Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Pregame Quote, 12/26/2019

Is that kind of reflected in how you guys game-plan? Some of the ways you have planned for an opponent, knowing that he’s a guy that’s not going to take too many chances?

J.K. DOBBINS: That’s a Coach Day question. But certainly, you know, we rely on him.

What do you think makes him tick, Justin?

J.K. DOBBINS: Makes him tick? He’s just a tough guy. He’s a gambler as well. He’s a very motivated person. He doesn’t like to lose. He’s a team guy. That helps.

What’s the experience been like for you so far?

J.K. DOBBINS: It’s been a great experience. It’s my first time in Arizona. There’s mountains and stuff. It’s pretty. But it’s been a great experience.

Is there anything they’ve done to make you feel extra at home while you’re here?

J.K. DOBBINS: The staff working, they’re pretty cool. It feels like home for sure.

How excited are you for the game?

J.K. DOBBINS: I’m excited for the game. It’s a chance to play for the national championship. We can go do what we need to do.

Talk about your preparation specifically. Anything different? It’s a high-level competition.

J.K. DOBBINS: No, no, nothing different from me. We played some pretty big games this year. This is another one. Just keep it the same. I don’t want to change anything up even be too extra.

J.K., what do you call more than one cactus?

J.K. DOBBINS: Cacti. I’ve been trying to tell my teammates that. They say cactuses. I said, No, when it’s more than once, it’s cacti.

You are so true. Go tell them, you’re absolutely right.

J.K. DOBBINS: I try to tell them; they won’t listen to me.

Have you had a chance to try the food out here? Have you had a chance to spend some time to yourself?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, I spent some time to myself on Camelback Mountain one night. It’s beautiful.

Did you hike? That’s a tough hike.

J.K. DOBBINS: I didn’t hike. I just went and looked at the city at night.

Describe this team. I’m sure you’ve been through so much. This is a huge game. What’s the energy like?

J.K. DOBBINS: We’ve got a lot of different personalities. The energy is amazing. We still are having fun because we’re brothers. It’s been great.

What are you most proud of this past year?

J.K. DOBBINS: The guys have stuck together. Even when we’ve done bad in games and we come out with a W. The last two years while we’ve been here, we get over the hump of losing a game we shouldn’t lose. So it’s been great.

J.K., were you in on the tackle of Coach Day at practice?

J.K. DOBBINS: Well, I just ran by him. The whole line, usually they come in together all the time. So it’s a neat thing. And then I’m sitting there stretching and we see them walking up. Oh, no, they’re about to do something. So when they did that, it was pretty funny. It was great to see.

Just kind of shows you the feeling for each other, I guess?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, definitely. The relationships we have on this team, the bond we have on this team is amazing. I think that’s what’s helping us win games.

That’s kind of what he says, the tightness ‚Äì so when it comes down on Saturday night, what does it take to win it?

J.K. DOBBINS: The brotherhood, for sure. The love for every single one of our teammates. We want to play for our teammates. I think that will catapult us to a win hopefully.

You’ve shown you can carry it as many times as they need. Justin says he has no numbers on his knee today. He said, I’m moving well. But you’re prepared to do your thing and you would relish that opportunity, I guess?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, definitely. Any time a team can look to me for a clutch moment, I’m there. And I try to prepare that way every day, all week. So whenever that opportunity comes, whenever I need to take 30 carries or 15, I’m ready to make a play with one of those carries.

Describe the week of preparation. What’s it been like?

J.K. DOBBINS: Very focused. Tough, you know? We have practices every week. But it’s been a good week for sure.

You feel good?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yes, sir, I do.

How has the Fiesta Bowl experience been for you so far?

J.K. DOBBINS: It’s been amazing. It’s been an amazing experience. I’m glad to be here.

How has Arizona been treating you? A little bit more wet than you thought?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yes. The first day it looked pretty dry. It looked like cars ‚Äì you know how they’re driving through the mountains, something like that. But it’s been a great experience.

J.K., during the course of the season, even during the course of some of the game, it seems like the more you run, the stronger you get. Has it felt that way to you?

J.K. DOBBINS: Definitely. Just get in a rhythm. I just feel like I get hotter as I get the ball more.

Has this experience helped you see holes develop, patience, when to cut, when not to cut?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, that, and film. Just trusting my guys up front. It helps me a lot, honestly.

I wanted to ask you about the offensive line. All of them All-Conference players. You have to be proud of them.

J.K. DOBBINS: Very proud of them. They’re my brothers. We do a lot of fun things together. It’s been a great experience with those guys.

How has the passing game helped open up the running game?

J.K. DOBBINS: Definitely. We have a lot of weapons on size. It’s pretty tough on defenses when you don’t know which thing to stop.

What’s impressed you about him (Coach Day)?

J.K. DOBBINS: Coach Day? It’s hard to break that guy. It’s unbelievable to me.

Why do you say it’s hard to break him?

J.K. DOBBINS: He’s a winner, he’s a competitor. That’s why I look up to him.

What do you think of your opponent in Clemson this week?

J.K. DOBBINS: Great team, talented team. What do you think?

We’re excited. J.K what did you ask for from Santa Claus this year?

J.K. DOBBINS: I didn’t really ask for anything. I’m just happy to be alive. And Christmas holiday is just perfect without any gifts or anything. But I did ask for one thing. It was earlier in the year for me and you to go on our first bowl trip and for you to get your first win with us.

J.K., you are the fifth guy that brought up “This is my first bowl trip in five years of playing college football.” Any closing notes for Buckeye Nation?

J.K. DOBBINS: Come loud, be loud.

You have it here.

J.K., Isaiah Simmons, when you turn on tape, what do you see? And what makes him so different?

J.K. DOBBINS: First rule, very athletic guy. Great athlete. And great football player as well. Very instinctive. He’s a great player.

Have you guys seen anyone like him?

J.K. DOBBINS: Michael Parsons for Penn State, he was pretty athletic as well. But yeah, not anyone quite like Isaiah.

Are you like the pitcher the day he’s supposed to start? No one wants to talk to him because he’s so focused?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, definitely, that’s how I am.

Has it always been that way since you were a little kid?

J.K. DOBBINS: Yeah, ever since I was a little kid, it doesn’t matter what I’m playing, what I’m doing, I have to win. And if I don’t, I throw a really bad fit. It’s always been that way and I don’t think it’s ever going to change.

What biggest challenge does the Clemson defense present to you?

J.K. DOBBINS: Coach (Dabo Swinney) throws a lot of different looks at you. Isaiah Simmons, they’ve got a whole bunch of guys on defense that are super athletic. They’re a well-coached team. It will be a great challenge.

Is this matchup – I mean, two undefeated teams. Just how special is this going to be when we look back on this college football season of 2019?

J.K. DOBBINS: It’s going to be pretty special. Both teams have some great players on the team. We look back, it will be a bunch of guys scattered all over the field. Great talent, great players. This is going to be a great game. This is one for the ages for sure.

When you look at Clemson, a program that’s won 28 straight games ‚Äì and your head coach said that’s tough to do if you’re just lining up going against air ‚Äì what impresses you most about a team that’s been able to do that?

J.K. DOBBINS: They’re very consistent. They win a lot. So you can’t mess with what they have for themselves. They’re a great team.

It’s a bowl game, but it really isn’t. This is the playoffs. It’s win or go home. Are you feeling any pressure?

J.K. DOBBINS: I don’t feel too much pressure, but I mean, it’s definitely a big game. Definitely the biggest game of our lives.

You know the history of this thing. I know the coaches told you, you guys are 0-3 against these guys. Going back to Woody Hayes against these guys. Do you feel like you guys own this team? You think back to 2016. That was not a good feeling.

J.K. DOBBINS: I mean, I wasn’t here yet. But it was definitely not a good feeling. We want to do what that team couldn’t do.