After missing part of his freshman season to knee injury, Samson Okunlola has been working with both the first and second-team at right tackle and left guard. He met with reporters to discuss his progress:
On his mindset so far in camp: Every day I'm looking to get better. Because I'm really getting better, my focus is not on starting or nothing like that. My focus is to get better today and better tomorrow and better the next day.
On the depth in the room: We’ve definitely got a lot of talent. Even last year, we had a lot of talent. We’ll be more talented this year, more dudes ready, more dudes who know how to hold the scheme, more dudes who are ready to get in and compete.
On what he showcased in spring: Just that I'm ready to compete, I'm ready to get better, I'm ready to showcase that I know the system, I know our playbook, and I know how to operate in our playbook, I know the techniques to use, I know how wide to be, and just how to do it. That's the thing I want to showcase, and I'm going to showcase that even more this fall.
On what he’s learned from the older guys: They helped me grow in the sense of technique, using my hands better in the pass game, being better [in the run game]. Knowing the whole technique, the whole scheme, so I can use my techniques multiple ways. Showing me different ways how to attack this, attack that. Letting me know when blitzes are coming in the running game, so I can better choose a technique to use for that play.
On the importance of earning the trust of Coach Mirabal: Trust is the big thing. The five O-linemen who play have to be trusted and trusted among themselves. It’s knowing your playbook. The film never lies. So what you do on the film, that’s the truth.
On his mindset so far in camp: Every day I'm looking to get better. Because I'm really getting better, my focus is not on starting or nothing like that. My focus is to get better today and better tomorrow and better the next day.
On the depth in the room: We’ve definitely got a lot of talent. Even last year, we had a lot of talent. We’ll be more talented this year, more dudes ready, more dudes who know how to hold the scheme, more dudes who are ready to get in and compete.
On what he showcased in spring: Just that I'm ready to compete, I'm ready to get better, I'm ready to showcase that I know the system, I know our playbook, and I know how to operate in our playbook, I know the techniques to use, I know how wide to be, and just how to do it. That's the thing I want to showcase, and I'm going to showcase that even more this fall.
On what he’s learned from the older guys: They helped me grow in the sense of technique, using my hands better in the pass game, being better [in the run game]. Knowing the whole technique, the whole scheme, so I can use my techniques multiple ways. Showing me different ways how to attack this, attack that. Letting me know when blitzes are coming in the running game, so I can better choose a technique to use for that play.
On the importance of earning the trust of Coach Mirabal: Trust is the big thing. The five O-linemen who play have to be trusted and trusted among themselves. It’s knowing your playbook. The film never lies. So what you do on the film, that’s the truth.
