UCF DB Ty Bartrum Discusses Joining Deep Secondary & Special Teams Role
UCF defensive back Ty Bartrum speaks with the media following the Knights' Aug. 10 practice.
Video Transcript
Good.
How are you guys doing?
Good.
So you've been going at it for a little bit more than a week now with Cam.
Just kind of reflect on it.
Uh, your first camp at UCF.
It's been good, um, coming in as like a, like, not like a, but an older guy.
Um, last year, uh, every day is a blessing for me.
Um, wake up, play football, a bunch of great guys, uh, definitely don't take it for granted, but I've been loving it.
Guys are working hard.
Today was a great day.
What stood out to you about this, about this team so far I mean going into camp?
I mean, you had a little bit of time in spring to get to know each other, but now that you've been around each other, what, what has really stood out to you about the, the composure and chemistry of this team?
Yeah, um, I think, uh, we have a lot of leaders on this team, um, a lot of different types of leaders, uh, guys that'll, guys that'll say, say the things we need to do, guys that'll do the things we need to do, um, all the above, uh, where it doesn't have to come from the coaches every single day, um, a lot of hungry individuals on this team.
Um, looking to prove something every single day, uh, as a collective, um, and a lot of personal and team goals, uh, and they all align together.
Um, Big 12 champs we're looking to do, um, looking to go attack, so.
So, as you know, this is a secondary group of a lot of returners, a lot of leaders in the secondary as well.
Uh, how do you see yourself kind of fitting in with the defense and, and like maybe a safety role?
Yes sir, and we got a deep room, um, guys that have played ball, uh, at a high level, uh, which is good because we're all making each other better.
Um, we're able to get through a couple more installs.
I feel like, uh, with Coach Grinch, uh, just because the level of the room is a little higher, um, we got a lot of age.
Uh, we got dudes that can play, uh, top down.
So, um, just fitting in wherever I can fit in, um, whenever my number's called, uh, step on the field and give it all I got.
What, what do you bring to the field?
Um, I got ball hawk, uh, the ability to get to the ball, um, the ability to tackle, uh, physical player, things like that.
What are your personal goals?
What are you trying to?
Uh, my personal goal is just go along with the team goals.
I'm Big 12 championship.
I'm happy.
Um, it doesn't matter if I'm getting 100 reps or 10 reps.
Uh, and that's, that's really my, my intention and my goal, uh, every day I come to work, so.
Ty, based off of what we heard in spring, you seem to have a role in the special teams unit.
Just what's it been like as far as working with that unit and as well as being on the defensive end?
Yes sir, uh, 3rd of the game special teams.
So, uh, coach has me out there at PP.
So just studying everything I need to do and be able to make checks.
Um, field position is the name of the game.
So anywhere I can help there, uh, kickoff got me at a 1 right now.
I'm good with that.
Um, and, and really anywhere we fit, uh, anywhere I fit on the, on the special teams, I'm ready to go.
What would you say has impressed you so far about the special teams is because I imagine that, you know, the specialists have their, they have their thing going on with the kicking and long snapping, but as far as everybody else that makes special teams what it is, how, what have you stood out to you over there with them, with them?
Um, in terms of just wanted stood out to you about the special teams players that aren't the ones kicking the ball or snapping the ball.
Oh yeah, yeah, I mean, as a whole, as a team, we have a lot of depth at every single position, which turnover that helps special teams a ton, um, guys that can go down, fly, get to the ball, um, block their tails off, anything we need.
Uh, we got a lot of, a lot of those individuals, and I fall into that category too, um, and I feel like that's very important in winning teams, like guys that are willing to go out there and do what it needs, needs to be done on special teams.
So your dad was a lump there.
Yes sir.
Yeah, so what, what was maybe something special teams-wise that was a piece of advice that he gave you along the way as far as the importance of that role?
I mean, that's why I'm here today, really.
Um, that was his job for 13 years.
Uh, he made a living off of it.
Um, tight end 3-ish 2, so he caught some touchdowns, but, uh, I mean, that's, I, I know the value of it because I saw it firsthand.
Um, he's taught me a bunch of things.
Uh, if we need.
I mean, I haven't told Coach Almar, but if we need to snap, I can snap.
Um, I can fit in there like 4th, 4th on depth train probably, but, uh, it's been good.
It's been good.
And Ty, from your point of view, what do you feel like makes you an asset to this team?
Um, I think just mental toughness, uh, since my freshman year, um, elsewhere, just being able to do what I need to do to get on the field, um, and really that's all it is, uh, attacking every day, trying to go 1-0 every day, and then once season comes, trying to go 1-0 every week , um, with that mental, uh, you can do a lot of things, um, keeping your head clear, doing the right things on off the field.
Ty, what has Coach Overstreet brought to the DB's room as is having NFL experience and showing you film on South DBs coach Jalen Johnson is a name he's mentioned.
What has he brought in terms of bringing the difference in the DB room and how crucial has he been in terms of teaching you and the rest of the guys?
Yeah, I mean, we're, we flip off Indy a little bit, so we get some drills with him and things like that, um, but he has that, that NFL experience, that professional experience, and as y'all know, this game, this college football game is turned.
A little bit professional, uh, so any, any, any education we can get from Coach Overstreet and on top of that, just juice.
He brings juice every single day, so he doesn't like that at all.
If you can articulate kind of what this game is bringing from the pro game, what would you say?
Um, I think just kind of your habits every single day, um, not taking anything for granted, like I said earlier, uh, and just knowing that it's a job now and you gotta come to work every single day, um.
I, I know it's a different position, but Cole Kozlowski is back, sort of a similar background as yours in terms of being a star at the FCS level, trying to, you know, make it work or try to make his name for yourself, you know, at the, uh, power forward level.
Cole did it last year, now.
He's back.
Have you had an opportunity to talk with him?
Are you kind of familiar with his story?
Is that something that you want to have a season at safety like Cole had last year at linebacker?
Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm just gonna worry about what I can do and things like that, but seeing Cos back here, he's awesome.
Just, as I said, with Coach Overstreet, just another guy that just brings good positive energy.
Um, I kind of met him actually before he left, uh, before he graduated, um, saw him his pro day, so I kind of knew him.
He's from Jersey.
I was in Jersey a little bit in high school, have that Jersey connection, but, uh, you know, he's a great guy, and if we can get him back.
An upgrade for sure.
Just in terms of just anything you can do and everything you can do on the field.
Is this, is this your last season?
I'm trying to keep track of all the it's my 5th year.
So this is gonna be your, your final year eligible.
So I mean, how excited are you for this final opportunity at UCF to show what you can do?
How excited are you for?
This and what do you want to accomplish?
Uh, just, I mean, beyond excited.
Um, this is my dream growing up, uh, since I was little, just playing NCAA 14 on the Xbox 360, because I always wanted to be in that game, things like that.
So just being able to do it now and then doing it with the teammates I have, um, developing real relationships here, uh, along with just great coaches.
Um, I think we're gonna have a good shot at this thing.
So, have, have you played yet?
Have you, have you?
Oh yeah, I'm, yeah, yeah, I've been on the game a little bit.
Me, me and some, some, some teammates play at the, OK, so what's that like?
What's the dynamic?
Are you have a group that plays, or, uh, me, Jalen Duffy, and Kayla Flag, we, we're at the same apartment complex, so we , we get reps in a lot.
So did you play with UCF, or yeah, we mix it around, 3 randoms, yeah.
How have you seen this defense as a whole just improve from spray?
I think every single day, um, it's a journey, but every day like guys are, you're gonna make mistakes and that's the name of the game, um, and the days you have a lot of mistakes might be your best day because those are things you're gonna work on, those are things you're not gonna mess up again, uh, so every single day we've gotten better, um, as I said earlier, a lot of old guys, a lot of hungry guys, uh, that are looking, looking to prove themselves right in a lot of ways.
So, um, I mean every day we're developing and getting better.
Uh, you're playing in a position that could see rotation from guys like Jaden Williams, yourself, and Caleb Flagg.
Just what have you seen out of those safeties and how, and how, I mean, dogs, uh, both of them.
Jay was a dog.
Uh, he's gonna attack the ball.
He's gonna get to the ball.
Caleb Flagg, he has experience.
He's smart.
Same thing with him.
Uh, go down the line.
Demari, um, Demarsh, I mean, we got a room, uh, I'm fully confident in.
And uh I'm looking, I'm looking to make a splash in there as well.
It's gonna be a fun time.
Last one here, are you satisfied with your player rating in EA sports, or what would you change if you, uh, I'm not too worried about it, to be honest with you.
It's whatever.
Yeah, you don't have any, any particular critiques or, uh, something you think they, they got wrong?
No, I think once we, once the season kicks off, they can fix all the ratings and stuff like that.
All right, good stuff.
Thanks.
Thank you guys.
