Part 2 - Jackson State Head Coach T.C. Taylor, Running Back J.D. Martin, and Defensive Lineman Devonta Davis At SWAC Media Day
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00:00 >> Sure, it's great to be here.
00:02 I'm taking all this in, first time head coach over in Birmingham.
00:06 Swag me today, I'm loving it, I'm loving it right now.
00:10 I'm just about to get that itch right now, you can smell football in the air.
00:14 So I'm truly looking forward to competing with South Carolina State come August 26.
00:20 It's all about these two young men on each side of me and
00:23 our football team is back at home preparing now.
00:26 They're doing a great job of getting ready for that football game.
00:28 We understand it's gonna be a physical football game.
00:32 They got the legendary head coach, I'm a first time head coach.
00:35 So we got a point to prove, we're gonna continue to demand that our football team
00:40 be dominant though.
00:41 We're gonna play a physical brand of football.
00:43 So I'm looking forward to it, but as of right now,
00:45 I'm just taking all this in and having a good time here in Birmingham.
00:49 >> Thank you, coach, for those opening remarks.
00:51 At this time, we will open the floor to the press for questions.
00:55 All right, coach, so you said you're getting ready for the Me X WAC challenge.
01:00 What are your guys doing to prepare for that game in Atlanta?
01:03 >> It's not so much what they're doing, it's what they've done.
01:06 This summer we had all our players in here, both summer school sessions.
01:11 We had quite a bit turned on our roster.
01:16 So I was concerned about the chemistry.
01:18 Just seeing those guys coming to work on an everyday basis,
01:21 it's been a pleasant surprise.
01:23 Sometimes I get kind of nervous about it because they work so hard and
01:27 it looks kind of easy.
01:29 But that's what you expect with a two time returning champs.
01:32 We got some guys that are returning off that football team, but
01:36 we got quite a few new faces.
01:38 Like I said, those new faces expect to win and expect to be dominant as well.
01:42 So we're excited about it.
01:44 >> So how valuable is it exactly to build chemistry?
01:47 I understand your guess is a lot of roster turnover, but
01:49 how valuable is it to make sure you have chemistry just in general?
01:52 And especially as you're forming this year's version of the Jackson State Tigers.
01:56 >> I mean, if you don't have chemistry on the football team, you have nothing.
01:59 At one time, you got 22 players on the field, on the defenses and
02:03 on offense, special teams and stuff like that.
02:05 So it's not kind of like, it's not golf, not tennis.
02:09 You got 11 guys out there, you gotta play as one.
02:12 We preach that to them, so it's very important to them.
02:14 And everything that's going on with this transfer portal,
02:17 you're not bringing a lot of freshmen in to get to know each other over a time span,
02:23 two, three year span.
02:25 They're basically learning each other overnight, and
02:27 they'll know these guys are doing a great job of doing that.
02:30 >> When it comes to the players, you guys, how have you guys helped take the charge
02:34 in building chemistry, making sure that chemistry is strong,
02:36 getting ready for this season?
02:37 >> Well, on the defensive side, most definitely.
02:42 On the defensive side, most definitely, holding each other accountable,
02:46 being able to do everything when your head comes out looking.
02:51 And that's what I stand big on.
02:54 It's a wish that we just accomplish it, and
02:56 it's something that a good amount of time we would have had together.
02:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:03 >> I would say from offensive wide, holding everybody accountable, and
03:07 putting the extra work in.
03:08 We always put extra work in on after practice,
03:12 even before practice we have to go over plays together.
03:15 So I say chemistry, building chemistry together is a strong bond.
03:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:23 >> If you would give us your affiliation.
03:25 >> Yes, sir.
03:26 Marcus Jones, The Real Review.
03:28 It's going into a new season with, of course, new players and a new turnover.
03:32 You also have new coaches, a new coaching staff.
03:36 Could you talk about some of the pros and cons and
03:38 some of the challenges you have getting that coaching staff, Elisa,
03:41 to be able to prepare the players?
03:43 >> It's been pretty easy, I would say, with our coaching staff.
03:47 The thing about that, what about people miss us sometimes?
03:51 A lot of those guys I've already won championships with.
03:54 When we had conference, we won three conference championships with quite
03:58 a few of those guys on the staff.
04:00 Relationships I have with some of the other guys, like Maurice Harris,
04:03 I've been knowing him for a long time.
04:05 They just, they make me comfortable as a head coach.
04:07 I think that's the most important part.
04:09 They do a good job developing these young men.
04:13 You look at it, we started training camp on yesterday.
04:16 So I've been kind of chopping it a bit to get back, but
04:19 when I think about the people I left in charge, I feel fine.
04:22 So I'm really excited about our coaching staff.
04:24 But they've done a good job of coming together.
04:28 I take a more of a CEO role.
04:30 I love calling offensive players.
04:32 I love coaching on the offensive side of football.
04:34 But the way that these guys work, and I see them working on a day-to-day basis,
04:38 it's been making me feel comfortable about taking a step back and
04:40 allowing them to do what they do.
04:42 On the defensive side of the ball, with John Bradley, our defensive coordinator,
04:46 that is, he's done a great job as far as developing these young men again this
04:52 summer, so both sides of the ball, especially team-wise, we've been,
04:56 it's been a pleasant surprise to be around these guys on an everyday basis.
04:59 >> Coach, Ken Clark, Tiger Target, the 1400 Club.
05:04 Coach, as you are assembling your team, right,
05:08 we're getting ready for Swag Media Day.
05:09 I want you to talk to us about the decision to pick these two guys to come and
05:14 represent Jackson State.
05:15 And then I wanna also get the players to talk about what it means for
05:18 them to be here representing the university.
05:20 >> It's their time.
05:22 It's their time.
05:23 You've seen flashes of JD Warren and what he can bring to a football game.
05:27 You talk about a guy that's a game worker.
05:30 You give him a crease with those big guys,
05:32 and you recruit him on the offensive line.
05:34 If he gets into the second level, you're not gonna catch him.
05:37 And then what he brings to the passing game,
05:40 great receiver out of backfield, he showed that this spring.
05:43 But it's their time to talk about it.
05:45 DePonte Davis, aka Double D, dominant force.
05:49 And like I said,
05:50 I think this is one of the guys that was disrespected for his all-conference.
05:54 He's been doing it a long time.
05:56 When I got back to Jackson State, he was a true freshman, but he's a true blue.
06:00 He understands the JSU way, he's been around it.
06:03 But this year, they're gonna make a statement.
06:06 They're gonna make a statement.
06:08 And I'm excited about these two guys that I brought with me.
06:12 >> Mr. Benson, the representative of Texas State University.