Buckeyes Meet with the Media Entering Second Week of Camp
8/5/2025 12:54:00 PM | Football
On how they are improving redzone quarterback scrambles or touchdown opportunities:
“It’s a focus, it is always a focus, though, and we have yet to decide what the things are this year that we are going to do to make sure that we convert. Situationally, overall, I think we were above average in third and long, third and medium, and short yardage in terms of the national average, so we always want to be in the top twenty. One of the things we are looking for by the end of the week is that we want to have our identity. It doesn't need to be set in stone, but we at least want to have an idea. The players can tell us what we are doing and what our identity is coming out of this week.”
On his old job at New Hampshire and what he told himself every morning to get him through the day:
“When I think back on it, one of my close friends to this day is one of the quarterbacks that was in that room. You spend so much time together and the easy thing early on is to hate the guy that you are going against. Then you spend so much time with them, they become your best friends. All that being said, you want to play. When you are competing with somebody, you're kind of looking over your shoulder and that is not a great feeling, but it is a healthy feeling because you know that you have to hold yourself to a certain standard. You're not allowed to have a bad day and you certainly can't have bad plays.”
On how he is making sure the quarterbacks are trying to win the competition on what they do well but also pushing them out of their comfort zone:
“As we script practice and we go through it, we try to be extremely detailed in the different reps that everyone’s getting. It is not like we would ever script a certain play on purpose because it fits someone’s strengths better. We want them to run the offense. The offense is always going to adjust to the skill set of the players that are in the entire offense, but at the end of the day, the offense is going to be the offense. From a decision-making perspective, from a throw perspective, those guys are going out there and getting those reps and competing in it.”
On when he needs to start thinking of his decision at quarterback or if he is focused on pure development at this stage of camp:
“Right now, we are just taking it day by day, period by period on the field and meeting by meeting off the field. The one thing that is cool is those guys [Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz] are very competitive, and they push each other hard. They’re ultimately really good for each other because they both make each other uncomfortable, and because they’re both very good players. Tavien St. Clair is right there with them, included in that mix. Above all of that, they are still friends. I think what’s cool right now is, you walk into that quarterback room, and you’ve got a bunch of really good guys that all get along well.”
On how he stays ready to be his best every day:
“It's all about improving every day. We're trying to make it so every rep is game-like, even 7-on-7 and routes on air, we are practicing like we are in game and visualizing ourselves in the game. I think it's really important and Coach Day has been on us about that.”
On the areas where he feels he has grown the most since the spring:
“I feel like I am developing in my footwork, in my accuracy, my mechanics, and just developing as a leader is where I wanted to grow. I feel like I have done some of that this summer. It's all about building confidence. When you make a great play, you start to build that confidence, so that's definitely important.”
On being named Iron Buckeye:
“It means a lot. I think it is something that everyone on our team should strive for and it is something that I think is probably the biggest honor in this program, especially in the off season. It definitely means a lot.”
On what he wanted to get better at coming out of last year:
“I’d say first and foremost, get my body weight right, get to a spot where I can go out there and play, and then get stronger and faster. That’s something that I’ve been working towards this offseason with Coach Mick and in the weight room. It’s something that I’ve been looking into a lot. Football-wise, film study—that’s something that we also did in the off season. Quarterbacks would just come in and watch film together and get better.”
On what he thinks the Iron Buckeye honor says about him and his work ethic:
“I think it just shows that I put in some work in the offseason, in the weight room and on the field. I just go out there and be my best. Hopefully I prove to my teammates that my leadership is there as well.”
On when it is good for a quarterback to be uncomfortable and when you want to be comfortable:
“I think as a room, we really focus on embracing the uncomfortable. I think as a quarterback, if things are comfortable for you, then you're either really well prepared or you're anticipating really well. Like Coach Day says, for us comfort can play a factor and sometimes it's not good. You really want to be uncomfortable. If the defense is making you uncomfortable and making you sharpen your mind, you have to be on top of everything. Then it kind of puts you in a flow state where you know exactly what's going on and put guys in the right spots, make protection calls, and things like that. But if you're comfortable in those situations when the defense is bringing a lot of things to you and you're in control, you're able to control what goes on. So I think being comfortable and uncomfortable is something that plays a huge role in quarterback play. It has its ups and its downs, and each has their different moments.”
On what he feels like he is learning being a freshman in this quarterback room:
“For me, I'm competing with myself. I'm trying to get better every day, be who I can be for this team, wherever that is needed. I'm trying to be the best teammate that I can be for these quarterbacks and the best teammate I can be for this team because they're all my brothers. At this point, I've been here with them, I've connected with all of them, and looking at relationships, I've instilled trust from them. So they can trust me and trust that I can go out there on the field and play whenever my number is called.”
