Buckeyes Chat to the Media Ahead of Youngstown State Matchup
9/6/2023 5:14:00 PM | Football
On staying focused as a cornerback
“You take it play by play. You don’t want to get out there and look bad so you just have to stay focused every play. They can hit you with anything on any play.”
On being healthy and getting back on the field
“It felt great to be able to explode and read routes. Just being able to get out there with a lot of confidence I just felt really good.”
On Kyle and Devin’s performance
“That’s a tough spot to step into and to be honest with you I think they did well and I trust both those guys wholeheartedly. With the game in their hands I think for a start that was awesome.”
On transitioning from week one to week two
“When you don’t play for that long you kind of forget how to play a little bit at first but to be honest with you, you feel your way back out. You think "am I as good as what I thought I was, is this really going to work?" Then once you figure that out then you basically just keep stacking reps, games and days. Once you do that, that’s week one. That’s the biggest jump you’re going to see in college football teams normally because you get comfortable with who you are again.”
On what having 3 big kicks last game does for him going forward
“In the game you don’t really think about it you just think about doing your job. Helping the guys win I wanted to help Kyle in the offense and I wanted to help the defense too. We all played really well and I just thought I was just doing my job.”
On what it’s like to kick in the 'Shoe
“It’s the same as practice. Just go out and do what I’ve been doing since I was in sixth grade.”
On approaching the mindset of being the kicker
“Parker [Lewis] is a great kicker and I felt like I had to prove myself every day. He really pushed me to be a better kicker and pushed me across the finish line in terms of perfecting my craft.”
On the changes to the Buckeye defense this year
“We are a lot closer as a defense compared to last year, and our mindset going into every single game is don’t let up any points. So we we are definitely mad when we let up three… We’re going for a shutout every game. That’s the goal.”
"We’re communicating a lot better… It’s just knowing what you’re doing so you have more time to really decipher what’s going on for you. Then you can relay that to all the guys behind you and in front of you.”
On being put into the game as the running back against Michigan last season
“When you train all year for that game and you get a role to be the guy in that position you take that with a chip on your shoulder. That’s what I tried to do last year and I’m carrying it with me into this game.”
On where his nickname comes from
“I was given the nickname Blue Chip when I was eight years old and over the years it shortened to Chip and I just rolled with it. Just carried a chip over my shoulder. Football hasn’t been the journey that I expected it to be, but that’s life in general. So I just keep that chip on my shoulder every play, every snap, and every game.”
On transferring to Ohio State as a linebacker and now playing as a fullback
“I love my role here because I love my brothers. Whatever the role calls for, that’s what I’ll fulfill, and I’m going to do my due diligence 110%”
What did you like about the way that you played?
“I liked that we were all on the same page. It's just that we had a few mistakes... You need to keep working, because if you stop and you sit on top of the mountain and you don't keep climbing then somebody's gonna get you real good.”
Is there a hunger among you guys to show they're better than week one?
“If the hunger is not there then we're in trouble. So yeah, I think the hunger is there. I think it's just getting on the same page and having communication.”
What's the puzzle that Youngstown State presents?
“I think they're really, really good. There are three or four defensive ends and they rotate really well and their interior is really good. Their linebacker plays really good. I think we just need to go work and use our technique.”
What did the team address this week as far as getting in a rhythm
“Definitely get into a rhythm is one thing, but our first goal was just to win the first game. We came out 1-0 and this week's just another week. We need to continue to prepare, build and just keep going.”
On the quarterbacks
“We'll build chemistry with both of them as the season goes on. Right now, I think they're pushing each other to get better and better, week by week and they're better leaders, better players, and they're gonna continue to both improve.”
What was is like seeing Carnell Tate
“I think it was awesome for him. He's come through, he's putting all the work. He's a freshman. He doesn't act like a freshman, isn't carrying himself like a freshman. He's got a really, really bright future and I'm really excited for him.”
How much do you like blocking as a receiver?
“I don't mind blocking. Whatever is going to help the team and as the challenges come we need to assert ourselves outside of the perimeter. So it's gonna be exciting. Hopefully, we're gonna be able to assert our dominance. We have really big, strong, fast and physical receivers. So, I'm really excited.”
