PJ Mustipher | DT | So./So.
Q: How would you say you've grown from the first time you stepped on campus a year ago to now with the spring game being complete?
A: I grew a tremendous amount. Me and coach talked a lot about things I had to improve on heading into spring. My freshman year, I had some bumps and bruises in between the things I already had to get better at. So we talked about them, I eliminated those bad things from my game and I feel like I've grown a tremendous amount.
Q: Where are you physically now, compared to last year, not just height and weight but also strength and explosiveness?
A: I'm much more explosive now, I would say. My get-off is one of my best attributes now and I don't think it was coming out of high school. I'm able to move in tight spaces much better and I saw that in one-on-ones and on film too. My pass rushing is getting much better and just being able to play the run and to play against double-teams. I was pretty good at it but not where I wanted to be. I wanted to take that next step so I feel like I got much better at those two things specifically.
Q: What comes next now, between tomorrow and summer camp?
A: We'll go through the film to see what I could have done better in the spring game. I felt like I had a really good spring. I'll talk to coach about that, the areas I still need to get better at and we'll talk about my strengths. In the summer, its just about getting better as we've always been doing.
Q: Defensive Tackle is a tough learning curve, especially for a true freshman. Can you tell us more about that transition?
A: That's a steep learning curve. From playing inside, it took me a little bit to get the plays down, to get the strength, and to realize that it isn't high school ball anymore. It took me until about week five for me to really feel like I got everything down. I had to grow; coach challenged me to grow so that's what I did. It was a great year, with a lot of learning experiences so I'm happy with where I am at now.
Cam Brown | LB | Sr./Sr.
Q: What have you seen with Noah [Cain] running against you today and throughout spring camp. Some have compared this backfield to that of Georgia from a few years ago, is there any kind of player you would compare him to?
A: He's a consistent runner. He's good at a lot of things; quickness, vision, some power. He runs well and I think he'll be good in the Big Ten. If we have to compare backfields to Georgia's I would say Ricky [Slade] is more of the D'andre Swift; quick, explosive, big playmaker. I feel like Noah is more of the power back, that does what he has to do and he gets yards.
Q: What have you seen from Lance [Dixon] so far as he's been taking snaps behind you?
A: Lance has been looking good this spring. He's grown really fast, and he's learned the defense. I think that as he becomes surer of himself, as he builds some more confidence, as he gets the whole scheme of the defense down and not just his assignment, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Q: How did you feel about the game today and how do you see yourself moving forward?
A: The reps I did get, I felt good about. I felt confident with the play calls, and I felt confident with the guys around me. I just feel good right now. Going into the fall, there are a lot of little things we need to correct, especially with my game. Right now, I understand the defense but it's about making better plays and putting myself in the positions to make better plays.
Jonathan Sutherland | S | So./Jr.
Q: How have the defensive backs been throughout the spring? Do you think you guys have been making strides?
A: Yeah, it really started in winter workouts, which then propelled us into spring ball. The secondary has been really good. We've got a bunch of young guys and early enrollees. They've just been stepping up and making plays during practice, so I think we're looking really good.
Q: What play from today are you happiest with that you can look back on?
A: I came down and laid a few hits, made some plays on the ball. This spring, I really emphasized on my range—my range in deep third and cover two. I feel like it's been going well. I have a lot to work on going into the summer with training camp. And I'm just excited for the season.
Q: How do you gain versatility as a safety?
A: It starts with knowing the defense and knowing the defensive scheme, because when you know what you're doing, you play faster. It's as simple as that. Knowing your assignment and reading your keys is the start to being versatile on the field. I try to watch film every night, pay attention, and take as many notes as possible during meetings. I think that's really helped me get the playbook down.
Yetur Gross-Matos | DE | Jr./Jr.
Q: This is a very talented defensive end group. What do you guys have as a mix and how do you motivate each other?
A: As a group, we just have tremendous speed. Since I've been here, this is the fastest group I've been around. I think that's one of the key aspects to the group. I just think we're really talented.
Q: Lots of people looked at the defense as a question mark last year. This year, people have started to look at it as a strength. Is that accurate considering how many guys you've got returning on that side of the ball?
A: Yeah, I think as a whole unit, we've got speed everywhere. I think the defense was actually a strength for the team last year, and I think it's going to be a strength again this year.
Q: How much have the linebackers grown? That was a really young group last year.
A: We've got a lot of redshirt-freshmen and true-freshmen in that group right now. I think they've all come along really well, especially some of the redshirt-freshmen like Jesse Luketa. That group is similar to our defensive end group; they have tremendous speed and athleticism.