They Said It: Clemson players speak out ahead of Sugar Bowl matchup

Here are a few notes and all the audio from Clemson’s players as they prepare for their Sugar Bowl match up with Ohio State.

Tyler Davis

On Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee’s development:

"They grew a lot. They came in-- they were pretty much beasts, but they have grown a lot with the plays, knowing how to prepare-- mostly mental. They already had the physical aspects. They've grown a lot with the mental aspects."

On what the year has been like:

"It's kind of been tough. You can't go home. You can't go out and stuff, but that's the sacrifice we made to be able to play this year."

On facing a physical Buckeye offensive line:

"It's gonna be very important. They've got one of the top offensive lines in the country. Everybody on their offensive line is great. It's going to be very important to go in and set the tone."

James Skalski

On Ohio State:

“They’ve got dudes everywhere. They are a great team, and they are going to bring it."

“Master Teague— what a great football name.”

On playing in the Sugar Bowl:

“I'm 0-2 in New Orleans. That kinda lingers in your head.”

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Nolan Turner

On last season’s game with Ohio State:

Says he didn’t play well last year, but people overlook that with his game-winning interception. Says this is a game he’s been looking forward to.

On playing in the Sugar Bowl:

“You shouldn't need any extra motivation for playing in a game like this.”

Baylon Spector

On facing Ohio State:

"They're a great team. They bring a lot of challenges they've been in this situation before. We'll be ready for what they bring to the table. We've been preparing all week the same as we do all year. So we'll be ready."

Pressed on Trey Sermon’s big game in the Big Ten Championship and how that changes prep:

"You definitely have to pay attention to it. You can't say it's not there. He's a great player. Both of their backs are really good-- Master Teague. They're gonna bring challenges to the game. Their offensive line is very experienced. They've been in this situation before. Obviously, prepare the same as we do all year, take the game plan that the coaches give us go out this week and practice, and try to execute the best we can. When it comes to game day, just always do the best."

On if Ohio State is a rival:

"We know what's on stage and the caliber of the game and what type of team they are. We'll be ready. I mean, obviously, we played them now five times, and we'll be ready. It's definitely a rival. We've played him a lot, and we're excited.”

On if he will return next year:

"My plan right now is to come back. Obviously, I've thought about my decision and what's in the future for me. Obviously, that's very important to me and my goals to what I want to do in my career. Well, I think the best thing for me right now to just come back and have another year of tape and to really just prepare for my goals."

Mike Jones Jr.

On having confidence in the gameplan:

"We always try to develop that energy through the week of practice. Our confidence comes from our preparation. That is dependent on us, and Coach V is gonna keep us to a standard all week throughout practice. It kind of feeds off each other. We go into the game confident, but that's just because we've done it all week through our practices."

On bowl prep in Clemson:

"It's been a lot different. Usually, we spent almost a whole week out at the bowl site. That's pretty fun. I've always enjoyed that--  kind of getting on different fields, going to practice different places, walking through the stadium. But yeah, that's been different. But here, (laughs) it's like we go home every day. It feels like I'm still in the regular season. I'm glad we are able to play. I'm glad we're able to have a playoff and bowl game and stuff like that."

Myles Murphy

On getting to know people during the COVID-19 season:

"Most definitely, if anything, I feel like I've spent all of my time around my teammates. And I'd made the best the best bonds that I could have made, and college with my teammates because I'm around them. 24-7. School was online this past semester. So sometimes I'll just be in class, and we have study hall together. So I was really around them. 24/7, so I've made the best bonds with them."

On Ohio State’s offensive line:

“They’re pretty big. A pretty big offensive line. They’re strong up front, so we will have to be strong on the point of attack up front, and they have a very good run game. It’s very good structurally with play calls and creating stretches inside the zone. So, we’re going to have to be very sound in our technique and very stout and strong at the point of attack to make sure the line is not moved in the wrong directions. It’s going to be very good up there [on the line].”

On playing in this game after watching the Fiesta Bowl last season:

“It’s pretty surreal. It’s kind of funny to think that I was watching this exact game last year and now I’m in it. It’s very special being on the couch watching it [the College Football Playoff] and then the year after a great freshman season actually being in the game. So, it is a pretty surreal moment.”​​​​​​​

On offseason criticism of Head Coach Dabo Swinney: 

“Well, Dabo, he always preaches the inside out more than the outside in. The ship doesn’t sink unless the water gets in the ship. So, he always preaches that. I knew what type of man Dabo was [while being recruited] and we all knew what type of man Dabo was. So, what outsiders said about our coach didn’t really affect us because we knew what type of person he was. The [other] coaches knew what type of person he was, so we really just shook off all the outside noise and just kept going with what we knew.”

On Justin Fields (OSU quarterback):

"He's a very, very strong quarterback, Very strong in the pocket. So if we do get to him, we got to wrap up and get him all the way to the ground. We can't just tackle him initially and then hope that he goes to the ground because he will not go to the ground unless we make him go to the ground. This is a very strong quarterback, very strong legs, and just try to keep him pocketed, and if he does get out running, he's very dangerous in the open field. We've got to keep them in the pocket and just wrap up on him."

On Clemson’s defensive efforts carrying over to the Sugar Bowl coming off a strong ACC Championship performance: 

“We had a good outing defensively in the ACC Championship game. Coach Swinney always says we play our best games during the end of the season. Our game only starts to go up during the end of the season once we put on the orange britches. So, I’m sure and have full confidence that it [strong defensive performance] will carry over, but we can’t just hope that it’ll carry over. We have to put in the preparation, watch film, keep staying in the weight room, recovery and stretching and what not. But, yes, I do see it carrying over.”