Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Pregame Quote, 12/28/2021

(Off microphone)

They’re a good team, like I said. They’re physical at the point of attack. They have a good O line and running backs, good stable of tight ends who do a good job blocking. That’s a challenge that we have to step up to. They’re a physical team. But I also think we’re a physical defense. We have two out there on Saturday.

(Off microphone)

It’s a great opportunity. Those guys have been playing all year. They’re getting equal snaps all year. I have nothing but confidence in those guys to go out there and do their job.

(Question about similarities)

They’re kind of their own thing. You could say a little bit of Michigan State. But I’d say their offenses are two different things. They’re pretty much their own offense.

(Off microphone)

I don’t even know what that is. I just heard that ‚Äì we went to the steakhouse; they have really good steak. Now they’re bringing it to our hotel. But we still get the good steak. I’m excited for that. That will be fun.

(Off microphone)

It was real fun. I had a good time walking around. It was a little cold. The weather wasn’t always the greatest but it was a good time. We went on Space Mountain. (Indiscernible). It was a good time.

(Off microphone)

Space Mountain was the most fun.

What’s your impressions of being out in California?

It’s nice out here. It’s a lot different than Ohio. It’s nice walking around, looking at the city a little bit seeing everything. It’s a beautiful city, all the tall buildings and the people have been so kind. Having a good time out here.

(Off microphone)

Pretty good. It was a good practice. It wasn’t too physical and too intense. But it was like a little get-your-feet-under-you practice. And today’s practice we’ve got to have a good one, have a good Tuesday practice.

What have you noticed of Utah’s offense? (Indiscernible).

Like I said, they are good at what they do. And their quarterback has got a sneaky athleticism to him. It’s something we’ve got to make sure we keep note of, that he has no problem getting out of the pocket and making plays downfield with his legs.

(Indiscernible) Haskell (indiscernible). How do you think that will impact the defensive line?

Haskell’s presence is definitely going to impact the defensive line, when you have a player of that caliber (indiscernible) the field. But, like I said, Haskell made the best choice for him and his family, and I support it 100 percent. Guys who are playing in his spot right now I have all the faith in the world in.

(Indiscernible). Do you have any plans for next year?

I’ve got decisions to make. I haven’t quite made it yet.

(Off microphone)

Yeah, I feel like Taron will have a great game, Taron Vincent – Jerron Cage, Antwuan Jackson, Tyleik, (indiscernible), really all the inside guys, I feel like all are very capable of playing and starting for us.

Question about the offense.

Always watching film. He’s a real pro in that aspect. I feel like he gained confidence all year. As he would go on, and play in bigger games and bigger moments and get more snaps. He was never scared of the moment, like, I’ve just got to go and make throws do what my team needs me to do to win.

It’s something we need from C.J., that consistency and that presence to always have that unshakeable confidence the team feeds off of.

Question about Tre?

Same thing with Tre. When he came in, we knew he was special. There’s guys you see in practice, they’re freshmen and they struggle like freshmen. And Tre came in, he was a guard. He belongs here. And from day one we noticed that. He’s had a great season from it. And happy for Tre and all the success he’s having.

(Off microphone)

O line wise, they’re really big and athletic. They’re physical, which is which is a good combination to have for an offensive line. The running backs are all good. They all have a different flavor to them which is something we’ll have to keep note of, like, who is in the game, what their running style is.

They’re very good at running the ball. And, like I said earlier, the quarterback is actually pretty athletic. So he does a good job making plays down the field and escaping the pocket. And it’s something that we’ve got to key in on.

(Off microphone)

He’s got sneaky athleticism and he has an arm to put it where he needs to put it, and he’s athletic. He can make plays with his legs and his arm.

What’s it been like the last month? (Indiscernible) or is it more angry and physical?

I’d say it’s been pretty physical. Guys have a chip on their shoulder. You go out and compete and do the best you can to get better and to improve yourself and everybody (indiscernible) we say who we are.

I know every bowl game has a feel. What’s the Rose Bowl’s feel? What is it about the Rose Bowl, Pasadena that feels different than other games?

I mean, it feels nice. Every bowl game I’ve been to has been a good experience. This is (indiscernible).

As far as you guys wanting to get on the field, I know you were angry about a month ago has there been a angry mindset with you guys?

Most definitely. Something to prove.

Up the middle, (inaudible). Who are guys we should look out for?

Teron Vincent is a good one. He’s a good guy, good player. Been playing all season having a great year this year. And Jerron Cage, Ty Hamilton. Tyleik Williams, a freshman, Antwuan Jackson, those are guys who will had been there playing good ball for us, I believe.

The effort you expect from these guys, they’ve never played in a Rose Bowl. They’re fired up.

100 percent. They’ll give their best shot we’ll give our best shot. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

You said you wanted to play in this game no matter what. What’s it like in the locker room, a lot of people wonder with Haskell and (inaudible) others place said hey we support them and our brothers. Is that really the case? What’s the thinking when somebody doesn’t choose to play?

It’s just that. All love. I’ve always been one to not understand why people would be so upset with someone making a decision that could change their lives forever. Football is a violent game and stuff happens out there. If you’re in a good position like I said change a family’s life forever go do that, go put your family, go put yourself first.

I support my brothers 100 percent in that decision.

Does it seem like there’s a disconnect make public, everyone should play in a Rose Bowl, guys who understand the game want to win the game but there might be something bigger down the road.

Of course everybody wants to win it as a competitor. It wasn’t easy for those guys. They want to be with us their brothers they want to play and compete but like I said there’s certain decisions that just you have to make. If you’re a top draft pick or you feel like you’re going to do this or feel like your body (inaudible) be somebody, put yourself first and if the brotherhood says it’s as strong as we are and we love our teammates, what can I say about that? I support it 100 percent. Go change your family.

When you’re going through your own process, do you have to think about Rose Bowl first and did you have to say I really want to play this or read anything in it?

I was playing regardless, I was playing regardless what I decided to do. Now I’ve just got to keep getting information and really just make a decision.

The totality of this game seems like when the bowl came out, the loss that just happened, disappointment. Have you sensed a shift in how this here you guys are here you want to accomplish something?

We’ve got to go win. That’s the ultimate goal of this team this week is to go out there on Saturday and win. That’s what all the guys want. That’s what we all feel we need to do with this program is leave it with a win. Go out for all the wins.

Can you talk about balancing celebrating the fact that you guys culminated a great season playing in a game like this while as a team trying to (inaudible)?

You know, just enjoy your time here. Coach said enjoy the time; it’s the Rose Bowl. It’s fun, but we also came in with a job to do. With practice fields around, got to be serious at practice, serious game prep because you’ve got to go beat a good opponent in the Rose Bowl, that’s going to be a challenge for us.

How much pride do you put in this opportunity?

Every time I put on my jersey I feel like pride to go, try my best, do my best to offer, not just only my brothers but what the jersey means to me and what the jersey means to other people.

They were asking you about the last time you guys played. How much does winning ‚Äì whether it’s a win, things don’t go perfectly. Obviously winning is the ultimate goal. Can winning almost mask things sometimes?

Yes, most definitely. Coach Daley said the issues are there. When you’re winning it’s easier to look over. So you take a loss, the issues present themselves in a different way than what you can’t help but address.

How do you feel you played this year?

Felt like I had a good season, I feel like I could have played better. But I feel I had a good season.

What are you most proud of?

Proud of being a captain. Being named captain of The Ohio State. That’s something 40 years I can tell my grandkids about. They’re probably not going to think it’s cool but it means something to me that my teammates would put their trust and respect in me to be captain.

Do you have any early childhood Rose Bowl memories?

Not really. Oh, my first ‚Äì I didn’t really watch football when I was little. My first memory of the Rose Bowl was me and my mom had watched Penn State play USC in that crazy game in the Rose Bowl. That was fun to watch.

I know you’re still kind of deciding whether to come back or not (inaudible). Have you talked to him?

He met with the defense. And I like him, his energy, what he brings to the table. I met with Coach, and we talked about defensive changes and where I would fit if I were to come back and how all that works. It was a good meeting we had.

Does it depend on what he was willing to get into next year, what will be different next year if you decide to come back? What about it was appealing to you?

I don’t really know enough about it to say that. It was like a brief meeting to go over, like, the looks, and I kind of got a little overview of it. I don’t know the details in how everything worked, so I really can’t answer that question.

Is that something that might play into your decision as to whether to come back?

Yeah, how I’m played next year, and what my opportunities are and how they like their ends play next year, that’s something that I’ll think about.

(Off microphone)

It’s not one thing. It’s a decision that I’ve got to make. A lot of information, a lot of different places. It’s something I’ll take my time to do.

(Off microphone)

I like guys like Myles Garrett, and I know he’s an inside guy, but I like watching Aaron Donald, does a good deal with his hand and hips. You can learn a lot by watching guys like him.