Penn State Football
Student-Athletes Postgame Press Conference
vs. Indiana – October 28, 2023
Defense
#21 KJ Winston | S | So.
Q: What's it like getting back out there after waiting a week?
A: Our main focus is just bouncing back from last week and coming out and playing fast and building back home. That's the main thing, we just clean everything up during the week and get back out there.
Q: What was your view of the winning touchdown pass and how did it feel to see that?
A: It was so great to see that happen. But as soon as it happened, we knew it was time for us to close the game and get back on defense so we could close it out.
Q: Was there one particular player, coach and message to you guys this past week in practice to help you bounce back from last week?
A: Everyone in our building is all really great. It wasn't anyone in particular. We all listen to everything they are saying and take it seriously and live by everything they tell us. We knew it was time to get back in and pick up where we left off and keep it going.
#28 Zane Durant | DT | So.
Q: How were you guys feeling when Indiana scored that touchdown early on?
A: Oh, it's tough, but we just have to lean on each other and bounce back and keep our composure.
Q: Statistically, this was the worst defensive game this year. How do you bounce back?
A: Everyone knows we must do better, so we will consider that this week and work on improving as a group.
#33 Dani Dennis-Sutton | DE | So.
Q: What did it mean for you guys to be able to close out the game after they got the game winning touchdown and get the fumble recovery?
A: No, it's huge. Indiana is a great team. Obviously, it was a close game the whole game. And then the offense did a great job of scoring and then they just put it on the defense to shut it up. And that's what we did.
Q: To win a game like this though, the way you won it, what does it say about the team and your ability to kind of put last week behind you and all that?
A: Yeah, that's a great point. Last week was a tough game, obviously. We didn't come out on top. But this week, we just wanted to come together and that's what we did against Indiana. They were tough team. You know, we had some challenges on offense and defense. But we still made a way to come out on top and I think that's huge for our team.
Q: Not only from when the fumble happened, but after, were you able to see everything that was going on with it bouncing around? What's going through your head as you see that?
A: So, from the beginning, I just got a really wide technique, because I've seen that they were going to pass the ball and I wanted to force that tight end and try blocking one on one and that's what I did. That's what happened. So as soon as I seen that tight end come, I just tried to get around them. And then yeah, I didn't even know I actually stripped the ball. I had no idea that it was a strip sack and then I turned around and you know about to do a celebration and then I looked back and see the ball is rumbling or tumbling in the end zone and I was like "Oh wow, I had no idea that I just did that."
Offense
#1 Keandre Lambert-Smith | WR | Jr.
Q: What's it like when you make a big play like that towards the end?
A: It's exciting, I noticed the man coverage early and I knew we were going to be one on one. I just looked in the air and saw Drew threw a perfect ball at me and I just made the play. I needed that touchdown.
Q: What does it mean to you that your defense is able to keep putting you in a position to win those turnovers?
A: You know, we have one of the best if not the best defenses in the country. It's a complementary part of football, the offense needs to help the defense. To pick up that extra weight that defense did to give us that opportunity came down to us winning the game.
#13 Kaytron Allen | RB | So.
Q: Having the running game struggle in the first half, not a lot of space, and then that opening third quarter drive you put together like 40 forty yards on your own, what was going on through your head during that drive?
A: I just always want to keep my team going. Anytime I can get the ball, key distance going to stand ahead of the stitch is always my goal. I just want to have my teams back and know that I can ride for them and do the things that need to be done for the team.
Q: You said you wanted to start fast twice today but you guys didn't and it's kind of been a problem all season, how do you account for that?
A: We just got to get back to work. We just keep trying to get one percent better every day, we do that and it's going to come.
#16 Khalil Dinkins | TE | R-So.
Q: You've got two catches this year and both are fourth down touchdowns, what does it mean to you that Drew will look to you in that situation?
A: It means a lot to me that he trusts me to catch the ball. I get in there and knowing he can just see me open and just throw it to me right there.
Q: Was there ever a moment today where things were just very frustrating for you given that you often still struggle?
A: Absolutely. A win is a win, but they were a good team. They had a good offense a good defense. We got a lot of things that we need to get cleaned up but the times when we came in during halftime, we knew we're going to have to flip the script and get it done, just stick together and everything, so that's what we did and that's how we came out on top.
#84 Theo Johnson | TE | Jr.
Q: What can that game winning touchdown pass do for him, do for the receivers and the offense?
A: One thing I said in the locker room is, you know, we got backed into a corner. A lot of teams, a lot of programs were just kind of fooled and we came out swinging and didn't back down. I think that was a really big play for us, something that we really needed in a critical moment, and we got to keep growing and building off of that.
Q: After last week's game you said that pain can either hurt you or help you, in what ways do you think the pain helped you and your team this week?
A: It gave us hunger to improve and to never want to feel that again. I think we could have started a little faster today, but at the end of the day we got a Big Ten win and that's a big deal.
#15 Drew Allar | QB | So.
Q: How are you able to come back and throw a dime like that for the game winning score? How are we able to do that?
A: I mean, I think it starts with all the support I have here. Whether it's teammates or coaches, I couldn't, couldn't ask for a better group of people to be around as a support system. You know, at the end of the day, stuff happens. You have to flush it; you can't dwell on the past. I mean, at the end of the day, we had another opportunity to go out there and win the game and we did just that and that's why that's why we play football to have opportunities like that to go down and win the game.
Q: How did you feel make that throw in that situation?
A: I just felt good overall, just because we missed a couple of deeper shots earlier in the game. Obviously, on those throws, my goal is just to allow the receiver to touch the ball, allowing them to come down with it, make a play after the catch, or pass interference on the defense so we can move the chains again. And luckily, I mean, Dre made a fantastic catch. It was pretty good coverage, honestly, but Dre made a really good catch and then was able to stay in bounds and take it the rest of the way through.
Q: Drew, can you take us through the way that play unfolded from when it's called on the sideline? Do you have different options there? Because everybody's wondering, why isn't he taking deep shots, but it sounds as if there may have been things that you've had earlier that you decided to go in other directions.
A: Yeah, I mean, that was the second time we ran that play the first time was the one where I missed it to McClain on the post in the endzone. I missed that one. That was actually the second time we ran that play. But on that play, honestly, I just saw Indiana kind of being aggressive with a cover one, and the cover one safety was pretty low. And that's how they kind of play as a team with their post-safety. So, I knew that I had two good options. I had Dre I'm the slot fade and then I had, I think McClain was in again, on the backside post. So, my first option was Dre and he won so I just gave him a chance and the rest happened.
#10 Nicholas Singleton | RB | So.
Q: How did you see Drew handle throwing his first interception?
A: Well, you know he stepped up big. Obviously, threw a great pass to Dre for a touchdown for a big play.
Q: Winning like this on a plate like that is big. But going forward, what does it mean to you guys?
A: Yeah, it was a big win. Shout out to Indiana. They're a good team. They're going to do good things this year. Winning a game like this meant a lot.
Q: What do you think is causing you guys slow starts on offense?
A: Yeah, it's just Indiana. You know they came to play. The first snap, we knew coming in, we had to fast start every time we stepped on the field. But you know, Indiana, they played well the first couple drives and once we got momentum, it started going.
