Quick Hits: Players give thoughts at Tech Media Days

Below is a running update as we talk to some of the standout players for Tech this upcoming season at Tech Media Days.

-Felt like he has really grown into his weight.

-They respect Jones due to his accolades at Texas Tech as one of the best OL to come through here.

-A lot is coming at him fast but he has to be ready to keep up. He doesn't want to take off any days and wants to take advantage of starting at left tackle.

-Paul Starwarz is one of the smartest guys he has ever seen play football. He is the guy you want in charge of the offense.

-If they are playing with "five linemen" instead of "three linemen" they will dominate and will be hard to stop.

-This fall will be a success if they consistently produce positive run plays. They want to run the ball twice and get two first downs. They want to establish Pass game AND run game.

-Jones has super simplified the run game which has made things that much easier.

-The closest that this team has ever been which will help on Saturdays.

-It was a blessing having coach Juluke back due to having an open line of communication with coach Juluke. It makes the players feel much more comfortable.

-Staying healthy and finishing his runs are the biggest things for Felton. He wants to be able to run the ball so people can't say that Texas Tech can't run the ball.

-Coach Juluke tells him to stay low and don't let one guy tackle him.

-The O-line has gelled together and is crazy how well they communicate. They know where to go.

-A lot of miscommunication last year is what led to the anemic run game. COmmunication is much improved this year.

-The RB room is very competitive. They are always competing and there is never a dull moment.

-Looking back, what is a "successful" season? Staying healthy and being consistent.

-Played center growing up as a kid. Getting used to it but it is a little different. Feels the transition is going really well.

-He feels like his ability to target the defense and get everybody set up is the biggest reason for his move to center.

-Working on some technique issues and cleaning it up. He is working to understand the offense as best he can as well as the other defenses.

-It is great to trade thoughts with Jones. The scheme he has in place is set up for them to be successful. Picking his thoughts provides a valuable resource.

-Everyone is one the same page. There is no guessing due to the simplification of the offense.

-Communication is often overlooked in football but it is the biggest thing. They emphasized it during the spring and in the summer.

-What's the best fall camp? Continuing their work from the spring and playing together with more communication.

-Nic makes Stawarz' job easier and runs the offense really well.

-He knows there are guys on the team that have his back and he has theirs. The closeness of the team is unlike he has seen since he has been there.

-The fruits of Jamison's coaching showed up in the spring and the DL was able to give the offense problems which gave them confidence and they trust him more.

-Coach Jamison isn't going to break and does well under pressure. Knowing that nothing can affect their coach because he keeps his composure gives them an extra confidence boost.

-The DL group is busting their tail every day and is doing extra work. Nobody wants to be the "second guy"

-Washington said that it starts up front with them and they understand if the defense improves, they have to be better.

-He wants to work on his hands. That's the biggest thing for him. He has used the drills that coach Jamison has taught them and has already seen improvement and changes.

-"His presence as a coach just gives you a calm feeling as a player" in regards to Jamison. He's new but Washington and the DL feel comfortable.

-"Lonzell Gilmore. Lonzell Gimore for a fact." as a guy who will impress this year. "He is going to wake up a lot of people on the field this year."

-"He is going to come in and look like an All-American, and I can't wait to watch him play. I can't wait to play next year." on Eli Howard's impact. It's going to be great.

-Why should we believe that Tech will be better on defense? "I don't really have anything specific for you. I just want to say, just watch. Just watch." They want to be the best D-line group. They want to change the culture. People won't even know they are watching a Texas Tech defensive line. "We will change what people think about our defense. That is happening this year."

-Most unity and trust in a team since he has been here. The community service and the bowling is not a small thing, it just adds to the trust and the unity.

-If Jah'Shawn trusts Jordyn Brooks and Brooks trusts Big Mych, that trust goes a long way. They could have used that last year in the tight games. "It is what it is, and we have it (the trust) now."

-Nic said he knows what all the running backs and receivers are doing. He is now starting to watch film with B. Jones, too. He wants to be a coach on the field with all of those guys. He wants to be a guy that can answer any question for any position.

"I want them to have confidence in me, so they can trust me so that I can make their job easier."

-He wants his guys to play without hesitation. He wants it all on his plate instead. He tells the coaches to give him a heavier load.

-Looking forward to what Paul Stawarz can do now that they have broken him out of his shell.

-He is confident in the O-line due to the personnel and coach Jones. They have done everything they needed and have put in the work. "They are going to surprise people."

-He needs the team to trust each other. He needs Cam (Batson) to know that if he is open, Nic will find him. He also wants to establish the run game and have trust in the run game, "Which we maybe haven't done in years past."

-Travis Bruffy has a guy nobody has been talking about that they need to talk about. Excellent summer and will be real good at left tackle. He also believes people need to talk about Derrick Willies more. If he stays healthy, look out. Most improved player from the spring.

-They are on a whole nother level as a team heading into the fall this year and last year.

-Coach Whitt has "weeded" through the guys which produced some personnel changes. Now they have all the guys who have bought in and they are ready to go.

-Has a much better relationship with Dylan Cantrell. They are constantly competing against each other both on the field and in the weight room.

-The spring was the longest period of time that he was healthy. He feels a lot more comfortable in the offense than he has been. He has been learning Z, H, Y so that he can be moved around in the offense.

-"Just playing for each other. Going out and executing the play." is what they need to happen to consider it a successful year.

-About Quan competing behind him, "Not to sound cocky, but I don't think there is an competition. I just compete with myself to get better. I'm always going against myself and I'm not worried about who's behind me or who is in front of me."

-The defensive line as a whole is the most improved.

-It was great going against the JUCO guys. They were ready to compete and were hungry coming from JUCO.

-What would be considered a successful year? "Nic needs to throw me the ball."

-Learned a lot about patience from sitting out for a year and learned a lot about how much he really loved football. "It was a grind and hard to watch 5-7 go by, but it's better to watch 5-7 go by and then turn into something better, which is what is happening."

-Loves coach Jamison and feels like he is a great technician. Brought in a lot of focus to the unit.

-Howard was watching Trey Hendrickson (Jamison-coached D-lineman) go int he 3rd round and had more respect for Jamison and what he can do.

-He just wants to leave everything on the field and bring some Ws back to the Texas Tech community.

-He wants to play the position with a relentless passion. He cares about the team and they care about him.

-It is a much more tightly bound brotherhood on the team according to Howard.

-Talor Nunez, Quintin Yontz, Noah Jones at defensive end. There is a lot of competition among the group. Enjoys learning from Nunez and being "West Texas boys"

-They have to stop the run and they have taken responsibility. "We have to stop the run, so we can earn the right to rush the passer."

-Loves Nelson Mbanasaurus Rex's versatility. "He is very strong and has unlimited potential as a true freshman."

-The team really grew together and got closer this summer

-Gilmore went up on his bench and squat and feels like the added strength will make him a better pass rusher.

-Jamison has taken on that father figure role for the DL unit. Is always on their case for the classroom and when practice time rolls around.

-Jamison told him to keep on pushing and emerge as a guy who can help this team out.

-He said they don't really look at the depth chart. Whoever is in, they will cheer them on and hope they become the best player.

-The difference between this year and last year is that they are bonding more and they can talk about anything.

-"Broderick knows how to work. He knows how to get after it. When he is on the field, I know Broderick is going to make a play. He is very positive."

-"No matter who you put in the game, someone is going to make a play." in regards to the difference in the D-line this year. "You can put in the ninth string and they will still make plays."

-What will be considered a successful year? "I just have to get after it."

-Said that everything has been great in regards to health and learning and getting better.

-The recovery process has been really nerve-racking. He had to do his rehab and just stay on schedule and trust that he will get better.

-Felt like he was really starting to get in a rhythm towards the end of last season. Was super inconsistent between games but feels like he has a good grasp on the defense and can be much more consistent.

-Loves having Dakota Allen back on the team and has really been hanging out a lot lately. His presence in the locker room will be huge.

-Brooks feels like the linebacker core is rejuvenated. Mentioned Brayden Stringer, Jamile Johnson, and Christian Taylor as guys who got extra reps in the spring that will help out in the fall.

-He wants them to have an edge this year. Coach Spav tells them to have an edge. They played lazy at times last year....Brooks assured that they have an edge this year.

-The JUCO guys have brought competition to the whole defense. Dorsey "That Dorsey, he flies around. He may not know what he is doing but he will come down hard and fast."

-To take that next step forward, Brooks feels like he needs to be a better leader and take the role on, do his job and study the playbook. "If I know what I'm doing out there, no one can stop me."

-We have a lot of excitement going into the Fall. We are very excited. We have a lot of things that are motivating us to get better.

-Great experience so far over the last 6 months

-Biggest adjustment has been to the air set up. It is very dry and not humid...

-Coaches have done a good job of making things easier for him to understand

-Being around the ball or getting to the ball means that you are that much closer to making a play. He flies to the ball with this view in mind....you can't make a play without being around the ball.

-All the safeties don't mind helping the next man or the guy behind him.

-Jah'Shawn is energetic and competitive just like Vaughnte and loves being out there on the field with him.

-The competition level is very high and he has never been apart of a competition level that has been so high.

-To have the best fall camp, they need to come in and be competitive. Have high intensity and be very competitive.

-DJ Polite-Bray is a guy who we need to be talking about more according to Vaughnte.