Clemson players discuss 24-10 win over Texas A&M |
Several Clemson players were available to the media following the team's 24-10 win over Texas A&M on Saturday.
On his performance:
“I think my decisions were good for the most part today. I underthrew a few balls, just got a little tight, I wish I had those back but I felt like decision-wise I played well.”
On playing Texas A&M:
“It’s the biggest game of the year because it’s the next one. Coach Swinney always says that and it’s true and that’s how we think about every game, but it was a big game. Last year a lot of people said it was lucky that we got out of there with a win so we wanted to leave no doubt this year.”
On the defense’s performance:
“It makes you a lot more confident and you can do some things where, if your defense is struggling you couldn’t do so, they played great. They played lights out. It was good to see them respond after they were challenged this week so it was awesome.”
On his ankle injury:
“It’s doing good, I just rolled it. I thought it was my knee at first, but then I realized what was really going on so I just rolled my ankle and it’s just sprained right now… When I went down it was pretty scary I thought it was my knee at first like I said, but I realized it was my ankle and I just told them to put some tape on it so i could go back out there and play for my team.”
On the defensive gameplan:
“We did have a lot of flexibility in our defense, so we just went out there and showed them different looks to confuse the offensive coordinator and the quarterback out there so 4-3, 3-4, stuff like that.”
On his sack:
“It felt real good because I thought I wasn't going to be able to play at first, but I went back out and was able to go full speed so it felt good.”
On his touchdown reception:
“He started scrambling so I had to find a way to get open and if you’re open, Trevor’s going to find you.”
On being tested early:
“It just shows how much of a team we are because a lot of teams go back and forth and if they’re not scoring they give up, but not us. We just kept going.”
On the importance of this game for him:
“I didn't really do anything against them [last season]. They don’t really know me so I had to go out there and prove a point.”
On his brother Nick playing his first game for South Carolina tonight.
“Yesterday my mom called me around 3 o’clock or 4 o’clock or so, but right then I was super excited for him and I texted him and told him how happy I was for him.”
On the secondary’s emergence:
It’s never been off and on, this and that, all the outside noise doesn't matter to us. We get it all the time. It’s always gonna fall on the back end and we know that as a secondary and we’re fine with that. We’ll take the heat, but then we’ll show up on Saturday and play to the best of our ability.”
On the defensive performance:
“We expect to make all the plays, that’s just how our defense is under Coach [Venables]. He expects to have either tackle for loss, sack, pick, we gotta be there. That’s how we prepare and I think the biggest thing for me is seeing Nolan [Turner], K’Von [Wallace], Denzel [Johnson], Isaiah [Simmons], the guys I’m right beside in the film room and seeing them make plays, just so much joy comes through me and I just want to help them celebrate the best I can.”
On if he thought he would be the leading rusher for Clemson:
“I just kept [my] mind in it. [I] just [tried] to run hard. I give credit to my offensive line because they work they’re butt off every day in practice, and it showed out there on game day.”
On being in the same backfield as Travis Etienne:
“It’s a really good one-two punch. It really helps both of us out. It’s a real good thing.”
On getting meaningful carries:
“We’re all [held] to the same standard. No matter who goes out there, we all get held to the same standard. I just tried to keep my mind right and focus on what I had to do.”
On level of confidence:
“All fall camp, we practice against one another. We got a great offense, so that builds a lot of confidence, during fall camp and throughout the season, getting to practice against such a great offense. We just try to play one play at a time and try to win every play.”
On responding after the missed tackle:
“I missed that one tackle, but like I said, I just try to play each play one at a time and try to win every play. I lost that one, but you just [have] to put it behind you and keep playing hard.”
On secondary’s performance:
“We had to come in here, be focused, and do our job, and I think we did it pretty well tonight.”
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