Brady White
On Chip’s system: “I think he’s made it pretty simple for us quarterbacks. I feel we’re all very comfortable with the system, very comfortable with the offense. Especially for us older guys. I know Dillon [Sterling-Cole] is still learning, but he’s shown a good grasp on the offense from a young age.”
Whether or not they will ease in with a young offense: “I don’t think he’s taking it back a notch. I think we have everything in, so it’s just a matter of how he’s calling things in certain situations and how he feels… We’re going to get it.”
Chip’s aggressiveness: “That just shows the he’s confident in the guys behind the center. Being the quarterback and knowing that your [offensive coordinator] and your quarterback coach has a lot of trust in you is a great feeling. You’ve got to have that great connection with that guy who’s putting you on the field, or you’re second-guess yourself and he can’t trust you.”
Difference between film and live reps: “There’s a lot of bodies out in front of you, big bodies too. You’ve got to see different things, know where to put the ball in different situations and I think that was just the biggest focus for myself coming out of spring. It’s situational football – knowing when it’s this situation or they’re bringing this type of pressure, where to spin it or where to deal it.”
On Taylor Kelly:
“Taylor was one of those guys that, the media kind of counted him out and I think coach Graham will even tell you that he told him he was going to be the third guy. He’s just all about work. He’s not going to talk a lot, but he’s going to go work on himself, go work with his teammates. Having him as a mentor and having him around just to pick his brain, he’s preaching all that… I know he’s very highly spoken of about this program, especially among the coaching staff, so having him come back and being able to talk with him is awesome. He’s one of the great quarterbacks that, I wish he had been able to do something at the next level.”
On the QB battle: “I think that’s a question for the team. I think I’m comfortable with what I’m doing, but I think Manny’s doing a great job as well. I think both of us playing well is raising our level of play out on the field. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I just know that I got to keep getting better.”
More on QB battle: “I want to be that guy, don’t get me wrong.”
Potential two-QB system: “I’ve never participated in one…Competition is not new to me. Obviously, a lot of different things are running through your head. ‘Am I going to start? Is he going to start? Are we both going to play?’ All that is out of your control… We don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s up to the coaches to decide.”
Manny Wilkins
Growing up: “I think I’ve just matured, not just as a football player but as a person. I think I’ve really stepped up to that role of being a leader on this team and taking it day by day.”
More growing up: “I just had big eyes. My focus just really wasn’t where it needed to be. Now that’s changed, and my mindset is in the right place.”
QB battle: “Even though it’s a quarterback battle or whatever, it’s not a battle in our minds or in that film room. We’re not bickering or any of that. We’re just working together to work hard.”
QB battle: “That’s on coach Graham.”
What he’s worked on: “I’m getting that pocket presence and getting a real feeling of becoming a real, true quarterback and just dealing. I think that something I’ve grown at as a quarterback is just doing that. My biggest thing every year, whether I’m a starter or not, is being a true leader.”
Offense’s potential: “Electrifying. We’ve got a lot of tools. That’s something I’ve grown to learn is if I put the ball in Kalen Ballage or Demario Richard’s hands, it’s better than me running the ball or something like that. That’s one of our greatest aspects, we have a lot of guys who can go out there and make plays.”
Chip’s system: “We’re just spreading the ball out and getting the ball in everybody’s hands. It’s not just focused on one position.”
Offensive line: “Those guys were all playing like basketball and stuff in high school. They’ve got hips, and they can move when they need to move. They’re super long on the outside, and they’re looking really good.”
Working with Chip: “We have fun in that film room. We’re a really live group. [Chip] is really encouraging, and he’s not a negative person. One of the biggest things with him is he’s a teacher. He coached high school and understands high school guys. He’s coached in college, so he understands college guys. He’s been a quarterback guru and mentored seven and eight year olds. I think it’s one of those things where he’s been in those shoes for a while and gets people.”
On Chip’s system: “I think he’s made it pretty simple for us quarterbacks. I feel we’re all very comfortable with the system, very comfortable with the offense. Especially for us older guys. I know Dillon [Sterling-Cole] is still learning, but he’s shown a good grasp on the offense from a young age.”
Whether or not they will ease in with a young offense: “I don’t think he’s taking it back a notch. I think we have everything in, so it’s just a matter of how he’s calling things in certain situations and how he feels… We’re going to get it.”
Chip’s aggressiveness: “That just shows the he’s confident in the guys behind the center. Being the quarterback and knowing that your [offensive coordinator] and your quarterback coach has a lot of trust in you is a great feeling. You’ve got to have that great connection with that guy who’s putting you on the field, or you’re second-guess yourself and he can’t trust you.”
Difference between film and live reps: “There’s a lot of bodies out in front of you, big bodies too. You’ve got to see different things, know where to put the ball in different situations and I think that was just the biggest focus for myself coming out of spring. It’s situational football – knowing when it’s this situation or they’re bringing this type of pressure, where to spin it or where to deal it.”
On Taylor Kelly:
“Taylor was one of those guys that, the media kind of counted him out and I think coach Graham will even tell you that he told him he was going to be the third guy. He’s just all about work. He’s not going to talk a lot, but he’s going to go work on himself, go work with his teammates. Having him as a mentor and having him around just to pick his brain, he’s preaching all that… I know he’s very highly spoken of about this program, especially among the coaching staff, so having him come back and being able to talk with him is awesome. He’s one of the great quarterbacks that, I wish he had been able to do something at the next level.”
On the QB battle: “I think that’s a question for the team. I think I’m comfortable with what I’m doing, but I think Manny’s doing a great job as well. I think both of us playing well is raising our level of play out on the field. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I just know that I got to keep getting better.”
More on QB battle: “I want to be that guy, don’t get me wrong.”
Potential two-QB system: “I’ve never participated in one…Competition is not new to me. Obviously, a lot of different things are running through your head. ‘Am I going to start? Is he going to start? Are we both going to play?’ All that is out of your control… We don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s up to the coaches to decide.”
Manny Wilkins
Growing up: “I think I’ve just matured, not just as a football player but as a person. I think I’ve really stepped up to that role of being a leader on this team and taking it day by day.”
More growing up: “I just had big eyes. My focus just really wasn’t where it needed to be. Now that’s changed, and my mindset is in the right place.”
QB battle: “Even though it’s a quarterback battle or whatever, it’s not a battle in our minds or in that film room. We’re not bickering or any of that. We’re just working together to work hard.”
QB battle: “That’s on coach Graham.”
What he’s worked on: “I’m getting that pocket presence and getting a real feeling of becoming a real, true quarterback and just dealing. I think that something I’ve grown at as a quarterback is just doing that. My biggest thing every year, whether I’m a starter or not, is being a true leader.”
Offense’s potential: “Electrifying. We’ve got a lot of tools. That’s something I’ve grown to learn is if I put the ball in Kalen Ballage or Demario Richard’s hands, it’s better than me running the ball or something like that. That’s one of our greatest aspects, we have a lot of guys who can go out there and make plays.”
Chip’s system: “We’re just spreading the ball out and getting the ball in everybody’s hands. It’s not just focused on one position.”
Offensive line: “Those guys were all playing like basketball and stuff in high school. They’ve got hips, and they can move when they need to move. They’re super long on the outside, and they’re looking really good.”
Working with Chip: “We have fun in that film room. We’re a really live group. [Chip] is really encouraging, and he’s not a negative person. One of the biggest things with him is he’s a teacher. He coached high school and understands high school guys. He’s coached in college, so he understands college guys. He’s been a quarterback guru and mentored seven and eight year olds. I think it’s one of those things where he’s been in those shoes for a while and gets people.”
