Cotton Bowl Updates: Buckeyes Preview Semifinal Matchup With Longhorns

COLUMBUS — Sunday was the first media availability for the Buckeyes as they prepare for next week’s matchup against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The winner of the game will play for the College Football Playoff National Championship. Meeting with reporters today were linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, tight end Gee Scott, receiver Brandon Inniss, offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, and quarterback Will Howard. The highlights of everything that was said can be found below.

Sonny Styles

What was different with the pressure this time against Oregon? They were very well prepared for the last two teams they’ve played because they’ve had more time and they’ve used it wisely.
On Cody Simon: The way he plays is the product of him doing everything the right way. But he’s also one of the best people you’ll ever meet. “He’s getting the fruit of his labor right now.”
Are you and Cody Simon clicking right now? “Yeah, he’s made me a lot better player.”
Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau are different guys but they have a lot of similarities on the field. Off the field, Sawyer is a more high-energy kind of guy.
On this defense being connected right now: You see it out there when they’re making plays. “I think what really makes us go is the guy next to us.”
How have you improved as a LB? Footwork has improved over time. He had too many false steps early in the seasons. Gotten better at trusting himself. You have to just be instinctual and go.
On Arvell Reese: He’s a great player right now. He’s gonna be a really, really good player next year. He took a huge leap this year. You have to be a smart guy to play Mike.
Ryan Day has done a good job of reinforcing that if they don’t win this game, the last two weeks don’t matter.
On Texas’ offense and running game struggles: “I think they’ve got a super-explosive running game.” They can put up 50 points if you let them. They ran all over Clemson. The RBs are explosive. Great TE and OL.
Do you worry about overconfidence? “No, I don’t think any of the outside noise matters.” They’re just focused on themselves. It doesn’t matter how the last two games went, this is a completely different team.
On playing in Dallas: “I think guys kind of like going into enemy territory at times.” Could be like a road environment, but they still have to put the ball down and play.
On opponents not being called for holding: Yeah, they’re aware of it but you just have to play through it. Let your talent take over and don’t let it come down to a ref’s decision.
Sometimes a 4-man pressure from OSU can feel like a 6-man pressure.
This defense is not overcomplicated for them to play. It all feels natural now.
Both safeties have done a great job of coming into the box and helping in run support. They’re coming from 12 yards back and holding gains to two yards. Usually those are 4-5 yard gains.
There have been some changes defensively since the first Oregon game, but there’s also been a change in mentality. Being more aggressive. They’ve also improved on their issues throughout the season as well.
Ryan Day has been a great leader the whole year. After the Michigan game, he told them they were gonna get back up and keep swinging as hard as they can until the season was over.
On TE Gunnar Helm: He has great hands. They run great plays for him. He runs very good routes. Super-impressive for a tight tend.
On QB Quinn Ewers: He does a good job of taking shots and selling play-action. Arm talent who can get the ball out in a number of ways. People don’t respect his ability to move around enough. Guys have a lot of respect for him.
Do you have any idea what you will do about next year? “I haven’t thought about it at all. Just worried about winning.”

Luke Montgomery

His nose is fine after being busted again against Oregon.
It’s been a whirlwind on the offensive line this year. Donovan Jackson has given him a lot of confidence late in the season.
He’s felt the same all year long in terms of confidence and preparation.
Is this team closer than last year’s team? For the teams he’s been on, this is the closest team he’s been on. This game gives them an opportunity to play one more afterward.
“We have an opportunity and we don’t want it to end.”
On Texas’ defensive front: “I think first of all we’re going into their territory in Texas.” They bank on the OL losing their one-on-ones.
What’s the benefit of rotating in-game: He could play a full game if he needed to. Could have done it from day one. For not playing since high school, the number of snaps he gets helps him get ready for the next time out as well. It is also beneficial to be able to ask the starters what they’re seeing to start the game.
Texas has a bunch of tremendous athletes up front. They’re all great. The interior guys are all good with different moves.
Where have you seen Ryan Day’s impact on offense most? They have more time to walk-through, to get more reps in practice, so he’s been more involved in that right now.
Donovan Jackson is a tremendous athlete. For him to play tackle now also speaks volume to who he is as a person. Not many people can do what he’s done moving positions. If you were to build an offensive lineman “I would just point you to Donovan Jackson. He can play all five positions.”
Does this feel like a long season? It does, and it teaches you a lot about taking care of your body.
On maintaining patience: He treated practices like a game because he was going against very talented defensive linemen.

Caleb Downs

On the Texas offense: Their OC does a good job of providing eye candy with shifts and motions.
Jordan Hancock is a tremendous player who has versatility that you can’t put a price on. He can play different positions on the fly and do things he’s never done before and he’s just fine with it. He’s going to play in the NFL a long time.
The coaches decided to put him closer to the box. It wasn’t something he suggested. Wherever they put him “I can make plays.”
On watching OSU’s offense and what it does for the defense: “I’ve been ecstatic watching them play.” It’s a great feeling. When both sides of the ball are playing at a high level it’s a good feeling.
On playing in the box: “I feel like I’m comfortable at that position.” It allows him to read the running game and play the pass.
Texas beat Michigan, do you put any stock in that? “At this point in the season, it’s win or go home.” So whatever happened in the past doesn’t really matter.
On Jeremiah Smith: He’s not surprised. It was easy to see it in the spring. All of the receivers are a challenge to go against on this OSU team.
On last year’s game vs Quinn Ewers: Really smart QB who knows how to operate the offense. He puts the ball in the right spots and has a good play caller designing the plays.
On JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer: They’re opposites but they’re also always together. Really great people.
On Texas’ play-action: They do a good job with eye candy, so it creates a lot of challenges for the defense to see if it’s run or pass. So you need great eye discipline and seeing what the offensive line is telling them.
On the game plan for TE Gunnar Helm: He’s a really good player. Makes a lot of plays. They’ll need to be disciplined in their responsibilities and make the plays when you have the opportunity.
On Texas’ WRs: Good athletes. He played with Isaiah Bond last year. Lot of speed. All of the WRs have made plays. Have to be on your Ps and Qs to stop the WRs.
The defense has played really well throughout the season. There have been games where they’ve been better or worse, but that’s how all defenses are.
The preparation that they put in and the comfort in what they were seeing allowed them to play fast against Oregon.
Do you feel validated by your decision to transfer: Came to OSU to be a better player and help get this team as far as it can go. “It’s a blessing to be here.”

Gee Scott, Jr.

What do you bring to the offense: There is a need to cover everybody. “There’s a lot of things you have to respect about this offense.” There’s a limitless potential for this offense in what they can do.
The opening play was designed to set the tone early and that they weren’t going to be conservative on offense. When you start a game like that, it’s good to throw the first punch. “I don’t condone street fighting.” It’s also demoralizing for a defense.
On blocking for Jeremiah Smith on the first touchdown vs Oregon: “I feel very confident with my abilities to block in space.”
What’s been the difference in preparation the last couple of weeks? Wouldn’t want to say there’s been anything dramatically different, but week to week you have to keep upgrading. “Our mindset is to get better, and better, and better.” Since that last Oregon game, you can see who upgraded more.
What’s it like going against JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer: “Those are two electrifying players.” Haven’t seen any opposing DEs as good as those two. They have been great sparring partners this seasons. They have given him confidence in these games.
On throwing the first punch vertically: “I think that’s just our entire identity as an offense.” Ryan Day and Chip Kelly installed that as a mentality. “We’re just going to come right after you guys no matter how it looks. We’re gonna be the proactive ones and we’re gonna throw the first punch.”
How do you keep from getting complacent? That’s everybody’s job in the building, and the coaches have a responsibility to keep that from happening as well. You can’t get comfortable with wins. They do a good job of celebrating a win for 24 hours, but when that is over, you have to get locked back in. The opponents are too talented.
“I wouldn’t say that we find our confidence from anything our opponents do.” It doesn’t matter that Texas blew a 16-point lead or blew out a team. The drive comes internally. Doesn’t matter. You can come out before the team without your shirt on and try to flex your muscles, the false motivation that may come from the week before, that’s all meaningless. What’s importance is what did you do that week to prepare for the competitive excellence that you’ll need in this game.
On Quinn Ewers: It was good having him at OSU. He wasn’t at OSU long enough to really get to know him well but there will be no friendships when he’s on the other side of the field.
Will Howard has grown as a leader on this team. “I can only imagine what he would do if he had two years here.”
Firm believer that everything they’ve been through as a team has led them to where they are today. Hardship brings people closer, so you’re looking at a very close-knit team.
“Losing is absolutely unacceptable around here.” There can be shame in showing yourself in public after a loss. But you have to have faith that everything you’re going through is working towards a better future.
On the mark he’s made at Ohio State: What has taken place in his life and the lives of others on the team, it’s a testament to his faith. Looking back on his journey, even the ridicule he received from his headbutt against Michigan, but there were other things going on with him that maybe he was not on the right “behavior path,” so his changes in his time at Ohio State have been a true testament to his faith.
On Texas’ pass defense: Top to bottom they look like a good team. “They look good, but again, these are the moments that you look forward to.”
There was a player-led meeting after the Michigan game. It was a moment to be vulnerable with your brothers to share their frustrations. “I think people are getting ready to witness the special ability that this team has.”
The toughest team wins these games. Having discipline. Great technique. It’s all of the intangibles that are needed in matchup games.

Brandon Inniss

Seeing where he was at last year to now has been amazing. He is also working with Brian Hartline on doing whatever is needed.
On rallying around Ryan Day: “Coach Day is the best coach in the nation. We come in here and see the work he puts in every day. To have a coach like that, you just want to play for him. I’ve never had a coach like him.”
On Emeka Egbuka: “He means a lot to us.” He’s the smartest football player Inniss has already been around.
What is it like knowing that you have to be able to deliver at any moment: “We call that competitive excellence.” When he’s had an opportunity, he’s done that. “Just make the play whenever your number is called.”
On Will Howard: What impresses him most is his leadership. He got here and became an unbelievable leader. “We all lean on him. He runs this entire team. We go as far as he goes.”
On Jeremiah Smith: “I’m not surprised by anything he does now.” They’ve been playing together since they were 9 years old. Coaches were coming up to them asking for IDs when they were 9 years old. “There’s definitely some footage that we’ve got to go find.” He was raised as a level-headed person. He knows what he wants to get done in life. This is part of that process.
How influential has Ryan Day been to this turnaround: They had a leadership meeting with him after the Michigan game. They talked it out. “We have his back no matter what.” “We’re gonna stand by him no matter what.”
What do you like about blocking: Just being able to hit a guy as hard as you can without any consequences — as long as you don’t hold. “They’re not going to like it for four quarters.”
On the Texas DBs: They’ve been watching for a couple of days now. They’re fast, aggressive, and they don’t give up big plays. He played with CB Malik Muhammad in 7on7.
What has clicked for the passing game: A lot more confidence as the year has gone on. “We didn’t quite know our identity.” But now they’ve found it and they’re gonna keep it rolling.
What do you need to do to be ready to be an every-down player: Continuing to be football smart and knowing what the defense is gonna do before they do it. Continue to work on routes, hands, and don’t get satisfied or don’t get too big or too high or too low.

Tyleik Williams

When you see the offense doing what they’re doing, it just motivates the defense to match them. It also makes defense easier because it makes the opponents one-dimensional.
Hasn’t been fully healthy in a while “but I still think I’m producing at a great pace.” “I think I’m at a great level right now.” There’s always little injuries. “I don’t have anything I’m worried about right now.
This is an opportunity to end the seniors’ careers in the right way is the mindset right now.
Do you like being the enemy in this game? They don’t really focus on the fans, they just focus on the game and go out and execute.
“We always knew what we had in our room.” Teams are trying to scheme them up but they’ve been able to handle it. “I think we have a great group that can make plays at any time.”
It’s a great feeling looking up at the scoreboard and seeing a negative number.
Do you get held? Yes. If you turn on the tape and look at it, they’re held on almost every play. Not sure if it’s because they’re Ohio State that the refs let it go, but it’s pretty bad. “You all see it too.”
When Ryan Day is fired up, it fires everybody else up as well.
On handling Texas’ outside zone running game? For a DT, you want to penetrate the line and not catching it. Once you penetrate it, it stops the stretch and they have to deal with you.
On Quinn Ewers: “Quinn’s my guy.” It will be fun going against him and trying to get him.
Will the more physical team win? “The most violent team, the team that plays the fastest and executes the most and exceeds their game plan the most is going to win this game.”
On his relationship with Ty Hamilton: “Me and Ty have been roommates for the past two years. They live in the same apartment complex.” They are great fans. They are always talking about football. “We’re always connected in some kind of way.”
On the DL’s performance against Oregon: Kudos to Coach J. They’ve gotten Tennessee and Oregon into a situation where they had to throw the ball, which allows them to focus on the pass rush. They’re winning their one-on-ones against one-dimensional offenses.
On controlling the middle eight: That’s one of the biggest coaching points for Ryan Day. The two playoff games they have given up points in the middle eight. They can’t let up. “We’ve just got to keep executing like we know we can and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Everybody is banged up this time of year. “You’ve got to show up.”

Will Howard

Has played at AT&T Stadium twice before. “It’s a fun place to play.”
He watched last year’s Cotton Bowl intently. The guys on this team don’t feel great about how that game went.
On getting another opportunity against Texas: For him personally, this was the only team he didn’t beat in the Big XII. Last year’s loss to Texas was in overtime.
On what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned at OSU: There’s a lot. He’s matured on and off the field. The biggest takeaway is that he doesn’t have to make things happen. Chip Kelly told him early not to make things happen, “let them happen.” Be a good game manager and keep the team on track. When he does that, the offense works better and stays on schedule.
Your mindset can’t change now that you’re in the playoffs. You can’t press. You don’t want to force anything. “You’ve got to take the game as it comes.”
What’s this year been like for you? “It’s been a lot of fun.” The guys on this team took him in “and loved me for me.” “I’m one competitive son of a gun.” Being at OSU has been a blessing in more than one way.
Who has been your support system: Always leaning on his family. His family visited a lot at Kansas State. Here now he can be on his own more. “It felt more like a professional kind of move.” His family is a 6-hour drive away. He also relied on the transfers he came in with like Seth McLaughlin and Will Kacmarek.
“I try to find motivation in a lot of different things.” He’s always looked at himself as an underdog. He wasn’t highly recruited. Wasn’t expected to play early at Kansas State. So he has a chip on his shoulder because of it. But it also has to come from within and want to be the best. “It just happens that there’ve been some games that have been personal to me and have hit home.” This game coming up is the biggest game so far. Texas is a heck of a football team. “I played them for four years and wasn’t able to beat them.” “I’m ready for the challenge.”
He went back and watched the K-State game from last year. There are new players but the scheme is a lot of the same stuff. They do what they do and they’re good at it. They’ve got some dudes in the back who can play.
How much input will he have in the game plan: No more than usual probably. It’s felt like a normal week. He is more involved of late because they want to make sure he’s running plays he likes and he’s making sure he’s running them correctly.
Does this feel like a long season? “Yeah, a little bit.” But they all knew that this was the format. They expected to be here. There are only four teams practicing this week, so they’re proud of that but it doesn’t mean anything yet.
He and Jack Sawyer talk after practice about the energy on both sides of the ball to make sure it’s where it needs to be.
Impressions on Texas CBs: “They’re really athletic. They’re big. They’re good players. Instinctual. You can tell they go against a really good offense every day.” Overall, they’ve got some good players, “but we’ve got some pretty good players too.” They’re more of a zone operation that wants to stay on top of the passing game. “We wouldn’t want it any differently than going against the best.”
How does Texas’ defense test a QB’s eyes: They bait you into tight windows. You have to be smart. You have to know when to take shots and not. There are creases in the defense but you have to hit them quickly because they react quickly and break on the ball. The safeties are physical. May require more patience as a QB this week. Take the game as it comes.
Ryan Day has been more involved in the game-planning process since the regular season ended and he’s able to focus more on just football. They’re able to refine the game plan and find what they like because they have 10 days between games.
On running more counter plays and what is working with that? They’re doing a really good job on that play right now. They felt like they could attack the last two opponents with that, but they’ll see if the next opponent calls for it as well. They have executed the blocking very well so far in the playoffs.
On Quinn Ewers being the No. 1 recruit in the country, is that motivation for you? “Nah man, I’m not worried about that.” “I’m not putting myself against anyone. I’m putting my guys up against his guys.”
Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a Buckeye. This is why he came here and it’s time to finish the job.
He’s spent a lot of time fixing his footwork this season, and the coaches have stayed on him about it in practice.
Not getting up on the stage for the Rose Bowl: It was strictly a weight limit thing. “I’m not sure if it was a poorly executed fat joke or what.” A bunch of others snuck on to the stage.
Would you rather get the ball first or defer? You’d always say take the ball first if you can guarantee you’re gonna go down as score. “I do like having the ball first” and going down and setting the tone.
The loss to Texas last year sticking with you? “Yeah, that one still sticks with me. Still pisses me off a little bit.” There are a lot of people back in Kansas rooting for the Buckeyes to get this one done. “I don’t like how that one ended.”
The Oregon game plan was about being aggressive and starting off hot. The play they started off with was a work in progress during practice. Chip Kelly “was in his bag.” He was calling the game with an aggressive mindset.
You can’t get discouraged by checking it down because he’s had numerous 20-yard gains checking it down.
On the OL: They are resilient. Proud of the way they’ve bounced back and not listened to the critics. They’re excited for this opportunity.