Eteva Mauga-Clements Quotes - 10-25-22

Eteva Mauga-Clements
Nebraska Linebacker
Pre-Illinois
Press Conference

On Illinois' running back Chase Brown
"He is a good running back. We will give him the respect that he deserves, but a guy like him, he knows what he is doing. He is going to hit hard, and if he knows there is nothing else he can do, he is going to move forward and get as many yards as he can get. But he is a really tough runner."

On staying ready this season 
"I think Coach Mickey (Joseph) has us ready. You have to practice like you are going to play. So far, we have a lot of starters going down, getting injured like all the way down to our third strings. You cannot complain about reps during the week, and then come game time when they call your name, you are not prepared for it. You always have to prepare like you are going to play."

On making his first start against Purdue 
"Being here, I always wanted to start, and then my time came and I was prepared for it. Like any other other, I had been preparing like a starter. I take pride in what I do especially on special teams. I got that call when Luke (Reimer) when down, and Coach asked me to step up and I had to step up. We were rotating with Chris Kolarevic, so I was able to rotate in and out. Go in, and then come out and see a little bit what Purdue was doing, and then go back in and play."

On coming off the bye week
"The bye week is always good. We have to fill fresh. You have to take care of yourself, mentally and physically. The last three games, got a little banged up. It was crucial this bye week. It could not have come at a better time. We got some time off, relaxed and got into the training room. We came out today and practiced hard. Couldn't ask for a better time for a bye week."
NU Athletic Communications