#14 Sean Clifford | QB | R-Sr.+
Q: How would you evaluate the play of your position group in general from you to Drew (Allar), and to Christian (Veilleux)?
A: I thought that all three of us executed. We scored 46 points. We're happy. Ohio is a good football team. I think that they presented good looks. It starts up front. I thought we had a really good day up front. A few sacks that could have been prevented, but at the same time, I thought that we did a good job. I'm proud of our room as well. I thought that we made strides from week one to week two. It was good to see all the guys get in and get reps. It was a great game and then on top of that, it's always nice to get to relax a little bit, myself as well.
Q: What does Nick Singleton bring to the offense?
A: I think you saw today what he brings to the offense. He's explosive, he's fast, he sees it well. He just adds that dynamic of being able to get on the perimeter and then finish plays in the endzone. I think that it was just a matter of time, and I'm excited for him. I think that he's going to have a great career here and this is probably just the beginning for him.
Q: Even though you guys' plan to get CV (Christian Veilleux) in and get Drew (Allar) in, is it still hard to come out of the game?
A: This is my last year. I want to be out there with my guys as much as possible. The one thing I will say is if it means giving up some time to get guys prepared, I want to win more than anything. I have no ego in that. The only thing that matters to me is winning football games. I know how important it is to get those guys reps because if anything happens to me, I want to win games. That's all that matters. I think that it was awesome today to be able to get Drew in there for series after series and CV in a couple series as well. It was a lot of fun to watch and I'm just super proud of our room because I think that that we handle everything well.
#3 Parker Washington | WR | So.
Q: How does it feel to see so many guys in your receiving core get in? And not only get in, but produce?
A: It all starts from the offseason. To be able to work together, work hard and push each other, that allowed us to have a great amount of depth out there. So, I was excited to see that.
Q: You took that shot in the second quarter that you had to come out, but then came back in and made a big play. So how were you able to bounce back so quickly?
A: I just want to be there for my team. I just got the wind knocked out of me. I needed a breather really quick. I wanted to be out there to make plays and help the team out as much as I can.
Q: It doesn't sound like you guys were surprised that Drew [Allar] was able to have the success he had today. Does it seem like he's a freshman or is he older?
A: That quarterback room works really, really hard. Top to bottom, they're all together as one and always around in the building together. So it wasn't surprising to see them step up to the plate.
#44 Tyler Warren | TE | So.
Q: As a tight end, how does it feel for you just to be able to get out in the open field and block for Nick [Singleton] and Kaytron [Allen]?
A: They do a good job of making us right. So much attacking. When they're going to do it, they're going to go the opposite way of where I put the guy. That definitely makes you feel good as a blocker because it makes your block and makes them correct. So they make us correct.
Q: What do you remember of Auburn last year?
A: It's always a good team. A lot of respect for them. We have to come out, watch the film and find out what we can do as an offense. And hopefully, come out successful.
Q: How do you feel about your team's confidence heading into a big growth week next week?
A: I think a lot of guys getting the playing time was good. It kind of gets them out of the funk of not being in an actual college game yet. I think that'll be good for the team.
#20 Adisa Isaac | DE | R-Jr.
Q: Today, obviously the quarterbacks holding the ball a little bit longer allowed you guys to get a little bit more pressure. How do you think you guys did today from that standpoint?
A: I think we did alright. We have a lot to improve on, as with every week. We have to build on this week moving forward, so I feel like we did it alright, but there's definitely room for improvement.
Q: Was there a big jump from Purdue to Ohio in terms of comfort level on Manny Diaz defense?
A: We're a little more comfortable now in the system, two weeks in. I feel like everybody's getting comfortable, moving faster, playing more physical, eliminating mistakes.
Q: What's it like for the defense to watch these guys perform like that offensively? There's been a lot of pressure on the defense lately because they haven't scored as many points recently. When you see these kinds of explosive plays, and what they're capable of, how does it change the defense a little bit?
A: We want to keep the same mentality no matter what the score is, no matter who we play. As far as us a defense, we just want to keep going, playing fast and physical for all four quarters. Obviously, it's great when the offense scores as much as they did today. It's something to build on.
#72 Bryce Effner | OL | R-Sr.
Q: How does it feel watching a guy out of your peripheral vision go 70 yards to the house?
A: Unbelievable, it's one of the best things that can happen as an (offensive) lineman because it's your run-block and pass-block. I think Nick [Singleton] got two of them today, so more power to him.
A: I love that kid. He's going to be a great running back for us and I'm very grateful he's with us and behind our (offensive) line.
Q: To continue with the running backs, is it different this year than what you've had the past three years? We haven't seen a run like that since 2009.
A: We've always had great running backs here at Penn State. I've got nothing bad to say about the past two years. I don't know if it was a covid thing or just whatever happened, happened where we lost a couple of guys. But it's good that we're back to those types of products this year.
#16 Ji'Ayir Brown | S | Sr.
Q: How do you feel about these incoming guys and how their preparation is different compared to guys from other years?
A: Most young guys come in, they think it's college and all they want to do is party, but these guys came in young but with the mindset of 50-60-year-olds. These guys came in, they were ready to work. They want to play this year, and they were all about football.
Q: From your perspective what do you feel you guys have established the most depth and benefit the most from having that depth?
A: Today? Offensively, I mean you see that with all of the running backs. You got Keyvone Lee, Devin Ford and Nick [Singleton). Just a bunch of guys that can play. If one can't get it done, the next one can. It just gives us all different kinds of backs.
Q: How did the adversity of having the score up at the half and then you guys coming back with that touchdown right before the half prepare you guys for next week with a difficult opponent?
A: We pride ourselves on putting up points, especially in the two-minute situation. We practice two-minute drills. We practice these kinds of things… we practice it every week. So for them to go out there, the defense watching on the sideline, and see them do the stuff that we practice, it's amazing to see that we would come out here and perform.
#43 Tyler Elsdon | LB | So.
Q: With defense and how you guys have adjusted, what did you see out there, obviously with a different attack?
A: "I think the biggest thing was just the chemistry. In even just one week of practice since Purdue, we just trusted each other more. It was just getting that first game out of the way, with the nerves. We had a lot of young guys play through that game and a lot of young guys play today. I think we just grew and grew and grew.
Q: What does it say about the team that they scored that touchdown right before the half and you guys came back and you kept going?
A: I think we got to be relentless. Like all season, we got to be relentless in every phase of the game.
A: I think personally, playing defense I don't want them to score, I know our defense doesn't want them to score especially in the red zone. They scored on us obviously today, but the biggest thing is like I said just staying relentless and whenever those opportunities come taking them.
#34 Dominic DeLuca | LB | R-Fr.
Q: What did it mean to hit them right back in the mouth (Ohio's touchdown)?
A: It was a great response from us. We played our game well, we executed the game and everything was good.
Q: Overall what can you take from this game going forward?
A: Ohio was a great team. We played great and they played great. We are going to celebrate this one. We will focus on Auburn tomorrow.
Q: Got things started on the opening kickoff, what does it mean to you to be on special teams?
A: Coach Collins loves me on special teams, and I love running down on kickoff. Making that tackle was big for us and started us with momentum. When I got the preferred walk on to come here, I had to jump on it. It was a dream to come here, so I knew I just needed that spot and that I was going to prove myself.
Q: When do you find out captains, what does coach tell you?
A: Coach told us Thursday. It was a great surprise, it was awesome and was a dream come true. He just said because of last week, he did not really go into detail about it.
#6 Harrison Wallace III | WR | R-Fr.
Q: What do you feel like you have done to help put yourself firmly in that conversation (Rounding out the group of receivers)?
A: I feel as if I just attack every day by working hard, trying to push myself to be the best person I could be to help this team to be successful in the long game. You just have to work because guys come in and they want to play. You want to play too, so you just have to keep continuing to grind and get better every single day.
Q: What is Drew (Allar) like when he is in the huddle and on the sidelines?
A: He's professional. He acts like he has been there before. You cannot really tell that he is a rookie. He just handles his business as a professional. The way that he handles himself and the way that he comes to work every day, you can tell. He just comes to work every day. That mindset that 'I am going to be the best that I can be and compete for the job.'
Q: When did it come together (you said that the game slowed down for you)?
A: I would say going into the spring, because I had talked to my parents. We sat down and talked about how hard I needed to work. I really had an opportunity to do something good. So it just clicked during the spring.
Q: Did you lean on anyone (to help your game come together)?
A: I can say that the room definitely pushed me. They pushed me to be the best that I could be. That is just how our room is, we push each other so that everybody can be ready when their number is called.