We are speaking with Bryan Harsin after today's open practice.
Jake Levant
- We get to speak with Jake Levant first. Says the moment was surreal. Didn't realize what happened at first. No clue that it was coming. Players were jumping all over him. Had a few smaller schools scholarship offers (UAB) but entire family went here and decided to walk on. Said he knew he had the ability to play in the SEC. Didn't get to see the graphic on the big screen. Teammates reaction shows the relationship that has been built with this team.
- Levant says when you are a walk on you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Said he could have run 30 more sessions. Said scholarship was better moment but the interception.
- Levant's dad was here for the moment. He also didn't know it was coming. Can't wait to see his mom who is on the way back from North Carolina.
- On advice for others: Put your head down and work, don't worry about other things.
And now Harsin
- Since I have known him, Jake has done a great job dealing with his off the field responsibilities. Harsin didn't let anyone know that it was coming for Levant's scholarship.
- Today was a day to correct and review from the scrimmage yesterday. Doing a little conditioning. A team activity tomorrow and some meetings. They are off on Monday and then Tuesday they start preparing for the season.
- On scrimmage yesterday: "I thought we started slow. It wasn't just the quarterbacks. That's a credit to the defense." Says what we want to see from the QBs is operation.
- TJ did some really good things situational wise (managing clock) in scrimmage. Robby made some plays, staying in the pocket and throwing or running. Zach moved the chains and scored a touchdown. "They all did some positive things that we need to see from them."
- Defense came out and played well. First group particular.
- It was an OK day from the special teams yesterday. They got better today.
- They worked on red zone, two-minute and a little bit of goal line offense/defense during scrimmage.
- "Too early to tell." - On naming a starting quarterback. After team activity on Sunday, the staff will sit down and see where they are at. "We are looking at other positions as well." Whatever gives the team the best opportunity. Has to look at travel squad, who is playing on special teams.
- The final decision for QB will come at the end of next week.
- Conditioning should come during practice. They ran a little bit after practice today because it was a slow day.
- On Nick Brahms: Nothing new. Waiting and seeing where he is at. Let him settle in a little bit, heal up and make a final decision.
- Needs to improve awareness. Running on the field, getting the play. That is one area he says they need to improve before first game. "If you run on the field, you should look to the sideline to get the call. If it is 4th and 2, you are going to play it different than 2nd and 5."
- Used lessons from high school games he saw last night for team. Ex: having 10 players on field and having to use a timeout...
- On moving Jeremiah Wright back to offense: "That was all him." Says Jeremiah is one of his favorite guys. I know he can help us. He's a phenomenal person. "He sees it, that he can go back to O-line and help us." Says it was a really mature decision.
- On Malcolm Johnson Jr.: "Malcolm is steady. Nothing negative from Malcolm."
- Shedrick Jackson wasn't out there today. They are trying to rest him.
- On Donovan Kaufman: "A really really intelligent football player. He can get players lined up. He is also a good special teams player." Mentions Keionte Scott once again, that he is really really good. Says Keionte has helped raise Nehemiah and Jaylin's game.
- On the new grading system: It is every meeting ... Just a pro approach. You can tell who your quarterback is when you walk into a room. Mentions that you have three guys in that room (himself, Kiesau and Hardline) that all played quarterback. "Every single thing, every single day, you evaluate it."
- Holden Geriner is starting to come on now. He's not going to get the same amount of reps but he's building. If he keeps on advancing, there's a guy that can spin it.
- On Tate Johnson: He's physically changed. That's changed his mentality as well. He's been really good at being coachable. The center position is no fun sometimes. He's doing a great job of showing up every day ready to do his job.
- On TJ Finley growth: "Maturity. T.J. has a coach's mentality." Says he conceptually picks things up quickly. Mentions the play clock running down yesterday in scrimmage. TJ got everyone lined up and they converted on 3rd and 9. Thinks all the QBs are better mentally.
That's it for Harsin. Have a great Saturday.
-
Jake Levant
- We get to speak with Jake Levant first. Says the moment was surreal. Didn't realize what happened at first. No clue that it was coming. Players were jumping all over him. Had a few smaller schools scholarship offers (UAB) but entire family went here and decided to walk on. Said he knew he had the ability to play in the SEC. Didn't get to see the graphic on the big screen. Teammates reaction shows the relationship that has been built with this team.
- Levant says when you are a walk on you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Said he could have run 30 more sessions. Said scholarship was better moment but the interception.
- Levant's dad was here for the moment. He also didn't know it was coming. Can't wait to see his mom who is on the way back from North Carolina.
- On advice for others: Put your head down and work, don't worry about other things.
And now Harsin
- Since I have known him, Jake has done a great job dealing with his off the field responsibilities. Harsin didn't let anyone know that it was coming for Levant's scholarship.
- Today was a day to correct and review from the scrimmage yesterday. Doing a little conditioning. A team activity tomorrow and some meetings. They are off on Monday and then Tuesday they start preparing for the season.
- On scrimmage yesterday: "I thought we started slow. It wasn't just the quarterbacks. That's a credit to the defense." Says what we want to see from the QBs is operation.
- TJ did some really good things situational wise (managing clock) in scrimmage. Robby made some plays, staying in the pocket and throwing or running. Zach moved the chains and scored a touchdown. "They all did some positive things that we need to see from them."
- Defense came out and played well. First group particular.
- It was an OK day from the special teams yesterday. They got better today.
- They worked on red zone, two-minute and a little bit of goal line offense/defense during scrimmage.
- "Too early to tell." - On naming a starting quarterback. After team activity on Sunday, the staff will sit down and see where they are at. "We are looking at other positions as well." Whatever gives the team the best opportunity. Has to look at travel squad, who is playing on special teams.
- The final decision for QB will come at the end of next week.
- Conditioning should come during practice. They ran a little bit after practice today because it was a slow day.
- On Nick Brahms: Nothing new. Waiting and seeing where he is at. Let him settle in a little bit, heal up and make a final decision.
- Needs to improve awareness. Running on the field, getting the play. That is one area he says they need to improve before first game. "If you run on the field, you should look to the sideline to get the call. If it is 4th and 2, you are going to play it different than 2nd and 5."
- Used lessons from high school games he saw last night for team. Ex: having 10 players on field and having to use a timeout...
- On moving Jeremiah Wright back to offense: "That was all him." Says Jeremiah is one of his favorite guys. I know he can help us. He's a phenomenal person. "He sees it, that he can go back to O-line and help us." Says it was a really mature decision.
- On Malcolm Johnson Jr.: "Malcolm is steady. Nothing negative from Malcolm."
- Shedrick Jackson wasn't out there today. They are trying to rest him.
- On Donovan Kaufman: "A really really intelligent football player. He can get players lined up. He is also a good special teams player." Mentions Keionte Scott once again, that he is really really good. Says Keionte has helped raise Nehemiah and Jaylin's game.
- On the new grading system: It is every meeting ... Just a pro approach. You can tell who your quarterback is when you walk into a room. Mentions that you have three guys in that room (himself, Kiesau and Hardline) that all played quarterback. "Every single thing, every single day, you evaluate it."
- Holden Geriner is starting to come on now. He's not going to get the same amount of reps but he's building. If he keeps on advancing, there's a guy that can spin it.
- On Tate Johnson: He's physically changed. That's changed his mentality as well. He's been really good at being coachable. The center position is no fun sometimes. He's doing a great job of showing up every day ready to do his job.
- On TJ Finley growth: "Maturity. T.J. has a coach's mentality." Says he conceptually picks things up quickly. Mentions the play clock running down yesterday in scrimmage. TJ got everyone lined up and they converted on 3rd and 9. Thinks all the QBs are better mentally.
That's it for Harsin. Have a great Saturday.
-
Last edited:
