Texas Longhorns College Football Pregame Quote, 01/06/2025

Q. I just asked this of Quinn [Ewers] earlier. Would love your perspective. As an offensive player, how crucial is it that Quinn is that calming presence for you guys? I mean, no disrespect to guys like Kelvin [Banks Jr.] or Jake [Majors] or veterans like yourself. You guys are all talented players. But how crucial is it to have that quarterback to be the calming presence for you guys throughout the games?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yeah. I mean, just obviously as our frontrunner leader on the offensive side of the ball, he’s the one that leads us, gets the play going. Just to see him calm definitely calms our nerves a little bit. As we’re driving if things aren’t going well, if things are good, he keeps us in a good headspace if things might not be going too good. Keep going three and out, keeps us in a good headspace, just keeps encouraging us.

So obviously, yeah, very effective to have him on our side.

Q. I was wondering if you could take us through that score on the first play of second overtime. What’s that route that you’re running? Have you guys run that play before? How do you have to really sell that at the line of scrimmage that you’re blocking?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yeah. We run a lot of slider and, I guess, gap area protection. So we ran it last year against Iowa State, and I scored on the same play. But essentially, I fake that I’m sliding down in protection, and then leak out the back door. It’s been pretty effective in the National Football League this year and a lot of other colleges. I think Boise State ran a version of it against Penn State.

We knew it was going to be a good call. It’s been in the entire season. I think we tried to run it against Michigan and got shot down. But then as soon as we called that one, I was pretty confident that I was going to be able to make a play.

Q. You talked a lot about your journey at Texas, why you committed to UT and committed to the school. In this playoff, where you get to play these massive games, do you take moments to appreciate it while you’re in it? And what are those moments like for you?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yeah. I mean, coming to a school like Texas, Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) alluded to it today, we’re built for games like this. We play in a lot of games like this in front of a lot of people in big stadiums, on big stages.

So I think that I’m pretty used to it at this point. But early on in my career, it was definitely really eye opening, not playing at a huge Texas high school football program. I mean, a pretty big program coming out of the State of Colorado, still the biggest one in Colorado, the best one in Colorado.

But I would just say that take a moment, try to take a moment, just to reflect back in the next years just where I was as a player.

Q. Gunnar, how is this team handling being the underdog, playing in the State of Texas? And what’s been the messaging from Sark (Coach Steve Sarkisian) this week?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yeah. Just being where our feet are. Honing back in on our details. Obviously, we’re trusting that our fans are going to come out and make an appearance, especially being up in Dallas, just up the road.

So we feel like we have the advantage in that aspect. But I think we’re really dangerous as underdogs. We’ve been underdogs for a lot of big games my early years here, such as Alabama at home, and then obviously Alabama on the road in a really tough environment in Tuscaloosa.

So I think the underdogs, the aspect of that makes you really dangerous as a team. But it’s just another game for us. We’re preparing the same way as we would.

Q. We’ve all talked about Quinn [Ewers], his composure and how calm he is. You’ve known him for a good while. What makes him nervous? Public speaking? Going to the dentist? Do you ever see him get nervous?

TE GUNNAR HELM: I guess the only way I can answer that is sure as heck isn’t football, because every time I see him, every time I would be pretty shell shocked as a quarterback, thinking back in it, he’s been the most level headed that there is on the field.

So, he carries himself really well. Carries himself really well off the field. I don’t really have an answer for you on that one. I have no idea what makes him nervous.

Q. As your time in Texas starts to come to an end here, is there something to be said for the fact that you are leaving this program in a much better place than when you showed up?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yes. I mean, when I showed up, I think we had a 2.7 team GPA. Obviously, we went 5 7, no bowl game. Horrible culture. Nobody here wanted to be here.

And then just kind of built on that as I’ve gone on through the years. Next year, I think we had a 2.9, 8 5, lose the bowl game. However many draft picks.

And then the next year, 11 2 or whatever it was. Get to the biggest stage. However many draft picks. Maybe 3.0 team GPA.

And now this year, obviously, being where we are, I think we have a 3.2 team GPA. Culture is stronger than it’s ever been. And coming down the way, who knows how many draft picks.

So, obviously, Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) and the rest of the coaching staff has done a spectacular job setting the standard for this team. And just this team buying into that standard and setting the groundwork and building upon itself each year.

Q. I’m curious, you’re known as Mr. Reliable, right? They always find you maybe when the run is not happening, or the passes aren’t dropping. Let’s get it to Gunnar. You score a touchdown and make yardage. So, I’m curious, as the game is going on, are you communicating with either Quinn [Ewers] or Sark (Steve Sarkisian) that says, hey, I think I’m open here. You might want to look at this coverage that I’m getting because I think I can make a difference. Or is it something that’s prescripted, and they’re going to go to you when they need to?

TE GUNNAR HELM: A little bit of both. It’s not so much as they’re going to go to me when they need me. But I think you put the ball in your best opportunity to win, the best player’s hands when you need it the most. And we have a lot of really good players. There’s not one or two that are just the best players.

So, I think that’s the diversity of our team, of our offense. We’ve got a lot of explosiveness.

But yeah, no, it’s a little bit prescripted, but it’s just the flow of the game. Part of our job as a player, just to keep the connection from us to Coach Sark to Quinn, coming off the field and telling maybe Coach [Jeff] Banks or Coach Cutter [Leftwich] or Coach Sark just the looks we’re seeing. And it’s their job to scheme up the best plays possible, and they do a great job of it.

Q. When you look at Ohio State’s defense, obviously, Caleb Downs is a big part of that. How difficult is he to prepare for?

What changes for you guys when you have a guy that can play deep safety? He can play down towards the line of scrimmage. He can play almost a middle linebacker. What kind of challenge is he for you guys this week?

TE GUNNAR HELM: Yeah, huge challenge. Heck of a player. Can fit the run. Very physical on the run. Obviously, one of the best at pass coverage in the country.

So, yeah, we’ve got our hands full with, not only just him, but other linebackers. They feel real hard. They’re very physical. Their front is an NFL front. And their secondary is, obviously, an NFL secondary. It’s just an NFL defense as a whole, NFL scheme.

So, we’ve got our hands full. It’s going to be a really tough challenge. It’s probably the best we’ve seen.