Players Media Session
April 16, 2019 04:24 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt junior quarterbacks Jack Allison and Austin Kendall of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, April 16, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Jack Allison
On adapting to a new offense
It's going really well, honestly. I really like the flow of how Coach (Neal) Brown calls the games, and the different types of (offense), it's very similar to last year's (offense). It really is, and I think it's just called different. The terminology is different. The team's really picking it up well. I think it's going to be really effective in the fall, so we're all excited.
On why he chose to transfer to West Virginia
I committed to the University of Miami when I was a sophomore in high school, and that was a little early. Looking back, it's what I wanted to do, I loved the University. I loved the coaching staff that was there at the time – Al Golden and James Coley, that staff. When I got there, I think it was within a month span of the time then when I enrolled, that's when they got fired. They brought Coach (Mark) Richt in, and I love Coach Richt. He's a great human being, a great coach. It just wasn't the right fit for me, and I saw Morgantown as a great college town, a place that I wanted to be a part of. They always had success. I loved the air-raid offense and the Big 12, so it just seemed like the perfect fit for me.
On the quarterback competition
I'm an athlete. I'm here to compete, and that's all I want to do. I think it brings the best out of everybody to compete, so it's been a great room, all great guys. It's been really enjoyable to be in there every day, go to practice, and I've been having a good time.
On his takeaways from starting the bowl game
I took away a lot. That was such a huge learning experience for me. I'm so grateful for that opportunity, just learning what it's like to really be out there in the first quarter. I got in a few times during the season, but it was more towards the end of the game where the game was dead. Just to get in there and see live bullets from the first to the fourth quarter, it was such a great experience for me, and I'm so grateful for it.
On what he focused on during the coaching change and throughout the offseason
I think just focusing on the team, just focusing on ourselves. I can't control those things. All I can control is how hard I work and how hard I work every day when I come in here. So, that's all I really did, and just let God take care of all the rest.
On his first conversation with Neal Brown
The first conversation I had with Coach Brown, we really didn't talk much about football. It was just me and him meeting each other, like two friends would meet for the first time. Just talking where I'm from, where he's from, just things like that. Then, as our relationship grew, we started talking more about football, and I think Coach Brown, he has a great football mind. I love his coaching style of how involved he is with everybody.
On what Neal Brown says he needs to work on
There's a few. I do need to get a whole lot better at just being a better quarterback, overall, better decision making. Obviously, I need to gain weight and just need to keep working hard and proving those things.
On adjusting to Neal Brown's run game
Well, the run game's a huge part of football. That's no adjustment. It's just a part of football.
On if he is comfortable with executing the run game
Yes sir.
On winning his teammates over
I think that I have a lot of good friends on this team. I think I've built relationships with a lot of these guys, and you could ask them about me. I'm just here to be the best quarterback I can be and the best quarterback for this team.
On going turkey hunting with redshirt junior quarterback Austin Kendall and redshirt junior offensive lineman Josh Sills
No, I won't be a part of that. I've never been hunting before.
On if he's ever gone fishing
I do a little fishing down in Florida. Maybe in my pond, I'll catch a little bass, nothing too crazy.
On the quarterback run game
That's just a part of football. You have to make the read, you have to make the right play. I can get as many yards my team needs me to get.
On if summer workouts can help players develop
Yeah, you can. It's going be a big summer for me and the team. Individually, I'm just going to be working as hard as I can to get bigger, get faster and just really hone in this offense to a master level. With the team, just growing as a team and growing our relationships every day.
On how he can get bigger
Eating and lifting, probably.
On learning from Will Grier
Sitting behind Will was a blessing for me. How he carried himself every day, the work ethic he brought in, and the plays he would make on Saturday were incredible to watch. Really, I took a lot away from him just in his character, more than anything.
On what he wanted to accomplish during the spring game
Just to show what I could do. I didn't really have any set stats or anything like that. I really wanted to win more than anything, and we fell short on that. But I thought I did all I could do.
On the importance of learning from a Heisman Trophy candidate like Will Grier
I think, when it comes to being a quarterback and sitting behind a guy that plays at that level, it's very important. And again, it's just an opportunity I'd be grateful for to sit back, because when you get to college, being a freshman quarterback, usually you don't start as a true freshman. So, I've been blessed to sit behind Brad Kaaya at the University of Miami and now Will Grier. Seeing how they carried themselves on and off the field and seeing how they conducted sessions just like this, I think I took away a lot.
On if he sat in on meetings with Will Grier and Jake Spavital
Yeah, I was in all the meetings. (With) Jake as well, just hearing about how they would talk ball, I picked up so much. It's just different looking at different things on the defense or thinking of football, thinking of it in a different way. I really learned a lot.
On his mentality entering this spring
I think I handled myself the same as the first day I got onto campus, just working as hard as I can every day. I came here to start, I came here to win games. This is what I want to do, this what I'm here to do.
On what it was like to see snow for the first time
It was different. I cannot lie to you. It was cold, but you get used to it. You definitely get used to it. I definitely miss the sun, but I love Morgantown. I really do. I've learned to love it.
On his connection to West Virginia and why he chose to come to Morgantown
It's kind of funny, I ran West Virginia's offense in the bowl game, and I was just starting that week without knowing if I was going to transfer or not. I loved that offense, and then, it was just a blessing. I was sitting in one of my classes at the University of Miami, and Jake Spavital hit me up. I was like, 'Well, look at that.' The relationship grew, and I just fell in love with Morgantown.
On Neal Brown's energy
He does try to bring a lot of energy. I think that the guys are getting more comfortable around the stadium, getting more comfortable just growing together as a team. Coach Brown is big on just building relationships with coaches and with players. So, that's something that he's really pushing. It's something that, I think, is changing the culture of the program for the good.
On if Dana Holgorsen ever wore a headset during practice like Coach Neal Brown
No, Dana got his point across in different ways, but the headset certainly does help.
On what technical things he wants to improve on during the summer
I could sit here and name everything that I want to get better at, because I think I just have such a long way to go. But I think weight is just the biggest thing for me.
On the difference in the new coaching staff's mentality
Just the relationships he's trying to build with us – to strengthen the relationships.
On his current and target weight
It's somewhere downstairs. (Assistant Athletics Director/Head Coach for Football Strength and Conditioning) Mike Joseph knows that.
On improving his pocket presence
There're certain ways you can simulate it, and we're going to. The new thing that I really like about this new staff is they do this thing called QB School. So, in the offseason, we'll be with Tyler Allen, the quarterback (graduate assistant), and we'll go through all sorts of different drills. He'll give us all sorts of different things to look at, different things to study, and stuff like that. So, we'll have a way to simulate those things, which I'm looking forward to.
On what he's been taught about standing in the pocket
Stepping up into the pocket. Instead of moving the pocket right or left, just move into it.
On redshirt junior quarterback Austin Kendall
Me and Austin, it's certainly different situation. He's been at Oklahoma for as many years as he was, and I was at the University of Miami and ended up transferring. I have a lot of respect for the guy. He's a great competitor, great quarterback. He's a great dude, too, just talking to him.
On if he was aware of the history of transfer quarterbacks at WVU
I knew a lot of transfers did come into this school. So, it's a good spot.
On his senior year of high school
I mean, if you were there to watch it, I think you'd understand a lot more. I come from Palmetto, Florida, little Palmetto High School. I did all I could that year. I played my hardest. I don't know what to tell you about my senior high school. I think my reputation goes more than just stats. I think it's my character and my will to win, my leadership ability, and things like that. Yeah, I might have thrown 14 touchdowns. But I don't even know. I don't know stats.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Austin Kendall
On transitioning to West Virginia
It's a lot different now, obviously three years in Oklahoma, the way they practice, the way they do things is a lot different. Coach (Neal) Brown has his own way of doing it, too. But I've kind of settled in and a bunch of the guys, as soon as I got here, helped me settle in as well. It has just helped me just progress throughout the whole spring, and I think I progressed pretty well.
On the boot on his foot
Yeah, I've got a little plantar fasciitis going on in my foot, so I'm trying to give it some rest right now. I've had it before, it's just little nagging injury that I'm trying to get healthy right now.
On if his foot bothered him at the spring game
No, I just kind of felt it and was like, 'Alright, I need to get in a boot after this.' They're like, 'Yeah, we'll have you rest up now.'
On what made him decide to transfer to West Virginia
The biggest thing for me was my relationship with Coach (Neal) Brown. It was a short period when I had to realize I needed to get out of Oklahoma through talking to my dad, my family. Coach Brown had just gotten the job at West Virginia, so it was easy to go right to Coach Brown and go, 'Alright, I know you personally, and I know you from my brother playing for you at Kentucky.' So, it was an easy process of knowing the guys that I trust. I visited Auburn, and I knew Coach (Gus) Malzahn and the rest of their staff pretty well. But it was a pretty transition because I knew him so well through personal experiences.
On getting into school quickly
Yeah, it was a quick process, a quick turnaround. I was planning on going back to OU and getting ready to prepare for another battling job. I'm kind of doing what I want to do this time. I graduated, did everything right by the program at Oklahoma, and it was the final decision of let me do something right for myself now.
On similarities between Neal Brown and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley
They are big family people, and they love to coach their players. Coach Brown and Coach Riley are both up early in the meeting room getting things done. You love to see that out of a coach, too.
On how different WVU's offensive schemes are to Oklahoma's offense
The scheme is different but it's all the same terminology. They were both at Texas Tech, so they both have some of the same concepts. But they do stuff a little bit differently. Like I said, it's been an easy process just transitioning to, not an air-raid offense, but an offense where you pass the ball and you run the ball a good bit. It's been a pretty easy transition.
On his initial reception in the locker room
I just act like myself. I'm sure you can ask guys at Oklahoma and they'd be like, 'He's just a normal dude.' That's how I came here. When I first met some people, I went in there, shook their hand, looked them in the eyes and said I'm here to compete with you guys. You guys are my brothers now just like the guys at Oklahoma. I'll always treasure friendships at Oklahoma like I will here.
On if he knew WVU has never defeated Oklahoma in Big 12 play
Yeah. When I was talking to (redshirt senior offensive lineman) Colton (McKivitz), he was like, 'I hope we can do it this year.' I'm like, 'Yeah, me too.' I feel for Colton, too, he puts everything into it. To not beat Oklahoma, one of the top programs in the country, I'm sure it kills him inside.
On the difference in attitudes at WVU compared to Oklahoma
It's expected to win everywhere, and I guess it's mindset, too. You have to have the mindset to win all the time.
On what he thought of WVU while he played at Oklahoma
It was awesome. I was telling a lot of people this: our first game here, it was like running out in a blizzard. I was telling one of the reporters that it was like what you make the settings in NCAA Football. It's was funny running out there. But it was a cool experience, and the atmosphere here is awesome, and I'm excited to play here. I'm just ready to get started.
On his thoughts on last season's WVU-Oklahoma game
Oklahoma came in and beat West Virginia by a good bit the first year. But this past year, it was a hell of a game. Watching Will (Grier) and Kyler (Murray) battle it out, offense, defense, it was a really good game. Turnovers were probably the biggest thing for that game, but it was awesome to watch.
On sitting behind Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma
It's good and bad. You're seeing two Heisman Trophy winners go out there every day and see what they do and their mentality with things. But it's also bad that I didn't get to play a whole lot. That's probably the biggest reason why I'm here right now. I don't have a lot of playing time, but I'm here to prove people wrong. I'm excited to get my chance, and I'm ready to go.
On if he's aware of WVU's past success with transfer quarterbacks
Yeah, but everything is different. We have a whole new staff here with Coach (Neal) Brown, so it'll all be completely different. Who knows where it's going to go? I think it's going to go up from here, which Coach Brown has done at Kentucky and Troy and other places. I think he's going to be successful.
On who surprised him during the spring game
No one really surprised me, I knew what I have outside receiver-wise. But I think the running backs are doing really well. They kind of mold our team right now because they can catch and run the ball. So, I guess the running backs.
On why he's working on two master's degrees
They were like, 'You have two years, so why not do something?' I was like, 'Well, getting two master's isn't something that will hurt you.' It'll help me in the long run.
On what programs he's enrolled in
Sport management and coaching in sports.
On if tried to take any qualities from Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray
You have to be your own guy, and they were both completely different people. On the field, Kyler is probably a little bit faster than Baker, but they both have the arm strength to make plays. They both have their different kinds of leadership. Baker was the big hoorah guy; he took the team to a College Football Playoff. But so did Kyler. He was a little bit quieter, but he had his own way of doing it. His way of doing it was more on-the-field play. We had meetings on Friday nights before the games, and he'd be like, 'You know what I'm about, you know what I'm going to do.' Those guys kind of followed him in a different way.
On what makes redshirt junior receiver T.J. Simmons stand out
I feel like he wants to just make plays all the time. Him and (redshirt freshman receiver) Sam James right now. Every time they are on the field, they're working. They have ups and downs, but when they have their downs, they're like 'Alright, we need to work on this.' It's the same with me. Let's say I miss a throw, I'm going to go talk to them about how they are coming out of their breaks, how they are making their routes and how many yards they are taking it. We've talked about going into the summer here just with individual play as in different routes they run and wanting to be on the same page all the time. That's definitely been some of the ups and downs throughout the spring – we haven't had a whole lot of chances to work with each other. Through the summer and fall camp, we'll get it down.
On his comfort level with Neal Brown
It's really comfortable. I talked to him on the phone when I was in the portal process. He did everything he could do to get me here. That really meant a lot, and it meant that he really cared about me and me getting to play for him. Since I've been here, he's been really hard on me, and I expect that. I loved being coached. Whenever I make a good play, he doesn't really say much. Whenever I make a bad play, he's really hard on me, and that's what you want to see.
On what he needs to work on mechanically
There are a bunch of drops and stuff when we're throwing quick screens or doing tunnel screens. He wants everything to be perfect. (Assistant coach – quarterbacks) (Sean) Reagan is on us all the time. We do a lot of individual work throughout practices. If we don't do it right, they're yelling at us or saying this will be a make-or-break play if you throw the ball behind somebody or make a play where it takes us 60 yards instead of 10 yards, because they have to wait for the ball. It's just the little things that they're really keyed on. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really used to that at Oklahoma. We kind of did what we wanted, but, here, they are really keyed on individual workouts through different footwork and stuff. I think it's going to pay off.
On working with the other quarterbacks
It's good. Going out there every day and just trying to compete, that's my biggest thing. Throughout these last competitions that I've had at Oklahoma, my kind of thing is that I just go in every day just looking to compete. Getting there early, going through film with (assistant coach – quarterbacks) Coach (Sean) Reagan through this process has been good. I'm just trying to get on the same page as him and (head coach) Neal (Brown). I come in and sit with Neal before practice. Even when I have a really good day or a bad day, I still go see him. Through the bad days, you want to see him more. That just helps you be more prepared for when you get on the field.
On what he has to do to win the job in the fall
I feel like I need to make more plays and lead the offense down the field and score each drive. In the Big 12, you have to put points on the board. I'm not saying we struggle, but there have been some ups and downs just through putting a new offense in and being on the same page with the receivers, route running, offensive line blocking, quarterbacks making throws, making the right reads, making the right protection calls. We just really have to come together this fall, and I think we'll be pretty good from there.
On organizing summer workouts
We definitely want to throw probably three days a week. Once we get back here and start doing summer workouts – I think May 27 is our first day – we'll have, not mandatory, but we'll set it up as Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we're all going to throw, we're going to run these routes, and we're going to really perfect and try to get back on the same page from where we left off this spring and keep progressing from there.
On his hobbies away from football
I didn't really grow up a big hunter, but I've been trying to do that. So, (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Josh Sills invited me to go turkey hunting this weekend. I'm excited to do different stuff, but whenever I go home over break, I'll workout with one of my quarterback trainers, Anthony Boone. I'll lift and workout when I go home. It's just, I guess, a business mindset from here. I only have two years left.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Jack Allison
On adapting to a new offense
It's going really well, honestly. I really like the flow of how Coach (Neal) Brown calls the games, and the different types of (offense), it's very similar to last year's (offense). It really is, and I think it's just called different. The terminology is different. The team's really picking it up well. I think it's going to be really effective in the fall, so we're all excited.
On why he chose to transfer to West Virginia
I committed to the University of Miami when I was a sophomore in high school, and that was a little early. Looking back, it's what I wanted to do, I loved the University. I loved the coaching staff that was there at the time – Al Golden and James Coley, that staff. When I got there, I think it was within a month span of the time then when I enrolled, that's when they got fired. They brought Coach (Mark) Richt in, and I love Coach Richt. He's a great human being, a great coach. It just wasn't the right fit for me, and I saw Morgantown as a great college town, a place that I wanted to be a part of. They always had success. I loved the air-raid offense and the Big 12, so it just seemed like the perfect fit for me.
On the quarterback competition
I'm an athlete. I'm here to compete, and that's all I want to do. I think it brings the best out of everybody to compete, so it's been a great room, all great guys. It's been really enjoyable to be in there every day, go to practice, and I've been having a good time.
On his takeaways from starting the bowl game
I took away a lot. That was such a huge learning experience for me. I'm so grateful for that opportunity, just learning what it's like to really be out there in the first quarter. I got in a few times during the season, but it was more towards the end of the game where the game was dead. Just to get in there and see live bullets from the first to the fourth quarter, it was such a great experience for me, and I'm so grateful for it.
On what he focused on during the coaching change and throughout the offseason
I think just focusing on the team, just focusing on ourselves. I can't control those things. All I can control is how hard I work and how hard I work every day when I come in here. So, that's all I really did, and just let God take care of all the rest.
On his first conversation with Neal Brown
The first conversation I had with Coach Brown, we really didn't talk much about football. It was just me and him meeting each other, like two friends would meet for the first time. Just talking where I'm from, where he's from, just things like that. Then, as our relationship grew, we started talking more about football, and I think Coach Brown, he has a great football mind. I love his coaching style of how involved he is with everybody.
On what Neal Brown says he needs to work on
There's a few. I do need to get a whole lot better at just being a better quarterback, overall, better decision making. Obviously, I need to gain weight and just need to keep working hard and proving those things.
On adjusting to Neal Brown's run game
Well, the run game's a huge part of football. That's no adjustment. It's just a part of football.
On if he is comfortable with executing the run game
Yes sir.
On winning his teammates over
I think that I have a lot of good friends on this team. I think I've built relationships with a lot of these guys, and you could ask them about me. I'm just here to be the best quarterback I can be and the best quarterback for this team.
On going turkey hunting with redshirt junior quarterback Austin Kendall and redshirt junior offensive lineman Josh Sills
No, I won't be a part of that. I've never been hunting before.
On if he's ever gone fishing
I do a little fishing down in Florida. Maybe in my pond, I'll catch a little bass, nothing too crazy.
On the quarterback run game
That's just a part of football. You have to make the read, you have to make the right play. I can get as many yards my team needs me to get.
On if summer workouts can help players develop
Yeah, you can. It's going be a big summer for me and the team. Individually, I'm just going to be working as hard as I can to get bigger, get faster and just really hone in this offense to a master level. With the team, just growing as a team and growing our relationships every day.
On how he can get bigger
Eating and lifting, probably.
On learning from Will Grier
Sitting behind Will was a blessing for me. How he carried himself every day, the work ethic he brought in, and the plays he would make on Saturday were incredible to watch. Really, I took a lot away from him just in his character, more than anything.
On what he wanted to accomplish during the spring game
Just to show what I could do. I didn't really have any set stats or anything like that. I really wanted to win more than anything, and we fell short on that. But I thought I did all I could do.
On the importance of learning from a Heisman Trophy candidate like Will Grier
I think, when it comes to being a quarterback and sitting behind a guy that plays at that level, it's very important. And again, it's just an opportunity I'd be grateful for to sit back, because when you get to college, being a freshman quarterback, usually you don't start as a true freshman. So, I've been blessed to sit behind Brad Kaaya at the University of Miami and now Will Grier. Seeing how they carried themselves on and off the field and seeing how they conducted sessions just like this, I think I took away a lot.
On if he sat in on meetings with Will Grier and Jake Spavital
Yeah, I was in all the meetings. (With) Jake as well, just hearing about how they would talk ball, I picked up so much. It's just different looking at different things on the defense or thinking of football, thinking of it in a different way. I really learned a lot.
On his mentality entering this spring
I think I handled myself the same as the first day I got onto campus, just working as hard as I can every day. I came here to start, I came here to win games. This is what I want to do, this what I'm here to do.
On what it was like to see snow for the first time
It was different. I cannot lie to you. It was cold, but you get used to it. You definitely get used to it. I definitely miss the sun, but I love Morgantown. I really do. I've learned to love it.
On his connection to West Virginia and why he chose to come to Morgantown
It's kind of funny, I ran West Virginia's offense in the bowl game, and I was just starting that week without knowing if I was going to transfer or not. I loved that offense, and then, it was just a blessing. I was sitting in one of my classes at the University of Miami, and Jake Spavital hit me up. I was like, 'Well, look at that.' The relationship grew, and I just fell in love with Morgantown.
On Neal Brown's energy
He does try to bring a lot of energy. I think that the guys are getting more comfortable around the stadium, getting more comfortable just growing together as a team. Coach Brown is big on just building relationships with coaches and with players. So, that's something that he's really pushing. It's something that, I think, is changing the culture of the program for the good.
On if Dana Holgorsen ever wore a headset during practice like Coach Neal Brown
No, Dana got his point across in different ways, but the headset certainly does help.
On what technical things he wants to improve on during the summer
I could sit here and name everything that I want to get better at, because I think I just have such a long way to go. But I think weight is just the biggest thing for me.
On the difference in the new coaching staff's mentality
Just the relationships he's trying to build with us – to strengthen the relationships.
On his current and target weight
It's somewhere downstairs. (Assistant Athletics Director/Head Coach for Football Strength and Conditioning) Mike Joseph knows that.
On improving his pocket presence
There're certain ways you can simulate it, and we're going to. The new thing that I really like about this new staff is they do this thing called QB School. So, in the offseason, we'll be with Tyler Allen, the quarterback (graduate assistant), and we'll go through all sorts of different drills. He'll give us all sorts of different things to look at, different things to study, and stuff like that. So, we'll have a way to simulate those things, which I'm looking forward to.
On what he's been taught about standing in the pocket
Stepping up into the pocket. Instead of moving the pocket right or left, just move into it.
On redshirt junior quarterback Austin Kendall
Me and Austin, it's certainly different situation. He's been at Oklahoma for as many years as he was, and I was at the University of Miami and ended up transferring. I have a lot of respect for the guy. He's a great competitor, great quarterback. He's a great dude, too, just talking to him.
On if he was aware of the history of transfer quarterbacks at WVU
I knew a lot of transfers did come into this school. So, it's a good spot.
On his senior year of high school
I mean, if you were there to watch it, I think you'd understand a lot more. I come from Palmetto, Florida, little Palmetto High School. I did all I could that year. I played my hardest. I don't know what to tell you about my senior high school. I think my reputation goes more than just stats. I think it's my character and my will to win, my leadership ability, and things like that. Yeah, I might have thrown 14 touchdowns. But I don't even know. I don't know stats.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Austin Kendall
On transitioning to West Virginia
It's a lot different now, obviously three years in Oklahoma, the way they practice, the way they do things is a lot different. Coach (Neal) Brown has his own way of doing it, too. But I've kind of settled in and a bunch of the guys, as soon as I got here, helped me settle in as well. It has just helped me just progress throughout the whole spring, and I think I progressed pretty well.
On the boot on his foot
Yeah, I've got a little plantar fasciitis going on in my foot, so I'm trying to give it some rest right now. I've had it before, it's just little nagging injury that I'm trying to get healthy right now.
On if his foot bothered him at the spring game
No, I just kind of felt it and was like, 'Alright, I need to get in a boot after this.' They're like, 'Yeah, we'll have you rest up now.'
On what made him decide to transfer to West Virginia
The biggest thing for me was my relationship with Coach (Neal) Brown. It was a short period when I had to realize I needed to get out of Oklahoma through talking to my dad, my family. Coach Brown had just gotten the job at West Virginia, so it was easy to go right to Coach Brown and go, 'Alright, I know you personally, and I know you from my brother playing for you at Kentucky.' So, it was an easy process of knowing the guys that I trust. I visited Auburn, and I knew Coach (Gus) Malzahn and the rest of their staff pretty well. But it was a pretty transition because I knew him so well through personal experiences.
On getting into school quickly
Yeah, it was a quick process, a quick turnaround. I was planning on going back to OU and getting ready to prepare for another battling job. I'm kind of doing what I want to do this time. I graduated, did everything right by the program at Oklahoma, and it was the final decision of let me do something right for myself now.
On similarities between Neal Brown and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley
They are big family people, and they love to coach their players. Coach Brown and Coach Riley are both up early in the meeting room getting things done. You love to see that out of a coach, too.
On how different WVU's offensive schemes are to Oklahoma's offense
The scheme is different but it's all the same terminology. They were both at Texas Tech, so they both have some of the same concepts. But they do stuff a little bit differently. Like I said, it's been an easy process just transitioning to, not an air-raid offense, but an offense where you pass the ball and you run the ball a good bit. It's been a pretty easy transition.
On his initial reception in the locker room
I just act like myself. I'm sure you can ask guys at Oklahoma and they'd be like, 'He's just a normal dude.' That's how I came here. When I first met some people, I went in there, shook their hand, looked them in the eyes and said I'm here to compete with you guys. You guys are my brothers now just like the guys at Oklahoma. I'll always treasure friendships at Oklahoma like I will here.
On if he knew WVU has never defeated Oklahoma in Big 12 play
Yeah. When I was talking to (redshirt senior offensive lineman) Colton (McKivitz), he was like, 'I hope we can do it this year.' I'm like, 'Yeah, me too.' I feel for Colton, too, he puts everything into it. To not beat Oklahoma, one of the top programs in the country, I'm sure it kills him inside.
On the difference in attitudes at WVU compared to Oklahoma
It's expected to win everywhere, and I guess it's mindset, too. You have to have the mindset to win all the time.
On what he thought of WVU while he played at Oklahoma
It was awesome. I was telling a lot of people this: our first game here, it was like running out in a blizzard. I was telling one of the reporters that it was like what you make the settings in NCAA Football. It's was funny running out there. But it was a cool experience, and the atmosphere here is awesome, and I'm excited to play here. I'm just ready to get started.
On his thoughts on last season's WVU-Oklahoma game
Oklahoma came in and beat West Virginia by a good bit the first year. But this past year, it was a hell of a game. Watching Will (Grier) and Kyler (Murray) battle it out, offense, defense, it was a really good game. Turnovers were probably the biggest thing for that game, but it was awesome to watch.
On sitting behind Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma
It's good and bad. You're seeing two Heisman Trophy winners go out there every day and see what they do and their mentality with things. But it's also bad that I didn't get to play a whole lot. That's probably the biggest reason why I'm here right now. I don't have a lot of playing time, but I'm here to prove people wrong. I'm excited to get my chance, and I'm ready to go.
On if he's aware of WVU's past success with transfer quarterbacks
Yeah, but everything is different. We have a whole new staff here with Coach (Neal) Brown, so it'll all be completely different. Who knows where it's going to go? I think it's going to go up from here, which Coach Brown has done at Kentucky and Troy and other places. I think he's going to be successful.
On who surprised him during the spring game
No one really surprised me, I knew what I have outside receiver-wise. But I think the running backs are doing really well. They kind of mold our team right now because they can catch and run the ball. So, I guess the running backs.
On why he's working on two master's degrees
They were like, 'You have two years, so why not do something?' I was like, 'Well, getting two master's isn't something that will hurt you.' It'll help me in the long run.
On what programs he's enrolled in
Sport management and coaching in sports.
On if tried to take any qualities from Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray
You have to be your own guy, and they were both completely different people. On the field, Kyler is probably a little bit faster than Baker, but they both have the arm strength to make plays. They both have their different kinds of leadership. Baker was the big hoorah guy; he took the team to a College Football Playoff. But so did Kyler. He was a little bit quieter, but he had his own way of doing it. His way of doing it was more on-the-field play. We had meetings on Friday nights before the games, and he'd be like, 'You know what I'm about, you know what I'm going to do.' Those guys kind of followed him in a different way.
On what makes redshirt junior receiver T.J. Simmons stand out
I feel like he wants to just make plays all the time. Him and (redshirt freshman receiver) Sam James right now. Every time they are on the field, they're working. They have ups and downs, but when they have their downs, they're like 'Alright, we need to work on this.' It's the same with me. Let's say I miss a throw, I'm going to go talk to them about how they are coming out of their breaks, how they are making their routes and how many yards they are taking it. We've talked about going into the summer here just with individual play as in different routes they run and wanting to be on the same page all the time. That's definitely been some of the ups and downs throughout the spring – we haven't had a whole lot of chances to work with each other. Through the summer and fall camp, we'll get it down.
On his comfort level with Neal Brown
It's really comfortable. I talked to him on the phone when I was in the portal process. He did everything he could do to get me here. That really meant a lot, and it meant that he really cared about me and me getting to play for him. Since I've been here, he's been really hard on me, and I expect that. I loved being coached. Whenever I make a good play, he doesn't really say much. Whenever I make a bad play, he's really hard on me, and that's what you want to see.
On what he needs to work on mechanically
There are a bunch of drops and stuff when we're throwing quick screens or doing tunnel screens. He wants everything to be perfect. (Assistant coach – quarterbacks) (Sean) Reagan is on us all the time. We do a lot of individual work throughout practices. If we don't do it right, they're yelling at us or saying this will be a make-or-break play if you throw the ball behind somebody or make a play where it takes us 60 yards instead of 10 yards, because they have to wait for the ball. It's just the little things that they're really keyed on. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really used to that at Oklahoma. We kind of did what we wanted, but, here, they are really keyed on individual workouts through different footwork and stuff. I think it's going to pay off.
On working with the other quarterbacks
It's good. Going out there every day and just trying to compete, that's my biggest thing. Throughout these last competitions that I've had at Oklahoma, my kind of thing is that I just go in every day just looking to compete. Getting there early, going through film with (assistant coach – quarterbacks) Coach (Sean) Reagan through this process has been good. I'm just trying to get on the same page as him and (head coach) Neal (Brown). I come in and sit with Neal before practice. Even when I have a really good day or a bad day, I still go see him. Through the bad days, you want to see him more. That just helps you be more prepared for when you get on the field.
On what he has to do to win the job in the fall
I feel like I need to make more plays and lead the offense down the field and score each drive. In the Big 12, you have to put points on the board. I'm not saying we struggle, but there have been some ups and downs just through putting a new offense in and being on the same page with the receivers, route running, offensive line blocking, quarterbacks making throws, making the right reads, making the right protection calls. We just really have to come together this fall, and I think we'll be pretty good from there.
On organizing summer workouts
We definitely want to throw probably three days a week. Once we get back here and start doing summer workouts – I think May 27 is our first day – we'll have, not mandatory, but we'll set it up as Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we're all going to throw, we're going to run these routes, and we're going to really perfect and try to get back on the same page from where we left off this spring and keep progressing from there.
On his hobbies away from football
I didn't really grow up a big hunter, but I've been trying to do that. So, (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Josh Sills invited me to go turkey hunting this weekend. I'm excited to do different stuff, but whenever I go home over break, I'll workout with one of my quarterback trainers, Anthony Boone. I'll lift and workout when I go home. It's just, I guess, a business mindset from here. I only have two years left.
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