Football Freshmen Complete First Practice – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 30, 2002
Justin Zwick
On the first day of practice:
“I was a little nervous. It took a while for me to get calmed down. It went pretty well for the most part.”
On the linebackers:
“They are all big and fast with great hands. They all look like they will be pretty good players if they get the chance.”
Bobby Carpenter
On the college game:
“The speed has picked up and I’m sure it will speed up even more when the upperclassmen arrive. There is so much to learn with the different defenses, stunts and coverages.”
A.J. Hawk
On the linebackers:
“I kind of like being here with the other linebackers because it can only help me to get better. All of us are really good athletes. Mike D’Andrea, Bobby (Carpenter) and Stan (White), they can all play. It’s really cool being with a group of linebackers who are this good.”
Troy Smith
On the first day of practice and being a Buckeye:
“I felt good. I feel I am very well conditioned. As far as putting on the helmet and shoulder pads, it’s a feeling you can’t even describe. It’s very exciting being part of this team. They haven’t overloaded us too much yet. We all seem to be taking everything in stride.”
Tyler Everett
On the speed of the college game:
“Everyone here is fast on both sides of the ball. As a defensive back, if you let a receiver get one step, you’re beat. Once the upperclassmen get here they’ll be able to show us the ropes a bit more. They throw you a lot of information on the field and you have to pick things up fast.”
Mike D’Andrea
On the college game:
“I was a little nervous at first. The coaches do a good job at showing us what to do and where to be. They explain everything to us very well in the meetings before. It’s important that we get up to speed before the upperclassmen get here. It’s very necessary because we have a game on Aug. 24.”
On the linebackers:
“They’re all great athletes. They’re great people too. We all get along both on and off the field. They’re all solid, big guys with speed.”
E.J. Underwood
On the first practice:
It was pretty fun for the first day. I was a little jittery at first because I’m in a new system. I started to relax toward the end and I was able to play my game. They throw a lot of stuff at us in our meetings and we have to remember it on the field. We all just want to compete, push each other to get better and have fun.”
Stan White, Jr.
On the first day and the linebackers:
“I thought for the first practice it went pretty good. We’re all just learning the system and helping each other out right now. There is no time to worry about what other people are doing. This is Ohio State. We’re all good athletes.”
