Coach Walton & CBs Talk Fall Camp
8/10/2023 12:52:00 PM | General, Football
On if he's concerned rotating Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Davison Igbinosun.
“No, I’m not concerned about it right now. We’re still early. We’re just trying to evaluate … We’re trying to see where guys fit best, what guys can do, what their strengths are, what things they need to improve on, and we’ll get more into that stuff when we get, closer to game time.“
On CB's not having any interceptions last season
“It’s all random. I’ve been coaching for a while, it’s all based on opportunities on the ball. You can hit a streak at time where balls aren’t in the position to get your hands on them. Sometimes that happens, but sometimes you also have to go create the opportunity and that’s what we’re focused on.”
On mindset shift in cornerback room
“They understand the system and they are understanding the stuff to do. They understand details, how stuff is applied, and how to go apply it. It allows us to play fast and go touch the ball more.”
On the cornerback group as a whole
"We're all some dogs. We'll go out there and play man (coverage) and do whatever we need to do to win the game."
On his level of comfort now in year two of Coach Knowles defense
"We're really comfortable, especially back into his system. We have a feel now for what coach is going to call...it allows us to be in the right position all of the time."
On the cornerback group having no interceptions last season
"We remind ourselves every day...that's just horrible. We're going to bring that back and just get better every single day."
On how different he feels from this time last year
“Oh yeah, this is a huge difference. I can tell off my explosiveness, my IQ, just being in with Coach Mick, Coach Walt, they really helped up my game.”
On his biggest difference from year two to three
“Probably my physicality and my matchmaking, like matching routes and stuff. Coach Walt really works on our eyes, so being in there with him is really paying off.”
On difference between playing inside vs outside
“It translates pretty smoothly because corner it can be harder to guard at the cornerback position, but playing nickel you can know where your leverage is as well as your help.”
On how he's fitting in after transferring from Notre Dame
"I feel like I'm performing at a high level right now. We have a great defensive line, so that's helped me out a lot, but I feel like I've done pretty well."
On his brother (and now teammate) Sonny's reaction to him coming to Ohio State
"He's my guy, so he was just really excited and ready to get to work."
On making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback this season
"I think it actually really helped me because I've been understanding a lot of the concepts the offense is trying to run because I've been on the other side of it before."
On Malik Hartford’s growth
“He’s grown a whole bunch, just his smarts man, just his motor, his IQ when he’s out there, being able to process things fast on an elite level and running into the ball.”
On who is impressing on the offensive side of the ball
“Noah Rogers and Carnell Tate. Those guys have really picked up fast.”
On his place in the DB room
“I feel pretty good, comfortable, trying to increase that value and where I can get in to help this team, that’s what I’m gonna do.”
On his game to step into position for defense
“I feel like I’m very versatile. I can cover the slot, the number one receiver, we have a lot of DB’s who are very versatile like Sonny. A big part of my game is my versatility.”
On what he envisions his role being in 2023
“Just getting on the field, all competing for jobs and competing for spots on the field. The best players are going to play and I just want to go out and win.”
On his thought process of transferring here from Ole Miss
“I thought about BIA like ‘Best in America.” I thought about top guys - Okudah, Malcolm Jenkins. I just thought about getting it back to that standard.”
On how things are going to work with Jordan Hancock and Denzel Burke
“Competition breeds greatness. I know that the best players are gonna be on the field and I’m just ready to compete.”
