CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: PITT VS MICHIGAN STATE

December 26, 2021

Deslin Alexandre

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Pitt Panthers

Press Conference

Q. Question about the transfer portal. Nothing specific. Not asking any specifics. But around your program, is the transfer portal topic all year? Do you hear it talked about throughout the locker room? Is it not spoken of at all? What kind of topic has the transfer portal been in your program this season?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: I don't really hear much about the transfer portal. But only thing that I really do hear is just what's going on around the ACC other guys transferring and thoughts on that, that's all.

Q. Just what can you say -- obviously Pitt historically has been known about what for what you can do on the defense. What can you say about SirVocea Dennis, having him behind you and what he does for this unit?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: SirVocea, he's a great player. You can see what he does on the field. He's great side line to side line. But his smarts off the field, being able to get us lined up, be able to make checks and everything he does on the field. He's a great leader. SirVocea is a great player.

Q. When I was talking to you back in the cafeteria way before the season started, in training camp, you talked about it being a reality that you guys would win the ACC championship and get an opportunity like this. How have you seen you and your teammates, especially the Eagles, the captains the guys that set the tone, how have you seen them not only accept that success but move on from that to focus on a game like this?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: Just speaking back then, I was just speaking that for you, just being here, just watching the guys grow, watching the guys every day put the work in to get to this point. It's not something that happened overnight. Years and years of work came into this. It's great to see this coming to fruition. Guys just putting in work and it's all showing.

Q. As a senior, a guy who's been around it a long time, what would it be like to win that 12th game, tie a school record that was set back in the day by a national champion?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: That would be great. It also, just like you said, a national champion team that did that way back. So just be another team that did that. We have a chance to make history. That's what we're after.

Q. With, obviously you're able to take advantage of a super senior year in 2022 if you want to. Is that a decision you've made yet, or is that something you'll announce after the bowl game?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: Something I'll definitely announce after the bowl game. Just really focus on this game and what's ahead right now.

Q. My question more so was, when you look at this Michigan State team and see them on film, what stands out to you when you look at them and do they compare to any other teams that you played?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: They're a really good team. They're a good, physical team. They run the ball really well. Even without their running back player, I think they do a lot of good things with 11 and 12 personnel things, switching it up. We'll just be ready for whatever they throw at us.

Q. You alluded to Kenneth Walker not being in this game. I wonder how do you guys as a defense prepare for an unknown when you have someone who had been such an integral part of that offense? What kind of things do you guys kind of do in your preparation to study other backs and study other parts of their game?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: Well, you know, another thing that comes with that is just the time, the time from the other game. A lot of offenses got a lot of time to just add new things, put different things. Not preparing for that same player, we've also got to prepare for whatever the offense can throw at us.

Just watching what the other running backs have done and more scheme-like things, things that they have thrown, little things that they've thrown earlier in the season. We just try to prepare for things at every angle.

Q. From a defensive standpoint, I know you guys have practiced against Kenny (indiscernible) and Nick Patti all year. What do you see, what are some differences you've seen from Nick, and how has he taken over the offense in practice?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: Just Nick being a young guy, he also just -- he's a great leader, just being out there, just -- we also have a next-man mentality here. So him coming, not skipping a beat. Being able to take and run the show. I think he's been doing a really good job doing that.

Q. Piggybacking on that, Deslin, Nick has been a guy who, he's been around a while. You guys know who he is. You guys used to, when you would scrimmage against Kenny Pickett, you told us how it was rough facing him when the offense ran it. What is your experience lining up across from Nick, seeing what he brings to the table as a quarterback? And what is the vibe amongst not just the leaders but the whole team about Nick as a person?

DESLIN ALEXANDRE: I think Nick's a great competitor. He's a fiery kid. He does a lot of good things. He does a lot of good things with his throwing arm. Does a lot of good things extending plays. Nick's a great competitor. I'm excited to see what he brings out for us on Thursday.