⚡ CFB Dashboard

Q: When you were looking in the transfer portal, what was the focus? A: First and foremost, guys that fit us It's a really difficult thing to do in the portal because it's like speed dating. Some guys that really fit our program, fit our secondary and some of the things we like to do on the back end in terms of technique. Guys with experience and that can come in and contribute right away. I love the group that we have. Great group of guys that love learning and love coming in and getting extra work, which really can go a long way in the process. Q: What stood out to you about Tyrese Boss? A: Just a young man that has played a ton of ball. He was posted to play as a true freshman at Wyoming and wound up having an injury that kept him out. Returned the next year and ended up a full-time starter. I just loved how he competed play in and play out. He is a young man that has been a thrill to have and loves the process. He fits us and what were'e trying to get accomplished this year. Q: What about Dwight Bootle? A: Dwight is very wiry, very quick, can run. He reminds me a lot of the guys we had last year. He's played a ton with starting at Nebraska and then moving over to Charlotte. He is a young man that hails from Dade County and he brings a lot of energy to the room. The guys love him and take to him and I think he is going to make a lot of plays for us this year. Q: When you were lookin in the portal, how important was the experience factor? A: I think it's very important. When you're building a room, you have to factor in not only what you're looking for and what you think you can ultimately contribute to what you guys are trying to get accomplished, but also what you have. Coupled with that, we were looking for experience with guys that could come in and not only play right away, but also give you the ability to have continuity in the years to come. Every school in the country would love the guys that are seniors and they have played three or four years and they're in their last season, but to turn over a roster like that every year is tough. We tried to look for some guys that have years under their belt in terms of playing time, but also some guys who give the room continuity for years to come. Q: This is the second year under Danny. How is this spring different than last season's? A: How about Coach Danny Gonzales in year one? Back against the wall, nobody believed in him. What an awesome leader of men. Love working for him. I will tell you this. Rolling into our second year is exciting. It's almost hard to contain myself because I think we have something special here, starting with the coaching staff from the top to the bottom. Right now, it's getting the guys acclimated to who we are. Redline, effort, execution, accountability. From there, making sure they understand our defense, our scheme, and what we're trying to get accomplished. Coach Gonzales does an awesome job of making sure we have the message, the plan, and what we're trying to get accomplished down to the players. He makes clear that coaches don't win games, players do. It starts with them, so everything we do serves a purpose form the start of practice to the end of practice. Q: I assume the success of last season made it easier to sell guys on coming this year? A: I think that is a huge part of it. I also think it's very important to keep at the forefront that yesterday's scores don't count in today's ball game. Not necessarily a rebuild, but this is who we are and this is what we do. Danny Gonzales stood up in front of us as a staff and that defense at the start of last year and told them we were going to be good on defense and we were. That's a man that knows what he wants, but ultimately what he is capable of and what his system is capable of producing. He stood on that with ten toes and we were able to execute. This year is different and our guys understand that we aren't going to sneak up on anybody. We have to put in the man hours to get it done this fall. Q: Jay'vion Cole was limited during the spring, but how do you reflect on last season and the next step for him? A: He is a young man who was really a part-time starter for us and accepted that role, but was able to take the field when we needed him whether it was as a starter or coming off the bench and perform. He ended up becoming all-conference, but he has matured and taken full control of that room. He is leading these guys into the season. Limited or not, Jay'vion is gaining as much experience off the field because now he is like a coach and sitting in on all the meetings. We go to position meetings and he is spending time with the defensive line, linebackers, and safeties really learning the system because he has time to right now. We expect big things from him come this year. I am really excited for him in his last season. Q: When you have a player like Jay'vion, most teams will throw it away from him. How important is it for the other guys to improve and be ready for that? A: I am a defensive guy, so I think that is a myth. I think the offense is going to attack wherever they want to attack. If that's the case, absolutely the other guy needs to be prepared otherwise to answer the call when the offense attacks. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. Left side, right side, field, boundary. Those two edge guys have to be ready to cover and do their jobs when it's time. Q: What's your thoughts on Xavier Hiler? A: He is an interesting young man that had not played a ton of cornerback. He was a former receiver, so there are ball skills obviously. His ability to move remained me a lot of Tacario Davis to be that long and tall and be able to sink his hips and change direction. During the process of getting to know him and his family, I thought he fit us. He is obviously here early and he is getting a ton of reps because we have some guys that are out. He is learning how to be a Division I college football player and really embracing that.