CHEEZ-IT BOWL: OKLAHOMA VS FLORIDA STATE

December 26, 2022

Jeff Lebby

Camping World Stadium

Oklahoma Sooners

Press Conference

Q. Wanted to ask your thoughts of coming in here, short staffed in some regards, what do you see of this Florida State team and what they have accomplished this year and what challenge does that present to you guys on the offensive side of the ball?

JEFF LEBBY: I think the big thing is they have played their best ball as of late. They have a bunch of momentum. They have played really well statistically. Defensively, tops in the country in a bunch of different categories, so they are playing with a ton of confidence and playing fast and playing really well.

Q. Going into a bowl game where you have moving pieces, some guys not being available, how difficult is that to prepare for? What kind of opportunity is it for the younger guys?

JEFF LEBBY: The biggest thing is we have guys that are capable. They have not played a bunch, but they are capable. We feel great about where we are at. [I]have a ton of confidence in the guys that are going to walk out there first on the 29th, guys that are going to go play and play their butt off and do everything they can to go fight for a win.

Q. When you talk about Florida State's defense, one thing they have done well is they have not given up a ton of big plays. Does that create other opportunities, and what challenges do they present?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, I think, we have to take what they give us, making sure that we are continuing to fight to run the football the way we need to, take care of the football, be great situationally. But again, they have been really good against the run. They have not given up a bunch of explosives [plays]. They have done a lot of things really, really well. So, [it will] be a great challenge, but our guys will be ready to roll.

Q. What have you seen from Dillon's growth this season, since he last played for UCF?

JEFF LEBBY: I think just from an experience standpoint, being in our league now and going through the things that he has had to go through, I think Dillon has played really well, and he will continue to play better.

But proud of his journey and how he has continued to grow and how he has held the locker room together. Obviously things haven't gone the way we have wanted them to, and he has done a great job being steady in the building every single day. So, that's what I will probably appreciate him for the most is just being the same dude every single day and finding ways to get the most out of his teammates.

Q. When you and Dillon got together, basically two new guys coming into this program, did you guys have to lean on each other at times when it came to this, or what were you expecting out of Dillon when he got there?

JEFF LEBBY: Obviously, there was great familiarity, and that is such a huge thing as you get going. The first day on the job, having a guy like Dillon to be in the room with you is special, one, because of our relationship, but, two, it makes it a lot easier to be able to get everything installed and get everything taught. Of course, there was great communication and he was able to streamline things inside the walls every single day, which was great.

Q. A guy you were familiar with, Tatum Bethune, on the other side of the ball, now at Florida Stat. I'm sure they are just numbers on the other side of the field, but what challenges does he present at linebacker?

JEFF LEBBY: Tatum has played really well. He will continue to play really well. [He] was really, really talented. [I] knew that when we signed him at UCF. So, there's familiarity there, but not surprised at all by his production and the way he has played. [I] knew he was a great player then, had a chance to be, and he is.

Q. How has this offense progressed and how have you grown as a coordinator in year one?

JEFF LEBBY: We have progressed in a lot of ways. Being 12 games into it, we have to play better and continue to find ways to be plus-one at the end of the day, that's the biggest thing. We have got to do a great job taking care of the football, and we have to do a great job situationally. That's why we have to continue to grow and be better and give us a chance to go win every single game.

Q. How big of an opportunity is this for Jovantae Barnes? And if Marcus Major is not one hundred percent, what are the strengths of the running backs remaining on the depth chart?

JEFF LEBBY: It is a great opportunity for Jovantae. Again, going back to what we talked about earlier, we have guys that are capable, and we have got guys that are going to play really well on the 29th. I look forward to those guys doing what they can to help us win.

Q. What does it say about the kids that decided to get on the bus and come out here and play this game this week and participate in the bowl?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, for us, when we got on that plane. We knew it was a great opportunity to go out and compete one more time, and that was special and unique for us. We wanted to do this together. The guys that got on the plane. They had a couple great days of practice and had great bowl prep. The guys that are ready to go compete.

Q. Wonder about the progress D.J. Graham has made since moving from running back to wide receiver. Is he someone that could he see time in the Bowl game at his new position?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, D.J. has done well. He has continued to impress on the practice field, create an opportunity. We will see how the game plays out, but D.J. has done a really good job and excited about where he is at and where he is going.

Q. Are you fully confident Dillon Gabriel is coming back next season, and what are your expectations?

JEFF LEBBY: Fully confident he is going to play really well on the 29th, and then we'll go from there.

Q. Florida State brings pressure from different areas. Do they disguise it well or is it similar from week to week? Or how much do they change it up?

JEFF LEBBY: They have done a great job disguising, getting to some different looks situationally. Again, they have done a great job with that and calculated pressure from a situational standpoint. So again, they have played really well. I think they have played their best ball as of late as a football team, so we will have our hands full.