Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Preview Tulsa
September 07, 2021 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Several Cowboy football players met with the media at Boone Pickens Stadium Tuesday to preview the upcoming matchup against Tulsa. Here is some of what they had to say:
Linebacker Devin Harper
On what was revealed Saturday:
"We saw what our weaknesses were and are looking to fix those things. We are trying to come out and perfect everything like we're supposed to do and sticking to the game plan."Â
On his play:
"I played pretty good. I had some busts here and there, but as a whole, it was pretty good and I'm just looking to get better."
On Collin Oliver playing well:
"It's a great thing. It's a great thing for the program. He's from Oklahoma right up the street. He's so young and so good, the future is bright for him."
On OSU's defender of the day tradition:
"Like (Coach Mike) Gundy said, competing is everything. A lot of people are out there competing for spots and defender of the day. We're athletes. That's what we're going to do. Everybody wants to get the defender of the day, so why not go ball out and try to get it?"
Â
Offensive Lineman Jake SpringfieldÂ
On the offensive lines performance:
"We need to be better. We've put in too much work for that. I'm proud of everyone that has worked hard. We came back today, watched the film and put in good work at practice. I'm proud of every one of those guys."
On how to improve run blocking:
"We need to keep our feet moving. Danny (Godlevske) is doing a great job with identifying the front and targeting everything. But, it comes down to execution at the end of the day."
On the move to the right side:
"I felt confidence was more natural in a right-handed stance. My feet were moving good. I have to keep working on my hands and punching. Pass protection felt a lot better. My ankle is healed up, and everything is working well. I just need to keep the basics."
Â
Â
Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On the focus this week:
"We need to correct our mistakes. We just hurt ourselves in the first game. Missouri State is a great team. Give them respect. They played hard. There were five or six plays we could've made ourselves, whether it be the pass game or run game, that we could've put it away and given ourselves added confidence going forward in the game. It's all about correcting those mistakes in practice. How you practice, that's how you play. It should translate to the game and has given an added sense of urgency to practice."
On returning kicks and punts:
"I feel really comfortable. Every time I'm back there, my mind is on taking the kick back. When I'm back there, I'm trying to make something happen because they trust me with the ball in my hands. I want to pay it back and do what I can for the team."
On what he learned from Saturday :
"I learned a lot during the game. You come out to watch the defense and wait for third down. Then you go catch the punts if your in and then get ready for offense. You always have to be in tune with the game. You can never let your guard down; whether your offense or defense, you always have to be ready. It's a wave of emotion. You get nervous, happy, scared, it's just a wave of emotion for three or four hours which is nerve-racking, but it's all fun in the end."
Â
Â
Safety Tanner McCalisterÂ
On losing Tre Sterling for the first half of next game:
"Losing Tre obviously is big because Tre Sterling is a great player for us, but you know we got guys that are ready to step up, like Jason Taylor who got a lot of playing time last game and did pretty good when he was in there."
On his message to the younger defenders:
"My message is always just play football. I mean, we've been playing this game for a long time so I think you know obviously, it's always nerving for guys like, Jabbar (Muhammad) and Korie (Black). They were two young corners that got a lot of playing time this last game and I could tell they probably were a little nervous for the game. I just told them you know, 'You've been playing this game for a long time it's just football,' and they went out there and I think Jabbar got half a sack or something so I was excited for him."
On the shift of identity since he was a freshman:
"I have definitely seen the shift since I've been here. I graduated in 2018 out of high school so when I first came here you know, Oklahoma State was kind of a team that had to put up a lot of points to win games, not saying we had a bad defense or anything, just saying we had to put up a lot of points. Shifting from last year to being I think the best third down defense in the nation just getting off the field every time we go out there. I think it also gives our offense a little confidence you know, I can't really speak on the other side of the ball because I'm not over there but I think it gives them confidence knowing like, 'Hey we can make a mistake cause you know, we have a defense that is going to come through for us.'"
