Game Week: MT vs. Jackson State presser

8/31/2015 12:00:00 PM | Football

Video: Head Coach Rick Stockstill Video: Safety Kevin Byard Video: Running Back Jeremiah Bryson

By: @MTAthletics

VIDEO OF RICK STOCKSTILL
VIDEO OF KEVIN BYARD
VIDEO OF JEREMIAH BRYSON

Middle Tennessee Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill, along with senior players Jeremiah Bryson and Kevin Byard, addressed the media today regarding Saturday's season opener against Jackson State. Following are their comments:

HEAD COACH RICK STOCKSTILL
Opening Remarks: "I am anxious to see our team compete and see how they perform. I think they have a great sense of urgency about them and a great edge to them. There is still that bitter taste in our mouth about how we finished last year, and I know we are all anxious to get this season started. I am looking forward to the challenge of competing against Jackson State. [JSU coach] Harold Jackson is in his second year with the program and has done a great job. Anytime when it's the first game, there is always speculation and the unknown of what you are going to get. You don't know personnel wise the changes that they have made [since last season]."

On naming a starting quarterback: "I told all of our players coming into camp that every position is open competition and I will say the same thing next year. I believe in competition and what you did yesterday doesn't matter. You have to improve and earn it every day. In evaluating the quarterbacks over about 25,000 snaps, we made the decision that we are going to start Brent [Stockstill]. Both he and Austin [Grammer] will play. Brent earned the right to start."

On the battle at quarterback: "Just because you name a starter, doesn't mean the other guy did bad. Austin [Grammer] had a good camp. I don't want to get into specifics, but overall when we looked at total production, we just felt that Brent [Stockstill] was more productive."

On Jackson State: "Jackson State is a really good football team. They have good players who are very athletic. [Head Coach] Harold Jackson played in the National Football League for 17 years and Alonzo Lee is a well-respected defensive coordinator. Offensively, they spread you out and try to make plays with their athleticism."

On cornerback Jeremy Cutrer: "Jeremy has done a nice job in the three weeks that he has been here and has another week here. He is an extremely athletic corner who will start the first game."

On the wide receivers: "I think the receivers have done a nice job. I think Ed'Marques [Batties] has had a nice camp, and I think Richie James continues to get better every day. Demterius Frazier is a guy that has been very consistent and has made plays. Christian Collins missed a few plays but was having his best camp since he's been here up to that point. He was making plays and playing fast. We have some younger guys that we have to bring along. From a production standpoint, they have been very consistent. The leadership will come and it is continuing to build. I have been pleased with the progress so far."

On the running backs: "We took a hit at the running back position and we are not nearly as deep as we were three weeks ago. We have three running backs who I feel could start for a lot of teams across the country. They are very selfless players and have a wonderful attitude. They push each other and compete against each other in practice. Each one of them is a little bit different from a skill set standpoint, but they are very similar in other aspects. They will all three play a bunch. I think Jeremiah [Bryson] has improved as much as anybody on the team."

On offensive lineman Chandler Brewer: "I was trying to remember if I've ever had an offensive lineman who started as a true freshman the first game. I don't know if I've ever had that happen. To have a true freshman play, it's a testament to how hard he has worked this summer and a testament to his commitment even before he got here. He is a very good football player and has a chance to have a really good football career."

SAFETY KEVIN BYARD
On finally getting to play against someone from another team: It's a great feeling. We had a great camp. We're working hard trying to get better out there every day and trying to have a better season than we had last year. Getting to line up in Floyd Stadium against another team is going to be a great feeling.

On what his focus is facing quarterback LaMontiez Ivey and Jackson State: One thing I did notice watching film is that they throw the ball a whole lot. I could see them throwing the ball close to 40 times this game. They line up with a lot of no-back, five-wideout sets. Being a safety, it's a great feeling knowing they are going to throw the ball a lot. That being said, we have to make them a one-dimensional team. We have to make sure they try to throw the ball and stop the run first. He's a great quarterback. He's a big guy that kind of reminds you of the FAU quarterback. We're really going to have to wrap him up, especially if the pass rushers get to him. They are a great team, they have a great receiver in No. 81, who was all-conference in the SWAC. It's definitely not a team we are going to take lightly.

On the bitter feeling from the end of last season showing in this Saturday's game: Most definitely. Just getting back on the field and getting that taste out of our mouth to have some success and create some momentum for the season, of course you are going to see that. We're past that, though. We've created a little momentum coming out of camp. We've had great practices so you're going to see a lot of excitement from both sides of the ball.

On the development of the defense from spring throughout fall camp: We're really developing, and I feel like we're clicking on all cylinders now. On the defensive line, you've got guys like Steven Rhodes, Pat McNeil, and Chris Hale who are really improving on their pass rushing. Our linebackers are really coming together. Trey Wafford had a great year last year, as well as Cavellis Luckett and T.T. Barber, too. In the secondary we got our new transfer Jeremy Cutrer, he's probably been the biggest surprise of camp and is probably going to end up starting this game. I feel like this is the best we've been since I've been here going into the first game as far as knowing our responsibilities and being confident and comfortable in everything we're doing. We're trying to keep it simple, but we'll be flying around to the ball.

On the development in guys like Jeremy and Mike Minter: I've always thought Mike was a great cover corner, especially when he first got here. Everyone called him Mike Sherman. He's definitely improved on his tackling and is getting more comfortable with the defense and what he's doing. Jeremy is just out there making plays. I'm definitely comfortable, especially with corners out there that are over six feet tall.

On blocking out distractions like breaking records: When I first got here as a freshman, something I always had in my mind and that the coaches always told me was do your job and read your keys. When you do those things, you'll make plays. If I do those things and make those steps, it'll happen, and if it doesn't but we win games, I'll be fine with that.

On the improvement in the secondary tempting him to let up: Of course not. I think that would be absurd. With the new talent that I do have around me, it's making me want to step my game up even more so I can have those guys get to the same level I am at. I'm just a hard worker, that's just in me. I'm not going to let up at all, I'm out there trying to improve every day. It's not going to stop in camp. We're just trying to be the best secondary in the conference and the nation, so we all have to step our game up and continue to improve.

On Ivy and other big, dual-threat quarterbacks being a bigger challenge than expected: He'll be a good test. All around the country you have these types of where people think it's just a pushover game, but he's a good quarterback. He can really zip the ball out there, he has a strong arm and a quick release. I do think it will be a test. It will be a test to because it's the first game and it's a different quarterback than seeing Brent (Stockstill) or (Austin) Grammer throw the ball.

On who in the secondary has made the most improvement since the spring: I would have to say Xavier Walker. Every year since he's been here, he has improved every year. He's a very hard worker, too. I think he's getting smarter understanding defenses and learning from his mistakes. He's becoming a better tackler, which is something we've stressed with the entire defense. I expect him to have a great senior year.

On what his nickname would be if Mike Minter's is Mike Sherman: I'm just KB. I don't really have many nicknames. That's what I've stuck with since I've been here and I'm not looking to have any new nicknames. I just want to stick with KB and stick to what I'm doing because it's working.

On whether he will return any kickoffs this year: Hopefully, but we have a lot of great returners right now like Ed Batties, Jeremiah Bryson and Jared Singletary. I have faith in all my returners and if I'm not back there I'm going to cheer them on just like if it was me.

RUNNING BACK JEREMIAH BRYSON
On his health going into the first game: I'm feeling pretty good. Coach Stockstill said he has a good plan for us and he's doing a good job of keeping his word. I've got my legs back and my foot is feeling real good, so I'm going into the season healthy.

On what he brings to the group of running backs: We all can do a lot of different things. We all three can catch the ball. I feel like I'm more of a shifty type of back and Jordan (Parker) and Shane (Tucker) are more like a downhill, power type back. I'm just trying to bring my type of skill to this team and try to better the team and get as many wins as we can.

On his comfort with the young faces on the offensive line: I'm very comfortable with them. They've been putting in the same type of work that I've been putting in all summer. I know what they are capable of and what they can bring to the table, so I don't have any doubt in my mind that they will get the job done. I know the offense will be very successful just as the defense will be.

On your role changing with the quarterback changing: It won't at all. Brent will come in here like no step was lost. He is a good leader and came into the summer like a leader. For a freshman to be able to take over the team like that, I know we're all behind him. We'll be just as comfortable with him as if (Austin) Grammer was in the game.

On resisting selfishness in a deep running back group: Coach Stockstill always asks us 'Do you get satisfaction out of seeing your teammates do well?' and as a running back unit, I feel like we're as close as anyone could be on any team, so it makes me just as happy to see them score as if it was me. We see each other grind, we see each other hurt, so we know what we go through to get to that point. To see one of us succeed is going to make the others happy. We feed off of each other's success.

On his involvement with the special teams: Collegiately, it's my first time returning, but I did it in high school. I'm very excited to be back there and try to help the team move forward and win as many games as we can.

On this potentially being the deepest group of running backs in Conference USA: I would have to say so. Like Coach Stockstill said, he feels like any of us could start and I feel that way, too. We all bring that hunger to the table. We've got freshman coming up like Ruben (Garnett) and Desmond Anderson who could probably help out this team a lot, too.

On who his mentor at the running back position at Middle Tennessee has been: One person that has really kept me up is Reggie Whatley. Me and Jordan (Parker) have always been here together so we keep each other up, too, but Reggie Whatley was always there for me to talk to if I ever needed anything.

On how excited he is to finally have a real game after the offseason: As a team I know we're ready, but personally I'm very ready. It's my senior year and my last go around so I'm going to bring everything I have to the table and leave it all on the field for my brothers every game. Like coach said, we have a tough schedule but we're prepared, so we're going to try to shock the world.

On the shared goals of the tight-knit group of running backs: It's just to win games. We have objectives and roles, and we just want to fill our role.

On his biggest accomplishment as a local kid playing at Middle Tennessee: I feel like this is my best camp and my best summer since I've been here. I've worked extremely hard to get to where I am now. I've put in a lot of work out there on the field with my brothers so I'm just excited to see it all pay off.