Sugar Bowl Notebook | Clemson players preview Ohio State

As the No. 2 ranked Clemson Tigers venture towards another postseason matchup with No. 3 Ohio State, several players sat down with the media to discuss the rematch from last season’s epic 29-23 Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Today we heard from ACC Defensive Rookie of the year, Bryan Bresee, linebacker Baylon Spector, center Cade Stewart, and wideout E.J. Williams. 

Here are a few quick notes and the full audio from Tiger Town.

Bryan Bresee

On being named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year:

"Super exciting. It's definitely a big accolade to receive. I was super excited to hear that." 

"It wasn't really like a goal I'd set. Definitely, it was a surprise to me. It wasn't like a goal I set before the season started. So yeah, it was a surprise and it was really, really exciting."

On getting revenge against Notre Dame in the ACC Championship:

"It was a tough loss in South Bend, but the opportunity to play them again, is to play a team that you played in the regular season is rare. So an opportunity to get back out there and re-game plan-- everyone played really well just to go out there and do what we needed to do to come out with the win-- it was awesome. To win a championship is always a big deal, so it was super exciting." 

On Myles Murphy not being named to 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team All-ACC:

”Yeah, Myles played great all year. It was tough to see that, because of how well he played? At the end of the day, it's just people voting on it. Myles played very well. He's gonna continue to play well, throughout these next couple of games, I'm sure. I'm just looking forward to keep watching him."

On the Buckeyes:

“Ohio State’s a good team. It’s going to be a tough challenge just like any game that we’ve had. As long as we prepare the right way and do everything that we need to, we should be all right.”

“Ohio State’s a great school. I was recruited by them and liked the school a lot. They’re a great program. I’m super excited to play against them. It’s going to be a great matchup.”

On OSU's offensive line:

“Most of them are veterans. They’ve played a bunch of games, big games like this. So they’re gonna know what to do, and they’ve experienced things like this. So just that. They’re going to be ready for the moment, and they’re a big group of guys that are all really good. So it’s going to be a good matchup.”

Baylon Spector

On James Skalski’s return:

"He's huge. He brings a sense of urgency that is unmatched when he gets on the field. He knows where everyone's supposed to be. He is very coachable. He helps guys in the week-- leads us during the week. He just brings that extra stuff that we need throughout the week to prepare for the game."

"I think you see that out of him every Saturday. Skalski loves to play the game. He has passion for the game. He brings it every week. Obviously, he hadn't played in a while. He had been able to play a full game. So he was super excited. He was feeling good, feeling healthy. We all got to see that on Saturday. So it was good and fun seeing him back.“

On the short turn around:

"We prepare the same every week, each for each and every opponent. We'll do our best this week. Coaches got a great start. We're excited. We'll go a little bit work, Christmas, come back and be really excited to keep preparing for Ohio State.”

On playing OSU again:

“Just thankful to be a part of it. Being in the situation again of getting back to the playoffs six straight times, which is huge. I think we’re the first program to do that. Very exciting just to be able to play in the playoff again and have that opportunity to play at the stage that the playoff brings.”

On his impressions of Ohio State:

“They have a great offensive line. They have great skill obviously. They bring a ton to the table. They run the ball really well. They’re a great team. Justin Fields, he’s a very unique player, brings a lot to the table. He brings some running game. We have to contain him.  Their wideouts are really good, unique. They have three returning offensive linemen, so those guys have been at this stage too. They know what it’s like.”

On this year's defense vs. last year:

"I would say for we're good. I'm going into the game last year, we prepare the same. We'll do everything that we have done all year. I guess you could say we're better-- statistically, we're better. Obviously some players. We have a lot more than new starters this year, which is different. But we're excited and we'll be ready."

On facing Justin Fields:

"We'll execute the game plan that Coach V gives us. We'll do our best. He's a great player. He's gonna bring a bunch of challenges. He's gonna run the ball, he's gonna throw the ball. He'll be able to scramble and use his legs to make plays and we'll do the best we can to contain him and try to do our best to just go out there and win the game."

Cade Stewart

On OSU’s defensive line:

“They’re physical guys. They line up and they play football. They’re good at what they do. They’re not going to really try to trick you that much. They’re just going to line up, and they’re that good at what they do that they can play physical, sound, fast football. And so that’s something we gotta lock in these next couple days and week-and-a-half or so is really trying to learn how to play with these guys, because they are physical and they play good football. We’re excited to play them.”

On what OSU presents:

“Every team has its own little flavor, own little twist. That's where the separation and preparation because you got to prepare for everyone's own flavor of how they're going to attack Clemson. We think we have a good feeling of how we're going to play them and how they're going to play us. We're just ready to just execute and that's what we're doing now, just learning how to execute the game plan."

On Swinney’s comments that OSU has become a rival:

"We definitely look forward to playing big-time schools like this every year. I think that's one of the reasons why you come to Clemson because you know you have a chance for the playoffs every year. Therefore you get the chance to play Ohio State, LSU, and Alabama. That's something of you dream of as a little kid, so, yeah, it's kind of turned into a little rivalry. We like it."

E.J. Williams

On his grab against Notre Dame:

"I went through my Instagram, my Twitter and it was all flooded with OBJ and Ross. It was a good feeling actually compared to guys like that. They're good players. It's just always a good feeling to be able to make a one-handed catch in a high-level game like that.”

On how the game as slowed down for him:

"I feel like after you get a good low of the season and getting some playing time, it's just like high school. Once you understand what you're doing and you know what's gonna happen before the ball has been snapped, it's like you are just out there having fun just playing freely."

On Ohio State's secondary:

“They’re all pretty good DBs. They got Shaun Wade and they got No. 7 (Sevyn Banks) on the other side. Big, strong, lengthy guys. It’s gonna be a good matchup.”

On Shuan Wade moving to cornerback:

“That should be a big difference in the game. But he’s a great, athletic guy. It’s going to be a good competition, good matchup with our receivers.”