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00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:06 >> So just, I guess, first of all,
00:08 how different the landscape is now than it was five years ago,
00:12 where you not only had a transfer portal the last couple months, but
00:16 you don't have any news on this normal signing day.
00:19 And do you see it kind of changing even more as we move forward?
00:24 >> Well, yeah, it's kind of been an uneventful day for us.
00:27 And I just think the college landscape has changed quite a bit.
00:31 Yes, it'll continue to probably adapt moving forward even more.
00:35 But we just try to figure it out and make the most of it.
00:41 So from our end, I think you've always gotta be ready for roster change.
00:46 And that's gonna always be guys that graduate, guys that possibly enter
00:49 the NFL draft, guys that maybe are unhappy with their playing time.
00:53 And then you factor in that these guys can transfer for
00:56 the league basically whenever they want.
00:58 So you've gotta be prepared to add your roster.
01:01 So I just think that we understood that from the beginning.
01:05 So throughout the entire season, until the very end, we were working hard to
01:10 prepare ourselves to adapt and change our roster to improve our football team.
01:15 And I think we were in a good position.
01:17 We were out it early.
01:18 Our coaches, our recruiting staff, identified what we thought could help us.
01:24 And we were active in going and trying to get that.
01:26 And in the end, we feel good about what we brought to the table.
01:32 Of course, now they gotta come here.
01:33 We've gotta work with them.
01:34 And they've gotta prove their worth.
01:36 And we've gotta gel it all together.
01:37 But in my opinion, all winter, all spring, all summer, all fall camp,
01:42 you should be able to piece things together if you put the time in.
01:45 And I'm looking forward to seeing these guys play.
01:47 >> Jeff, you signed seven defensive backs out of the portal.
01:51 I guess, how much priority did you place on DPs, knowing the situation you guys had?
01:57 And then also, with MJ coming back, is he gonna be ready for spring?
02:01 >> Well, we're excited to get MJ back.
02:04 Unfortunately, he got injured last year with a knee injury.
02:06 But it was, I think, early in camp.
02:09 And he's close to being fully healthy.
02:13 We'll probably limit him throughout the spring.
02:15 But by June, he'll be 100% full speed.
02:17 And I think he's way ahead of schedule right now.
02:19 I look forward to getting him back.
02:20 But I do think the defensive back position is very important.
02:24 To be aggressive on defense, to stop the run, to get after the quarterback,
02:29 you've gotta be able to play some one-on-one matchups occasionally.
02:32 And when you've got good secondary players that can do that,
02:35 that can challenge routes and understand route structure and schemes.
02:40 And the timing of how certain blitzes and attacks work, that you can make plays.
02:46 I think that we did some really good things on defense overall.
02:49 We like to play better towards the end of the year.
02:51 So there's a lot of things to improve on.
02:53 But adding good aggressive, good size defensive backs
02:59 can help our football team play at a high level.
03:01 >> As the portal becomes more important, is it more frequent that players
03:08 reach out to you or your program and say, we wanna come there?
03:12 Or do you have to be more often the aggressor and
03:14 say, we'd like you to come play here?
03:19 >> Well, I think now there's so many elements involved in recruiting.
03:24 There's so many elements involved in each player in this situation
03:30 that they have people reaching out to places for them.
03:35 And with all that going on, you sometimes have a little bit of an idea that
03:41 something may happen or may not happen.
03:43 And you always keep your ears open and listen.
03:47 I think you can learn a lot by listening.
03:49 So I just think that, man, there's so many layers to this that
03:54 you do the best you can to always be within the rules.
04:00 But at the same time, be aware of your surroundings and
04:04 make sure that when that portal period opens,
04:08 that period opens, that you're very aggressive and
04:13 you're exploring all options and making sure you're trying to piece this together.
04:19 To add, not only what can help your football team win, but
04:23 good people that you think are gonna wanna work hard and
04:27 prove themselves for possibly just their last year, maybe their last two years.
04:31 And I think with us, when we get guys that just have one year special,
04:37 but even two, I think they wanna come here with a purpose and
04:41 they wanna prove themselves.
04:42 And we've had pretty good success in the last so many years doing that,
04:46 where I've been a head coach is getting guys with just one year left that wanna come
04:52 and make a difference.
04:52 >> Do you ever get an ideal ratio or
04:58 whatever of guys recruited out of high school versus the portal?
05:01 Or is it just a matter of year by year, whoever's sort of best available?
05:04 >> Well, we don't put a ratio on it.
05:07 I do think that we still wanna be very active in recruiting high school prospects,
05:13 and doing right by that, and doing right by our state and the surrounding area.
05:19 Yeah, the best case is bringing guys in, develop them, and
05:24 they become great players for you.
05:25 But that's unfortunately not how it always works now.
05:28 There's just a lot of change.
05:29 There's a lot of factors that go into how long is it gonna take to develop players?
05:34 Okay, when they get developed, is someone gonna try to post them from you
05:38 in a way that you don't like, but it happens.
05:41 So there's a lot of risk that go in that.
05:45 When you're able to attract someone with experience,
05:50 who's played a lot of football already, that is probably coming here with a purpose.
05:54 Sometimes you feel comfortable about, well, let's go this route, and
05:59 let's get somebody that can help us win right now,
06:02 that has already played competitive football.
06:05 And that's kinda what I think you're seeing,
06:07 is you're just seeing teams that understand the importance of winning right now,
06:10 this year.
06:11 Yes, you wanna build for the future and all that, but
06:14 the important thing is always, how can we win this next game?
06:18 How can we win this next year?
06:19 And I think that's what you gotta factor into it.
06:23 So for us, I gotta help our football team win in 2024.
06:26 And I think that on paper, we did a pretty good job doing that.
06:31 Now, of course, it's a matter of gelling it together.
06:34 But I do think that that's how the landscape works now a little bit.
06:39 And some people may see it different, I don't know.
06:41 I'm not gonna say there's not another way to skin the cat.
06:45 But at the same time, how are you gonna win this next year?
06:48 That's what we wanna do.
06:49 >> You talked a couple times already now here about purpose when it comes to
06:55 the world.
06:55 Are there other things you're looking for?
06:57 You've had success with guys coming from Power Five programs, your program,
07:01 guys who probably take places that people haven't heard of that have been some of
07:05 your better players.
07:06 So what else maybe are you looking for too in addition to that?
07:10 >> Well, there are a lot of elements to it, without question.
07:12 We have had a lot of success taking young men from
07:18 Group of Five or FCS programs that wanna prove themselves.
07:23 And that did a good job where they're at.
07:26 And I think we've got a few of those pieces to our team right now.
07:30 And I think they're gonna do a great job just based on what I've seen
07:33 this first month.
07:35 At the same time, we probably got a lot of young men from really good programs
07:39 this year as well that after researching, investigating why they wanna switch and
07:45 what they're looking for and what value we think they can add.
07:50 We feel good about them to this point as well.
07:52 I think that we like the additions to our team.
07:56 I think anytime you're trying to win football games, even guys on your team
08:01 currently that play well and that play at a high level, they wanna win.
08:04 So they want great teammates around them.
08:06 And you know what?
08:06 If we have them already on our team, that's great.
08:08 But at the same time, I think you can still add value by gaining experience,
08:15 especially the quarterback position, which we feel like we did with Tyler.
08:19 I think bringing him in, it's his seventh year.
08:23 He's coming here with a true purpose to prove himself,
08:25 to prove that he can stay healthy, to prove that he can play an entire year and
08:28 help his football team win.
08:30 And he wants to play at the next level.
08:32 So we like all the dynamics that go behind that.
08:35 Now, does he need to prove that he can stay healthy?
08:37 Sure he does.
08:38 Is he fully healthy now?
08:39 No, he's actually not.
08:41 He's continuing to get back fully healthy.
08:43 But we have time.
08:44 But we like what we've seen to this point.
08:45 At the same time, we wanna develop the other quarterbacks on our roster,
08:48 which we feel good about.
08:49 But it doesn't happen overnight.
08:51 And we used the bowl prep to kinda get a glimpse of where we thought they were at.
08:56 And they have made progress, but we wanna see more.
08:59 So I think with Pierce and Brady, even Harrison Bailey, those are three guys
09:04 that we just wanna continue to progress as fast as we can.
09:07 But having depth at every position is important, definitely a quarterback.
09:11 >> You've got a highly rated transfer class, a lot of highly rated guys in it,
09:16 probably none more highly rated than Tyler Barron,
09:18 a guy whose decision kinda went back and forth there at the end.
09:22 Can you talk a little bit about that process and
09:24 what he brings to the defense as well?
09:26 >> Well, we love the addition of Tyler.
09:30 Anytime you get a big, tall, athletic,
09:32 edge rusher that has played a lot of football, man, that's a big piece.
09:37 And I think he wants to go somewhere and
09:43 basically play that position and try to play that position solely if he can.
09:48 I think he was moved around a little bit, which proving that he can be a great
09:55 edge piece and rusher is what we wanna try to help him do.
09:58 So we're excited to get him here and he gives us a lot of experience.
10:02 The other two additions that we added from Tennessee and Wesley Walker and
10:06 Mary McDonough, we like those additions as well.
10:09 They bring a ton of experience in the secondary.
10:11 They play a lot of football.
10:13 They can run, they can hit, they can strike, they understand football.
10:18 And there's multiple guys that in a lot of positions that I think give us
10:23 a lot of experience that we feel good about them at this point.
10:28 And now we've gotta just make sure we get them up to speed and
10:31 we get them trained to know exactly what we wanna do,
10:34 how to do it so that they can play fast and showcase their skills.
10:37 >> Jeff, a couple questions on Tyler Shuck.
10:40 Given his skill set, how does he fit in with what you want to accomplish on
10:45 offense and given his injury history, were there any concerns or reservations
10:50 when in that recruiting process when you were recruiting him and
10:54 ultimately bringing him in?
10:55 >> Yeah, we look at all those factors.
10:58 I do think from a talent standpoint, he has a great deal of talent.
11:03 He's very skilled, he can throw the football, he can see the field.
11:06 He's 6'4" and a half, 6'5", and he's played a lot of football.
11:10 And what he's played, he's played well.
11:12 So those are all great elements to add to your football team.
11:17 Yes, you look at, okay, yes, he's had some injuries.
11:20 We studied exactly what they were, we had him in for a physical,
11:23 we analyzed everything he had.
11:24 We went through it in great detail.
11:28 And you know what, he's had some unlucky times that happened actually
11:32 during this season that has caused him to miss some action.
11:36 And that sometimes happens and sometimes it doesn't.
11:39 But we've all had injuries throughout our time.
11:43 This last injury he had was an ankle injury that Jack Plummer had for
11:48 us when he was at Purdue.
11:49 David Plow had for us when he was at Purdue.
11:51 It's somewhat of a common injury, and other receivers have it at Purdue.
11:54 And it's something that you can come back from,
11:57 it just takes five, six months to fully heal.
12:02 So I just think that there's always gonna be a risk for injury.
12:06 And he's gonna work hard to get his body ready to play.
12:11 And we're gonna work hard to put him in a great position and
12:14 surround him with great talent.
12:15 And like I said, we're gonna continue to improve the quarterback position as much
12:19 as we can between now and fall camp to make sure that all guys on deck are ready
12:24 to play just in case something happens.
12:28 >> Jeff, do you envision Isaiah Cummings being a strictly a tight end or
12:32 more of like an HVAC type of guy?
12:34 >> Well, we are excited about it adding Isaiah.
12:37 I think that once again, he's coming here with a purpose and
12:42 wants to prove his worth and prove that he can catch footballs against
12:46 a great competition and hopefully be able to play beyond if he can.
12:50 Tight in his position, we wanna add depth, we wanna add some playmakers.
12:54 He gives us a receiving skill to that position that we would like to have.
12:58 Is he gonna be an inline blocker all the time?
13:02 Probably not.
13:03 I think he's a guy that can do multiple things that you can't split him out and
13:07 you can't flex him out and let him show that athleticism.
13:10 But I think he'll come in and do a really good job.
13:14 And he cares, he wants to be here, he's from here.
13:17 And he wants to prove that he can play football.
13:20 So we're excited about him on our football team.
13:23 >> Last three, Jody, Mark, and Tommy.
13:26 >> Jeff, I guess first of all, you're probably not finished.
13:30 You still, now obviously after spring, could you add some more?
13:33 Will you, think you'll add some more?
13:36 And then what do you get with Penny Boone and
13:37 Donald Chaney kinda adding to that running back group?
13:39 >> Well, we've got a lot of pieces, so the roster is pretty full right now.
13:44 So to say we can add,
13:47 we've gotta see what happens on the roster after the spring.
13:52 So right now, like I said, we've got a pretty full roster.
13:54 So I don't see us being too active, but at the same time, we will be in position,
13:59 or prepared to be in a position if there becomes room.
14:07 That always changes, I think, when you get through spring practice and
14:11 people kinda see where they're at, see where they're on the depth chart.
14:14 Things may shake and move, and we've gotta be prepared for that.
14:18 But right now, it's a pretty full roster.
14:21 And it gets to Penny Boone, you know what?
14:23 He's a big physical back.
14:24 He's had an interesting path as well.
14:28 We recruited him from Michigan when I was at Purdue.
14:31 He went to Maryland, maybe didn't play it as well as he would like,
14:37 or get the action he would like as much, and then went to Toledo and played well.
14:42 So I think now he wants to come back and
14:44 prove that he can play against great competition at a high level.
14:47 So once again, I think the circumstance aligns that we're wanting
14:53 the guy that's hungry, wants to prove his worth, and wants to utilize this spring and
14:59 this summer and fall to get himself in the best shape that he possibly can to go out
15:04 there and perform against great competition.
15:08 I think he understands as well, he's gotta get in great shape.
15:13 And right now through workouts, he's done a good job, but
15:15 we wanna get him in better shape that he can go out there and perform each and
15:19 every week and stay healthy.
15:20 But he definitely is a big, strong,
15:22 physical back that we feel adds great value to our team.
15:26 >> You just talked about tight end a second ago.
15:30 You added a number of guys to that position.
15:32 What, in your offense, what does having more of a receiving weapon and
15:36 having better depth there sort of allow you guys to do as an offense?
15:39 >> Well, I think that position's vital to our success.
15:41 And I think even when you look at a lot of great football teams,
15:46 a lot of great NFL teams, they got great tight ends.
15:48 You gotta have somebody that can control inside the hashes,
15:51 can stretch the field very quickly if you have to.
15:53 Make physical catches in between linebackers and safeties, and we want that.
16:00 So we've worked hard to, at least on paper, improve that position.
16:05 Some guys are here, others,
16:09 I can't talk about everybody, but others.
16:13 I just think in general, we feel like once we get to the summer,
16:19 we're gonna have more weapons at that position.
16:22 It'll provide great competition.
16:24 We can utilize those guys.
16:26 That can help us in our passing game, be a little more efficient,
16:30 a little more explosive, and help our receivers get a little bit more open.
16:33 And I think we need that.
16:34 So without question, that's a very important position to our offense.
16:39 >> Question.
16:39 >> Jeff, you alluded to earlier about how the season ended last year.
16:43 In terms of this offseason, how much fuel was that, not only for the players, but
16:47 for just you and the coaches, to wanna have some momentum and
16:51 try to make sure how last year ended, didn't happen in 2024?
16:55 >> Well, very proud of our football team.
16:57 I thought that they played really hard all year.
16:59 We found a way to win a lot of close games,
17:02 which means we're playing hard to the end.
17:04 It means that we're not giving in.
17:06 It means that we're playing with confidence and sticking together.
17:10 So that was good to see.
17:12 That was a great positive that you like to see.
17:15 And we did find a way to get to the ACC Championship game.
17:17 Now, as you look back, without question, there's a lot of fuel to use.
17:20 The Kentucky game didn't go the way we wanted.
17:23 To let a ten point lead twice in the second half slip away to a loss,
17:27 no, there's a lot of miscues there that we gotta learn from.
17:31 And that falls on me and our coaches first,
17:33 cuz I thought we didn't do a good job.
17:34 And then we've gotta compete to the end and just find ways to make plays.
17:38 And then of course, we get to the championship game and
17:40 defense plays outstanding and the offense wasn't up to par.
17:43 So that was disappointing.
17:44 We could just make a few plays here and there.
17:46 It's, man, it can change the whole course of the season.
17:48 And you don't get those opportunities very much, so
17:50 you gotta take advantage of when they're there.
17:52 So that's disappointing.
17:53 And of course, the bowl game didn't go the way we wanted.
17:56 It was a disappointing loss.
17:57 A lot of miscues that we've gotta improve on as coaches that I think that
18:05 we've identified already, we've gotta make sure that we have a better plan and
18:09 give our players a better chance to succeed.
18:11 But ending that way, yes, you gotta use this fuel, and
18:16 it was not the way we wanna end, and that's football.
18:18 And you gotta, without question, work harder, and
18:23 we've gotta put a better plan together.
18:24 >> All right, thanks, Coach.