“I’m sitting at 6-0 in the middle of the season and I’m happy with the team’s performance and the work the boys have done. After watching the film of Saturday’s game I’m really happy with the team and the direction we’re going in, but we still have a lot of work to do and we have to do it in a short week. We play a really good team on Friday against OSU that played in the championship game last year. They have a great head coach, Mike Gundy, one of the longest-tenured coaches in college football. So he’s seen it all and we know we’re going to give it our best shot.”

“We had a close matchup with OSU late in the season last year that went into overtime and didn’t end in our favor. That’s why we’re looking forward to this matchup and being a little more familiar with their squad and strength chart, coaching styles and programs. The boys have to stay humble and hungry and keep working hard. This is a brand new week and we try to go 1-0 every week.”

About last year’s loss to OSU
“I think the game was tough because we knew the season was coming to an end and we had great seniors that sacrificed a lot to be here and the hardest part was saying goodbye to them and not having the season “This game left a sour taste and was a sore point for us, so this game is a chance to put things right. I’m not worried about the revenge factor, but I just want our boys to play really good, clean football and do their best. It will be a tough fight and an entertaining rematch on Friday night.”

To wide receiver Parker Kingston
“Parker is a great athlete with a high football IQ. He played quarterback at Roy High, so he has playmaking ability. He can throw the ball but also run. He just understands the game, and when you combine that with speed and athleticism, it’s a great recipe for a really good player. He believes in his role and everything he can do to help the team win and I love having him on this team. I think he’s a big weapon for us.”

About how balanced the team is
“I’m just proud of the boys. They work hard and I think the spotlight will be on the boys when they play, but I think it’s good that they know it’s not just about them doing everything on their own. They have ten other teammates who support them and make the game work. The boys are all convinced of the team mentality. If everyone continues to do their best on the field and focuses on improvement, that will be the key for us this week.”

On OSU running back Ollie Gordon II
“He is a dangerous player. It’s hard to contain such a talented guy, and eventually he’ll find ways to punch holes in the defense. We have to be sure of our task and make it really difficult for him. He’s a next level player, you can see he’s an NFL guy, so it’s a big challenge. We saw it in the movie last year and will see it this year. He’s the same guy with the same talent, tremendous speed and athleticism, so it’s going to be a tough matchup.”

On his belief in this team
“I knew what these guys were capable of because I knew the character that was in them. We started working in January and from that moment on we had a good feeling about them. It works on the scoreboard, but culture and connection are things you have to continue to work on off the field.”

About coach TJ Woods
“TJ is a really good coach and he understands football. He has a great connection with his players and will get the best out of them. He is a great teacher, loves these young men and wants them to succeed. The players have all accepted his philosophy, which fits exactly what we want to pursue as a team.

On the running backs
“I’m okay with the committee taking it week by week as long as we’re getting yards and getting guys who are healthy. We also want to make it easier for the boys to get started. We have good, capable players who can play, but we don’t want to force-feed them. They all need to get better, but it’s good to have guys who fought.”

About linebacker Isaiah Glasker
“He’s bigger and stronger this year. He’s always been a great player, and when we got him from Bigham, he was an expert, played safety and receiver, and we just had the idea of ​​developing him into a linebacker. He’s gained weight and is one of the fastest players on our team, so that’s a good sign. It’s good that our linebackers are playing at such a high level.”