Venables, Nagy, Newcomers Meet with Media as OU Starts Spring Practice

NORMAN — Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, newly hired general manager for football Jim Nagy and 35 Oklahoma football newcomers met with the media Wednesday ahead of Thursday's spring practice.

See below for highlights from the session and watch the press conferences in their entirety via SoonerSports.com/watch.

Quarterback John Mateer

Head Coach Brent Venables

General Manager for Football Jim Nagy

Quotes

Junior QB John Mateer

On his transition to Oklahoma:

"I've had a lot of close friends throughout my whole life that are huge Oklahoma fans. One of my good buddies goes to school here. We all hang out. It's all pretty surreal. I mean, I'm the quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners. It's wild. But I'm here, and I feel blessed to do it. It's close to home, which is great. My family loves it, obviously, because I'm so close. It goes back to the expectations and the pressure. I think it's just a privilege and an opportunity to be here and work as hard as I can, with all the resources I have and the great teammates I have around me, to just put my best performance on the field."

On his play:

"I'll be honest. I used to struggle with the word fun on the field, because if I'm not winning, it's not fun. We had a lot of success this past year, so it was fun. People say I have swag. I'm just playing football. I have the ball in my hand every play. If I get the opportunity to do something with it, the camera's on me all the time, so I guess I have swag. Some people say I have toughness. I feel like I have an obligation to give everything I have for my teammates. I guess that's where that comes from."

On Coach Venables:

"I think talking to him, you can tell he's a very intelligent individual. He's really smart. You can tell by the way he talks about the teammates, my teammates now, and them as people. And then the coaches and the relationships he has. Now, being on his team, just how much he cares and how passionate he is. How he knows how to win. I know last year wasn't super successful but he's been on a lot of winning teams, and he knows the formula. So just learning from him. I tell him often I appreciate him and what he's done, giving me this opportunity. But he's a great man and a great coach."

Redshirt Senior LB Kendal Daniels

On where he'll play on defense:

"Coach (Venables) told me to just come in here and work on Kendal Daniels. I'm just here to play defense. If they ask me to run through a wall, that's what I'll do."

On playing in the SEC:

"Every single week is a big game in the SEC and I feel like that's a big reason why I wanted to come here. Just to play in those environments and big games."

Senior DL Marvin Jones Jr.

On his goals this spring:

"Try to get better every day and better my technique every day. There are so many things to work on from last year. Just get better every day is the focus."

On being a leader:

"I'm excited to try to add on to everything that happened last year and the guys we have coming back. It's definitely a big responsibility. Being a senior, being a leader, it's my last year in college so I'm just excited to compete every day and show my teammates that work ethic."

Freshman OL Michael Fasusi

On his adjustment to college from high school:

"It's been great. I've had the right people around me and the best resources that anywhere could possibly offer, from the strength coaches to the coaching staff to nutritionists. I've gained about 20-30 pounds since coming here and it's the best 20 pounds I've ever put on. Having the right resources around me has been a blessing."

On expectations:

"I don't really believe in expectations. I believe in going out there and working. I didn't come here thinking I was guaranteed a spot. I came in here knowing I am going to do what's best for me to get better and just develop. That's been my goal since I came here and still my goal now."

Freshman WR Manny Choice

On the wide receiver room:

"It's great having guys from all over. You've got some guys that have been here for a little, guys who just got here, veterans, so I feel like we as freshmen have everything to bring it all together and learn from each and every one of them."

On the freshman class:

"That (the class) played a huge role in me coming here. I trusted in the guys they were bringing in, the guys they had, the coaches, I trusted in all of it. I have a great feeling about this class."

Freshman DB Maliek Hawkins

On choosing Oklahoma:

"Everyone knows OU is one of the big schools and one of the winningest programs; that's why I chose to come here. Coach Venables is one of the best parts about being here as well, obviously. Everyone knows he's defensive-minded and I feel like I'm extremely aggressive and versatile and can fit into his defense."

Freshman DL Trent Wilson

On learning from the veterans on the defensive line:

"This goes for the whole defensive line: everyone is very technically sound. They preach about the small details being important. You know, study time, schedule, time management. Everyone has helped me get up to speed with the plays and playing fast and how to break down the playbook. Really learning to do all the simple things at a high level, they've been teaching me how to learn quickly."

On his focus heading into spring ball:

"My focus is just being the best version of myself in everything I do. Doing everything to the best of my abilities, whether it be learning the playbook, getting things done in the classroom, being a better teammate, training. Every day I'm giving 100% and doing everything the right way and to the best of my abilities."

Redshirt Junior WR Isaiah Sategna

On his game:

"I want to take the top off the defense and be an explosive returner in both punt and kick return. Just looking to be a playmaker wherever I can be."

On QB John Mateer:

"It's great to have him keeping everyone on the same page, he's the general out there and I'm excited to play with him."

Redshirt Junior WR Javonnie Gibson

On jumping to the SEC level:

"It feels great. I was under-recruited but I always thought that I could do it (play at this level), so it's not a shock to me and I feel like I'm ready to compete. I'm at OU, this is a great program to be at and be a part of. It's just mind-blowing, but at the same time, I always knew I could be here is my mentality."

Redshirt Senior OL Derek Simmons

On what he likes about OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh:

"Who he's coached, how he coaches, and I like how his former players come back. He coaches hard and you need that with football. I've only been here for a little while, but he's easily the best offensive line coach I've had."

On the freshman OL class:

"Those guys are hard workers. They're so athletic, they have so much potential and will definitely be playing in the NFL someday."

Freshman OL Ryan Fodje

On his expectations entering his freshman season:

"My expectation coming into my freshman year is to be able to make a change in this program and to be able to make my own impact and work to be on the field. I have goals to play as a freshman, obviously. Whatever I have to do to impact the team is what I've got to do."