By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
These three will have a lot to say on how this front performs in the fall. Expectations for it to be one of the best in all of college football, if not the best, are there. Apu Ika is the ultimate nose tackle. Chidi Ogbonnaya has steadily been getting better over the last three years. Waco product and Tulsa transfer Jaxon Player will figure into the rotation at both tackle and end.
Apu Ika
(Difference after more than a year in the system) To be honest, not that different. The mission’s the same. We’re pounding the rock every day. We’re getting ready for week one.
(Are you more comfortable second year) I’m glad to be here. Everyone knows the experience we have on both sides of the trenches, O-line and D-line. So being able to play with those dudes and play against those dudes in practice every day only makes me better and only makes us better as a team. Again excited for week one.
(Battles up front) To be the best, you’ve got to get ready with the best. I feel like day-in and day-out, we’ve got some dudes on the other side with a lot of experience, Jacob Gall, Grant Miller, Connor Galvin. They just bring it every day. We’ve got to match the energy. That’s the only way practice goes. Aranda says time and time again the team is led by the front. So we’ve got to keep chugging.
(Did BYU recruit you much since you’re from Salt Lake) I was committed to them for a long time my freshman year, but things change and I grew up. Deep down I’ll always be a Cougar. That’s something I was born into. My family is deep, deep BYU fans. So that game is bittersweet for me.
(Do you know a lot of BYU guys) Everyone. I mean the coaching staff watched me grow up in church since I was a little kid. I’ve seen them after games, and I went to games a lot when I was young. It’s a different kind of competitive nature. It brings out a different kind of competitiveness in me.
(Often occupying two blockers) I just like to win. I mean I try to do my job and do what’s asked of me. As long as we win, that’s all that matters to me.
(Do you tweak the defense a little) That’s a good question. I think it’s a different group of guys this year. Maybe we have to take a different approach to the spots we have to fill and the spots we have to get better. But at the end of the day, we’ve got a job to do and we go out there and pound the rock.
(Have you taught teammates dance moves) Those are exclusive. I like to keep those behind the camera. Don’t like to be shown. It’s just fun and games.
Jaxon Player
(Comfortable with the defense) I’m very comfortable with the defense. I’ve got the hang of things. I play both end and nose. I’ve got great teammates who help me learn every day. I get to be around guys like Chidi, Apu, Gabe, TJ, Cole and Utley. Anything I need they help me with. It’s been a smooth transition.
(Do you like versatility to play both positions) Oh yeah, it works out in my favor. I can play on third down and stop the run on first down. I can do a little bit of both. I just like being with this team and what they bring to the table also.
(Is it a big difference between end and nose) It’s different techniques, but it’s the same game. It’s still football. You hit them and they hit you, and you just win.
(What’s allowed you to hit the ground running) Just the help of my teammates. They’re great in the film room. Coach DJ is one of the best coaches I’ve had in my career, and he just helps me learn the defense and simplifies things. So when I do hit the ground running, it’s just like the back of my hand. With the help of those other guys in the room, they make it very easy for me.
I like to put it like I’m a freshman again because I came in and learned everybody and learn new things. I’m still trying to figure out everybody’s name. It’s like being a freshman again, but now I have experience. I tell the guys you’ve got to grind. You’ve got three to four years of this, and it’s a grind but it’s worth it in the end.
(Coach Roberts defense) I like how it’s simplified in a way for us. It’s a react attack defense really. My whole career I played attack. I just shot off the ball. This is more patient. Letting things develop allows us to make more plays.
(Is there more pressure being from Waco) I don’t see it as pressure, but I know there is because if I do bad, I’ve got a big family, so I’m going to hear it from them. But I put more pressure on myself than anybody ever could, so it’s not too bad on me.
(Being close to home) It makes life a whole lot easier because I’m a big family guy. I come from a big family, and with my family being eight minutes away from me down the road, all my friends and family can come to the games. When I’m done with football for the day, I can go relax with them. It’s way better than being six hours away like I was.
(With a big family, how do you ration out game tickets) I told them, the ones that made the drive to Tulsa will be the ones that get the tickets.
(Getting a lot of home-cooked meals being back home) Oh yeah, my mom can't cook that great, but she does cook a few meals. Don't tell her I said that. She cooks a few meals that are good, but I get good home-cooked food from my aunts and other people around here. Like, I know everybody in Waco, so they treat me well.
(Biggest takeaway from playing at Midway) Once the community loves you, they love you forever. So, when I came back, they embraced me with open arms. My mom My mom has been in the community, with her business, she helps a lot. So, everybody knows her, which then in turn they know me. And it’s been great. For me, coming home has been nothing but great. I get a lot of love coming home.
(Has it been surreal, putting on the jersey of the team you watched growing up) Yeah, it's kind of crazy, because I still got posters. I have a picture from 2004, when I was at Floyd Casey, and I was watching the Baylor Bears play the Texas State team. And I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been loving Baylor since I was a kid, and now I finally get to rep the green and gold.’
(What will it be like to have little kids asking for your autograph at games) It’s going to be kind of crazy, just because like I said, I’ve been a Baylor fan my whole life and now I finally get to be on this side of it is wild. So, if any kid asks, I’ll tell them my journey and tell them, ‘Hey, it’s a grind, but in the end, things work out for a reason.’
Chidi Ogbonnaya
(Having that depth in the D-line, how big of a benefit is that) Oh, it's been awesome, really, it's really good for us. We help each other every single day. Coach DJ (Dennis Johnson) was talking about, the more depth we have, the better we’ll be in games and what-not. Everybody is capable of playing, so it’s great playing with Jaxon and Apu and Utley and Gabe and all the inside guys have been good.
(Playing end and nose) Yeah, this year I’m playing both end and nose. I consider myself a versatile guy, so I feel like I can play anywhere. Coach wants to experiment with me outside and inside, and it’s been going pretty good.
(Hard to play both) Kind of like what Jaxon said, I mean, at the end of the day it’s just football. It’s a new technique, but with time and repetition you master technique and then you go from there.
(Can the D-line be the leaders of the defense this year) We’re going to have to. Us and the O-line, we’re the oldest out of the entire team, and we’re going to have to lead from up front if we want to get to where we want to go.
(What’s the difference with having an older, more experienced D-line) Maturity. I think the biggest thing is maturity. The guys who are a lot older are going to make less mistakes, are going to do less bad things off the field. Just overall, they’re going to be more mature, whereas with the younger team, probably just a little lack of focus and what-not. That’s just kind of normal. But, with time, all that stuff disappears.
(Who’s a guy on the D-line that when they’re taking reps, you’re like, ‘OK, I’ve got watch that guy, because I can learn something from him) I could say the entire D-line, but I’m just going to say that the one guy that’s been standing out, obviously, has been Gabe Hall. I think he’s going to have a crazy here this time. He’s just been doing some crazy stuff all around Apu, and be on the lookout for TJ as well. I think everybody’s really just been doing a good job. I’ve learned from all of them.
(In what ways can this defense overall be better than last year’s) Really just hone in on our technique, continuing to get better and better Mistakes were made last year, but just fix those mistakes and we’ll be an even better defense. Just us being an older group, if we lead from the front, and that in turn makes the entire defense better.
(On the offense) A lot of guys had to step up, and I think they’re doing a really good job at that. Taye (McWilliams), our running back, is doing really, really good. The freshman, Kaian (Roberts-Day), he’s pretty big (6-3, 269). Shapen has been doing pretty good as well. and the O-line, I’m very much used to them and they’re very experienced. So, they get me better, and I make them better.
(What offensive linemen do you like to face, knowing it’s going to make you better) I think Grant Miller. Grant Miller, to me, has made the biggest jump over the last years that I’ve played against him. And he’s just been getting better and better every single year. So, every time I’m lined up against him, I have to really make sure that I’m honed in on my technique. Otherwise, he’ll make you pay for it.
(What have you worked on individually) Maybe pass rush. I want to get better at pass rush and just basically continue to develop my ability to stop the run and what-not. Over the offseason, we’ve just been hitting the sleds, doing individual work, stuff like that to improve what you’re able to do in the ball game.
(Building off last year’s numbers, including a Sugar Bowl-record 10 sacks) Absolutely. We have an even more experienced and better defensive line than yesterday. So, we feel that we can do the exact same thing. But, it’s all going to depend on how we approach the games and our mindset going into it.
(How does it ramp up going to pads tomorrow) Yeah, we’ve got a night practice tomorrow, it’s going to be pretty intense. But, it’s always fun, so we’re looking forward to it.
(Something the D-line takes pride in doing) I think we take probably the biggest pride in stopping the run. It’s probably the biggest part of practice, because obviously we won a championship off, the 9-on-7. It’s the biggest thing that the D-line coach, DJ (Dennis Johnson) prepares us for. And it’s the drill that he cares about the most, the 9-on-7. So, I would say stopping the run has been our game.
Publisher
These three will have a lot to say on how this front performs in the fall. Expectations for it to be one of the best in all of college football, if not the best, are there. Apu Ika is the ultimate nose tackle. Chidi Ogbonnaya has steadily been getting better over the last three years. Waco product and Tulsa transfer Jaxon Player will figure into the rotation at both tackle and end.
Apu Ika
(Difference after more than a year in the system) To be honest, not that different. The mission’s the same. We’re pounding the rock every day. We’re getting ready for week one.
(Are you more comfortable second year) I’m glad to be here. Everyone knows the experience we have on both sides of the trenches, O-line and D-line. So being able to play with those dudes and play against those dudes in practice every day only makes me better and only makes us better as a team. Again excited for week one.
(Battles up front) To be the best, you’ve got to get ready with the best. I feel like day-in and day-out, we’ve got some dudes on the other side with a lot of experience, Jacob Gall, Grant Miller, Connor Galvin. They just bring it every day. We’ve got to match the energy. That’s the only way practice goes. Aranda says time and time again the team is led by the front. So we’ve got to keep chugging.
(Did BYU recruit you much since you’re from Salt Lake) I was committed to them for a long time my freshman year, but things change and I grew up. Deep down I’ll always be a Cougar. That’s something I was born into. My family is deep, deep BYU fans. So that game is bittersweet for me.
(Do you know a lot of BYU guys) Everyone. I mean the coaching staff watched me grow up in church since I was a little kid. I’ve seen them after games, and I went to games a lot when I was young. It’s a different kind of competitive nature. It brings out a different kind of competitiveness in me.
(Often occupying two blockers) I just like to win. I mean I try to do my job and do what’s asked of me. As long as we win, that’s all that matters to me.
(Do you tweak the defense a little) That’s a good question. I think it’s a different group of guys this year. Maybe we have to take a different approach to the spots we have to fill and the spots we have to get better. But at the end of the day, we’ve got a job to do and we go out there and pound the rock.
(Have you taught teammates dance moves) Those are exclusive. I like to keep those behind the camera. Don’t like to be shown. It’s just fun and games.
Jaxon Player
(Comfortable with the defense) I’m very comfortable with the defense. I’ve got the hang of things. I play both end and nose. I’ve got great teammates who help me learn every day. I get to be around guys like Chidi, Apu, Gabe, TJ, Cole and Utley. Anything I need they help me with. It’s been a smooth transition.
(Do you like versatility to play both positions) Oh yeah, it works out in my favor. I can play on third down and stop the run on first down. I can do a little bit of both. I just like being with this team and what they bring to the table also.
(Is it a big difference between end and nose) It’s different techniques, but it’s the same game. It’s still football. You hit them and they hit you, and you just win.
(What’s allowed you to hit the ground running) Just the help of my teammates. They’re great in the film room. Coach DJ is one of the best coaches I’ve had in my career, and he just helps me learn the defense and simplifies things. So when I do hit the ground running, it’s just like the back of my hand. With the help of those other guys in the room, they make it very easy for me.
I like to put it like I’m a freshman again because I came in and learned everybody and learn new things. I’m still trying to figure out everybody’s name. It’s like being a freshman again, but now I have experience. I tell the guys you’ve got to grind. You’ve got three to four years of this, and it’s a grind but it’s worth it in the end.
(Coach Roberts defense) I like how it’s simplified in a way for us. It’s a react attack defense really. My whole career I played attack. I just shot off the ball. This is more patient. Letting things develop allows us to make more plays.
(Is there more pressure being from Waco) I don’t see it as pressure, but I know there is because if I do bad, I’ve got a big family, so I’m going to hear it from them. But I put more pressure on myself than anybody ever could, so it’s not too bad on me.
(Being close to home) It makes life a whole lot easier because I’m a big family guy. I come from a big family, and with my family being eight minutes away from me down the road, all my friends and family can come to the games. When I’m done with football for the day, I can go relax with them. It’s way better than being six hours away like I was.
(With a big family, how do you ration out game tickets) I told them, the ones that made the drive to Tulsa will be the ones that get the tickets.
(Getting a lot of home-cooked meals being back home) Oh yeah, my mom can't cook that great, but she does cook a few meals. Don't tell her I said that. She cooks a few meals that are good, but I get good home-cooked food from my aunts and other people around here. Like, I know everybody in Waco, so they treat me well.
(Biggest takeaway from playing at Midway) Once the community loves you, they love you forever. So, when I came back, they embraced me with open arms. My mom My mom has been in the community, with her business, she helps a lot. So, everybody knows her, which then in turn they know me. And it’s been great. For me, coming home has been nothing but great. I get a lot of love coming home.
(Has it been surreal, putting on the jersey of the team you watched growing up) Yeah, it's kind of crazy, because I still got posters. I have a picture from 2004, when I was at Floyd Casey, and I was watching the Baylor Bears play the Texas State team. And I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been loving Baylor since I was a kid, and now I finally get to rep the green and gold.’
(What will it be like to have little kids asking for your autograph at games) It’s going to be kind of crazy, just because like I said, I’ve been a Baylor fan my whole life and now I finally get to be on this side of it is wild. So, if any kid asks, I’ll tell them my journey and tell them, ‘Hey, it’s a grind, but in the end, things work out for a reason.’
Chidi Ogbonnaya
(Having that depth in the D-line, how big of a benefit is that) Oh, it's been awesome, really, it's really good for us. We help each other every single day. Coach DJ (Dennis Johnson) was talking about, the more depth we have, the better we’ll be in games and what-not. Everybody is capable of playing, so it’s great playing with Jaxon and Apu and Utley and Gabe and all the inside guys have been good.
(Playing end and nose) Yeah, this year I’m playing both end and nose. I consider myself a versatile guy, so I feel like I can play anywhere. Coach wants to experiment with me outside and inside, and it’s been going pretty good.
(Hard to play both) Kind of like what Jaxon said, I mean, at the end of the day it’s just football. It’s a new technique, but with time and repetition you master technique and then you go from there.
(Can the D-line be the leaders of the defense this year) We’re going to have to. Us and the O-line, we’re the oldest out of the entire team, and we’re going to have to lead from up front if we want to get to where we want to go.
(What’s the difference with having an older, more experienced D-line) Maturity. I think the biggest thing is maturity. The guys who are a lot older are going to make less mistakes, are going to do less bad things off the field. Just overall, they’re going to be more mature, whereas with the younger team, probably just a little lack of focus and what-not. That’s just kind of normal. But, with time, all that stuff disappears.
(Who’s a guy on the D-line that when they’re taking reps, you’re like, ‘OK, I’ve got watch that guy, because I can learn something from him) I could say the entire D-line, but I’m just going to say that the one guy that’s been standing out, obviously, has been Gabe Hall. I think he’s going to have a crazy here this time. He’s just been doing some crazy stuff all around Apu, and be on the lookout for TJ as well. I think everybody’s really just been doing a good job. I’ve learned from all of them.
(In what ways can this defense overall be better than last year’s) Really just hone in on our technique, continuing to get better and better Mistakes were made last year, but just fix those mistakes and we’ll be an even better defense. Just us being an older group, if we lead from the front, and that in turn makes the entire defense better.
(On the offense) A lot of guys had to step up, and I think they’re doing a really good job at that. Taye (McWilliams), our running back, is doing really, really good. The freshman, Kaian (Roberts-Day), he’s pretty big (6-3, 269). Shapen has been doing pretty good as well. and the O-line, I’m very much used to them and they’re very experienced. So, they get me better, and I make them better.
(What offensive linemen do you like to face, knowing it’s going to make you better) I think Grant Miller. Grant Miller, to me, has made the biggest jump over the last years that I’ve played against him. And he’s just been getting better and better every single year. So, every time I’m lined up against him, I have to really make sure that I’m honed in on my technique. Otherwise, he’ll make you pay for it.
(What have you worked on individually) Maybe pass rush. I want to get better at pass rush and just basically continue to develop my ability to stop the run and what-not. Over the offseason, we’ve just been hitting the sleds, doing individual work, stuff like that to improve what you’re able to do in the ball game.
(Building off last year’s numbers, including a Sugar Bowl-record 10 sacks) Absolutely. We have an even more experienced and better defensive line than yesterday. So, we feel that we can do the exact same thing. But, it’s all going to depend on how we approach the games and our mindset going into it.
(How does it ramp up going to pads tomorrow) Yeah, we’ve got a night practice tomorrow, it’s going to be pretty intense. But, it’s always fun, so we’re looking forward to it.
(Something the D-line takes pride in doing) I think we take probably the biggest pride in stopping the run. It’s probably the biggest part of practice, because obviously we won a championship off, the 9-on-7. It’s the biggest thing that the D-line coach, DJ (Dennis Johnson) prepares us for. And it’s the drill that he cares about the most, the 9-on-7. So, I would say stopping the run has been our game.