Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet With Media After First Practice in Full Pads
August 07, 2018 | Cowboy Football
PHOTO GALLERY
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State football team held its first practice in full pads Tuesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center. Coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboys met with the media afterward to discuss the day. Here are some of their comments:
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Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"Everything has been really good and we're getting great effort. Some young guys and new guys are starting to figure out our system. Everything has been really good and the guys are working hard. The coaches are working hard and getting a lot out of it. It's just another day for us. It's good to get out here in pads. The competition in practice is good. Quarterbacks are coming along, just like we thought they would. (Taylor Cornelius) is doing really well and the other guys are rotating in and doing well for being new guys. We're kind of on track for where we should be."
Â
On Justice Hill working on his receiving skills:
"We've got to do different things with him at times. We're looking at a lot of things, we just have to try to get a feel for where he can help us the most. And then there's times where we'll put him in and he's essentially doing the same thing he did before."
Â
On his feelings toward the offensive line:
"I think they're doing really well. I'll be shocked if we're not better than we've been in a number of years on the first of October. It's going to take a little time to get them going, but we don't really have guys in there that are too light, that can get pushed around, hopefully. Where we're at with those guys is encouraging."
Â
On running 'inside drill' at practice today:
"There was a lot of collisions today with inside drill. It was the first day in pads. The defense is revved up so that's the way you want to practice. You always worry about guys getting banged up, but we wanted to get in some quality work."
Â
On what he saw from the defense:
"I like everything that we're doing. I like the cohesiveness of our unit and I like our schemes. We'll find out in a couple months if it works. (Jim Knowles) coaches hard and works hard every day in practice."
Â
Running Back Justice Hill
On the first day of full pads at practice:
"It feels good to get back out here. It's fun."
Â
On the Cowboys' goal as a team:
"We just want to win the Big 12 and be the best that we can be. We just all want to win. It might be different for individuals, but at the end of the day we just want to win. We just have to keep coming out every day, going all out in practice and competing."
Â
On being on track to graduate in three years and the example that sets for others:
"We're student-athletes for a reason. You have to be a student first, and everything else will play out. If you take care of your school work, all the athlete part - football, or whatever sport you play - is going to work itself out."
Â
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the first day of practice in full pads:
"We did well today. There was a lot of intensity during inside drill. We got some work in and had a good practice overall."
Â
On how he feels about the defensive line:
"I feel like we're still finding out who guys are. We're going to have some up-and-down days during camp, but a lot of guys have potential and I think we're going to have a lot of guys ready for the season to start."
Â
On the depth of the defense as a whole:
"It's a very new defense so everybody is learning and learning really fast. Everybody is at sort of the same level with that, so it's a lot of guys that know the plays who can shuffle in and out without losing a beat. That's always nice to have later in the season when guys get banged up and you can trust the guy behind them."
Â
Cornerback Rodarius Williams
On his confidence level after last season:
"It's very, very high, for myself, for everybody in the room and as a team. We've got a lot of confidence and we all come out here to prove it to ourselves every day."
Â
Defensive End Jarrell Owens
On the rotation:
"So far the rotation is still big. Coach rotates us a lot to keep us fresh, but that's pretty much it."
Â
On guys standing out:
"You still have Darrion (Daniels) and Trey (Carter), but I feel like Michael Scott, the JUCO transfer, he's getting more reps. He came from JUCO, so he's a little trim. So far he's quick, and he's coming along pretty well."
Â
On taking on a leadership role:
"This is my senior year, so it's my job to help coach the young guys and make sure they're stepping along and up and running."
Â
On the first day in pads:
"It went well. I feel like each day we come along pretty well as the plays come and we continue to work and run the field to make plays."
Â
Offensive Lineman Johnny Wilson
On physicality in practice today:
"It was fun … First day of full pads, so everyone is getting a little antsy, but I think the offense and defense came off hard today and really got after each other and kept each other up. We didn't want to have any injuries or anything like that. We were going 100 percent, so I think it was a good day inside."
Â
On the returning line:
"We all kind of are back to what we were doing in the first place. It's like seeing old faces. It's kind of nice. Larry (Williams) is already rolling again, already going 100 percent. Marcus (Keyes) never really missed a beat with his shoulder. I think we're pretty solid right now for those guys having been gone."
Â
Wide Receiver Dillon Stoner
Early thoughts on camp:
"I think we've hit the ground running. We have a lot of young guys stepping up, and I think that's good for us and we're going to continue to grow each day. The goal is to get the young guys going and get them up to speed, and the older guys can still improve every day. That's what we're trying to do."
Â
On goals for the season:
"I think the bar is always set high. The Big 12 Championship is our goal every year, and we've got to come to work every day to achieve that goal."
Â
On working with a new set of quarterbacks:
"It has been good. Mason was obviously a great quarterback, but we have a lot of young guys here and Taylor, he's been here for a long time and has been throwing it well. Everyone is doing a great job."
Â
On Taylor Cornelius:
"Taylor has been here for a long time. Everyone kind of knows how great of a quarterback he is being behind Mason for so long. Our job as receivers and as a team is to worry about our individual job, and the coaches will make the best decision for who's quarterback, whether it's Corn or whoever it may be. I know they're going to do a great job back there."
Â
On the returning receiver group:
"I feel really good. We've got a lot of young guys … Tylan (Wallace), Tracin (Wallace), Landon (Wolf) … older guys … (Tyron Johnson), Jalen (McCleskey). We've been growing every day. We're still trying to follow in the footsteps of those other guys who laid down that foundation of hard work. We're just trying to do the same thing."
Â
On being one of the "older guys":
"It's surreal, really. I feel like I just got here the other day. I'm trying to give as much knowledge as I can to the younger guys and lead by example more than anything."
Â
Wide Receiver Patrick McKaufman
On transitioning to this level:
"It has been a long process but a good one. Coach Dunn has brought me a long way. I've gotten my speed down about two tenths of a second, and I'm just working each day."
Â
On a new group of receivers stepping up:
"It's really nothing new. You know, we signed up to play this game, and we just come out here and play hard every day to fill those spots in."
Â
On what the guys who left taught them:
"Always grind and lead by example. Those guys came in and they didn't do too much talking. They just led by example, and everybody followed suit."
Â
On learning to play receiver after playing QB all through high school:
"It was really just another position to me. I went to Douglass. They moved me around a couple of times my ninth-grade year, so the transition was fairly easy. I just had to get my speed up."
Â
On quarterback play:
I've seen nothing but excellent talent. They've all got great arms and all play well … they all have their different abilities and things about them that stand out. I'm just excited to see who it's going to be August 30th."
Â
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State football team held its first practice in full pads Tuesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center. Coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboys met with the media afterward to discuss the day. Here are some of their comments:
Â
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"Everything has been really good and we're getting great effort. Some young guys and new guys are starting to figure out our system. Everything has been really good and the guys are working hard. The coaches are working hard and getting a lot out of it. It's just another day for us. It's good to get out here in pads. The competition in practice is good. Quarterbacks are coming along, just like we thought they would. (Taylor Cornelius) is doing really well and the other guys are rotating in and doing well for being new guys. We're kind of on track for where we should be."
Â
On Justice Hill working on his receiving skills:
"We've got to do different things with him at times. We're looking at a lot of things, we just have to try to get a feel for where he can help us the most. And then there's times where we'll put him in and he's essentially doing the same thing he did before."
Â
On his feelings toward the offensive line:
"I think they're doing really well. I'll be shocked if we're not better than we've been in a number of years on the first of October. It's going to take a little time to get them going, but we don't really have guys in there that are too light, that can get pushed around, hopefully. Where we're at with those guys is encouraging."
Â
On running 'inside drill' at practice today:
"There was a lot of collisions today with inside drill. It was the first day in pads. The defense is revved up so that's the way you want to practice. You always worry about guys getting banged up, but we wanted to get in some quality work."
Â
On what he saw from the defense:
"I like everything that we're doing. I like the cohesiveness of our unit and I like our schemes. We'll find out in a couple months if it works. (Jim Knowles) coaches hard and works hard every day in practice."
Â
Running Back Justice Hill
On the first day of full pads at practice:
"It feels good to get back out here. It's fun."
Â
On the Cowboys' goal as a team:
"We just want to win the Big 12 and be the best that we can be. We just all want to win. It might be different for individuals, but at the end of the day we just want to win. We just have to keep coming out every day, going all out in practice and competing."
Â
On being on track to graduate in three years and the example that sets for others:
"We're student-athletes for a reason. You have to be a student first, and everything else will play out. If you take care of your school work, all the athlete part - football, or whatever sport you play - is going to work itself out."
Â
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the first day of practice in full pads:
"We did well today. There was a lot of intensity during inside drill. We got some work in and had a good practice overall."
Â
On how he feels about the defensive line:
"I feel like we're still finding out who guys are. We're going to have some up-and-down days during camp, but a lot of guys have potential and I think we're going to have a lot of guys ready for the season to start."
Â
On the depth of the defense as a whole:
"It's a very new defense so everybody is learning and learning really fast. Everybody is at sort of the same level with that, so it's a lot of guys that know the plays who can shuffle in and out without losing a beat. That's always nice to have later in the season when guys get banged up and you can trust the guy behind them."
Â
Cornerback Rodarius Williams
On his confidence level after last season:
"It's very, very high, for myself, for everybody in the room and as a team. We've got a lot of confidence and we all come out here to prove it to ourselves every day."
Â
Defensive End Jarrell Owens
On the rotation:
"So far the rotation is still big. Coach rotates us a lot to keep us fresh, but that's pretty much it."
Â
On guys standing out:
"You still have Darrion (Daniels) and Trey (Carter), but I feel like Michael Scott, the JUCO transfer, he's getting more reps. He came from JUCO, so he's a little trim. So far he's quick, and he's coming along pretty well."
Â
On taking on a leadership role:
"This is my senior year, so it's my job to help coach the young guys and make sure they're stepping along and up and running."
Â
On the first day in pads:
"It went well. I feel like each day we come along pretty well as the plays come and we continue to work and run the field to make plays."
Â
Offensive Lineman Johnny Wilson
On physicality in practice today:
"It was fun … First day of full pads, so everyone is getting a little antsy, but I think the offense and defense came off hard today and really got after each other and kept each other up. We didn't want to have any injuries or anything like that. We were going 100 percent, so I think it was a good day inside."
Â
On the returning line:
"We all kind of are back to what we were doing in the first place. It's like seeing old faces. It's kind of nice. Larry (Williams) is already rolling again, already going 100 percent. Marcus (Keyes) never really missed a beat with his shoulder. I think we're pretty solid right now for those guys having been gone."
Â
Wide Receiver Dillon Stoner
Early thoughts on camp:
"I think we've hit the ground running. We have a lot of young guys stepping up, and I think that's good for us and we're going to continue to grow each day. The goal is to get the young guys going and get them up to speed, and the older guys can still improve every day. That's what we're trying to do."
Â
On goals for the season:
"I think the bar is always set high. The Big 12 Championship is our goal every year, and we've got to come to work every day to achieve that goal."
Â
On working with a new set of quarterbacks:
"It has been good. Mason was obviously a great quarterback, but we have a lot of young guys here and Taylor, he's been here for a long time and has been throwing it well. Everyone is doing a great job."
Â
On Taylor Cornelius:
"Taylor has been here for a long time. Everyone kind of knows how great of a quarterback he is being behind Mason for so long. Our job as receivers and as a team is to worry about our individual job, and the coaches will make the best decision for who's quarterback, whether it's Corn or whoever it may be. I know they're going to do a great job back there."
Â
On the returning receiver group:
"I feel really good. We've got a lot of young guys … Tylan (Wallace), Tracin (Wallace), Landon (Wolf) … older guys … (Tyron Johnson), Jalen (McCleskey). We've been growing every day. We're still trying to follow in the footsteps of those other guys who laid down that foundation of hard work. We're just trying to do the same thing."
Â
On being one of the "older guys":
"It's surreal, really. I feel like I just got here the other day. I'm trying to give as much knowledge as I can to the younger guys and lead by example more than anything."
Â
Wide Receiver Patrick McKaufman
On transitioning to this level:
"It has been a long process but a good one. Coach Dunn has brought me a long way. I've gotten my speed down about two tenths of a second, and I'm just working each day."
Â
On a new group of receivers stepping up:
"It's really nothing new. You know, we signed up to play this game, and we just come out here and play hard every day to fill those spots in."
Â
On what the guys who left taught them:
"Always grind and lead by example. Those guys came in and they didn't do too much talking. They just led by example, and everybody followed suit."
Â
On learning to play receiver after playing QB all through high school:
"It was really just another position to me. I went to Douglass. They moved me around a couple of times my ninth-grade year, so the transition was fairly easy. I just had to get my speed up."
Â
On quarterback play:
I've seen nothing but excellent talent. They've all got great arms and all play well … they all have their different abilities and things about them that stand out. I'm just excited to see who it's going to be August 30th."
Â
Players Mentioned
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