Florida State Spring Game
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Defensive Player Quotes
Jacob Pugh, Senior Linebacker
On his development this spring:
“I have been having my mind right, trying to do what I have got to do and give it my all.”
On what it meant to be the MVP of the entire team for this spring:
“Honestly, I didn’t even expect it, I really didn’t. I just came out there to play and have fun
with my team. Like I said, I didn’t expect it.”
On what sets him apart from the other guys on defense:
“I just have the mindset that I go out there and be the best at what I have to do.”
On his biggest improvements this spring:
“I have been working on upgrading my pass rushing a lot. It’s all about disguising it. You’ve
got to make them think one thing and then go another.”
On seeing Derwin James healthy and what it means to the defense:
“He is going to make up for your mistakes. He is going to be there. If you are supposed to
be outside but you happen to get caught inside, he will be there. He will make up for your
mistakes. He is all over the field. He is Superman.”
On combining with Brian Burns on the defensive line:
“We just used our speed, that’s about all we can do. They can’t move like that so we have
to use our speed.”
On what Cam Akers brings to the team:
“I like Cam. I love Cam. He is going to be a really good teammate and once he learns what
he is doing, he’s going to be really good.”
On how Jimbo has coached the team this spring:
“Oh man, are you talking about starting practice over when we were almost done? But at
the same time you have got to embrace it because he cares about it and you have to have a
passion for the game yourself. A lot of people say to play football at Florida State, you have
to love football, so you can’t just say I like football. No, you have to love football to play
here. It’s tough.”
On if this team is showing passion and love for the game of football:
“Ya we just have to come together. Once we come together and once everybody gets on
one chord, I feel like we can’t be stopped. But everybody has to be on the same page. You
can’t have one person here and one person there. Everybody has got to buy in.”
Brian Burns, Sophomore Defensive End
On the importance of Jacob Pugh to the defense:
“Oh, he is extremely important. I mean he keeps us up along with Derwin (James) and all
our other keys. He is extremely important, especially to me because he pushes me to play
as well as I do and I push him.”
On Jimbo commenting on Jacob Pugh’s toughness this spring:
“Yes he was. He was all around everywhere. He was like a little gnat all around the offense.”
On how good the competition on defense is at every position:
“The competition is good. It’s going to get a little heated in camp now. We’ve got new
people coming in as well as returning players, and we are all fighting for a spot.
“Well behind me right now is (Joshua) Kaindoh. When I see him ball it makes me play
harder so I can keep my spot, even though I don’t have one technically right now.”
On what he sees from Derwin James:
“I see a new Derwin. Now he is tossing guys. He is getting to the ball, running to the ball,
using his moves and using his strength, and I haven’t seen that until this spring.”
Florida State Spring Game
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Junior running back Jacques Patrick
On how the spring has been:
“I feel like the big bird to the unit this spring, and I’m trying to help everybody since this is
my third spring. I’m just helping everybody. There has been no animosity in this group. It’s
never been that way. Since I’ve been here, I’ve just been keeping the integrity and how it
was when I came here.”
On how he and freshman running back Cam Akers are working together:
“I’m proud of Cam. He did a nice job today. He has to get out there and do his thing. He
was able to get rotated in and it was exciting to see him do some things.”
On what he saw from Akers every day in practice
“He’s a young guy and only 15 practices in. He’s still learning but you can see the
potential.”
Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Cole Minshew
On sophomore Landon Dickerson:
“Landon is a really good player. I thought he showed a lot of maturity. I think he’s going to
come back and be good for us.”
On redshirt freshman Josh Ball:
“I think that he has really got better. In the season he was doing alright, but I feel like this
spring and offseason he really got to know that he was doing. He was taking coaching
better.”
On redshirt senior Jacob Pugh winning overall MVP and defensive MVP
“He always comes out and is better and better every day. He goes really hard. He is just
really good and really special talent. I know I have trouble blocking him. He’s dynamic
because of his combination of his speed and strength. He’s obviously a strong guy and can
just dip that shoulder and just go.”