Buckeyes Spoke To The Media Before They Hit The Road To Purdue
11/5/2025 10:04:00 AM | Football
On Purdue’s recent record:
“If you watch the film, which I know everybody in our building is, they’re getting better every week. I think it's important to watch each team and figure out where they are and where they have come from. I think each week, you have seen them progress in all areas and I thought they played really well last week. They played that game all the way into the fourth quarter and I think it’s a team that has gotten a lot better. Like you said, they have lost some close games here recently, so we have to play our best. It’s mentioned all the time; we want to play our best every week and our guys understand that. We are going on the road like this, a conference game against a team that is getting better every week and we saw what they did last week, so we have to be on our game.”
On seeing improvement in special teams:
“Yes, there’s been good things and then there's been some other things that you have to get better. We’re trying to get as many guys as we can on the field. We know that we have some good special teams players on the team, but it’s a great opportunity for some of these younger players we are talking about to get out on the field and cut their teeth and make mistakes and learn and grow. So, I think it’s been solid, but we always want to be better and be more explosive.”
On if he thinks the team is getting better each week:
“Definitely. I think we have a lot to improve on. I still don’t think we are as good as we’re going to be by the time this is over. I’m just focusing every week on getting better and making sure we actually see progress.”
On being vocal as a defensive unit:
“A lot of guys we have are great football players, but don’t talk as much. I think it’s important to make enough time for that or getting everybody confident to know that we’re the best and we’re trusting that everybody’s going to do their job.”
On if he feels when his energy is rubbing off on the rest of the team:
“Definitely, you can just see everybody’s demeanor and how everybody is going about it. All you have to do is watch and you’ll see.”
On pressure surrounding Purdue’s projections being better than they show:
“Every week it’s about us. We’re just trying to get better every week and go out there and compete. That’s really what it’s all about.”
On when he felt like Ohio State was a place he would fit in:
“After fall camp and getting acclimated with the new people, new faces and new scheme. It’s an everyday process and you keep getting more and more comfortable.”
On what makes Ohio State's scheme unique:
“Just the playmakers we have. We have so many guys that are so dangerous. You can do a lot of different things and it’s a lot of fun.”
On his sense of responsibility of being the Quarterback of the number one ranked team:
“When you are at Ohio State, you have to bring your A game every day. You can’t have a bad day at Ohio State. That's what Coach Day always says, so you have to be on your game at all times and everyone has to do their jobs. Every position knows that and we are focused on that each and every week.”
On why Jeremiah Smith should be considered for the awards he’s nominated for:
“I think a lot of things. His work ethic is unmatched, his skill set is very good, but the way he works at practice and the way he fine tunes his craft is very special. The ability for him to go make some great catches, but then also he will dig out of safety, go make some great walks, and he practices that. It shows up on Tuesday and Wednesday and then you see it on Saturdays. “
On seeing Max Klare grow throughout the season:
“I think every game Max is playing better and better, especially in run blocking. I think he has worked a lot on that in practice and after practice. I think he has shown that on the field.”
On Julian and how much he is improving:
“He is super controlling of the offense and it is no surprise that he is playing the way he's playing.”
On protecting the quarterback:
“We take a lot of pride in it, whatever our job description is, we have to do it to the best of our ability. If that's pass pro, run, block, or running routes, we take pride in everything we do.”
On his 8 tackles and how special that performance was as a nose guard:
“I'll say it is really special to me. Having Coach Johnson, Coach Patricia and all my guys working together each and every week getting better, we just keep working."
On how he is prepping throughout the week to keep getting better:
“It is just preparation throughout the week: each play, every rep. Once the game starts, not guessing and knowing what you are doing. Trusting your technique and trusting the teammates around you makes me play more freely.”
On where he is this year compared to last year:
“This year I took it way more seriously. I have a chance to really make a name for myself and that overall is motivation for me.”
On Coach Day saying he sees his confidence growing:
“Yeah, my confidence is rising. It's increasing. The players, the leaders of this team, the coaches, they stay on me. They encourage me each and every day. They talk to me each and every day, going out there in the practice field and busting my behind. That's pretty much it. It's nothing out of the ordinary. It's just simple stuff.”
On how much of a confidence booster having a game like Saturday is:
“It's a confidence booster, but it's just a game. It's on to the next one.”
On the fairness for another team when he is lined up next to Arvell Reese:
“I mean, somebody has to block him and if that guy doesn't block him, then somebody has to block me. No, it's not fair no.”
