Buckeyes Meet With Media Following Thursday's Practice
3/26/2026 8:03:00 AM | Football
On what it meant to get his extension
Well, obviously, just Ohio State is such a special place, not only just the history and the tradition, the football program, the school, but just the people that are here, you know, and the kids that are here and Coach Day, and you know it’s hard when you got to move your family around, your kids, and going to school and all that. And we just had an unbelievable experience settling into Columbus. Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming, and it feels like home, so it’s a big deal.
On the challenge of replacing the defense
I think when that happens, certainly when you look at it from a team standpoint, culture, and the way you do things and kind of the standard, all that stuff is set. We’re just, you know, picking it up with the next group. With as much, um, new and you know, guys come into the program for the first time, not only are you trying to catch them up on all the football scheme and all the rest of it, but you’re also trying to catch them up on everything else. You know, this is how we, this is how we work.
On how he helps with the scheme here during this time
We’re experimenting through spring ball. It’s kind of good in college that we have, you know, we have the spring practices, we’re in pads already, you know, and we’re kind of seeing some of the fundamental stuff we’re working on. And then you still have work, you know, before you get the training camp, so you have some time to kind of build. Hey, this is what we figured out in spring practice that our guys can do. Now, how do we try to put them in those positions to do it.
On how he has improved from last season
Davidson (Igbinosun) helped me a lot. He got here as a transfer when I got here as a freshman, so we both got here at the same time. I have seen his growth, and how he approached the game every day, and how serious he was at his craft. So he helped me so much last year, and just how serious he was about everything. Another guy I want to bring up is Denzel Burke; he was here my freshman and sophomore year, and he was very pro-like, very serious about the game, so those two guys helped me a lot just learning from them.
On talking about being a vocal leader this year
I think that is my personality, being vocal. When I was a freshman or a sophomore, I still talked the same way, but when I got older, you have to learn how to channel it a little bit, and what to say and when to say it, and how to say it sometimes. So I think, just when you get older, it is just the knowledge.
On what specific aspects he wants to improve
I think just being more physical with my run game, getting off blocks, I always get better at pressing and getting at your breaks faster and all that. So just the little things overall.
When asked what it means to be an iron Buckeye:
It means everything. It’s been a goal of mine ever since I’ve gotten here. I understand what it means to be an iron Buckeye and I think it’s a testament of my teammates and the strengths that they have seen of me and I’m so grateful for it.
When asked about if being a leader has been a point of emphasis for him this offseason with the new guys:
Yeah definitely. Anyone can be a leader, so why not me. I think coming to the offseason, I wanted to be that guy everybody looks to when things get hard and push the guys.
When asked if he would move around positions sometime in the future:
I would do anything for this team, my teammates obviously, if that would be the case that would be really cool and I would embrace the heck out of it. I would just attack it like I would anything else.
On Describing his game
I help myself with what I feel like, if I am out there doing well, or being violent, getting off the ball, and just trying to be disruptive and just doing my job for the team.
On why he transferred here
No, really big reason, I just feel like I need a new start. Nothing against Alabama, it is a great program, but I just needed a fresh start.
On talking about other guys at Ohio State since transfering over from Alabama
Yeah, definitely, Caleb Downs is like a brother to me. I talk to him almost every day; he wanted me to come here really badly.
