Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Pregame Quote, 12/27/2023

Q. After the Rose Bowl in 2021, you were talking like you were a linebacker. How has the mindset changed?

TE CADE STOVER: I was fooling playing linebacker, yeah. (laughter)

I think everything happens for a reason, and luckily it did. Somebody was looking out for me somewhere, brought me back over here. It’s been one of the best decisions of my life to come back over here.

Q. What does it mean to you to have so many guys staying locked into this?

TE CADE STOVER: I think it speaks to what we got on this team as people. We got a lot of really, really good guys over here. And to see everybody locked in and do what’s best for themselves has been great.

Q. To have potentially your last game and to have everybody still kind of bought in personally ‚Äì you don’t like to think about yourself personally on this team. But what does it mean to you to see it coming together and that everybody will play in the game?

TE CADE STOVER: It’s cool. Really, it’s nothing I wouldn’t expect, to be honest with you. The guys are exactly how it would happen and how it would go down. The team is special.

Q. Tommy [Eichenberg] is not going to be able to play the way he would have wanted to, or at all, on Friday night. Seems like a disappointing way for a great career at Ohio State to end. What’s it been like to be around him? I know he would want to play? Has that been tough? Does he show any emotion about that?

TE CADE STOVER: I think whatever Tommy decides to do on Friday night doesn’t hinder nor help what he’s done. He’s one of the best linebackers, in my opinion, that’s ever played here. Without him, I don’t think I’m still here this long. That’s my best friend. That’s the best man at my wedding. For what he’s done, how he’s handled stuff, he’s a special dude.

Q. The way the last month worked out for Tommy [Eichenberg] and the way you fought through stuff, it can’t work out exactly as you wanted. I’m sure it helped that the two of you were going through it together. What was it like to manage that?

TE CADE STOVER: It’s not easy just because of the fact you worked so hard to get back to that point. Some stu. you can’t control. You know what I mean? You’re just not going to feel the best.

But I think what we did given the circumstances, I think it’s unbelievable. And it ain’t easy by any means, especially on the linebacker/tight end. It’s a rough position. I’m proud of it regardless.

Q. Do you know if you are playing?

TE CADE STOVER: Yeah.

Q. How much are you looking forward to this?

TE CADE STOVER: I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know exactly if I’m playing every snap of the game. I doubt it, but I’ll be in the game Friday night for sure

Q. What drives you to want to play in the game?

TE CADE STOVER: Just finishing what you start, I guess, a lot of back and forth of what’s smart and what’s not. You got a lot of different opinions. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you can morally live with, what you morally stand on. That’s what I felt was the best decision, to be out there with the guys.

Q. As the captain, what’s the process been like of just leading this team back from obviously the disappointment of last month and getting a refocus for this game?

TE CADE STOVER: That’s a good question. Again, I don’t think there’s any words I can tell you exactly how it happens. Just wounds take .me to heal. Took a little bit of that .me and then, again, got to get back to it.

Q. Your impression of Devin Brown now as the quarterback of this team? How has he changed? Has he changed? Just from a leader position, when you are named the guy, it changes you.

TE CADE STOVER: Once you figure out it is your spot, you take it. Your attitude changes. Your demeanor changes. He’s has done a really good job of changing us.

Q. What has it been like watching Gee Scott grow?

TE CADE STOVER: He has come a long way, especially another guy from a transfer position. He’s done a good job. I think he’s going to continue to do a really good job for us.

Q. How much different is it having Devin out there? And have you been able to help him?

TE CADE STOVER: I try to keep my mouth shut as much as I can. But then again, he’s going to figure it out. He’s a very instinctual, good player.