Quick Hits: Players Creating Separation, Update on QBs + More

Who is sticking out on defense/creating separation

"I think Anthony Wilson is making a big jump to be ready to play. At corner, I think Jacolby Spells has looked really good through seven practices. My expectation for him was to be better and he's made plays. Beanie Bishop will definitely...he's pushing. He's got experience, but he's got personality. Mike Lockhart made a big play today. I think he's starting to separate himself there at that position. Eddie Vesterinen has had a nice camp. As far as WILL linebacker, we'll wait 'til Saturday because I think Saturday's going to be the big test there.

Who is sticking out on offense/creating separation

"At tight end, Kole Taylor and Treylan [Davis] have separated themselves. Devin Carter continues to do really good things. EJ Horton made a couple plays downfield today, so he's given himself an opportunity to play. And Jahiem White [when] given opportunities in 11 on 11, he's made big plays."

Evaluation of Nicco Marchiol

"Nicco is making growth as a redshirt freshman. Yesterday about halfway through practice was probably as poor decision making as he's made and then he was able to correct it, which I think is a sign of mental toughness. He went a stretch there where he made bad decisions and then four out of six plays were explosive plays. So to see him take an a** chewing and being able to bounce back and answer, I was really encouraged with that. We did a lot of red zone work today and it was a little bit of ebb and flow with him, but he made two really big-time plays. We got to clean up some of those decisions, but encouraged with how he handled adversity."

Evaluation of Garrett Greene

"Garrett had a couple big runs today. And then he made really a tight throw down in the red zone. So we'll continue to rotate those guys and when we'll name a starter, I don't really have an answer for you."

How freshman WR Treylan Ray has looked

"Treylan Ray is smooth. I like him. He's going to be a player. He didn't get here 'til late because he played baseball late. But I like him. He's long. He's got really good ball skills. Natural. He's highly intelligent. His high school coach, they run a lot of the same concepts that we run, so he came in here kind of ahead of the curve. He's going to be a good player. It's not out of the question that he'll play right away."

Rivalries

"I think those regional rivalries are important. The Pitt game, I think should be played every year. I've said that all along. I think it's one of the best rivalries in all of college football. It makes it hard to play those other regional games. What's best for the program is I think you play that Pitt game, you play a G5 at home, you play an FCS at home, and you're going to play nine league games which should give you seven home games every year. I think that's the best opportunity for success. I think it's the best for our fanbase to have a seventh home game every year and it allows you the opportunity to really build some momentum early in the year. I'm in on the Backyard Brawl every year. I think it's great. Those other regional rivalries, I think it's hard to play both. And those two games are awesome. But I don't think it's in the best interest to play those games in the same calendar year."

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