Training Camp Q&A: Alijah Clark

Syracuse safety Alijah Clark spoke to the media after training camp practice on Friday.

Q: How exciting was it to put the pads on?

Clark: "I loved it. Physical aspect of the game. That's what makes football football. Pretty much turned everything up."

Q: Which young players have you noticed stepping up?

Clark: "There's a lot of people. On the defense I've got Bralyn Oliver. When I say he's a diamond in the rough, he's a diamond in the rough. We've got Jaeden Gould, new guy Jalil (Martin) coming from Nebraska. Those two guys, incredible. Then you have Jaylen Bellamy, comes in. Denis Jaquez. We lost a lot of players, but I know he comes in and fills that gap. He comes in and plays hard. Everybody plays hard. A lot of people talk about OG (Oronde Gadsden). OG's a great player. One of the greatest I've ever seen. But those guys behind him, he's a great leader as well. As high as his bar is, those guys bars are going up to. The whole team, pretty much, everybody."

Q: What's it like having Caleb Okechukwu and Marlowe Wax as leaders of the defense?

Clark: "It's more outside of football. Everybody's developing as grown men. Those guys being vets, they're able to talk to the younger guys. Even myself. I'm not that old myself. They're able to guide you through hard times. When you feel like you want to quit, those are the guys you go to. Guys like Justin Barron, guys that make you go hard. It's a blessing having those guys coming back."

Q: Marlowe says the linebackers are the strength of the defense. Where do you think the strength is going to be this year?

Clark: "I'm going with my unit. I love Marlowe, I love the linebackers. They're crazy. Best in the conference. But our safety unit, I think we're going to take over this year. Most definitely."

Q: What's it like learning the defense under Rocky Long?

Clark: "It's pretty fun. Rocky, he's not one of those guys who's as uptight as people think. He jokes around, he jokes all day. I barely catch him being serious. I love it. I love playing under Rocky and coach Perkins."

Q: What's the difference between Rocky and Tony White?

Clark: "Pretty much not a difference. Tony White was great too. Tony was great, Rocky was great. I don't think it's the coaches that people are looking at. I think it's our team bond that's going to take us up. As long as we keep coming together, I think our season will be great."

Q: The defense was top three in the ACC last season. How do you improve upon that?

Clark: "Keep going. They set the foundation for us. You never go down. The foundation that last year's team set for us, that's the bar. We're just going to try to up it more."

Q: Why do you think Darrell Perkins is the right guy?

Clark: "Guy knows football. He thinks like a quarterback and he thinks like a safety. That's the best thing for us is to have someone who knows what the other side wants to do. That's why I think he's the best."

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