CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: GEORGIA VS TCU

January 7, 2023

Jamon Dumas-Johnson

SoFi Stadium

Georgia Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. TCU's quarterback is a runner and a passer, how much of a challenge is that?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Big challenge. But you know, he like to use his legs a lot. With the strong arm of his, so you know, it's a good challenge that we willing to face this week. I could face a lot of good quarterbacks throughout the season but we handled them well.

Q. Does he compare to anyone you've faced?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Probably would say Anthony Richardson, the mobility and strong arm both of them have in common.

Q. Are you going to spy him on Monday?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Well, you knew the answer to that before -- why you asking me. If that's in the game plan, that's in the game plan.

Q. Is it exciting to face a quarterback like that?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, knowing they want to run, not turn into a seven-on-seven game or anything like that. But he's going to run, have great wide receivers.

Just like I said, he's willing to run, use his legs to try to win the game and try to get the first down. Just putting it by the line at the end of the day. You know, he's a quarterback -- this is both of our last game, so why not put it on the line and we're willing to face that.

Q. Can you share, who has been the scout team quarterback for y'all matching him?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Everybody know Gunner does a great job of anticipating the quarterbacks we face this season. He actually make it easier with his mobility and throwing arm and throwing on the run and things like that. So we see that all week before we even play the game.

Q. How much does the amount of points you give up -- you can look at the Ohio State game and say you gave up a lot of points but played pretty good defense.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, like Coach says, we are a great defense, but you know, it don't -- great offense that sit out here. Good teams still playing. Unfortunately we run into Ohio State with good offense, good QB and good wide receivers. A good team is a good team and things going to happen at the end of the day.

But yeah, we came stronger in the fourth and we finished the game well.

Q. Does it frustrate you at all that offenses do seem to have an advantage --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't agree. I mean, advantages, defense have the same advantages. Just different players. One might be good in that tackle. The receiver might be better than the corner; the corner might be better than the receiver; the safety might not have replayed better than the quarterback can. So different players in college football, and no really advantages on offense versus defense in my book.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Two Times -- Younger Niece -- indiscernible -- a lot of old school stuff, too.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Outfit.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Bear or Stetson.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't have one. I eat the same meal every game. That's, like, spaghetti.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Jordan Davis.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't get to wear stuff -- places. You're welcome.

Q. What do you guys think --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Just enjoy the football at the end of the day. Coach Smart first said it. We didn't build this program to be a one-hit wonder. It's not no new Alabama -- this is Georgia football. We just coming up, staying the course, staying who we are. Playing -- we do what we do and we just keep chomping at the end of the day. Not saying this will be less, not saying this will be more but we'll see.

Q. How do you feel the reception has changed?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: A lot. I would say a lot. Just again, more players, a lot of good players from the area. The recruiting has changed.

I know once Coach Kirby Smart got here, the overall for the school was changed.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I got recruited in -- I had got recruited in COVID. So you know, we didn't really get to talk it up.

Coach Schumann kept in contact with me, Coach Schumann and Coach Landon, and the ultimate choice that brung me here is the defense, you know, they blitz backers and they do all this stuff with backers. It's kind of a pro-style backer defense.

So that's what drew me here and I didn't have a lot of time in COVID to make a decision. So you know, you have to go on the fly and go with what you believe in, and I felt like Georgia is the best place for me.

Q. Defensive coordinator gets a head coaching job --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Say it again, I can't hear you.

Q. Considering everything you lost last year, guys in the draft, defensive coordinator gets a head coaching job -- to be here --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Nothing, really. Just the players that bought in, not letting outside distractions mess with us.

Like you said, the coaches left, the doubters, the 15th draft pick. At the end of the day, we just stayed down and we just kept working with each other. Just believing in each other ultimately. The job was to get back here and that's what we did. That was the mindset of the off-season and all the way through the season.

Q. Throughout the off-season?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Throughout the players.

Q. Like the coaches said the job was to get back. Was that something you thought about --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Oh, yeah, that's the goal. Always the goal. Every year that should be the goal. You don't play just to win five games. You know, your goal is to come back every year. That's the narrative of we losing 15 draft picks. That kind of hurt people on the defense. That kind of hurt, you know, people not believing us, down playing us.

That kind of put an edge -- put a fuel to our fire at the end of the day, make us go harder and just try to show people, like, what we got here.

Q. You guys have rolled on almost every single team. How did you have still have that chip on your shoulder and have that under dog mentality, when you guys have looked great all year, week-in, week-out?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Like I just said, the doubter, beginning of the season, losing the 15 draft picks, 5-1 defense, people just doubting the defense, who is going to step up, who is going to do this.

But I know -- I should know how college football work but the same people that was there was putting the work in behind the ones that left.

So we felt kind of disrespected, and always having a chip on our shoulder, like you said, that's what make us -- that's what motivate us throughout the season. People think we wouldn't be here right now. People thought we was going to go 5-5 or win six games, but we here back where we left off at.

Q. Just the only other question: Bill -- inaudible -- on the sidelines this week, does that scare you at all --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, I didn't know about that. You should not have told me about that. We might got to get him down there.

Q. The champions --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, I didn't know about that. Thanks for informing me but --

Q. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: That don't stop nothing. We still got -- we still got a mission to complete.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Representing the best conference in football, college football right now means everything. The physicality, the type of players, just let Georgia represent the SEC and then --

Q. Every week --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Every team in the SEC, big, physical, good, talented. It's not like we've got a week off. Oregon, they not in the SEC but they a pretty good team. After that, we got an SEC team, Vandy, people don't think they very good but Vandy, physical and good parts and some aspects. They have good players on the field.

But SEC you don't run into no teams that you don't have to prepare. You have to prepare on every team in the SEC.

Q. Looking at this game, take a look at the TCU offense, obviously very talented quarterback, saw a guy who is able to run a little last week. How can you contain him?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Just have a game plan. But we have the game planned up, whatever the game plan says, you do that.

You know, we all know Max Duggan have a mobile quarterback style. You know, he uses his legs. He have a strong arm. He have a big receiver. He have a fast receiver. He have all different kinds of receivers.

This is another game we're going into where we have another good quarterback and another good group of wide receivers. Just try to stick to the game plan. We believe in our coaches and what they put together. We have to execute at the end of the day.

Q. Anything you can carry over from the last week to slow down TCU?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Really just execute our game plan. We've got to play our game. Last few weeks haven't been playing our game but we've got to -- we have to do that and this is the last time we can actually do that.

Q. Anything jumping off the film as you're watching TCU prepare for this week? Anything jump off the film of what they can do on offense?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: They are very physical, just not -- not -- indiscernible -- much special teams players as well. As a whole team, they fly to the ball and they are very fast and love to have to attack and they are very physical at the end of the day.

I haven't watched too many balls with them because they are not in our conference and stuff like that, but like I said, they attack and they are very fast and they are very physical.

Q. Giving up 40 points last week, how upsetting was that and what's the goal this week point-wise?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Well, you know, they don't -- everybody knows, they don't have to tell us that they are disappointed in us. We disappointed in ourselves.

You know, we in the National Championship Game. We don't have time to go back and correct what happened in that game. We only can make sure it don't happen in this game.

Q. How does it feel to be here?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: It feel pretty good. Coming from, you know, a player that sat behind and watch the group of linebackers that left last year, to take on that role and let Smael take over and do the same thing, it felt pretty good to be a big contributor to the team and watch the team's success, and that you know you played a big role in it.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Just come out fast and once you come out fast, you have to keep your foot on the pedal. You can't let off. Teams tend to fight back when you let off. You have to keep your foot on the gas and don't let up.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, just what they been doing all year. Using their players well. I expect Max Duggan to run. You know, do what they been doing this whole year pretty well.

Q. So coming into this game, obviously you guys were here last year, so how much easier has it been? What's the approach been like last year and how has that experience prepared you for all the bells and whistles?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't think I ever been here last year with all the cameras and stuff in Miami. I don't think I was around.

What was your question?

Q. I guess knowing how you guys have been open about how last week, you didn't have your best performance, but what do you see in TCU's offense that's maybe similar to Ohio State's offense that you know this time --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: They have two totally different offenses, so ain't nothing you can prepare us for, Ohio State and TCU.

But, I will say in comparison of both them two teams, one have -- they both have good quarterbacks and they both have a good wide receiver room. So we just have to play them true. You know, do our thing, and you know, execute the plan. And you know, we know he's a better runner than C.J. Stroud from last week. We know he want to use his legs. So we got to stick to the game plan. Whatever the game plan is, you know, use that and stick to it.

Q. Have you ever been to L.A. before?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, I played L.A. in high school.

Q. What are some of your favorite -- obviously you're on a business trip here, but when you look at it, not everybody gets an opportunity to be in L.A. in the National Championship, what are you trying to soak up about your time?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Just trying to win. That's what we work, what, 12 months for. We work 12 months just to get back here. Only thing I'm focused on is getting a W right now. Celebrate afterwards, but I'm not thinking about nothing else. I'm thinking about Monday night, Monday evening.

Q. How tired are you of hearing questions about last week's game?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I wouldn't say I'm tired. I guess you can say I'm tired but you know, it's true what y'all see. We haven't been playing our best the last two weeks.

But like I said, we got an extra week to prove wrong again or prove ourselves right that we belong here and that defense, it's still alive at the end of the day. We got to come out of the gate fast and keep our foot on the pedal.

Q. One of the best things of the defense -- when you're committed --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I'm very committed. We've got a swarming tackle as a team and the defense know that. You've got to talk to your brother at the end of the day. You've got to run for the person next to you. You've just got to give it your all because there ain't no more next game. This is the last game and this is for it all. It's what we been working for all year.

I have no doubt in my mind that the defense don't understand that.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Five down linemen? Good. You know, you watch tape here and there, some of them -- you know, some of them could be heavy-footed. You could deal with speed. At the end of the day, they weigh more than me. Quicker than them. So just things like that I can use to my advantages. You know, going one-on-one with an offensive lineman yeah.

Q. Inaudible

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: It helped me a lot. You see me and you have to worry about him in front of you. Jalen presses a lot. I just help everyone out on defense, not just me. When you see him down there, you're not just going to one-on-one him. You're either going to have to trip him double-team him, and if you're not -- you're back field.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Like I said, never change. Still always vocal, always talking. Still leading us at the end of the day. Like I always say, it's like he never left. So it's a good thing he still here with us. If it wasn't for injury, I'd have been thinking he suiting up with us Monday. But nothing has changed, not one bit.

Q. The biggest thing you took from last year, what was the biggest lesson they passed down to you?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Just play everything like it's your last. Always give your all. You never know. Like they never said -- like, I never know if I be in this spot again, so you know, I guess me and Smael took that to heart and ultimately ended up back here. I say we listened to the message pretty good.

Q. With Ohio State, calling the timeout, what was the defensive -- you guys on the sideline --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Well, we knew, I wasn't going to field that particular play. We was in punt safe. Yeah, that was a good timeout by Coach.

They tried to sneak it. The defense obviously was on the field, they saying they knew it was a fake because of the alignment and that was a fake formation for them.

But you know, they was saying they knew it was going to be a fake. I guess that's why Coach called a timeout. It was good, because everybody was on the same page. We all knew it was a fake punt.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Oh, yeah, after we stopped them, we had to go -- we had to get a stop on D. I think we got that stop. They punted it. I think offense came down and scored.

From there -- from then on, then we just had to keep getting one stop at a time to keep the game rolling, to keep our momentum going, we just had to knuckle up at the end of the game to keep us safe and keep us going.

Q. One thing that stood out to me was win another championship, leave a legacy, be the first program in this era to win back-to-back championships --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Like you said, I agree with Chris, I want to leave a legacy behind. I definitely want to be one of them people that win another one. I was on the team last year, but, you know, it feels different when you contribute to your team.

I speak for me and Smael sometimes and our linebacker group, especially ones that played, you know, actually feel -- actually be able to feel it. You're a part of something and you're a big contributor for the team to win one.

That's my big thing. Like Chris said just leaving a legacy, being able to show people that I was here on this team going backed, showing my kids, bringing my kids back to Georgia, showing them what I did, obviously they are accomplished.

Q. How do you guys try to make sure that if you don't think too much about defending the championship or the Cinderella story, how do you avoid all that noise?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Because you got another game to win. That's all. We won't think about it. Like you said, try to avoid it.

We just think about it as another game, and every Saturday we got to play -- I know it's Monday but every Saturday we get to play football another chance to win another game and show the world.

Q. What are you guys seeing on film? What stands out?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, TCU got a good quarterback. They have a good wide receiver weight room like Ohio State did and it's a good challenge for us again. Last week we played a good, talented QB with a great wide receiver room, and this time they got a good quarterback with a great wide receiver room. Great challenge again. I wouldn't say the same, but another great challenge to be here and try to complete that.

Q. When I think of Max Duggan, the TCU quarterback, I think about the game against Kansas State, their Championship Game, all banged up and everything, comes across as a gutsy, tough quarterback. As someone who plays defense, how do you approach that or how do you view these tougher quarterbacks that can take a hit and keep getting back up and stuff like that? Is there respect for them?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I mean, I got respect for everybody. I got respect for their whole team. They earned their way here just like how we earned our way here at the end of the day. We going to put their body on the line to win our last game.

So I agree, it is real respect between me and him. I don't even know them, but between the teams, also. So yeah, big respect to him.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't know, All-Star plate or platter? Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you -- yeah, like 6 o'clock in the morning.

Q. What can you learn from -- inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, coming to I don't think a, I expected to be here a few times during my career here. This is my second one and hopefully it's not my last. You know, they prepared us pretty good last year.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Trusting each other. I trust the same -- they didn't go up, didn't go down. Our trust is the same. Our trust is as highest as it can be. We trust each other to make plays. We trust each other to run to the ball. We trust each other, they have my back; if I miss this tackle, someone come to sweep them up, pin them up.

Trust at the end of the day it is big for us, but I think we all trust each other. But like last week, McClendon went down and nobody had no doubt; Amarius step in and do his thing.

Q. What is the one thing --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Inaudible.

Q. Inaudible -- Maryland?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I was never going to go there. Like I said, I came from a high school where like Georgia, like, fit in the same scheme. It was just a higher program. You know, blitzing backers, mixing it up here and there.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: He's cool because Kirby came from Bama. Just like Kirby.

Q. Can't do that --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: No, I can't.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Leave my mark? Oh, yeah, that vent happened in some time now. I think the last team to do that was Bama, correct?

Yeah, so it would mean a lot. Like I tell everyone, it will be different because I'm a big contributor to this team. Last year, that wasn't the case.

But I have a chance to do it, and the group of linebackers we have here, the legacy to leave behind for me and my family, you know, like I said, to bring my kid back to show them what I've done and what I've been able to achieve at the University of Georgia and what I have been able to that no one else did in ten years, it would be amazing.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, when my back's against the wall, you find out who you are at the end of the day. You know, Ohio State game was nothing new to us. We went through adversity before. That never changed and when that happened in the Ohio State game, we knew exactly what we had to do. No one ever detach from each other. We got closer at that point.

Q. If you're traveling -- do you go --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I mean, normally I would say up, so I wouldn't say over.

Q. They got a lot of dancing going on -- what's your favorite dancing?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I'm not from Baltimore. I'm from Maryland. Do your research next time. But you know, the dance, beat your feet. You got to look it up, go with music -- but a Baltimore dance, if you really want to know a Baltimore dance, the bird flew (ph) -- little scooter.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I'm here on business right now. I can't do that right now. I'm on a business trip.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: It was given to me. I had no choice. It look good, don't it.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, Marshall, he looks like a bulldog. He look like a dog.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Microphone, yeah, he use them 24/7 and he use them hot.

Q. Do you have earplugs?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I can't do that, not in practice.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Him, the whole community can hear him, though.

Q. Based off his name and his name alone --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Baseball.

Q. Best facial hair?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't know. I don't know. I don't look at nobody's facial hair.

Q. What days of the National Championship --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: National Championship. I don't -- I don't know you.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I mean, listen, your birthday -- your birthday is between me and you. The National Championship is for the team, so I'm picking the team.

I'm sorry, yeah, got to be put in -- yeah.

Q. When is your birthday?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: My birthday? November.

What is your birthday? See I got some time with Nati (National Championship) here now. Your birthday down the road. The Nati is for the team. I take the team over the person any day. She wasn't grinding with us 12 months ago.

Q. What are you thinking, even though the offensive linemen -- how are you guys --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: He's not my choice, it's the line of scrimmage at the end of the day. I ain't the person to be asking that question.

You know, I think offensive line -- I mean, defensive line will do a great job of striking up front and keeping them off me or me and Smael can run through and do some plays.

Q. Talk about your mindset going against a quarterback -- are you guys looking at spying him? How do you stop a guy like that?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I guess y'all will see Monday. The game plan, I can't tell y'all the game plan right now.

You know, just playing our ball at the end of the day. Executing the coaches coaching plan. Never doubt them, and they play all these mobile quarterbacks good and quarterbacks have different quarterback styles and this one, he's able to use his legs. So I'm pretty sure they are cooking something up.

Q. Going back to Saturday night, what were you thinking before the kick, and obviously --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Before the kick, I'm like, mmmm, this it right here. But when he missed it, I said, shoot, we miss two, he got to miss one.

Q. Coach Smart was saying that a day or two after, explained what happened again --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: The meeting was very serious. That could happen to any one of us. You know, I got -- nothing like that but I got hit like that before in practice by not lowering my pads. So it was a serious conversation, pay attention. That could happen to you. You want to pay attention and listen.

Q. Did that education, that information help or ease your mind a little?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, you got to get your bads low. You have no pad right here protecting your heart, so yeah, it made me want to tackle lower now.

Q. Talk about -- inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Prepare me a lot. Receiver when we're in practice, they ultimately take off and they don't take off to just say the playaction take off, to do something. So not taking the rep balls, trying to finish it, trying to tackle -- we don't tackle but try to tag one of them, even harder because he's so fast.

You know, he have that dead leg everyone always talk about. But yeah, it prepares us a lot. Running to the ball. We got to track him. It prepared us a lot -- mobility. He can throw on the run; we got a passer. It's a lot.

Q. How difficult was it --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I have not thought about that. But you know, Coach said we play the best teams in the country, Monday through Friday. So that's it.

Q. How is the defense feeling watching the TCU offense?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: At the end of the day, we've got to do our job. At the end of the day, like I said, Duggy, he's mobile, he can use his legs. He have a strong arm, so he can throw. But you know, just practicing on our peoples and you know, finishing. Got to finish the QB this week, get him down.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I tell you, listen closely. You're 5'9 but you play like you're 6'5. You hit like you're 235 but you probably 190. Well you run to the ball; you like no other ball. So that's why you different. You look small but you not small.

Q. How big was his play?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Big play. And it was well-deserved. You know, took their leading receiver out of the game. Like I say in the Peach Bowl, not like we change anything when Harris was in there, but took him out and had to find a new target at the end of the day. That was a big play.

Q. The entire football community was affected -- I know they are smart, addressing the team, what was that conversation?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I actually didn't see that live. I had to watch a couple videos. But the talk was very serious at the end of the day.

Like I say, it could happen to you, so you might as well take it serious. You never know what you can gain from that or what you can lose from that, so it was very important that everyone listen up and took it in.

Q. The follow p to that is, when he came to, his first words were, "Did we win?" What are your initial thoughts as a football player and seeing that? How does that inspire you?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: First, I was surprised he even said that. You know, he almost lost his life over that. You know, there's some players that care about the ball more than they their life sometimes.

But you know, he very blessed to still be alive and I hope that he get back to doing what he love to do. You know, things happen. But I hope he'll come and be able to play again.

Q. Can he go back to playing that game?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, I probably down on the field. They say life is way more but I mean, we don't know his injury. We don't know if he can come back or he can't. It's not like -- how can I say this, the injury was ran through his chest. You don't have no protection in the chest.

So if he got his pads lower, I don't think he would have been in that situation. It's not an injury where you had to do that and then he had a consequence for it.

So it's not one of them things. If he had lowered his chest, he would still be okay. But the offensive person just ran through it and you know attack his chest.

Q. How is school going?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: School -- school, we start Monday, yeah. I'm trying to go back to school with another one, man.

Q. Make going to class a lot easier?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Make going to class a lot easier.

Where have you been, teacher? Ms. Jones, you know where I been.

Q. Monday should be like a holiday on campus.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, it should be. It should be.

Q. Academics are important.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Not the game day. Not the day of the Nati. I hope they chill out during the game.

Q. You know there are going to be a Dog fans.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah.

Q. They going to make that trip across country.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: They got to. They got to.

Q. They said the trip was too long for the dog to be on the plane?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: How long can a dog be on a plane? Yeah, he's an old dog.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: They have the same thing Ohio State have, good quarterback, mobile quarterback and talented receiver room. So I don't see too much difference but I see a lot of similarities within that room.

Q. Can you talk about -- inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: We haven't been executing the way we wanted to execute these last few weeks as everyone sees but when we do execute the way we want to, things can get scary out there. You know -- inaudible -- blocks or interceptions or things of that nature.

Q. Talk about the opportunity --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Talk about it? It would mean everything. Like everyone else, he been here for while, he been hearing me say this for ten times. It's different because I'm a big contributor this year. It means more than sitting back and learning. You feel good because you're actually out there doing something and you're helping the team win.

Q. Talk about Damar Hamlin and your thoughts.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I hope he make a recovery. I hope he get back to doing what he love, which is playing football. I hear he up and breathing on his own now, so that's good news.

Like I said, I just hope he get back to what he love to do.

Q. If you had an actor to play, who would it be? Some day, a movie about your life, who should play you?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Probably like a young Will Smith.

Q. Of all your teammates, who do you think -- for being in L.A., has that vibe --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Teammate, teammate, teammate -- probably Kendall or -- I'd say Kendall. I say Kendall because you know, this is stuff he wears. He not wearing no regular people's stuff here. He wearing that top-notch stuff. You know, L.A. the place to do it.

Q. Last time you played Ohio State, how does it compare --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I compare TCU just like I compare Ohio State to LSU and Florida. Just same, you know, if you guys think about it. They both have good quarterbacks.

All the teams I mentioned have good quarterbacks, and you eventually move to what helps the quarterback and that's the wide receiver room. And I feel like, you know, TCU have a pretty good wide receiver room, whether that's size or speed or -- speed, size, anything of that nature, when you see it, they have one big receiver that make -- they have two big receivers that make big, contest catches at the end of the day. They have speed all around, so that's what I compare them to.

Q. What can you take from last year --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, taught me how to go about my business at the end of the day. Not going out till after the game. We here for business. We not here to have fun. We here to -- business, do your job and then you can do what you want to do.

But until the game, we strictly business and we doing what we supposed to do here, and that's staying focused for Monday day.

Q. How many --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Four. How many has it been?

Q. '01.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: '01?

Q. What actually --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I don't know, what is it -- yeah, I'd never got that.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Indiscernible -- Landry? Andrew?

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Well, I say it's different from this year to last year because of, you know, the chip on our shoulder we had coming into this season, a lot of doubters, a lot of people doubting us, saying we wasn't going to make us this far. Just having that chip on our shoulder coming into the season, added fuel to our fire. It's different, different seasons, what motivates you to, you know, put you where you at at the end of the season and that was one that put us for this season.

Q. Inaudible

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: He don't think like a true freshman. He think like he been here about two, three years. He understand the defense. He don't play like a true freshman at the end of the day.

I can count on him the same (as) I can count on Chris or Smael. Just his mindset change as a player and I think he came in mindset ready and ready to play at the end of the day, and that's what he been able to do for our defense and help us out tremendously this season.

Q. How would you describe --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I never knew he was that goofy. -- Malaki real goofy at the end of the day. He a real quiet person, but goofy, I never knew that. That's one thing. Now I know, Malaki Starks is goofy.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Damar, you know, he's a competitor at the end of the day. When he off the field, he laughing, smiling but on the field you never see his teeth because he always down, down to compete. He's just ready to work at the end of the day.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Where I be comfortable at, the type of defense we run, the scheme we do. I feel like I fitted right in, and here I am.

Q. What do you like about --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Say it again?

Q. What do you like about Coach (Smart)?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Coach Smart going to go down as one of the best to ever do it? Defensive coach for 11 years, DC. He know the game like the back of his hand. He know what's going to happen before it happen.

To have him on your side as a head coach and have all these good coaches around you, it's good. Take a lot of stress off you at the end of the day. If you know it, they know it. Take a lot of stress off you.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I can't hear you.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, you know, not the way defense want to approach that game and have that game. You know, we didn't have that game -- probably do a lot of different things as far as the defensive side. I think offense played pretty well to get that win.

But I love how -- the way the defense competed in the fourth quarter to finish out the game. But unbelievable game and win; I never forget.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Yeah, I was pretty calm. Going through -- knowing your players, knowing your teammates, you know what you got coming into the game. Not giving up. Having resilience, coming back, doing what we supposed to do.

Q. How would you --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, pretty good leader. Not as vocal but he worked -- he lead by example. He do what he supposed to do, do the right things. You know, just being accountable.

Q. Inaudible.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: We have three minutes left.

Q. Inaudible. Just look so old but a sophomore -- what's your -- how old are you, man?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Let's keep this on PG-13, Bro. Cool.

Q. How do you feel about --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, Carter was pretty good -- every morning I take a little jog to get my day started. I've been trying to tag along -- get a couple of my teammates to tag along with me to run. Micah, he don't like to get up. Coach try to get him to come but he didn't come. Grab Micah -- indiscernible -- ultimately good for you, get your day started.

Q. Is that true -- a little bit overweight?

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: You know, they change the rules throughout the year. You know, I'm so used to doing it now, I don't worry about the rules.

Q. How was Coach Muschamp --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Coach Muschamp is amazing. He's one of best coaches. He has some history in college football. Him, Kirby and Schu together, man, three-headed monster right there.

Q. He was our head coach at Florida.

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: I heard he had a pretty good defense at his time there.

Q. He hired an offensive coordinator that he had not worked with before -- but playing great --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: Who did he have on his defense?

Q. Former head coach at Notre Dame, the offense --

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON: No, I'm saying who he have on the defense? I'm going to ask him. I'm going to ask him.