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00:00 You talked about in the spring about the opportunity
00:04 and a really good spring game.
00:05 And then since the spring game until now,
00:07 how do you feel like you've improved?
00:09 And how do you show the coaches, hey,
00:11 I want this opportunity to take it?
00:14 I think I've built a lot off the spring.
00:15 I've been a bit more consistent.
00:18 It was definitely a big transition
00:20 from the South Dakota offense where I'm primarily
00:22 off the ball and slot receiver.
00:24 And now I'm in a multitude of roles here,
00:27 whether it's three point off the ball, slot,
00:29 even out of line.
00:30 So I would say I've become more consistent
00:32 in just putting on goals.
00:34 As we were talking, your teammate called you a dog.
00:36 Your coach said you've taken on a great leadership role.
00:39 What have you done since the end of last season,
00:41 I guess, to take that next step in your own personal career?
00:44 I think it's been the same for me.
00:45 I think I just got more--
00:48 got more rewards from it.
00:49 I think a lot of it's really paid off.
00:52 I've attacked each year the same way.
00:54 Just kind of wait while you work, or work while you wait.
00:57 But now my time's up, and I'm exercising every week.
01:02 What was your favorite song about that you guys know people
01:05 kind of have downplayed the type of it a little bit?
01:07 Like, you don't have experience, and there's not a lot of guys.
01:10 We all take that a little bit as a joke.
01:11 Don't you, Coach?
01:13 Yes and no.
01:14 I guess we don't listen to it too much.
01:17 I think we're so caught up in what
01:18 we got to do here every day.
01:20 But obviously, you hear it.
01:21 But I'd say that's a little bit of a misconception,
01:25 I feel like, for me personally.
01:27 I feel like there's still this continuity in this tight end
01:29 room.
01:30 DJ and I have played a lot of snaps here.
01:32 Joey gave us a six-foot-peer senior,
01:34 and we've all done a significantly good job
01:37 during camp.
01:39 When this new staff came in, did you watch a lot of how
01:42 the tight end was utilized in this previous game?
01:44 Particularly, did you watch much of Payne Durham
01:47 and how he was utilized?
01:49 I'd say the majority of the cutouts were Payne Durham.
01:52 So yeah, we got familiarized with the '87 conclusion.
01:56 And what was it like sitting in those film rooms,
01:58 watching those cutouts?
01:59 Did it open your eyes, saying, oh, wow, this is something
02:01 that we can do in this offense?
02:03 I'd say I was really optimistic and elated
02:05 seeing how Purdue runs their offense,
02:08 because they include tight end so much in their offense.
02:11 It's a focal point.
02:11 So we were all just very, very intrigued and excited
02:14 about how we could do this this year.
02:16 You talked about Joey and the experience.
02:18 How have you seen the transition from early on until right now?
02:24 I mean, how much team--
02:25 It's gotten better every day.
02:27 Blocken is a little more new.
02:28 Obviously, he's played quarterback and receiver.
02:31 But he's someone who's around every single day during camp.
02:34 And he's been a huge asset for us, I would say,
02:37 in the passing game.
02:38 So I think we're all excited to see what he can do.
02:40 Has there been anything that he's
02:42 made you come to you guys about to learn the position
02:44 a little bit better?
02:45 Yeah, he was a little behind the eight ball,
02:47 because he got here during the summer pause.
02:49 The rest of us got to do all spring.
02:50 So we've helped him out with getting more comfortable
02:54 with the runs and the offense.
02:58 Good.
02:58 Yep.