Andrel Anthony SMU Postgame Interview 9-9-23
Oklahoma wide receiver Andrel Anthony meets the press following the Sooners' 28-11 victory over SMU.
Transcript
00:00 for you out there?
00:01 Every drive, we're just like, oh, we're hitting.
00:03 You know what I'm saying?
00:05 And it's cool to see, just because considering
00:09 I just got here in January, and all the work
00:12 that we have put in in the offseason and all that,
00:14 it's really coming to light now.
00:16 And it's just a start.
00:18 I think through two games, you have 10 catches, I think,
00:21 already.
00:22 Maybe what is that like to be a really big part of the offense,
00:25 to be heavily involved?
00:26 What is that like from your perspective?
00:28 Well, it means a lot just from the trust from the OC,
00:30 our receivers coach, and QB.
00:33 I mean, trust is a big thing to me.
00:35 And I want all the trust I can have, because I'll make the play.
00:39 Well, and that touchdown in that first quarter,
00:41 I think that was a part of--
00:42 I mean, you had several catches in that first quarter.
00:44 What was that early involvement like for you?
00:47 It really helps when you get in a groove,
00:48 and you kind of establish--
00:51 you just establish yourself, you know what I'm saying?
00:53 Especially after having a drop that I had the first play,
00:55 or the second play of the game.
00:57 It really was like, OK, here we go.
00:59 And then we started hitting after that.
01:01 Have these first two games been a confirmation for you
01:04 that you made the right decision this offseason?
01:06 Yeah.
01:07 I knew I made the right decision the day that I got here.
01:09 But every time, like you said, it's just so many ways
01:15 that I've known that I made the right decision.
01:17 And this is-- getting targeted, you can't ask for more.
01:21 What was it about the day you got here that
01:23 kind of confirmed that for you?
01:25 Just that I know we're going over the install.
01:27 I'm like, jeez, I couldn't ask for anything else,
01:30 you know what I'm saying?
01:31 And then just how welcome I felt here,
01:33 and just I could tell that I was trusted as soon as I got here.
01:37 The offense had success early, and then late,
01:39 but that middle part, right?
01:41 Maybe there was some-- it was a little sluggish.
01:43 What's that perspective like as you guys
01:45 are trying to figure things out and try to get things going?
01:47 Pretty much just staying calm, not getting too emotional.
01:51 That's a big thing that we're talking about
01:53 throughout the receivers, just let the game come.
01:56 Don't force anything.
01:58 Don't get too here, don't get too low,
01:59 you know what I'm saying?
02:00 So just staying in your place and just
02:02 keep your mentally stable.
02:05 Well, and how rewarding was that maybe after SMU scores
02:08 to make it 14-11, you guys drive right down the field.
02:10 I think you had a catch or two on that drive.
02:12 What was that like from your perspective?
02:14 I mean, that was Jalil's section, right?
02:17 Yeah, Jalil's a beast.
02:19 That was crazy seeing that, because I
02:21 was on the other side blocking and whatever like that.
02:23 And I seen him throw off one dude
02:25 and then broke the other dude.
02:26 I was like, you're him, you know what I'm saying?
02:28 So that was nice.
02:30 What does it say about you guys as a group though?
02:33 Touchdown cuts it to three big drives.
02:35 You guys go down and score and respond.
02:37 It just shows-- like Coach Jones is telling us,
02:41 he sees us growing up before his eyes.
02:43 And just mentally how we're still locked in,
02:48 you know what I'm saying?
02:49 It's never going to all go your way, you know what I'm saying?
02:52 And it's just how you respond.
02:54 Coach Jones, how much has he had an effect on you
02:57 as a team?
02:58 I mean, Coach Jones is more than just a coach to me.
03:00 He's like a mentor.
03:02 And just he wants me to be the best, and all of us
03:06 wants to be the best on and off the field.
03:10 He challenges us every day.
03:12 And he just says, if you can stand Coach Jones,
03:15 you can withstand anything.
03:16 And that is true.
03:19 So looking across right now and having
03:20 a defense that's given up 11 total points
03:23 in the first couple of games.
03:25 Iron sharpens iron, I'd definitely say.
03:31 Just because we go at it all the time.
03:33 We've been going at it since spring.
03:35 And I feel like they didn't let it touch down
03:38 until seven quarters or something like that.
03:40 That's a crazy stat to have.
03:42 And just that's really hit their offense as well.
03:45 Just we get into it, you know what I'm saying?
03:48 But at the end of the day, we're a team.
03:49 And we build them out, and they build us up.
03:53 What have you thought of the receiver group
03:55 through the first two weeks?
03:55 Obviously, you've had two solid performances.
03:58 But the whole group, what do you think?
04:00 [INAUDIBLE]
04:00 Sorry, I don't want to interrupt that.
04:02 [INAUDIBLE]
04:03 [LAUGHTER]
04:06 What did you say?
04:06 Sorry.
04:07 So obviously, you've had some success these first two weeks.
04:10 What do you feel about the performance
04:11 of the entire receiver group week one, week two?
04:13 Well, I'm very impressed.
04:14 And I'm very proud of the guys.
04:17 I've seen this room improvement everywhere,
04:19 know what I'm saying, but just the maturity level.
04:23 And like Coach Jones was saying, he
04:25 sees us growing up before his eyes.
04:28 I'm seeing it as well.
04:29 And I'm also noticing it within myself.
04:31 So it's really special.
04:34 It means a lot.
04:36 Blake Smith's not a receiver, but how cool
04:38 is that for him to get his first touchdown
04:40 of his collegiate career?
04:41 So we were talking yesterday, because we had that play
04:43 drawn up for a while now.
04:44 And we were talking.
04:46 He was joking around.
04:46 He was like, yeah, there's going to be a coverage where he's not
04:48 going to be able to get the ball.
04:50 But luckily, they were a man.
04:51 So I got a little rub, whatever, like that.
04:53 And he scored.
04:54 And he was like, yeah, that's all you.
04:55 And I was like, I got you.
04:57 It was amazing.
04:58 Is that one of those moments--
04:58 he was pretty wide open, like way early in the route.
05:01 It's like, do you see that?
05:02 Like, oh my god, he's open.
05:03 He's going to score.
05:04 Yeah, I was like, as soon as that guy, me and him,
05:06 collision, I was like, this is Blake's touchdown.
05:08 And then he scored.
05:09 And we just celebrated right there.
05:12 Well, and then Marcus Major, again, not a receiver,
05:14 but catches that last touchdown.
05:16 What was that like from your perspective?
05:17 So I'm running.
05:18 And I realized that DB kind of stops his feet.
05:20 I was like, OK, he definitely caught it.
05:22 Then I just block and block and block.
05:24 And I see him go by me.
05:25 I was like, it's touchdown.
05:26 See you at the game.
05:28 (laughs)