Spartan Nation Caught Up with Michigan State RS-Freshman TE Josiah Price!

Spartan Nation Caught Up with MSU Rs-Freshman TE Josiah Price for this EXCLUSIVE interview. Spartan Nation: How you think you’re doing. Mark (Dantonio)

Spartan Nation Caught Up with MSU Rs-Freshman TE Josiah Price for this EXCLUSIVE interview.

Spartan Nation: How you think you’re doing. Mark (Dantonio) talked about a good play that you made last week. But how do you feel like you’re doing?

Josiah Price: I’m doing some good things, I’m doing some bad things. I know I can make some plays in the passing game so right now I’m really working on being consistent in that. Every opportunity I get a ball thrown my way I need to come down with it. And the run game the same thing…I just gotta be more consistent.

SN: What are you doing well? What are you saying, Hey that’s a first string talent I’ve got here.

Josiah Price: Yeah, I’m working out here. I’m giving it everything I got in the film room, in the weight room, out here on the practice field. That’s what I’m gonna do. I’m just gonna lay it all on the line. I think I can make some good plays happen in the passing game. I’m also working really hard to be able to make some plays in the blocking game as well.

SN: What do you gotta get better at, Josiah?

Josiah Price: Being more consistent in the passing game. I dropped a pass today and that’s unacceptable. And then the blocking game. I really gotta step up and really be able to block at the point of attack.

SN: Who’s the hardest defensive end on this team to block?

Josiah Price: We got a lot of great defensive ends. Shilique, Marcus Rush…both of those guys. Joel Heath is a really good D end. I think all the D ends we’ve got here are pretty tough. And then Jamal’s moved down to defensive end now. In the start it was a little easier to block him, but now he’s starting to learn his way. Shilique��€™s coaching him with it and helping him out. So he’s starting to come as a D end too.

SN: Last year you’re scout team, you knew you weren’t going to play. Now, every rep’s on film. They’re grading every rep. I know that you’re a high energy guy, but is it different now with the intensity level? Can you sense the intensity level being higher?

Josiah Price: Oh yeah. We gotta have a sense of urgency out here. That’s exciting for me and Evan (Jones). I mean we love the opportunity that we’re getting right now. But there’s definitely a sense of urgency. We gotta step up and start making plays and do what we’re supposed to do. We’ve been in the system for a year now, we’ve learned things, and now it’s time to start producing on the field a little bit.

SN: You two (Josiah and Evan Jones)are brothers and you love each other, you care about each other. But you’re also competing. One thing I love to do is watch you two practice. You guys are both fighting for a job, but he does something good you’re encouraging him and he’s encouraging you. How special is that?

Josiah Price: Oh, it’s awesome. And it doesn’t just go with Evan, it goes with Paul, it goes with Gleichert, it goes with Juwan. I really like the guys that we’re working with. That’s what makes this team so much more fun is you love going to work with the guys that you’re with. And so it makes it just a lot more enjoyable.

SN: What makes Coach Bollman special?

Josiah Price: I think just his wisdom of the game. He has such a knowledge of the game. Common sense coach. I mean, if it’s gonna make a play happen he wants you to do it type of thing. And he’s not necessarily stuck on a certain way.

SN: He’s a deep man of faith. You’re a deep man of faith. Does that help you to relate maybe on another level? Not that he can’t relate to guys who aren’t, but does it help you personally?

Josiah Price: Yes, it definitely makes me have that much more respect for him. And I know that we have something in common and so it’s great to have as coach.

SN: Talk about the scrimmage. How do you think you did there?

Josiah Price: I felt like I did well. I made some mistakes, that’s for sure. But I didn’t make any huge assignment errors. It was just technique type stuff that I know I can go to work and get better, get more reps and stuff. So I felt happy. I did my thing.

SN: What does Andrew Maxwell, when he’s back there at the quarterback position, what goes through your mind? I want you as a guy who’s on the field with him describe his style maybe to the listeners and readers, would you?

Josiah Price: I think he’s a great leader. He’s out there, he’s in control. He’s been the starting QB for a year so he knows what he’s doing. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you ask him and he’s gonna tell ya. So he’s just a great leader in my mind.

SN: Okay, let’s go with Tyler O’Connor. What does Tyler O’Connor do that’s different? We know he runs, but how is he different?

Josiah Price: I think he’s similar, just not near as experienced. He hasn’t been out there on a Saturday, but he’s in his play book, he studies just as hard as anyone else. He’s in there doing his work so he’s a great leader as well.

SN: You say similar…so you’re saying you don’t think he runs more than Maxwell?

Josiah Price: No…I think they’re similar, but he’s probably got a little bit more mobility than Tyler.

SN: And then Connor Cook. Break him down for us, will you?

Josiah Price: Connor Cook… I think we’ve got three great quarterbacks here, to be honest with you, great talent. Connor’s probably a little more mobile than both of them. He’s got a rocket of an arm, he’s got a… All of our quarterbacks are very talented here.

SN: I’m gonna ask a very simple question. How does it make you better, whether you’re running with the 1’s the 2’s or the 3’s, to go against this defense every day?

Josiah Price: I think going up against one of the best defenses in the nation can’t do anything but make me better. It helped a lot last year going up against them in scout team. It’s made me be a little more confident this spring. But I definitely couldn’t be happier going up against better defense.

SN: We’re close enough, I know you well enough that if this isn’t true, please correct me. I wanna get good information. Last year I could tell you kinda hit a wall. You were practicing and you knew you weren’t playing. You didn’t have a bad attitude, but I could just tell. T his year your smile’s back, brother. You’re the guy that I saw in high school. Am I right?

Josiah Price: Yeah, I mean it’s definitely frustrating. I think all the red shirting freshmen go through it in college football. You come in from being a super star, to nobody knows you’re here, the coaches don’t care…you know, you feel like the coaches don’t care about you in your red shirt. Different things along those lines and it’s tough. You gotta learn to be in it for yourself. It’s a business, and so you gotta be able to put in enough work to help them. Because their job relies on your performance. So they’re relying on you to get better and get in there and develop yourself as a person and a player

SN: How much are you looking forward to going into that stadium in the spring game, and be able to play, and have family and friends come watch, and just finally be back playing the game? One of your strengths, you love football.

Josiah Price: Yeah, I mean I’m excited for it. It’s gonna be a great opportunity. I gotta not focus so much on family and all that being there and just focusing on my job there and trying to be consistent and making plays. Because that’s what I need to do.