Ohio State Player Quotes – National Signing Day
2/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 1, 2017
Marcus Williamson – Westerville, Ohio – Cornerback
On preparing himself for enrolling early and winter workouts
“For me personally I went to prep school, IMG Academy, and I think that helped me a lot. But honestly, I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare you for this. You just have to come in with a positive mindset and take what they throw at you.”
On arriving on campus for the first time as a student
“For me it was exciting. It was like coming home. You just want to get in here and work, be around the team, and really start to be a part of the program. It’s really exciting.”
On coming to Ohio State as an Ohioan
“I just think, for Ohio guys, it means a little more to us. We’re from here, we’re playing in front of our families, we grew up watching Terrelle Pryor and all of those guys. It’s a different feeling, it’s hard to explain. I’m just glad to be here.”
Tate Martell – Las Vegas, Nev. – Quarterback
On his first days as an Ohio State football player
“It’s been hard, but that’s exactly what I need to be the best quarterback I can be. At our first workout we thought the warmups were a part of the workout. I’m roommates with Baron [Browning] and Jeff [Okudah] and every time we come back we know that we’re going to become really good football players because of how we train and what we go through.”
On Ohio State’s new quarterbacks coach Ryan Day
“I didn’t know much about him but, after talking to Coach Meyer I was comfortable with it. At my first meeting with Coach Meyer after I told him I was coming here, he told me that he can’t always be sure that the guy who’s here right now will always be here because they might get a coaching job elsewhere. But he told me that he’ll always bring in the next best guy. I trusted him that he’ll bring in the best guy no matter what, and that’s what he did.”
Brendon White – Pickerington, Ohio – Athlete
On what position he’ll play
“Right now I don’t really know, I have two numbers for offense and defense. So I’m just working hard and they’ll put me where I’m the best fit so I can be successful. Right now I’m just working out and working hard this winter.”
On being with the team while they were preparing for the College Football Playoffs
“It was crazy. It was really cool to see the tempo, it’s so different from high school. The guys brought me along pretty well and I think it gave me an advantage this winter.”
On being compared with Ohio State’s 2013 recruiting class
“It’s definitely and honor being compared to that class, but at the end of the day this is our class and we want to be viewed as the best one to ever come through here. At the same time we need to be humble about it and be glad that we’re a part of this program. All of those rankings don’t matter once you get here. What matters is that you work hard and show you have what it takes to be a Buckeye.”
Shaun Wade – Jacksonville, Fla. – defensive back
On his first month of campus
“When I got here, I connected with all of the corners. Everybody is just friendly. You have to work hard, that’s one thing I’ve learned. You just got to work hard every day, it’s going to be hard. They have just been pushing me and all of the freshman.”
On his expectations for this year
“Just working hard with all of the corners. Denzel (Ward), just learning from him, he’s the next guy up. Just working hard. We have a lot of corners here. We’re going to compete, we’re brothers, so we just plan on competing and getting others better.”
On his decision to come to Ohio State
“To be honest, I really knew I belonged here. There really wasn’t a choice of going somewhere else. I knew I was a Buckeye.”
Jeffrey Okudah – Grand Prairie, Texas – defensive back
On being a part of this recruiting class
“I think it’s a blessing to be considered one of the top recruits on Ohio State’s board. I don’t want to let anyone down. I want to come in and just work and live up to that class hype.”
On the benefits of enrolling early
“I’m getting a chance to form relationships with some of the older guys. I’m hanging out with Tyquan (Lewis) a lot. I’m taking the little brother role with him. I’m also getting stronger and faster, so by the time June comes around I’ll already have six months in the Ohio State program. That will be a big help for the fall.”
On the biggest thrill during his recruiting process
“I think when I announced my decision at the Army All-American game. That was probably one of the best days of my life. I felt like I accomplished a lot that day. It just closed the chapter of high school recruiting and started the chapter of making a name for myself in college football.”
Baron Browning – Fort Worth, Texas – linebacker
On the possibility of facing challenges on the mental side of the game
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. That’s what I feel like a majority of our workouts are about. It’s testing you mentally to see where you’re at. Our workouts are hard, but it’s more of a mental thing. Just to keep pushing.”
On adjusting to life as an Ohio State football player
“Every day has been hard. I’ve been having to embrace it. In high school, we might have one or two hard workouts, but then we’d have a day where you could just lollygag and get through. But every workout has been hard and you just have to take it one day at a time.”
J.K. Dobbins
On his bond with the other Texas recruits in this class
“We have a special bond. All of the guys from Texas are pretty close. We just wanted to come here. We knew that this would be the best place for us and we weren’t scared to make the jump from Texas to Ohio. It will benefit us in the end.”
On the tradition of great Ohio State running backs
“It played a big role. You want to go to a school that is going to develop you as a running back, as a player and as a man. When I saw that, I said ‘that’s a great opportunity.”
