Matt Guerrieri the Safety's, and Cody Simon Spoke to the Media
8/20/2024 1:23:00 PM | Football
On how Caleb is now at this point in camp
“He has been great and obviously in the spring, he's learning everybody, he's learning new coaching styles. We've had relationships but, getting to know each other still where now, you've been over my house, he knows my family, he knows all of us. The player relationships are at a deeper level, I think that there's a comfort ability from that to be able to say, ok, I know what to expect and then obviously from a schematic standpoint, been in the system in the spring and the summer. There's a level of understanding that is really, really high”
On the depth with the team in regard to Jim’s comments during previous media interviews
“No, I feel good with a group of guys, You have to prove it on a consistent basis, so I think when he says, hey, we have to continue to grow that depth there's accountability to make sure the performance level, there's no drop off, that’s the standard of Ohio State. It doesn't matter who's in there wearing scarlet and gray the expectation is for it to be the best in the country. So that's, I think what he means from a depth standpoint of growing that position, and it's my job and our job to have those guys ready.”
On coming back from being sidelined and what he learned during that time
“Being sidelined was definitely tough, going through the injury and all that. But I think when Coach G got here, and Coach Walt really helped me out, I was watching film every day and making sure that I got better in some way, in some form, even though I wasn’t exactly on the field.”
On where his confidence in his game has grown
“Like I said earlier, just playing a lot faster. I feel like I’m more calm out there. I feel like the moment isn’t too big. I feel like getting bigger throughout the year and when I was hurt definitely helped me.”
On if there is anyone from last year that influenced him to change up his routine
“Yeah for sure. I mean, in BIA our standard is so high that we challenge everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to play this year, it doesn’t matter if you’re going to play two years from now, it doesn’t matter if you’re a true freshman, you’re going to come in early and you’re going to put in the work just like everybody else because it’s not just the starters that are held to the standard, it’s everybody.”
On being a leader this season
“It means a lot to me. I just try to be myself, always have a smile on my face, joke around, have fun with everyone and I just appreciate being here. Every day to me is a blessing because I've had it taken away before. So every day I'm on the field and every day I’m with my brothers. I just enjoy the moment.”
On playing with some of the best players in college football
“It’s exciting. I always I talk to my parents and I talk to people about like Caleb coming here. I couldn't wait for him to get here just to be able to compete with him every day. I think that's what's so special about our BIA room is just constant competition. Always compete with each other. Always trying to be the best. I feel like we have four or five DBs that could possibly win awards like the Thorpe and stuff this year. So we have stuff like that. It's a special room.”
On the recruiting process
“I think I said before, it was like recruiting on steroids for me. But I wouldn't change a thing. I feel like if you know how to handle it and you rely on the things that are stable in your life. It can be handled pretty well. I relied on God and my family for it. So I don't really think it caused me to shake at all during this experience, but I feel like it was handled at a really high level.”
On the difference between here and Alabama
“I would say the different ways that they play defense here they have different techniques and different views on how to play defense than they did at Alabama. It's a different type of system. They coach it different and then just the coaching from the DBs is different. So you get to learn in different views and different perspectives. I feel like if you know different things and you can pick from which ones you want to play from I feel like that makes you a well-rounded player.”
On being named a captain
“Me, personally, I'm not the type of guy who likes to really be in the lime light and be the center of attention. So even adjusting to that was kind of strange for me. Ever since I was a child, captains in college football, you see those guys walk out and it could be the biggest game of your life. It was really emotional, I’m just so thankful for it.”
On who he wants to be as a leader
“You never really know until it gets to the hard moments and guys can really lean on you and look to you to lead. I've been saying that like me as a leader is, it's never like me just becoming, it's more like I'm taking parts of the guys who have led me. Tommy is probably the best leader I've ever been around, he's tough, will work through anything. He’s vocal, physical. It’s guys like that, when you can just take a little bit from them and implement it in your own way. It goes miles and I was just so thankful to have guys like that in my life and on this team that have helped me get through a lot of moments.”
