Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Cowboys Look Ahead to Road Test With Iowa State
October 19, 2021 | Cowboy Football
Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On running back-to-back trick plays in the fourth quarter:
"I think the focus was to keep them off balance. We were trying to hit them with some stuff they haven't seen before, and we hadn't put those out there. Going from the first play to the next they were scrambling all over the place and we had just had a big gain. We caught them off guard and next time if we run it again, I just have to make the throw."
On his touchdown catch:
"I asked Spencer about our plays earlier on the crosser plays and he said he would look for them. When I was running the crossers, they had been open most of the game. I felt like if they doubled Tay (Martin) or something, I had a good feeling the cross would be open, so when Spencer saw me, and I saw him, he threw the ball and I was thinking just catch it."
On Jaylen Warren:
"I knew that from the spring when he came in and we had practices or scrimmages he would make plays. His jump cuts and his vision, we all saw that in the spring. It was just a matter of time when he got his shot, he was going to do this stuff. We've known what he can do and what he is doing is not a shock to me or a surprise to anyone. He comes out there and works extremely hard every single day."
Safety Tanner McCalister
On what he saw on his interception:
"They were in a bunch and had three receivers and we were in a zone. My job is to cover the flat. They threw what we like to call 'eye candy' into the flat to a tight end. What they want is for the safety to bite on the flat, so they can throw it over my head. Knowing that I played the route and tried to bait him into it, and hoped he didn't see me, which I don't think he did because that's why he threw it. When I saw the ball in the air I was surprised, but I had to go try to highpoint it and get it and luckily I did. It was a good play call by Coach Knowles. I had to try to go make a play and I did that.
On how experience plays a part in big plays:
"It helps a lot. When you first come in you're just trying to make sure you're doing your job. If they tell you to play man, then you know you have this guy man. If they tell you to play zone you're like, 'okay I'm in my zone.' As you play more games, learn more football, concepts and situational awareness like where they're going to go with the football. It was late in the game and they had to score, so they were going to push the ball down the field. Having that experience and knowing they weren't going to throw a three-yard out route to the tight end in that situation. Being here for my fourth year, that played into that well. Every young guy that comes in will have that learning process and that's why you see guys come in play good and leave as great players and possibly NFL guys. Experience will help you make plays to get you to that next level."
On growing with Coach Knowles:
"It's been good and fun. When I first came in I was a corner and had to transition to safety. Everything was a learning period for me. Being able to have him through our whole time here has helped and we've been able to learn what he wants us to do as a defense. We've tried to find our spot as a defense and play for him. Some schools bring in a new defensive coordinator every year and you have to try to learn a new system. Having Coach Knowles for my whole time here has allowed me to become a better player. I'm starting to make some good plays and hopefully, as the rest of the season goes on, our defense can keep playing how we're playing and get that Big 12 Championship like we want to."
Offensive Lineman Hunter Woodard
On the attitude of the team this week:
"We have a lot to learn from Texas on Sunday, but you could see the excitement coming from the team. That's a huge win for us down there in Austin. There is a lot to correct and learn. Today we had a great practice and we're really excited."
On Iowa State's defensive front:
"They have some good guys up front. They're two deep and really good athletes and have a good nose, rushing and they have good players we're going to need to cover up and take care of."
On areas of improvement for the offensive line:
"We have to make our pass protection more solid, there is no way around that. We let up too many hits on Spencer and put pressure on him Saturday and we need to fix that."
On running back-to-back trick plays in the fourth quarter:
"I think the focus was to keep them off balance. We were trying to hit them with some stuff they haven't seen before, and we hadn't put those out there. Going from the first play to the next they were scrambling all over the place and we had just had a big gain. We caught them off guard and next time if we run it again, I just have to make the throw."
On his touchdown catch:
"I asked Spencer about our plays earlier on the crosser plays and he said he would look for them. When I was running the crossers, they had been open most of the game. I felt like if they doubled Tay (Martin) or something, I had a good feeling the cross would be open, so when Spencer saw me, and I saw him, he threw the ball and I was thinking just catch it."
On Jaylen Warren:
"I knew that from the spring when he came in and we had practices or scrimmages he would make plays. His jump cuts and his vision, we all saw that in the spring. It was just a matter of time when he got his shot, he was going to do this stuff. We've known what he can do and what he is doing is not a shock to me or a surprise to anyone. He comes out there and works extremely hard every single day."
Safety Tanner McCalister
On what he saw on his interception:
"They were in a bunch and had three receivers and we were in a zone. My job is to cover the flat. They threw what we like to call 'eye candy' into the flat to a tight end. What they want is for the safety to bite on the flat, so they can throw it over my head. Knowing that I played the route and tried to bait him into it, and hoped he didn't see me, which I don't think he did because that's why he threw it. When I saw the ball in the air I was surprised, but I had to go try to highpoint it and get it and luckily I did. It was a good play call by Coach Knowles. I had to try to go make a play and I did that.
On how experience plays a part in big plays:
"It helps a lot. When you first come in you're just trying to make sure you're doing your job. If they tell you to play man, then you know you have this guy man. If they tell you to play zone you're like, 'okay I'm in my zone.' As you play more games, learn more football, concepts and situational awareness like where they're going to go with the football. It was late in the game and they had to score, so they were going to push the ball down the field. Having that experience and knowing they weren't going to throw a three-yard out route to the tight end in that situation. Being here for my fourth year, that played into that well. Every young guy that comes in will have that learning process and that's why you see guys come in play good and leave as great players and possibly NFL guys. Experience will help you make plays to get you to that next level."
On growing with Coach Knowles:
"It's been good and fun. When I first came in I was a corner and had to transition to safety. Everything was a learning period for me. Being able to have him through our whole time here has helped and we've been able to learn what he wants us to do as a defense. We've tried to find our spot as a defense and play for him. Some schools bring in a new defensive coordinator every year and you have to try to learn a new system. Having Coach Knowles for my whole time here has allowed me to become a better player. I'm starting to make some good plays and hopefully, as the rest of the season goes on, our defense can keep playing how we're playing and get that Big 12 Championship like we want to."
Offensive Lineman Hunter Woodard
On the attitude of the team this week:
"We have a lot to learn from Texas on Sunday, but you could see the excitement coming from the team. That's a huge win for us down there in Austin. There is a lot to correct and learn. Today we had a great practice and we're really excited."
On Iowa State's defensive front:
"They have some good guys up front. They're two deep and really good athletes and have a good nose, rushing and they have good players we're going to need to cover up and take care of."
On areas of improvement for the offensive line:
"We have to make our pass protection more solid, there is no way around that. We let up too many hits on Spencer and put pressure on him Saturday and we need to fix that."
Players Mentioned
S
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy Football
RB
/ Cowboy Football
OL
/ Cowboy FootballTuesday, July 28
Monday, July 27
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
