With their preparation well underway for next week's game against Ohio State, numerous Clemson players met with the media on Wednesday to discuss their thoughts on returning to the College Football Playoff and their upcoming matchup with the Buckeyes.
Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, linebacker Baylon Spector, center Cade Stewart and wide receiver E.J. Williams were the Tigers' media representatives for their Wednesday morning interview sessions with the media, and here's a bullet-point roundup of what they had to say relevant to Ohio State and next week's trip to the Sugar Bowl:
DT Bryan Bresee
- “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 Ohio State'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.”
LB Baylon Spector
- “We prepare the same every week for each and every opponent.”
- Spector said he was excited when he saw Clemson would get to play Ohio State for the second year in a row. “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.”
- 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. And definitely, their skill, their wideouts are really good, unique, and then they have three returning offensive linemen. So those guys have been at this stage too, and they know what it’s like.”
- On this year's Clemson defense vs. last year: “We prepare the same. We do everything like we have done all year. I guess you could say we’re better. Statistically, we’re better ... Lot more new starters this year, which is different. But we’re excited, and we’ll be ready.”
- Spector said it was “very exciting” to play a significant role against Ohio State last year and that helped his preparation for this year.
- On going up against Fields: “We’ll execute the game plan that Coach (Brent Venables) gives us. We’ll do our best. He’s a great player. He’s going to bring a bunch of challenges. He’s going to run the ball, he’s going to 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 go out there and win the game.”
- On Ohio State running back Trey Sermon: “He's a great talent, especially with the offensive line they have.”
C Cade Stewart
- On Ohio State'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.”
- “Every team has its own little flavor, own little twist. And that’s where the separation is the preparation. Because you gotta prepare for everyone’s own flavor of how they’re gonna attack Clemson. And so, we think we have a good feeling of how we’re gonna play them, and how they’re gonna play us, and we’re just ready to just execute. And that’s what we’re doing now is learning how to execute the game plan.”
- “I wouldn't want to be a defensive coordinator trying to scheme up against Clemson's offense, that's for sure.”
- “We want to win. That's what we're here for, that's what we strive for and it's what we set our goals for.”
- “We definitely look forward to playing big-time schools like this. I think that's one of the reasons why you come to Clemson.” He thinks the matchup with Ohio State has “kind of turned into a little rivalry.”
WR E.J. Williams
- On Ohio State's secondary: “They’re all pretty good DBs. They got Shaun Wade and they got (Sevyn Banks) on the other side. Big, strong, lengthy guys. It’s gonna be a good matchup.”
- On Wade moving to outside cornerback and the rest of the secondary being different from last year: “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.”
