The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 18/22 Football Quotes: Tuesday media availability
09.25.2018 | Football
The Longhorns spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's game at Kansas State.
Junior DB Brandon Jones
On if it was one of his better games: Yeah I think it was. I know for sure it was my first career interception so that's always good to get. I just felt really, really good. Very prepared going into last week and just making the plays I should be making.
On how different of an environment is it having to go play well on the road: Playing on the road is always tough. You feel more comfortable playing at home and with a team like Kansas State, they're super physical and no matter their record they're a really physical and good team. So we really can't take advantage of that and also playing in Kansas, like Coach Herman told us, we haven't beat them since 2002 on the road so I think it's going to be a tough challenge and we have to prepare this week like we've been preparing since the season started.
On why he hits so hard: I don't know, Coach Naivar really explains to us to take one more step. I guess I just use my speed and I know my speed is one of my best aspects and like the coaches tell us, speed and momentum are your friends. So if you have those two things I think you can really put some power on somebody.
Sophomore QB Sam Ehlinger
On if he's spoiled with having Collin Johnson and Lil Jordan Humphrey: Oh it's incredible. Definitely spoiled but I think that's how it should be at The University of Texas. I think you should have guys like that to be able to go get the football. They've done an excellent job and it's a great advantage in the passing game knowing that one-on-one matchups aren't covered for us. It's not like "oh man he's covered he doesn't have a chance." They always have a chance to go win and they're doing that consistently which helps out a lot.
On what it does to the confidence level by winning three straight: It's great overall just having confidence in what we're doing and having confidence in everyone around me. I think that it won't really affect how we approach the week and I think that's what we need to focus on is understanding that this game confidence needs to help and can't be detrimental in any sort of way. So understanding that, I mean we have a lot of guys on the team that have been on successful programs and have won before and we also have coaches that have done a lot of that as well. So keeping us grounded and understanding that the confidence is great for how we play and how we execute but also on the flip side of that understanding that we can't let it get in the way of our progression and our development.
Senior DB PJ Locke
On if certain stadiums take them out of their element: I personally like away games because it's a challenge and I'm always up for a challenge. I really didn't know that was a stat-line and that it's been since 2002. I really didn't know that. You have to give credit to Kansas State. It's a well-coached team, have a legendary coach, been there for a long time, always well-coached. They do a great job of defending their land so now it's another challenge for us. We had some good home game wins now we'll see if we can go back and do it on the road. Last time we were on the road we lost so we have to take that same mindset we had for the home games and take it on the road.
On what qualities he wants the team to have to stay hungry: Oh definitely. I don't ever want anybody to be satisfied. I try to rub off any way that I can to never be satisfied, keep hungry, always try to find ways to improve. Even if you had a great game and you graded out 90 and above I want you to still try to find something you can critique on. Anything you can work on, write it down. I try to tell my guys after every single game write down what you did wrong or whatever you feel you need to work on, then the next game do the same thing. Now we're in what, game five? And you look back at your notes and let's see if anything shows up twice. That'll tell you if you put any emphasis on it or not so something you really need to work on.
Senior TE Andrew Beck
On if this year feels different than years in the past: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely it feels different. I think it's a very good thing. Like you said, we've got guys who come from winning programs, guys who want to win, and guys who winning matters to them. I think that now it's paying off and guys are having a lot more fun than they have been before.
On what the next step this offense needs to take: I think watching games previously that we've played and even watching practice and things like that. I think when we do click it's because all 11 guys are doing their job, but when we don't it's not a massive meltdown. We are one or two guys away from consistently being where we need to be. And I think that's the next step getting everybody consistently on the same page.
On not being on the road for awhile and if they're doing anything this week differently than when they were preparing for Maryland: I don't know. We will have to wait and see. We haven't had a practice yet this week. I know coach talking on Sunday definitely let us know we haven't played on the road in awhile and last time we did it didn't go so well. So, that being said, we've had success as of late and kind of building on that more so than worrying about the fact that we have to go on the road. I think guys are just excited to go out and play.
Freshman DB Caden Sterns
On the message the team received after the USC win that helped them to a win against TCU: We have a 24-hour rule. Pretty much for that day, really for right after the game in the locker room celebrate but the next day come in and it's a different team we have to play and get ready for. So, you enjoy it then, and somewhat Sunday, but after that it's the next team.
On blocking out outside noise: Not really that hard when you see what's really important to you. As an individual and as a team, if you focus on what's important to you which is family, our teammates and our brothers than it's pretty simple.
On the communication with Brandon Jones during games:"It's very important. We pride ourselves on it. He's very good at communicating and he'll tell me to speak up. Pretty much every play before, if they aren't going fast paced, we'll probably meet in the middle and discuss what's going on, this and this. It's very important because obviously we've got to get the right coverage and got to play a lot of stuff especially against teams that do go fast like TCU did. It can cause a lot of miscommunications and malfunctions. So, for us to practice that during practice is big for us and the coaches do a good job of putting us in situations like that.
Junior WR Collin Johnson
On Sam Ehlinger setting weekly goals for offensive players: Sam kind of took that on with himself actually. We just started that this year. He just talked to the offense one day and set weekly goals for us and we just try to accomplish them each and every week. And as we do it he said he'd buy us donuts or something whatever we earn. But he came up with it himself.
On other contributing factors to his consistency and growth as a player: At the end of the day, I just think I am maturing as a player and trusting the coaches, trusting the strength staff, and trusting my training over time. I think that's why you see it out there on Saturdays. I still have a long way to go and I'm still going to continue to work because that's all I know. It was good to see that win on Saturday and for me to have the performance I had as well.
On being ranked No. 18 and being the favorite against Kansas State: As a team, we don't care about all that stuff. It's great. It's an honor. But, at the same time, our mindset is always to go out there and play the Texas Longhorn standard regardless of who we're playing. That's just our mindset and it's going to be our mindset for the rest of the season.
Senior DL Chris Nelson
On his last few weeks: It's gone pretty good to be honest with you, I just want to build off of it. Helping my team out has been making me happy. All I can do now is get in, watch more film, and continue to go hard.
On keeping the team grounded amidst success and focused on Kansas State: It's definitely been going around the locker room pretty hard because most of us older guys know what it's like playing out there at K-State. They've been asking questions like, 'What's so difficult about it?' And we've just been breaking it down to them. We said, 'You can't let this game go by you, these guys are going to play until the clock hits zero, so we've got to play our hearts out'.
Senior OL Patrick Vahe
On where the Texas offense has made its most progress since the Maryland game: Really just in the mentality of keeping a positive mindset throughout the entire game. Regardless if we are down or if we're up we have to make sure that our head is on straight and that we just continue to execute in the way that we practice.
On last their last trip to Kansas State: I remember the stadium, that's for sure. It's a very hostile stadium. They have a really great fan base over there, it's a really good atmosphere to play i,n but it's also a very tough environment to play in as the opposing team.
On whether Manhattan, Kansas is the toughest environment they have to go to: Really, everywhere is hostile. Everywhere we go we already know their fans are going to come at us with anything they have. It's just our job to stay focused on the task at hand.
