Quotes: Everything IU football’s Joe Brunner and Joe Hjelle said after Tuesday’s practice

• Alex Bozich

• 39m ago

 

IU football offensive lineman Joe Brunner and defensive lineman Joe Hjelle addressed the media on Tuesday following IU’s fifth practice of fall camp in Bloomington.

Here’s everything Brunner and Hjelle had to say in their press conferences:

Joe Brunner

On moving from guard to tackle:

“Yeah, I think going from left to right, especially interior, it’s not really challenging. You kind of bounce around as a younger player, playing both sides, feeling out, so I’m used to that. And then going out to tackle, it’s new. You’re facing a different type of player … speed, not as much strength, not as big, but it’s also fun. It’s a part of the experience of learning a new position and just learning how good of a football player you are yourself. I have the confidence in myself to play tackle and learning from Coach Bostad every day.

“I’m getting better every single day, thanks to him and thanks to the guys next to me. So it’s been an experience and I’m here to do what’s best for the team.”

On when he last played tackle:

“Yeah, I played my sophomore, freshman, sophomore year, I really kind of played both guards and then I would bounce out at tackle every now and again. Obviously in high school I played right tackle only. And then the past two years it was kind of only guard.

“I went and played in a game one time at tackle, at left tackle. So I have the experience, just not at length, but I know what I’m doing out there and it’s definitely been a little bit.”

On leaning on Carter Smith and Coach Bostad for tips to know what is needed out of the position:

“A hundred percent. I mean, you got a guy like Carter Smith in your offensive line, one of the best players in the country, you got to lean on him. And for me taking on a new role in this offense to have that source there, it’s every single day in the film room, on the field, asking them questions, we’re bouncing ideas off of each other.

“We got two different play styles. So just bouncing information off of each other, older guys, it’s been really helpful in my development as a tackle.”

On developing as a leader:

“I give credit to the guys in this program. When I came here in January, and the way that they welcomed me, it seemed like I had been here before. And it’s made it easy to grow as a person and as a player and take on that leadership role with the younger guys and lead with older guys like Drew, Bray and Carter within that offensive line room.

“But I give all the credit to the culture that’s been here and just allowing me to come in. And it’s been like I’ve known these guys forever.”

On working with Josh Hoover:

“He’s a very confident player. And as an offensive line, you’d love to see it. They’re blocking for that guy every single day, you’re laying life on the line for him.

“But he’s very confident in what he does. And he brings a lot of energy to that huddle every single play. And guys lean on that, guys get tired, it happens, part of the game and guys lean on that energy that he brings. And seeing him grow and develop as well as player. It’s been pretty special. And I’m excited to see what he does this year. And I’m even more excited to block for him.”

On playing next to Adedamola Ajani:

“He’s an extremely young and athletic player. Right. And he can kind of do it all and just seeing how he’s been able to move outside and inside and transition to that player and learn new things.

“And he can also bounce ideas off of me. I played guard my whole career and just watching him develop and getting that camaraderie next to him has been extremely fun. And he’s a really good player.

“He’s physical. And I think he’s gonna be phenomenal this year for us. And I’m extremely excited.”

On if he’s talked to Trey Wedig about moving to tackle and also the transition to IU:

“I haven’t talked to Trey about the tackle move yet, but I’ve talked to him about the transition to IU. And it was kind of a big, I mean, it wasn’t a big role in why I came here. But, you know, being able to talk to him and ask, what happened when you came? Was it good for your game?

“He said it’s the best thing that happened to me for my game. And hearing that from him and then talking to Drew and seeing how he’s done, it’s been extremely helpful.

“And it’s awesome to see. And I’m glad that I’m here now and to be able to talk with those guys and see how they made that transition and did it so smoothly. I can see why they did it so smoothly now being here for eight months. But I’ve definitely talked to those guys a healthy amount.”

On playing against IU last season at Memorial Stadium:

“It was super exciting coming in to this environment, this good of a team. That’s what you want when you play college football. You want to play the best teams in the country.

“And I just remember that this defense, it was the best in the country last year. They were so fundamentally sound. And being able to go up against that every single day now, it makes every single guy on the offense better.

“And it was super fun to come here and see, the atmosphere and playing this, something like this, because that’s what you want growing up as a kid. And to be here now against these guys with these guys, it’s sort of like a dream come true. But it was super fun last year and it’s even more fun now.”

On the trio of Carter Smith, Drew Evans and Bray Lynch:

“They’re super experienced guys, every single one of them. They’ve played multiple, multiple years on the offensive line, started multiple games. And just seeing the way that they approach the film room and the practice field and how they work together as a group.

“When I first came here and I saw that, you can tell why they were so good last year. And they took me in and they allowed me to step into that role with them. And I couldn’t be more grateful.

“And they’ve made me a better player. And like I said, these guys allow me to bounce ideas off of every single one of them and just learn and grow from them.”

On the IU running back room:

“I think each one of those guys just brings different things to the table. You know, they’re all extremely athletic and they’re all willing to work. And as an offensive lineman, when you’re blocking and you see someone hit the gap like they do or catch a pass and just run with such energy, it fires you up.

“And you want nothing more than to be blocking for a guy that wants to run and run through somebody’s chest. And I think every single guy in that room has that ability and they bring that to the practice field every single day.”

Joe Hjelle

On learning from the leaders on IU’s defensive line:

“Yeah, coming in, I’m a new guy, so learning this new system has been at first a little challenging. It’s a lot to learn.

“It’s very detailed defense. I think that’s what makes it so effective. But being able to learn from guys like Tyreke (Tucker) and Mario (Landino) has been really helpful because they’ve been in the system.

“They know the plays, a lot of the little things that have helped me become a better player and just understand the defense better.”

On the additions of Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt:

“I know it’s great to have them back. Obviously, I wasn’t here last year, but from what I’ve seen on tape and what I’ve heard, they’ve done a lot of great things and it’s really nice to have them back because the deeper we are, the easier it will be to get to the quarterback and have more fresh legs and bodies to throw at the offense.”

On playing defensive end in high school has helped him prepare for playing in Bryant Haines’ defense:

“Like you said, I did play some defensive end in high school,and just having that experience from an edge perspective has kind of helped me. You know, better set up on stunts and knowing what’s effective, what to do, what not to do. Just trying to keep my teammates free and allow them to have free rushes and all that.”

On the depth and versatility of the defensive line:

“We’re fortunate enough to have a lot of really good players, both on the edge and interior, that can play both edge and like a defensive end, you tackle, you bump down to the nose. So we’re fortunate to have a lot of versatile guys, especially with Daley and Wyatt coming back. I feel like that’s gotten even deeper and I’m very excited to see how that plays.”

On what excited him the most about playing in IU’s defense:

“I feel like when I was first getting recruited here, the thing that stuck out to me the most was just how active they get. They’re not sticking around, staying on blocks. You’re getting vertical, you’re trying to cause as much havoc as you can, really just playing off your teammates.

“If one person is not winning, then you can play off of them, make them right and vice versa. So that’s one thing that really stuck out to me when I was getting recruited here and it’s something that I enjoy.”

On starting his career at junior college and his path:

“So coming out of high school, going to the junior college route, I feel like was very, very big step in my development as a football player. I feel like in high school I was a little smaller and didn’t have the feel, like the experience or tools quite yet to be able to play at this level. And I feel like going to that junior college route really helped me grow as a football player.”

“Just being a part of a great program like Iowa Western and having all these great players in front of me, kind of learning from them as well, really helped me just become the best player I can be.”

On whether he talked to Kevin Wilson about IU and Bloomington during the recruiting process:

“During the recruiting process, I didn’t talk to him too much about Bloomington. He reached out just lending me his support just as a former coach, so I really appreciated that. It’s nice to have that connection because you never know where things can end up. And just being able to have that connection has been really beneficial for me.”

On going up against IU’s offensive line in practice:

“Yeah, so these guys are very good. It’s been fun to go against them. It’s been tough, but I feel like that’s probably the best part of it because they’re going to make me better as a player.

“They’re going to make everyone better. So being able to go against one of the best offensive lines in the country every single day has really helped me become a better player. Just being able to be around those guys, too, has been a lot of fun.”

On what it’s been like playing for Curt Cignetti so far:

“So far, it’s been really nice. I really enjoy just how structured he is. Everything is with a purpose. There’s no wasted time or movements. He knows what he wants, and if you’re not giving it to him the way you want, then he’ll let you know.

“Just being able to have that kind of structure and knowing where you’re going 24-7 and how you’re working is my favorite part about it.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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