Nov. 22, 2016 Evan Schwan | Sr. | Defensive End
Q. Senior Day, emotions tend to run high. How do you plan to keep that in check?
ES: Really I'm just going to keep the same routine that I have each week. After we started having some success in Minnesota and Maryland, I became very superstitious. I've gone about, in the hotel, just preparing for games the same way each week.
Obviously we're going to have the ceremony where all the seniors get to walk out and meet their parents or whoever at the 50-yard line. I know my parents are definitely going to be emotional, probably my dad more than anything. I'm going to kind of make sure like, 'Hey, I still have to play a game, just chill out a little bit.'
I'm just going to go about it as similar to any other game.
Q. What is that routine, that superstition?
ES: I don't really think I can disclose that information. It's kind of personal to me.
Q. Why do you say your dad is going to be really emotional?
ES: I don't want to say he's a cheesy guy. But for how big he is, he's an emotional dude. Over my career, him and I have gotten really close. Obviously he played college football at Purdue. He knows what it's like to experience what I'm about to experience, having Senior Day, to be able to run out and meet my parents on the 50-yard line, celebrate that with them.
Q. How big of a help has he been to you throughout your career, given he's been through it before?
ES: Not as much as one would think. He's not really, like, a technique kind of guy. Obviously football has changed from whenever he played in the late '70s to early '80s to now. It's never really been about technique.
It's just him trying to motivate me, praying for me. He's a very, very faithful guy. Just him letting me know that he's there for me if I ever need anything from him.
Q. I can remember (former head coach) Bill O'Brien mentioning your name as a guy that could contribute early in your career. If you could think back to that time in your career, how have things developed? How are things different than what you expected they would be?
ES: Yeah, no, I remember that press conference. My brother always sends me anything that Coach Franklin or any of the coaches always say about me. It's kind of cheesy in that aspect.
But earlier in my career, obviously I wish I had played more. But obviously the circumstances were what they were. But now that I'm having some success, it's my time. I wouldn't change anything if I could.
Q. We talk about your career, everything that's gone on throughout your career. Has this gone by quickly or...
ES: It has gone by very, very quickly. It's one of the things all the old guys always say, kind of like a cliché, you don't really know how much time you have until your time is up.
But, yeah, the last four and a half years have gone by really fast. I look back at it and I'm just so grateful for the experiences that I've had, the people that I've met, the relationships that I've kind of constructed over the past four and a half years, and relationships that will be lifelong with teammates, coaches, training staff, people that are townies that are from State College.
Just moving forward I'm really excited to expand my relationships with those people.
Q. For the guys in this class, how important was it to get back to where Penn State is at this point? A lot of people thought this would take years and years.
ES: It's really important. As a freshman, I never thought that I'd be sitting here talking to you guys about what lies ahead. Obviously, like you said, there's still work that needs to be done, and that's Michigan State. We're just doing the best that we can to prepare this week, to come out and beat them.
Q. Different guys handle these sort of Senior Day situations differently. Who do you think will be the most emotional in that tunnel prior to the game?
ES: Honestly, I don't think any of the seniors. I'm really close with all the guys that are going to be running out. I think Coach Franklin might be the most emotional guy because I think he understands what we've been through over the past four and a half, five years. Yeah, I definitely think he'll be the most emotional guy.
Q. Do you try and block out what's going on in that Ohio State game before you come on the field or do you think you'll keep on eye on the scores?
ES: Honestly, I found out that was the noon kickoff. Obviously our game is at 3:30. Regardless of what happens in that game, I think I'm going to go about my day and prepare for this good Michigan State team, the same as I would for any team.
Q. Do you usually look at your phone?
ES: Yeah, you know, with later games, I know a lot of guys like to watch some games that are earlier in the day. I kind of try and stay away from it, especially in this situation I'll definitely try and just block everything out, stay off my phone, not have the TV on or anything like that.
Q. You mentioned how this year has been your time to step up. What has that been like, knowing you're in that role, game in, game out?
ES: It's been a great experience. Obviously last year we lost (Anthony) Zettel, A.J. (Austin Johnson) and Carl (Nassib) to the NFL. They're having great careers right now. To have that kind of weight on your shoulders, that pressure that you have to come out every game and perform, I love that kind of pressure, especially whenever I have success with it.
Q. Off the field as a senior, what has it been like taking on more of a leadership role?
ES: It's been awesome. I feel like I've taken a few of the young guys under my wing and just kind of showing them what it means to be a Penn State football player, a blue-collar, hard-working guy that goes to class, works hard in the classroom, to get a degree that will be with them for the rest of their life, which means so much.
Q. It's hard to think long-term, but what are your plans after this year? What do you want to do?
ES: I was having a conversation actually with my mom about that. I have no idea. It's exciting in that aspect, but also the unknown is kind of scary. I think that's what's exciting about life, is kind of not knowing what is going to happen.
I would love to be able to play at the next level. It's been a dream of mine since I found out the NFL was an actual thing back when I was five, six years old. If that pans out that way, I would be more than happy. If it doesn't, obviously with my degree in economics, I'd like to get into finance and that industry.
Brandon Bell | Sr. | Linebacker
Q. We talked in this setting a couple weeks ago and you mentioned when you committed here you didn't think much of rankings or anything like that. Now that you are in the situation you're in, do they mean a little bit more to you? Have you rethought that at all?
BB: We're in the conversation, so you notice it. I'm not really sure how it all works these days. Everybody kind of has their own opinions of who should be where and all that.
But it is great to be in the conversation. Obviously when you have success, that will be the case. So I'm with it, I guess, now.
Q. What are you expecting in terms of Senior Day ceremonies and all that kind of stuff?
BB: It will be full of mixed emotions. I'm sure I'm going to be pumped for the game, but at the same time kind of a surreal moment. Last time walking out there.
It will be full of mixed emotions, like I said. We'll see, I don't know.
Q. Is there any moment in your career that kind of stands out for you when you think back, maybe one game, one play?
BB: I was asked what was one of my biggest plays back at the Big Ten Media Day. I said my first big play against Wisconsin my freshman year.
This year has been full of also a lot of exciting moments, too. Obviously Ohio State. I guess I'll stick with the Wisconsin play.
Q. This will be your last game in this stadium.
BB: It's been hitting me a little bit this week. I'm sure once it finally comes, once we finally walk out, it will be a little different. Not sure what I'm going to be feeling. It has started to hit me.
Q. Who is going to be the most emotional person?
BB: I don't know. That's a good question. I feel like we're all kind of calm, cool, collected guys. When that day comes, I'm sure everybody will be a little different.
If I had to pick one, I would say, I don't know - Von Walker. I think he might shed a tear.
Q. Why did you want No. 11 and how did you end up getting No. 11?
BB: No. 11 had always been my favorite number growing up. When I came here, I tried to get it my freshman year. Coach (Ron Vanderlinden) was like, "No." I wasn't sure of the history behind it. I didn't realize that for another year. That's why he didn't let me have it as a freshman just walking in here.
When I made a decision I wanted to switch, I think after the Pinstripe game, I talked to the coaches about it. They kind of let me know the history of it. They finally let me do it.
Q. LaVar Arrington ever talk to you about having that number?
BB: After the fact, yeah. We have a good relationship now. We share texts every now and then, so it's all good.
Q. When they decided to let you have it, when you maybe earned the right to wear No. 11, what was that like? Do you remember that scenario?
BB: I was excited. I kind of had to keep bothering them about it just to make sure. A lot of logistics goes into switching numbers, too, just to make sure there's no confusion on the field, stuff like that. I had to keep badgering at them about it a little bit.
I didn't want to make it a distraction. It wasn't going to be the end of me if I couldn't switch. Once they gave me the green light, it was cool.
Q. You were No. 26 when you came here as a freshman. Have you talked with Saquon?
BB: I let him know I wore it first. All these kids now, they don't remember that.
Q. What do you think makes you a good blitzer?
BB: I think what makes me a good blitzer is my instincts, I guess I could say. I guess when things break down and the blitz doesn't go how you practice all week, I think I have the ability to still make a positive play out of it.
Q. (Quarterback) Trace McSorley said it's all about making sure you're comfortable in the moment. Is there a particular instance where you saw him in practice or a game this year, "Man, this guy looks comfortable out here, not too rattled by what's going on?"
BB: I let Trace know all the time this is his team and he has to run it that way, with that mindset.
Everybody saw against Georgia last year in the bowl game, that was really the moment. We all knew Trace had ability coming out of high school, stuff like that. We saw him in practice. First time on a big stage. He walked in, like he said, like he was prepared for that moment.
Against a good opponent Georgia, I wasn't worried about Trace ever since. I knew he was going to be able to handle the big moments.
Q. When you came in as a freshman, were there any linebackers, defensive side of the ball, that took you under their wing? Now that you're in this position as a senior, who are some of the younger guys you've taken under your wing?
BB: Definitely. When you're a young guy, being in college in general, as a man I guess you could say, I've talked to the team, but it's hard to ask for help. It's really hard to do. I think I learned that lesson as a young guy.
I talked to Nyeem (Wartman-White). I asked Nyeem for help when I was a young guy. Glenn Carson, Mike Hull, Deion (Barnes), Adrian Amos, Trevor Williams. Those guys kind of helped me when I was a young guy.
I think now I'd say Cam Brown, Manny Bowen, obviously young linebacker guys in the room, Shareef Miller I try to talk to a little bit. Try to spread my wisdom the best I can.
You ask any of the older guys now, I was struggling when I was a young guy my freshman here. On the field, football, trying to get the college thing down. Surreal when the role is reversed.
Q. Von Walker, Nyeem Wartman-White, done for the year. They're going to be obviously emotional that they can't be out there with you. Do you say anything to them?
BB: Definitely, those guys know how I feel about them. Those are two of my best friends. We talk a lot throughout the week, not just about football. They know how I feel about them, what's at stake on Saturday, I guess you could say.
Q. How do you want this class to kind of be remembered, this senior class?
BB: Just a group of guys that it didn't matter the circumstances, you know. Obviously coming here, staying here, the circumstances didn't matter. We wanted to be successful. We knew that wasn't going to be easy. Pretty much like I said, the circumstances didn't matter to this group.
Q. Regarding Trace McSorley, when has he most impressed you? What kind of leadership ability has he brought to the offensive side of the ball, to the team as a whole?
BB: He most impresses me with kind of the plays that I don't want to say he doesn't make. But not every play is going to be an exciting touchdown, 50-yard throw. Defensive side, he's running three extra yards out of a sack, something like that, that's huge for this game. I think that is overshadowed by the big plays he makes. Whether throwing the ball away, avoiding a sack, anything positive is great. I think that's huge for this team. Those hidden yards have gone a long way this season. I think that's where he kind of impresses me the most.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about LJ Scott, the Michigan running game in general, what they've been able to do this year.
Brandon Bell: It's a tough group. That's the same Michigan State that we've seen the last four or five years in terms of the running game, that's for sure. The O-line is a very solid group. Backs are very good backs.
You've seen what LJ Scott was able to do last week against the top team in the country. Definitely talented.
Saquon Barkley | So. | Running Back
Q. Can you talk a little bit about the Michigan State defensive line. Do you see any similarities between their young defensive line and yours that kind of have matured over the season and what are the differences?
SB: Their defensive line is really good. Yeah, watching film throughout the season, you could see how they grew. Overall as a team probably grew from the beginning of the year to now. They have some studs, especially a guy like Malik McDowell, highly-ranked draft prospect. The way he played last year, you don't forget about that.
Yeah, I see a process in how they grew from the beginning of the year till now.
Q. What kind of appreciation do you have for what this senior has class has done? How important is this game for everybody?
SB: This is really important for us because we really do want to send the seniors off on the right note, 10-win season, be undefeated at home. Those seniors mean a lot to us. They're the rock of this team. They're the reason why this program was able to stay over. They were here when times were bad for us.
Looking up to those guys in the recruiting process is a big reason why I wanted to come to this school. Underclassmen want to play hard for them, send these guys out on a high note.
Q. Any particular guys you got particularly close with, took you under their wing?
SB: Somebody I got closer with throughout the year is Brian Gaia. I would say my appreciation for him grew more as a player throughout the years. He's the center of our team. Like I say, he's a rock. He calls the calls for us. He's a big reason for my success in the running game. A lot of people don't notice that or acknowledge him as much as I think he should be.
Q. How would you describe Trace McSorley's leadership style? What is his strongest character or attribute for this team?
SB: Trace is the leader of this team. When time is going down, he's always there for us. When time is going good, he's there for us. He's not a front-running leader. He's going to bring guys together to talk before games, during games or after games if we need it.
One thing I love about Trace, he's not the tallest guy, biggest guy, but he doesn't have quit in him. When you have a guy like that in the backfield, you know you can always win and you want to play 10 times harder for him.
Q. Has this season matched or exceeded your expectations for the team and yourself?
SB: I would say our goal coming into the season is that we wanted to have an opportunity to play for the Big Ten championship. We wanted to be the best we can be. Unfortunately we lost two games early in the year. We didn't let that affect us at all. We were able to regroup. Our goals were in line, we were able to come out and have a winning streak going.
I wouldn't say it exceeded or matched it. I would say I'm not satisfied with where we're at because the season is still not over. Our goals are aligned still. We're still playing well, still gelling together.
Q. When it became a reality that you might be able to play here in the recruiting process, did you watch much of Penn State during the season? When you do that, are you at all focusing on the players that maybe one day you'll be playing with? What did you think about the product you saw? How did your opinions change, if at all?
SB: Well, I'm from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Penn State football is always on. I was more, like, an NFL fan when I was a little bit younger. Penn State football was always on. Like you couldn't miss it, to be honest.
With the recruiting process, just watching those guys, the guys who left, Hacks (Christian Hackenberg), A.J. (Austin Johnson), guys like that, watching them, coming here for games, watching how they were able to keep this program alive, keep this program together, just made me want to come here so much more.
I remember watching the Michigan game my junior year in high school. I was amazed. Obviously they were spectacular athletes, Allen Robinson making plays for us. The fight that they had, they would never quit. That's what you want. That's the kind of program you want to play for.
This program is special. When the opportunity came, I talked to my family about it, got them to talk to Coach Franklin. When they got onboard, it was a no-brainer to come to this school. Grateful I'm able to play at a program such as Penn State.
Q. Penn State won that Michigan game. Did you see games where Penn State lost and think, If I'm there, maybe I can help that become a win?
SB: When I came here for the Ohio State game, the year after the white out, obviously they lost in overtime. Just watching that game, I wasn't, like, Oh, maybe I can do this, score this touchdown. You never know 'cause you're a high schooler. You're not really ready to play at that level yet because you're still in high school.
One thing I did want to do, I wanted to come to a place where I can make an impact. I want to be a reason why, part of a reason why, to make this place special again.
We got something special going right now. We know that. We're aware of that. I'm just happy that I'm able to be part of that. Like I said, I'm so thankful that I'm able to play at this school. Coming to this school was the best decision of my life.
Q. Will you keep an eye on the Ohio State game on Saturday or not? Are you looking at your phone or what do you do?
SB: When I have my phone, I usually have music on and dancing, having a good time. I'm trying to loosen up before the game.
Am I going to take a look at the Ohio State game? No. But it's 2016, media, you can see the scoreboards and everything. You're going to be a little aware. I feel like as a team we can't focus on that. We can only control what we can control, and that's Michigan State right now. If it's meant for us, the rest of it will take care for itself.
Q. Michigan State is a team that likes to blitz. Talk about what you've seen from them blitz scheme-wise, the importance for you in protection this week.
SB: One thing that I really noticed with their blitz scheme is how their linebackers attack the back. They're really physical. Good way to describe them would be like pitch back linebackers. They're really physical, aggressive. They have some wiggle, but there go-to move would be a bull rush. As a running back, you have to be aware of that, be low, sink your hips, be ready to punch those guys. Not punch them...
Q. Seems like Indiana was throwing extra man pressures at you guys early in the game. Does that make it harder for you to get into a flow of a game when you have to pass block early in the game and often?
SB: I wouldn't say it has an effect on me. It gives me a mindset of how to approach a game, how the game is going to be. It makes me locked in more, want to focus more, because you know they're going to blitz and play man, or blitz and play zone.
If you pick up your guy, get Trace McSorley protected, you have the best receivers in the Big Ten, and those guys are going to make plays for you.
Q. When you decided to come here, the story was that Rutgers was where you were going to go. Were there other places that also recruited you before you chose Rutgers?
SB: Rutgers was the first school to offer me. Growing up as a little kid, I watched more NFL. If I did watch college with my dad, it would be Rutgers. If I would play the NCAA game, I would use Rutgers. That was a school I wanted to go to growing up.
Things change. You grow up. I was able to come here for the Michigan game. Then when Coach Franklin came, that coaching staff came, kind of just fell in love with them. I love what they stand for. I love how you feel like you're in a family environment when you're here. That was the real key and big reason why I wanted to come here.
Other schools, I wasn't really that heavily recruited, which doesn't bother me. My mindset was, "All I need is one.: Whatever that school was able to offer me, take full advantage of it.
Q. When you verbaled to Rutgers, did you have any other DI offers?
SB: No. I was a sophomore, going into my junior year, the summer, they were the first school to offer me. I kind of committed on spot, but I shouldn't have. I went back and talked to my parents about it. I was really the first one in my family ever presented with this opportunity. We didn't really know how to handle it. At my school, it's been a while since someone got a DI school offer.
Like I say, I wanted to play there when I was little, growing up, watching Ray Rice, stuff like that. I kind of jumped on the opportunity without even thinking about it.
Obviously talking to my family later on, me and Coach Franklin, stuff like that, seeing what this school represents not only with football but education, alumni, you'll be set for the rest of your life, kind of was a no-brainer for me to switch.
Q. You mentioned the NFL. Did you have a favorite team when you were growing up?
SB: Yeah. My favorite NFL team was the New York Jets. Still is. I'm a Jets fan.
Q. You mentioned you were an NFL fan more so than a college fan. Do you think that shaped your game at all, your perception of football?
SB: I wouldn't say, like, shaped my game. My dad is a big Jets fan, too. When I was a little kid, I wasn't the little kid that would play with toys. I would sit down with my dad at the age of two and three years old and watch a game with him. As I continued to grow and watch football, guys like Curtis Martin, Thomas Jones, played for the Jets. I wouldn't say that shaped my game, but I would see them do stuff, then I would go out on a Sunday and Monday with my friends and try it.
When I started playing little league football, people compared me to Barry Sanders as a little kid. I would go on YouTube, ask my dad questions about him, he would explain. I was intrigued, like, football was so fun to me, cool to me at that time. I always wanted to learn more about it, learn about the backs.
I guess you could say I guess that shaped me as a player, how I am now. I want to say I learned from this guy and that guy.