Thursday Media Conference

Senior defensive back Christopher Smith, Sophomore running back Kendall Milton and Redshirt Freshman offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran met with the media Thursday night after practice and offered the following comments regarding fall camp and the upcoming 2021 season.

Christopher Smith, Senior, Defensive Back

On Derion Kendrick and working at the STAR position...

"We have several different people working there. I got a couple of reps today and yesterday. It is good for me to be able to get out there and get some reps at STAR and learn a new position. DK (Derion Kendrick) has been a great player for us. He is very locked in at practice and does not take a day off."

On Kelee Ringo...

"Kelee has grown a lot. He has been locked in on his coverage. Fix on the run, tackling and everything like that, just like the rest of our freshmen. A lot of our freshmen have grown a lot in this spring and fall camp, and I have full confidence in them also."

On preparing for Clemson...

"We all know Clemson is a great team. They have a lot of good players, but so do we. We focus on ourselves and how we are able to get better. When the time comes, we will put a game plan together for Clemson."

Kendall Milton, Sophomore, Running Back

On using the run game to overcome offensive injuries...

"I feel like, with the type of school that we go to, a school with a lot of talent, so everybody works for moments and works to get their chance. We are super excited for the season. Playing with what we have, everybody is just excited with the talent that we have on the field, just excited to attack the opportunity."

Sedrick Van Pran, Redshirt Freshman, Offensive Lineman

On getting more explosive plays in the run game...

"Every day in practice, little things in practice, we are just trying to get down the vision and get the run reads and everything like that. We are letting the cards play themselves out. We are a running back room that has a lot of talent. Everybody is super talented in different aspects. We are just using our talents to our advantage and going out there to make big plays."

On how Clemson's defense looks on film...

"They are definitely a great defensive team. They have a lot of weapons and a lot of players that we are looking out for. Practicing against our defense, the defensive line and the linebacker core, it is 'best in the country' type of defense. I feel like, as a running back room, it is preparing us very well. Going against the defensive line that we go against every day already prepares you for the game-type atmosphere."

On adjusting to working with the first team…

“I don’t think it has been that much of an adjustment. I think that Coach Smart does a great job at getting a lot of guys reps, especially guys that are expected to help. He does a great a great job of rotating guys in and getting them some work. I think overall it has not been that big of an adjustment, just working on the things that Coach Luke has taught me so far. I am just trying to get better.”

On the transition from high school to college football…

“That is a good question, I will say that I think that the most difficult thing for me is honestly taking coaching every day. Taking the technique and just really getting in the film room. It really is a tough thing coming from high school and you realize going to this level you have to have to fix up some technique, not saying that you don’t have the God given ability. It really was an adjustment coming over here and fixing up some technique, fixing up some things, and really starting to play ball on the best level. I really want to credit Coach Luke for that, and I really just want to say thank you.”

On rotating in at center…

“I’ll say this Warren Erickson has been doing an amazing job. One thing that I love about the dynamic of me and Warren, I mean Warren and I excuse me-is that we always try to help each other out. It is supposed to be a competition but at the end of the day we all want to win. With Warren, it’s helping him get his snaps correctly, working with him on his opposite hand, and with me getting my snaps done correctly with moves and stuff like that. So, I think Warren has done an amazing job and I am really really proud of the progress that he is making. But also, other guys who are taking some snaps like Jamaree Salyer, me, and Warren.”