Razorback Players After Wednesday Practice
Arkansas Razorbacks Tank Booker, Joshua Braun and wide receiver Tyrone Broden with the media after Wednesday afternoon's practice.
Transcript
00:00 We think you might have about the deepest D line.
00:02 What can you talk about maybe how you feel?
00:04 How the depth is?
00:05 Oh yeah, this is sure one of the deepest D lines I've ever had since I've been here.
00:09 We have at least three groups that can play and contribute.
00:12 Guys like Keevy, Tank, and just the rest of the guys, Cam, TC.
00:17 Like we're pretty deep.
00:17 This is the deepest I've been.
00:19 We're looking good.
00:21 Like on game day.
00:22 It gives us an opportunity to get a break, come back in fresh,
00:26 and just be able to rotate all three of those groups in.
00:29 Guys be fresh and make plays.
00:31 It does a lot.
00:33 Jaden, we heard some of your teammates say J-Don.
00:35 Is that how you pronounce the name?
00:36 It's pronounced Jaden, but I have three teammates named Jaden on my team last year,
00:41 so that's why it got changed to J-Don.
00:43 It was cool with me.
00:48 Social media have been active about how hungry you are, I guess, this year.
00:52 Can you maybe talk about your motivations and what you want to get done?
00:55 I just feel I haven't played football in a long time at the highest level
00:58 that I have in high school,
01:00 so I'm just ready to get back on that field and show what I haven't.
01:05 Keevy, we saw your video jumping in the pool.
01:08 What was the inspiration to come here?
01:11 I was just excited for a new opportunity.
01:14 I knew I had left Louisiana Tech, graduated,
01:17 and I just felt like I needed a new opportunity,
01:18 especially coming into this group with the guys that's there.
01:22 Really, really deep group.
01:24 I just felt like coming here, I would add to that depth
01:27 and just really going against the best every day
01:30 and working with these guys.
01:31 They're teaching me and I'm learning from them,
01:32 so it was really, really good for me to come here.
01:37 Yeah, Eric, I know you used to swing out and play some in,
01:40 but I assume -- I obviously haven't seen all the practices
01:42 every minute or whatever, but I assume you stayed a tackle,
01:45 and if so, how's that been that you're just focusing on tackle?
01:48 Can you guys have such good in-depth?
01:50 Yeah, I'm really just focused on tackling.
01:51 Like you said, we got some great in's,
01:53 and they don't need me out there,
01:55 but just inside, I've been able to play it just inside.
01:59 It's been great. I'm learning the technique,
02:01 getting down, taking the double team better,
02:03 and it's just -- it's been amazing just to play inside.
02:06 This is your -- I think it's your fifth year, right?
02:08 Yeah, fifth year.
02:09 So you've been through a lot, some highs,
02:11 had some real good moments, too.
02:13 Just what's your take on how you feel --
02:16 what you think you can do going into your fifth year now?
02:18 Man, I'm feeling more confident with the depth we got now.
02:21 I'm feeling more fresher,
02:23 and I just -- I feel like it's going to be a big season.
02:26 What's your take on Keebee and what he has to tackle spot?
02:29 Man, Keebee has finesse.
02:31 When he came in, they came in one-on-one pass,
02:33 where he's winning right off the bat,
02:35 and just seeing that actually motivated me
02:38 to actually do better in my pass, too.
02:39 I know I got to step my game up even more.
02:41 So he's bringing the finesse, power,
02:44 and he's bringing knowledge, also,
02:46 because he's a really older cat, too, a little bit,
02:48 so he's bringing knowledge in, too.
02:50 Keebee, what's your take on the de-tackle depth?
02:52 Not the end, but just the folks on the campus.
02:55 I mean, it's the most depth I've been around
02:58 since I've been playing college, and everybody's really good.
03:01 Like, it's just a battle every day,
03:03 but it's a good battle to where, like, we all working hard,
03:07 just trying to make each other better,
03:09 but also getting the whole line better.
03:11 So it's going to be exciting to see this year.
03:15 I'm really excited.
03:17 And some of you probably do have a fair amount of interest
03:19 in the Florida.
03:20 Who else did you consider, and why did you think
03:22 you wanted to go to Arkansas?
03:23 I considered TCU and Miami,
03:26 but Arkansas just stood out to me.
03:28 I just felt like being in the SNC
03:30 was a place I needed to be,
03:32 and I feel like I just really just went off pace.
03:35 It was great, the opportunity that was up,
03:38 that I felt was there,
03:40 with also, like, again, I said,
03:42 with the older and deeper depth that was there,
03:47 I mean, it was just a blessing to join Arkansas
03:52 and be in here.
03:55 Both of the linemen, I think a lot of talk
03:57 has been about, you know, the versatility and the depth.
04:00 What are, like, you know, when you think about
04:02 specific strengths that you guys are going to have,
04:04 you know, rushing the pass or filling the gaps,
04:05 I mean, what are some things
04:07 that are really standing out for you right now?
04:08 I think both, really, stopping the run
04:11 and getting to the pass.
04:12 I feel like every -- all the guys that have been here
04:15 got better in their pass risk.
04:16 The new guys came here, they're getting a better read
04:19 of the run and pass.
04:20 So, like, both run and pass will be really good this year.
04:25 Also, to piggyback on the same thing, man,
04:27 I mean, when I first got here,
04:29 I was just -- my eyes were blown away
04:31 to see my groupies that were in the movement
04:33 and I just feel like it's going to be a really big year for us.
04:37 Old group, too, with all the seniors you guys have,
04:39 does it feel like -- does that age and experience
04:42 make the group, the room, feel a little bit different
04:44 than what you've, you know, been a part of in years past?
04:47 Oh, for sure.
04:48 The knowledge in the room is crazy.
04:49 I mean, we can all piggyback off each other,
04:52 give each other insight on different things
04:53 that we can work on, that somebody else can work on.
04:56 And, I mean, we're feeding off it pretty good.
04:59 And I'm just curious, you know, first two scrimmages,
05:03 I think, what have you seen from the receiver room
05:05 and also, you know, KJ in particular?
05:08 I think, you know, big expectations.
05:09 How has he kind of grown from last year to this year?
05:13 Well, I would say KJ has grown amazingly.
05:17 Like, he's the best I've ever seen him
05:19 since I came in my freshman year.
05:20 So I can't wait to be on the field with him,
05:23 playing with him, and as for the receiver,
05:25 I just feel like we're all coming together,
05:27 all starting to come together as a group
05:30 and play better off each other
05:33 and motivate each other to be the best we can be.
05:37 So close to the first game, does it feel like
05:39 there's a little bit extra, maybe, competition
05:41 just amongst you guys for snaps right now?
05:44 I wouldn't say it's a competition,
05:45 but it's always good work every day.
05:47 Everybody wants to come in and work and get better,
05:50 and we all feed off of each other.
05:52 So I wouldn't just say it's competition.
05:53 We all looking for good work.
05:57 In your first year here, I'm just wondering,
05:58 you had two scrimmages now.
06:00 Just what do you think about the coaching staff
06:02 and how everything's going on on that front?
06:05 I'm really just glad for being with coaching staff
06:08 around these type of coaches.
06:10 They're really encouraging, really uplifting,
06:13 and they make it easy to learn the playbook
06:15 and to play the scheme.
06:17 It's just really been an easy transition for me,
06:19 I feel like, just learning the playbook,
06:22 playing with guys, and really just getting adapted
06:25 to not so much what I'm used to
06:28 and being adapted to a completely new.
06:32 What are kind of some of the biggest changes
06:34 that you've seen since you've come over here?
06:36 Really just support around the school
06:41 and around football.
06:45 Coming from Louisiana Tech, it wasn't just like
06:47 it's so overwhelming with all the resources
06:49 that we have here and using just like
06:51 just the smallest things I try to take advantage of
06:53 because I didn't have them when I was there.
06:55 So it has really been a truth lesson being here.
07:00 A little bit more recently,
07:02 were you doing that some in the spring,
07:03 or when did you kind of make the move maybe to do both?
07:05 I kind of made the move middle of the summer
07:09 where I learned I was going to be doing both,
07:10 and that's when I made the move.
07:13 Any extra difficulty with learning those,
07:15 that position in this one?
07:17 In this offense, I feel like you got to know everything,
07:19 so I feel like there's no --
07:21 you just have to be on your -- be in your playbook
07:23 and learn what you have learned and get it right.
07:27 And when do you think you're coming out?
07:30 I probably should be out of the green in the next two days.
07:34 A follow-up on that, like you working in the slot,
07:36 is that a Jaden Wilson thing specifically,
07:39 or is that something with the receivers
07:41 that they want everyone kind of, you know,
07:43 getting their reps there because it seems like
07:44 Andrew and Tesla too could probably thrive
07:47 in the slot this season?
07:48 Yeah, like I said about the offense,
07:51 the offense is so complex that any receiver
07:53 could be anywhere on the field,
07:54 so you have to know everything on the field
07:57 to play in the offense, so that's one.
08:03 Much with Jacoby, but if so, what's been your take on him?
08:07 Jacoby, he's getting better since he came in.
08:11 You know, accuracy there, everything's there,
08:12 and I love catching passes from QB,
08:15 so it's always good work.
08:18 Yeah, McKay, Jay, but you feel good
08:20 that you have a good backup quarterback?
08:22 I definitely feel good on all our backups,
08:24 not even just Jacoby Malachi and K Fortnite.
08:28 I feel good on all three of those guys.
08:31 Yeah, you guys obviously missed Torian last year.
08:33 Well, how good does it pay having him back,
08:35 and what are you seeing from him in camp?
08:36 Great, just his energy.
08:37 Even when he was hurt, he had that energy,
08:40 motivating everybody, but now this year,
08:41 the energy he brings is very contagious.
08:44 It's rubbing off on everybody.
08:46 He makes us want to play harder just with his energy,
08:48 even the hot days when it's hot,
08:52 and we sweat, and he's bringing the energy,
08:54 so just his leadership and his knowledge of the game,
08:58 also, he's bringing all that.
09:00 Here in the spring, we've heard good things about him.
09:04 It looks like he knows what he's doing out there.
09:05 What's your take on him?
09:07 When Eric's done, maybe you can give your take on Tank, too.
09:11 Man, Tank, he's big, and he's athletic.
09:14 He can pass rush. He can hold the double team,
09:17 and he's just a great addition for us to do it.
09:20 Yeah, Tank is very powerful.
09:22 That's one thing I've noticed in his game.
09:24 He uses a lot of power, and he uses it to his advantage.
09:27 Like, when he gets to me, he gets on his hip,
09:29 and he hits somebody, they feel it,
09:31 and then when he's taking on double teams,
09:33 he can hold the point, and that's just something
09:35 I've been really just looking at his game,
09:37 and he's really doing real well with it.
09:40 And then, Eric, I know it's the third week of camp.
09:42 I've seen it's getting a little tedious.
09:44 Sam Pimentel said the other day you guys
09:46 are going to start working on Western Carolina on Wednesday.
09:49 How glad are you?
09:51 What's a third week of camp like when you're still
09:53 several days away from a game, and how glad are you guys
09:55 to maybe start working on an opponent come Wednesday?
10:01 Oh, I'm happy.
10:03 I'm glad we're working on Western Carolina.
10:06 Just going against the offense for them three weeks,
10:09 we've definitely gotten better, so now it's just our attention
10:12 to Western Carolina is going to be great.
10:15 And competing with the defense has been great,
10:18 and I love competing with the defense,
10:19 but, you know, it's about that time for that season
10:21 to come and start preparing for the opponent,
10:23 so, you know, the fall camp has been great,
10:26 but it's time for that season now.
10:30 You mentioned some of the complexities of the new offense.
10:32 What's kind of the talk among the receivers
10:34 about the new kind of in-storm, how that's going?
10:41 Can you repeat the question?
10:44 How -- just kind of what's the talk and buzz
10:47 among the receivers about the new offense
10:49 now that you've gotten to work with it for quite a while now?
10:52 Me and all the receivers, you know,
10:54 we actually love the offense and love the complexity.
10:58 We love being able to move all the way around the field
11:00 just because we all feel like we're route runners.
11:03 We can go around routes at any position on the field,
11:05 and, yeah, we love the complexity of the offense.