Buckeyes Spoke To The Media Ahead Of The Big Ten Championship Game
12/3/2025 10:09:00 AM | Football
On Ohio State going into this week:
We’re just going to take every day as it comes. It’s easy to get frustrated turn your hands up I’ve said that a million times it’s not going to happen. Were just going to be pushing, moving forward. We’ll make sure that everybody understands that in this world there’s a lot that comes with it. This is still about relationships and we’re going to pour into these players and coaches and that’s our job. While it changes its still about that part of the game of football and coaches, and that’s not going to change Ohio State.
On the Indiana Hoosiers defense:
They are excellent, they’re fast, they’re quick, they use their hands really well. Opportunistic in terms of creating turnovers get their hands on a lot of balls. They are as good as anybody in the country. Really impressed with how they play, how physical they are. So, it’s a great challenge for our offense. There is a reason they are ranked number two in the country so it’s going to be a battle on Saturday night.
On what stands out to him about Indiana’s defense:
I think they are really well coached. They are really sound in their fundamentals, and they play really hard, so it is going to be a tough challenge for us. They are really good at creating turnovers, and then capitalizing off those turnovers, so we are going to have to play clean football.
On the biggest difference between where he was in week one to where he is now:
I think, just getting more comfortable in the system and just having all those reps under my belt. You can’t really teach getting those reps, so I think it’s just about experience and getting those experiences of playing in Big Ten games and having those reps and seeing different coverages.
When asked when he saw the team shift from celebrating the win against Michigan to preparation for Indiana.
I think as soon as we came in on Sunday, everyone had that look their eye because, we haven’t won the Big Ten since 2020, so we know what’s at stake here and we are excited to play in Indianapolis.
On St. Clair done as the scout team Fernando Mendoza:
He’s been doing a great job. Not just this week, but every week he's been on scout team. He's been doing a great job giving us the best look possible.
On practicing against an elite offense:
It helps us out a lot because we go against the best, one of the best quarterbacks in the country every day, one of the best receivers in the country every day. So that helps us out a lot, especially going against good teams like this.
On stopping three touchdowns against TTUN:
When the ball springs out you got to down the ball. When stuff like that happens, you got the whole Buckeye Nation, the program, your coach, your teammates on your back, so they trust me to make those plays.
On biggest growth from the beginning of year:
My confidence. I feel like I went out there Texas, I felt like I was ready for sure, but I feel like as the season has been going on I gained a lot of confidence and I trust myself a lot more, also the communication, covering tackling, all that stuff. I feel like that that's helped me improve a lot.
On being Named Defensive lineman of the year in the Big Ten
First and foremost, I always say this, I want to thank god first, cause without him this wouldn’t be possible, I want to thank coach Johnson for believing in me when everybody else didn’t. This started when I was a freshman coming in at the back of the bench but working my way up and learning from the older guys. I’m just so thankful for Coach Patrcia, Coach Day, everybody that plays a part.
On what did winning last week mean to you
We’ve been struggling for a couple years now and you know I knew on Saturday that I would get a chance to get some gold pants and you know Coach Patricia always have a moment with him every week before a game, and he hugs me and you know I’ll do anything for him, and he would do anything for me, and I will appreciate him forever.
On thinking about how far he has come
I would be surprised, I am just so thankful for the opportunity to play for Ohio State University, being in the number one team in the country, going to Indy on Saturday, and having a chance to go repeat. That’s my biggest concern right now, I just want to make sure we get the win.
On when asked what it meant to win on Saturday:
It meant a lot. We’ve been falling short to those guys years in a row and then I’ve seen or heard from the guys that couldn’t do it like Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau , Tyleik Williams, and I was doing it for those guys and like doing it for us. So, it was really emotional.
On his upcoming matchup with Indiana’s left tackle Carter Smith:
I mean I look forward to it; He is a pretty good left tackle. He is a great athlete, and we can’t wait to go against him on Saturday.
On what he does to mentally get back too that level during game time:
Just put in the work from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. You put the work in and what you put in throughout the week, that is what you will dish out on Saturday.
On what it was like dominating the game last week and what it was like being in that environment:
It was good. I feel like we were really in sync that game, all together working as one unit. We were just out there dominating people. It was pretty fun.
On if he thinks this team has turned a page after game with Michigan:
Yeah, I think ever since Wisconsin, we all locked in on movement and just anything. We all have been studying together, working together, getting extra work, and just playing with that edge, and not going over that edge.
On the response from Coach Day and Bowen with the way they played as an Offensive Line in that game center:
It was good, but it could always be better. Even though, it’s just 43 knockdowns and all that stuff, we could always do better and we could always improve on what we are doing, with pass pro, run, anything, play action, and that is what we are going to do.
