Football Newcomers Meet with Media

Oklahoma football mid-year enrollee players met with the media on Wednesday to discuss their transition to Oklahoma, why they chose to attend OU, winter workouts and upcoming spring ball. A selection of their responses are below.

Head coach Brent Venables also addressed the media ahead of spring practice, which begins on Monday. The Sooners will hold the annual Spring Game on April 20 at 1 p.m. at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Player Quotes

Michael Hawkins Jr. / Fr. / QB

On his expectations for spring ball: "My expectations are really high for this team. I know the guys are going to put the work in; I've already seen it in these first few weeks. Everybody's getting stronger and taking care of what we need to take care of. I'm really excited for this first practice."

On the QB room:
"Everybody has their own different kind of play style in the QB room and I love that. Everybody's really helping each other and helping learn the offense, identifying defenses and the teams we'll play."

Casey Thompson / R-Sr. / QB

On choosing Oklahoma: "There really wasn't a whole lot of talking or going back and forth. It was an easy process. Nobody has to sell me on the OU brand; I grew up here. Nobody has to sell me on the importance of OU football or what it means to this community and this fan base. The motivating factor for me and one of the main reasons was, you know, BV and his staff and what they've been building here for the last few years, as far as a culture, and just hearing how different people and players have talked about him. You know, Drake Stoops and Dillon Gabriel and just seeing how the team has reacted to him.

"I remember the day he got hired a few years ago, to come back. And everyone went to the private airport here in Norman. And that was a big deal. I've been around every offseason and I can see how the community has fully embraced Coach Venables. And I definitely wanted to be a part of it. As I got here, inside this building, just seeing the bond and the brotherhood that this team has, the people that he has in place in leadership roles and the leaders on the team. Then the biggest thing is the off the field stuff, the community engagement, the life skills and SOUL Mission. As you guys know, he's real big on that and I think that it's made a world of a difference here."

Sam Franklin / R-Jr. / RB

On what he is looking forward to the most about spring practice: "I'm really excited for spring ball and just getting better; competing with a talented group of guys in my room and pushing each other to be the best we can be, and to be the best running back room in the SEC. For me, I want to work on being consistent every single day and keep my head down and focus on the details that can help elevate my game."

Xavier Robinson / Fr. / RB

On his excitement level to get spring practice started: "Like Coach Venables said, the days are long and the years are short, and those eight weeks (of winter workouts) went by fast. I'm really excited to get out there and finally get the feel of everything instead of just coming on visits and watching, and being able to do something. I'm really excited to be able to do that."

On looking forward to playing with the other running backs in the group:
"Ever since I got here, they've been working with me and helping me out. I'm excited to play with them. They're all team players and nobody is really trying to put themselves first. They've been really great to me."

Jacob Jordan / Fr. / WR

On why he chose OU: "I picked OU, firstly, for the culture – things like SOUL Mission. The way everyone treats everybody around here, it feels like family. On a deeper level, I would say all of these coaches are great leaders and great men, and they really do it the right way. I really believe in Coach Venables and what he and the whole staff are doing. Ultimately, I came here to win championships. That's what I think this place is all about and I'm excited to be part of it."

Zion Kearney / Fr. / WR

On why he chose OU: "Really, just the hard work I've seen the team putting in. The coaches really act the same when you get into the program. The coaching staff, Coach (Jerry Schmidt) and the strength staff – it's a great group. This is a nice place to be. Norman is a nice area. I like being here, and I think it's a good fit for me."

Josh Aisosa / Fr. / OL

On what he's looking forward to most during spring practice: "I'm very excited. I've been wanting to play football for the past couple of weeks. I've had a strong urge, so I'm ready for it. Monday is going to be very exciting. I want to see how the first inside run is. That's going to set the tone. Inside is always an experience when you don't know what you're doing yet."

On the transition from high school to college during winter workouts:
"It's different. It's way different. At my high school, we weren't running as much as we do here. The first couple of workouts you think, there's no way I can do this. But you end up training your mind to think, I'm going to do this, I'm going to dominate, I'm going to do things the right way and get through the workouts."

Spencer Brown / R-Sr. / OL

On the impact of transfers on the OU offensive line: "For sure, looking at Walter Rouse and Tyler Guyton and some of these tackles that have come in, I felt like Coach Bedenbaugh is the right guy for me and he's developed these guys for the next level. Then they excel at the next level, too. It's the blueprint, the plan, you just have to follow it and it'll be right in the end."

On the offensive linemen who have helped him with the transition to OU:
"Troy Everett, Jacob Sexton, some of those guys and the leaders have been helping me along the way. Of course the coaches and grad assistants. But really, everybody. I can learn from everybody. If I don't know something I'm not too scared to ask and I think that's important."

Febechi Nwaiwu / R-Jr. / OL

On his excitement for spring practice to begin: "I'm very excited. I think spring ball, besides the season, is one of the best parts of the year. You get to put the pads and get to compete against your teammates to make each other better. It's one of the best parts."

On why he chose OU:
"I chose it because of the coaching and the people here. I feel like everybody here is a family. When it really came down to it, I feel like we really have a chance to make a huge impact in the SEC."

On winter workouts and his transition to OU:
"I think winter workouts went pretty well. Getting in there with Coach Schmidty, he's a legend. It was a blessing being able to work out with him and his staff and the other people at OU. They go so hard that it makes you push yourself even harder."

Davon Mitchell / Fr. / TE

On co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley: "My tight ends coach is one of the OC's now, so that's very exciting. Having your tight ends coach being an offensive coordinator, you know he can cook something up for us. They want us all to be great."

On the tight ends group:
"We all have different qualities. All of these guys are great tight ends, they've been here longer than me and learning from behind them. I'm just looking at the guys who are in front of me to know what to do and be able to adjust how I play."

On what he's enjoyed most so far:
"Honestly, the weight room. The weight room is something that I really enjoy. We compete everywhere, from the weight room to the field. I feel like the weight room is where we're most intense, and really have the most fun, too."

Jake Roberts / Sr. / TE

On why he chose OU: "The relationship with Coach Littrell was a big draw. Playing for him at North Texas for three years has its perks and that prior relationship was a big thing for me. With a guy with one year left, trust is a big thing, knowing what I'm getting myself into. Also, just being home. I think that's just a no-brainer. Being back home is a big deal for me."

Bauer Sharp / R-Jr. / TE

On why he chose Oklahoma: "Coach Littrell and Coach Finley are good people. They love the Lord and they love football. When they came to my house, they were just real. I know Coach Littrell has a good past with coaching tight ends and I know Coach Finley does too. He played it. That gives me a lot of confidence in what I can do in this offense."

Wyatt Gilmore / Fr. / DL

On his transition to OU: "Sometimes it doesn't feel real that I'm actually here. The transition was honestly really easy, because there are so many people who are there for you in every single aspect of life. The transition is pretty much flawless."

On the makeup of the defensive end group and how he fits into it:
"This is a very competitive defensive ends room. As the incoming group, it's going to be fun, rolling with these guys and getting better with these guys. We have a lot of older leadership in the room, and being a young guy, that leadership has helped us transition. They've been unbelievably helpful. I have so many questions and they answer every one of them."

Jayden Jackson / Fr. / DL

On his goals: "My personal goals, definitely graduate. That's the obvious choice. Learning the playbook is a must. Learning anything I can from Coach Venables and Coach Bates. I want to know what technique they want to work with me. I want to know if my footing is bad. Just anything they have for me. That's my goal. Definitely get up in weight a little bit more and get stronger and faster as much as I can."

DANNY OKOYE / Fr. / DL

On his expectations for the spring: "This spring I really just want to adjust to the scheme on the defensive side of the ball. You know, it's a big adjustment going from high school football to college football and having one of the more complex defensive systems in college football. So, I'm definitely trying to get up to speed on everything. Just adjusting as best as I can and taking it step by step, learn the scheme and learn the things I need to know for the summer and fall season."

On his relationship with defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis:
"That's my man, that's my boy. I love Coach Chavis. We really have a lot of the same energy, so I feel like that helps our relationship and makes it stronger. It's great when you can play a sport that you love, and be coached by the type of person you can appreciate. We click really well, the way we think about things, so I really like seeing that from my position coach."

NIGEL SMITH II / Fr. / DL

On his excitement level for spring ball: "I'm super excited. Getting this playbook down and getting to work with these guys, I'm really excited to see how I stack up against these offensive linemen and just how I'm going to do just adjusting to college ball."

On his fellow freshmen defensive linemen:
"This is obviously a great D-line that we've recruited and they've really surprised me with just how hard we've grinded throughout these winter workouts and how athletic we are. Like Danny (Okoye)'s a freak. He's been injured but he's crazy strong already and Jaden (Jackson) and David (Stone) have been dominating these winter workouts. So I think we're all really excited for in a couple of years when this is really going to be a crazy-good defensive line."

DAVID STONE / Fr. / DL

On his adjustment to college: "It's been a great experience so far; I've been loving every moment of it. Every day, I'm taking it as it comes, day by day. Not looking too far into the future, just keeping my head low and working. Especially on the defensive line. We always take care of each other when it comes to off-the-field things, and watch out for each other on the field and in the film room. Making sure we're studying the playbook and whatever it comes down to, just having a support system where everyone looks out for each other. Grateful to have that around me."

On his expectations for the young defensive linemen:
"Coming in, we just want to drive each other to be the best versions of ourselves. You know, we're all very intense competitors so we're always wanting to compete. And it challenges our upperclassmen too, to help us be better and help us learn the playbook so everyone's on the same page."

ELI BOWEN / Fr. / DB

On the adjustment to college being easier with his older brother, Peyton, on the team: "It definitely has been easier, because you have someone going through it with you that you've known forever. So I mean it definitely has made it easier to be able to talk over things with someone or ask him what to expect in this or that. It's definitely made things smoother.

Dez Malone / R-Sr. / DB

On the veteran presence in the defensive backfield: "I would say the good part of having a lot of veterans is I come in and get to see how they work. They're always leading by example. They're always ready to speak up and coach me up. The veterans on this team do a really good job of leading. We can piggyback off each other with our knowledge. Woodi Washington, since I got here – we're corners so you have to have that bond – he's been great. He's been teaching me everything. He's literally a great homeboy, great friend, great leader. He's a great person to be around and I really appreciate him."

Reggie Powers III / Fr. / DB

On the transition from high school to OU: "It's been good. It's different coming from high school. I think in college everything is a step up. The intensity level, the coaching. Everything is just more serious. I think we have the right group of guys to come here, because we all take it seriously. We'll be good when we get into spring ball. I think, as a player, just learning the playbook and competing. We're just playing football. All of us love to play football, so I think if we all just go out there and have fun and have the mindset of getting better every day, everything will be good. We're all just going to make each other better."

Michael Boganowski / Fr. / LB

On spring practice and his transition to OU: "I can't wait. I can't wait. It's been a while since I've played football, so being able to put those pads on again, it's going to be a great feeling. The transition has been great. A lot of new things; new environment, new playbook, kind of a new position. For the most part, it's been good. Winter workouts were tough. I definitely see the progress in my body and my weight, so it was a good winter for sure."

On what he wants to work on the most this spring:
"Building confidence with my teammates and with my coaches so ultimately, they feel comfortable playing me in the fall. For myself, I'd say just working on my alignments and different formations. That's the biggest thing I want to focus on this spring."

JAMES NESTA / Fr. / LB

On the adjustment of college and playing football and baseball: "I would say the first week or so it was a lot, but I've gotten into a rhythm now where I don't even need to look at my schedule. I know where I'm going every part of the day and just finding that rhythm."

On juggling baseball season with learning the playbook and defensive schemes:
"It makes it more difficult but that's what I signed up for, and I'm willing to put the work in and learn. I have Danny (Stutsman) and Jaren (Kanak), learning from them. They'll sit and watch film with me and teach me. It's been a lot easier with them, just trying to walk in their footsteps."

On his journey of playing baseball and football:
"My story is, growing up I had a really talented arm but I always loved football so would keep playing football. I would start to get offers for baseball in like the seventh grade, so I was just thinking the whole time I was going to play baseball and hopefully get drafted. My junior year I thought I was stepping off the football field like I was never going to play football again. Two months later, everything just picked up really quick. I got a bunch of football offers and decided to go with it, because football's my first love. I really do love football, and that's why I'm here."

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