Cowboys Meet with Media After Tuesday's Practice

STILLWATER - Several Cowboy football players met with media after Tuesday's practice to preview OSU's matchup with Baylor. Here's some of what they had to say:

Offensive Lineman Hunter Woodard

On Baylor:
"They have a really good nose. He's a pretty big dude. They have him at 350. We're going to have to handle him up front. Danny (Godlevske), Josh (Sills) and I are going to have to handle him. As you guys know, No. 8 is pretty solid. We're going to have to be prepared, know their movements, etc."

On if having players return helped them gain energy:

"Oh absolutely. It was hard those first couple of weeks. There were a lot of guys injured, offensive lineman, wide receivers, etc. As we start to get healthy again and come back as a group, I think we played a really good first half against Kansas State. If we're able to reproduce that in the second half, I think we will really start to play some really good football."

On what it's like blocking for Jaylen Warren:

"It's a lot of fun. The guys just bounces off blocks. I've heard a lot of guys refer to him as a bowling ball. He won't go down. I've said this before, but it almost looks like he's playing on Madden."

Defensive Tackle Brendon Evers

On depth of the defensive line:

"I think it has shown greatly how dynamic and deep as a group we are. We've rolled three lines deep and not seen a fall off. Everyone is dynamic. Whether defensive tackles are playing outside, or defensive ends are playing three techniques and shades. I'm really happy with the way our depth has shown. It's really added an advantage to our defense not a lot of schools can say right now."

On leading the young guys:

"Whenever the opportunity shows itself, I try to take guys like Collin Oliver and Aden Kelley and show them the ropes. Coming in they look like deer in the headlights. Coach Glass can be intimidating for freshmen trying to get them in line. It's like boot camp. Both of them are eager to learn and hungry for the next opportunity. Early in the season Israel Antwine gets hurt, Aden Kelley has to step up and I thought he did incredible the first game for playing high school six months ago. I think that just kind of attributes to who we recruit around here and what a great job Coach Knowles and Joe Bob (Clements) do bringing guys here."

On energy changing for bigger games:
As far as rankings go, whatever. In my five years here we've been doubted every week. I don't think that adds a factor. I think last game showed how good of a team we can be. We're not satisfied with last week's performance, but I think it showed a lot of people around this conference and the nation that we are a better team than everyone thinks we are. We're going to keep working, identifying areas we struggle the most in and keep pushing forward because that's what great teams do. Everyone is more involved in this year than ever. You can just feel the energy and changes from Coach Gundy all the way down to graduate assistants. Everyone just seems to have a different energy level about this team and it's really showing."

Cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse

On having multiple pass breakups to start the game:

"That's expected. We play in the Big 12 so of course, they're going to pass so you just got to be ready and play to the best of your ability. It was kind of expected."

On being more comfortable at corner than safety:

"Yes sir. I feel like I am more comfortable at corner now cause I've got the experience and I've learned from a lot of guys before me so I just feel like more comfortable."

On what it takes to feel more comfortable:

"Just working every day, getting more film study, meeting with the coaches more, and learning from guys like Rodarius and AJ. Guys before me, they really helped me prepare."

On being more comfortable with Kolby Harvel-Peell and Tanner McCallister behind him:

"Yes sir. I feel comfortable with all our guys out there no matter who's in. We all trust in each other and we all got each other's back and we play for one another so I feel comfortable."

Wide Receiver Brennan Presley

On getting the first half of last game to carry over:

"I think it did carry over, we just need less penalties and to be more disciplined in the second half cause there were times, there were a lot of times in the second half where we driving the ball, but penalties would set us back so we would be at a second and 25 or second and 30 situation. So just getting behind the sticks that much I think that's kind of what really set us back."

On his mentality during punt returns:

"Score. Every single time. If I get a good one, and if someone is not breathing in my face when the ball is still in the air, then I'm going to try and take it back. They put me back there because they trust me to catch the ball, one, and they obviously believe I can make a play back there so I want to instill that trust back in them and catch the ball first hand and also, you know, do whatever I can with the ball."

On having Tay Martin back on the field:

"It's a monumental difference cause I think it instills more confidence in him being such a leader. We're really young without him on the field so him being just that spark and going out there making plays, when someone goes out there and makes plays whether it's him or Jaylen Warren, or Spencer (Sanders) out there making plays and then the line blocking their butts off. When they do all those things, it kind of energizes everybody else."