Heisman Finalists Take In the Big Apple

NEW YORK ? Heisman weekend is underway as Oklahoma junior quarterback Baker Mayfield and senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook arrived Friday morning in New York City for Saturday night's ceremony.

Both are making their first-ever trip to the Big Apple after spending Thursday night in Atlanta for the Home Depot College Football Awards where Westbrook won the Biletnikoff Award and Mayfield was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards.

After arriving in New York late Friday morning, the pair and their families were greeted with a welcome luncheon at a local restaurant before meeting with the media and taking photos with the Heisman Trophy. Friday night has the players attending the Wendy's High School Heisman Dinner before a sight-seeing tour around New York City and a welcome reception.

Following are some of the highlights from the media session with Mayfield and Westbrook:

Baker Mayfield

On the most important thing in the team's nine-game winning streak:
“A mentality throughout our whole team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, that we have to take it one week at a time, one day and one play at a time. We've been able to push for that and work so hard. You want to think about your end goal, obviously we wanted to be in the playoffs but after the 1-2 start, we were like, ?all right, the end goal now is the Big 12 championship and to put ourselves in a great position at the end of the year. Let's just take it one day at a time and keep getting better and better as the year goes on.' So we're playing great football right now.”

On why Westbrook should win the Heisman:
“He's the most explosive player in college football. Any time he touches the ball he has the potential to get in the end zone. Look at the stats he's had over the year. The thing I always say is that if he was completely healthy for the first three games, he probably would've broken a lot of records in the NCAA if he had three games to add on to this year. He's changed our offense so much. He's such a great leader for us. He really does deserve it. I think he's the most dangerous man in college football.”

On the other Heisman finalist quarterbacks:
“Lamar (Jackson) is very similar to how I described Dede in that he has the potential to score every time he touches the ball. It's always scary playing against a quarterback like that because he can hurt you in a lot of ways. DeShaun has been prolific for multiple years now. He does everything well, such a dynamic passer, but when he needs to run he will. A lot of respect to those guys; I love watching them.”

On the emotions of being a Heisman finalist:
“It is kind of stressful, but at the same time it's not in our hands. I try not to worry about it; I'm just trying to relax and even get these guys to relax and have fun and enjoy it because they deserve to have some fun. They obviously deserve to be here in getting invited, so it's a little nerve-wracking and stressful to think about that you're going to win the Heisman and have your name in history forever, but I try not to think about it too much.”

Dede Westbrook

On if he ever imagined being a Heisman finalist:
“No, I never imagined this. I knew I was something special; I knew I had a talent and a gift to play the game of football, but as far as being a Heisman finalist, no I never saw that... I just wanted to go to college and play football at a major university and give someone from my hometown someone to look up to.”

On his journey from Cameron, Texas, to New York City:
“It took a lot of hard work, a lot of focus and a lot of dedication for me to get here. If it wasn't for my beautiful children I wouldn't be here. If it wasn't for my mother I wouldn't be here, as well. It just took a lot. I quit football for a while and people just thought that I gave up, but I didn't. I isolated myself from my friends and was doing things on my own to better myself in the game of football. If that was turning the TV on and watching SportsCenter getting those mental reps or whatever it took for me to be great while I was at home for the time being. It just took a lot of hard work and dedication and that's the reason I'm here now.”

On being in New York with Baker Mayfield:
“It means a lot. I wouldn't be here without Baker and the rest of my teammates back in Norman. Like I said, it's an honor and I'm going to be there with (Baker) whenever he walks away with the trophy.”

On being a Heisman finalist as a wide receiver:
“It's very special. The reason being, even for my name to be mentioned with Desmond Howard, Randy Moss, Amari Cooper and all of those guys, those are all great college football guys. They had great careers at the next level, and for me to even be mentioned as a receiver like that, that's pretty crazy for me. I'm blessed.”