By Chase Brown, Dan Hope, Garrick Hodge and Andy Anders on October 18, 2023 at 9:48 p.m
Ohio State-Penn State. A Big Ten East battle, a Top 10 showdown – it doesn’t get any better than that.
On Wednesday, Ryan Day held a 10-question news conference for the media on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center’s indoor practice field. Ohio State’s head coach was followed by quarterback Kyle McCord, wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and
Among the many topics discussed after the third practice of the Ohio State game week, McCord said “everyone is excited” to play against Penn State, Harrison calling himself “the hardest working player in the country” and Cody Simon said Saturday’s game would “come down to the game.” play physically,” and Jackson said, “It’s all about execution.”
Below are videos from the nine players’ media sessions and brief summaries of what the players said.
QB Kyle McCord
On his and Devin Brown’s fumbles last week: “Yeah, obviously I put the ball on the ground too many times last week. And obviously Penn State is a really good defense. And we can’t do that. So that was a focus, just being strong with the ball in the pocket.”
What this game means to him after playing high school football in Pennsylvania: “Knowing what type of opponent we’re playing, you definitely circle this game on the calendar. And playing with a lot of these guys in high school, playing against them, I think makes it even more special. But I think it’s because they’re such a good opponent that I think everyone is so excited about it.”
McCord said Penn State was his “No. “When Coach Day gave me the green light to sign, there was really no doubt that this was the right place for me given his track record.”
McCord said he attended the Penn State vs. Ohio State game at Beaver Stadium in 2018 and seeing Dwayne Haskins lead the Buckeyes to a comeback win in that game made him want to be a Buckeye . “I remember talking to my dad about it and I thought if Ohio State came calling, I think that’s definitely a school to consider.”
McCord said he views Ohio State vs. Penn State as a rivalry. “It’s obviously not the right game here. But I think everyone at this facility knows it’s going to be a challenge, and it’s been a challenge every year we’ve played them.”
On Devin Brown throwing and running for a touchdown last week: “I think that’s good, especially for a young guy, to get some game experience like that, get some confidence, I think that was really good for him.”
McCord said Ryan Day is “at the top of his game 24/7, and I think that brings out the best in all the guys on the team.” When you have a coach that goes after you so hard and cares so much about you “To succeed, then I think he just shows you how much he cares about you, how much he cares about the team, how much he cares about the success of the team.”
On being yelled at by Day during a game: “I think you have to listen to what he says and not how he says it.” Obviously he’s going to be hot right now, but it’s always a good message, that he is trying to convey. And I think, just as he says it, you have to keep in mind the urgency of the matter. Especially at schools like Ohio State, you have to change these things now, and if you don’t, there’s going to be a problem. One of the things I’ve definitely become more comfortable with is being infatuated with him.”
WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison said he was “very impressed” with Jermaine Mathews Jr. “He definitely has the dog mentality that you look for in the corners. “I think he and Davison both brought that to the cornerback room this past offseason.”
On Carnell Tate: “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever been around just based on his talent, how he takes care of his business both on and off the field. That’s why I’m very excited to see how he continues to grow and his role in the offense increases.”
Harrison said his ankle is “getting a little better.”
He said Emeka Egbuka was also battling an ankle injury.
On Penn State’s defense: “They’re a great defense. Probably one of the best defenses I’ve seen on film. I think from top to bottom everything you want from a defense. Very well trained too.”
In Penn State’s secondary: “They’re going to play coverage on this guy. You will rely heavily on them to try to physically contact you on the front line and get their hands on you. They are very talented, very competent. So it will definitely be a challenge for me and the rest of the receivers, but in the end it just comes down to who has better technique.”
Harrison said Penn State cornerback Kalen King is “definitely one of the best cornerbacks I’ve seen in my college career. “I have a lot of respect for him.”
Harrison said he felt “a lot of emotions” from the losses he had last week against Purdue. “I take the preparation very seriously. I also believe that I am the hardest working player in the country. So if you go out on a Saturday and don’t get the results you want, it definitely hurts a little bit.”
Harrison said he considers any pass thrown his way that he doesn’t catch as a drop. “I think every ball thrown to me has to be a completion.”
He said he was told he should have taken off his gloves because it rained the entire second half.
Do you feel like you are living up to your standard at the moment? “I feel like I never live up to my standards, if at all, because the standard is perfection and you can never be perfect.” He said he always lived up to his father’s standards. “He’s a Hall of Famer, you’re always comparing yourself to him.”
Harrison said he viewed Ohio State vs. Penn State as a rivalry game. “I think Penn State, given the goals we want to accomplish as a team and making it to the Big Ten Championship, is definitely one of those teams, year after year, that you have to go through to get to that goal. “ .”
He said he didn’t have a favorite college football team as a kid because he mostly watched NFL games.
On the Purdue cornerbacks’ trash talk last Saturday: “I don’t know if you would call that trash talk. I think they were just, I don’t even know what they were doing, but they were just out there talking to talk. However, I didn’t really pay any attention to them.”
WR Xavier Johnson
On his diverse role at Ohio State: “I pride myself on doing whatever the team needs and helping in whatever capacity they see fit for me. That ability to apply to different places and do different things allows me to help the team in a variety of ways. “Wherever they need me, I try to step into that role, take that role and so on to be taken as seriously as possible.”
On his expanded role facing Purdue: “I feel like I can help the team when I’m out there. I enjoy the things Coach Day does and he does a great job developing the plan. I step into this role and try. “I do my best and it’s fun to be out there. I love the game of football. I love being out there with my brothers. Whenever I get the chance, I want to maximize it.”
Johnson said TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden and Evan Pryor all have “their own personalities running the ball.” As he steps in at running back, Johnson said he’s “trying to learn from them” and see “how they approach the game.”
Johnson said his personality as a ball carrier is “someone who can make people miss.” He said, “If we were in a phone booth, don’t touch me. If you touch me, I’ll break the tackle thing. I’m not proud of dropping people. I choose a page and join in.
Johnson said, “Every time I touch the ball, I should score.” He said crossing the goal line and reaching the end zone is something he imagines every time the ball is in his hands.
Johnson said Day’s bubbly and fiery personality on display this season has been a positive: “When this team comes out, it definitely strengthens the team.”
CB Jordan Hancock
Hancock said “it was an easy transition” and moved back outside to cornerback after Denzel Burke left the Purdue game because that was his natural position. He said he expects to have to play both cornerback and nickel again this week.
On Jermaine Mathews Jr.: “He works really hard. He is a student of the game. He’s really fast and athletic. And he’s really nervous and can run routes. That’s why we have complete trust in him because he’s a dog. So he goes out there, we know he’s going to do his job. And we have complete confidence in him.”
Hancock believes Ohio State is deeper in the secondary than it was last year. “We have a lot of talented backups that could start anywhere in the country. Safety, corner, nickel, everywhere.”
On Ryan Day, who is coaching the team hard this year: “He’s been vocal in every way.” Hancock said, “You can see the urgency and intensity of Coach Day” at a different level than in years past.
Hancock said that after practice, defensive backs have to run when they give up a deep ball. He said they were very proud that that didn’t happen.
On the size of this game: “Everyone will be watching. Anyone can make a name for themselves with this game. So everyone should be excited. Everyone should be in the film room a little more and take practicing more seriously because every play can get their name out there.”
CB Davison Igbinosun
On the current state of the secondary: “I feel good about it at the moment, but I feel like there is room for improvement and growth.”
How he would describe his game: “I’m tough, stubborn, I’ll put my hands on you and be physical.”
Igbinosun believes freshman Jermaine Mathews Jr. has “grown a lot” since arriving on campus in the spring. “He brought so much talent, but he’s only gotten better.”
Top-10 conference showdowns like the Buckeyes versus Penn State were one of the main reasons he moved to OSU, Igbinosun said. “I came to Ohio State to play in the big games, so I’m excited for this game, I can’t lie.”
However, the big game atmosphere will not affect his approach. “It feels normal. This is just another game, so to speak. I don’t think of it any differently.”
How he would describe Ohio State’s cornerback room: “I would say it’s BIA, Best in America.”
Igbinosun confirmed that defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is part of BIA after intercepting several passes this season.
On his self-assessment so far this season: “I’m always critical of myself, so I feel like I can always do better.”
DT Tyleik Williams
On volunteering to join “BIA,” Ohio State’s cornerback room, now that he has knocked off four passes this season: “It feels great to be a part of two groups. I’m very proud of my DB skills, so now I’m showing that.”
On receiving midseason All-American honors from ESPN and The Athletic: “It’s a great award. I’m not really worried about it at the moment, I’m just trying to get to Saturday and get ready for a big game.”
Williams believes Penn State’s offensive line works well together and offers plenty of size to move bodies along the offensive line. “I don’t think there are any real fish at stake, they’re all good. They work together.”
On the reasons for his jump in performance this season: “I think I just work harder in training and in games. I took a few breaks last year, but this year I have a bigger role, so I have to show up.”
On how he caught his pass deflections: “It’s just instincts. When I think the ball is coming out, I just put my hands up and try to block (the quarterback’s) view.”
Williams has noticed more intensity from Ryan Day and Ohio State’s coaching staff this season. “I think they’re definitely more hyped now. I think that’s what we need as players, we need a passionate coach. We don’t need a quiet coach, we need a screaming coach. I think that will take us further.”
LB Cody Simon
On Penn State’s offense: “When you watch them on film, they’re a little bit like their teams from before. They love running the ball, they love being physically active. So it really comes down to playing physical and stopping them at the point of attack.”
On whether he’s playing the best he’s played so far in his career: “I’m just blessed to be in this position. I take it day by day and appreciate everything that happens in my life, good or bad.”
Simon feels like he needs to stay locked up regardless of how much he plays or not. “Staying hungry is the main thing. It doesn’t matter if I get one (snap) or if I play the whole game. My job is to be as prepared as anyone on the field, and when my number is called, I do what coach tells me and do it with as much energy as possible.”
Steele Chambers, the man he primarily uses at linebacker, has been a big help to Simon, he said. “He shows me a lot of possibilities because playing behind him is not an easy task. It may look simple from the TV prints and from a bird’s eye view, but there are so many little things behind it. He’s taught me so much and I’m still learning.”
Simon said the coaching staff trained him to be able to play as either Mike or Will’s linebacker if needed.
What he expects from the fans on Saturday: “I know if people are in the stands early, if the fans are in the stands early, this opening kick is probably the best it’s ever been.”…I’m looking forward to that Me: People are in the audience early, preparing and going crazy after the first whistle.”
LG Donovan Jackson
On the Penn State game: “When the schedule comes out, it’s games that you circle around and this is one of them.” It’s a matchup game, meaning it’s good versus good. Talent will not win this game. It depends on the execution. We’re looking forward to this game.”
On whether Ohio State can take anything from last week’s win and carry it over to this week: “We felt good running the ball efficiently. But no, Purdue has a three-man front and Penn State has a four-man front, so it’s a completely different operation. We have to stack the days and rely on the game plan and coaching we have.”
On balancing relying on both creativity and fundamental running concepts, with the creativity coming from breaking out Devin Brown’s goal-line package: “I would say from an O-line standpoint, I don’t know who’s behind me. It was a nice surprise to see (Devin Brown) in the end zone. But the way we block doesn’t change what we do for the man behind us. Having different staff groups makes us more versatile.”
On whether he felt the Devin Brown package gave the offense a spark: “I would say having the versatility that he brings definitely helped the offense.” But in the end of the day we just try to hit the end zone no matter who is back there. It could be Coach Day himself running the ball, I’m sure he would run hard. We’re just taught as linemen to get into the end zone and make sure we touch the paint.”
Jackson said short-yardage situations were a big focus for Ohio State last week.
TE Cade Stover
On Ryan Day coaching the team hard: “I think he’s done a really good job and given us a good example to follow and look up to.” He’ll have our back as much as we’ll support him .”
On the long hug he and Day shared shortly after the Notre Dame win: “We’ve just been through a lot together. Mentally, we share many of the same characteristics. We said to ourselves, ‘We have your back.'”
On his blocking and pass catching: “I think they go hand in hand. You have to be able to do a little bit of everything that’s out there. Being an absolute tight end helps the team more than anyone else. We hope we can continue like this.”
