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

WYATT DAVIS: I feel like he could be one of the top tackles. He’s raw. What you see in practice, it’s unbelievable. To be that big and to be able to move like that is really unheard of. So I’m excited to see, as the year goes on, how he develops.

It seems like Thayer [Munford] has been battling stuff all year, trying to feel good and stay on the field. Just a guy on the line, what have you seen from him, and him trying to maybe not feel 100% all the time. I know none of you guys feel 100%. What have you seen from Thayer this year?

WYATT DAVIS: I mean, just taking care of his body as much as he can. He’s always in the treatment room, from sun up to sun down. He knows it matters. He knows we need him. So he’s done a lot better job the last year of taking care of his body.

Staying on top of that?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, he’s in treatment all the time.

You guys do need him?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah.

Last weird random question. You tweeted out that photo ten days ago of the professor (Lanier Frush Holt) wearing the Clemson shirt. I called him. I talked to your professor. He was talking about how he has all these shirts he wears to just troll you guys. Is he nuts or what? He was hilarious to talk to.

WYATT DAVIS: Oh, my God. His classroom was probably my favorite class I’ve taken up to this point for Ohio State. He’s hilarious.

And he really – I mean, he wore the Clemson thing to stick it in your face?

WYATT DAVIS: Oh, yeah. He’s worn ‚Äì I’m trying to think who else ‚Äì when we played Indiana, he was wearing all types of Indiana gear. Man! He was telling me that in years past ‚Äì he’s a big Minnesota guy ‚Äì that the whole week, if he had football players in his class, the whole week leading up to the game, he would be nonstop wearing Minnesota gear. He would post stuff all around the class. He’s a character.

What’s it like ‚Äì when you’re going to class, most people know you’re an All-American. You’re kind of famous, too. When people recognize you as a football player ‚Äì or would you rather them be like, It’s just Wyatt, he’s a student in class. What’s it like in most classes when you are Wyatt Davis?

WYATT DAVIS: That was really the only class where the professor immediately, the first day, he knew exactly who I was, where I was from, knew all my social media. I mean, he was posting dance videos that I had up. I don’t even know where he got them from. Oh, yeah, it was off my Twitter. He was doing all types of stuff like that within the first couple of weeks.

That’s not the norm?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, I was not expecting that. Usually it’s just standard student-professor relationship. But he took it to a whole other level.

He said he did that to J.T. Barrett in the past?

WYATT DAVIS: Oh, yeah.

So he’s just that way. Is he a fun guy?

WYATT DAVIS: That’s the most fun class I’ve ever been with. It was a crisis communication class. Press conferences and stuff like that. It was a lot of fun.

It seems like some real-life stuff that you might be able to apply, especially for someone who’s going to be in the public eye like that. You’re going to have a life where you’re going to have to be doing this kind of thing.

WYATT DAVIS: Hopefully, hopefully, man. Thank you, though.

Q. There’s such a focus on Urban’s [Meyer] ability to motivate. If you could pick a moment of motivation from Ryan [Day]? I’ve asked a bunch of guys and got interesting answers so far, where a moment in time, a full team, where he motivated. One particular message, whatever it may be.

WYATT DAVIS: I would definitely say Penn State. Something he was pitching that whole week. Yeah, no, just overall preaching toughness and giving examples of tough throughout that whole week. I’m sorry, this is ‚Äì yeah, this is tough.

Wyatt, I have a question. How are you doing today? Are you nervous at all?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, as soon as you showed up.

What about me makes you nervous, Wyatt?

WYATT DAVIS: Does this look like a bad smile to you? They’re saying the best guard in Ohio State history.

How do you feel about that?

WYATT DAVIS: I feel like it’s all false. I paid those people off. I’m really none of those things. Actually, you know who I really aspire to be like is Jonathan Cooper. To be honest, I don’t know why you’re interviewing me in the first place. I don’t know why I’m here. I’m really confused. They put a bunch of mics in my face. Just a regular guy, doing regular things.

I appreciate you, Wyatt. Thank you for your time. I don’t want to take too much of it. You’re doing great. You look fantastic.

WYATT DAVIS: So do you.

JONATHON COOPER: You’re beautiful, man. You’re beautiful.

Wyatt, how many family members are coming down?

WYATT DAVIS: Just my immediate family, then I have some family friends coming up. I would probably say a total of 11.

How has this three weeks been for you? it’s probably been a little bit of a rush because of the holiday. Now it’s like a bye week because you play on Saturday again. I’m sure you’ve gone through regular season stuff, whatever that may be. What’s this three weeks been like for you?

WYATT DAVIS: It’s just been crazy, especially being here. Just the news in general that we were playing in the playoffs. That’s something I’ve dreamed of doing since I’ve been in high school. The last couple of weeks has been kind of crazy. Definitely feeling rushed. It’s been a dream come true to this point. Once we finally got out here, it’s like, I just can’t wait to play.

You guys played in the Rose Bowl last year, and it was considered by a lot of people to be a disappointment. And that’s the Rose Bowl. How weird was that? And then how much of playing in the Rose Bowl 13-1 and not getting in the playoff, how much did that build up to now? You guys are finally in the playoff and probably should have been last year.

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, like you said, for me, since I’m from Los Angeles, playing in the Rose Bowl, that was a dream come true. But that definitely added fuel to the fire after we got cheated out of the playoff, some might say. But, you know, that’s been fuel for the fire this whole season. Because all the work that we put in preseason to now has been paying off up to this point. Now that we have the opportunity, we can’t let it go to waste.

Seems like you guys were playing a “disrespect card” a lot this week. Fourth in the Big Ten, now no national media members picking Ohio State to win. How is that different from the rest of the season when you guys were a favorite in every game this year?

WYATT DAVIS: You said we were the favorite?

Yeah, it went from, “This team is historically great.” Then they play against Clemson and it’s like, “Oh, they can’t win.” Is it weird?

WYATT DAVIS: It is weird. Like you said, preseason this year, we weren’t even picked. Shoot, I don’t even know if we were picked fourth in the Big Ten. We weren’t supposed to win it or definitely be where we are now. So that’s kind of been the overall theme of our season at this point, being underdogs. So we accept that, and that’s why we look forward to going out Saturday.

Are you enjoying your stay in Phoenix so far? What do you like about it?

WYATT DAVIS: The weather. I love the weather. It’s been great. Phoenix is beautiful. It’s been a lot of fun.

How is it in such a big game like this, being the underdog, how do you not let that distract you?

WYATT DAVIS: I mean, that’s kind of been the theme for us this whole season. As long as you’re focusing on your job and focusing on what you’re supposed to do, and not let outside influences influence you, it really helps out as far as keeping your focus on the game and where you should be.

What’s the difference with this team in the locker room and on the field from last year’s team?

WYATT DAVIS: I would say probably the camaraderie. We all hang out with each other. We all mess around with each other. I would say going out on the field, you’re not playing for yourself, you’re playing for the guys next to you. That’s the reason why we’ve had a lot of success to this point.

It’s noticeable?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, I would say it is.

That’s something that can galvanize a team and keep you together?

WYATT DAVIS: Yeah, exactly. We have each other’s backs. I would probably say that would be the biggest thing.

No distractions or anything like that?

WYATT DAVIS: No, sir.

How are you liking Phoenix so far? Probably been asked that a million times.

WYATT DAVIS: I love it. I’m from the west coast. The weather reminds me of home. I’m from California. It’s been nice to get out of the cold.

What does it mean to you to have your family come out?

WYATT DAVIS: It means a lot. The fact that they were able to even able to go to a lot of the games this season, I love them for it. I can’t wait to see them later on today.

You’re a communications major. Have you been able to go around with these guys?

WYATT DAVIS: I wish I could be a part of it. They’re funny. They’re really funny. Especially that little guy right there, J.K. [Dobbins]. It’s been a lot of fun.

What’s the bond like with this group? What’s special about this?

WYATT DAVIS: I would just say the love that we have for each other. When you go out and play, you’re not really playing for yourself, you’re playing for the guy next to you and behind you and everything. So I would just say the camaraderie we have for each other and the love that we have is huge.

What’s the intensity like, in practice, a couple of days leading up to the game ‚Äì how intense is it right now?

WYATT DAVIS: The focus level is high. It’s not just a bowl game. We’re playing for something huge. We’re focusing on eliminating the little mistakes we make in practice every now and then. We’re playing for something huge. And we understand that. We know the stakes are high. So it’s been a very intense week.