Shimonek sees Whitt's impact carry over into everything

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The Texas Tech football team is less than two weeks away from opening its 2016 season against Stephen F. Austin.

Junior quarterback Nic Shimonek shared his thoughts on preseason camp and his development with us in this one-on-one.

Q: How do you feel fall camp has gone so far for both yourself and the offense as a whole?

"I think we're doing really good. Really physical, and that's the part I've really liked about it with both sides of the ball, both offense and defense. Everybody is getting after it, not taking anything from anybody, just getting after it, getting better every day, and that's all you an ask for when getting ready for Saturdays."

Q: Do you think a lot of the mentality that comes with that physicality came from the offseason with Rusty Whitt?

"I think so. I think just the culture change back in January when coach Whitt and his staff got here, and I think that's just carried over with everything we do in both workouts, practice and everything else. The physicality has been there, so I'm looking forward to seeing what we're going to do this fall."

Q: Kliff Kingsbury has repeatedly said that he feels like that all the quarterbacks - including you - have had the best fall camp as a group since he's been the coach. How do you think things have gone in your room?

"I think all of us are doing well. Pat (Mahomes) is going to be Pat, and he's going to make plays. We're all just trying to work on our game, and I think we're each getting better one day at a time. We've just got to get ready for the season, and we'll see how it goes."

Q: Kingsbury also noted that you've been the most accurate quarterback of the entire group so far in fall camp. What do you attribute that to?

"Just working. It's about working all summer, working all spring, and I've finally gotten the time to show it. I didn't do a lot in the spring, but finally getting the time to put all my work to use. I know he said that, but I'm sure it's close. Those guys are completing a lot of balls, too."

Q: What has maybe been the most encouraging thing about the offense and where you all are as a unit so far this fall?

"I think size at receiver. I like that a lot with (Derrick) Willies, (T.J.) Vasher and getting (Dylan) Cantrell back from a year ago. Also, a lot of our guys have been in the system. Pretty much all of them know what they're doing, so there's not really a learning curve, and we can go fast easily. There's some times when we have to slow it down, but we're going really fast. Everyone is picking it up, and we're looking really good."

Q: And is age maybe the biggest difference from the last few years for the offense as a whole, especially for the guys littered throughout the first and second team? You guys have spent a lot of time in the system as a whole now.

"Yeah, I think it's a really good thing, especially when we're trying to teach some of those younger guys that will more than likely play on Saturdays. I think the experience helps to push the tempo in practice and to not have many busts. I think we've done good. We can obviously still get better at things, but it's going good."

Q: You mentioned T.J. Vasher as one of those big options on the outside at receiver, and you aren't the only one to do so. Why do you think he's made a push here in he last few weeks?

"He's just really long, and he's one of those special guys that's really tall but can move like he's a smaller guy. He's got good hands, and once coach Whitt gets with him a little longer, puts some weight on him, gets him more physical, he'll be something very serious on Saturdays."

Q: What have you thought about the offensive line so far this fall? How do you feel like things are progressing with those guys having a mix of veterans and young players?

"I think the O-line has been playing well. Baylen Brown, Justin Murphy. I feel like they're being more physical than in years past. But, also the defensive line has been more physical, so it's been really competitive in the trenches, which has been great to see."

Q: What have you seen from that defensive line, and do you think they're really getting better?

"They're definitely better. Obviously, as I said, more physical. Coach (Kevin) Patrick is teaching everybody to get their hands up, which I'm getting tired of. They're batting a bunch of balls. The big thing, though, has been the physicality on both sides of the ball in fall camp. I'm ready to see how that pans out."

Q: Throwing to these wide receivers on a daily basis, what have you seen from all the defensive backs you're trying to get the ball around or over so far?

"They're a lot more confidence. So much more confidence. They've been with coach (David) Gibbs for a while now, so they know what they're doing, and the same deal goes back to the offensive line, the defensive line with everyone being so physical. Somebody catches a ball, and they're gonna hit them. If someone is trying to block them up, they're gonna hit them. The physicality is, again, the biggest point so far."

Q: Less than two weeks out from the start of the season. Where do you feel like things are at?

"Everybody is ready to get going. You work year round for this, so it's like Christmas come early."