Getting ya ready for Nebraska week.
Alex Grinch
Finishing?
The message is the message. It’s 60 minutes. It’s hard to be average if you don’t finish. It’s impossible to be good and even less of a chance to be anything above that if you’re not playing a full four quarters. Too many of these guys have been with us for a number of years. We have to make sure that’s the expectation – doesn’t make it easy because it turns out they’re trying to play 60 minutes also. But that’s gotta be our mindset going into it.
Latrell McCutchin?
A young player that developing like so many of the young guys this early in their careers. Our expectation for him is to have an impact. Is it going to be in a starting role? That’s decided each week. There have been several freshmen over the course of time that you don’t even talk about being a possible starter for you let alone going into the second or third game of their freshmen year. In so many ways, he’s ahead of schedule in that way. That only lasts so long. If you’re gonna play so any snaps for us and we’re depending on you, then we need to see the level of production. Across the room, that level of production needs to go up for those guys. I think we a young player and in so many cases a freshman, we keep telling him to prove us right. We’re the ones that invited you here for a reason. Prove us right, don’t prove us wrong. No matter how grumpy we can get with you during the course of a practice. We’re excited about Latrell.
LBs? (here's that quote)
You look at last weekend, it’s kind of hard to evaluate some of that stuff. Because we played so many guys, which is awesome. We played 31 guys week one, 38 to 40 — don't quote me — this past weekend. And so that's a large sampling of people, which means a very small sample size for each individual. But no, I think, just for the experience at the position, we have high expectations for them as well, high expectations for the interior of the defensive line. Any time a guy’s a returning player, we expect to see a different dude than you were the year before. And thus far, I don't see a different Brian Asamoah, I don't see a different David Ugwoegbu, I don't see a different DaShaun White. And that's a challenge to them. And I haven't seen a different Pat Fields. I haven't seen a different Perrion Winfrey, in my opinion. I haven't seen a different Isaiah Thomas. You know? So that bar’s got to go up, and it's our job as coaches to get them there. It doesn't mean it's bad but you know, what's the standard? So I think we've seen better football from them. And at its base, OK, it's as good as it was last year. OK, we had eight months to prepare for those first two games, it should be better than it was last year. And so again that's across the board. But we expect more from that group.
Who replaces Woodi?
It’ll be interesting as we go through the week. We just haven’t had a lot of production in the cornerback room these first two weeks, again, for a variety of reasons. I was disappointed in Week 1 in the lack of competitiveness at the catch point. Ball’s going to be in the air and all those things, it doesn’t mean they’re never going to catch a ball on you, but man they better be fighting for that football a larger percentage of the time. They didn’t get a whole lot thrown out their way this past Saturday. I bring that up simply just from a game rep standpoint. You’re two games in, but I don’t know that we’ve got a true barometer to say, ‘OK, this is how this guy is playing on Saturday,’ whether that’s a Josh Eaton, D.J. Graham. I mentioned DJ, he played last year, we expect a different DJ Graham. I’m not seeing a different DJ Graham just yet. I think he has the ability to be better. Jaden Davis has played a lot of football again, I don't want to see Jaden Davis from 2020, I want to see 2021’s version. So far, they’re too similar. But those are the names, right? Josh Eaton, Jaden Davis, DJ, obviously Latrell, who we talked about earlier.
***
Reggie Grimes
Hard to adjust from WCU to Nebraska?
Not necessarily. The reason I say that is because the way we prepare is the way we prepare. We prepare the same way against anybody, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing as far as we’re concerned. So it could be Western Carolina, it could be Nebraska like it is this week. As long as we prepare, as long as we do what we do then it’ll be alright.
Learn from Tulane to WCU?
The first game we were more, we didn’t necessarily have an identity. We were all out there, but we didn’t necessarily have an identity as a team. And then coming back for Western Carolina we as a team we grew closer. From a preparation standpoint we knew what we needed to do. We knew what they were going to do before they did it just because of that preparation and that film time and then we went out and played the way we played. And that’s pretty much what the message is, do what works. So we have guys watching over five hours of film. So you do that and we’ll be alright. So just do what you do, control what you control and then let’s just play ball.
***
Eric Gray
Knowles/Hudson?
Those guys have done a great job, working hard, being there every day, listening, soaking up knowledge. They did a great job. I was so happy for them having the opportunity to go in that Western Carolina game and play at a high level like they did. I think those are two great backs that can definitely help us moving forward.
Learn about Rattler?
Spencer was my workout buddy in the summer. He was the first guy I kinda talked to when I got here. Over the last two games, playing quarterback is a hard position. You've gotta know everything about everyone. He has a hard job but I think he does a great job of leading this team. He does a great job of helping me when I need help, helping everyone when they need help. He's done a great job, just overcoming and playing at a high level.
Chemistry w/ OL take time?
Me definitely coming in in the spring definitely helped me get adjusted to running against the O-line, and definitely the O-line getting adjusted to me, with me cutting back and them keep blocking downfield. It definitely helps both of us, but it is definitely helped me the past two games of really getting a feel, getting my feet under me, for sure.
***
DaShaun White
Response to Grinch and 'needing to see a different White' in 2021?
I think we're definitely still figuring it out. We really are. It's not perfect, but I'm really proud of the way that we've attacked practice, especially today, coming off yesterday, which was up and down across the board. We had some guys who practiced hard and we had some guys who might have gotten ... fatigue may have set in, I mean, I'm just really proud with the way we practiced today. The way we respond to just certain little things like that. I think the most important thing would be being as consistent across the board as possible. Everybody's gotta be personalized into your work at practice and I know that may sound a little selfish, but in this game, you've gotta take care of yourself and you taking care of yourself helps the team. I think having everyone approach practice that way and be that way snap in and snap out, that's really important for us as we go forward.
Does that motivate you?
I can speak personally, it motivates me a lot. It really does. Not just because he's challenging us in that way, but I think it motivates me mostly because I've heard him tell me that he believes in me. That means a lot. It really does. Just having somebody like that, who's literally every single day trying to bring it out of you, every single day, there's no one in the country like Grinch to be honest with you. To say the least. I can't really put words to it to be honest with you.
Stutsman?
Danny's a guy, he's really a team-first guy. That's what really stood out to me the most early, because to be young, I don't know if I can say I was that way. He's really a guy, he'll do anything for the team. That's so important for a young guy. He's already a leader within his class, that sort of thing. I don't have to tell this to you guys, but he can find the ball from anywhere. He's fast. Can't say enough about Danny. But he's really mature. We pick on him a lot, but he handles it well. I think the future's really bright for him.
***
Jeremiah Hall
Offensive intensity?
We have to respond. No one felt comfortable about the way we won against Tulane, as we said after the game and on social media. We’re appreciative for the win and winning is never easy, but that doesn’t mean that we’re satisfied. Naturally, as a leader, especially from Coach Riley and the rest of staff, they made practice a little more intense and challenged us a little bit. The expected us to respond and I think we did a good job showing that in the last game against Western Carolina.
Mario Williams?
I’m always excited for my teammates when they have success, especially Mario. He’s a great athlete, but a better person off the field. It’s well deserving for him. His success on the field is a reflection of how hard he works in practice. He goes out an balls in the games, and he also does it multiple times in practice. The growth he has displayed since he arrived is more a maturity thing rather than anything taught on the field — route running or anything. It’s more his mindset that has grown and I’m proud of him for that.
Rattler's leadership?
He’s less hesitant in his leadership, less hesitant in the play calls he makes. He’s more confident in the huddle. He takes control when needed. He does little things like makes sure everyone is quiet and attentive. He makes sure the receivers are locked into the little things I might not even notice that a quarterback can see from his perspective. Little things like is the maturity I’ve seen from him. He’s been displaying it. Much like any other you guy, I’m proud of him. I think he’ll keep displaying it throughout the season.
11 a.m. for this one, really?
I think the only thing that makes it weird is because of the response you get on social media. I've never played in a historic game like this such as Nebraska and OU. This will be my first time playing. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what it means to the community. It's like playing in my first OU-Texas game. You never quite understand until you're actually there. I would say that might be the only difference in this game.
In terms of it being an 11 a.m. kickoff, from what I've heard and what I've learned, I do think the time maybe should be adjusted. But regardless, I'm used to these 11 o'clock kickoffs. I go out there, play ball. It kind of benefits me because I get to hang out with my family that flies in for the weekend a little bit more compared to a 6 p.m. game. That's my selfish viewpoint. But no, I'm going to go out there and read my team and we're going to ball out regardless no matter what time we're playing.
***
Perrion Winfrey (feature coming Friday)
Want to help defensive line’s struggles when you came in?
Most definitely, that was the No. 1 thing, wanting to come in and change an organization. I come in to a system that was already, you feel it, doing it without you. So I just wanted to come in and add on to what they already had. Because there were already great pieces in the room like Isaiah Thomas, Nik Bonitto and Jalen Redmond, and I just wanted to add that doggish mentality and that hunting mentality to what we were already doing, and I feel like we did that so far. d
Running QB?
Yeah, for sure, we definitely been, I guess we would say scouting against them in the running game, and we just can't wait to get out there and just touch up, like, just just put pads on pads and just see who the better man wins and who's going to be more physical, and who is going to dominate the line of scrimmage more and who was just gonna want it more, the will to want to run the ball at the cost of getting hit, and hit and hit. We just want to see like, who wants a more at the end of the day and to see who is really the more physical team, I guess you could say.
Finish?
I would say that the first game, that it was kind of shaky just because I couldn't — I didn't have the end of the fall camp I wanted because I was coming off the injury. But the second game, I can say that I honestly finished all the plays that I needed to play in this game and I'm gonna do the same. I say that it correlates the practice and also lifting, like everything throughout the week I have to do to a great week in order to have a great game. Like, I have to do the things necessary to lead up until that game, I have to become a consistent finisher in all aspects of life, like even the classroom and if I'm doing everything right in the classroom, on the field, in the weight room, they all correlate to the field.
***
Caleb Kelly
This week w/ Ana Maldonado (girlfriend, plays soccer for Nebraska)?
I mean I know who she is rooting for, for sure. She can’t come to the game because she has her own game, so that sucks. I have so much family coming because I have a lot of family in Nebraska and a lot of cousins that have went to Nebraska. It’ll be fun for sure for me. I’ll have over, I think, 25 family members at the game. They have a big ol’ Airbnb. it’s kinda like a mini-family reunion. It’ll be fun.
Circle this one b/c of family ties?
I saw it when it was announced, think it was my freshman or sophomore year, so I was like, dang, I wish I could do that one. Now here we are, and I’m still here and have the opportunity. That ended up working out in its own. I was interested in Nebraska when I was younger, for sure. My cousin back home from Fresno who is a year older than me actually went to Nebraska for engineering. He had gone right before me. I felt like he had to deal with me enough with my name being around him. I was like you can have that school, and I’ll figure something else out. That was pretty much the end of it at that point.
11 a.m.?
I think we do it so often against Texas that we know our big games are early. We’re pretty much used to it. As much as everybody else cares about the time, it is pretty nice to play the game early and relax after and hang out and chill. When we play those night games, we’re sitting in the hotel watching other games with anticipation the whole time. Honestly, I like the early games. We’re up here every day. The latest we’re up here is 7 (p.m.). We’re used to waking up early. Those later games are actually different for us. We’re used to it. I don’t know, the fans might be a little more crunk at nighttime because of their daily activities. It can still get pretty loud here at 11 a.m., so we’re good with it.
Played with Martinez in HS, success doesn't surprise you?
I mean he's always been that athlete. Like he plays — he was the starting point guard at basketball. I mean I helped coach his team when I was a freshman in high school. I would go back and help coach them my freshman and sophomore year when they were in seventh and eighth grade, like I've seen this kid grow up. And so, I mean, it's, he's been this way his whole life. He's always been the quarterback. He's always been one of the star players. He's always the one that everybody knows in his grade and talks about. And so I think that I'm not surprised in the success he's having just because I've seen it happen in high school. I’ve seen it happen on my team, he was my quarterback so I mean, he beat out a guy who was a two year starter. So I mean, I've seen him already do it all before and so I'm not surprised at all. He's a freak. He's a freak athlete it is what it is.
Stutsman?
I think in 7-on-7 during the Summer that’s just player run, he would make a lot of plays and we were kind of thinking oh he’s just a young guy. There’s this thing where when freshmen come in, the ball just kind of goes to them because they’re in the wrong spot and it just happens to go to them. Like okay, he’s making plays but he’s not making them how he should. And so we were like thinking that and all of a sudden we went into fall camp and he was continuing to make plays the right way, and being coached and listening and learning really fast and picking up things a lot faster than I think we expected.
Because he’s a goofy guy. He’s just a people person, real goofy kid and so it surprised us that he had the football smarts too I think a little bit. Or at least me. And so when those things clicked it was like, alright I think he’s really gonna do something and he’s just continued to make plays. He had his first time getting a lot of reps and I think he did what he needed to do to show like yeah I can play here and I hope his confidence continues to go through the roof because I mean, you can see already he’s going to be a player. And we’ve all been saying it all fall camp and I’ll continue to say it. He’s a good kid and deserves it because he works so hard and so I’m not surprised anymore but I definitely was going into fall camp.
Alex Grinch
Finishing?
The message is the message. It’s 60 minutes. It’s hard to be average if you don’t finish. It’s impossible to be good and even less of a chance to be anything above that if you’re not playing a full four quarters. Too many of these guys have been with us for a number of years. We have to make sure that’s the expectation – doesn’t make it easy because it turns out they’re trying to play 60 minutes also. But that’s gotta be our mindset going into it.
Latrell McCutchin?
A young player that developing like so many of the young guys this early in their careers. Our expectation for him is to have an impact. Is it going to be in a starting role? That’s decided each week. There have been several freshmen over the course of time that you don’t even talk about being a possible starter for you let alone going into the second or third game of their freshmen year. In so many ways, he’s ahead of schedule in that way. That only lasts so long. If you’re gonna play so any snaps for us and we’re depending on you, then we need to see the level of production. Across the room, that level of production needs to go up for those guys. I think we a young player and in so many cases a freshman, we keep telling him to prove us right. We’re the ones that invited you here for a reason. Prove us right, don’t prove us wrong. No matter how grumpy we can get with you during the course of a practice. We’re excited about Latrell.
LBs? (here's that quote)
You look at last weekend, it’s kind of hard to evaluate some of that stuff. Because we played so many guys, which is awesome. We played 31 guys week one, 38 to 40 — don't quote me — this past weekend. And so that's a large sampling of people, which means a very small sample size for each individual. But no, I think, just for the experience at the position, we have high expectations for them as well, high expectations for the interior of the defensive line. Any time a guy’s a returning player, we expect to see a different dude than you were the year before. And thus far, I don't see a different Brian Asamoah, I don't see a different David Ugwoegbu, I don't see a different DaShaun White. And that's a challenge to them. And I haven't seen a different Pat Fields. I haven't seen a different Perrion Winfrey, in my opinion. I haven't seen a different Isaiah Thomas. You know? So that bar’s got to go up, and it's our job as coaches to get them there. It doesn't mean it's bad but you know, what's the standard? So I think we've seen better football from them. And at its base, OK, it's as good as it was last year. OK, we had eight months to prepare for those first two games, it should be better than it was last year. And so again that's across the board. But we expect more from that group.
Who replaces Woodi?
It’ll be interesting as we go through the week. We just haven’t had a lot of production in the cornerback room these first two weeks, again, for a variety of reasons. I was disappointed in Week 1 in the lack of competitiveness at the catch point. Ball’s going to be in the air and all those things, it doesn’t mean they’re never going to catch a ball on you, but man they better be fighting for that football a larger percentage of the time. They didn’t get a whole lot thrown out their way this past Saturday. I bring that up simply just from a game rep standpoint. You’re two games in, but I don’t know that we’ve got a true barometer to say, ‘OK, this is how this guy is playing on Saturday,’ whether that’s a Josh Eaton, D.J. Graham. I mentioned DJ, he played last year, we expect a different DJ Graham. I’m not seeing a different DJ Graham just yet. I think he has the ability to be better. Jaden Davis has played a lot of football again, I don't want to see Jaden Davis from 2020, I want to see 2021’s version. So far, they’re too similar. But those are the names, right? Josh Eaton, Jaden Davis, DJ, obviously Latrell, who we talked about earlier.
***
Reggie Grimes
Hard to adjust from WCU to Nebraska?
Not necessarily. The reason I say that is because the way we prepare is the way we prepare. We prepare the same way against anybody, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing as far as we’re concerned. So it could be Western Carolina, it could be Nebraska like it is this week. As long as we prepare, as long as we do what we do then it’ll be alright.
Learn from Tulane to WCU?
The first game we were more, we didn’t necessarily have an identity. We were all out there, but we didn’t necessarily have an identity as a team. And then coming back for Western Carolina we as a team we grew closer. From a preparation standpoint we knew what we needed to do. We knew what they were going to do before they did it just because of that preparation and that film time and then we went out and played the way we played. And that’s pretty much what the message is, do what works. So we have guys watching over five hours of film. So you do that and we’ll be alright. So just do what you do, control what you control and then let’s just play ball.
***
Eric Gray
Knowles/Hudson?
Those guys have done a great job, working hard, being there every day, listening, soaking up knowledge. They did a great job. I was so happy for them having the opportunity to go in that Western Carolina game and play at a high level like they did. I think those are two great backs that can definitely help us moving forward.
Learn about Rattler?
Spencer was my workout buddy in the summer. He was the first guy I kinda talked to when I got here. Over the last two games, playing quarterback is a hard position. You've gotta know everything about everyone. He has a hard job but I think he does a great job of leading this team. He does a great job of helping me when I need help, helping everyone when they need help. He's done a great job, just overcoming and playing at a high level.
Chemistry w/ OL take time?
Me definitely coming in in the spring definitely helped me get adjusted to running against the O-line, and definitely the O-line getting adjusted to me, with me cutting back and them keep blocking downfield. It definitely helps both of us, but it is definitely helped me the past two games of really getting a feel, getting my feet under me, for sure.
***
DaShaun White
Response to Grinch and 'needing to see a different White' in 2021?
I think we're definitely still figuring it out. We really are. It's not perfect, but I'm really proud of the way that we've attacked practice, especially today, coming off yesterday, which was up and down across the board. We had some guys who practiced hard and we had some guys who might have gotten ... fatigue may have set in, I mean, I'm just really proud with the way we practiced today. The way we respond to just certain little things like that. I think the most important thing would be being as consistent across the board as possible. Everybody's gotta be personalized into your work at practice and I know that may sound a little selfish, but in this game, you've gotta take care of yourself and you taking care of yourself helps the team. I think having everyone approach practice that way and be that way snap in and snap out, that's really important for us as we go forward.
Does that motivate you?
I can speak personally, it motivates me a lot. It really does. Not just because he's challenging us in that way, but I think it motivates me mostly because I've heard him tell me that he believes in me. That means a lot. It really does. Just having somebody like that, who's literally every single day trying to bring it out of you, every single day, there's no one in the country like Grinch to be honest with you. To say the least. I can't really put words to it to be honest with you.
Stutsman?
Danny's a guy, he's really a team-first guy. That's what really stood out to me the most early, because to be young, I don't know if I can say I was that way. He's really a guy, he'll do anything for the team. That's so important for a young guy. He's already a leader within his class, that sort of thing. I don't have to tell this to you guys, but he can find the ball from anywhere. He's fast. Can't say enough about Danny. But he's really mature. We pick on him a lot, but he handles it well. I think the future's really bright for him.
***
Jeremiah Hall
Offensive intensity?
We have to respond. No one felt comfortable about the way we won against Tulane, as we said after the game and on social media. We’re appreciative for the win and winning is never easy, but that doesn’t mean that we’re satisfied. Naturally, as a leader, especially from Coach Riley and the rest of staff, they made practice a little more intense and challenged us a little bit. The expected us to respond and I think we did a good job showing that in the last game against Western Carolina.
Mario Williams?
I’m always excited for my teammates when they have success, especially Mario. He’s a great athlete, but a better person off the field. It’s well deserving for him. His success on the field is a reflection of how hard he works in practice. He goes out an balls in the games, and he also does it multiple times in practice. The growth he has displayed since he arrived is more a maturity thing rather than anything taught on the field — route running or anything. It’s more his mindset that has grown and I’m proud of him for that.
Rattler's leadership?
He’s less hesitant in his leadership, less hesitant in the play calls he makes. He’s more confident in the huddle. He takes control when needed. He does little things like makes sure everyone is quiet and attentive. He makes sure the receivers are locked into the little things I might not even notice that a quarterback can see from his perspective. Little things like is the maturity I’ve seen from him. He’s been displaying it. Much like any other you guy, I’m proud of him. I think he’ll keep displaying it throughout the season.
11 a.m. for this one, really?
I think the only thing that makes it weird is because of the response you get on social media. I've never played in a historic game like this such as Nebraska and OU. This will be my first time playing. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what it means to the community. It's like playing in my first OU-Texas game. You never quite understand until you're actually there. I would say that might be the only difference in this game.
In terms of it being an 11 a.m. kickoff, from what I've heard and what I've learned, I do think the time maybe should be adjusted. But regardless, I'm used to these 11 o'clock kickoffs. I go out there, play ball. It kind of benefits me because I get to hang out with my family that flies in for the weekend a little bit more compared to a 6 p.m. game. That's my selfish viewpoint. But no, I'm going to go out there and read my team and we're going to ball out regardless no matter what time we're playing.
***
Perrion Winfrey (feature coming Friday)
Want to help defensive line’s struggles when you came in?
Most definitely, that was the No. 1 thing, wanting to come in and change an organization. I come in to a system that was already, you feel it, doing it without you. So I just wanted to come in and add on to what they already had. Because there were already great pieces in the room like Isaiah Thomas, Nik Bonitto and Jalen Redmond, and I just wanted to add that doggish mentality and that hunting mentality to what we were already doing, and I feel like we did that so far. d
Running QB?
Yeah, for sure, we definitely been, I guess we would say scouting against them in the running game, and we just can't wait to get out there and just touch up, like, just just put pads on pads and just see who the better man wins and who's going to be more physical, and who is going to dominate the line of scrimmage more and who was just gonna want it more, the will to want to run the ball at the cost of getting hit, and hit and hit. We just want to see like, who wants a more at the end of the day and to see who is really the more physical team, I guess you could say.
Finish?
I would say that the first game, that it was kind of shaky just because I couldn't — I didn't have the end of the fall camp I wanted because I was coming off the injury. But the second game, I can say that I honestly finished all the plays that I needed to play in this game and I'm gonna do the same. I say that it correlates the practice and also lifting, like everything throughout the week I have to do to a great week in order to have a great game. Like, I have to do the things necessary to lead up until that game, I have to become a consistent finisher in all aspects of life, like even the classroom and if I'm doing everything right in the classroom, on the field, in the weight room, they all correlate to the field.
***
Caleb Kelly
This week w/ Ana Maldonado (girlfriend, plays soccer for Nebraska)?
I mean I know who she is rooting for, for sure. She can’t come to the game because she has her own game, so that sucks. I have so much family coming because I have a lot of family in Nebraska and a lot of cousins that have went to Nebraska. It’ll be fun for sure for me. I’ll have over, I think, 25 family members at the game. They have a big ol’ Airbnb. it’s kinda like a mini-family reunion. It’ll be fun.
Circle this one b/c of family ties?
I saw it when it was announced, think it was my freshman or sophomore year, so I was like, dang, I wish I could do that one. Now here we are, and I’m still here and have the opportunity. That ended up working out in its own. I was interested in Nebraska when I was younger, for sure. My cousin back home from Fresno who is a year older than me actually went to Nebraska for engineering. He had gone right before me. I felt like he had to deal with me enough with my name being around him. I was like you can have that school, and I’ll figure something else out. That was pretty much the end of it at that point.
11 a.m.?
I think we do it so often against Texas that we know our big games are early. We’re pretty much used to it. As much as everybody else cares about the time, it is pretty nice to play the game early and relax after and hang out and chill. When we play those night games, we’re sitting in the hotel watching other games with anticipation the whole time. Honestly, I like the early games. We’re up here every day. The latest we’re up here is 7 (p.m.). We’re used to waking up early. Those later games are actually different for us. We’re used to it. I don’t know, the fans might be a little more crunk at nighttime because of their daily activities. It can still get pretty loud here at 11 a.m., so we’re good with it.
Played with Martinez in HS, success doesn't surprise you?
I mean he's always been that athlete. Like he plays — he was the starting point guard at basketball. I mean I helped coach his team when I was a freshman in high school. I would go back and help coach them my freshman and sophomore year when they were in seventh and eighth grade, like I've seen this kid grow up. And so, I mean, it's, he's been this way his whole life. He's always been the quarterback. He's always been one of the star players. He's always the one that everybody knows in his grade and talks about. And so I think that I'm not surprised in the success he's having just because I've seen it happen in high school. I’ve seen it happen on my team, he was my quarterback so I mean, he beat out a guy who was a two year starter. So I mean, I've seen him already do it all before and so I'm not surprised at all. He's a freak. He's a freak athlete it is what it is.
Stutsman?
I think in 7-on-7 during the Summer that’s just player run, he would make a lot of plays and we were kind of thinking oh he’s just a young guy. There’s this thing where when freshmen come in, the ball just kind of goes to them because they’re in the wrong spot and it just happens to go to them. Like okay, he’s making plays but he’s not making them how he should. And so we were like thinking that and all of a sudden we went into fall camp and he was continuing to make plays the right way, and being coached and listening and learning really fast and picking up things a lot faster than I think we expected.
Because he’s a goofy guy. He’s just a people person, real goofy kid and so it surprised us that he had the football smarts too I think a little bit. Or at least me. And so when those things clicked it was like, alright I think he’s really gonna do something and he’s just continued to make plays. He had his first time getting a lot of reps and I think he did what he needed to do to show like yeah I can play here and I hope his confidence continues to go through the roof because I mean, you can see already he’s going to be a player. And we’ve all been saying it all fall camp and I’ll continue to say it. He’s a good kid and deserves it because he works so hard and so I’m not surprised anymore but I definitely was going into fall camp.
