Quotables...
Drew Allar, QB, Sr.
On going against Penn State’s defense…
A: I’m really excited to go against [defensive coordinator Jim Knowles] and the defense this Fall camp. I think it’s going to be the best defense in the country and I know our goal is to be the best offense in the country. To be able to go against them every day is going to be fun. There’s going to be some challenging days, but that’s what’s going to pay off in the long run.
On being an experienced team…
A: Yeah, I think experience definitely helps. We know what those situations feel like. We know what it’s like to be on both ends of it, the winning side or the losing side. So channeling that and flushing bad moments and staying in the present when big moments come.
Nick Dawkins, OL, R-Sr+.
On Vega Ioane’s growth and versatility…
A: His change of direction has drastically improved. I mean, he's cut down weight and he looks good, man. He’s almost got a six-pack. So shout out Vega for that. His nutrition has been off the charts this offseason. He's been killing it. I would say his feel for the game has changed. He played young, you know? I mean, he was a freshman getting out there, and he's a big body. I think he has full control and sustainability over his body. He has a violent punch and I think he's just starting to feel things out, you know, especially the end of season, when the offensive line really, really started to click really good. You know, we were calling out blitzes and stunts before they happen. And I think that just comes with experience and where we're at now. We have a very experienced offensive line and Vega is a huge piece of it.
On going against Zane Durant…
A: Zane is the best I’ve played against. He's the best d-tackle I’ve played against. I’ve got some impressions about him. He’s the best d-tackle I ever played against, and it's no shade to any other defensive lineman I’ve played against…It’s the twitch, it's the lateral movement. It's the combination and recovery of being able to have a counter movement. He has a counter to power and can go power-to-speed. It's his get off. It's his IQ, picking up the screen. He's picking up the stretch, picking up the gap-schemes, calling them out before the play. It's his mentality. A nobody-will-block-him mentality and really the way he watches film with picking up tendencies.
Zakee Wheatley, S, R-Sr.
Development under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Anthony Poindexter…
A: Oh yeah, definitely. I’m very hard on myself. I hold my expectations to the highest level it could be. I think learning from Coach Dex [Poindexter] and Coach Knowles together, I’ve really just been a sponge. Just trying to learn everything I can. Learn the defense and become a smarter football player so when the season comes, everything is good.
On the speed of the defense…
A: That’s a tough question. I’ve been part of some great defenses. But I will say that this offseason, with Chuck Losey, the speed. I’ll definitely say we have a very, very fast team and I can’t wait to see how that unfolds on the football field.
