Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Pregame Quote, 12/29/2021

So when you got to Oklahoma State, what were some of the feelings you were having? Were you nervous? Did you have high expectations? Where were you at?

Well, before I got here, it was obviously long talks with my family deciding on if I wanted to come here. It was between this school and a couple of other schools.

But the running back situation here, which I knew LD [Brown] was leaving. I was like this probably might be the best fit for me. So when I came, LD stayed and it made me ‚Äì it didn’t really make me discouraged, but I was like, okay, that’s fine. It is what it is. I just put my head down and worked. So I’m grateful for how things played out.

How would you describe your role as a leader on this team?

I would say I guess I just lead by example. I have a couple of guys coming up to me, saying, What was running through my head while I practice or when I be running?

And, really, I just play for my family and knowing that I’ve kind of been doubted my whole life as far as being able to play the running back position at the collegiate level.

Yeah, I don’t really do much talking. I just play, and people feed off of that.

A lot of people have talked about how hard you worked in practice. Where do you think that comes from?

Just knowing it don’t last forever.

You talked to us a little bit in Texas about why you picked Oklahoma State. Was some of that the fact that they had a couple of Polynesian guys already? Did that help kind of get your attention?

No. It was really the running back room because I thought LD [Brown] was leaving. And so my mind was like, it will be me and Dez (Dezmon Jackson) and Dominic [Richardson]. Whatever role I played, I would have been grateful. I just love winning. So as long as we’re winning, 30 touches, zero touches, as long as we’re winning, I don’t care.

Can you give me your best Beni Tonga story?

Let me think. My best Beni story. I guess he might not want me to say this, but when I first came, he was talking about ‚Äì he was seeing what kind of girls I liked. And there was a girl who was a little taller than me. I was like, Nah, I wouldn’t go for a girl taller than me. He was like, Why not? I made a joke. I want to be the man in the relationship. And later, we go to his house, and his wife is taller than him. So I’m, like, Oh, shoot! (Laughter) I was like, dang. It was just going through my mind, I wonder how he felt when I said that. But it’s all love.

Obviously, you missed the Big 12 title game health-wise. How are you feeling, and do you feel ready to go for Saturday’s game?

Yeah, obviously that sucked. I mean, you can’t do nothing about it now. Yeah, I’m 100% right now. I feel good.

And then kind of a follow-up, obviously, Oklahoma State has seen it and then also Notre Dame, in fact, has seen it, where a running back is elected to forgo the bowl game and start prepping for the draft and whatnot. What was behind your decision to say: You know what? I want to get this one more game in with this program?

I think missing the last game kind of sealed my decision. I mean, I would play with these boys if we had five more games. I just like playing with them. The brotherhood we’ve created kind of sticks out for me. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep playing with them. Like this last week of practice has kind of been saddening, knowing it’s my last week of practice with them.

Obviously, you couldn’t play in the Big 12 championship game. However, just watching it from the sidelines, can you describe the emotions you felt as OSU fell inches away from the win on the final drive?

It just sucks. I hate not being able to do anything. Obviously, Dez (Dezmon Jackson) and Dom (Dominic Richardson) did their thing. The team did what they could. It just sucks, like, coming up short. But like Tay [Martin] said, it’s just one of those things you just got to grow up on and move on, move forward.

What do you guys need out of Spencer Sanders on Saturday against Notre Dame?

For him to play his game. When Spencer is calm and collected, we’re just doing our thing, I think that’s when he plays his best. Obviously, emotions run during the game and some people handle it different than others. But when he keeps his composure, I feel like that’s when he plays his best game.

I know you mentioned playing for your family. What role has your family played kind of, first of all, going back to your decision when you chose to come to Oklahoma State and then since you’ve been here now?

I mean, they played a big role. Everything I do kind of revolves around them. Like, growing up, I’ve always wanted ‚Äì especially my parents being divorced, I want to make them happy in a way. So I guess I just try to do my part and what can make they happy. Football don’t make them happy. It’s just me being happy makes them happy, and they know I love football. For us to see success with football, it kind of brings joy.

Jaylen, we’ve talked to plenty of your teammates. And it seems like one of the things they like to point out about you is that you are always there on those optional workouts. I just have to ask: From the man himself who is getting 35 carries a game some of these weeks, what was it about those optional workouts, those lifts, that was so important for you to be there consistently?

Just because I guess those 30 carries, yeah, I could contribute to a win. I just feel like those get me started for the week. And I didn’t really earn anything to take off of the workout, so I go.

What type of lifts and workouts and exercises are you doing in those times?

The same lift everybody else is doing.

Jaylen, I guess if you could tell us, what was it that you were dealing with at the end of the season that was impacting you in the bowl game? I think I asked you this question in Texas, have you gotten much of a chance to just reflect on this season and kind of where you were and where you stand now?

My dad brings that up to me a lot, just thinking about the season. I guess sometimes people see my success bigger; especially this season, bigger than how I see it. So when people bring that up to me, I’m like, yeah, it’s actually pretty cool me coming in and doing that. Nobody really expected that. So, yeah, it’s a pretty cool thing to think about. And I guess my injury ‚Äì like, the Big 12 game was my ankle.