Midweek Quotes - Bowling Green
Head Coach Randy Edsall
On Bowling Green:
“They’re a very good offensive football team. They have 4-of-5 starters coming back on the offensive line. Matt Johnson is a really good quarterback, you can tell by watching the tape that he understands our offense very well and knows where to go with the ball. They have very skilled wide receivers and good running backs. They are a spread attack and very fast getting to the line of scrimmage, getting plays off, and getting back to the line of scrimmage. It’s a very impressive operation that they have.”
On the play of offensive lineman Mike Minter:
“He did his job well. Mike is a competitor, a physical offensive lineman, a young man who understands concepts, and basically went out and did the things that Coach Studrawa asked him to do and executed them at a high level. He had the ability, was coachable, and went out and earned himself a place in the starting rotation.”
On the importance of walk-ons:
“You have to have a walk-on program because when you only have 85 scholarships available, you need more than 85 to really run your program the way you want to. We are always actively looking for walk-ons to join our program. We’ve have great success with walk-ons coming in and being starters, earning scholarships, being captains and being drafted to play in the NFL. It’s about giving young men opportunities and if they do the things they are supposed to do, they know they have the opportunity to be rewarded with a scholarship based on what they’ve done. Mike’s a great kid and a guy who has worked very hard.”
On the importance of getting freshmen involved early:
“It is important to have them play; they earned a right to be put in the game based on their performance throughout preseason. They are all talented young men; Brett Zanotto is another one who played well. They are all talented and worked their way into the 2-deep rotation and they’re going to be counted on to play throughout the year. To be able to get them in the game in a normal rotation was good, and know we’ll have to get game plans together for what we want to do based on our opponents to see how much those guys will contribute each and every week.”
On the play of William Likely:
“Will is a very extraordinary returner because some guys have some of the qualities that are needed back there, but out of all the guys I’ve been around, he possesses all the qualities of an outstanding return man. You have to have courage to stand down there especially as a punt returner, good vision as a punt returner, and a skill set to understand how the ball comes off the punter’s foot. You need a knack for setting your return up and helping those guys who come down and block for you. It’s instinct that takes over for him, and he just has a really good feel. The biggest thing for Will is that he just has to take it one punt at a time and not get frustrated based on what other people might do and just make good decisions. He’s the best I’ve ever been around in terms of tracking the ball, having a feel for everything, and being able to produce to way he produces.”
On the play of Ty Johnson:
“We had him in our summer camp and I just saw the way that he competed and how smooth he was with his hands catching the ball out of the back field. And then when you watched him play on film in high school, you saw a guy who played hard all the time: a football player. Having the opportunity to go out and watch him in person last year showed how he handled himself, how he played and how other people responded to him. Football is important to him, he has a great value system and he’s a leader and a great teammate.”
Freshman Tight End Avery Edwards
On confidence of the offensive line:
“It doesn’t matter who is back there, you have to block the man and have leverage. You have to get there because you know your guy is going to make a guy miss and he is going to make a move. Especially for a guy like me who is just coming in, I am just learning the system and learning how to block and the technique.”
On his performance against Richmond:
“For me it was my first college game. All the nerves are now gone and it’s time to be a football player. It is time to settle down. It is now week two and I have to digest a whole new game plan. Last week was my first time scouting a college team so now I have a feel for that. I now know how to use my time and I have to focus all my attention on Bowing Green.”
Freshman Wide Receiver D.J. Moore
On thoughts on Perry Hills:
“He moves the ball very well. He is a leader out on the field and does well with calling the plays and getting us in the right positions.”
On Bowling Green’s defense:
“Defensively they move around and show different disguises. They do many things that we are going to have to be aware of.”
On the offense’s performance against Richmond:
“I was impressed that everybody got the chance to touch the ball. Perry did a good job of dishing the ball to everybody on the team.”
On Perry Hill’s improvement since camp:
“He did a good job of taking over the offense. When we go out there for practice, even in our scrimmages, he takes over and gets everybody ready for the game.”
On expectations against Bowling Green:
“It is going to be a tough game. With how we are practicing right now we should be ready and prepared.”
Redshirt Junior Defensive Lineman Quinton Jefferson
On playing after coming back from his injury:
“After all I went through, to get back to this point is such a blessing. I do not take it for granted. When I am out there on the field on game day I just try to give it my all.”
On his performance against Richmond:
“I definitely feel like it was a good showing coming back. You always want to improve. I wanted to pick my game up even more and be even more dominant and make more plays in the backfield. I expect to have an even bigger game this week.”
On challenges of being sidelined due to injury:
“The toughest part is having to just watch when you can’t contribute. It is the worst feeling. When I’m out there now I give it my all. I am just so excited to be back out there and so excited for the season.”
On being older than most of his teammates:
“Guys look to me for information, wisdom and words of encouragement. I try to be there and give it to them. I also try to lead by example; show them the right way to carry themselves on and off the field. Guys might see me as a grandpa but it doesn’t bother me, I like that.”
Sophomore Offensive Lineman Mike Minter
On journey from walk-on to a starter:
“It has definitely been a journey. I came in as a defensive lineman and I tore my MCL. I wasn’t even allowed to be at camp over the summer my first year. For the very first game I was in the student section. It has been a long journey getting my knee back to 100% and moving over from defense to offense. I credit the coaches and the older guys around me. They really helped me with the technique. Having their experience there really helped me become the player I am today.”
On envisioning being a starter and earning a scholarship:
“If I didn’t have that goal in mind then I would be thinking ‘what was I doing here in the first place?’ When I first got here as a walk-on I knew I had to work extra hard to get to the point where I am today. I would envision earning a scholarship. I wanted to earn the spot as a starter and help the team win. It is unbelievable to see it all pay off and be in the position I am in now. Again, I couldn’t do it without all the guys around me.”
