• last year
Watch Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner meet the press after practice on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.
Transcript
00:00 And they're coming along, coming along real well.
00:03 >> Hampton is converting quarterback to tight end.
00:06 How difficult do you feel that is for a guy like that?
00:10 >> He makes it look pretty easy, but I imagine it's pretty difficult.
00:14 But he's done really well, and he's really well and good in space.
00:18 And he's an athletic guy, and he can make some plays, and he's done really well.
00:23 >> The physicality of your position, I would guess,
00:25 is the greatest thing guys have to get used to.
00:28 >> No doubt, yeah, you have to block like linemen, run routes like receivers.
00:32 So everyone loves to run routes like receivers, but not as much to get in line.
00:36 But all our tight ends have done a good job with it, and
00:39 they're eager to block, so that's good.
00:42 >> Also, as kind of the leader of this group, do you feel the urge to maybe get
00:46 the young guys that have been injured, get them engaged,
00:50 keep their minds right, or anything like that?
00:53 >> I mean, you'd think, but I mean, these guys have been just on it the whole time.
00:56 They've been wanting to get back and learn.
00:58 And we've had some guys who've been banged up, but
01:01 everyone wants to come back as soon as they can to play, and so.
01:03 >> How are you feeling about your conditioning?
01:06 I think Coach Levy mentioned the other day,
01:08 they wanna get you where you can play 88, 59 steps a day.
01:12 >> Yeah, my conditioning's good.
01:14 I'm a bigger body, so it takes a little bit.
01:17 But yeah, my condition's gotten a lot better.
01:19 I've been pushing every day.
01:21 Coach Finley tells us every day, just give us one more, and then one more, and
01:25 one more, and one more.
01:26 So I've felt like my condition's gotten a whole lot better.
01:30 Once it starts cooling down, I can go all day.
01:32 >> How do you feel like the scrimmage went for
01:33 the offense and the tight ends the other day?
01:35 >> It went good.
01:36 We had our best blocking day from a blocking standpoint, and it was live.
01:40 So we finally, the running backs, got to hit the holes and go.
01:43 So I think it was good.
01:45 Yeah, it went good.
01:47 >> Getting the run game going is so important.
01:49 Jeff's talked about that, things like that.
01:51 You feel like this team's gonna run the ball?
01:53 >> Yes, sir, yeah, this O-line's one of the best I've played with, for sure.
01:57 They're really, really good.
02:00 And so we can be a great addition to that with the tight ends and
02:02 then the runs that's up the pass, so.
02:05 >> I don't know how much you've been sticking your nose in there, so to speak,
02:10 and blocking on the end against these defensive ends.
02:12 But these guys look like a different breed of defensive end.
02:15 That was here two years ago when you were here.
02:18 Can you kinda comment on their abilities?
02:20 >> Yeah, I mean, yeah, Rondell and then Trace Ford,
02:23 they're both big guys and they come downhill.
02:27 So you just gotta be ready for them.
02:29 But yeah, they all play really hard.
02:31 And Coach Chavis has got those guys playing hard and
02:33 playing with energy and stuff.
02:35 So you always gotta be on it when blocking them.
02:38 >> High motor, is that what you're saying?
02:39 >> Yes, sir. >> A lot of energy, like you said.
02:41 >> Uh-huh. >> Okay.
02:41 >> And the speed that they have?
02:43 >> Yes, sir, yeah, they all play super fast.
02:45 PJ, they all play fast.
02:47 And with a high motor, that's what Coach Chavis preaches.
02:50 You can hear him all practice, but he does a good job.
02:53 And they all have done really good at playing fast and playing hard.
02:57 >> How do you think your quarterbacks, how well do you feel like they're doing?
03:01 And what do you think they're at so far in camp?
03:03 >> Yeah, Dylan's having a really good camp.
03:04 We're completing a lot of balls down field, and that's good.
03:11 But yeah, I think he's playing really well.
03:13 >> What do you think about the safety position on this team,
03:16 going against them like you do in practice or whatever?
03:19 There's a lot of experience, but there's also a lot of ability.
03:22 >> Yeah, Coach Venables puts, his defense is really hard,
03:26 puts the guy hard to read and stuff.
03:29 And he puts those guys in some really tough, to put us in some tough situations
03:33 when they're doing their stuff, so they've done a really good job.
03:36 >> Tell us about Faye.
03:38 >> Faye?
03:41 >> Faye? >> Faye, yeah.
03:42 >> Hampton.
03:43 >> Hampton, yeah, yeah.
03:43 >> What can you tell us about him?
03:45 >> Moved from quarterback, he's done a really good job.
03:47 He's been really, really fluent in his transition, and he's eager to learn.
03:52 And he's always in the age, and he always plays really hard.
03:55 >> Just as far as the tight end room, just in general,
03:58 what kind of development have you guys had through the first ten practices here?
04:02 >> We've developed a lot.
04:03 In the spring, most of these guys weren't going the whole time in the spring.
04:08 It was kinda just me and Blake for the most part.
04:10 And everyone else has come along.
04:13 Our blocking's gotten a lot better, and we're playing a lot faster.
04:16 So we've done well.
04:18 >> What's it been like to be a leader on this group?