Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Holds Weekly Football Press Conference Prior to Oklahoma Game
Oct 22, 2019 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman and players met with members of the media on Tuesday at the Vanier Family Football Complex as Wildcats prepare to host fifth-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. A complete transcript of Klieman's press conference (also streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and archived here) are posted below, in addition to select comments from players.
The Wildcats and Sooners kick off at 11 a.m., on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a game that will be televised by ABC. Only scattered singles and general admission tickets in Section 28 remain. Lower-level singles and GA tickets are available for $90 apiece, while upper-level singles are priced at $60. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can do so online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.
CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Good afternoon. I hope everybody is doing well. Obviously (it was) a good weekend being able to have a four-quarter battle and get a win. Obviously, it wasn't perfect. We're still working out a lot of issues, a lot of mistakes. The guys are still buying in, they're believing. The biggest thing was we were able to finish the game, which was obviously so big for us being so close in the fourth quarter. We were able to get a stop and force a punt. Even though we had to start on our five (yard line), we got a big drive, converted a 4th and 1, converted a 3rd and 9, then we were able to get a score. Then, even after giving up a couple of plays, the defense was able to make a couple of plays with some hits on the quarterback to be able to stop the drive. Obviously, (I'm) pleased with how we finished the game. As we talked to the players yesterday, we still have a ton of work to do to continue to get better. Obviously, it's a little bit better to do that when you come off of a win. So, (I'm) excited about the big challenge we have this weekend."
On Oklahoma's ability to plug-and-play quarterbacks over the last several years…
"It's really impressive when you look where Jalen Hurts is at this year because he wasn't in the system very long. Seeing what he's been able to do running that offense - and it's a phenomenal offense as it is - but he's running it at a really high level. Obviously, that's the biggest challenge is he can beat you in so many different ways."
On the status of Malik Knowles...
"We'll find out. Obviously, we just had a short practice yesterday. Today we'll see if he's medically cleared to have a normal day or normal week. That's the biggest thing - he didn't have a normal week of practice. If he had a normal week of practice, he would've been able to play more. I'll probably know more by the end of the day Wednesday."
On the offense opening up more with Malik Knowles on the field…
"You know, potentially it could have. He made a big play down the seam when we had a long third-down play. Everybody has to be able to find a way to continue to contribute, but we're hopeful to get a healthy Malik back."
On the status of running back Jordon Brown…
"I think they're going to do some testing on him on Wednesday afternoon. So, we'll learn more on Wednesday with Jordon."
On incorporating more quarterback run game…
"Yeah but you still need to be smart about how many carries. If you can keep that around eight to 12 or better. I don't want to get it to where he's running 15 to 18 times. Obviously, to help us out, we need him to be able to be a viable threat running the football. So, we'll continue to look at it on a week-to-week game plan."
On the run game against TCU…
"We were better with some of our inside run game than our perimeter run game. That's where we struggled still. We didn't have the negative plays, which was positive. We didn't have as many of those negative plays on the edge, but if we're going to run perimeter run, we have to block better on the perimeter, and that's everybody. That's tight ends, fullbacks, O-line, wide receivers. Some of the inside run, especially some of our zone stuff off of jet action, I thought was at least promising."
On the performance of Josh Rivas at left guard…
"We're trying to keep pushing Rivas. Obviously, he's our sixth in getting time. I still think Evan (Curl) is doing a really good job. I'd like to be able to keep both of those two guys in and maybe spell a tackle and move Tyler Mitchell outside to tackle just so we can spell more guys. That's something where the depth is where we're continuing to try to grow and get better there. We got Kaitori (Leveston) and Christian (Duffie) that are getting better, they're just not better than what Nick (Kaltmayer) and Scott (Frantz) are right now. We'll continue to try to give him (Rivas) opportunities because he is playing at a high level."
On having the top scoring defense in the Big 12...
"For starters, I give the players credit. They play really hard. That's a testament to those guys' work ethic, desire, resolve to play hard for 60 minutes. That's cool to see. All that being said, we're not playing where we need to be able to play, defensively, whether it's misfits, missing a tackle, having the ball in our hands or the potential to knock it away then the receiver coming up with it. That's the thing that we talked to the guys yesterday on defense. 'Yeah, we're doing some really good things - and let's make sure we emphasize those because we're holding people out of the end zone - but think of how much better we could be if we could eliminate half the missed tackles we've had.' We are kind of pounding it into them until they're blue in the face, but we have to continue to improve upon that. We'll do some different things this week with some tackle circuits and some things just to continue to emphasize it because we have to be better there."
On Oklahoma's defense…
"I don't know what it was in the past, but they just play really, really fast. They, I think, have simplified things just from talking to Coach (Collin) Klein and some of the guys that have been around. They're a lot simpler in what they're doing. They're playing really fast. They get off blocks. You're just not sustaining blocks on those guys, which is the sign of a great defense. I think they're a really good tackling team, which is another sign because in this game of college football right now, it's all about plays in space. It doesn't matter who they're playing. You see people get the ball in space against them, and there are no yards after contact. Well, that's the sign of an exceptional team that understands where they fit within the defense and that is really efficient about being able to tackle people."
On the decision on who to try to take away first from the Oklahoma offense...
"You pick your poison a little bit. I think we have to at least be able to slow down some of the run game, but which run game are you going to slow down? Are you going to slow down the quarterback run? Are you going to slow down the running backs, the jet action, all that stuff? I think it's our ability to show some different looks, show base, show some pressures, be able to tackle in space and try to eliminate some of the explosive run plays. In the passing game, if you do a great job trying to stop the run, then they're going to have time to throw the football. That's the next scary part. For us, it has to be trying to slow down the run game first."
On playing Jonathan Alexander more on defense and his blocked punt…
"We probably should've play him a little bit more on defense, just from Coach (Joe) Klanderman and I talking. Maybe we didn't realize how the game flow was going, or whatever you want to say. That was huge for him to make that play. The punt before, Jonathan kind of hesitated for just a second and the punter was able to get it off. We came and talked about it on the sideline and said, 'Jonathan, just come hard. You're going to be the clean guy.' He still came in and made the play. That was, obviously, a huge play for us. I'm pleased with Jonathan. We probably need to give him more snaps on defense, to be honest with you."
On if this serves as a David vs. Goliath game…
"We haven't talked about that. We probably won't mention it. I think you can flip on the film and the guys see how talented this team is that we're playing in all phases, offense, defense and (special) teams. I hope that lends us to believe that we've got to keep our focus every snap, make sure we do our job and detail our work every snap because they have potential to make a big play, whether it's a tackle for a loss, a sack or a big play on offense at any given time. So, every play is going to matter."
On the status of defensive back Jahron McPherson…
"He didn't practice yesterday. We're hopeful. It's a knee injury but not a significant knee injury. So, what's significant? There's no surgery involved, so I think it's going to be more of a day-to-day basis. I'm glad you brought him up because I thought Johnathan Durham played a really nice football game for a guy that is a senior that has been part of the game plan and been in the mix. Obviously, J-Mac has played more, but I thought JD stepped up in a critical time, and that's what we need is guys that are like, 'Hey, this is my opportunity. I'm going to go make some plays.' I was really pleased. It made us feel more comfortable as a defense. JD has to be in the mix more."
On what has impressed him from the team at the midway point of the season...
"How hard they play. Their resolve. The fact that they stay together. Our practices are really good, especially during the two-game losing streak and you throw in the open week. That they know it's a process, that they know that they're continuing to get better and better. We see it, even though it may not show up every Saturday, and I wish it would, just like you all wish it would show up every Saturday. I can still see us getting better. The two things that we still have to continue to work on is finding a way to be more consistent rushing the football and tackling on defense. Those are the two components that are going to be the end all for us as we move on through the season. I know we're getting better at running the football, we've shown some of that, but we have to keep finding out what's our niche. Are we going to be more of a gap-scheme team, zone-scheme team. Then, tackling is just the same thing, working on leveraging, working on fits and working on wrapping up."
On stopping TCU's fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter...
"We were fortunate there because we had some time. I can't remember if there was a timeout or not, but it wasn't a quick snap for them in a hurry-up situation. We were able to hold our look and then pressure off the edge with Wyatt (Hubert) to try to confuse the look. We showed a two-deep look and rolled to a single-high look, which you hope makes that quarterback hold the ball just for a split-second and say, 'Ok, I have to go to my next read.' When you have a guy like Wyatt that was able to dip, get the edge, beat the guy and have that extra split second to be able to get that hit on the quarterback. We were right there close. Had he got the ball off, it would have been a bang-bang play on the 4th and 11. But obviously, when he got hit on the QB, the ball came fluttering out. So just being able to make sure we hold that ball a little longer for the quarterback."
On Oklahoma's offense…
"I would say that defenses have improved across the landscape of college football, just watching what I watch in the Big 12. But what Oklahoma is doing is unbelievable. What they're doing against everybody and the success they're having, the efficiency with which they're playing with and the amount of explosive plays. When you turn on the explosive-play tape, it just goes and goes and goes because they have a tremendous scheme, guys that understand the scheme, and then the number one thing, is execution. They're executing it really, really well."
On outlining the opportunity to the team this weekend…
"I don't really believe in doing it that way. I learned a long time ago, be careful about overemphasizing one team than another because if you do that - 'Man, this is our Super Bowl. We have to get it done.' Then what do you do the next week? What do you do the following week? (It's) no different than if we were playing Nicholls State. That's the next game on the schedule. Let's attack this week. You guys can see the film. You can see what we're doing, but I'm always careful about saying, 'Boy, this is a must win,' or 'Look at what's on us today. This is everything.' So what do you do the next week? I just think you get into those 12 one-week seasons, and this is the next one on the docket."
On the running game of Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts…
"Thanks for reminding us. You're right. He's just so patient. He makes the game look so easy. We all know the game is not easy. That's the thing I marvel at. He's a winner. The kid's just a flat-out winner. He did it at the SEC level. He's doing it at the Big 12 level. He's going to do it at the next level on Sundays. (He's) just an unbelievable talent that seems like, in my opinion, a really humble guy that just loves to play the game."
SKYLAR THOMPSON, JUNIOR QUARTERBACK
On this opportunity this weekend against Oklahoma…
"It's a great opportunity for us. We know we are going to have the whole college football world watching us being on ABC. We are going to have a lot of eyes on us and it will be a good opportunity to show what we are capable of against a very good team. It has our whole team excited. We don't really have anything to lose going into this game, so that takes some weight off of our shoulders in a way, but also knowing that we are going to have to perform at a very high level. We are going to have to play really well in the little details of the game, really execute and do well in all phases of the game to have a chance to beat these guys. It's a tremendous opportunity for us that we are all excited for and looking forward to. We just have to focus on our process this week and practice the little details of everything. In a big game like this against a very good team, the little details of things is what is going to make a difference."
On Oklahoma's defense…
"You can just tell on film that they just play hard and fast. Not saying they didn't do that in the past, but you can just tell there's a swagger across the board on defense that they play with. You put that on top of that having great players that know their role on the team and play well together, and it makes them good. Up front, they have some seniors who have some experience and are really good. Their linebacker, Kenneth Murray, is the real deal as well. In their secondary, they have guys all across the board that are really talented and really good football players. So that, in general, just makes them really good."
JOSH YOUNGBLOOD, FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER
On the offensive plan against Oklahoma…
"I think we are going to stay within our game plan. We still are going to try to run the ball and have an efficient pass game. So whether that be an intermediate route or a deep ball, we just have to make a play when the ball is in the air."
On utilizing the long ball…
"I think we do a good job of game planning our deep balls. We put in a lot of plays where we had Wykeen (Gill) going deep and stuff like that. It's just great to have those plays because in a run heavy offense, you can take shots."
On the challenge of facing Oklahoma this week…
"We just see it as another challenge just to see where we are at as a team. They are a great team, but I think we are a great team too, and we are going to give them all we got."
ADAM HOLTORF, SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
On Skylar Thompson long run against TCU…
"We were sitting on the sideline and knowing the situation. This was the time we had to get something done on that drive. With Skylar's big run, they brought pressure, but we were able to pick it up and next thing you know, he found a hole and is untouched for 60 yards downfield. That was an exciting time in a spot we needed.
On the energy that play brought…
"That's a great jumpstart to a drive that we needed to have end in points. So to be able to start a drive off with something like that is energizing."
WYATT HUBERT, SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE END
On the scoring defense being ranked first in the Big 12…
"It's definitely a great feeling to be ranked number one, but we are not satisfied at all. There are so many things on the defense that we can work on, improve on and get better. It's ok to be sitting at 4-2, but there's a lot of things to improve on defense, like tackling is the main concern right now. Definitely something to work on and get better at."
On Oklahoma's offense…
"Oklahoma's offense is super complex and is pretty superior in the Big 12 and in the country. They have a lot of playmakers and weapons. It's always tough to play a team with a quarterback who can hurt you with his arm and his feet."
JAMES GILBERT, SENIOR RUNNING BACK
On the offense…
"Once we scored our first touchdown, it felt like we could do this, we could sustain drives and get some points. So, I feel like after the first touchdown, everyone came back like, 'We got this.'"
On the running game…
"On both teams it was a quarterback day since both quarterbacks were the leading rushers. That day was for the quarterbacks, so getting the quarterback involved in the run game will open up a lot of stuff. When it was time to go, Skylar (Thompson) delivered, and the receivers and tight ends caught the ball and made some plays."
The Wildcats and Sooners kick off at 11 a.m., on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a game that will be televised by ABC. Only scattered singles and general admission tickets in Section 28 remain. Lower-level singles and GA tickets are available for $90 apiece, while upper-level singles are priced at $60. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can do so online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.
CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Good afternoon. I hope everybody is doing well. Obviously (it was) a good weekend being able to have a four-quarter battle and get a win. Obviously, it wasn't perfect. We're still working out a lot of issues, a lot of mistakes. The guys are still buying in, they're believing. The biggest thing was we were able to finish the game, which was obviously so big for us being so close in the fourth quarter. We were able to get a stop and force a punt. Even though we had to start on our five (yard line), we got a big drive, converted a 4th and 1, converted a 3rd and 9, then we were able to get a score. Then, even after giving up a couple of plays, the defense was able to make a couple of plays with some hits on the quarterback to be able to stop the drive. Obviously, (I'm) pleased with how we finished the game. As we talked to the players yesterday, we still have a ton of work to do to continue to get better. Obviously, it's a little bit better to do that when you come off of a win. So, (I'm) excited about the big challenge we have this weekend."
On Oklahoma's ability to plug-and-play quarterbacks over the last several years…
"It's really impressive when you look where Jalen Hurts is at this year because he wasn't in the system very long. Seeing what he's been able to do running that offense - and it's a phenomenal offense as it is - but he's running it at a really high level. Obviously, that's the biggest challenge is he can beat you in so many different ways."
On the status of Malik Knowles...
"We'll find out. Obviously, we just had a short practice yesterday. Today we'll see if he's medically cleared to have a normal day or normal week. That's the biggest thing - he didn't have a normal week of practice. If he had a normal week of practice, he would've been able to play more. I'll probably know more by the end of the day Wednesday."
On the offense opening up more with Malik Knowles on the field…
"You know, potentially it could have. He made a big play down the seam when we had a long third-down play. Everybody has to be able to find a way to continue to contribute, but we're hopeful to get a healthy Malik back."
On the status of running back Jordon Brown…
"I think they're going to do some testing on him on Wednesday afternoon. So, we'll learn more on Wednesday with Jordon."
On incorporating more quarterback run game…
"Yeah but you still need to be smart about how many carries. If you can keep that around eight to 12 or better. I don't want to get it to where he's running 15 to 18 times. Obviously, to help us out, we need him to be able to be a viable threat running the football. So, we'll continue to look at it on a week-to-week game plan."
On the run game against TCU…
"We were better with some of our inside run game than our perimeter run game. That's where we struggled still. We didn't have the negative plays, which was positive. We didn't have as many of those negative plays on the edge, but if we're going to run perimeter run, we have to block better on the perimeter, and that's everybody. That's tight ends, fullbacks, O-line, wide receivers. Some of the inside run, especially some of our zone stuff off of jet action, I thought was at least promising."
On the performance of Josh Rivas at left guard…
"We're trying to keep pushing Rivas. Obviously, he's our sixth in getting time. I still think Evan (Curl) is doing a really good job. I'd like to be able to keep both of those two guys in and maybe spell a tackle and move Tyler Mitchell outside to tackle just so we can spell more guys. That's something where the depth is where we're continuing to try to grow and get better there. We got Kaitori (Leveston) and Christian (Duffie) that are getting better, they're just not better than what Nick (Kaltmayer) and Scott (Frantz) are right now. We'll continue to try to give him (Rivas) opportunities because he is playing at a high level."
On having the top scoring defense in the Big 12...
"For starters, I give the players credit. They play really hard. That's a testament to those guys' work ethic, desire, resolve to play hard for 60 minutes. That's cool to see. All that being said, we're not playing where we need to be able to play, defensively, whether it's misfits, missing a tackle, having the ball in our hands or the potential to knock it away then the receiver coming up with it. That's the thing that we talked to the guys yesterday on defense. 'Yeah, we're doing some really good things - and let's make sure we emphasize those because we're holding people out of the end zone - but think of how much better we could be if we could eliminate half the missed tackles we've had.' We are kind of pounding it into them until they're blue in the face, but we have to continue to improve upon that. We'll do some different things this week with some tackle circuits and some things just to continue to emphasize it because we have to be better there."
On Oklahoma's defense…
"I don't know what it was in the past, but they just play really, really fast. They, I think, have simplified things just from talking to Coach (Collin) Klein and some of the guys that have been around. They're a lot simpler in what they're doing. They're playing really fast. They get off blocks. You're just not sustaining blocks on those guys, which is the sign of a great defense. I think they're a really good tackling team, which is another sign because in this game of college football right now, it's all about plays in space. It doesn't matter who they're playing. You see people get the ball in space against them, and there are no yards after contact. Well, that's the sign of an exceptional team that understands where they fit within the defense and that is really efficient about being able to tackle people."
On the decision on who to try to take away first from the Oklahoma offense...
"You pick your poison a little bit. I think we have to at least be able to slow down some of the run game, but which run game are you going to slow down? Are you going to slow down the quarterback run? Are you going to slow down the running backs, the jet action, all that stuff? I think it's our ability to show some different looks, show base, show some pressures, be able to tackle in space and try to eliminate some of the explosive run plays. In the passing game, if you do a great job trying to stop the run, then they're going to have time to throw the football. That's the next scary part. For us, it has to be trying to slow down the run game first."
On playing Jonathan Alexander more on defense and his blocked punt…
"We probably should've play him a little bit more on defense, just from Coach (Joe) Klanderman and I talking. Maybe we didn't realize how the game flow was going, or whatever you want to say. That was huge for him to make that play. The punt before, Jonathan kind of hesitated for just a second and the punter was able to get it off. We came and talked about it on the sideline and said, 'Jonathan, just come hard. You're going to be the clean guy.' He still came in and made the play. That was, obviously, a huge play for us. I'm pleased with Jonathan. We probably need to give him more snaps on defense, to be honest with you."
On if this serves as a David vs. Goliath game…
"We haven't talked about that. We probably won't mention it. I think you can flip on the film and the guys see how talented this team is that we're playing in all phases, offense, defense and (special) teams. I hope that lends us to believe that we've got to keep our focus every snap, make sure we do our job and detail our work every snap because they have potential to make a big play, whether it's a tackle for a loss, a sack or a big play on offense at any given time. So, every play is going to matter."
On the status of defensive back Jahron McPherson…
"He didn't practice yesterday. We're hopeful. It's a knee injury but not a significant knee injury. So, what's significant? There's no surgery involved, so I think it's going to be more of a day-to-day basis. I'm glad you brought him up because I thought Johnathan Durham played a really nice football game for a guy that is a senior that has been part of the game plan and been in the mix. Obviously, J-Mac has played more, but I thought JD stepped up in a critical time, and that's what we need is guys that are like, 'Hey, this is my opportunity. I'm going to go make some plays.' I was really pleased. It made us feel more comfortable as a defense. JD has to be in the mix more."
On what has impressed him from the team at the midway point of the season...
"How hard they play. Their resolve. The fact that they stay together. Our practices are really good, especially during the two-game losing streak and you throw in the open week. That they know it's a process, that they know that they're continuing to get better and better. We see it, even though it may not show up every Saturday, and I wish it would, just like you all wish it would show up every Saturday. I can still see us getting better. The two things that we still have to continue to work on is finding a way to be more consistent rushing the football and tackling on defense. Those are the two components that are going to be the end all for us as we move on through the season. I know we're getting better at running the football, we've shown some of that, but we have to keep finding out what's our niche. Are we going to be more of a gap-scheme team, zone-scheme team. Then, tackling is just the same thing, working on leveraging, working on fits and working on wrapping up."
On stopping TCU's fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter...
"We were fortunate there because we had some time. I can't remember if there was a timeout or not, but it wasn't a quick snap for them in a hurry-up situation. We were able to hold our look and then pressure off the edge with Wyatt (Hubert) to try to confuse the look. We showed a two-deep look and rolled to a single-high look, which you hope makes that quarterback hold the ball just for a split-second and say, 'Ok, I have to go to my next read.' When you have a guy like Wyatt that was able to dip, get the edge, beat the guy and have that extra split second to be able to get that hit on the quarterback. We were right there close. Had he got the ball off, it would have been a bang-bang play on the 4th and 11. But obviously, when he got hit on the QB, the ball came fluttering out. So just being able to make sure we hold that ball a little longer for the quarterback."
On Oklahoma's offense…
"I would say that defenses have improved across the landscape of college football, just watching what I watch in the Big 12. But what Oklahoma is doing is unbelievable. What they're doing against everybody and the success they're having, the efficiency with which they're playing with and the amount of explosive plays. When you turn on the explosive-play tape, it just goes and goes and goes because they have a tremendous scheme, guys that understand the scheme, and then the number one thing, is execution. They're executing it really, really well."
On outlining the opportunity to the team this weekend…
"I don't really believe in doing it that way. I learned a long time ago, be careful about overemphasizing one team than another because if you do that - 'Man, this is our Super Bowl. We have to get it done.' Then what do you do the next week? What do you do the following week? (It's) no different than if we were playing Nicholls State. That's the next game on the schedule. Let's attack this week. You guys can see the film. You can see what we're doing, but I'm always careful about saying, 'Boy, this is a must win,' or 'Look at what's on us today. This is everything.' So what do you do the next week? I just think you get into those 12 one-week seasons, and this is the next one on the docket."
On the running game of Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts…
"Thanks for reminding us. You're right. He's just so patient. He makes the game look so easy. We all know the game is not easy. That's the thing I marvel at. He's a winner. The kid's just a flat-out winner. He did it at the SEC level. He's doing it at the Big 12 level. He's going to do it at the next level on Sundays. (He's) just an unbelievable talent that seems like, in my opinion, a really humble guy that just loves to play the game."
SKYLAR THOMPSON, JUNIOR QUARTERBACK
On this opportunity this weekend against Oklahoma…
"It's a great opportunity for us. We know we are going to have the whole college football world watching us being on ABC. We are going to have a lot of eyes on us and it will be a good opportunity to show what we are capable of against a very good team. It has our whole team excited. We don't really have anything to lose going into this game, so that takes some weight off of our shoulders in a way, but also knowing that we are going to have to perform at a very high level. We are going to have to play really well in the little details of the game, really execute and do well in all phases of the game to have a chance to beat these guys. It's a tremendous opportunity for us that we are all excited for and looking forward to. We just have to focus on our process this week and practice the little details of everything. In a big game like this against a very good team, the little details of things is what is going to make a difference."
On Oklahoma's defense…
"You can just tell on film that they just play hard and fast. Not saying they didn't do that in the past, but you can just tell there's a swagger across the board on defense that they play with. You put that on top of that having great players that know their role on the team and play well together, and it makes them good. Up front, they have some seniors who have some experience and are really good. Their linebacker, Kenneth Murray, is the real deal as well. In their secondary, they have guys all across the board that are really talented and really good football players. So that, in general, just makes them really good."
JOSH YOUNGBLOOD, FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER
On the offensive plan against Oklahoma…
"I think we are going to stay within our game plan. We still are going to try to run the ball and have an efficient pass game. So whether that be an intermediate route or a deep ball, we just have to make a play when the ball is in the air."
On utilizing the long ball…
"I think we do a good job of game planning our deep balls. We put in a lot of plays where we had Wykeen (Gill) going deep and stuff like that. It's just great to have those plays because in a run heavy offense, you can take shots."
On the challenge of facing Oklahoma this week…
"We just see it as another challenge just to see where we are at as a team. They are a great team, but I think we are a great team too, and we are going to give them all we got."
ADAM HOLTORF, SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
On Skylar Thompson long run against TCU…
"We were sitting on the sideline and knowing the situation. This was the time we had to get something done on that drive. With Skylar's big run, they brought pressure, but we were able to pick it up and next thing you know, he found a hole and is untouched for 60 yards downfield. That was an exciting time in a spot we needed.
On the energy that play brought…
"That's a great jumpstart to a drive that we needed to have end in points. So to be able to start a drive off with something like that is energizing."
WYATT HUBERT, SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE END
On the scoring defense being ranked first in the Big 12…
"It's definitely a great feeling to be ranked number one, but we are not satisfied at all. There are so many things on the defense that we can work on, improve on and get better. It's ok to be sitting at 4-2, but there's a lot of things to improve on defense, like tackling is the main concern right now. Definitely something to work on and get better at."
On Oklahoma's offense…
"Oklahoma's offense is super complex and is pretty superior in the Big 12 and in the country. They have a lot of playmakers and weapons. It's always tough to play a team with a quarterback who can hurt you with his arm and his feet."
JAMES GILBERT, SENIOR RUNNING BACK
On the offense…
"Once we scored our first touchdown, it felt like we could do this, we could sustain drives and get some points. So, I feel like after the first touchdown, everyone came back like, 'We got this.'"
On the running game…
"On both teams it was a quarterback day since both quarterbacks were the leading rushers. That day was for the quarterbacks, so getting the quarterback involved in the run game will open up a lot of stuff. When it was time to go, Skylar (Thompson) delivered, and the receivers and tight ends caught the ball and made some plays."
Players Mentioned
DB
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RB
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DB
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WR
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DB
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OL
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OL
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QB
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