How has Keelon Russell been as a leader?
Kalen Deboer highlights Keelon Russell and Cederian Morgan's growth as freshman.
Video Transcript
Heard about Keelen taking the offensive line out to dinner last week.
Did you hear about that?
And then just overall, what is Keelen's relationship with that O-line like and how has it developed?
Yeah, I think those are the things that you do as a quarterback to continue to, to show that you appreciate them.
Um, that's what you want your leaders to do.
I mean to me.
You know, um, the, the, the higher the leadership role, the more you are as a servant and, and, and to those around you and those that you need.
Um, the quarterback really needs everyone, not just the offensive line, but he needs, you know, he doesn't, he doesn't get a completion unless the receiver catches the ball.
You know, he doesn't get a chance to throw unless he has time on the O-line.
So the quarterback needs all those guys around him.
And so for him to do that, it doesn't surprise me one bit, uh, that he took those guys out and, um, You know, just the type of person he is and he understands, uh, and appreciates what they're doing.
Back right, we'll go to Jamie and then Alex.
Hey coach, how important is it for Russell to have a clean game and what are the most important factors for an offense playing a first-time starting quarterback?
Uh, yeah, I mean, that's what, that, that's what the goal is, right?
And I think a lot of the stuff is, you know, after the snap happens by how he operates before the snap from, and the guys again, getting in the huddle or getting lined up, um, they can help him out and, uh, you know, we stress that all the time, but especially gonna, especially gonna stress it, you know, having Keelen making his first start.
And so, um, those guys having some urgency to him to where they can give him a few more seconds with the play clock.
Um, and then, you know, him just, you know, uh, not trying to do too much.
I think that will help out with, uh, him playing a clean game, uh, just playing within himself.
He's got the ability, he's got the, the tools, um, you know, not trying to force things, uh, the, the plays will happen because of the ability level that he has and, and, uh, also the guys around him.
Stay, uh, right here.
Uh, what have you seen from Cedarian Morgan and camp, and do you still feel like what you did in media is saying is somebody you're looking to make an impact?
Yeah, Cedarian's certainly got to be a part of the mix there in the receiving corps just with the skill set he has, and, uh, you know, I think he's learned a lot.
He's grown.
Um, he understands, I think, the difference between high school and all of our guys that come in as freshmen.
They, they are starting to understand the difference between.
Oh, it's just not a couple of weeks of, uh, fall camp and, you know, you're the highlighted guy and so, you know, we'll work around you.
I mean, he's had to earn it and it's not just offensively, but we need him in, in special teams roles at, at times.
Um, and you got to do this now.
I mean, we've been going what, 4.5 weeks now, it's gonna be 4.
For the first game .
And so the intensity and sustaining that level of intensity, I think is one thing that he, as well as all of our other freshmen have learned.
But, um, you know, he's, he's got the tools, he's got the skill set to, to go out there and, you know, he can play big, um, you know, and now it's just a matter of getting some snaps under his belt so he can play confident just like we're talking to a guy like Keyan Russell.
