Quick Hits: Tim Walton Impressed With Poise of Defensive Backs But Wants to See Them “Take the Next Step,” Tight Ends “Fired Up” For Four of Them to Be On the Field Together

The aura around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is always cheerier after a big-game win.

Though the coaches and players are happy to be coming off a big win, there's still a lot of work to be done with a long season ahead. Ryan Day said as much in his press conference on Wednesday, then cornerbacks coach Tim Walton followed with similar comments. While he enjoyed the poise and confidence of his defensive backs against Texas, he's looking for them to “take the next step” in the coming weeks.

Running back CJ Donaldson feels Ohio State is going to be "the hardest-playing team in the country," while tight end Will Kacmarek said his position room got “fired up” in film watching four of them on the field at the same time. Phillip Daniels feels Ohio State's offensive line is one of the best in the country, despite what Pro Football Focus might say.

We've compiled videos, notes and quotes of what all of them, plus safety Jaylen McClain and linebacker Arvell Reese, had to say during Ohio State’s interview sessions on Wednesday.

DB coach Tim Walton

“For an opener, they were pretty poised and calm. But now we got to take the next step. We got to continue to grow. We got to execute. We got to keep playing with great effort.”– Tim Walton on Ohio State’s defensive performance against Texas

Walton was impressed with McClain’s effort and production against Texas. “He was very consistent during training camp. He plays with great effort and then it showed in the game. He tackled well in space, he communicated well and he played fast. He had a great game as an opener, as a young guy.”

Walton also had praise for Lorenzo Styles Jr. “He played well. I mean, he covered well in the game. We were moving around and did some good things and like I said, that was the first time he got a chance to play a lot of meaningful snaps. … He executed well, played hard, played with great effort as well, and it’s the first game. We’re pleased with him.”

Walton called Jermaine Mathews Jr. the “spark” of Ohio State’s defense, explaining that Mathews brings energy to all of his teammates on the field and on the sidelines. “It’s part of the way he plays. I mean, that helps a lot because you have passion, energy. He’s ultra competitive. You know, he’s the spark. He’s one of the vocal guys who help get us going and… he loves to compete. That part is good. We need it. It’s contagious, and it brings energy and passion to the group.”

RT Phillip Daniels

“We don’t care what PFF says or anything; we’re one of the best offensive lines in the country, and once we get out there, we’re just one unit. We’re showing the world that we’re the best.”– Phillip Daniels on Ohio State’s offensive line

Daniels said it was a “dream come true” to start and get a win in his first game as a Buckeye. “I’ve always been an Ohio State fan, and just being out there on the field, looking around, seeing all the fans and everybody supporting, when we make big plays or when we get the first down or anything, just seeing the crowd erupt, it was amazing.”

Daniels said Colin Simmons called him “trash” before the Texas defensive end knocked his helmet off to draw a 15-yard penalty. He said “it was kind of like a movie” to draw that penalty and hear Ohio Stadium erupt in celebration.

Daniels said he prides himself on being “very poised” and felt he accomplished that against Texas.

“I always knew I was a starter since the beginning,” Daniels said of winning Ohio State’s right tackle competition.

Daniels said the objective this week against Grambling State is “making sure we clean up our mistakes” and finding ways to get better every day.

S Jaylen McClain

“Rankings really doesn't matter. A lot of people say three, four-star guys got to work on more development than others, but that really doesn't matter when you get to college. You just have to apply what you already know, play hard, play fast, and just keep on grinding.”– Jaylen McClain on making an early impact despite being ranked as the 373rd overall prospect in the 2024 class

McClain felt “blessed” to be chosen to start at safety against Texas. “It was a great opportunity for the coaches to show that they trust me to be out there on the field for a big game like that. So it's just me being me and just making the best of this opportunity, and I just made the plays that came to me.”

McClain said playing next to Caleb Downs gives him “a lot of confidence.” “He's going to be a first-round pick one day and he gives me that juice, that energy and that confidence to go out there and make the plays.”

On Arvell Reese: “He's a monster. He’s just physically imposing. He does what he looks like he's gonna do.”

RB CJ Donaldson

“We the Buckeyes. We gonna be the hardest-playing team in the country, and we always grade out a champion. That’s something Coach Day always emphasizes in each and every meeting. We’re gonna be the hardest-playing team in the country. You’re gonna see that on film at all times.”– CJ Donaldson on Ohio State's identity

Donaldson described his first game as a Buckeye as “electrifying.” He continued: “First time in the Shoe, the atmosphere was definitely crazy. You know, coming from West Virginia to playing in that, that was different.”

On his touchdown run: “We had that mindset that we would not be denied. A whole collective group, that was our mindset, trusting all 11 of us that we was going to get that 1 yard, you know, and we pulled through.”

Donaldson said Ohio State’s run game has plenty of room to improve after the Texas game. “In my eyes, the run game wasn’t perfect. I was definitely missing lots of things out there. I just got to be better each and every week. Like Coach (Carlos Locklyn) tells me, stick to the details, the little things create big plays. I just got to be better in my tracks and my run reads to create those bigger plays.”

TE Will Kacmarek

“it's awesome. every time we go in the film room and watch that stuff, we get fired up. So, it's pretty cool to do on the field, especially when it matters.”– Will Kacmarek on Ohio state putting Four Tight ends on the field for a 4th-and-goal Touchdown

On his block of Colin Simmons that allowed Julian Sayin to complete a touchdown pass to Carnell Tate: "I was going to end up having to one-on-one pass rush one of them throughout the game with a big play. So, we've been working with me, Coach (Keenan Bailey), Coach (Tim) Hinton, Coach Wendy (Laurent). We've been practicing pass pro all offseason. That's a big part of our offense and the role that I play. ... I set on him, kind of overset, and I knew the only way to recover was to spin back inside quick and get on the string to ball, me, man. So, I ended up doing that."

On freshman Nate Roberts getting on the field at fullback in goal line: "He's shown it on the practice field all the time. He deserves that role. Did his job, and I mean, we scored. Four tight ends out there, so that's saying something."

Ohio State facing Kacmarek's former team, Ohio, in two weeks has him reminiscing about his journey. "It took a lot to get to this point. But, no, it's going to be cool to see my old school again and play with those guys. I know a lot of the coaches on the staff. I know a handful of the players still there. So, it'll be cool to see them during the game and then after."

LB Arvell Reese

“I take a lot of pride in that. Growing up, I've been playing for Glenville since I was 5 years old, so I was hearing all those names growing up. That's something I wanted to do.”– Arvell Reese on continuing Ohio State's Glenville pipeline

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