Washington Huskies College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2023

Q. As someone who plays close to the line, especially against someone like Jordan Whittington, how do you combat against that as a defensive back?

MISHAEL POWELL: I would just say being on the attack first, getting hands-on, not letting them get inside your cylinder to where they can grab and getting away with holding. Just being physical, setting the tone.

Q. The in-the-box cornerback, the slot role, it’s kind of new. How does it differ from the battery guys? How is your philosophy different from those players on the outside?

MISHAEL POWELL: You’ve got to be a really elite tackler. You’re not always in man-to-man coverage. You’re in a lot of zones or you’ve got to be able to be disciplined when it comes to setting edges. You need to know what the linebackers are doing, what the defensive line is doing every play, so you know where to fit the run.

And, of course, just the man-to-man aspect, guarding slot guys. Usually, they’re a bit smaller, more twitchier guys, a little bit more space than the guys on the outside. So, those are probably the main things.

In terms of techniques and mindset, it’s all the same thing still, but just a few different rules.

Q. What’s the difference between the [Quinn] Ewers that you saw last year and what you’re seeing now?

MISHAEL POWELL: He’s always been a talent. This year, he’s a lot more consistent in his throws. We’ve seen times where he’s hot. When he’s hot, he’s really hot. He’s an NFL type guy, top ten pick when he’s on. So, we’ve got to make sure we throw him off his game so he can’t get to that level.

Q. Tell me about Monday night and what it means to you as a player being in this game here.

MISHAEL POWELL: It means the world. Just growing up watching. First it was the BCS National Championship, then it was the College Football Playoff, and always wanting to be in a moment like this. I also do it for my hometown. I couldn’t dream any bigger in a moment like this, for sure.

Q. What does it mean that you are representing the Purple and Gold on their biggest sports day?

MISHAEL POWELL: It means a lot, just coming from Seattle, having kids that look up to me. My high school is really supporting me a lot right now. Being in that light to show people that being a walk-on, you’ve got to persevere and get through it, and you can get to moments like these and be successful and be a big-time player in moments like this.

Q. What did Monte [Kohler] do to get you ready for this moment at O’Dea, the coaching staff there?

MISHAEL POWELL: I would say the way his structure is, being a strict, no excuse mentality. We practiced hard at O’Dea.

And I would say overall, just the mindset he wanted us to have going into every game, playing loose, playing with confidence. In high school, I would say we played in some of the biggest games of Washington State. It’s nowhere near as big as the crowds now, but the pressure mindset of playing in big games is something that O’Dea does every year.

So, once I got here, I’ve been in games where pressure is applied like right now, so you need to come through. It wasn’t too much of a difference.

Q. You mentioned playing loose and confident. It seems like something you guys were doing against Oregon right out of the gate in that PAC-12 game. How key it is Monday night to come out like that against Texas, another very good offensive team?

MISHAEL POWELL: I would say it’s very key. They start fast every single game. They’re getting 21, 25 points in the first half. If we start fast, we can eliminate that, and once we get our offense going as well, that’s something that if we jump on them, get them uncomfortable, we’re going to try to throw them off their game, make them start doing things that they usually don’t want to do.

Q. Yesterday, Jabbar [Muhammad] mentioned that defensive backs are going to have a lot of opportunities come Monday. Are you cherishing that, that you’ll have a lot of opportunities to get in the action and make some plays?

MISHAEL POWELL: For sure. He’s 100% correct. They’ve got three or four star receivers and tight ends. Not everybody gets the ball equally, but everybody gets their fair share of targets. I’ve just been working on my craft all this month, so I’ve improved a lot on my technique. I know Jabbar can say the same. We’re excited to showcase our talents and capitalize on the opportunities we get.

Q. Whenever you start breaking down the season review, how are you finding your hands on so many footballs?

MISHAEL POWELL: I would just say it starts with the game plan. We have a great dashboard in Coach [Chuck] Morrell, and also just trusting the game plan fully and watching so much tape, watching small little tendencies, and just overall, just trusting my abilities. When I see something, I break on it; I don’t hesitate. Once I see it, I break on the ball and make some plays.

Q. This Texas offense, they have a lot of receivers as well. You’re going against some of the best receivers within the country. What have you seen in practice that maybe some of the things that Texas does, it translates to what you’ve already seen?

MISHAEL POWELL: One thing I will say that Texas does, they’re good at not really giving out too many telltale signs when it comes to their formation, so whenever the play starts, I’ve got to respect it and don’t really guess. Just react, don’t anticipate.