ATHLETE QUOTES – SPRING FOOTBALL 2017
Virginia Tech Football
Spring Game – Q&A Highlights
April 22, 2017
QB Josh Jackson
On evaluating his spring:
“I think I progressed. I think that I got better. The Spring Game went well, maybe a play or two that could’ve been extended but
other than that I think spring went well for me. I need to continue to get better and study the game but I think that it went well.”
On whether he expects the QB competition to go on until fall:
“I wasn’t expecting him to announce anything by the end of spring.”
On Caleb Farley making an impact on offense
“He is very fast, I think that helps him out a lot. He has active hands too. The speed and hands really helps him out there.”
On whether he’d like to see Farley stay on the offense
“Oh yeah, if you saw how he performed there’s no doubt. He can run jet sweeps he can run the deep route; you can’t really
overthrow him. I definitely want to keep him on offense.”
On his impressions of Dalton Keane:
“I think he is a very hard worker. He will continue to get better and he will bring another dimension to the offense.”
On what he saw from C aleb Farley on defense:
“He’s good. He is a very aggressive corner he played very well at corner and now he’s doing it well at receiver. He is a great
athlete.”
On the supporting cast of the offense:
“Obviously we don’t have Bucky Hodges or Isiah Ford any more so that’s two big losses. We aren’t bad at all, we are really young
but we have Cam (Phillips) and we back him to lead us.”
CB Brandon Facyson
On getting the interception in the game:
“It was good, it was nice. We have had a little competition between the corners all spring. It’s been a healthy competition, we have
all been working hard and taking care of our bodies and competing every single day all of us.”
On Caleb Farley switching between offense and defense:
“He’s done a great job. He’s a tremendous athlete, he came in eager to learn. We had him at defensive back and then injuries
started to happen and they took him to the receiver side. Doesn’t matter what position, he is eager to learn and he’s done a great
job.”
On whether some of the new guys are filling roles as playmakers on offense:
“I do. Losing Isiah and Bucky was a big loss but I think these guys are coming in and they are working hard and have an extreme
ability so I don’t think there’s any drop off. They have had a great spring, 15 practices so just keep working hard throughout the
summer and camp and I think it will be great for us.”
QB A.J. Bush
On getting on the field today:
“It was incredible. For the weather it was a great turnout. I think I could have made a few more throws but we had some big plays
here and there. I think we only went three series but we put in good work, definitely.”
On his impressions of the spring:
“I came a long way, I think I put in a great body of work. It was unfortunate about the weather but that something that we have to
get through. One thing I will see is we weren’t live so I wish I could’ve gotten some running in.”
On what he’ll focus on in the summer as far as the quarterback competition:
“Details. Focus in on the little things. We only had a couple months to learn the playbook, but now we have a lot of time to learn
and be more particular and precise with the things coach wants from us.”
On what stands out about Caleb Farley on offense:
“His speed. That’s the one thing that sticks out from him. He’s just a great football player. Whatever coach says he goes and does
it 110 percent.”
WR Cam Phillips
On what stood out from the QBs today:
“I think the last play of the scrimmage really demonstrates A.J.’s ability. His escapability is there, Josh knows not to force anything.
I think Hendon also did well today when the opportunity presented itself he took it deep for that touchdown. He hit a few dump-off
passes as well. I think all of those guys have done a great job all spring.”
On embracing a leadership role as a senior:
“I’ve actually been having fun with it. Some of the guys in the receiving room call me uncle as a joke. I’m really having fun just being
a more experienced guy and the guys really wanting my opinions. I feel like they respect me and it means a lot to them.”
QB Hendon Hooker
On his comfort level during the game:
“I felt pretty comfortable. I felt like the whole quarterback room really prepared me so shoutout to those guys. They were really
assisting me and pushing me to be the best I can be.”
On the speed of the game compared to high school:
“Speed of the game, mostly the defensive line being much quicker. Its moving much faster so you have to make quicker decisions
and know your information.”
Virginia Tech Football
QB A.J. Bush Q&A Highlights
April 11, 2017
On whether he talked to any potential suitors other than Virginia Tech:
“I was actually talking to Texas A&M for a while with (Texas A&M offensive coordinator) coach (Noel) Mazzone. When I was out in
Arizona training with my quarterback’s coach, he was watching me throw almost every day. If it wasn’t Virginia Tech, it was
probably going to be Texas A&M. I was talking to a lot of other guys. I was talking to coach Matt Rhule from Baylor and (Oregon’s
head coach) Willie Taggart one time. Virginia Tech came at the right time for sure.”
On what made him want to be a part of this program:
“I saw what Coach Fuente and his staff did … with Paxton Lynch. I didn’t even really realize it was him until he called me. I was like
‘man; this is kind of special. I saw what you did with Paxton Lynch. He really flourished and thrived in his offense.’ Plus, obviously
with Jerod (Evans) leaving, it was a great opportunity for me to step in and compete.”
On if Virginia Tech was the only one to offer him:
“A&M offered me, but there weren’t enough scholarships, so I was going to have my scholarship in the fall.”
On his thoughts when Jerod Evans decided to declare for the NFL Draft:
“It’s a blessing. Of course, I came here to play. I wouldn’t be at this level if I wasn’t trying to play. I can see a light at the end of the
tunnel. It’s an opportunity to go get it. There is no time to waste.”
On his path from Nebraska to Iowa Western and his production at the JUCO level:
“When I was at Nebraska, we had playbook tests. I would get A’s and the highest grade out of every quarterback. I put all that work
in, but I saw the writing on the wall. I realized I had to do something different. I left with two days before the first scrimmage at
Iowa Western. When I left, two days later I was on the road to Colorado playing in a scrimmage. I don’t regret anything at all. The
numbers weren’t great, but at the end of the day, I know what I am capable of. I know that with the right talent, the right coaching
and the right weapons around me, we can be special.
On what does he think coaches have saw in him despite his numbers at Iowa Western:
“From day one, I came in and showed my leadership and competitiveness from day one. I made leadership council. I got the hard
hat award (for his efforts in the off-season conditioning program). My work ethic is there. They see that. I am a good person. I
know how to lead. I been around guys that know how to lead. One of the guys I look up to is Ameer Abdullah, who was my
teammate my freshman year (at Nebraska). Even other quarterbacks, (Nebraska’s quarterback) Tommy Armstrong. He was a great
guy. I have been around it before. It is nothing new to me. I know how to lead. I know how to work. I know what the coaches expect
… At the end of the day, the foundation is there with me. I don’t want to say there is a lot of things that you have to teach me, but
there are a lot of things that I know from experience that can help me in this competition.”
On if it was a humbling experience going from Nebraska to Iowa Western:
“Oh yeah. The most humbling thing to me was when I went go ask for a pair of socks. They said ‘man; you have to go to Dick’s
(Sporting Goods)’ So it kind of hit me that I was back in high school basically. That was big. I know you guys are probably familiar
with Nebraska. They are a prestigious program, and they are the only school in the Nebraska, so they get a lot of money for their
program. Going to JUCO from there, it was a real humbling experience. It was also a blessing in disguise.”
On how different the Virginia Tech offense from Iowa Western or Nebraska:
“It has more of an emphasis on being a dual-threat quarterback. At Nebraska, you could use your legs, but at the same time, it was
more about getting all the way through your progression. This one is more one-two-three. The legs are one of your progressions,
so that’s the biggest thing. It (Nebraska) was a west coast offense, more of an NFL style; Coach Langsdorf and Coach Riley have
an NFL background … The biggest thing with that was realizing my strengths. I can run. I can pass. I am just as comfortable with
my arms as I am with my legs. This offense gives you that. With the schemes, if one guy makes a mistake and leaves the box, I am
there. If he goes too high, I can take him with my legs on a draw and take it to the crib.”
On what was he running at junior college:
“It was more of a no-huddle, spread offense. One thing I would say about junior college is that the structure and the intensity of
being detailed is a lot different. It is not the same. Coming here and diving into the playbook from day one with coach (Brad)
Cornelsen, I was getting extra film, extra work and extra knowledge that really helped me. I don’t have to think as much. I can just
use my talents.”
On the lack of resources at the junior college level:
“Exactly. We had Hudl, but it wasn’t the same whereas I could just go into coach’s office on the big projector. I couldn’t just go in to
the biggest indoor facility and throw whenever I want to. The resources weren’t there as much as they are here, and I’m pretty sure
I have taken advantage of it, and it has really helped put me in a good position.”
On if it is hard to dial the competitiveness back up after being in JUC O:
“No. One of the frustrating things was that I couldn’t do it as much as I wanted to at junior college. When I got here, I was like I got
this and that. Everything is here at my expense to use and be better.”
On how he got hooked up with Dennis Gile:
“When I was at Nebraska, he contacted me. Well, actually, I contacted him. Then his guy hit me back, and I flew out there and
stayed with him. He trained with me for about a week after my spring game my sophomore year. I have been cool with him and
training with him ever since.”
On if he gains an extra benefit from training with someone like that:
“He teaches us to keep all ten toes in the ground; coil and recoil, all that biomechanical work as well as the mental work. It’s just
great to be able to go to someone who is not my dad or someone I am related to and learn and fed off of him and obtain the
knowledge that he has.”
On the bracelets on his arms:
“This one right here is football academy. They are all the same. One has a scripture on it.”
On if he can go to QB Josh Jackson if he has a question:
“I think me and (QB) Josh (Jackson) have a great relationship. We all have a great relationship with every quarterback in the room.
We are all pushing each other, and we all want to get better, so we are all feeding off of each other. I tell him things that I learned
in Nebraska, and he tells me things that I need to know about this offense. It all works hand-in-hand. We are a great group of guys.
It’s beneficial.”
On if there is ever a moment where no one knows the answer:
“Not really. I think all of us have a pretty good handle on the install that we have received so far. We all have an answer.
Sometimes it might not be right, but we have an answer.”
On learning the nuances of the scheme as a left-handed quarterback:
“With the rules that the coaches give us, it’s pretty obvious what we have to do and how we have to execute it. If we execute it
right, it doesn’t matter if we are left-handed, right-handed or middle-handed, we are going to be successful.”
On if his dad was a big impact on him:
“Oh yeah, my Dad has always been a big part of my life since I was little. When I got to high school, that’s when he branched off
and let me grow up. He let me learn things on my own, but he’s definitely been a big part of my life.”
On his spring games at Nebraska:
“I was kind of nervous my freshman year, but I really locked in my sophomore year. They brought 76,000 people to the game, so
that’s probably the biggest game I ever played in my life. It’s nothing different. It is just a different stage. You just have to be able to
execute and be on point mentally. If you are on point mentally, you are not going to be worried about making mistakes. You are
just going to be out there playing.”
On his health on the football:
“Oh yeah. I have been blessed with great health actually. I think the worst injury I ever had was an AC joint. I never missed a game.”
On if he has been working extra with the receiving corps:
“Since I stepped on campus, I have been throwing with (WR) Cam (Phillips). My second day here, I threw with (WR) Cam (Phillips),
(WR) Phil (Patterson), (WR) Sam Denmark and (WR) Kalil Pimpleton. I try to mix with everyone. It doesn’t matter what team you
are. I try to create chemistry with everyone because that is important. When numbers get low, you have to know that guy’s
tendency. I think that is important as well.”
On how he would describe WR Kalil Pimpleton as a player:
“He’s great. From what I have seen, he is really good. He makes guys miss. He is tough. Don’t let his size fool you. He is going to
come at you every time.”
On if has noticed a difference with the quarterbacks’ reps depending on whether they’ve had a good day or a bad day at
practice:
“In my opinion, I haven’t had a bad day yet. I have been pretty consistent. You can really see how he tries to mix it up and get guys
with different people. He wants us to see different ways of the offense and how it may look with (QB) Hendon (Hooker), me or
(QB) Josh (Jackson). It doesn’t matter.”
Virginia Tech Football
QB Josh Jackson Q&A Highlights
April 11, 2017
On his development since last season:
“I have progressed well since the summer. I got to watch Jerod (Evans) play and that really helped me out. Being able to see
college football live and be able to do his reads and be able to take it all in was a really good learning experience for me. Now in
the spring I have been trying to get better with my techniques and learning coverages.”
On the advantage of most the most experienced QB in this system in the room:
“I’d say it’s a big advantage but I have to continue to learn. We keep putting in new stuff so I have to continue to learn that. Going
against Bud Foster’s defense every day is a good challenge and that just gets me better and better.”
On how much he mentors the other quarterbacks:
“I try to help them out as much as I can because I know if I don’t, Coach Corn (Brad Cornelsen) or Coach Fuente will be on them. I
try to help the guys out if they don’t know a play or a signal, its not a problem at all. There are definitely times when I am not
exactly sure.”
On his memorable experience on the sidelines last year:
“I really liked the Miami experience. That was one of my favorite experiences, probably one of the most memorable. On the sideline
of the Arkansas game that was big trying to watch everybody and see how they were reacting from the first half to the second
half.”
On how tough it was to prepare to play when you knew you probably wouldn’t play last season:
“I prepared just like Jerod and (Brenden) Motley did. Towards the end of the season it was clear I wasn’t going to play and burn
that redshirt so I just tried to get better every day and know what we were putting in just in case something crazy happened and I
did have to be in I wouldn’t be horrible.”
On what he learned from Arkansas game, especially from Jerod Evans:
“He’s a very confident guy. His confidence never waivered throughout the whole game he just kept going and kept getting ready
for the next play and the next series. That was very cool to watch he was very persistent and kept working and kept going at
them.”
On whether he was surprised when Evans left?
“I would say we were all a little surprised when Jerod left and when he did leave I just thought that ‘Now I’m the older guy and I just
have to work and hopefully try to earn myself a job.’”
On what the adjustment as a college QB has been like compared to high school:
“It’s been an adjustment. It’s a little bit different from what I did in high school. I had a little more time, but now with the speed of
the game, and how its really ramped up, I have to be quicker. I can’t take any missed steps or false steps. I just have to flip and
throw.”
On whether anyone specifically at Michigan helped his development (where his father, Fred, was a longtime assistant
coach):
“My Dad, I would always be in his meetings when he was with the running backs and just seeing how college football worked has
really helped me out for this.”
On the vibe in the quarterback meeting room:
“We are a pretty relaxed group. We’re all just in there trying to learn and be the guy, so we all just try to push each other.”
On his running style:
“I’m not 6’4’’ 230 (like Jerod Evans) so that’s a little bit different running style but I like to say that I can get the yards that we need.
Obviously I’m not that big of a guy but I think I can run the ball pretty well.”
On whether his team played any up-tempo in high school:
“We did tempo. It wasn’t like this obviously with up-tempo calls but we would go fast. Not this fast but a good building point to start
in high school at that speed and go to this, so it wasn’t that much of a change.”
On whether tempo something the younger quarterbacks need to grasp:
“Yes, we all need to work on going faster and when we need to go fast we really need to pick up our tempo and get better at that.
I think they’re doing a good job at it and will continue to.”
On what he does to relax off of the field?
“I’m a pretty relaxed guy as it is so I like just sitting down watching Netflix, watching a movie or hanging out with my dog. I like to
fish or sit out on my porch, I’m a pretty relaxed guy I’d say, maybe The Lion King every now and then.
On whether his experience in the system helps him make the right reads:
“I think that helps me a lot because obviously I’ve seen the outcomes and I’ve seen the reads and how the plays should be carried
out and everything. I think that helps me having a year in the offense and I think that helps me with the other guys but they are
learning fast and doing a great job with it.”