Texas junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger addressed to media on Tuesday before practice. Here are the highlights of his media session.
--- Ehlinger on facing Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts on Saturday: “I'm extremely excited. He's had success everywhere he's been. Following his story and understanding what he's persevered through. Just unbelievable respect for him and what he's been able to do at the college level. I'm extremely excited to get out there on Saturday and compete against him because he's such a respectable guy.”
--- Ehlinger on Oklahoma’s defense this season as compared to last year: “I think their defense is flying around. They are very aggressive, physical. Doing a great job of rallying to the football. It'll be a great challenge.”
--- When asked what impresses him about coach Tom Herman, he mentioned his leader’s attention to detail and mindset. Ehlinger said Herman does a great job of teaching players how to be the best version of themselves, plus teaching them how to succeed.
--- Ehlinger on Herman saying he is like a son to him: “That means the world to me. He says it all the time. The way that we build relationships in this program is time. I think that's a testament to exactly what he says. We've been through a lot together on and off the field. It means a lot to me, because he's always had confidence in me. It'd be very easy, especially at a place like Texas to, you know, a young player goes in and has some mistakes, and it’s no shot. He was one who believed in me, as well coach [Tim] Beck, and the coaching staff, to say we believe in you, and we know what you're capable of doing. That helped me play with confidence and understand that the opinions of my coaches and teammates are only ones that matter. If they have confidence in me, I should have confidence in myself.”
--- Ehlinger on his receivers stepping up in the absence of Collin Johnson: “The comfortability that I have in those guys, the whole receiver room, really, it's extremely high. I think that they've done a great job of coming in and understanding what it takes to be successful at their position, following guys like Collin and Devin [Duvernay]. There's been no drop off because of the way that we worked over the summer and the comfortability and the reps that we got. They’re doing a great job.”
--- Ehlinger on facing Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts on Saturday: “I'm extremely excited. He's had success everywhere he's been. Following his story and understanding what he's persevered through. Just unbelievable respect for him and what he's been able to do at the college level. I'm extremely excited to get out there on Saturday and compete against him because he's such a respectable guy.”
--- Ehlinger on Oklahoma’s defense this season as compared to last year: “I think their defense is flying around. They are very aggressive, physical. Doing a great job of rallying to the football. It'll be a great challenge.”
--- When asked what impresses him about coach Tom Herman, he mentioned his leader’s attention to detail and mindset. Ehlinger said Herman does a great job of teaching players how to be the best version of themselves, plus teaching them how to succeed.
--- Ehlinger on Herman saying he is like a son to him: “That means the world to me. He says it all the time. The way that we build relationships in this program is time. I think that's a testament to exactly what he says. We've been through a lot together on and off the field. It means a lot to me, because he's always had confidence in me. It'd be very easy, especially at a place like Texas to, you know, a young player goes in and has some mistakes, and it’s no shot. He was one who believed in me, as well coach [Tim] Beck, and the coaching staff, to say we believe in you, and we know what you're capable of doing. That helped me play with confidence and understand that the opinions of my coaches and teammates are only ones that matter. If they have confidence in me, I should have confidence in myself.”
--- Ehlinger on his receivers stepping up in the absence of Collin Johnson: “The comfortability that I have in those guys, the whole receiver room, really, it's extremely high. I think that they've done a great job of coming in and understanding what it takes to be successful at their position, following guys like Collin and Devin [Duvernay]. There's been no drop off because of the way that we worked over the summer and the comfortability and the reps that we got. They’re doing a great job.”
