Jordan Westerkamp

On how much further along the team is from last year
“It’s like a whole new world. Having a full year under our belts with this new staff – it’s been a crazy ride so far, it’s been a good one and we’ve learned a lot, gone through a lot with this coaching staff. We had probably the best winter since I’ve been here. It was huge for us this winter, coming off that win against UCLA. [We have] a lot of momentum and these guys are ready for spring ball.”

On why this was the best winter since he’s been here
“The leaders did a good job keeping people on track, our strength staff kicked our butts. It was tough but we needed it and they knew that. The coaches were still in the loop. It was just a great winter overall.”

On the strong senior class
“It’s crazy that it’s our last year for us, but we know how important this last year is and we want to be able to leave our mark better than the one that’s been left here the past couple of years. We know we have to get after it and keep working hard and keep forcing people to keep giving everything they got and I think we’ll be able to do that.”

On if the bowl game impacted Tommy Armstrong Jr.
“Oh yeah, it impacted all of us, but Tommy especially. He had such a good bowl game, got the MVP, we were so proud of him, the last game he played out of his mind and that gave him a lot of motivation this whole winter and he’s been getting after it – lifts, runs, whatever it is, he’s been doing a good job.”

On what Tommy Armstrong Jr. said after the bowl game to the team
“He gathered us all together and said, ‘We’re all seniors now. We have a veteran offense. There’s no reason we can’t be the best in the Big Ten, even the best in the nation with all the weapons we have.’ He just talked about how we need to put in the work and if we don’t put in the work, it’s not going to happen. Just a general message like that. He kind of talked to us and sort of apologized for his past play, but it wasn’t just him, it was all of us. But it was great to just see a leader who can step away and say I’m pointing the thumb or the finger…it was to see that from a captain because it’s hard for guys to do that sometimes. He had a great message for us and I think that kind of sparked our winter and how well it went.”

On De’Mornay Pierson-El
“He’s had a rough go, but he knows he’s got a bright future, we all know it. He works hard every single day, keeps rehabbing, getting back and he’s making big strides, looking forward to seeing him back soon.”

On what he’s focusing on the spring that he can carry into the 2016 season with him
“[I’m] just focusing on just doing whatever I can to help the team win. Personally, I have my own set goals – just get better in every aspect possible, never have that satisfied attitude. I’m lucky I got Coach [Keith] Williams who’s going to help me get there. He’s been such a great help so far. He’s one of the best, if not the best, receiver coach in the nation. We’re lucky to have him. Personally, I’m just looking forward at being able to develop myself and get better at my craft.”

On Derrion Grim
“He’s doing well. He’s a good kid. It’s rare to see a young kid and not be kind of cocky or have an edge, but he was mature, came in, knew what he had to do, been working hard, comes there, gets his work in, does what he has to do, doesn’t complain. That’s great to see out of a young guy, because it takes a couple years sometimes for a young guy to develop that maturity level, but he kind of already has and it’s great to kind of see that. He’ll still have to learn the system and stuff like that, but he will.”

On Grim’s high school career resembling Westerkamp’s high school year
“I saw that [Grim] almost put up as good of high school numbers has I did. I just told him at that signing event, we had bios and I was reading his stats and I was like ‘Oh my goodness. This kind of reminds me of myself.’”

On Joshua Kalu talking smack in the locker room and the competition between defense and offense
“Yeah, that competition is ongoing. They’re defensive backs. They always talk. That’s part of their game. They talk smack, but they’ll be quiet this spring.”

On wanting to see the defensive backs be able to compete with the offense
“Yea, absolutely we want to see them keep up with us and compete at our level. It goes both ways. We need them to compete as hard as they can so we get better, and vice versa. It’s going to be a great spring. We’re really looking forward to it. The competition level is going to be through the roof and we’re going to hold each other to a whole new level.

On if there will be an intensity difference this spring compared to last spring:
“I think last year was more of a learning type spring. This year, having one year under our belt, we’re familiar with the system and how it goes, we’ll be able to have a little more fun this year, compete a little more. It’s still kind of surreal that this is my last year], but I can start to say it’s my last ‘this’ and my last ‘this’ and it kind of makes it more important.”