. The guys who came in with him too, Coach Dickey, Coach Johnson, Coach Fields. They're all great guys. Definitely great, oh, line coaches. 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. It's exciting. What do you think of these last couple of weeks as spring ball? And what do you think your biggest growth has grown? I'd say my biggest growth has definitely been, probably like a strength factor.

1:00:24I'd say it's definitely like from the winter, definitely like a strength. I'm getting working through spring ball more. Just being more focused kind of like to be more calm. Kind of, in any sense, like just not freaking out before the play. Like what am I doing? Just playing football. That's probably my biggest work. I was practicing. I was practicing different before off. That's a line coach. Do you feel like it has changed the way that you're getting reps in on a 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 Baldwin and coach Johnson still coaching the ones of the three of the twos. And then like when you're running off the field, you got coach Dicky or someone else like coaching you uptown, you know what 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. Have you been strictly at center? Are 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 don't know.

1:01:24I mean, just left guard. That's what I've been taking reps there right now. That's just how I'm going to go. As a freshman off-ents alignment, this is pretty important. Just because the development is a 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 before 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. Like 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 and come every day to see what they're doing. And then just take that back and just use what they use. So I mean, it's definitely just like keep stacking days, just keep working. Don't really pay attention about that. Just work. It's really fun. The interior of the line, obviously, I've played a lot of football.

1:02:27There's a lot of important football. Who would you kind of lead on to here? Who's the biggest one in the state? To try and learn various things. How much of all things do you have? Definitely. I'd say Luke, one of them. 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. He has like a two-eye or a three-h a foot in front of him. Like what footwork he takes, where he puts his hands and his head. So I definitely say Luke is a guy that I never watch. And close, just try that. I see what he does. Is that one of the biggest transitions to making even the jump from baseball to college on the offensive line? Just literally the small thing. The steps and hand placement. Yeah. That's definitely a huge thing when I first got here was like there's different footwork, pretty much every block you gotta take. So that's like I think it's the most detailed position on the field. You just need, everything needs to kind of be perfect and block the first few days. I tell you're taking steps and placement. How do you feel about it?

1:03:28Oh it's good. I'd say it's good. I mentioned that to Lars, is that a position you see yourself sticking with or is that just kind of where it's worth starting with? I mean I could see myself sticking out of the guard. But I mean I could play pretty much anywhere. I mean obviously interior. But yeah, but right now it's just been with guards. So I just think that you can get that stuff off. Jake, you had the opportunity to watch those bowl games first and kind of get 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 couple of weeks experience? Yeah, I would say definitely like watching all those bowl games and the national team Egypt just watching the guys carry themselves. Like the preparation took it ready for that. Just how they go about their days, like what they're doing when they're out here practicing. How they practice. It was pretty much just like kind of just feeding off the moment what they're doing. And I kind of got a glimpse to see what it takes to kind of get to a stage like that and just kind of act.

1:04:32Jake, thank you very much. To Heavyweight Ballots and I just don't share much of that's what it's all about. And we knew we were going to have to take some shots and keep swinging. It's kind of the kind of thing that we can do in that meeting you guys had. Because it's very, very easy. To him, his 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 is. I think a lot of coaches would have had a lot of self-ego for them in that meeting. He didn't at all. I mean, he loves us all of us like for his sons. And we felt that form, you know, that loss. You know, we knew that we had to rebound like we did. I can't say enough like how much he means to me. He's a man. 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 it as a family, it's about love. And we knew we had to execute and we did that tonight. How happy are you for a coach today? You know, and how close you are, you were his first to meet. It's a very new building, I hope you get it. Yeah, I mean, it's a dream come true. Like I said, I mean, God is so great. And during that, it took us down.

1:05:32And it took coach day on. This family on, I mean, and then I'll be curious, like we did at night. I mean, it means everything to us. And to see you have the success, you know, it makes me so happy. I know, I saw the smile on his wife on her face. And it's up to she ever do it. It's gonna be an excellent one this time. And that guy in front of his hero, it's terrible. And to come out tonight, and win this game for them, it's awesome. Check, he dropped a new cup of beer on it. When the championship put bust, all that instantations would this team at own point get better at things that the world is? You know, we knew what the expectations were going to the season. You know, we knew that we're at Ohio State. And the top of hand every year, as if you're not competing 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. And you just did. And we'll see, 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 there's an opportunity in it. And we did that just tonight. Check, he dropped a new name in the night before the championship.

1:06:34When did you sense that? Well, look, we never know today was gonna fight to the end. And it didn't just say. You know, during the season, it was during the season you felt that you didn't think of. 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 swinging coach. They always say, you gotta fight your way out of bad times and life. And as a player, as a coach, as a family, really for him, you know, he's gotta fight himself out of bad times. And he did just that, made the adjustments, made the change that had to get made. And that was championed. So, like I said, got us so good. And the journey brought us on was amazing. Jack, I believe that was the last week to send your debug guy, obviously, group him, pick her, and send him. When did you allow yourself to think about what this moment would be like and what it wouldn't 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. And I'm just so happy to be able to celebrate this with the Scroogeys. It's not about me at all. It's about this team and coach Day and the city of Columbus has been waiting for this for a long time for 10 years.

1:07:34And I'm just so happy for this group of guys and the stuff that we went through and heard. And to keep getting up and keep trying to practice and going as hard as we can. And I'm approaching with a positive attitude and trusting that 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 were able to finish the job and get it done. You're taking this. Jack, now that it's gone. Please, on the stage at one point, what were your thoughts on the track there, Jack? Is it good to kind of drop your knees at one point and we're giving a sense of that. We're giving some kind of thanks or whatever. But what was going on there? Yeah, I was just thinking God. I was 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, we 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 just wondering what you guys are doing. We're doing the job and we can November. So here we are in national champs.

1:08:35I feel it's great to say. Who brought those regards? Who brought those regards? Who brought those regards? Who brought those regards? 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 Corps, yes, they can cover. But, you know, when it's time to stop the round, they'll come down 12 yards out. However far off the front line, the script 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, then, you know, it falls, you know, the back end. So we off to work as a collective unit.

1:09:36And I think there's a reason that there's 11 of us out there. And, you know, it's crazy. If one person doesn't do 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 up. We have each other's backs and just trust one another. And, man, I think that performance is going to be off the charts. Over the right. Kelly and Stitz. WSYF. 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 right and high before that game, and we took that loss. And we came back how to make a couple changes. But I think we understand what, you know, everything's that stick right now. You know, just fighting to where another house, stage jersey for the next game. 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. Right behind your Adam King, WBNH.

1:10:36What do you remember most about walking off the field in Eugene? What was kind of going on in your mind 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. I understand it. 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 of display or hold accountability for one another. And, you know, as that happened, we came back, we grouped, 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.

1:11:37That's our old rope, Letterman Drow. Jay, what did you see in from Kenya? The last couple of weeks, was there like a push from him? And there were many conversations with him. We can see him like he's playing since he doesn't want to see it. Yeah, I mean, that's my boy. He's in the R2X club, too. But, you know, Keata, I mean, every time his number's called, he goes out there and makes the most of it. No matter where we are 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, we're been on it. It's a bonus this back. Bill and Gabriel are obviously very elusive and are talented. 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 being disciplined. No one who you're playing against, like you said, he's sharply very elusive. I mean, he can, he is making throws. I mean, he get out the pike, he can do everything. So I think for us, we just have to discipline and just continue to just meet with Coach Jay.

1:12:41We'll coach Jay, we'll coach nose and understand how we can just eliminate that. One question about you and Jack. I mean, your personality has seemed to be a little different. You're more on the quiet side. He's not. Yeah. How about you play together four years, both five store guys, kind of describe your relationship with him, friendship with him? Yeah. 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, I'm quiet, but once we're on that field, we're like the same person. We'll do anything for this team. We'll die for our players and we'll give everything we got. Room together for four years, correct? Yeah, fall camps. Every room. Yeah, sometimes go over there. It's the go over there. So yeah. There's the neat one who's the messing one. We have our share of days when we, when I'm neat, he's neat. Or, you know, we might both be messy, but we do a good job. Yeah. Ah, I'd probably say I'm a better coach, Jack though.

1:13:41Tony Gertman, like I've heard. When you're playing a team for the second time, and that was almost a season to go by now, how much of... Are you at square one with 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 preconceived notions of what you're going up against offense on the offense 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 were 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.

1:14:57Here, you have the question one more time. Yeah, no problem. I want to ask you about the synergy you are able to develop over the course of the season, obviously celebrating the triumphs, but also getting through the adversity 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, it comes down to the common talk, which is... there's always learning points everywhere. Depending on how we dissect 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. And one final question. Joey Coffin, Columbus Dispatch. 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?

1:16:10Yeah, I think it was more just understanding the defense as a whole, understanding everybody's job. The thing is, 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 in the linebacker crew 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 linebackers know what they're doing. And 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, you know, if they're listening how they can get to the quarterback and if I'm dropping, playing quarterbacks by I can ask Cody on how to open field tackle. So, you know, we just kind of lean on each other's understanding because, you know, like I said, like Denzel knows how to play corner bend at it and I know how to play corner. So, you know, he has more wisdom at that position than I do. Thank you very much. I, you. Thanks, man. Well, we're away kind of panic starts to set in.

1:17:12What do you guys as players need to do to combat that? Yeah, I think it's just not getting too high and not getting too low, you know, saying 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, 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. But then the day we got to put him in zone and we're not doing that, we're not doing our job. So, how do you guys create more explosive plays as an offense? Right, I think you stick with it. You 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. Coach Sins has been here for high sand loads 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?

1:18:12Yeah, 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 the way Jason Simmons was calling the game on Saturday. It seemed 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. In the past game or the run game, we just got to step up and do our job at a high level and whatever you asked from us, we just got to do it at a high level and let the offense go. You're some of the leaders on the offense. Some of the leaders, I would 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.

1:19:16I think we have Hudson's a good leader too as well. Obviously it'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 would 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. We're really excited about him and what you can do on the field so it'd be great. But I mean here, the guys were really close knit. We're all pushing each other trying to be the best. What stood out about this interview? Really just like how the knowledge that they have, it's 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 that it's how they need to be. To be the case for you, it really is.

1:20:17How would you say that you have that chemistry? The connection and the chemistry is incredibly important because I mean these are people who are playing with them. They work with Thomas with them. You're going to see them every day so we have to at least live along with them understand where their mind is especially in the day. You played both right and right. What do you do most of the stuff left? One year there at Rice and I just find that to me. I mean I saw a play right and then by my junior, the moment I saw it, as far as senior, moving to left. And I mean it was a pretty serious process to me. The coach is a rice because they have some really great and helping me with the position. I really thought it's significant with his challenge. You're just driving unless that was surprising to you in terms of what I saw. I'm completely upset. I'm shocked that you were too in a hurry with a second off making changes. Did you consider turning for a... Yeah I mean I was on my mind back at the same time. I also realized I wanted to continue to develop and continue to be great.

1:21:21Which is why I wanted to find a good school where I can have a good o-line coach as in helping me understand what I mean. I've always known so I thought getting better and improving things that were big discrepancies in my game. Did you... Obviously we've been doing some dark and jacks and Josh Rire. A lot of guys back in the national championship took the right view and the whole Daniels and just... Do you think about the depth of your life? I mean it's an amazing thing. I mean we're all pushing to be great. You know I'm just competitive. Which is I mean that's the best place to get better. Did you seek out Ohio State or did you seek you out or was it kind of a challenge? No I almost ever seek out a Ohio State. You did? Yeah. How did you know you had a shot that even come here? You know what I mean Ethan? How does that work in the portal? Honestly I really didn't know it was just kind of a whole thing. I mean I put a lot of prayer to it. I'm going to talk with my family and talk to my agent. My whole o-line coach is a rice aunt. They're really helping through the process. I mean without them I don't know whether I'll be here right now.

1:22:23Yeah but by the grace of God I ended up here in the grace of God. Obviously Justin Fry was the coach when you came here. What was that kind of transition like of him leaving in a time of going coming in? I feel pretty seamless. I mean both of them are incredibly coached. They both know what 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 as usual. What are the biggest things you like about playing for coach following so far? He's a really good communicator. We meet a lot and he's really good at just kind of like putting out the fine details. How do you compare your game to them? When it comes to different skills and everything. Just how do I find to it during practice and everything? Well the heat is fine. Two more questions. I'm trying to live by being the hardest working person. I mean that's what I want to do. I want to spend the most time watching films. I want to spend the most time after practicing games and actually working on my edge. I feel like that's how I would describe myself. What do you try to do?

1:23:23Well I can always be better at a lot of things. But just really like for working on the thing. I think that's the best thing to do. I think that's the best thing to do. I think that's the best thing to do. I think that's the best thing to do. A lot of things. Just really like for working on the thing. That's the biggest thing to do. That's the biggest thing to do. That's the biggest thing to do. What could bonus really help you? If you talk about us dropping that weight. Is that an adjustment thing that that weight prepared for you? I feel better. You feel better? So you didn't lose any strength? Did you know you got to lose better? Yeah, I knew and then you were talking to the dietitians and everything. How's your diet change? Well I focus a lot more on getting the right macros into my meals. That was really the biggest thing. I mean the biggest thing about this and what it's dieting is.

1:24:25It's like a lot more protein that's carbs, stuff like that. That's your base. That's everything. Thank you. All right, y'all, good day. They're helping me with just simple stuff. If I didn't know where to go, get something down. They'll tell me or they just like hang them out with them. Get them closer. Just a lot of different small things that got brought us closer to like last year. 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 they would teach us how we do that. Anybody can be a leader no matter what year, first year, so I'm going through your senior. Or even if we're walking, everybody can be a leader. I think it's a great thing to hit you last year that this technique, this thing can work for me. You know what I mean? You have to grow into it. I had to grow it a little bit. It's very new.

1:25:25Especially playing D in my own life. I'm going through all the whole process. When did it really strike you that I could be a factor? What game or, you know, how do we do to feel comfortable on this or anything else? I would say closer to us to playoffs. Me and Taelik a lot. I felt comfortable. I actually do this because he showed me some stress I have. See him? You can do this. That really helped me get the confidence in what I can. Yeah, but then you became a factor. You became a factor especially. You became a player of playoffs. What did it mean to you to be a factor that hurt you? All the world, first of all, to keep me healthy. But it's been a lot that Coach J, trusted me enough to go on in the big games like that. And I'm new to now being able to produce. What about your skillset? You think? Good so far. Definitely speed and strength. It was my made-to. I really wanted to be a player. I really wanted to be a player.

1:26:25I really wanted to be a player. I really wanted to be a player. So what changes in the moment? And to be a participant, realizing your body is taking you there. What is the moment for you to do? What character are you going to take about this moment? Definitely. My main 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. And I was willing to move this hand through it. It's the competition. Jason and Will and Timewan. Katie, just hold them. Efforts and tactics. It's a fantastic deal. It's very competitive. We all come in trying to see where we need to get better. Just to keep moving forward. So it's pretty good competition. And I love them. And Drake, you made the move like during the bi-week last year, is 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.

1:27:27And I wanted to help out the team. And we had some really great years last year. Let's learn. JT Jack came and carried to the team. So it was pretty good, and then moving the three teams, I also asked them down there. While still getting the chance when I got there. Did you feel like you, like, just needed to get down quickly. Like did you feel like 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 something. Did you still get asked about being a leader in the three pressure? Now I was in the room with you. You played as a freshman. So it takes a little pressure. So you see from John Wayne's names, guys. I think they could get the name of the team. And they continue to work hard every day. Even if they don't get it the first time, they don't ask us, what are they doing this situation to help me out? So the ability to keep trying to learn from people that's playing in their big stage. That's the way it really gonna keep them going.

1:28:28Were you surprised how quickly things did start to click? For you guys to see, given you said they were going to be patient with you. But by the time you get to the playoffs, you're playing like that. Was that the surprise I'm quickly interested in trying to happen? Not really. I knew once I got it, Jose was going to trust me a lot more than two going out there each and every time. So I appreciate them. Like I said earlier, thank you Lord. And thank you guys. All right. Thank you. Comment in here playing immediately. Does that inspire you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman? I mean definitely. Just what he did last year is a true freshman. Him being able to play an impact team like that. Obviously I want that for myself. I'm going to push myself to that limit. You know, try to be on the field. You're one that's my plan. That's the biggest reason I came here. Because I have an opportunity to play year one. So me having that opportunity is good. And you know, I'm going to always 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. What do you feel like it's going to take for you to get from the bottom to the bottom?

1:29:30You 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 going to give me on the field. And you know, I do what I'm supposed to do. That's going to give me on the field. How do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one? What is season comes around? How do you manage people basically? 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. So he's going to be a three-year start. I got to main person, all American, you know, he's going to play this year too. So I can't let what people say on the net 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 and, you know, work and, you know, earn that spot. What's the most important thing you've learned so far in three months here? Compete and everyday. That's the biggest thing. Having to compete, you know, these guys appear. They take winning and losing to heart.

1:30:31So, you know, my first week up here when we did our competition, you know, I was winning. Then I actually, I got that first loss on my belt and, you know, it kind of opened my eyes 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 CFP, Ron. What did you learn from JustBose? Do you see this team make that run? You know, being real tight with your brothers. 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. They're close with each other. They're not letting nobody slack off. And, you know, I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now. How do you handle Luke? You handle that first lock? That first lock, you know, it kind of got to me.

1:31:31It 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 used 17, 16 years old. And if you lose, you lose. Up here, it's not. If you lose, the coach will see that. So, and they're going to see how you respond to it. So, I feel like I had to, you know, open my eyes, I had to go in there 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 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 after competing for anything that you want. And I feel like if you can go after a compete for, you know, it's yours. And if you compete for it all the time, who's going to take it from me? 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 who's going to get it. There's some role-makers in your room, obviously. Are you a talker? What would your natural resources be?

1:32:31Yeah, 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 going to 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 P.B.U. as the I'm a talker. But, you know, being in that room, you kind of got to talk. You know, Jermaine, you got IGB, you know, those real talkers in that room. So, it kind of makes you want to bring it out. And, you know, when you bring that out, 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 a competition in that? 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. And then they kind of threw us in there and fired against the other guys. So, we had to, you know, we had to wake up and, you know, we all kind of lost. And it all kind of like, we all kind of came together as a freshman group, like, what are we going

1:33:34to do about this? Because, you know, they're kind of nice to step up in those roles. Yeah, kind of, you're welcome to call it. Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely, my welcome college moments, you know. You know, just showing that, you know, it's real now, a middle-high old state. I'm not in Houston, Texas, I'm 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? 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. It's like, you know, we're a real college program. We live just like these guys who do the same, this. You know, the level of ball I play, the highest level ball in Texas, 6A. You know, we're going against guys like Dunkin' Bill, North Crowley, those top schools, you know, receiving the coin where I go against them. 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,

1:34:35okay, this is not where it's a little school where 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 Oregon. So, I mean, it's just, it's just, it's just, 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'll see him in the big team championships. So, you know, I want, I want, I want that rematch, you know. DeVa, you committed super early in the process six months after that. You shut things down when, quite frankly, some of your caliber didn't have to do that.

1:35:35You 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 all, it goes day, you know, then making it, you know, making me feel important up here. And then, you know, like you could ask, because what, how many times I came up here? Do I, my high school career? I came for 13 times. So, it got to the point where I was knowing the guys on the team. I had the numbers just like that. When I come up here, you know, I don't got to always build the coaches. I can go chill with some of the guys on the team. So, it's 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, I'm handling the business and not having to worry about me. When she goes to sleep. Her concussions and also back then is like, if you got a concussion, they were sending you right back into the game.

1:36:36So, 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. Did you have any recommended to you? Say it again. Did you have a new, how much recommended by the trainer or the medical staff? Oh, no, I just wanted to get into a new, how many, 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 how in question 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 the heal and 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 and heal, but I think like before,

1:37:36what guys were getting trouble with the long time ago, it's like they get a concussion, not fully healed and they go right back out there and playing. Densel, a captain see a side or maybe part of it. Could 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 way 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 how to get going? Yeah, definitely. They came down with me to when I was, I had, like when the team was here doing meetings, I was driving up to a Pittsburgh meeting with the concussion specialist and everything and they were with me and just easing their mind. That's the biggest thing, easing their mind. They're all, they're worried and everything but they'll be okay. Can we start the play with Elijah Moore?

1:38:37Say it again. We saw the play at practice. Did you think it could be up 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. I learned playing regular season games. So I mean, I was just really good at the time that he was, it wasn't any rush. You both already had, and still had a helmet to helmet. From your perspective, it has to be an expert. But are those doing what they're intended to do? You know, you have to take, learn it when he got to, you know, on stand. Like guys are still getting concussions and getting their wearing. Yeah, it's definitely still a physical sport. So I mean, concussion happened regardless. I know if you were in a Guardian cap or not. I think it could be looked at too. I know and just talked about it on the Guardian cap. I don't think in the back that it's much padding is, is I would like, but I feel it could be looked at.

1:39:39But I think you get a concussion whether you were in a Guardian cap or not. I mean, stuff happens. This is a physical game. Sorry. Just to clarify this, you said you're going to get any helmet. Also, wear the Guardian cap during the game? I'm not going to. You feel that about this game helmet. Yeah. Yeah. What's your name name in the brand of helmet? Like any details you have? Oh, I'm not sure the brand of name yet. I have to get it from those guys inside. But you guys will definitely be seeing this soon though. And how do you feel about not playing in a precinct game? You have to say you're a career where it's not a big deal. I want to say it's not a big deal, but I don't feel any pressure any like, I just needed to play in a precinct game. I feel that's a great opportunity for the younger guys to get out there and showcase what they're able to do. Well, I still been practicing and playing and working out and getting ready for the season. So, I know the game. I'm looking forward to that first game. And I'm not really concerned about not being able to get a snap of the precinct. I think of how MJ did feeling that he'd be particularly during the joint practice against Jefferson.

1:40:40Yeah. MJ is the number one corner. I mean, you guys see it. He's going to be big for this year. And I think that's what's special about this team. We got three number one corners myself, MJ and Greg. I feel we all are number one and we able to do different things out there on the field. And one guy is out and another guy can step in and not lose track or not lose pace on what we got going on. How do you get MJ out and grow as a leader in the coming of the year three and he's trying to pick on this world as a guy that's bringing energy and also trying to bring the ball on? Yeah, definitely. Like you said, bring it in. That's exactly bringing energy, bringing guys along. MJ is real vocal out there and he competes as he's in competitor out there and just working hard and trying to be the best. He got the mindset of wanting to be the best and he is. So, we just go out there and compete with one another. We're happy to see CD Lam get his contract signed and be ready to go out there and play this game so you can face the belt. No, I'm definitely happy for him. That's life changing. I'm definitely happy for him and looking forward to having that match up in the game.

1:41:42I always love going against the number one guys and best guys on that team. So, I'll be looking forward to it. It ends up, we've got 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 a discussion could you contemplate retiring? For that, ever go through your mind or do you immediately know that you're going to come back? Yeah, like I said, this is a game I love. I love playing this game, being with the guys out here. I really don't see myself doing too much other stuff. 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. But I answer your question now. I haven't seen myself walking away though. Are you actually out of protocol now? Yes. Hey, did you know, Greg Culld Miles hardened the steal the drafts?

1:42:43What did you see? Say it again. Sorry, Greg Culld Miles hardened the steal the drafts. What have you seen from him over camp and what kind of excites you by hand? Yeah, Miles, he's been balling. He's been showing how 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 congratulated him and he's going to be a big piece on our team. Like coming going forward. Do some off another rookie you mentioned making the receivers better. Where have you seen? How have you made Jamari talked about how you've helped him as a rookie? What have you seen out of him in his development? Yeah, he's been looking good since he came in. I think he's been getting better and better. 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 where offense. What sort of tip do you give receivers? How can you help a receiver? Yeah, I mean, it's a constant communication. If I were to win on a red, they may come and ask me what it is that you've seen on that play. That you're able to get in position and I'll tell them that.

1:43:45I may ask them a question. So, it's just that constant communication on how we can get each other better. I appreciate it. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you. Glad to be back. I just... You're so tired of getting away by the way that I'm going. So, that's why I'm going to go with this. I'm fast, you think it's moving inside when you get all that trouble. And then how much can you worry about it when you need it to run you out? Not for the call. You've got to move pretty fast, but sometimes you get the slow and ahead of the tempo, which you need to do. So, you really gotta know what you're doing and you're getting to know how to play it. Did you try to part down? I was not more space to work with. I said, what's your big biggest adjustment? You've got an off national championship, what was that?

1:44:47It was a different dream. I was learning to play with all the players. I learned to play with my arms to do. And just passing those, getting that down time that we did hasn't even worked. It's an awkward movement, but we did it down time for the time to do it. I would be able to feel like this is what practice has helped you get rest. And all the areas that that specifically are part of the learning. I feel like I have a big improvement from going against BIA, coach Hard and coach Jordan, getting better, all the other guys helping me out. So, I feel like it's the best to get better. We've heard Coach Jordan made a lot of quite a big, obviously, coach Hard and Life has been a bit different all this year. What kind of impact has he had for you and the babies in the other world? What's the disadvantage? Coach Hard is my new home. Coach Jordan stepped up and he helped us out. Everything we did was a big help. And I just made sure we stand on top of my stuff. What were you talking about? What did you think of a big role in the slide?

1:45:47How much do you watch the LLF every day trying to take things? Whether it's preparation, stuffy those on the field, just learning from a LLF? Every time I watch them, I want to tell them. So, I have to take some of this game, I had it to mind, and I'm bright and large as to it. I take some of this, all the receivers. Yeah, they always help me out on the dynamic of those. What's it like walking into this room to the sympathy that we had for our stay with all the history of the New Yorker's smile? You know what it means to be a part of the survival. What's that? It's a big step. It definitely holds a lot in the shoulders. You gotta take it 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, I'm sure. That's why you come here. What kind of advice you got from some of the workers that I've already had, even before Spring Ball started to talk to the Mecca, some of those guys just dropped? I try not to take everything personally.

1:46:50I'll say, you know, time will come, we'll make a comment, I'll make that play. I'll be looking forward to it every day. I have some Daniel playbook because that's going to get you to find your life and find it in the game. It liked it. Yeah, it liked it. As you got pregnant, you was a guy who I've been waiting for the last two years to make a difference out of you. How much is patient to require me to obviously get off the field? How much is patient to afford to buy? Not everybody has the same amount. Some people always have a little term, but you just have a little, like I said, a little time. You just have to make that play. It's going to go on from here. I think it went pretty well outside of football because I mean we're together in Baltimore for years. But 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. That was a tough one.

1:47:50I like that one. You're pretty outgoing. Is he the same or is he the same? What would you say about Gus? I would say it's difficult to be more outgoing. You think about going? Yeah, you come in and you smile. Is it a bad day? No, not at all. You guys kind of seem opposite. There's good personality. Gus seems very, like you seem very bubbly and talkative, or Gus seems very like, you know what I'm saying? I think I said we're trying to kind of get it. Like, how does this work? Oh, dude. Opposite a track. Look, look. Hey, look. Gus could be outgoing sometimes.

1:48:51He could be outgoing sometimes. But I mean, I just, I don't know. Maybe, God just gave me a gift of, you know, be a light, you know? Maybe. You know what I'm saying? Because even through like hard times, I'm still smiling, though. 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. That's the only time, like, one of the only time you will see me. The origin was it to see the offensive line blocking and seeing those holes open up and kind of imagining how you could fit in with that scheme.

1:49:51You 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. It's never going to be like, sometimes it is. You know, really, 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. And that's what you're going to be like. Damn. This is different, you know, so I think that's what it is.

1:50:51And I love seeing it. I love seeing it because all those guys are my guys. Even the years you were healthy, did you ever not play in a preseason before, like this, just getting up going in the 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. Nightmare, man, that was a nightmare. But maybe a better man, you know, so I appreciate that moment too. I can look back on it 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, with the balls compared to cows. Like cows run away from the storm, balls run to the storm to get through it faster.

1:51:53You know what I'm saying, have you ever heard of this story? So, yeah. My name is ElToro. You know what I'm saying? So, if it's me, like, they made it in Baltimore and like, I'm running through that storm. Let's get this over with, because I know I'm gonna get through it. You know what I'm saying? So, I mean, whenever, since 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 like that's pretty cool to know And then my name so happened to be from Baltimore, El Toro. So I Don't know man some things I know be stacking up 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 I What

1:52:57Look look look I'm open look me in this nice looking young lady right here We were talking about how we like just learning I love to you know be a learned people's cultures You know learn about people like you I would love to learn about you. What makes you you? Right We could I bet you we can get it out in 15 seconds. Where are you from? Where are you from? Mostly with that me Okay, so you look You know you a tough guy you you a tough guy, but you got a soft spot in you because you been living out here You got it, man, you got it a good a good mental thing, you know, having to give myself ready Go against guys that are you know 2020 when you're old, you know being 18. You know that they don't care about that up here

1:54:01So you know it's it's developing yourself to have a great mindset early You know having that grown man mindset at 18 years old It's really important because like a period. I don't really care about feelings So it's about you know just coming up here. You know being a man that you think you are You know having to go out there and you know prove it David what's been the easiest thing and the most difficult thing about your transition? You're so far the easiest thing I would say I mean it's really not that easy about this You know coming to a top program like this, you know, especially coming off an international championship It's really not easy. You know they're pushing for the same thing and 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 So I mean coming up here where you started the bottom again So I mean I told my parents is all the time like you know I think my history is repeating itself because when I went into high school the high school I went to her a powerhouse So I was at the bottom there and had to work my way up and I feel like that's just repeating so here

1:55:03And 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 no just going to get these guys they're competing every day You're not gonna get a day off where you know, she was just coming out here just just be essence So I mean you got to be a piece of cute all the time when you see what a guy like Sorry When you see what a guy like JJ did last year coming in here playing immediately is that inspired you to want to be able to do the same thing as a freshman I mean definitely you know Just just what he did last year 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 your one So me having that opportunity is good and you know, I'm gonna I'm always gonna come out here and compete Like I said, I'm putting myself at the bottom. So I'm working. I'm gonna work every day like I'm at the bottom And I gotta get to the top. How what what do you feel like it's gonna take for you to get from the bottom to the bottom? You know just just discipline They're big on discipline here, and you know

1:56:05Competitive excellent. So is this staying consistent every day? Just doing the rights Having little to none mental errors That's gonna give me on the field and you know, I do I do what I'm supposed to do that's that's gonna give me on the field How do you manage those expectations for people to think that you should be playing week one? What season is around? How do you manage people? You know, I don't really let it get to my head because you know, I'm here You know, I got do's in a room that are you know like I did you know He's in a big three-year start. I got your main personal American, you know He's gonna play this year too So I can't let what people say on the net, you know get to me because no anybody can say oh, he's gonna play this year But you know, I should got to prove it. So I just got to come out here, you know work, you know I don't know spot. What's the most important? compete and every day That's that's the biggest thing Having to compete, you know, these guys are pretty they take winning and losing to heart So no my first my first week up here when we did our competition, you know

1:57:06I was winning did I actually I got that first loss on my belt and you know It kind of opened my eyes like these guys take it hard when they lose they don't like it So you know, I kind of got that now where I don't like losing So you had you had the opportunity to be around the team for that, you know CFP Ron What did you learn from just those few 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 already got each other back So I mean it's a new team now, so you know, we got to build that chemistry with each other You know just just get tight and I feel like when I was there for that player running and I practice When they were at the national championship, you know, I just got to watch you know how guys are you know real locked in They're close with each other They're not letting nobody slack off and you know, I feel like we had the opportunity to do that with this team now How did you handle it? 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 here So after that loss, I was like now I can't let this happen

1:58:08Because it's like now it's not high school where you used 17 16 years old and if you lose you lose appearance Not if you lose the coaches see that so and they gonna see how you respond to it So I feel like I had to you know open my eyes had to go and then lock them like yeah I can't let this happen where 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 in my blood You know my parents taught me that in a young age, you know going out there competing for anything that you want And I feel like if you can go out there to compete for you know as yours and if you compete for it all the time Who don't take it from me? So I mean I'm a good competitor. I'm always gonna go out there try to take what's mine if it's out there That mean anybody can have it. I'm gonna be the one to get it There's some role markers in your room obviously. Are you a talker? What would your naturalist be? Yeah, I mean it could come out on you know, but I don't really I'm gonna get my game through the talking For this part, but you know if it gets there it gets to that point

1:59:12Yeah, I can bring it out because you know regardless. I'm not just gonna let nobody just come out here Just you know catch balls on me. So if I'm having a good day when I'm consistently doing TVU Yeah, I'm gonna talk but you know being in that room you kind of got to talk, you know Jameh you got IGB, you know those those real talkers in that room So it kind of it kind of makes you want to bring it out and you know when you bring that out that just brings energy out of the whole defense And when you got the whole defense clicking I mean you can see you can see what happened Is there anyone that's kind of a competition you have? It was during the winter we were doing you know just stuff on the field We was just just having the time of the field just a lot of competitions. So I mean he just kind of It was a day where you know they had us going up against just a freshman and then they kind of threw us in there in the fire Against the other 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 together as a freshman group like what are we gonna do about this because You know some of their kind of nice to just step up in those roads Yeah, definitely definitely definitely my work on college moments, you know, you know just just showing that you know

2:00:15It's real now a metal high up state. I'm not in Houston, Texas and more in my school Far from my family, you know, I got to wake up. I got a grow. I got a mature fast and you know I just got to get ready for next level. You've mentioned high school a couple times How did you know grow it out there in Texas playing at that level? How do you feel like that help you prepare for Ohio State? 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 this You know the level of ball I played the highest level ball in Texas 6A You know we're going against guys like donkibil no crowded those those top schools You know receive a decoy and more I go against them. I want to get some three times in my career So I mean those those that really prepared me for this level You know coming in like okay, this is not where It's a little school where they don't believe that I can come here and make impact I came from big schools so they're they're counting me to make impact because you guys are challenging me

2:01:16It's bad positive. It is a positive. It's a super project Just going this enjoy my That's gonna make Saturday super in There you guys feel like Is that kind of mindset that you take an everyday practice like 98 out of 100 receivers That's what that kind of is to keep that in the back of your head and we want to get Jeremiah and carnell and Brandon and Yes, that's my mind select and practice the old day. I want those boys to get me and everything that they have so I In the Saturdays it's gonna be easy for me and I'll be prepared What have you seen the grocery Obviously we saw that it's not a Jeremiah last year They're your main sorry, but Calvin and some of the errands Scott has got a completely better from his brain Like completely better

2:02:18I'm just getting used to the speed of college. I would say I'm Kevin has gotten a lot better like I would say that he's got a lot smarter He's got Calvin's intelligence, you know, you know, where he's grown Where specifically is it the film room is it picking up you know the playbook? Where have you seen that? I would say Calvin has gotten smarter just like His game knowledge like expecting like a different kind of routes and stuff like that I would say In the spring I started to get a lot more comfortable in our defense Yes, very with the Jeremiah name. I'm sorry for asking What is like going up against him do you seems like you joy? Yeah, I love it. He's He's tough. I like going against a lot of you You're just from that for example those those 101 matchups

2:03:22This preseason or whatever you know how belly who this guy is so Jeremiah He forces me to pay the back of if you don't pay the belly against him here go get it. Yeah, yeah And you and you Dave's in there How would you describe this defense now compared to this time a year ago from this standpoint of a confidence factor? You don't mean that you guys feel on the field. How would you describe it? Different about it. I guess I feel like everybody's a lot more smart at this area Everybody's like I would just say that we're going just just just just smarter Yeah, but you know when you when you look up in late and ransom decided to come back and Caleb down transferred in What did you feel about that? They did just grow stronger in that one week span two weeks man. You're still on upset I feel like those guys have played at that level those guys have played at yeah, I would say that like Downs coming in May say he was coming back. Zell say he was coming back. It's still like

2:04:31Well, 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 later Man, I try to prepare like him. I like that from he prepared when he prepared here intentional So that's definitely something I try to do like him better like you said I'm leaving so but when it comes up preparing and being intentional with studying and how I prepare for practice Now Cody lead Different I'll just be in pinch like I can't do it haha and lie and then get a film room and it's obviously lying there.

2:05:32So it's a good idea to lie there. Now how much, what is it that you don't know something about? I can't believe the last time that happened. So that's a good thing. I do. Those big shades to fill the county down from a leadership standpoint. It's important. What is he taking out the door with it? You know, maybe our mail. Somebody's got a fill in that slot. I think it's definitely some big shade to fill this county with a great player, great leader. He's like with a quarterback and a defense. It's definitely some big shade to fill. Yeah. And like, Coach Lauren, I said that you got to be who you are. Yeah. Who that guy was, right? Yeah. Who that guy was, right? Yeah. Definitely that's what you're saying. When did you feel like you've lost him last year? Or they could truly count on you and stuff? I mean, you remember how he came along? I think it started in like fall camp just flashing. I'm saying here, got to like the first games, weren't around. Salah and Salah. I'm sorry. I don't know what it was like when I could concentrate.

2:06:33I'm just being great. I like him. I like his personality. I like him all feeling. That's not important. Yeah. And the life backwards, what is there going to be any differences in responsibility or use in this system? Or is it going to be in his own way or is it kind of safe? 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? Think CJ Hicks. You said what he can do in his defense? Or just what he can do in this season. What he can do in this season? I think CJ will pop up this season for sure. I 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 America? To me, it's no difference. They both coach you and they both like they hard on you, but they want you to be great. So I'm thinking of a difference. We're talking about how you're looking at what you guys do during fitting in.

2:07:34Do you think Judith you want to talk to your friends about? No, I don't think so. What's the result of the approach you know about the sun? You know on a lot of the layer of sun. I think Sonny is a great leader. First before any game Sonny is a great leader. I feel like he's like the voice. He can be thinking something Sonny just can't worry about for the whole team to understand. So Sonny definitely a great leader before any game. You know what I'm saying? I'm not just a leader, not just a boy, but I'm just a person. I think people are the people. I'm sorry. How does that show itself? Is it an absolute low point? You know? In the performance. I'm sorry. Is there something that you need to talk about? On to my own field or when it's leadership? Whatever. But like I said, he's just a great leader. Like you, you're 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 own.

2:08:35And like they're not on their stuff. So Sonny one of those guys who he's on his stuff. So when he lead everybody listen. Because obviously it's been long training of linebackers success or a higher stage. Say it again. I've been a long spring of linebackers success. I don't hire a state. I need to look at, you know, guy like Sonny taking that next step this year. How motivated are you going to be part of that lineage? Be one of the great linebackers to play the higher stage? I'm ready for it. I mean, that's what I'm hopeful. And beat every day too. And he's learning from those, you know, from 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 the rep work? What happened? And how do I make sure I don't repeat the same mistake? And so whether he's coming in and watching the tape on his own and then coming 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.

2:09:42Luke, a leaner guy. Did you tell him that? He paid you to say that? He did not pay me to say that. That might be the first time he ever heard that in his life. No. No. No. You know, like Luke Carson, whoever maybe that jump of 18 to 19 to 19 to 20 year old kid, that plays a lot into it too. Being in a full year with Mick, I mean, all those guys, you coming at mid, you're like your Devo and Dion and Ian more right now. You're keeping your head above water. That's your whole first year. Now you can actually get and we can sit. So when you sit and talk about a jam combo or a lock or whatever the call may be to Luke, he registers that. And I like something new because then there's paralysis by analysis. So I think the middle part on top of another year, natural maturity of getting bigger and stronger. That's always going to help you're not going to guys here.

2:10:43They're not going to regress. It's going to keep adding progress and how fast can we get that going? It's what we're working on every day with him. But Josh said that he would have been all guard to this point. And Coach Day is mentioning this several times that Josh could play guard too. And you guys are trying to work through that. 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 back finding and experimentation. How much do you want to put them in different spots or not? Because you also have an eye on August to try and settle on five-man rotation. What's the balance of that for you? You have to get a really good, great,able set so that everybody has numbers of, 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 look at and grade that. So as we, you know, work guys around the platoons and go just to make sure that everybody gets good gradeable reps.

2:11:44So we can sit back by the end of spring and say, all right, this is your compared 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 go into the spring. When you got here a couple years ago, because I was told you, you're from now, Chip Kelly is going to be here as an offensive coordinator for what you said. I laughed. You know, but then I said, you know, it's college football. So who knows, right? What's up in like, I'm sure you're enjoying it. What's up in like, yeah, I mean, he just added to another piece of just good people here. I mean, you still, you're coming to work here with guys every day, you know, but the kids we talk about a ton, but then for us as coaches as staff. So adding just another good dude that's in the room. Obviously, as he says something and, you know, he might speak in old terms or terms that we had, you know, maybe be a little bit of a rosetta. He's 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, some time with Ryan's like, you know, what do we call this because he was in a system like that before.

2:12:45And he's, oh, this is this now. So I think just the, you know, translation of a rosetta stone there help, but just overall standpoint of adding a great guy. That's a great coach that's been around. That's 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 could bring that to my meeting room. Maybe I can bring that to communication to the staff or to the kids or whatever it is. Because he's, he's done it for a long time and he's done a high level for a long time. So it's good to add that guy to us and then continue as us to rest the staff for me and Brian and Key and everybody just learning and growing with that. What does he bring specifically just, I mean, does he from a talent standpoint? Does he see things sometimes if others don't see? I mean, what does he kind of bring from the chalkboard aspect? Well, I mean, what you're saying. So what does he see? It's good to have fresh eyes come in that maybe you're getting a routine and you're getting a rhythm and all of a sudden.

2:13:45You look for certain aspects of like the running game, the kicks like that. 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, I believe he coached every position on the field both sides of the ball. He's a coach that's his whole career. So as he looks up and he writes when he's talking about, well, this will linebacker is going to do that. Then he might have coached that at Columbia, right? Or this is what the three techs going to read on a 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, you know, the next step and not just being ready to know. Yeah, he's competing his butt off.

2:14:46He's kind of living that way. You know, that's why we have the red line over there. When you cross the line, you know, coach, they talk about that here, like the, 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 that your skin color, your socioeconomic background, where you've come from. If you just want to do it the right way in the 53 and a third, the game will love you back. You know, so I think it's the approach mentally that guys take that way. So yeah, for Tegrit, he's, he's taken that approach. Like he wants to come in and be a guy. So he's fighting and clawing and scratching every day. So when he makes a mistake, he's trying to correct it when he does it well. He's trying to enhance it. And that's what competitive people do. And that's what he showed up to do. So that's good that he said that. Or so what's his coming in on the field been like as a center? And is that difficult when you're coming into a new offensive line to have that, or is

2:15:48there something innate 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 the field over with any offensive line. So I should say it over and start over again. You're saying the comfort of center with who now? Seth. Okay. Yeah, I'm saying like how has 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, it's a on command. It's just great communication getting everybody on the same page. Yes, having a bunch of banked reps helps. But then when you do come into a new offense, just like we talked, you know, chip a little bit earlier, you know, he might have called it yellow and we call it green or something. I don't just make it stuff up, but the transition of that in your head to get going with that. But yeah, the comfort of having a ball in your hand, having a guy, I mean, you talk about acclimation of football. Like play one handed and have, you know, tie leak this far from your face. You better have command of something, you know. So you got to understand the communication and the technique and those things there.

2:16:49So 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 is the guys just competing and trying to get better after a mistake or like we say, we're enhancing as they've done some stuff really well and he's adapted to that really well. So, you can just see from the ball center, this spring is, it's the same for Sam and how do you assess their knowing by center versus guard? Could they do both? They both have been rumping at 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.

2:17:50Would you suggest to watch our center, Jim? No, I have it. Obviously came after spring practice next year. How does that seem down here in the city? How has he been this spring? It kind of speak to how, what the challenge must have been for him last year, not having spring practice stepping in playing that position in an experienced quarterback? Yeah, same, he's been here not even a four year yet. So coming in the summer, doing what he did, coming in through the fall. And then now, I mean, the same with him. It sounded like a broken record. I think the game's slowing down for him. Those mistakes that may have showed up are the questions that he had through the fall. And as we got going through the season, those are starting to erase a little bit, which is good. You know, his communication level is just talking more. That's probably the best thing that he's done so far. He's a highly, highly talented guy. We're just developing that skills and discipline and does go into communication. So as he communicates and talks, that's probably the biggest thing I've seen from him, which I think volume and communication equals confidence.

2:18:51And 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. Can you see them reduce those? A bunch. Yes. Coach, thank you very much. Hey, sir. Thanks, guys. Thank you, Chef. You're my bare fans. Thanks, Chef. I understand. All right, folks, we will come back when? This time it was the first two weeks we had done all of the things. Where did you see yourself for a lot of these days to be so things that just last few days in the season? Yeah, I mean, you start to get more physically obviously. You got to be ready. But I think next we actually got to start like tighten it up a little bit. Because then you start planting those Notre Dame games, those Penn State games, and you realize, like, a penalty like that can literally like, destroy the whole game. And once you kind of look after that land, you know, like, you can't, like, go for it or no, no, you have to. I didn't really notice when you talked to you last, you were last to the summer. You were the baddest country in the middle of the state.

2:19:54So that's what you think brings you, but also takes you to the gym. And the level of the game is a few of 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, you know, you're pretty well. Yeah, I don't really try to look bad, but I definitely try to look forward and keep climbing up the ladder. Obviously, like, yeah, I kind of looked at it like some tape from like, like from the past and then find some like, like, you know, like, you know, sass and it was kind of, kind of definitely gave me the sense of, I don't know, I do actually, I said, keep going, put all the games. I think it was just kind of just awareness. Obviously, like, and other things like chemistry, knowing how Donnie plays and, you know, the communications and how everything works. It really just understanding football, and what you kind of understand, like how do you sense the line of work? You know, you're going to get some best, the best in the first day of the year. I think that's what I'm talking about. How can that chemistry be different from the time you're playing in a regular website? I think it's an, I mean, even here, like, there'll be things like, sometimes you won't

2:20:55have to communicate, because you just, you know, like, you don't do anything here. A ball together and it was great. I came in knowing that just about everything. I mean, like, obviously, I kind of, I kind of feel like in terms of like physical attributes, I can kind of like move and strong stuff like that, but I think like, there's a lot more to it than I needed to work on even to come close to what I can do to me being able to help it to, like, such as technique, awareness, just everything. Definitely communication, I think that's like the big thing. Like, when you're in those big games, you got to be able to, you know, call it out, like, like, a pressure might come and stuff like that, so it's awareness and ball. What I'm just curious about is the Q&A, which is good for I. It's kind of like, coming to the summer, get the start right, how you feel spring is there a level of understanding how good coaches and what you want to do

2:21:58as players, and how do you have a better down, that's a lot of help. Like, folks, we have Dallin, Hayden, not the 20. Yeah, who wants just 100% effort and just to work hard? Like, obviously, like, there's more to it, but those are the things that he wants to do, and what you put back, like, there's a little, that's a semi, I pick at every day, and I'm coming out here, just the best to do it for. Definitely, but I kind of, like, when I come here, I knew Coach Fry and staff, like, they were gonna, they're gonna definitely like, scope me into the player, like, that I want to do. Yeah, scope me into that, yeah, like, they know that, like, scope, I mean. Yeah, like, just kind of make me into that type of player. I mean, the development factor from Coach Fry and I've been getting these, like, I didn't even, it's like magic almost. So, I mean, I'm just kind of keep going with him, and just keep riding with him. You know, having a spring practice, having some, or all that stuff, how much better do you think you should do?

2:23:00I guess we'll see, I'm gonna keep picking at it, and, sure, we'll see what we'll be doing. Once my players, coaches, strategies, and pick that, first of all, do you agree with that? What do you think they should do? 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 Onts, whatever you want to call it, with Chip Kelly in charge? What if you noticed this little bit, little, little nuances or stuff? I mean, maybe like, little things, I mean, I mean, the little things add up to big things, right? Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, yeah, well, where 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 side came a few times with each other, but other than that, it was, I mean, it was a hard game, nothing's gonna be like, for sure, what's going on, like, you know, you can have some hard times. Yeah. Did Missouri test y'all about as well as anybody?

2:24:00Just 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 with them, we just tried to go out there and just play hard. Like, obviously, we know, number six, it was a really good player, so we just tried to make sure keeping out of the backfield as much possible, so that's really, we tried to go to. You described your game a little bit Josh, when you do well, when you still have a couple of those, just describe your dancing. Yeah, so as a left tackle, I got to like, you know, more jobs, 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 go through them, anything, just keep the quarterback in the office here, there's a lot more, yeah, they'll be able to be a well on the player, you know, more people in the run, and stuff like that. That's probably one of the biggest things, not sure if the quarterback is going to run the block, however you, how was it, such yourself in that area? Yeah, so I mean, we got, I mean, yeah, the maybe deal I mean, if I was twisting and stuff like that, so in the run, no twist, too, so he was kind of like, I guess he just got a really state technically sound, and that's something I'm trying to do in the run. Josh, if you're going to get Mitchell Melt,

2:25:00much this spring and stuff, what stands out about him, obviously, he came back from a couple of knee injuries and stuff, but what just jumped out at you about it? You wouldn't even know he had the two knee injuries, I mean, he's so, like the way he rushes, it's so, it's his signature rush, like it's something that you can't, it's probably the hardest, it's probably like the hardest person I've had to block here, if I'm being honest, like he's very twitchy, great with his hands, amazing to get off, and he has that sneaky power, like if you're not really like setting for it, he'll get you, so. And I want to get your take, you know, you came here from San Diego State, your center, the guy's transferred in Seth MacLeoughlin, whether he starts or not, we'll see, right or no, he's from Alabama, he's an amazing, you have college football teams who are put together anymore, I mean, because he could be a key thing, and what does that just tell you about the game these days? I mean, yeah, I mean, it can go anywhere, I mean, like Seth is a great player, I mean, he tells me like, you know, stuff that they did differently, I bet, and stuff like that, and I try to take some of like, maybe some advice he has, because he's been,

2:26:01he's been a college football player longer than me, so, yeah. Yeah, he seemed like a grown-up, didn't he? Yeah, he comes across it way then. Yeah. What's the line to go from a line that you're absent-master to a row of other new pieces? And I think you can go like, what's the line to the position? 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 are competing, 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 good. Most of the way through is pretty fast. How helpful is spring? How helpful is spring? How does spring have that? Yeah, it's very nice there, especially when you kind of got a new OC and stuff like that, you can get this best to kind of get, you know, comfortable with the scheme now, then maybe like, close to camp, because then like in like a few weeks in the year, we've got week one, so. This time, last year, Roy, do you know what to lead on to get this to you?

2:27:01Uh, I mean, Donnie's like, dude, I owe Donnie a lot, 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, you know, I just kind of talk to him, he said, we got it, keep doing what you do, and we got to, we got to open the W. Probably a lot of the tricks. Oh yeah, especially. Thank you. Thank you, I'm glad you did. Well, just a brotherhood, you know, everyone was coming back and saw me, and what I looked like was going, going and leaving, but I just want to leave out of here to the Nassau-Tabuse ship, and we left so much behind, I 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 I came back. What did you do? You were going to come back. I kind of knew just after the board game, I was going to come back, just seeing everyone,

2:28:01and kind of before the board game, we all had a discussion, and we just want to come back and finish with our Angle, Nassau-Tabuse ship. What's their kind of feeling, like, having a little laugh, being just kind of a little angry, we've done a lot for him. That's all individual decision, but it's also individual decision. We had to leave out of here with something, so I feel like this in the year, we finally put the audio in there. The conversation was a text set. It was both. We had a conversation. It was a text set. Tom? He's had a conversation. During last year, we were talking to Coach Moles about the split kind of feeling of sunny. It was maybe early in the year, maybe early in the year, we still almost kind of been to meeting. I like, well, if you're talking about it, it's sort of a different setting. Maybe that's a move that's exposing you in a way that he wants to.

2:29:01But then having to simply play that full time now, the second half of our last year, what did that do for you? You think a major will better if we're coming back to this year? Yeah, definitely made me a better nipple, just learning from sunny, putting me on with a lot of game and stuff like that. I've really had to flip my mindset from just playing corner and then just playing nipple. But now it's one of the best nipples in the country. So that's kind of my mindset right now. What is the biggest difference between you're playing one of those new sessions? A lot of run fits. You got to be in the run fits. You're guarding quicker receivers in that slot. So that's kind of the whole, it's two different techniques from outside and inside. So I'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. And it's just my game, elevators from there. I just keep on elevating and I'm just excited for this. What's the specific work you've been doing there in two-battery?

2:30:01Oh, just catch technique. Just not giving as much ground. I don't mind experiments and stuff like that. What do you have at your vantage point? What's it been like to see sunny and second level? 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 die. This is so much versatility. I'm just happy to be able to change. I know Lorenzo's been playing some nickel with you. What kind of growth have you seen from him? He's going a lot. He's always in the film room. He's always going to go hard. So he's going to be a great ball player down the road. What do 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. That's just part of what you have to do now. You're going to play in there. Is that something you have to get used to? Oh, no. I've never really had to get used to it. Most people at corner, they can't go play inside. I just like hitting. It's just something about it. It's just a natural transition.

2:31:01It is pretty crazy, right? 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 slot receivers. Yeah, it's crazy. That's why I feel like it's the most fun position on the field. So add a game and 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. So yeah, I had to gain some weight. I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger. So I think you have to gain that weight and keep your foot in. Right. Yeah, which is like they're constantly trying to strike that balance. Yes, they're constantly trying to strike that balance. They serve mixing you in the class of training camps and pulling. Maybe before that. What did you feel like you were starting to pull the embrace and like I love this position? I want to make it. Probably, I fully embrace it. It was like, was constantly, you know, I played a lot of, I was going like, playing reps and all that. But then, uh, late then, he got injured. And so that moved something to strong safety.

2:32:01So I had no choice. I really was, I'm just really happy to play that position. Like I'm thinking for it. You forced a bunch of that. Yeah, of course, if I'm, I had a lot of production that week somehow. It was like a night game. I just wanted to make, make plays out there. Jim said that you really stepped up at that point during the season. Once the 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 gain? Like give me that confidence that you can handle all that. Yeah, it was, it was crazy. I think that whole October, just from October to, uh, to November. Like that, I'm here. I had a really crazy stretch. Like almost every game in October, I had an interception. Well, I just kind of dropped one, it gets Michigan State. But I feel like every game in October, November, I, that's when I was in a position. So how much does a guy like wall help prepare you for that kind of switch in the end of the season? Oh, yeah.

2:33:01If I didn't have Coast Wall, 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 NFO background. And he knows every single unit, D line. So I had a Northland D line linebackers. Because sometimes I do the same thing with steel tamers, just going faster in the same position. So if I didn't have Coast Wall, I don't know how long. But 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 nickel. Like how much work goes behind the scenes with Coast Wall watching film talking about stuff? Yeah, people don't see it. We're 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, meet and watch him film and just walk through. And you know, it wasn't, it wasn't easy at first, but he got on me. He stayed on me a lot. He helped me accountable and just, I'm thankful for that.

2:34:03Yeah, it's going to be good. He's a real good football player. He can hit, he can cover, so it's going to be good having him back. He's going to be a good fit for us. You know, he played a lot of ball and started, started an issue. Something like that. Oh, it was crazy, good to have him back when I was having him back. The best defense is the last five years. And the common thread team he had in a slot corner. So he's like, you yourself, shot away from 20, 19, you kind of brought things together. Who's next? Who's next? Yeah. Like, for a slot. Yeah. Like, who the guys you've seen, who do you think's next in that role? I think Miles, you know, he's, you know, he's under-sized, but I feel like he just brings it. Like, he's got the mentality, the play, the way he's doing it. Yeah. And he's under-sized, but I feel like he just brings it. Like, he's got the mentality, the play, and he really likes, love the game.

2:35:03He 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 Scott and Bryce? I'm going to be doing a lot of understanding. 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. I think about the difference in just top to bottom talent in that room and the last from when you got here to now. How much do you think of that? 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 twos and threes can go out there and start anywhere else in the country. From top down is super talented. Down do 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 and potential. Those guys give you any crap about you and then draw them back and keep them up to the other side.

2:36:05They're talking about it a little bit, but not for real. They just want to really want to learn from us. They're super smart kids and they're just real eager to learn. Along those lines, how much ownership is a good or a bettering guy, do you feel as to what this defense will look like next year after you're gone? And they'll second and third screen guys are now at the top of the spectrum. Yeah, it's going to be wild because right now they're going to be ready because what stays on them, me, Dezeo, 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 out here and they're going to hold up the BI in 22%. Hey, Jordan, is it too early to assess the, for you to assess the spot receivers? For you to assess the Ohio State slot receivers that you're going against? Oh, I played them last year. I went up against them last year. They're all good. Bryson, Brandon and Keon plays a little bit in the slot. And yeah, they're going to be real good. They're going to be, I mean, Meg too, of course, we know what Meg does.

2:37:06So, one of the best slots in the country. So, it's going to be fine. Even when Meg leaves, there's going to be no drop off. Thank you, Jordan. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Have a safe break. Thank you. 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. 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,

2:38:07drop, fold in there and make plays. You see some of that all the time. Really athletic, you know, or kind of loaded at that end position. So he's going to play there. But like I said last year, we haven't needed it. But he's a guy you would point to along with CJ Hicks, you know, for the long season. People 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 Mitch is a guy who definitely can do all that. He has that. Over to the left, Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch. Jim, you've 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 where you, the offense didn't get in the end zone until the late in the second half. And you guys have raised down the second area.

2:39:08What did you think of that sort of trend and how it's evolved in the way you guys almost shut them out of the first half? Yeah, I think it's become an expectation now. You know, our DBs, our BIA, Best in America, we led the country in past defense. I think there was 96, what I got here. And it was number one last year. So 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. They view it as a standard. So that was good to see in the first half. However, the right Spencer Holbrook, Letterman Roll. 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 in the way that you can do things defensively? Yeah, I mean, you're going to play to your strengths. And that's my job.

2:40:10What do we have and what do we do best? When you have defensive tackles, but I'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 with that. You got to let those guys play and they're good. So 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. Over to the left. Tony Gurdman, Buckeye Huddl. Jim Ryan talked about the quarterback run being more of a thing with the offense this year. 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 preparing for that? Yeah, it's a top, you know, it, I think it changes everything you do

2:41:11on 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 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've had me do it right. When I asked Ryan about just, for example, Calvin Simpson Hunt, but the corner seemed to be playing almost with the chip on their shoulder to a certain extent. I mean, David Zanig-Benosin took the day personally. It looked like, you know what I mean? Because some of the hype going into the game. But what do you see from that group in particular that Bui is you going into this off season? Yeah, when you can, when you have corners that you can count on, again, it's 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. And we've developed that.

2:42:12Again, it changes the way you call the entire game. I mean, you, you're able to leave those guys on an island. You're able to switch up converges. 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 jumping into a picture really more. I'm just getting it laid back here the way. 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, you see him coming along, you know, you see him step by step coming along and, and, you know, put him in a, you know, competitive atmosphere, same step up, that's a great sign. And final question for coach Noles, 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?

2:43:12Yes, 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 bloodsing 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. All right. And we will bring offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Chip. Hey, look, you know, we all come back. Look, look, look, look what we could do. And I think that once we, once I thought about that, and, you know, I got some other guys on board, and 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 going to go out there and execute them. You seemed pretty confident in Dallas. I mean, you wouldn't tell us for sure, but it sounded like you'd made up your mind by them. Is that fair to say that you were leaning at least coming back at that point?

2:44:13Yeah, I mean, I'd say that probably was leaning towards coming back then. You know, I just, I try to block it out, you know, before the game. Yeah. 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, knew I was going to come back regardless. So, like I said, you know, just sort of been tough on your leave this year. And with the opportunity we got, you know, you only got, you only got one more chance left to, you know, to go do something that not many people get to do in their lives. So we're in a blessed position. Yeah, what do you think? Look for your final match. Yeah, I think you have a tough time. Yeah, I think you have a tough time. Uh, and I just think that I was putting good positions. Just kind of let, you know, let loose. We're not there in play ball. Like I know how to. You know, my teammates played great too. And coaches called it the game defensively. I mean, you know, we give a 14 total points or a 17, 14. I mean, 14 gets a good offense like that.

2:45:13Great team. I mean, that's a good day. So obviously we didn't get the results we wanted, which is frustrating again, but it's a whole different story. Uh, yeah, I mean, I just think it was, it was collectively a good day on defense. And I happen to be fortunate to be in position, make some good plays. I mean, that'd be the time for, obviously, some commitment in the conversation. You guys are playing well, but nothing really has a plan. The most I've known is necessarily a mid-meary. Like you're trying to add all that to what's most starters. Can you feel when we're in a groove like that when you get back to the field, and I mean, you get all the same as you were? Yeah, I think I felt like I was in a groove 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 to hit the field and 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'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 using our abilities that God's gave us.

2:46:16So, I think that this whole next year, you know, you're just going to see a whole different level of play from all of us. I know you're trying to keep it up, but you. Yeah. And that'd be kind of a launch for the tournament. What there may be taking for the final. You're in a future. Especially for the new year. You can't just go with that. You can't just go with that. 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 stuff to the side, just got there and play ball. You know how it's just going to take care of itself. Check this. No, you're doing. Did you play, you used the tournament build? I don't tell you what issues. Wow, what does. So, I've got like an emphasis of not focusing on the little things kind of owning it on that stuff. And you guys know you're on the team. And what is it for you to show? Yeah, you know, I think you said it. You know, there's no talent issues here on this team. You know, I think if you look at our team across the board, probably one of the most talented teams in the country. It's not the most talented team in the country. And so, you know, that's God given though.

2:47:18And what we can work on is our discipline or skill or technique. I think if we become the most, you know, disciplined and sound team technique wise, there's not going to be a team of the country's top. But 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 flexibility. You know, I'm working on bending the corner a little bit in hands. You know, at D line, you can kind of improve on everything. And so, Coach Johnson's emphasis is just, you know, just taking care of the little things. And just with the good hands, hips, foot placement. So, it's kind of little bit everyday in the spring. There's a lot to be excited for and especially with all the guys coming back on defense. But how excited are you to play again with JD? Oh, I'm really excited about that. You know, it was cool. It was really cool. I mean, him going back and forth the whole time to sod when we're going to come back or not. And, you know, when we, you know, I I kind of knew before you guys knew when he was coming back. So, you know, I was excited as a, you know, elevated player and, you know,

2:48:20a really good friend of mine. friend of mine. So just have another year with him and you know if a moment we're gonna enjoy it and you know hopefully have some fun you know we can have a lot of support of us next wall. Even going back to your recruitment, you know the first guy to commit in this recruitment class, you had guys over for barbecues in your house. What was it like I guess to see it kind of come full circle in a way that you could kind of almost leverage that relationship and you could recruit guys to come back into the pool and run back on the right track. Yeah you know it's it's unique you know I think it's a really unique position. That great group of guys coming back man I mean you know it's just so exciting and I just wanted to you know for me you know and at the same thing same thing for those guys how much they care about this program and care about the team and coach day and and guys you want to do it for in the city and you know the chance we all knew that you know we had great opportunities go to NFL and we also had a great opportunity to put another one of those banners up here so and you know get some revenge on you know the guys

2:49:22up north all that stuff so you know when you put in a nutshell you know it was a really simple decision for a lot of us and you know we thank God for being in this position and coming back you know I don't think any of us regret it and we're just really excited to you know just 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 as for him but you just you have an opportunity like looking at what's out there how does it change the capability with your deep thoughts. 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 fear like damn we're big you know corner we're big lineback we're big D line we're big safe through big fast you know we're just you know we're just got a lot a 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 a place almost more free up front and you know you you're dependent you can rely on those guys behind you and I

2:50:25think 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. Who we are as men in what this culture just to us. What are the biggest improvements here looking to make this year? For me it's just getting a leaner and twitchier 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 underneath for me it's just I think I've got 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 morning it goes back to square one and going back to that weight room and cleaning up areas that are seeking all this momentum. Jake team when you take a look at the at the defense overall you 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 to life is scrimmage how do you view those changes and what it'll allow

2:51:29you to do as a defense that maybe you couldn't do a year ago the way you can use those chest pieces. I think it just allows us to sorry open up our game you know moving moving having Caleb and having sunny 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 hands where now we can we can make a lot of a lot of different adjustments and just allowing it some moments and points where just dudes go be dudes you understand what you what your assignment is and your job but as well as knowing that you know you have a lot of dudes around you to where they know how you play they know what skill of you are and so you know they're counting on you to make that play and they also have your back as well. Hey everyone has their own individual decisions. How important you have Jack in terms of getting this group to come back to you? Uh, you feel one more time? Yeah, obviously I wouldn't have thought they're one of the people that you said that. How important was Jack in terms of getting this group to come back to you?

2:52:34I think you know me and Jack talked a lot. A lot is probably understanding but you know we've had so many goals coming in our freshman year and I felt like we're needing him both decided to come back you know that played a speed ball and just allowing us to understand that the goals we had set a set of punishes set for our defense individual goals and as well as you know 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. You know I think we're close to just not announcing you all find out during the freshman ball but you know who we did we ended 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

2:53:36each time the never you know a lot of people are looking at his you know nattier 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 learned the news at the yes Caleb Downs the leading attacker for Alabama is joining you guys what was your first reaction? I found out I was cooking one night and our group chat didn't like groups chat we just texted 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 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 he's a workhorse he just keeps his head down and has blinders on and it's just always a player to game and just learning he never continues to just stay uh saying once bar stay sagging he always keeps your own yeah it's like having that dude he's like a little brother

2:54:38you know just having him just allows us to feel like time is not flying by too quick you know me Jack always talking about 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 bomb with him as well as coach him he makes it just a just enjoyable you know we were once in his shoes and just looking at him 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 him uh starting a 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 thank you thank you you know how I think coachman is a really good job he can keep simple and successful yeah I think essentially that's the that's the culture of our room when we come off the ball violent um we're looking as

2:55:38hard as we can but clean up the details out so that's kind of our mindset going into it and uh yeah you know you're like you know you're like how hard is it to kind of change the perception we're gonna get it okay this is like outside noise but also a lot of things that you got are actually pretty good at bottom yeah I'd say um it starts off with like you kind of got to it starts off with tuning out the outside noise um and what other people have to say about it and it's really good but mindset I kind of look at it as if it's like a drop in a bucket you know if I got a big bucket um there's no one thing I'm going to do to make this bucket full it's it's a daily thing where I put one drop in in a day and you look back over a year two years three years look back and be like man I've gotten a lot better so like I said I'm just very thankful for the unit the guys that I have around me push me very hard and I'm just thank you you mentioned that the development is part of TITX what was the book challenging part of you to

2:56:40know the thing is to play the ball yeah I'd say um definitely the size component you know you can't you got to be someone that's you know when you got to be big you got to be strong you got to be fast there's a lot of jobs that you have to do um it's a very asking job you need to um block the big some of the biggest guys in the field but also run routes off some of the smallest guys in the field and so I've been just thankful just to be out here and do exactly that what was it like to get that shot the other day from the pros counts run routes catch balls oh yeah show off yeah no there's a good opportunity I think some of the big you know region behind it was just kind of giving those guys that though that were at protein we have limited numbers so just get out there and give those guys a breather but maybe the opportunity to get to go out there in front of scouts um think that's a pretty good deal and you're taking only a quarterbacks to this point the quarterback battle is going on what's been your take on Will for example give the no-hem and then uh of course David I think the mindset that we have body around here is ironing, sharpening iron so that's kind of like it's not just you know one room

2:57:40it's from top to bottom, it's the whole team no matter what position you are we're here to work and I think we're all here to make each other better whether it's in a quarterback room or tight in the room or running back room offense versus defense coach for his coach it doesn't matter we're all just you know iron and sharpening iron especially this time of year in spring ball we're not doing too much game planning for next week which we're really just spending this time to get better and uh build a good foundation for ourselves and something to work on moving forward if you've seen Will I would fitting in more and more is the practice that's gone on you know getting to know everybody and all like uh I mean I always been spinner for a while yeah I think I think I think I think I think it's time goes no matter where you are you start to adapt you start to get used to what we have going on here so it's good to have Thanks yeah you're coming in you're coming in you're coming in what's it been like? yeah I'd say when it comes to that I think it's all the glory to the Lord

2:58:44and I decided to give my life completely to the Lord a little over a year ago and that kind of really changed my outlook on the way that I approach football there's no longer something that I idolize it's just something that I do and I think the time of my life where I stopped you know compartmentalizing who God was in my life God was it was something that I do on Sundays or something that I do in a Bible study who I am and so now I embody that as who I am and so some of the fruits of the spirit is peace, patience and kindness and so those are the kind of things that I've started to embody on this on this journey I think it's easy to kind of compartmentalize football away from faith but ultimately it's all one it's all one so it's giving me a spirit of patience, peace and enjoy with the guys around me and so I'm just I'm thankful I'm thankful to be here but being quite honest I just I know for a fact I wouldn't be where I'm at right now I know I'm outside looking in you know I was like you know where are you right now but I wouldn't be where I'm at you know right now if it wasn't for my you know relationship with the Lord it really came into my life you know change around for the better

2:59:46G what did you see from Bennett Christian last year how do you know that suspension and how do you work through that? Yeah I think he did a great job a lot of perseverance I think that's no matter who you are we're kind of hearing news like that for a year that's hard no matter where you are I'm really proud of him because he came up he came to show up every single day he got better he got better the easy thing to do in that kind of situation is throwing the towel be like man you know forget this or I'll get better next year but I saw the drive at him one thing I see now every day he showed up he got better and I'm proud of Bennett and I'm proud of this unit I don't know I don't really know how to answer that question because if you go from one unit to another unit the moment you trade units you're no longer in the unit you are initially in so you're now a tight end so I mean to answer that question I think the time that I went from in the receiving it to the tight end unit is the moment I became a tenant

3:00:52I'm just going to give you a few things I'm just going to give you a few things Kevin Wilson the coach Wilson was my coach Coach Holland was my coach and I was a receiver it's just different it's two different roles I think I'd say to answer that question the moment that I decided to come to play tight end was the moment I became a tight end and so now over the years I've gotten better at playing in the position but the moment that I transferred over I've been a tight end you know I'm excited to be a tight end another position I'd rather play go buck us thank you G yeah very important to the young man now my goal is a football coach I'll limit take care of themself so that's one of ways I'm just real relationship base and I'm very detailed at this position I know y'all heard me say it before and I'm gonna keep saying it this is a worst coach position in football it's terrible guys hire anybody to coach his position and recruit us cause like this not a recruiter I'm a elite relationship builder

3:01:54but I coach this position I'm a ball coach so that's who I am so I'm important to these kids I think they kind of send it now and I jump in they want I'm ready to coach I'm gonna use the phrase no soft match cookies where does that phrase come from kind of always put it this way well let me tell you about that well I've been called everything but the name with child of God by the people at the other places I left so that I been getting pills a pills better need to give me a deal cause I've been getting some DMs and texts down some of some of some of them have been so funny the soft batch cookie thing came from just having a frame of my a mental toughness it had nothing to do with guys getting the portal and anything now most people say I'm a soft batch cookie for leaving there but in actually I'm not because it takes great strength to make a decision to leave a place no a weak minded person wouldn't be the main decision I made so it took great strength to do that so I'm telling you by littering my DMs it's some great comedians

3:02:54out here that have been sending me like tons of cookies and I'm like this funny right behind them 20 Gerben, Bucket Huddling how have you been going about the assessment of the talent in the room the past week or two how much is that unfilled off feeling like what's the process and getting to know who you have as players well I broke down well me being a guy that loves to run the back position I already broke those kids down cause I recruited him out of high school Q is from where I'm from in Montgomery I was one of the first guys to offer him just watching him great contact ballads creative runner great hands and trade I recruited him out of Virginia exceptional short area of birch and quickness and things I'm gonna help him get better on and then I recruited James Peoples out of San Antonio Texas I knew what he was gonna what he was gonna be TC and say those two kids I'm getting to know and I'm gonna help them improve their game but no we got different runners in there

3:03:54I like to call myself I'm in love with this position so I get to break down runners and help their game so I'm gonna have a good time in the room Far back, Jeremy Birmingham podcast How much square effect did soft best? Cookies are actually the best cookies that Phil Jordan makes Those are way better than crunchy chips and white things Those are terrible Do you have to find a balance there? Well for me I'm actually not eating the cookies I'm not eating the cookies this year I gave it up for a fast or no sweets for me for the whole year That's something I gave up so the term the soft best cookie term Look guys I actually took that from my I represent the high school coaches of Memphis Tennessee I actually took that from my guy and then coach Slocum he's always say that soft best cookie I actually stole that from him I give him credit for it and I tell him all the time he said I should have branded it because you don't took it and ran away with it But that's just where they come from

3:04:54That night was standing As you get to Ohio State and we'll start to look around the country I mean Oregon's a big place that's a nature job But how do you think that wearing the Ohio State logo I mean just wearing a locker when you get out out of the feeding trail How does that change the way that you feel you're either Received or visit at a different level to To just feeling like I could go anywhere and get in Anybody in the country It does change the name for me This is a great place. Oregon is a great place too But guess what Whatever I put on I know what I'm going to represent For me I know Who put me here I know I represent something higher You know like I told you I know my purpose is My purpose is supporting the people So whatever logo I have on I'm still going to be doing the same thing So this is a great logo Great logo

3:05:54But I wear another logo every day So cross I see where I'm at. I know where I represent So that's the greatest logo I could ever wear So it don't matter what other logo I have on I got that one on. I'm going to any house Embedded recruit Deep right Cameron T. Robinson the athletic You mentioned a time of Memphis and then the score And though You mentioned there You learned from that time And then you take over to managing the world And you know What did I learn from that I just built this teaching of kids We live in such a selfish world And like I tell kids all the time There's got to be much more than football The ball going to go flat one day as I always say What Being in that room there at Memphis is It wasn't for five And I tell you I mean all time It doesn't cause you anything to celebrate another man's success So teaching them how to be one And then once they learn to be one They function and they feed off one another

3:06:54So that's what I learned from being there at Memphis Right in front of an anti-backed one Got him in the rope From a set of your career and law enforcement Kind of influence you as a coach And kind of sneak away from your arm Well I just got to do talking to Somebody about that today When I first got into this profession And I got my own room in West Kentucky I was asked No How was I going to be in the handle My room I said man I had a part with 51 inmates You tell me I have got 67 guys Like you kidding me I'll tell my me having to do traffic stops So going on domestic No violence calls Simple, easy No people don't know what you care Also, no I just want to be in the back of your cell So when I walk into a room It's the reason why I go train every morning It's the same thing when I was the police officer You look a certain way Kind of deter people from doing certain things So it's just why I go train every morning

3:07:54I'm gonna look just as good as my boys look So it helped out a lot In other words Front row right, Austin Moore The podcast Carl's welcome to Columbus What would it mean to What does that take I You know, I'm not gonna say revolution I said some good some good run-and-back coaches Out here everybody's different Some great coaches out here I just want the headguards who said That on these jobs The not just higher guys is no All coaches on your staff should be great recruiters Not just the running back coach We coached the position we developed the players as well I just want the coaches to realize Let me look and be thorough about this guy I'm hiring for the job Is he teaching the position Is he development the position Because you're not gonna hire anybody Just coach quarterbacks are you Where shouldn't be like that for the running back position And I'm only passionate about it because I played it I love it So it's on the position I want the coach

3:08:54Could I coach the other positions Yeah, I played DBN college too But I love the running back position So I just want to see it coach well Yeah, a million questions I'll ask a couple of number one When your wife, whatever You got the message stuff Are we moving again? What was her reaction? No, she just knew God had gave us a little assignment It was never like we're moving again Let me tell you guys something My mom was in the military So I lived everywhere I lived in Panama, South America I'm used to picking up and moving I lived in Fort Riley Kansas I'm used to moving Now my wife was different for her But she just knew God had gave us a new assignment So it's time to go What did Coach Day tell you When he heard you that he wants Out of you that maybe different It's not slamming somebody else But what did he say he wanted you to bring To the running back room I think he did his research on me He said he wanted the guy to develop the position

3:09:54And that's not taking a shot at The coach that was here I'm friends with And he said they didn't want somebody to really Get the guys going I can only be me And I told him that Coach I'm gonna be me every day now Because see my mind said this when I step in this building I got one mindset That's to do my job So well that the living dead I'm born Can do anything better So when I leave it that's when my mind said this Hopefully I'm here for a long time But on the God knows that Every day I step into this with the hate center That's my mindset I'm gonna do my job so well That the living dead I'm born Can do anything better So that's what my mind said this Coach you have time for one last question Bill Rebenoets Columbus this batch Carlos first of all Is it true that nobody calls you Carlos never calls you lock Is it true? Yeah I prefer to be called lock

3:10:54Or call me Carlos But I prefer to be called Coach Lock So that's fine You were in law enforcement You had played football I was going to tell you what made you decide To leave law enforcement To get back into coaching And starting at the very bottom And doing it When you had an established career I'm gonna say this with you all Because I know a lot of people may not Know this Not the first school I went to try to work at I actually went to a small liberal arts school there in Memphis called Role College They try to get on this there I was told I have enough experience I need to go back in Coach High School I think at that time God would tell me I was thinking too small The decision for me to get into coaching football That was a God decision Because this is the extension of my ministry To pulling the people So me getting out of law enforcement I enjoy my life in law enforcement But I knew I could reach more people by me

3:11:54Being able to coach the ball I want to be a bridge builder Help out young men Not just young men but the coaches that I work with Help them achieve their dreams and the goals So that was part of it Coach thank you very much Thank you Thanks Coach Lock I was there 15 and that was like water Do you like, I mean, I'd be quiet But also do you like that And what everything that comes with I do but at the same time I just like to be a normal person But I don't really like that So what do you feel are you a showman? I mean, I just like your art form I mean, yeah, I want to feel I'm a little bit more chipier A little bit but sometimes I still be quiet on the field What's the competitive part of you? When did you know to say about yourself? I've been having that at Memphis I was like eight nine years old I mean, just how I am How's the rate just to be competitive That's the reason why I chose to come to Ohio State Just to compete each and every day

3:12:54I guess the goal is the best D.B. group in the country I told you what to say is it been enhanced in the last several months I mean, you want to get Ignito and then Benzel Perk, etc. Oh yeah, for sure, just going to get them two guys The best two D.B.s in the country I mean, that's the reason I came here This is going to get God just go make me better each and every day What's your plan to represent? Yeah You didn't say a word And then the two plays later you call Or they have a lot of support on it You didn't say a word that made me get it I said, I said Well, he said when he defected the boy He said I'm here, I said okay, I'm going to be back And I said, I said, I said, I'm going to be back Then when I'm better play I just walked off, that's it When you talk about the ball I said, I told him, I'm coming back, right? I think the car now stayed in the rain And it's better as it needed I feel great just us three to be in the field together We're going to make a lot of plays this year What did you learn from that over time? I learned a lot, especially from Cardinal Because we both play outside

3:13:54So me just learning from him And the things he learned, he just teaching me And he was behind Mar and stuff like that So he just teaching me the game for sure What specifically if you got better at that in camp? You can't compare to what you first got I said my footwork, that's the biggest thing Michael Schottler was looking at that That's one thing I need to get better on So I mean, I just worked on that And all season and just got better Over time What, what can still be your work ethic in the end? I mean, still my work at the end I mean, just I really don't know, I can't really answer that But it just, it's just in me I just want to work, that's one thing I think I say, I get it from my dad My dad really little reason Why I worked so hard because I was like eight years old, he just wanted me to Just work and be the best at what I do So I mean, I really, I said different about that What is the difference in the clip of Ryan Day You know, like on Johnny Day What show we've been up to Yeah, yeah, see And how close did you come to I wasn't, I wasn't flipping out of

3:14:54I don't know why, because we made the same idea That I was a bugger And that's it How did you get that set in the table? He said the biggest example I think I was only just my dad I mean, I have a cousin's name You know, it's really pretty for the Seattle Seahaw So I looked at him as well I mean, seeing what he was doing I was for Johnny with table Austin and Steadman Bailey So I mean, he was a motivation for me And just old the guys that grew up before me And I'm in Miami-Guarded's area Broward area for sure I mean, just looking at those guys I say Brandon Anderson for sure, he was a class ahead of me So I seen things he was doing in the eighth grade And I was just like, whoa, I mean, that's something I want to do What do you think about the expectations for you? I mean, Chris Carter on my podcast, he was going to fix you to be He gets you to be a factor from the first play, first day, first game, et cetera Those are big expectations You got bracelets? I really don't I mean, I know it's big expectations for me because, you know, No one planned the country coming in and all the hype around me

3:15:54So, I mean, I just shot a block out all that stuff And just focus on the main theme Just the team and I receive a room and a locker room No just first game come If I don't, you know, see the expectations that you have for me I mean, I don't really care, I just want to go out there and win a game How much of a confidence is there for you when people like Chris Carter, Marvin Harrison, Jr. are saying Miss Guy can be the next great receiver at Ohio State I mean, it's something great I mean, I just got to go out there on the field and just show you guys That I could be the next part of the great Ohio State receiver to come through here I mean, it's a blessing and no have that And as I go out there and play and show you guys What did it say to you guys about that? It means a lot for me to be, was it the first freshman? Yeah, I mean, just, that's a blessing for me for sure Just, you know, shows all the hard work that I put in and out of the main on the way to the room Mr. What did you say about the shorty? My dad really, amazing You know what we're talking about about?

3:16:55The maturity You know, just be older than, don't act my age, act older than my age I mean, a lot of people tell me that I don't act my age I'm way, way beyond my years I mean, just, you just got to be mature and, you know, act Don't act like a kid What is your couple more questions for Jeremy? What is it about 650,000? 730,000? It's about 730,000 I mean, just, no, when I see a 50-50 ball, I mean, just, I just think it's, I gotta make the play And it's on me, you know, matter how the ball is, if it's a bad ball, I just feel like, I gotta make that play No matter what the certain sense of this, you know, matter if it's a bad ball I feel like the ball is mine, no matter who I'm fronting me or, no, no matter Where's that neck? Getting between the ball and the fender come from, though I mean, that kind of sets you apart in my opinion in a lot of ways Do you always have that neck? I always had that neck, because I was like, since I started to parents year right like eight or nine years old I just found the way to, you know, make sure that ball is mine when it's in the air

3:17:58I just, I always find the way, you know, find the way to make my quarterback look good Can you accept that I have a good work on your team? Ryan or Sam, what are your thoughts on your team? Oh yeah, for sure, he definitely made a big jump from industry I like his confidence, he's starting to talk more, talk a lot of mess on the field And I like that about my quarterback, about a lot of cornerbacks, about the talk And you know, just get around his players and make him feel good about himself He talked on the field, you know, just, he just said a lot of stuff I can't say but he'll go talk for sure Okay, Jeremiah, thank you very much Thank you guys Really, he told me, main thing he would tell me was stop overthinking everything Just go out there and play and that really helped me because you know, new position

3:18:58Trying to find my role and stuff so it was pretty good to get his assistance on it What do you think is it there? What do you think about this pitch? What do you like about it? What do you think about this pitch? What's your name? I'm three-take, I mean, the Strith was, like I was saying, and speed against those guards That's really helps me a lot Well, I talked to Coach Jay, Coach Jay was the main one, he wasn't forcing me or nothing He just said, if you want to move inside, you can't, if not, stay at the end, then you can do that as well But I saw that I could help the team out, get some death right there so I chose to move inside

3:20:10What it meant to be a member of the team in that way? Uh, yeah, Jack, named Jack, JT, Tileek, and Tileham to a great leader On and off the field, they don't help me with just simple stuff Like, if I didn't know where to go, get some, they'll tell me, or if they're just hanging out with a group getting closer Just a lot of different small things that got brought us closer to like last year That I need to start doing this year, I haven't started yet But I'm going to get into it Yeah, I feel like, uh, main thing we teach in our unit, that anybody can be a leader no matter what year, freshman, sophomore, junior or senior Or even if you're a walk-on, everybody can be a leader just, um, yeah How do you find it to you last year, like, this thing here, you know, did you have to grow into it? I had to grow it until a little bit, um, it's very new, especially playing D in my whole life But I had Tileek help me, like I said, throughout the whole process

3:21:12We did it really striped, but I could be a factor Oh, what game, or, you know, how do we get to put it up to the next four days? I would say closer towards the playoffs, uh, me to Tileek a lot, I felt comfortable like, okay, I can actually do this Because he was showing me some stress I have, like, see him, like, see you can do this and, uh, that really helped me get a confidence in knowing that I can Yeah, but then you became a factor, you became a factor, especially through the playoffs Yes, sir All glory to God, first of all, to keep me, uh, healthy, to keep doing that But, uh, it meant a lot, that Coach Jay trusted me enough to go on in the big games like that And, uh, knew that I would be able to produce What is the change in speed mentally? It's just realizing you're not taking it there anyway?

3:22:17What is the moment for you? Definitely, the my main thing also, uh, and so I know the interview, some of those interviews I said the main thing was being a team player And moving the three-tag was going to help the team, so I was willing to move inside for it What's the kind of push you're going to do? Jason and Will and Tile were on the team and just holding the back of the team So, what's the kind of thing you're going to do? It's very competitive, uh, we both, we all come in trying to see where we need to get better in Uh, just to keep moving forward, so it's pretty good, good competition and I love them all You made the move like during the fight we played through there, right? What was the type of sparring up there that crashed you? Uh, really nothing, I really embraced it Uh, I knew that, uh, I need to move inside, uh, in order to help out the team Because we had some really great D.N.'s last year, Mitch Mellon, uh, J.T. Jack, Kenny Curry, K.J.

3:23:17So it was pretty good, and then moving the three-tag I also, uh, asked some depth down there while, uh, still being able to showcase what I got going Could you feel like you just did that in football, like, did you feel like rushing to get a jack break when you guys are here? No, they, they were, um, all in on me just whenever I'm ready, just let them know how I feel about moving in or standing outside And you just did ask them, they have the leader, um, reprash your knowledge in the room with you You played as a pressure and you see what the brakes are both approaching And when you see dark waves, all those guys, they can take the big, they can take the big, uh, I don't know Uh, Jack West, Trajan, all the, uh, guys that came in are, they, they continue to work hard every day Uh, even if they don't get it the first time, they'll ask us, uh, what are our doing this situation to help me out So, uh, the, the ability to keep trying to learn from people that's played in the big stage, uh, that's the word really gonna keep them going Last question, all right Giving you said they were gonna make a check on you, so why don't you try to use the playoffs and play like that?

3:24:23Not really, I knew once I got it, Coach J was gonna trust me a lot more than, uh, keep going out there each and every time So, uh, I appreciate them, uh, like I said earlier, thank you Lord, and uh, thank you guys All right, thank you guys, thank you so much, so, if you, if you knocked the offense line in back, you can get a lot of TFLs And that's what I was able to do, my last poll Hey man, uh, it's practicing hard every day, he's practicing it The world here, I'm just gonna kind of like, we're gonna practice this like last summer, you guys are just right here at a night out state I know the world, what was it about, sort of like that, Coach, did I just want to kind of explore, and just go over there? Yeah, uh, so we ended up letting our defense coordinator go, um, and then we would have gotten a whole new staff, so I just decided, um, getting in the transport was something I wanted to do Did you like something about the way the old staff is doing the way they used to do it?

3:25:25Yeah, um, I wanted to go to a four down defense, because we were at three-three-five stack, and uh, you know, I just wanted to go to a four, get a lot more one on ones, and uh, I was excited, so that's what I was looking for Yeah, I was, uh, I was too gapping, this type, yeah a lot more double teams Nice and fast, I think you're good, I'm not bad I didn't know what to think going into the transport also, I think it all was a surprise for me What other, uh, okay, I heard from, quite a few, I heard from TechSanem, Missouri, from Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska How much of those? Yeah, the biggest thing I took away was, uh, seeing how the guys practiced, I was able to go on the scout team, and just seeing how the offense did things very particularly in like sharp, so it was, uh, you know, an influence on me and how I have to do things when I get here

3:26:40Yeah, I know, um, just think everyone's practicing hard, you know, everyone's trying to make play, uh, do their job to the best they can, uh, just the speed, that's the biggest difference that I've noticed When you've heard a lot of people from the earth, all those people, uh, were to one day life for you to get so much attention on high level of power for you to be high school, you know, at the FCS, for you to start some of the, uh, what was that like today? No, no, it was amazing, um, I don't really know, like going from, uh, graduated right after COVID happened, so, to get really recruited, but being able to like be recruited, um, you know, to see what that was like, it was awesome Well, I love people from high level of high level of state field, but I know that you're not going to miss it

3:27:42Yeah You had to give a high of state things like a glimpse of the player that you've offered yourself after, and they're like, you know, a slow guy, and somebody that you saw, my little college before, it's a traveling model, you know, that's good Man, that's a good question, um, not, not a particular person, and I just see a whole bunch of highlights, and, uh, try to mile after those highlights As you're, as you're, you have a tweet, maybe like film studying, or anything approach, those kind of things, under Coach Jay, compared to what you were doing before? Yeah, uh, just like, footwork, mostly, um, it's going from two-gapping, just holding the edge, you know, it's just been an adjustment for me So, um, fitting the run, different, and then obviously the pass rush is a little different too So, you had a pretty good person on the other side, you had a lot of fun on that Yeah, no, yeah Were you able to, to believe from him, I guess, learn, well, he was still here, um, before you had to take on Spring Practice, and what you could take away from what you saw

3:28:42Yeah, and I did the best I could, uh, to learn from Jack and JT, just like, just to see how they practice and what they did, and then I was able to ask them for pointers How do you get ahead? Thank you so much for joining me today, and you got to see that last day, and you got to see the questions that you're telling, and how you doing Jack's back? Hey, how you doing though? I'm doing good I'm doing good Um, it was, that was definitely some back or forth, um, there was a lot to think about, a lot to process between me and my family, so there wasn't really much to say to the media or anything, but I think of the day, I made the decision, and I'm here, so I'm glad to be here I'm glad to be here I think the development from when I was a kid, I've been training with my dad and my brother since I was four or five years old, so I don't want to say I was built for this, but I mean, at the end of the day, I've been doing this since I was a kid, so it's barely been no change

3:29:50What is it that stands out right now to us back on the ethnic safety? What, what, what made it special? Very disciplined person, he was committed every single day to being his best self, and not many people can actually say that and be truthful with that. He was the same person every single day, and he taught me a lot about commitment, about being disciplined, consistency, everything that goes with that, and being great, I feel like that's where he embodies What is it about safety defense that excites you? You know, everybody makes up a pick, and it's somewhere in their lives, and it might often be a big mess on it. What is it about playing defense that excites you? I feel like it's being a part of a bunch of moving parts that have to work together. The offense has to do their own thing, but the defense, everybody has their own responsibility, and when everybody can do their own responsibility, everybody's going to make plays, and everybody's going to be able to succeed.

3:30:52So I just feel like being a part of that and trying to help myself and help my team be better in terms of that, that's a big thing for me. What did you get to say about that last night? A lot about how to see the game, pre snap and during the play, a lot about going into the game in terms of how you watch film, how you study, what things to see from the other team, everything like that, that's what he teaches. What stands out in how do you know about that? A very intelligent for sure. He sees a lot, and he has an answer for everything in terms of what teams can bring him, so I just feel like him, the different ways that he plays, the differences that will allow me to develop in different ways.

3:31:56Very instinctual player, very athletic, being able to make plays all over the field, being able to see plays before they happen. I think I understand it more. I mean, I definitely can't understand it from a Ohio State perspective because I haven't played it and I haven't been to that, so I can't really speak on how they feel, but I'm definitely hungry to be my side. He was the same person. He was a very genuine when I was getting recruited in high school and he was very genuine when I was getting recruited in high school.

3:33:04I was very genuine when I talked to him two weeks ago, so just being able to understand that he's about the people that he works with, and he believes in the people that he's around, and he believes in the people that he believes in. So just knowing that and knowing what he stands for, that means a lot. Recruiting a steroids, I say. I got 102 calls in one day, so just not in one day, probably seven or eight hours. But just being able to minimize what my mind was going through, that was a big thing for me, and being able to make a sound decision of what I knew.

3:34:05Pretty much you have to go silent. You have to be able to control your circle in terms of getting your opinions from people that you trust and people that you know you can count on. So that was the biggest thing for me, just being able to understand what the people around me were thinking and how I wanted to go about it. I'm at the end of the day. I love playing football, and that's what I'm here to do. I'm not here to make money or do anything like that. I know there's a lot of opportunities here in terms of the city of Columbus, but at the end of the day, I'm here to help this team win football games, and I'm here to do my best and try to develop. I'm playing in cold throughout my life, so it's not, I mean, Georgia is different, but I mean, I have had some cold experiences, so that's not a really big thing for me.

3:35:26Is that the spurs that they are going to give you from this one? It was a scuss, but it's not something that was a deal-borker or anything for me, so I wasn't the biggest yesterday for me. The same expectations that I had my whole life, the same expectations that we had at Bama to win games and dominate every game and go win a championship. It's all about the work, it's all about the process, it's all about doing everything daily to push yourself to be where we need to be at the end of the ride.

3:36:26I would say the day of or day like before the decision, it was pretty much just sitting on FaceTime with him and my uncle just talking about what was going to go into the decision and seeing their input on what they had to say about things. I would say I'm a pretty respectful person and I respect the people that reached out to me, even if I really wasn't trying to look at their school, so I'd probably say like 80 of them. I feel like you have to have some sort of idea, but people have an idea where they're going to go during recruitment too, so I wouldn't say it's that big of a difference, but you definitely have to have more of a singular mindset on a few places.

3:37:35Very calm, very... I like to chill out, not a lot to do, just hang out with my people, hang out with my friends, hang out with my family, just be around people. It was a highlight for me for sure, just being named that and going in relation to Sean Alexander, he's a great person in learning about him. It was definitely an honor for me. I feel like more than just Lathen and Sonny can compliment each other. A lot of people in the secondary can work together to be cohesive and be a brotherhood, but Lathen and Sonny they welcome me and I appreciate them for that, so I think us working together we can do some real damage.

3:38:36I would say as a collective the whole season, you can see the growth from the beginning and the season to the end, but I would say... It needs to be state or type of saying them, probably the best, too. Oh, I can't say that, that's for God to decide, I can't really say that. Definitely as a high schooler, not as rushed, I would say. I would say I'm elated that being able to watch film and determine what are the keys to look at each play, being able to determine which guys I need to change up my techniques for, being able to determine what I'm looking at in terms of what I'm doing.

3:39:55I would say that in terms of before to play and what my teammates need to look at before to play, I would say I'm elated that and being able to make those differences each week are a big thing for me. I have a lot of similarities, Coach Blu runs a great program and I love everything that he did for me there and those guys that worked there like Coach UJ, so I'm appreciative of how they worked and they did great things there. Coach Mick does a great job here so I can't really say one's better than the other but Coach Mick, he's a very intense person. I love the city, I love being around here, I love the feel of the town so just being a part of it is a great thing for me.

3:41:04I expect us to be one of the best, I expect us to excel and be better than they were last year. I expect us to be elite. I mean I saw it but honestly it was about me making my own decision, me making the decision that was best for myself so I'm glad they made that decision for themselves but it was for me. I appreciated it when I got recruited to Bama so the relationship I have with him is great but at the end of the day it was about me making my own decision. I'm genuinely a person he's very corny and funny but I say I love that guy he's helped me be able to adjust easier to Bama so I really appreciate him.

3:42:10I really appreciate him. Yeah, probably like two weeks here. Yeah, when we were on the impressions and values, we got that between us. Very strong willed, you can see the intensity that he goes about his business with. Very focused person. I'm making sure you do this, just being able to learn about the new guys, being able to have relationships with each of them because that was, I mean, at the end of the day, meshing with people is really just about your ability to understand people and grow relationship with a person so I would just say being genuine and learning about each person. Talk about your study habits and let's go where we're going to do much. Do you know those things that were available and you're not doing anything with like your study, you know, you're just a film ever stopper.

3:43:10I'm a very focused person so whatever I choose to focus on, that's what it is. If I'm home, if I'm reading a book, watching TV, watching YouTube, read my Bible, anything, I mean, I would say I'm focused on whatever I'm doing. Loved to watch Buddha Baker, he's a very elite player. Loved to watch Mikha Fitzpatrick, but I like to watch players that played in the past like Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Ronnie, those players have shaped a lot of my game, I would say. I do my thing. I do my thing. I would say it's the safety I really like watching. I wouldn't say my game is a lot similar to him.

3:44:13I feel like you take pieces from everybody's game. Even me watching Charles Woodson, seeing how he plays, I mean, in the NFL, he played a very different type of game, which I really liked how he plays. So just learning about that and seeing how he played was a big thing. I talked to him probably a couple of days before I committed. During recruitment, I talked to him a lot for sure, and we had a great relationship. How's it going to be a good relationship with Malik Hartford and Jordan Hancock? So those guys, I talked to those guys a little bit before I committed, so they're good people.

3:45:17I feel like they wanted to win, so it wasn't really a surprise to me. I feel like if they made that decision, they made that decision because it was the best for themselves. Caleb, thank you very much. Folks, thank you very much. Definitely going to play at guard, whether he starts will probably decide here coming off a Saturday, but he's definitely going to play unless something drastic would happen. He's our net opportunity, how much and if it's the whole game, we'll decide that as we get through the weekend, but for sure he's earned the right to play in this game. Again, we'll wait a couple more days to decide who the starter is going to be. Maybe you can rotate you all that way and you'll get over all the table. Yeah, I do. A lot of it had to do with, you know, because we had to put guys into starting roles.

3:46:17It's all positions, but certainly in the offensive line, when you're taking reps with the twos and threes, and you get pushed up with the ones, you better tighten up fast, and you get an idea of how guys can hold up, especially when you're blocking our defensive line every day. I think that was something that was definitely addressed here this preseason. I think Austin Saribel stepped up in a big way with Donnie being out. And then, you know, Carson can play both guard and center, which is good. You know, we've actually, you know, sent his done a nice job as well. But it was good to see Austin, you know, he moved from guard to tackle a couple times. And even with the ones he was in there battling his tail off. So I think we have built some depth there, but again, you know, we've got to go play some games and see where we're at. Rob Aller. And what's the main thing you want to see out of the old line? Yeah, you know, again, whether it's whatever happened last year or last year, I know that the message to our offensive line is we want to play the hardest playing offensive line of the country.

3:47:22Now, we've got to play with technique, but at the end of the play, like knock the line of screaming back and play with your hair on fire as hard as you possibly can. There's a lot that goes with the playing in the offensive line. It's all the communication. There's a lot of things that have to get into place. I think Seth has done a nice job of communicating, understands the offense better now. He takes control up front and brings everybody together, which is great. But to me, like, that's it. Now, we could list a bunch of other things, but to me, we've got to move the line of screaming. We've got to be just playing with our hair on fire and knocking people back and playing physical. And that's the start to game and that's the end to end the game. This is a destination spot for why we see what we can do or what that really means. Maybe not for the line. You see that definitely and how do you get over that? No, no, I don't see it that way at all. I think, you know, we'll see what we got this year, but I feel like, you know, we've got some really good young players in the system. I think that we should have the best offense in the country. That's the standard here. It has been for a long time. And, you know, and so we'll keep pushing towards that this year.

3:48:22And, you know, I think, you know, everybody in that room will take the same thing. Tony Gerbin. Brian, how's the situation with Bill Langbacher? You're sure you can go right now. I don't see that going. Yeah. So, Sonny has really stepped up and played well. He's made this transition from safety to linebacker very well. I think he did a nice job in the spring, but you could definitely see as he went into the summer, just, you know, bigger, stronger. Being more comfortable closer to the line of scrimmage. It's different when you're closer to the line of scrimmage. He's doing a better job getting his hands on, you know, on offense alignment and getting off of blocks. He's doing a better job, doing a better job with his hands. He understands the communication. The linebackers always have to be involved with the front. They can be involved and fitted it back in. He's doing that. You know, I think he's, you know, looking forward to play, playing in a game and, you know, getting an idea of what it all looks like. But I can tell you in practice, he's playing fast, he's playing violent.

3:49:22And I think he's, you know, he does a nice job of taking the meeting to the field, being very intentional about his work, but playing really hard. Is he the number one right now? Yeah, I haven't talked to Jim because, you know, we'll make that final decision here over the weekend, but he's certainly the leader in the club. Can you tell Ryan, I mean, Seth McLaughlin, can tell he's been there, done that. Is he projected that to the offensive line? You're still, when I'm saying from a leadership stand, a grown man. Yes. How does that just come up? How does that show up? Not a bunch of ways. It's just poised. It's not getting rattled when, you know, coach parks at you. It's, you know, OK, I got this. Let me get it under control. It's seeing something in practice and being able to adjust on the move. It's being prepared when you walk on the field. It's recognizing how hard you have to play at the position. It's kind of all of those things into one. He's got great communication up front. He talks to the guys. He's moving quickly in there.

3:50:25And when you have experience like he has, you know, the game seems to slow down at times yet. You know, he seems to be playing it off at a fast lover. Spencer Obrum. You've seen a lot of people. You see that in college. You see how many of you guys have passed. And there was a point where he got a black stripe off and I feel like he took a step in the right direction. When you come in the summer, it is very difficult to get on the field, especially early in the season. Whether he does or not, I will see. But if he continues to practice the way that he's been practicing, then he'll give himself a chance to be in the rotation midway through the season. Or later in the season, which is similar to some of the wide receivers we've had before. You've seen so many of those guys get some reps really in the season, but then make an impact later in the season. I think that's probably more his path right now. He shows up and starts doing great.

3:51:25And you know, we'll give him the reps he deserves. We're like Jeremiah is in a different situation because he came in here in January and he was a little bit ahead. Anybody who comes in and January to me, I don't look at them as a freshman anymore. They've been here. They're in the program. We expect them to contribute. Steve, please. You've been looking at a lot of knowledge about your strategy. You've seen that you have a lot of knowledge about your strategy. Now, you're not going to have a lot of knowledge about your strategy. Have you seen your system in your time during the strategy and then you're picking up what it was like to make you want to know the same thing for your strategy. You're not going to make the whole thing. You're still in there right there talking and communicating. But in the scrimmages we've had, it's been offense versus defense. So I've mostly been on the offensive side still kind of going through all those types of things. And there's a lot to work through this year just with the playcloth. And then it's going to mean by that is the coast of play communication inside of 15 goes off. There's a lot of things that go on there.

3:52:26We don't really get notification on that. So I'm trying to just help chip with that and some communication that way personnel. But I'm going to be very much involved with special teams. I think if it's a two minute warning, there's some strategic things that are going to go on in the half end of the game that you're going to really be involved with. But to your point, just overall just looking guys in the eye making sure that you know they have to look in their eye that they understand what's going on in the game. I think that happens sometimes to the young players, you know, they're just like playing the next play. And that's not just how it works. We'll get to win the situations. And so all those things will come into play and make an in game adjustments. You know, be involved with all three phases, you know, watching the game in a tab with the try to identify what happened in the last series. I think all those things will be happening. Right now, Nick is going to be the starter. And you know, that competition will go into next week.

3:53:28But right now, as we head into the weekend, he is the starter and the plan is ready to go first. I want to go up and go inside and get a second. He's got a strong leg. He's made it a good transition into the country, but also just playing football and not Australian. It was for ball, which is very, very different. The snap to kick has really improved. You know, that was one thing as he's a taller guy. So the ball has to gather this. You know, get off his foot faster. I think he's done that his hang time has been good. And he's been more consistent. You'll see, you know, he'll kick a few, but just go right out of the stadium. You just have a strong, strong leg. So we're looking for that consistency. He's shown that here most recently. So he's got the upper hand right now. And last question, Jeremy Burman. Ryan, I don't know if it's because Will maybe took a little bit longer to make a decision in December than some of the other top of the line quarterback you asked us to do it.

3:54:30Or because maybe there was a thought he wasn't going to be the starter. It can't be stayed this year. But it seems like people have viewed him kind of as a game manager type of quarterback. After eight months with him, where do you see his ceiling? What is Will's special trait to you? Where do you see him taking a selfie? I see a bunch of trades there. I think the first trade is size. It was big. He can stand in the pocket. And he's strong. So I mean, that's the first thing you notice about him. Again, whether it's standing in the pocket with poise, I think that's another trade that he has that's excellent. He feels the rush. But he stands right in there. I think the next trade is just, you know, his top end speed. And he can run 22 miles an hour at that size, which there's not a lot of guys who can do that. So I think that's an extraordinary trade. And I would, I would say his overall leadership command in the huddle is another, you know, something that he's really growing up. He's really, you know, growing into in the last few months when he's been here.

3:55:32And then his accuracy, he's been very accurate since he's been here. And when he knows what's going on and he can anticipate what's happening, I mean, it looks right. Just feel it. And he can hurt you, you know, a bunch of different ways. So, you know, his ceiling, that's, that's going to be kind of, you know, up to how he plays this season. But, you know, I see a player who has a lot of great skills that, you know, translates well to the next level. So, we'll see. But I know his first focus is on winning games around here. Yeah, sure. Folks, we have Tigra, Symola, and the goal line in Donovan Jackson. 10. Oh, man, I'd say I'm working that every day. Like, I'm through practice 10, practice 9 now. And I got to go in and watch all that to see what I need to work on for practice 10. So that's where I'm at right now. Just in the spring. Or, you're going to see a freshman, like that, bite it old. That's true, like, that's the good thing. Yeah. Josh Mellon, freshman, you're on the day of the New Year's.

3:56:33You can't exactly tell. You can't exactly tell. What about that world? You know, you're going to be around in some way that doesn't do what I call next. Yeah, I think it prepares me well. I was really blessed with the opportunity to be able to step into that position and see the field and just, see the line line, honestly. Not only with just the field, but going to the away games, going to those atmosphere. And I think that helps me out. It puts me in a good position for this year to just be able to contend for that job. We're going to just go set. I think it's a lot of things. My weight, my height, this, more regard height. But I'm fast on my feet. And I just didn't even use it to tighten my leg. And sometimes sometimes, like, fast on the ball. I want to be on that just like defend. But, you know, you got to stay square or something. Exactly. Yeah, that's a great question. I feel like these two can enter that for the V right now. I think KJ here will get answered that.

3:57:33I don't know what to say about that. What do you guys think? I don't know. I go games here every day. This man is strong. I'm talking about, like, you get the basketball field. You can just do a thing. He's really fast. Just the whole way I'm shanked as he had. And he got the grip. He doesn't give up on the play. Like you said, he's going to go in and watch the film. He's doing that every day. He's better than that. He's going to see the 100 field. But I just want to knock out this night. You can see the improvement at the game. You know, can you just follow us around? You sound like a coach, man. You sound like a coach. You know, chip Kelly's influence changed your mind about maybe, like, the idea of tackle versus guard. Because obviously his offensive predilection was for, like, offensive line play, room game. Has he been a part of the settling in the guard? I want to say maybe I don't know, but I mean, when I first heard he got the job, I was really excited

3:58:35because I'm one of those guys who's the tempo. I can run with the tempo. I've been playing basketball all my seven football and I feel like just the fast pace often so we're running really fits the guys we have right now. I'm really excited for that. I know you can throw a football like 65 yards, but can you kick a football? 75 yards of blink of an instant. No. Probably question. Lincoln, what's your question? How is your, your roommate at the computer? He's a blessing, man. I can't complain. He's a great guy. What's his name? His name's Lincoln. Keen Holtz. He's cleaner. Ooh, he's cleaner. I think we're both really clean. That's why we kind of picked each other's roommates because we're very clean and we don't like our rooms really messy. Well, it's true though. It's true. It's a real pretty clean stuff. Luke, are you still cross-training in Tagel some or have you just been all guard this spring? So far I've been all guard. I really don't know. Like I said, I'm taking it practice by practice. I could end up being back in Tagel, I could not, but you know, I'm just really focused in.

3:59:35This past practice is an excellent show. What do you mean? You want to be in a high-o-class arena? Yeah. Oh, that mean a lot. You know, you put a lot of work in to play here. And then you spend a dream just for being in a high-o-kid, and I'm from a high-o-kid's perspective. I mean, that's the biggest wish possible. I would say that's, that'd be pretty cool. What was it like just last year at first game getting off the field for the first time? It didn't fly. It didn't fly. This is gonna be a weird answer, but it feel like I was playing a game yet. That that makes sense. I did. I was pretty locked in. I felt like just no anxiousness, no stress, no nothing. I just went in that first game, was like, shoot out here now. It's time to roll. You know? It didn't really hit me. I was like, it didn't even hit me after. My mom was like, what'd you feel there? And if like, getting out there at the end of it, I was just like, honestly, I don't know. I felt less nervous that I didn't high school, and it makes no sense. What did you see in the last game? A lot. I mean, I'm learning from Josh Aniston.

4:00:35I think, prior to one of my biggest role models here, my bigger brother, my first game in here. Tell him I'm a PD in? No, I'm a fan. PD in Austin, those are my guys, man. I mean, even Miles too, I mean, all three of them, those are my roommates, and they're progressing every day as well. And I'm excited to see where they can get to. I'm excited to play on the field with them. Oh, yeah, you know, it's been really helpful. You know, just keep in my mind, just settled and straightforward on the next blood. What do you think is the biggest step? It's a great question. Like I said, I mean, I just need to stay consistent in my work. I think that's the biggest thing for me is just that I can't consistent and worry about the next blood. Experience. Go ahead, back to Dan Lover, if you mentioned, have his abilities at Almsbat? How have you seen him approach this week, particularly? Same as always. Same as always. You know, professional, resolved, competitive.

4:01:38You know, Gonzalez always been the same. He's always competing, and no matter who we're playing, you know, he's trying to get to better. Jeremy Birmingham, podcast. Jim, I know the statistical output of that Oregon game in October isn't an anomaly for sure on the season, but it was sort of an inflection point, at least from the outside looking in on some structural things within the defense. How confident are you that it's fixed? Based on the fact that in the last seven games you really haven't played someone that would be equivalent to what Oregon can do in office? Yeah. I'm always confident that it's fixed, you know. And then, of course, you know, you always stay up at night concerned about other things, you know. So it's a process.

4:02:38Obviously, we have to go out there and do it. You know, it's every game day is a test. You know, it's a test. Every game day is a test. So no matter what is done previously, you know, you don't get any credit for that. You got to go out there and prove yourself. So David, tell me where did that? I think that's just a guy, obviously, who's playing more and more. What did you see from him when he arrived on campus, allegedly? He could play early on at this point. What did you see from him now, apparently, where he was when he didn't get on? Yeah, he's got great strength and competitiveness. You know, he's one of those guys who comes in early and things don't seem too big for him. You know, a lot of guys need that transition time. You know, he'll make mistakes, but he'll learn from them. And he really lets it roll off his back. And that's what you need to learn to play early at this level.

4:03:42You got to keep your fire. You got to keep your intensity. And you got to know you're going to make mistakes, you know, and not let him get you down. I think that can hamper a lot of young guys early because you're going to make mistakes. But Edrick, there's a guy who's got a great personality and great energy. He just keeps going. Dr. Berry, WNS. Jim, you have said that you have great confidence in your defense. What gives you the confidence? What's the room like? Do you see an edge with your guys? Yeah, there's an edge. There's veterans. You know, I think that always gives you confidence when you have veterans. There's no panic. You know, if we give up a play or something negative happens, I mean, there's no panic. Guys know how to fix things. There's a lot of communication back and forth. You know, there's a lot of resolve to do whatever it takes to win the game.

4:04:46You know, no matter what happens during that game, our guys don't flinch. You see that they want this rematch? I mean, obviously, you got to beat them. The one the national title would get to the next level. But is this a game you guys have been pointing to that you want? I mean, you always hold for a second shot when you don't do well. And that's life. You know, a lot of times you don't get them. So we have a chance to do better and be better. But in terms of the week to week process, I think, you know, when you have a team that's together with veteran leadership, the week to week process stays the same. You know, no matter who we're playing, the point has always been for us to be at our best to get better from the week before and get better from earlier in the season and keep improving. Awesome.

4:05:46What's the word podcast? We've seen games with JT at his best, wrecking opponents' jack at the end of last year. But it feels like there haven't been many, if any, games where they were both as productive at the same time as they were last week. Is that a fair assessment? Would you agree with that? Can you think of anything else that was close from those two together? Yeah, I mean, in my mind, they're both great players and great young men. I mean, you couldn't find better guys. So I probably don't see it kind of the way that you guys do. Because I'm seeing every play and every block and, you know, run game and everything that goes into it. I know, you know, you guys with fans tend to just see the highlights, you know. But they've been consistent throughout my tenure here. There were been a lot of comments. What was this about? The word that was used out of the Oregon game was reengineering for the defense.

4:06:46I'm not expecting you to divulge too many details, although I'll be happy if you did. What really did change structurally, maybe psychologically, whatever? What was the big difference after that game? The hard was that for you being a veteran coach and having to reassess the way you did that. Yeah, it wasn't hard at all. I think if you're going to survive in this profession and grow, not just survive, but grow and get better. You always have to look at yourself. You have to see things that happen on the field and go back to how did I coach that, how did I prepare for that. You have to take responsibility. So, probably when I was younger, that was hard, you know, because you're, you know, you take it personally.

4:07:48I think now my job is to not be emotional about it. My job is to fix it, you know, that's my job. So, you got to evaluate it and you got to, you can't blame the players. I think that's the biggest thing, you know. You have to go back to how you're coaching in your process. So, you know, in terms of the changes, you know, if I could write them all down for you, I would. But I wouldn't anyway. I mean, I wouldn't anyway do that. But I don't think I could, you know, I think it's a, it's a, it's just a matter of seeing what's wrong, what happened and fixing it. Steve, it means, please do not encounter me. I think the Orgheims, you know, again, Dermain didn't play in. I don't know if you remember.

4:08:48What went into that decision to just stick with Dendell and Davis and that and then the growth that you've seen from Dermain, that maybe a lot of you guys think that he's maybe more ready to play in a game like this. Yeah, I don't recall what went into that. But I know Dermain should play and we trust him. So, you know, he's been getting in there more and, you know, we consider him a starter, you know, kind of like Cody Simon was for the first two years I was here, you know. He's that next guy, but we can put him in the game at any time and we need to. And if anything happens, he could play the whole game. All right, we're going to pause the live portion of this press conference and go to the world wide web. I think we have a question there for Joey Kaufman from the Columbus Dispatch, join. I don't understand. Oh, oh, oh, oh, it's my bad. I don't explain things to you. Hi, Jim. I'm still live.

4:09:50Just. Where are you? Burbank, California. But, hey, wanted to ask about Dylan Gabriel and his ability to avoid sacks is good in his ability to kind of avoid pressures turning into sacks. What do you remember about that first match with him and make some tough in that area and just how confident you feel about your pastures being able to get home in those situations now versus where it was in October. He's really good at that, you know, so. Whether it was our game or any game, you know, you have to have a plan for that. You know, we're going to have a plan for it, but, you know, I think the fact that other matters, he's he's going to get out, you know, he's he's going to try to make place with his feet and and then deliver the ball or scramble.

4:10:56So we have to be very aware of it in both the coverage and the rush. We're going to stick with the zoom call. We have an Andreas Soto. Andres, you're on. I don't know coach. I'm on desktop from the early times. JT has really been one of your anchors, defensively along that B line. What does he do that specifically that helps set the tone for you guys up front? He does everything. I mean, you couldn't ask for a better player in terms of the combination of skills that he has, you know, both in the run game, the past game and in making outstanding play. So he does it all and he does it with a very consistent demeanor and leadership skills and, you know, everybody looks up to him, including me. He's just an all round great player and a great person.

4:11:58We'll go now to Cameron P. Robinson from the athletic camera. Hey, Jim. I know organs often to a little different than some of the ones that you guys have played this year, but I mean both Indiana Tennessee this year have been pretty explosive in the past game. And you guys were able to slow them down. You haven't given up a lot of explosives since that game. What do you think changed for you all or is it just just some makes of pressures and everything we're kind of working at once? Yeah, it's all in the mix. You know, you got to apply the mix and we talk about explosive plays all the time. So I think maybe when you get burned by summit becomes real, you know, even more real for you. So, you know, there's just been a continued emphasis on it. Okay, well, I'm back for the team. Maybe I'm Spencer Holbrook, Letterman Role. Yeah, Jim, I think Kenyatta played the most in half. She's ever played against her right? I probably used to do it in some of the second half, some of the things you did.

4:12:58But what have you guys seen in him and his growth and change against you? You want to have him on the field and some critical moments there? Oh, that's interesting. He's really talented, really talented young man. You know, he's moved himself into that position through his work ethic and things he's shown us in practice and in games. He's just moved himself into that area where he could be a starter and he's earned it. I think it's a good penalty at all, but obviously the one that he had on Saturday, a question of who I guess. What do you like to appreciate that almost even though he gets called for it, that he's being aggressive and he makes that kind of mistake rather than being like a timid guy in that kind of opportunity? Yeah, I mean, he didn't do anything wrong. You know, he didn't do anything wrong.

4:14:01So yeah, we highlight his effort. That's a really tough call because you're into the quarterback. So it's one of those things that's like, okay, I'm into the quarterback. If he pulled the ball down and I landed on him, that wouldn't be a penalty. You know what I mean? So if I'm here, okay, well, pull it down, sack. That's not a penalty. But release the ball and then it's a penalty. So it wasn't late. It wasn't dirty. It was clean in my eyes. So we highlight it for sure. Got time for a couple more. Did many Letterman or all? Yeah, by the way, I think it's ACC officials again. That's what Spence told me anyway. I call him three safes. Jordan Hancock, I count that group. Talk about this a little bit before. But going into this game compared to that sixth game, how much more do you feel free to do things with those guys?

4:15:06You understand what I'm saying? I mean, those three guys, Caleb and Latham especially. And I guess what was the lesson learned and safety use in that first game? I can't give away all of that. But you're right. You're right. We've grown Jordan a little bit. Right? So he's able to do more things. So I think you're right. We're able to do more things. Who of those guys has really come on in the last six games from your opinion, Jim? Where they all three playing at a great level. I mean, just. Yeah, they've been solid. They've really, they've really been solid. I mean, I can't know. I think they've all been great. And final question. Bill Landis. Kings of the North. Jim, to the point of developing Jordan to do more things, it does seem like you're able to do a little more kind of three high structures where Caleb is in the middle. And sometimes he looks like he's playing middle linebacker.

4:16:08What is it about Caleb's skill set, I guess, that allows you to perhaps unlock some more with your safety? Yeah, exactly. I mean, I know you guys really watch the film and analyze it. So yeah. Yeah, I mean, you have a guy like Caleb Downs. You know, a lot of times you don't want to get him removed from a position to make plays, right? Because Caleb is a guy who can track the run and play the pass. So in that kind of setup, you kind of keep him closer to the action. And he's a guy that we need to make plays and he can't in the run in the past game. I guess what got you to the point where you sort of evolved to doing more of that this year? I don't know. We saw a whole lot of the first half of the season. Yeah. You know, again, looking at how we can do things better.

4:17:10You know, I've done it in the past. So just wanting to get him involved more too. He's a guy, like I said, who can make a lot of plays and make a lot of things right. He can make a lot of people right. So you think about how to get him involved more and that's one of the ways to do it. Coach, thank you very much. You know, the flip side, I guess, developing chemistry with a lot of guys, you can play a lot of high level for a long time. How, what's the value of getting five or uniform with that chemistry? You know, especially with how long the season is going to be, it's not going to take five. It's going to take six, seven, maybe eight, hopefully not eight, but they could. So I think it's invaluable that we had those experiences together. You know, the first five have to be able to do it in the first six or seven have to be able to do it too. So at the mention being like one block away, that's not the sort of a bit of a new trend in your career. Like how long does it take for an offensive line to convert that and not beat this one block away?

4:18:12Is it just kind of a randomness with every season with every team? Kind of randomness. We just have to keep going and, you know, sometimes when you miss one block, it's kind of like, go crap. I knew I was supposed to do that. It's just a matter of doing it. I don't know. Does it feel close though? Yeah. I mean, the way the guys approach each day to prepare for the game. I think we're getting closer to that. And it's game one. We got a few good games to really work on that. And I'm not our technique and I can't be sure. What it sounds like and it seems like watching guys too is it's a lot of coachable things and a lot of things that can be addressed in the film room rather than just guys getting people out of the game. Would you, is that how you would assess it as well? It's just guys. I mean, we're coached to do. We have the techniques. We have the toolbox to do it. It's just a matter of doing it. What's it like having a will being so invasive? Is it quarterbacks? You know, the escape of sac when he needs to make plays on the run as a passer? What's that like having a quarterback? Yeah, it really helps. It definitely helps the offense line look better.

4:19:16And you got a guy that, you know, that's a so experienced like that being able to avoid the rush. As long as you're playing hard, you have faith that the guys back there's not going to get saced. So, if you just keep blocking through the echo of the whistle, good things will happen to the O-Line. How are you? I think I played decently well for it being the first game, but there's a good thing is there's a ton of things to work on. It's definitely not a finished project. There's a product for any of you who got it on the O-Line. But there's definitely a ton of things through. You got a problem with the scams. The one time you double-plushed it, I knew it was a problem. I knew it was a problem. It was just a matter of communication thing. For you, how have you felt your command and leadership like expressed in that first game? Are you where you want to be with that? And I guess coordinating the protection is everything that we'll do. From a leadership standpoint, I'm just challenging myself to be the guy that somebody can emulate. I've had leaders in the past that'll just yell, yell, yell, yell.

4:20:16So, hey, we've got to go harder, go harder, but he's not the one going the hardest. I'm really just trying to put an emphasis on that for myself. Be the guy that people can emulate. And when I say something, I want it to mean something. So, I have to put myself in the position to have that role. Did you think of your first game in the middle of Iowa Stadium when you played at the same thing? It was awesome. The school session was awesome. I walked in there and I was just so grateful to be here. I started tearing up as like how exciting everything was. It's a blessing to be here and it's a blessing to be in this environment. Seeing all the fans walking to the stadium, it's incredible. It's definitely motivating. If we got it, I'm not sure how much you weigh in there, or 220, whatever. When a guy like that can do it, hopefully guys that are 300 pounds can do it. I didn't see it. They ran an internal stunt. I was blocking the linebacker this way.

4:21:18All of a sudden I hear yelling and I was like, what the heck? He got up and started screaming. But running backs that can be involved in protection like that, it's big. After three or four of those pops, those linebackers aren't going to be coming in and running down, trying to get the quarterback. They're going to be like, go crappers, the running back gap. I've got to avoid him before I can get to the quarterback. Thank you very much. I appreciate you all. I think trying to be that kind of like bigger than I was at the time. Looking back on it wasn't really kind of the best for me. Obviously playing was super awesome. For me, it was more of a developmental year. Looking into that as I'm going to grow a lot from this. Looking back on it, there's some mistakes. I'm like, there's no way I'd make that right now. There's no reason why I would do that. But I just needed that to develop into what I had to do. So I'm super grateful for it. I know everyone that's in place. I was asking you.

4:22:19You can get up there with three of us. You can get up there with three of us. You can get up there with three of us. In my mind I felt prepared. Looking back on it, you're like, wow, that kid really didn't know anything. But I think just the confidence I had, not only in myself, but the guys around me, like Donnie and Matt, and leaning on their years of expertise and how much they've gone through has really helped. Because maybe sometimes I would be looking at them, I don't really understand this. And there would be Donnie or Josh Fryer would help me. No, this is what we're looking at. I'm like, okay, that makes a lot more sense now. To help me become kind of the point of the guy from the line and stuff like that to make those kind of calls that we needed. I think it's really important to be in the position of the guy who's in the back of the line. Coach Fryer always says you know the best 5-up play. That's regardless of position that I don't really have any, like, here or there when it comes to what position.

4:23:20If I can play I'll be more than happy whatever I'm at. But you know the best 5-up play. And I think it's a really good job for sortating and rolling as a different position and stuff like that. So I'm not really sure what they have in store for us, but that we'll see towards the end of the spring and then going into the summer. Because all that can change as well. Currently I've been all centered. You mentioned that you're under size. What's your weight at now? Weight in today at 298. So I'd like to bump that up to 300, like 303 if I could. I got a real 303 not drinking it or it's trying to get up to 303. But that probably the end goal to really get my legs into that leverage against guys like him. What has the products been like of bolting off as you've gotten here every one hour? You can ask here, he's my roommate. He's been force feeding me kitchen social. But I was just doing that. Drinking away protein shakes getting in touch with killer. Artificial science for Enzo. We are super awesome.

4:24:20Kind of they've developed a good plan for us to get up to that weight because you know if you can play heavier and more your legs like why won't you kind of leave them money at the table. And I think for me last year I was like I really struggled with that kind of discipline of keeping my weight up and playing like way way lighter than I should have been. Like two of these weight to crazy. And I think that this year like developing with coach making stuff like that it's like real weight. It's not like kind of fake water we water we wait. It's like real like I can play my legs now a lot more. You were playing in two 80s at times last year? I was really low. I was like at the beginning of your back up. I got it back up obviously. What was your topic? It sounds like an absolute basic you try. I do. I don't know if it was that because I had all that like help on the line with me. I wouldn't say it was a trial by fire but it was definitely a big learning experience. Especially for a young guy who wouldn't do it not playing a single stab. I remember I was so nervous before the end of the game.

4:25:21I'm like literally shaking him like tearing up and stuff. And I'm like oh my legs real. You know you going into it you think like I'll put all this work on I should be there. And then you like I said you go back and you watch it take this year. I'm like what what am I doing? So I think it's like it's such a good developmental year for me that I'm super so grateful for the experience. And then going into this year trying to learn off that and learn off what we learned this spring into the summer. I think it's going to be really good. If you want to go to yourself now for just like practice or something you can prepare to watch and take it with you last year. What would you think to find yourself the biggest game of you experience? Mostly just playing in my like height and playing in my leverage. I would always have a problem with like really tight ankles and playing like tall on my toes. And whenever I got high hips and like I'll be like that's when I get snagged and tossed. And then just like more recognition of what's going on having the game slow down with you. Because the more you grow you kind of feel like the game obviously doesn't really slow down. It's going to be a faster every year.

4:26:21But it starts to slow down a little bit for you. Like you just kind of see last year and be kind of like jeering kind of figuring out what I'm doing. And then that's where I end up in those bad situations. But this year it's more like film study and more study with the coaches and stuff like that. I can find myself in better positions of power and making the right blocks around me. Do you have a career in that like not moving where you're assigned to? This is not 100% knowing exactly what you're doing. And that's not a coaching problem. That's not obviously it's a me problem. But it just comes with rapid and comes with experience when you haven't had that before. Do you have a good time to do something? Uh, jeering is kind of a rough word for it. But it's just kind of like you know you're indecisive as a better word when you know when you know you're 100% ready to make this block. You play so much faster. And this year when I've been able to do that I played obviously I'm not fasting. I'm saying I really can't focus on that. I'm just worried about beating Oregon and just going out there to pass a deal and just putting on a show.

4:27:25Anybody else have questions? Tom Moore, Fuck I Huddled. You mentioned getting ragged by Michigan. Is that frustrating when you see that from the father teams? Is that frustrating? Is that you know you and it feels like you always think you're open. Are you still open when you're ragged? Oh yeah for sure. I'm still open no matter if I'm ragged or not. I mean they just came out with a good game plan to break it me and a mecca. Yeah you know I mean just you know things didn't go as planned as we thought it would but you just got to keep moving on just move forward. Steven how late at 24 seven sports? Did you mind that the two touchdown plays that you had with Wil Howard? How many times do you think you guys rep that to get you? Those were perfect throws perfect patterns and you beat your guy off the line of scrimmage just how many times do you think and what does it take to perfect that? I think we rep the least. I don't know how many times and practice over the weeks that we had off. I mean just came down to you know they press me we we taking a shot as well they told me the weeks we was off and he told me her before the game in the locker room.

4:28:26I just got to give you a shot and that's what he did and I just made a play. The first game he had started just how tough was that challenge against their secondary? I know you have to get the end of the game but you guys made plays all day long against them. What's your thought about the challenge those guys gave you? I'll say the challenge is going to be a good challenge. They have some great global guys there. Jabbar Muhammad number seven. Niko Rhee, the other corner of my nine over there. They're great global guys. I mean probably the best we go see all year for sure. We just got a good name. You know, B.O. Ohio State. Tony Gertman, fuck I have a name. Derby, so what are you not open? Probably wouldn't a whole team on the I should say. I mean I'm always open to me for sure. Me just no, throw the ball in my area. I'm going to find a way to make a play as I always say. Step on Christname, please go to .com. You talked earlier about some of the great athletes that you got challenged and you aspired to be like,

4:29:28I guess where's that confidence kind of come from for you? How long have you had that confidence that you have the ability to be one of the greats in this sport? I mean a lot of people tell me that I'm going to be great at what I do since I was about going to high school. A lot of people tell me that. I mean just, you know, football is all I know and that's all I really want to do. I live, breathe, sleep, football. That's all I really care about. Don't care about everything outside of football. Like football is all I know and I just want to play football rest my life. Thanks for all of our lettering and roll. It seemed like you had a role where we tried to connect on some of those deep balls throughout the year. You'll be able to finally do those in that moment. And that was kind of carried that forward. Was it the same on the way that you guys have been able to continue to progress in chemistry? I mean just, you know, the weeks that we had all, we were just working on deep shots because they tell us, in meetings that we have, we got to take shots down, feel. We just got to connect on them and, you know, will tell me before, before the games, like I said,

4:30:29you just got to throw the ball out then just give me a chance and I'm going to make a play for you. That's what you told me and I just got to make a play for them. Adam King, don't be a bad guy. We can all joke, we can all talk about the expectations and the start of this become, you know, you were just 13 games. How do you handle that? I mean, just a freshman, how do you take all these expectations? You know, when you step on the field, that you're always open and still go out there and play. I mean, expectations, I mean, I can't know how you're staying for a reason. That's what I wanted. When it be challenged, I wanted the expectations. Expectations, I should say. I mean, Coach Hotline just helped me throughout the whole year just preparing me for each game, each week. A mecha, a booker, a cardineler, a tape, bringing it in. It's really the whole receiver on just helping me. I mean, stuff I don't really know about. It just helped me throughout the whole week. And I can't really say it's all on me because my talent is, but they really been a big part of the reason. I'm having the season that I'm having for sure.

4:31:29Andrew Gill, what's the most difficult part about adjusting to the college game? What was the part that you had the hardest part about trying to train this year? Learning that playbook. A playbook is something else. Just coming in, spring ball, mecha's new plays in every week. I'm like, what is this? This new plays every day in Coach Hotline. You go, you go, you go, we got no summer fall camp, you go, be great. So, I mean, just, you know, that's it. That's definitely what's the hardest part just learning the playbook and a lot of other things. How's it going? How's it going? How's that sound? How are you going to take these your comforts? I'm pretty sure I got it down the path right now, but net season, I really want to learn everything. The HZ, yeah, I really want to learn everything in the playbook for net sure. That would be 24-7 sports. You mentioned how many guys it might take because you did not feel out there.

4:32:29So, when you are one-on-one and Will's talking about when he sees you being one-on-one. What is going through your mind as you wind up and realize there's one guy covering you. Wind, that's all I could say. I mean, as a coach hard-law, we do something like in a hotel Friday night before the game. He asked me like a question like, you get one-on-one, something like that. He asked me, what do you do? I say wind and everybody just start laughing. I don't know where I be like, it's true. You got a wind, you're one-on-one, up out of the, so. Yeah. Are you familiar to the right, Bill Landis? King's of the North. Jeremiah, did you move to your round? Someone's going to send a seat to the point where you get a couple matchups against linebackers. What goes through your mind when you find yourself matched up against linebackers? I just started laughing in my head a little bit. I mean, linebackers can't really cover receivers like that, so I just know like it's most likely going to be open. But they just try to move me around a lot because you know people try to bracket me when I'm outside just alone by myself. So that's why they're moving me around a lot.

4:33:31Or less, Caleb and Warren, the Lantern. Jeremiah, you mentioned the most difficult part of your freshman campaign as they were learning the playbook. What has been the best part so far? The best part. I've just been in a room with a great group of receivers. I mean, just going out there competing, each and every day learning from the best. Make up a book of Cardinal Teja, learning from them guys. I should say that's been the best part of learning from Coach Hartlin. Just gaining more knowledge that I could use over the next two to three years that I'm here. I should say. Okay, we're going to wrap things up with a question from our Zoom call. Joey Coffin, Columbus, this back. Jeremiah, how much has the heavy thought about the way the working game ended with the for you and I cover with the pass interference call? Is that fit on your mind at all?

4:34:31Is you get ready for this game? What are your memories of that calling you're feeling about that? Yeah, I think about our call probably every day. Just, no, this is a crazy call. The DB was holding me, I just cleared his hands. I guess receivers can't be physical in football anymore, but DB is going to hold 10 yards, 15 yards down the field. It's behind me. I just know how to move here or not. DB is grabbing me, I just know how to move now. I guess can't be physical as receiver and call us football anymore, but we'll just see how things play out this game. Jeremiah, thank you very much. Thank you for the limiting. We did a suffer the losses on the whole line. They were getting back there, looked quicker than put footbed. We also expected that in the play, come out with an edge. We knew that they were in the team that played in the honor. Like you mentioned, there was some past attack issues that cried and some pain to maybe rush a little on some plays. But when the ball didn't come out, you guys were efficient in the passing game, 13 to 16, 13 to 20 yards for a temperature.

4:35:31What allowed the passing attack to escape that prolific as even the offensive wide will be from the middle of the game? The ball just had to come out quicker and for play. But we have to see every day in the line, as you've had to do that, to get it in hand and run faster and quicker. How much do you feel like that game can be a building block for you in terms of continuing to be a big, big, big party off that? I feel like each game of building a stack of each game and stuff like that. So I just made bigger plays in games and stuff like that. So I just thought it was another building block from the mad. How is the offensive line been working so far? They've been doing pretty good. They've been doing stuff like that, new guys, new places and stuff like that. We're all trying to pick up from the injuries and stuff. Can you guys, I was the one game that went last, the other game was the how can you get the driver's seat or the how in the next attack? We just got to get in, getting the box, something, the water, you got to get in there and probably get the safety, get linebackers or at the end. So like that, whatever they need us to do. When your touchdown catcher is like a distance ball a while to come down? They came, I thought.

4:36:32It was just a little bit of a win. Yeah, I had that little point. What's it like? Like I used to earlier, did you figure the ball was going to be coming sooner or later this year for the ball to go down the ground? I mean, you know, they'll get three big time I've received, there's maybe four or five. Did you figure it eventually, it would find you insignificant, insignificant times? Yeah, I knew it would all come my way, each and every week we have plays for each and all of us in the lineback. I just really depend on what the defense gives us, players to give us one thing, that's not a ball goes away from me or goes comes to me and stuff like that. So ultimately, it's not in my decision, it's ball goes. And yet you're blocking a state of point. So like you're blocking, it's hard to point. Yeah, our blocking from the wide-out has been a big emphasis this year and stuff like that because we liked that pretty much all last year. So they've been in a big emphasis of blocking it here from the wide-out. And when you look at Penn State on the video, what just stands out about there and maybe their pass through Pancewood? Which you're going to be personally up against in the game? They are pretty good select points, they play man that allows you to play like that. So we got to win our 101, so I thought of them on the perimeter.

4:37:34So I know you got an opportunity to get in the game last year. How similar is there for you to share the cornerbacks of what you made this all last year? I'm pretty much the same, a Maricopa doll around, they got a little size on the foot and stuff like that. They all probably pretty much the same size all around. Thank you guys. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. This is a concert world from South Florida. I feel like everybody down there we compete to the max. There's no other place that could be like South Florida. There's dogs all around the South Florida. Ever since I was seven years old when I started playing, it was instilled in me to compete and be that doll. I was thinking of South Florida once again. Or Jeremiah. Jeremiah, excuse me. I played with Jeremiah when I was 10 and 11 and we played against each other a couple years in high school. So I've seen him, the growth he's made over these years is insane. The way his body has changed is crazy. And now seeing him out here in the Bay is just like, everything's come full circle.

4:38:37You know, he was the best player in the country last year and for him, for me, seeing him grow up and things like that has been really good. It's up to players and stuff like that. Yeah. It's up to Stacker and even Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't play much of the three-plus. He's like, he might be the exception to the role. I feel like Jeremiah says, I mean, he's definitely, he's a different caliber. When you watch him and how smooth he is and the physical ability he breaks the game, I feel like he has to play. Some way he has to play, he's better than Tink. Jeremiah, you're the first guy. You're pretty not the winner. And now you're like, oh, three of you, right? I'm not the one who's up and all of this. You're obviously like, I can't talk to him. The next two or three years, we're going to have to do that for him. What about how? You're going to get the best receiver, or receiver room in the country, you know. We've been holding that narrative for so long now, but we don't continue to do that.

4:39:40I mean, we have a conversation, we're like, as a usher, because we all play for the same team as you said. We just want to be the best, and we know what is our time to come. We're going to do that and definitely get an absolute championship. How special is that for you for a team guy who's always used to get to the level you ever gave? It's very special because you would have never known in OT7 when we were there all on the same field together on the same team. We never thought we would have been at the Ohio State University all playing on the same field at the same time. So it's definitely special. So during the group. How was your body change in the soft season? I definitely think my body has changed a lot, and it's changed a ways that my body fat percentage went down the lot. And I just feel like overall feel better when I do long runs and stuff like that. So I have a really good stamina right now. I hope you could help. Would you be as winded this year as you were after 57 years of touchdown in your first test? You seem pretty winded.

4:40:41I feel like it was just a adrenaline rush thing. I feel like I was just more so a celebration was more tired than the run actually. Everybody jumping on me and stuff like that. But it was definitely a cool experience. I feel like if there were anybody to be from South Florida in the corner, it would be IGB, Davis and Ignosi. I feel like he competes with me daily. We go back out of the back and forth and Jermaine Matthews as well. We were out there talking and just having fun. But when we get on the field, we know like we know what comes behind playing receiver and DB is sprinkled on. Great. Brandon, thank you very much. Since Daddy is the Miami Abel High. I guess Mesrop Howe combo is going to go or if Dan's in five hours, he might go inside when I see the field.

4:41:50You know, recognizing the glances and down to distance and stuff like that. And kind of putting some toes together so it can help me throughout the day. How much has it been with the way that Austin served on the first couple of weeks? I was amazed. I mean, obviously Donnie is like an amazing full-up player. You know, Austin did not. It was almost like I didn't skip a beat. And I was really, really amazing because you know, a lot of people they get next to somebody they never played. Next to them even make them kind of like get on a lot of out of whack, but next Austin will be like. How much do you train a camp would you get to play next to him and kind of get rubs with him with him on their left hand? Yeah, so that was sick. So not too much. But I think like through all the back end of the camp, I was also awesome. In terms of building chemistry, then how did that go? It seems like pretty senior science, you know, with you stepping on all the things. Exactly. He was. I was able to kind of grow a lot. And we came to know like the first two weeks that and a little bit of the buy. I was able to play next to him so. Now should you just see so much more comfortable confidence.

4:42:51And then from the press conference. I mean, is that true? I mean, how much more comfortable in the conference? Yeah, I mean, that's something that goes there. And I think that's the way it says you have to go to the conference. And I go to the best D line unit in the country every single day. So I think that alone will build your confidence in that really. Obviously it's time to lock in and forward on the game day. But when you're going to get to school, I'm going to get to every week on a two-star like this. Can you just kind of already your talent, make the world more important? Controllably trying to play discipline and make sure I don't put other players on my team. And the bad things are somebody that I'm trying to maximize my potential. That would be Coach Fry. I could fry as a genius. I guess not only teaching real play, but teaching you why the play is being called to a certain look and stuff like that. So when you kind of go through a whole offseason with that and buy a week and camps like that, it's just going to make it easier. How is your relationship with your own weekend in your high school and now about your own? A lot. So I mean, I kind of knew Coach Fry had like a gift that I would have this time with him.

4:43:55Like really smart. You kind of teach you a lot about offensive line and stuff like that. I mean, enough. I didn't think it was going to be like this for my dad here. I mean, so him having him having him as like a resource to come to if I'm struggling is to say, I had a not so good day of practice. I'm coming to him. He can explain to me why this happened and stuff like that. And I can just go find him. That way. What do you think is the biggest difference in the long game? You're my actual boss. What do you think is the biggest difference in the long game? Well, are you guys talking about the long ball for your ass? I think it's one of the reasons that our offense is starting to let us. I think we have some athletes on the offensive line. It's along this kind of get out of space and kind of, you know, kind of destroy those the second level in the show. How fun is that? I think that's a big deal. Oh, that's fun. I mean, that's something that I love to carry work because you can just get us a good knockdown play. You're gonna say I could see you again.

4:44:55I'm sure three in the optimal thing almost. I said, quote unquote, it's a good heavy bag brother. So that's what you mentioned ships play calling. And what is different about the longer game? It's Kelly offense versus the offense. We're watching. It's not you're like standard offense. Like just now is kind of really simple. It's more you're gonna have to kind of. I guess practice it a little bit. How challenging is that like the first few bucks? Like you are the only one for points. For me, it took a minute, but I think obviously the double coach fries stuff like that. You get out here, get next to work. It goes all the way there. Just the new thing is that they have a fan sound. They're finishing. Absolutely. It kind of puts you like if you think what you can kind of put yourself in the game. And I guess imagine you being up there and missing any kind of. Playing in the game and that was really good. Yes. And you see what I'm going to do.

4:45:56I'm just going to turn it over. And there's a number of things like that. Going on road. Absolutely. Going in somebody else's home and you know, taking their food is probably the best things you can have or go over. So. Just when you say. Give me a guess to check his office. Actually, that's. Practicing and like the movement. So I think there's so much to give you the right. So what is the hardest part of changing? I would say probably it's always changing. I guess you know, nothing really says the same. So you can't really. You got to always be. I'm going to put this kind of. You got to be alert. Yes. That's kind of. You change. Or just look for me. I mean, yeah, it's just. It's always like different. There's a lot of differences. Josh mentioned the athleticism on the offensive line. It feels like Josh Fryer really worked at that in the soft season. Get leaner. Better bang. What have you seen from him on the other side of things? I've seen exactly that. He looks a lot more athletic.

4:46:56He looks very fluid in his sets. Backside cutoffs. He looks like an entirely different way. The reason that I'm starting to take away from him is when I watch you film. Are you guys ever competing to see who can get farthest down the field on those big like seconds? I'm sorry, Chris. Absolutely. You can hit their faster MPH and stuff like that and practice stuff like that. Yes, definitely. That's out there a lot. Yes, that's always nice. How much has said that's in this offensive line? You know, the guy that's pretty experienced. How much has he mentioned? He's meant a lot. He's played in some really big games. I've come from Alabama and I'm playing in a really really big game. I guess he can say he knows this way around this whole thing. He teaches different tips and tricks on how to let's say get to a block. Obviously it's more interior. That's a lot of experience. How much has that been? It's the first couple of years. I mean, it matters a lot. Obviously that's one of the biggest things that when you have something like me and I,

4:47:56you play against each other and then you tag around and file. That's like, you can't play against each other for a little bit. So when they go out there, it's really like the player for your brother and helps player them as hard as you. Josh, thank you very much. Thank you. Well, the plan is always doing the good things. Competition, Ohio State, I'll be back every day. How much of the dust from the days that you get to spring? At high school, I was a little undersized for at least Ohio State. So coming in getting a little bit more weight on me and just getting out there, it's just not big difference but just getting faster. Would you have two now? I weigh it in at 58-60 this morning. Yes sir. Mr. Scott, you got him.

4:48:57J. Dr. Scott. He got him a leader in the room. How would you describe that for him? Like we came in, we're like Wednesday. Everybody's a leader in their own way. But I feel like in the tight end room, the two older guys, the two guys that's setting standards as a G, the Pat. Everybody's a leader in their own way. Everybody makes each other better. But yeah, I would consider G in front of leaders in the room. Where the biggest things you think you can bring to this offense this year? First utility, a lot of playmaking, a lot of down and dirty blocks because I have got better blocking. Just like, it's an exciting player. The seat Cade had the kind of year he did last year as a receiver. Like how inspiring is that in the seat away tight end to being used in this offense? Man, Tine-Ans are getting highlight more and more. Cade was just one of the people that stood out this year because he put in that work, his system in and out the wood. He's late nights early mornings, even with me sometimes. What do you like to say?

4:49:57What do you like about blocking? Blocking? He's knowing that you can physically move him, man. He knows you come. That's all blocking is. Knowing that you can get your run-up back to the inside just by you cutting somebody up. Is it a human area you've made the biggest strike? Of course, it was something that I highlighted when I first got here knowing that a high school I didn't do really too much of it. I was more of a catcher than I was here, but what you got to do is you got to get better. What's the thing you've learned the most about blocking? Blocking? It's all about leverage. It's all about leverage. You bring power, you have good leverage, you're in the block. What's it been like having an air here? That's my dog. It's always good to get somebody from back home, especially with a guy you already had connection with for two or three years before that full-bubble forward high school. How have you seen him take your high school? He's dressed with everything. He didn't all the gyms from the other guys in the quarterback room, trying from the other guys that came back during spring practices because our run-up is great.

4:51:05How cool is that when you see a guy like CJ Strauss come back here first? It was a little shocking at first because I decided to play with him and all he did was get the hair on him. So CJ, he's pretty cool. I talked to him a little bit. He said he showed up to the tight ends while he was here. There's a bunch of guys from Georgia on the left team with both sides of the ball. What do you make of that? There's a bunch of guys from Georgia. Hey, Georgia's were the dogs at. Literally. I'm not poor dog. I mean, game plan was come out of wind. I was a part of that beginning then some other guys came in. We could get the job done. Just probably a little bit more better than me. Combo is great experience. It was a great bonding experience for the whole team. That's the leader of Woody for a minute. That look cool. Vacation spring Christmas out there. What would you like to have to have patience?

4:52:05I think I would take you playing. You've got a big guy. Yeah. This is your opinion. What's it like to wait kind of your turn? And at the same time trying to prove yourself? It's not really too much proof of myself. It's just me getting better on a day-to-day basis. I mean, it's not the first time I've been waiting to play a little bit. Obviously, some guys, first year at high school, they played JV. I was one of those guys, played JV. You get better, you move up, and they're working show. Is it air? One touch coming from the ball. Air knows the grind. Air is a quarterback. He knows the grind. He knows it a little bit better than me while I was in high school. He didn't show me the road, but he definitely gave me gems and motivated me while I was making the process. Obviously Caleb Downs, one of those Georgia guys, what's it been like practicing at Hensley? Caleb Downs, competitively, man. I mean, he turns brains at every day. I bring it every day. Ohio State, you're going to get the best of the best of every day.

4:53:07So, I love it. Do you have the dream of you're playing at high school? I didn't get to play at high school. What do you see of him in practice at center? When people speak of him being one of the best in the nation at the best, what do they talk about for your bench? What stands out about his player? I mean, he proved that everything he had to prove to get that title at Alabama. He can make plays. He's a great football player, and all he did was bring his talent to Ohio State. Can you see Sandy? Can you see Sandy? Can you watch him play? You don't need a guy to come? He knows what he did for the game. I know for sure, Caleb has definitely did his homework. He's definitely watched him, and he definitely knows what he's looking for. So, it makes the game very easy. Thanks, you're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. You put a drop in the bucket, but you put a nut drop in the bucket, and you continue to do it. You'll look back over time, and you'll have a full bucket. So, is that kind of mindset that we're coming into practice? You might not see yourself getting that self-again better. It's like working out. You don't go in the mirror after a workout. You'll see yourself getting stronger, but you have the faith and the trust that you continue to put days in.

4:54:09You'll look back, and nothing will be the same. You'll be a better team. For better or for works, if you're not putting the work in, you'll look back, and you won't be where you want to be. So, I believe that I'm confident that this team has put the work in. We show up weekend and week out. We put drops in the bucket, and we're going to be able to reap that this weekend. I think you both Brandon and Cody kind of are laying off the board. I think going back to this foundation, I think it's another team. We believe that we're built on toughness. It's one thing to say, but I believe that we show up weekend and week out when we show toughness. But, to your point, last week, I believe there was position group that were challenged, not necessarily taking a personal, but just challenged to practice harder.

4:55:09Let's see, how hard can we practice? And so, I think ever since then, there has been another step that we've taken. But that's the whole goal. I mean, I hope in two or three weeks from now, there's even another step that we take forward for where we are now. That's just the evolution of getting better at the team. And I think one thing I've noticed with this football team is I think every single week we play, we continue to get better. But I mean, that's just like, right? I mean, the thing you continue to do, you have to hope to continue to get better at it. But I think we're seeing that here with this football team as well. Gia, I think when we talked to you in camp, you said you were excited about how you guys are going to run the ball this year. Yeah. Have you done that? At what point did it become clear to you that you guys are going to be able to kind of hang your hat in front of the ball the way you are now? I just think we're such a balanced offense. I think it's kind of going against our team, especially in specificity against our offense. I think there's just too many things you have to respect. You've got to respect the perimeter and you have to respect the run game. You have to respect the stretch and the inside zone, all the different things that we can do, putting the ball over the field in perimeter or even taking a shot down the field.

4:56:11You have to respect some of the things that just leaves gaps in the ability to gash the ball for six and seven and eight yards. So I guess to answer your question, the more dynamic wherever to be on the perimeter, the more we're able to connect when we hit on shots, I think the better it's going to be able to open up the run game as well. I think Coach Kelly and Coach Day they do an amazing job just putting us in the right position and we don't have to think about that kind of stuff. We just awful minds that is 4 to 6, 8 to V plus 2 to play as hard and as violent as we can. We'll look at the scoreboard at the end of the game and see where we are. Is that balance the best you've had to be in here? How would you guys characterize the balance of the ball? Yeah, I just think I don't know, I don't want to sum up, I don't want to compare, but I think we're just a very balanced team. I don't, I don't, it's not much weakness. Now, when I say that, we still have the humility to know that we must continue to be better weekend and we gout. But when I just look at our team as a whole, I don't just see like, let's go pick on this guy because this guy can't do X-Lyke V or we can leave him.

4:57:15I think we have 11 guys on both side of the ball that are able to be dynamic and the physical and strong players. And I think we're just a complete team. But again, I say that with humility. We want to continue to weekend and week out be the best team. We know we have to show up because on any given week you can lose. So we show up every week with the intention that it's a national team. Let's say a lot about the strategy days of the game. You're going to have this game for the Iowa game. Yeah. What kind of help you grow as a leader and what kind of help you grow more comfortable? I guess it's being covered with what you want to do. I would just attribute that to my faith. In my words, they would do the strikes. I think before you can lead anybody else, you have to have a sense of the foundation of who you are. Having an offensive self and I think the more that I've been able to be strong in my faith, the more confidence it is given me into being leaders to other people. But I think that's where it starts. How can you lead people if you're not really sure where you are?

4:58:15And then also when it comes to practice, practicality of football, I think the more you have an understanding of the offense, the more that you are, the more that you know, the more ability you can then hand it to the next group of younger guys coming behind you. So that all helps with leadership. But I would attribute that to my faith, my strong foundation, and no one who has a strong foundation. No one who I am. Maybe some of the better instrumentalists for years that you kind of were able to learn from as well. I noticed that they were pretty good leaders as well. You asked who were some? Others, there were so many. This name I picked here, I've seen many, many leaders always going back to my freshman who was just in and pastful and Jonathan Cooper. Those guys to then the next group of guys with Chris and Fayer. All the different guys going up coming through here, I've seen many great leaders. And I think there's something I would definitely say that's something special with the leaders on this team.

4:59:18I would say that there's not the leaders that we have on this team, they're not just leaders due to seniority, due to it's just my turn. But I would look at the leaders that we have on this team and say they're sincerely leaders. Not just by leaders, but it's not just Hamie down. They're truly, we have great leaders on this team. The first question, Brandon was saying that he feels like Will is just built for the moment. Do you kind of feel that way too? Yeah, I feel like he never gets too high, he never gets too low. He's always locked in and focused. And that's the kind of, I don't know, temperament is the right word. But the right attitude, if you will, for like a better word. That's the right attitude that you want from the quarterback. No matter what spot we are in the game, we can look to Will. And we'll be able to lead our huddle. And we have confidence in that. All right, she thank you. So far, it's been tough practices. So really just coming in each and every day, man, it's just trying to get better. How important is Navajo, especially now in Big Ten?

5:00:20Man is very important. The coaches, they stress that a lot. We've got to run the balls, not to run, especially in these match-up games. You know, these big ten games. So we've definitely been working to try to do that. So what's the most intense memory you had the most lost one? I got here. I ain't going to lie. It's so many. It's so many. Paul County, no, Paul County, man. I got so many there, Paul County. But yes, it's a lot, man. Okay, what was the first impression playing with you when you went shot and all you guys first met? I think when he first got here, he came in the room. And man, he gave us this speech. He was like, I'm a dog. I'm a dog. And man, that's right, that I knew I was like, we in it, man. We in it. But no, I love Coach Lang, man. It's all the deep friends here, man. Thank God for bringing him here, man. He's been amazing, you know, in this room, on the same man. He's been a huge part of the same.

5:01:20So I was talking to you about that. Have you ever had a coach quite intense as with Carlos'? Oh, yeah, man. Coach, Coach Afro was that way. You know, he coached me that way. And Coach Lang does it as well. And so, yeah, man, both of those guys, man, I'm so thankful. You know, that God has allowed us to cross paths. You know, they both been really helpful in my life. Maybe on whether, other sets of stuff, I'm not the sole of the other thing, or we just kind of generally keep them balanced sometimes. I was born as a bird running back to work on stuff with a kind of your all-time man. And you're not carrying this over. I mean, I feel like it's just a tool. You know, you can use sometimes that comes out. And so, one thing that Coach Lang helped us work on, is just using different tools. And so, it definitely comes to show on Saturday, you know, sometimes. So, man, that's, yeah, it's really important to just try to work on those tools as a running back. What about contact now? And so, I'll do the proof that over the course of the proof. It seems like that's going to strengthen you really, really.

5:02:21Yeah. So, really, man, just like the part of this program is getting developed. And so, really, just getting developed here, you know, on the coaches here, they've been doing a good job of helping me, you know, grow, and become, you know, a better running back. And so, especially having Coach Lock here, you know, he's been a huge part of, you know, the success. I'm praise God, you know, first and foremost, but, you know, with him bringing Coach Lock here, him leading Coach Lock here, man, he's been a huge part of that. With Coach Shion, you know, we've talked so much, you guys have talked about it. You know, split carries, but now that you're actually in the season, you feel, you're in for a drive and then Coach Lock comes in, you go over that nerve drive where, you feel that defenses are more worn down where you're not in first time going the way. You split back, it feels like you've always been in the future back. Now, you're kind of split carries. Do you feel like, when you feel that defenses are a little more worn down than you are, do you get in there in, you know, first, light first quarter or early second quarter? Every now and, I mean, it really depends on the team.

5:03:21You know, there are some teams that play hard, you know, four, four quarters. And so, yeah, it really depends on the team, to be honest. Do you think split carries might kind of help you at all in any way? Yes, it has helped me in so many ways. And I, you know, it's a long season for real. And so, the biggest thing is just helping, you know, with the wear and tear. And I'm just building off each other moment of two. So, it's helped in so many ways. And you're kind of looking anywhere in here, does it even help? When you get down up like, you know, you're not maybe getting the volume, you just might sound harder, or if it doesn't, it helps at all. Coach, they actually talked about that, too, be honest. Does he express to the team, you know, if you get tired, you know? We got, we got, we got death on the same, you know, guys who can come in and make plays. So, he actually expressed that. We got tested to come, but what's impressed you about the offense and why in the month of last year? Man, really the work they've been playing in, you know, their practice. I mean, I know y'all see it, you know, during on Saturdays, but man, really the work they're playing during practice, you know, it's hard, man. And those guys do a good job of, you know, just coming in each and every day and trying to get better.

5:04:25So, you talk about your thinking, getting off from John. And he comes out with a step arm, you come out with a step arm. You guys, you got speed off that mentality, I want to, one of another, one of another. Yeah, man. Like I said, man, there is definitely, we build momentum, you know, off each other. And I'll definitely build momentum off when Sean, man. When Sean is a great running back, I believe the shoot, the best running back in the country, man. That boy, talented man. And, you know, I'm so thankful, man, to have him here, man. He's going to be a huge part of the scene. Thanks, right? J.M. The snobbysons of Ron, especially now in Big Bang. Man, it's very important. The coaches, you know, they stress that a lot, you know, we've got to run the boss, not to run, especially in these match-up games. You know, these big 10 games. So, you know, we've definitely been working, you know, to try to do that. But what's the most intense memory you had the most lost in the last year? I ain't going to lie. It's so many. It's so many. Paul Count, no, Paul Count, man.

5:05:26I got so many there, Paul Count. But yes, it's a lot, man. Okay, what was the first impression when you went shot and all you guys first met? I think when he first got here, he came in the room. And man, he gave us this speech. He was like, man, I'm a dog. I'm a dog. And man, that's right, that's right. I knew I was like, I weeded it, man. We weeded it. But, no, man, I love CoastLog, man. It's all the deep, brings him. And man, I thank God for bringing him here, man. He's a man. He's been amazing, you know, in this room, on the scene, man. He's been a huge part of the scene. So, I was talking to the garage, but have you ever had a coach? Quite intense as with Carlos'. Oh, yeah, man. Coach Ophor was that way. You know, he coached me that way. And, you know, CoastLog does it as well. And so, yeah, man, both of those guys, man, I'm so thankful. You know, that God has allowed us to cross paths. You know, they both been really helpful in my life. Maybe on what other sets, the farm, what the cell, the other day,

5:06:27or do we just kind of generally keep it balanced sometimes? That is a for running back to work on stuff with the kind of your all-pan, and you're not carrying this over. I mean, I feel like it's just a tool, you know, you can use, you know, sometimes that comes out. And so, one thing that Coach Lai helped us work on, is just using different tools. And so, it definitely comes to show on Saturday, you know, sometimes. So, man, that's, yeah, it's really important to just try to work on those tools as it runs it back. What about contact now? And so, I'll do the first that over the course of the trip. It's like that's going to shrink, really. Yeah. Shoot, really, man, just like the part of this program is getting developed. And so, really, just getting developed here, you know, the coaches here, they've been doing a good job of helping me, you know, grow and become, you know, a better running back. And so, especially having Coach Lai here, you know, he's been a huge part of, you know, the success. I'm praise God, you know, first and foremost, but, you know, with him bringing Coach Lai here, him leading Coach Lai here, man, he's been a huge part of that.

5:07:27So, with Coach Lai, we talk so much, you guys have found that, you know, a split carries, but now that you're actually in the season, you feel you're in for a drive and the coach comes in, you go over that nerve drive where you feel that defenses are more worn down where you're not in first time going with your, you split back, it feels like you've always been in the future back. Now you're kind of split carries. Do you feel like, when you feel the defenses are a little more worn down than you are when you get in there, you know, it's first, light first quarter or early second quarter? Every now and, I mean, it really depends on the team. You know, there are some teams that play hard, you know, four or four quarters. And so, yeah, it really depends on the team, to be honest. Do you think split carries, what kind of help you at all in any way? Yes, it has helped me in so many ways. And you know, it's a long season for real. And so, the biggest thing is just helping, you know, with the wear and tear. And I'm just building off each other moment of two. So, it's helped in so many ways. And you're kind of looking anywhere in here,

5:08:27does it even help when you get me down up like, do you know you're not maybe getting the volume? Is it like, it's not harder, or does that help at all? Coach, they actually talked about that too, to be honest. Does he express to the team, you know, if you get tired, you know. We got, we got, we got deaf on the same, you know, guys who can come in and make plays. And so, he actually expressed that. Bigger tests are common, but what's impressed you about the offense and why in the month of last season? Man, really the work they've been playing in, you know, they're in practice. I mean, I know y'all see it, you know, during, on Saturdays, but man, really the work they're playing in, they're in practice. You know, it's hard, man, and those guys do a good job of, you know, just coming in each and every day and trying to get better. So, you talk about your thinking, getting off from Sean. And he comes out with a step arm, you come out with a step arm. You guys, you guys feed off that mentality, I want to, one of another, one of another. Yeah, man, like I said, man, there's definitely, we build momentum, you know, off each other, and I'll definitely build momentum off when Sean and man, when Sean is a great running back, I believe the shoot that's running back in the country, man.

5:09:27That boy is talented, man. And, you know, I'm so thankful, man, to have him here, man. He's going to be a huge part of the scene. Thanks, Travis. Just supporting each other throughout anything. And knowing that I can go to a train or I can go to Donovan and talk to those guys about any issue that I would have, and they can do the same with me. Just having that support for each other, that's a good place to make sure. Coach Dates talked about running backs, where guys down throughout the course of the game. Do you feel that as it's starting to happen, as you and Trey are kind of rotating in? Yeah, totally, man. Like, especially these last times games, we get on a roll and that began the game. Defense is more sound and those guys are more stiff. This horse giving up yards, as the game goes, it's like, okay, God, it's awfully nuts on it. Just keep running it, but we kind of see it, especially right now. What do you see from Indiana's defensive front? And that's the strength of their team. Yeah, undefeated team right now. I think more so sound and those guys are super disciplined. They like they want to give up in the yard, so that's our job to go out there and make a give up. We talked to Trey last week about just kind of how fresh he felt.

5:10:29How about you, obviously? Have you worked with the last couple of years? Yeah, man. I think right now, I felt the best ever, but especially mentally and physically, I felt great. Just having a great group of guys around me to go out there and try to go win it all. So, you know, having Trey around as well, he's been such a asset to this team. And just supporting each other throughout this whole year and just trying to go win it all. Which I'm going to expect the offensive line to pick up where it left off. Obviously losing South is a huge blow. And so, what have you noticed like today from the Espree to Cobra that group? Yeah, I don't know there's anything out of the ordinary. Whoever steps in, those guys are going to execute. So I don't have any doubts of anybody. I don't know how far the line I know there's a guy. You know, they're going in, it's good for their best. Thank you. Thank you, obviously. You know, I'm thinking about myself and how I can be better, but you know, the bigger thing is how can we be better as a team? How can I facilitate that being a quarterback? You know, how can I encourage somebody, you know, before we go out there to remind them, hey, you know, if it's a running back,

5:11:29you know, make sure on 60-year-old, whatever protection, you know, you got these guys. You know, doing things like that is something I want to continue to grow in for my team, you know, because that's at the end of the day, you know, all 11 guys have to do their job, every single play. And, you know, being the quarterback, you kind of have to facilitate that a little bit and help those guys and make sure that, you know, we're being the best team we can be. Yeah, I felt fast. It was nice to get out and running a little bit. You know, I, I, we made a little, a little QB call on that play and got out and ran. And it was fun, you know, obviously it's, it's nice to compete with those guys and running, you know, trying to outrun some, some BBs that are really, really fast. But yeah, it was a good play. No way, no way, no one you came here, you talked about, you wanted to do it with all of the past, you know, with the big, fire, if you come here, you feel like you're like,

5:12:29you're like, oh yeah, absolutely. That's a big part of my game and it's going to need to be a part of our game as an offense. You know, whether that's in a re-game and in the scramble game, whatever it may be, and you know, I just want these guys on my team to know that, you know, I'm willing to run the ball and go get that extra yard when I need to, you know, because at the end of the day, that's what really, that's what it really comes down to. You know, are we going to run some quarterback, you know, run place, sure, but, you know, at the end of the game, when it's third and fifth and everyone's, you know, everyone's covered down the field, am I going to be able to tuck the ball down and go, you know, go get six yards and run someone over. That's one of the bigger things. And I think, you know, I want those guys, you know, they're out there with me to know that, you know, I'm going to go get that extra yard. You always have been part of your game, but some quarterbacks are able to run, but not willing to be. You know, I mean, folks, folks, as a visit to your P.W. I mean, just make a play. Yeah, I've always definitely, you know, when I was a young kid, I was a pretty good runner when I was a young kid, I was a pretty good runner when I got to high school.

5:13:29I was a tall, you know, skinny pocket passer kind of. And I wasn't really known for my running ability. I ran it, you know, a few times a time. But when I got to K-State, I put on a little weight. You know, I started to get a little stronger in the, you know, in my leg areas. And, you know, actually my first start against TCU, third play of the game, I ripped off like an 80 yard, QB draw, which I surprised myself a little bit. Like, you know, I had had some good runs in camp, and people knew I was good athlete. But like, I was like, man, I just really just do that. And from then on, I, you know, it just kind of became a part of my game. And, you know, I just got more and more confident with it. And, you know, the more you do it, the better you get at it. You know, throughout my whole career there, obviously, I ran the ball. I get a mountain. I enjoy running the ball. I think, you know, people always ask me, is it more fun to run the touchdown or throw a touchdown? I like to run it. I think it's pretty cool to, you know, run in there and celebrate with the teammates. But, you know, yeah, it's definitely been a, been a big part of my game. It's what we need to be. Well, the guys that said it.

5:14:35That's a good question. Everything is, everything's heightened here. You know, I think, you know, the, you know, you, you feel, you feel the eyes a little bit, and you feel, I think, I think that, you know, the one thing I would say is that I don't feel like I have to be a hero here. And I feel like I have the guys around me to where I just need to facilitate and just get them involved and make good decisions. And at the end of the day, I don't have to go out there and do anything super, super human. You know, I just have to be myself and trust the guys around me. And, you know, in, in going through camp and through spring ball, like, it was talking to you earlier, Adam, like, going against his defense every single day is a, is a blessing. And like, I know it, it sucks at times, and I'm sitting here like, you know, in a, in a game, like, that guy's not going to be guarded like that, you know, that's just in Zelda being a dude, or IGB, you know, making a really good play, but like, that's real, and that is going to happen. And we're going to play some really good defenses, but like, I think we're playing, you know, one of, if not the best defense in the country every single day,

5:15:35and that's just making me and us better. And, you know, for, for me, you know, it's just, it's elevating my game, and I, I love the competition, and we, we all do. So, where will you play the first day? Which is the first day? The first day. The first day. The first day. The first day. I think they're doing a really good job. I think they, here in this offense, they're, they're doing a lot of different things, they're moving around a lot. They're, you know, they're, they're blocking, they're catching, they're, they're doing a lot of different things, and they've shown some really good flash so far, and these first couple days of practice. And, I'm excited for this group. I think, you know, really good things and obviously he's one of those alpha dogs in the offense. Like everyone looks to him. You know, he's one of those guys and you know, and Will Kazmeric, so it's really good things. So Lonnie's in with really good things. Like everyone's kind of stepping up. It's been cool to see. I think that tight end room is definitely bringing the juice coach. He's got him going and I'm excited to see what they do.

5:16:36Yeah. He's still like you know, right? This one, like you feel like you're the number one quarterback. You approach practice with your starters. The mindset wise, how do you go about that? Because obviously it's still a competition. I'm just trying to be the best version of myself every single day. That's all I'm trying to do. And you know, whatever, whenever I get thrown in there, I'm going to go in there and make the best out of my reps and you know, show this team that, you know, I'm, I'm going to fight for them and do everything that we need to do to win. That's all that matters to me. It's getting better and the best team that I can be. I'm just the first year that the most coach guys were in practice and tricks of Billy from Thomas and you guys more. You're having a healthy LPSU. Are there new offers that have that some valuable? You have. It's been awesome. Yeah, I think it was long overdue. I think you know, we've had these guys that have ton of knowledge, you know, and have all these weird rules that they couldn't coach. But now being able to, you know, have Riley and Billy and Coach Kelly and Coach day all coaching us. We got really two quarterback coaches on either field when we're doing like two spot,

5:17:39like it's invaluable. And I think Billy's been awesome for the room. You know, I think Riley, Arkansas don't some really good things. Obviously Coach Kelly and Coach there, you know, some of the best in the, in the country, you know, I've developed me quarterbacks and, you know, the coaching that we're getting is awesome. And I think having the analyst be able to be out there on the field has been really big and long overdue. Well, tips that there is no front line. There's a point you guys look into. We're talking all the rest. At what point would it be helpful to know who the starter is and who to be able to get those you have to be the leader more fortunate to take it to the team? Yeah, you know, I wish I could say. I don't really know. And, you know, that's not up to me. That's not my decision. I am, I'm just going to be myself, you know, keep fighting to be the best version of myself every single day. And, you know, try to make the, make the most out of my reps and show this team that, you know, I'm going to, I'm going to give them my all. And that's all I can do, man.

5:18:39And we're just going to keep competing, keep making each other better and have fun. It looks here, passing. You feel like a different pass from the U.S. State and why? Yes, I do. I think I've, I've tweaked some things in my mechanics. And, you know, I think the coaching that I'm getting here is not, not mechanically, but read-wise and peep-wise and all these different things. And, you know, I'm just, I'm getting a different, deeper level of coaching than I ever have before. And, you know, I have a deeper understanding of the offense and what the defense is doing. And, you know, my movement keys, my pre-snap checklist, my post-snap reads, like, everything's just been faster. And obviously, you know, my experience helps with that a little bit. But I think, you know, my work with my, with my quarterback coach has helped a lot. Jeff Kriishensen, you know, he's, he's helped me a ton. And, you know, I've, I feel like I've just gotten stronger. And that's helped me a lot too. So, I think I'm throwing the ball with a lot more confidence, throwing the ball a lot better. And a lot of that has to do with the coaching I've gotten. And, you know, that's a credit for those guys for, for getting me ready and, you know,

5:19:41making sure that, you know, I develop myself in the off season. And, you know, I've become the best version of myself going into ball camp. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Yeah. You know, make adjustments to Ryan. So, that was definitely, definitely. I had pretty much contact with them. And, you know, they weren't really a, I didn't know that. So, I think, really, one of the things that Coach says is that you don't like to have your hands held for any kind of process. Now, you, you played up in the age a lot of times football. So, what is it about you to drive and to want that much coaching? I'd say, you know, in high school, I had a coach that, you know, he was giving a lot of responsibility. And, I, he would, you know, cut a lot of, not a responsibility on me, make, make, make control on me. And so, I just, you know, I want to be the best player that he can be. And, take, take the need to feel, do things the right way and just, just do things the way. I love watching Joe Barrow.

5:20:41He makes that adjustment to Ryan. He's a really good decision maker. I like Justin Herbert, and I try to understand, I have lots of him play on some of his ideas. You know, just, you know, give a decision maker. He's, like, making a play. I would say I'm a little more clever. I'm working on the whole side. You know, a coach trying to get me to be more, the both of you later out there with the guys that I'm even on the other side. So, I'd be a little different. That's why it's quite confidence, that's why you're playing a really good ball. So, I know what he's up to. I know what he's up to. I know what he's up to, I don't know. I think I've been here once in a while since I saw some, I love it. I'm really good to be places to be and hang out with friends a lot of the second. I think I've visited maybe Freshman or Southbound. Yeah, just from the camper and visit just the super-cell of these times. It was really good to have you all around. I know it was only a few days, but being in the Alabama program,

5:21:44especially as they prepared for ballpoint up front, what did you take away from that short period of time? Yeah, it was really good with the coach of Reese and Jeff Save. They were coach of players hard and I saw the work he takes to get to the playoffs and then coming here to see the other guys putting their work in the winter. You know, seeing our older guys and older leaders putting their work in the show and having a taste. How much of a relationship did you have with Air, obviously? What was your relationship like before and what was your relationship like? We didn't have much relationship prior. We measured it in 2011. We knew each other a little bit and then come in here. We're back in the room. Everyone here is really close. So we're all pushing each other to be better. We're all taking push points from each other trying to get better. I would say we are a cop, I surprise. I come back from the game and it was a little bit high experience because of the team journey.

5:22:47How did you feel when you were playing for the playoffs? There was definitely a lot of emotions but I'd like to help me to make the right decision. I'm not here and I'm not here. I have a true question. I can't really explain how that would be. I'm just trying to develop and take push points from Coach Day. I can break one of my players first. I just want to develop and run the offense when they want it. I just take push points and try to figure out what they're doing. I think that I can be a really good decision maker for the offense and someone who's the absolute American trust.

5:23:47It's a great game. You bet. I think it could have been a lot of change. That's really what I'm talking about in this situation. I think it's kind of a lot of things. I was always around football. My boat was a quarterback at Penn. He used it quarterback and I was in high school and I was at Penn Fallen, just with depth. I've always been around football and then I just been at high level after this high school. I really just had a lot of time. Who's your favorite Tayden? Packard. I'm a Tayden. I'm a Tayden. I'm a Tayden.