Luke McNitt Press Conference Quotes

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Aug. 28, 2017
Memorial Stadium
Pre-Arkansas State

Fullback Luke McNitt
On who he called after he found he was captain
“I called my dad first. He has always been the kind of person I call first in these situations. He is pretty proud and he said he could kind of see it coming. But my mom was right there on the phone to take it away from him pretty quick so she wasn’t far behind.”

On his father’s comment that he say it [his captainship] coming and if he saw it coming

“You could kind of see it coming, with the offseason I was elected one of the team captains for lifting. But, the way my career has gone, he said he had a feeling about it and I guess he was right.”

 

On how it has all played out

“I was actually talking about that with a few of my buddies a few days ago, you know looking back. The way I got here is kind of unorthodox, but early in that decision to do what I did I might have changed it but looking back I definitely would not change a thing. The way I got here and how it has all come together, I definitely wouldn’t change a thing."

 

On how he provides consistency in his positions

“There aren’t that many seniors, there is me and Adam (Taylor) and Harrison (Jordan), but I try to just bring some of that experience even though those guys have a lot of game experience, they know what they are doing, I don’t have to say much. They are in there, they’re eager to learn, they love practicing, they love going out to compete. But, I just try to… I don’t need to do much is that I’m trying to say. They have a lot of game experience.”

 

On what it is about Tanner Lee that drew him in

“He’s a very charismatic guy. He knows how to reach different people or lead people in different ways. You know, one guy might respond to yelling more and one guy might respond in a different way. But, I think he’s able to lead people in different ways and the way he was able to come in and show what he can do on the field, I think that is the biggest thing. It wasn’t just all hype with him, you know he was able to prove it on the field and I think people responded to that.”

 

On Lee’s comment that the fullback could be huge in the offense and how his role has changed

“You kind of see that with Andy (Janovich) in his senior year. You have got to prove to the coaches what you can do and prove what you can do with the ball to get more opportunities. And I think that I am slowly starting to do that. You know, last year I was more of a lead blocker but whatever the coach is going to ask me I’m going to do it. But if you can prove to them that you deserve to have the ball in your hands I think they will get it to you.”

 

On Scott Booker’s energy level and its impact

“If you sat in one of our special teams meetings you would notice it right away. He’s got a lot of energy and I think he tries to shift some of that energy to the team and I think he does a great job of it. Most guys, if you’re a starter, most guys don’t want to play on special teams, but I think he is kind of changing that attitude.  The ‘hey you can come in here and make plays’, this is just as important as offense or defense and you know a lot of other teams might have that negative connotation of special teams, but if we go out there all out and give 100 percent it can make some game-changing plays.”

 

On who some of the guys are who have stepped up

“You know there are a lot of good guys, we are still changing personnel right now trying to figure it out, trying to settle it in for Arkansas State. You know, there are a lot of walk-on guys, I mean all four walk-ons, like Austin Rose he has really stepped up, he’s done a lot of special teams and I mean there are countless guys especially with Coach Booker coming in. He’s got kind of a new energy with it, and I think a lot of the guys want to be a part of it.”

 

On Arkansas State

“You know, they’re an athletic team. They have a lot of talent on the D-line, I think number 11 is going after some sort of sack record. I’m not sure but I think they are a very athletic team and  it will be a good test for us moving forward to see what we can do with Arkansas State.”

 

On the extra week of preseason

“You can definitely feel it, we had to kind of pick each other up. That extra week starts to grind on guys. You know it is the old cliché, you know, you’re ready to hit somebody else, you know, you’re tired of going up against your on guys.  You know, you’re tired of going up against Dedrick Young, tired of going up against Chris Weber, you get tired of taking those guys head on the whole day, and you’re ready to hit someone else. But yeah, I think the way this team came together during these weeks, you know, it was one of the harder fall camps since I have been here. You know, just the day-long grind and how long it was, but I think they was we were able to come together and show up to work every day and give the effort we did says a lot about this team.”

 

On the defense

“There are times when you just want to sit back and you know you can’t really do it because you’re in the game but you want to sit back and watch that defense work because seeing them in practice, all the different looks they can give you, we were trying to figure them out the whole fall camp. You know, I give Chris Weber a hard time that I knew what he was doing, but half the time I didn’t really know too well. But, I wish I could sit back and watch them work, it will be fun to see what those guys can do on Saturday.”

On how the defense helped them prepare for the season

“It helps us a lot, in the Big Ten you have got Wisconsin and a few other teams that really run a true 3-4 but now, we are so well-versed in the 3-4 that the switchback to the 4-3 is going to seem easy now. But, going throughout the season, you don’t get many looks at that type of defense. I think looking at it all spring and all Fall Camp really helped the team a lot. You know, now we are pretty proficient in both the 4-3 and the 3-4.”