Will Fries | OL | Sr./Jr.
Q. Five games in, curious how would you evaluate your development? Do you feel like you're at a different level than in the past? Across from you is Rasheed Walker. Through his first five starts, how has he held his own?
WF: Rasheed's done a great job. I saw yesterday he was one of the PFF [Pro Football Focus] tackles of the week. Just a testament to him, how much he's worked and put into this off-season and how hard he's worked. He really played a great game against Purdue overall. He's got a lot more in the tank to keep playing better.
I would say for myself, I feel like I'm playing well so far and try to keep getting better every week.
Q. James was talking about the respect you guys have for Iowa's defensive ends. What have you seen from them?
WF: Yeah, definitely got a lot of respect for those guys. They play really hard. They are coached really well. They play with a high effort and high motor every play. It's not something you can relax on. You have to be aware for multiple moves from both of them. Just things like that, that they are coached up to do. They fill their gaps. It's about us doing our responsibility as well as they are doing theirs.
Q. I believe it was your second career start at Iowa in 2017. What do you remember about just Kinnick Stadium and the experience there? How you were able to win at the end?
WF: Yeah, the first thing is, it's loud. I mean, I think anyone that's been there knows how passionate those fans are and how great of an atmosphere it is. I think they are doing their blackout or whatever they are doing. We are expecting a great atmosphere again and really just a memorable experience under those lights. That was my first Big Ten play. I'm excited to go back there and play there again.
Q. I asked Franklin about Adisa Isaac and his development. What does he present as a challenge based on raw skill, from a tackle's perspective, when you got him coming off the edge?
WF: He's grown a lot through his time here. He's going to be really a guy to watch out for in the years coming but you've seen him make some plays so far. Just as a tackle, he has a good blend of size and speed and for a tackle, that's tough because you can't really pick one thing to hone in on.
As he keeps developing, he's going to be a danger. It's fun to go against him and compete against him and he's done a great job so far.
Q. We've seen a little bit of Caedan Wallace. What can you tell us about him and maybe the physical presence he brings as a true freshman? A lot of kids have to come in and bulk up, but he looks like he came in pretty ready to play?
WF: Like you said, that's the first thing you notice about him. He's 6-5, 325, 330, whatever it is, he's a big, impressive dude.
He worked really hard in the weight room during the summer. I think that's one of the biggest things for him. He has that work ethic. Just as a player, he needs to keep developing, learning the techniques and learning the playbook. He's been really impressive so far and I'm excited to see him in the future.
Q. It looks like he's probably going to be able to redshirt. How much of a bonus is that for an offensive lineman to not necessarily be needed as a true freshman, to be able to go through the weight program and learn and do all that stuff?
WF: That redshirt year is huge because you get all the extra lifts and time to develop and learn from the older guys.
My redshirt year I was able to learn from guys like Andrew Nelson and Brendan Mahon and that was one of the most beneficial things for me. Seeing how they prepare for every game and learning how to play in the Big Ten and things like that. That redshirt year is big and I think it will pay dividends.
Q. I wanted to ask you about another true freshman, Noah Cain. When did you first know that he was going to be a good player for you guys? When were you first impressed by him?
WF: I would say it was during summer workouts. I don't remember exactly when, but sometimes in those summer workouts, you saw him pop off-line in those sprints. He's an incredibly hard worker. I saw him getting extra workouts in and things like that, and that's when you know, okay, this guy's got something here.
Along with Devyn [Ford], too. They have both done a great job, and you really noticed in the summer how hard they work and things like that. They are going to be big-time players this year.
Q. You've had some pretty close games against Iowa the last two years. How important is it going to be as an offensive line to control the line of scrimmage this week?
WF: That's what this game is all about is those O-Line, D-Line matchups. That's something they pride themselves on and something we pride ourselves on. Just being a physical team, playing with great technique and combining those two things to really win the game up front. It's something as an O-Line that we are taking a ton of pride in this year and especially for this game.
Q. I know you approach each week the same way and the games the same way, but knowing you are going to play somewhere that's cool, how does that change the mental side going into a game like this?
WF: Kind of a combination of those things. We prepare for every game the same but at the same time you know it's a little different just because of the energy and atmosphere you're going to feel. That's something you can't really just shutout.
As a team, kind of similar to Maryland. We have to feed off the energy of the stadium and not be intimidated by it and go out and attack Iowa the same way we would any other team.
Q. Your head coach just gave a pretty passionate statement regarding the letter that was sent to Jonathan Sutherland. Do you get a sense, with a lot of guys taking to social media, is this a galvanizing moment for your locker room in terms of further increasing the bond that you guys share?
WF: I think that any time we hit some adversity, such as things like this, it brings us closer together. You know, although those remarks were negative, I think that as a team, we realize, we've always got each other's backs. As you see with those things on social media.
As far as Sutherland, he's really the gold standard of character in our locker room. He's an outstanding, not only player, but just human being in general. He's always working out, doing extra stuff, extra treatment, and like I said, his character is extremely high. He takes pride in academics and things like that. He's my locker neighbor and I'm proud to be next to him because he's an outstanding human being.
Q. When it comes to a situation like this, going on the road to a hostile environment, playing a stout defense in a game that always seems like it's going to be Big Ten tough as far as like the style of play. When you think of Big Ten Football, how does this kind of fall into that description?
WF: Yeah, I think it's one of those games you kind of dream about as a kid. When you have these dreams of playing big time football and things like that, these Penn State-Iowa matchups, these Big Ten clashes are things you dream about playing. You have to live in the moment.
My high school coach used to say, you have to realize what you're experiencing while you experience it. I think if you take that step back and view it from that perspective, it makes the whole thing a lot more enjoyable.
Micah Parsons | LB | So./So.
Q. Coach Franklin issued a pretty passionate statement about the letter sent to Jonathan Sutherland. Not going to ask you to go through that whole thing, but do you feel like this has brought the locker room closer and carried it forward emotionally?
MP: Sure, you can look at it that way. People feel differently about it. It's one of those things that it is what it is. People want to always have an opinion about someone. But in the locker room, I think this we all been pretty tight together, and if Jonathan is going through it emotionally, we'll carry him throughout the whole time and making sure he's okay and things like that. We're just going to come together even more and just be the brotherhood that we are.
Q. When you watched the film on Sunday, was it pleasing to see that performance? I know you were excited after the game but when you got a chance to further review it, did it look at dominant as it felt on Saturday? Where is the pride for your defense right now?
MP: Yeah, I mean, Purdue is a great team and I think the way we came out and played was excellent.
When you really saw Shaka Toney on film, he had dirt coming off his cleats after almost every sack he had, so that was impressive. The way our D-Line dominated up front, they've been dominant all year. It's really special to see where we're going right now.
Q. When your coach after the game says you're playing championship level defense, what confidence does that give you?
MP: It gives you confidence, when you know someone like Coach that believes you, especially a players' coach like Coach Franklin and Coach [Brent] Pry are. The way they back us up and make sure we keep improving every day, every week, it's impressive, really.
Q. How much do you look forward to playing places you've never been before?
MP: I look forward to it. Someone asked me, one of you guys said, "Where is the best place you play?" I would say Beaver Stadium.
I hear Iowa is one of the best in the country, so I'm looking forward to really experiencing it. From what the guys said when they went out there, comeback, last-drive victory, they said it was nuts. I can't wait to experience it.
Q. You guys right now are ranked No. 1 nationally in sacks per game. Curious if you are aware of that. What type of pride do you guys take in being No. 1 right now in the nation?
MP: As returning from leading the country in sacks last year, it's obviously a high expectation. I wasn't aware of that. But now that I know, you know, we pride ourselves in rushing the quarterback. Those D-Linemen do it every day in practice. When we're practicing and we have guys like Yetur [Gross-Matos] and Shaka, it's like, no wonder. Those guys are impressive as hell, and they push me to get better, even every time I go up to rush. They help me get better.
When you have guys like that and guys in the D-Tackle position that keep striving to get better, what you're looking to say, I wouldn't doubt that.
Q. You said that Shaka and Yetur both impressed you. What impresses you most about those two guys that makes them such good defensive ends?
MP: The crazy part is they are just so different. Yetur, he really knows how to use his hands well and body position. I was like, "Yo, Ye, how did you do that?" Like one day he made this really nice move.
He's like, "I keep my hands so tight to my body to make sure they don't let them touch me."
And Shaka, he's always like, "You've just got to really get off the ball and really get him off his heels," and things like that. They have got two different skills and I think it causes a lot of trouble for most offensive lineman.
Q. Coach [Joe] Lorig keeps talking about you returning kicks. Are you getting closer to getting that opportunity?
MP: Yeah, I think I'm getting close. Coach Lorig is just making sure I'm ready. I practice every week. I'm just going to keep getting better with Ja'Juan [Seider], how to fit in the scheme, and one day, if something happens, get in the game and get my kick returns. Live the dream.
Q. Where do you think you can still improve? From a linebacker perspective, you're still pretty young. Are there specific areas where you look at tape and think you can get better?
MP: I think Coach Pry does a good job at doing that for me, teaching me where to get better at. He knows that I'm really talented and I play a good game, but he always critiques me, not on the things I do well, but on the things I do wrong. I need to keep going on my fundamentals: Pads drops, keep practicing my run reads, stop being a reactional player and start doing, realizing every action, that's when you become a great player instead of a good player. Just things like that and just doing my film study.
Q. Can you explain that reaction stuff?
MP: Right now, I would say I'm like 60 percent or 70 percent reactive. That means I'm going off what I see on the field. That means like I see something and I react on it, like my instincts and things like that. Then he's talking about being a realizing player, like seeing the formations and seeing your keys and your reads. That's why you're doing it. So, when you do that with your instincts, that's when I'll be a great player.
Q. James mentioned last week how in the middle, Ellis [Brooks] and Jan [Johnson] are splitting the reps 50/50. What do they bring to the table? How beneficial is it to have two guys in the middle that you have a lot of confidence in?
MP: I just think Jan, he's an overall great player. Really a student of the game. He's obviously the smartest linebacker I ever met and the smartest in the room. He brings in that recognition, and that helps me on the field. If I don't see something, then he'll help me out.
And I think Ellis, he just brings a little bit more speed, a little bit more pass rush in the game. Obviously, he's a guy who gets a lot of sacks. They are just two different players, but I think they both bring a piece of the game where it benefits us and either way, whoever is in, and I think that's really what matters.
Q. What have you heard about these pink locker rooms? If you were to build an imposing stadium and do something strange or different to get into the head of the opposing team, do you have any ideas?
MP: I don't know man. I never thought of something like that before. I'd say put in ants or something in the room. Some bugs. I get creeped out by bugs.
Q. We've heard a lot about Adisa Isaac and we're seeing more and more of him. What's impressed you about him so far?
MP: I would say his motor. As a young guy, you always tell him, even if you don't know what you're doing, just go 100 percent. I think that he embodies that and really, even since camp, if he messed up. I remember I saw this one play, and I started calling him out afterwards. He was supposed to take the quarterback, and he came inside, and I saw him take off full speed trying to recover. I said, I already know you messed up. He said, "Yeah, I tried to catch him."I said, "I know, bro."
He goes 100 percent every time he's out there and that's the most important thing when you got somebody that really doesn't know what they are doing, but kind of knows what they are doing, and goes 100 percent. He will end up making himself right and make a play.
That's what I did last year for a good part of the year, and I think as he keeps growing and gets more playing time, he'll be a good player for us this year and next year.
Q. How do you think it went last week with HBO?
MP: I think that we did a good job. No one tried to act too different in front of the cameras. It's something different. I hope it shows the true definition of what Penn State is and who we are as a team and how our brotherhood will be shown to the world.
Q. During your recruitment, you talked about teams coming at you on both sides of the ball. Last year Franklin said you were trying to play running back for him and now we are hearing about kickoff return. Are you antsy to get the football back in your hands? Does it feel like football is not complete for you because you're not getting the ball a little bit?
MP: It's still complete, because as long as I'm able to play and do what I love, I still feel happy about it.
But yeah, I'm definitely real itchy to get the ball. I just want one. If I can just get one carry or one kickoff return. I'll be happy. I won't ask again. Every time I hear third and one, this time they could throw me in there, get us one yard. Once that day comes, I'll never ask again.
Q. So maybe goal line back, too?
MP: Yeah, goal line, I could definitely get in a goal line package. I think I have the speed. I could block, too, if I need to block.
Q. Will Levis told us you were battling over the same touchdown celebration. Did he beat you to the end zone and get to use it?
MP Yeah, that was real foul. I initially started the celebration. He added the throwing thing. I was like, but you can't steal my celebration. The way he did it, that was real wrong of him, but I'm going to use it anyway. We're just going to see who does it better.
