CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: GEORGIA VS TCU

January 7, 2023

Sedrick Van Pran

SoFi Stadium

Georgia Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. I've just got one question for you. You've faced a lot of really good defenses this year. How do you bring the magic this part of the season?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a good question. To be honest with you, I think TCU's going to have a very unique challenge for us this week. They do a lot of things well. I think they are very strong up front. They hold point well, and they allow their guys on the back end to make plays.

Also at pass protection, I think they have a good way of getting pressure with the three front. So I think TCU will have a very unique challenge for us this week.

Q. Who's on your playlist?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: My day to day playlist has to be NBA YoungBoy.

Q. Who's the last person on the team bus?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably Stetson.

Q. What's the weirdest place you've been recognized?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: The weirdest place I've been recognized, probably the French Quarter.

Q. Bad outfit or bad haircut?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Bad haircut.

Q. What's your favorite game day food?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Game day food? I eat Popeye's before every game.

Q. Looking ahead to the title game, looking at maybe coming up against TCU, anything that stands out?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think TCU is -- they already are -- they pride themselves on speed, and that's what shows up on film. They do a really good job of playing in their scheme. I think really what helps them is that everybody's playing together. I think the defensive line understands their job. Linebackers understand their job and the back end as well.

I think what they do well is that they play really well together. But the thing is that what's unique about them is that they're all really solid players, really, really good players.

When you put all that together and a lot of selfless guys, it's a good formula.

Q. Obviously it's the title game. It would be hard to say you guys aren't dialed in. But you've been here before, and you guys are playing a team like TCU that wasn't even like ranked or anything. Do you guys buy into that? Is there anything to that or just like any other opponent?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think the truth is that TCU is here for a reason. They're one of the best teams in college football, and I think that's why they're in this game.

I know everyone wants to act like they're this myth or this Cinderella story, but the truth of the matter is that they're one of the best teams in college football. So they're there for a reason. So we're taking it like that.

We understand the depth of their roster. We understand that they're a very good team, and they do what they do well. So we've been taking them very seriously.

Q. What has this year been like? What are some things that maybe Kirby Smart and your coaching staff has taught guys along the way, especially this season? Obviously when you're winning your first championship, that's one journey, but now defending your championship, what are some of the things that Coach has taught you to get dialed in?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably the biggest thing is we're not defending the National Championship, we're trying to win one. Last year is last year. I think that's been the biggest thing kind of instilled into us is that this year has nothing to do with last year.

Q. Funniest guy in your guys' locker room?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: The funniest guy? That's a good question. There's a bunch of different guys. I would probably go -- really if you catch anyone on the offensive line room, they're pretty funny. A bunch of those guys are pretty funny. I'm trying to think who else. Kamari Lassiter is pretty funny. Jamon is pretty funny. Jamon Dumas-Johnson is pretty funny. And every once in a while, you'll catch Nolan.

Q. What about Stetson?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Stetson? He has his ways. He's unintentionally funny. He's funny because he's being serious. On a lot of things, he's kind of out of touch with, but he's funny for a different reason.

Q. As the quarterback, how do you guys kind of lean on him?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it starts with his preparation. Stetson is a guy that puts numerous amount of hours outside of football into the game. So I think it starts with his preparation. Making sure everybody is on the same page in the huddle and those different type of things, I think gives guys confidence.

Q. You went to the state finals your senior year.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: We lost by one. The championship, state championship.

Q. Is that your last big loss?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I'll say this, I very vividly remember my freshman year here at Georgia, the COVID year. I think we maybe lost two games or three games that year, but it felt like we lost several. So I can definitely remember days losing.

Q. Can you appreciate how special this has been? When you're in the middle of it, how does it feel?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Ideally, you can't just sit there and kind of, I guess, admire what you've done, but I think it's a little bit naive to think that you don't kind of feel it a little bit.

But I think ultimately you have to keep pushing just for the simple fact that everything we have, we've earned. We've worked really, really hard for, and we want to continue to keep going.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it just starts with Coach Smart and his staff. I think they do a tremendous job of developing guys. Came in my first year, took some time to develop, and by the time I got to my second year, I felt like I was ready.

Then even in that process, you may feel like you're ready to play, but throughout the season you learn different things and you develop even more. I think Coach Smart and his staff does a tremendous job of developing guys in the depth chart.

Q. You guys lost a lot of players this year. What does it say about the level you continue to play at?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think that's a good question. Ultimately I think it's just a mindset of understanding that no matter who comes and goes or what happens, there's a level of expectation here to try to keep things going for the guys that played here in the past.

I just believe that everybody does what they can to make sure our program can succeed.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: We just want to be Georgia.

Q. What do you think about Coach Smart, whether in recruiting or now?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think Coach Smart does a tremendous job of making sure guys are on the same page. Obviously I think everywhere recruiting is a little bit different from actual program things, but what I can say is that he's very much true to who he was in recruitment.

He keeps things very simple. He keeps things very honest. He expects hard work. And that's how he was in recruiting. I think the best thing is he's himself, and you know what you're going to get when you're dealing with him.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think he was able to relate to guys on different levels. No matter what it was or who you were, I think he found ways to relate to different guys.

I know for me specifically he was able to relate to me just because of the New Orleans connections and different things like that. He kind of knew a little bit about where I was from.

Coach Hankton at the time was recruiting me, and he was up there too. I think he did a tremendous job of making sure I felt like I would be at home.

Q. I know how much you love this sport. The chance here to go back-to-back championships, it hasn't been done for Georgia. What would it mean to the Georgia program, the entire team, to get that done?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I do want to start off by saying I think TCU has been incredible team. We 100 percent expect and know that they're going to give us everything they have and it will be a hard fought game regardless.

But if we are able to capture our second National Championship, I think it would mean a lot for this program, especially for the guys that are leaders this year. Last year we were a part of something and played our part. But for this year to be a part of helping lead the team, I think it would be very, very special being able to do something that's never been done in our school history.

We would love to make the people back home proud, but ultimately we understand that God has plans, and we want to go out there and compete our hardest.

Q. To try to get that done, Coach Smart was talking about learning from that Ohio State game. What has the week been like getting ready?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It's definitely been a mental challenge because I think around this time of year, I think you start to get a little bit tired. But just being a hundred percent honest with you, your mental capacity has to be high. You have to understand that no matter what you may be feeling, this is for everything.

This is for everything you work for. This is for all the hard work you put in from January. Really it's just an understanding of the hard work we've been asked to put in is not in vain. It's for what we've been working for all year.

I think guys just really understood and honed in on the fact that the hard work we're being asked to put in is essential to our success for Monday.

Q. What does it mean to represent the SEC in the championship game?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it means a lot, but I also want to say I think TCU, their conference is great. Oklahoma, Texas, that conference is really competitive. Those guys give it to each other a lot. Honestly, a lot of times that's why they knock each other out because the level of competition is so high for that conference.

Ultimately for us it would be an honor for us to represent the SEC for the simple fact we believe in what we do, and we want to show homage and pay our respects for the guys that come before us.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it would be really essential just for the simple fact of how fast their linebackers play. I think their front guys, their front three does an amazing job of being able to hold point and stop guys from being able to get to the second level. Those guys are able to shoot gaps, run over the top that kind of make those splash plays because everybody's working together.

I think ultimately just understanding what they want to do and understanding that those linebackers are a key factor of the game and trying to neutralize them would be huge.

Q. Do you see specific pockets in the passing game?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I mean, I have seen some things that I think could work for us, but also I think TCU is a great team, and I think they understand what are some things that could be attacked on their end.

I 100 percent expect them to come out and do certain things to stop certain things that maybe they've seen on film, but I'll leave that more to Stetson.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think just the fight. I've seen guys like Pop, guys like J.C., Chris Smith, all those guys coming in and working every day. I think they genuinely want to have a great game. I think they've been working really hard towards that.

Q. What is your relationship with Stetson like?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think our relationship is great. I think we have a nice system of checks and balances. It may be some things that he sees and maybe some things that I see. Ultimately, we make sure that we're on the same page.

I think that comes from spending time outside of football in the film room and different things like that. I think we have a great connection.

Q. Sedrick Van Pran, offensive lineman from the Bulldogs. Take a look at this TCU defense, 3-3-5, guys can come from everywhere. How do you prepare on a shorter week, knowing you don't have 2 1/2, 3 weeks for the break?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a great question. I think TCU does an amazing job of playing physical, fast. Sometimes they play sideline to sideline. Sometimes they play downhill. They do what's necessary for each desired play.

Being 100 percent honest with you, I think 3-3-5 is a great defense because it allows them to do several things. They can bring guys, they can plug guys, they can play drop eight, they can do so many different things.

They're a great team. I think it starts with the guys up front. I think their front three does an amazing job of holding point, holding onto double-teams and giving those guys on the back end the ability to fly around.

Q. How important is the communication element going to be with five up front to identify the fourth rusher, fifth rusher to give Stetson the time he needs?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it's going to be huge just for the simple fact of there's so many different looks they could possibly bring. I think TCU does an amazing job of trying to disguise things. I think for us just having the communication to know when things are coming will be huge.

Q. TCU player Ronald Lewis, you played together?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: High school teammate, yes, sir.

Q. Did you talk to each other?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: We've tried to keep our distance a little bit, but we definitely told each other no matter what happens on either side, we definitely want to be able to talk to each other after the game and maybe take a few pictures for Warren Easton.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yes, sir. It's truly a blessing.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I'm going to be honest, tickets are kind of high to get out here. So I want to say I have four or five family members coming out here. But whoever's able to come, it's fine with me.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: So at that time, just being honest, in my opinion, I felt like Georgia had a really good university as far as education, top 15, I believe at that time, in public education. I believed in Coach Smart and Coach Pittman at that time, and then ultimately it came down to I wanted to be part of building a legacy.

LSU did come after me, but to be honest, it was a little bit later in my recruitment. I was going into my senior year, and by that time, I felt like Georgia was recruiting me really, really hard. So I went with who I felt wanted me.

Q. On the field, off the field, any time of year, whenever, what defines Stetson?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think what defines Stetson has to be, just being honest with you, being in the facility, 10:00, 11:00 at night, and I'm texting him about film. All of a sudden, he walks into the O-line room letting me know he's there too.

I think that's what defines him, just the fact that he's a hard working guy and puts a lot of time into football.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Absolutely. There's not many days that he's not there late.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a great point, but I think ultimately the way we were able to do it is just the way Coach Smart does a tremendous job of developing our roster. Guys get a ton of reps when they come to Georgia, whether that be freshman, sophomore, whatever.

Whether you're first or third team, guys get a lot of reps, and I think that's what ultimately helps us is that he's done a tremendous job of developing guys on the roster.

As far as guys that have stepped up, I think that freshman class has done a tremendous job of helping us, whether it be special teams, offense, defense, whatever it may have been. I think it's a credit to Coach Smart and how he develops guys.

Q. I asked Stetson this. What's going to be difficult about playing in SoFi Monday night?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Usually, just being honest, I think one of the biggest things of playing in open stadiums is kind of getting used to the air really. A lot of times we play in the open stadiums, the air may be thinner, may be thicker, different things like that.

But there is no excuses when it comes to a game like this. You have to make the most of it, especially in this environment for a National Championship. There can't be any excuses. So I think it's just the depth and the understanding that at the end of the day, it's football.

Q. A lot of jokes are made about Stetson, how old he is and whatnot. Does the offensive line ever turn around, like you're still here?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I was really happy that he was coming back last year. They're jokes. They're meant for fun. They are funny at times.

But ultimately, I think he's not doing anything that no one else has done in college football. It's something that's very common. So I mean, it is what it is.

Q. What is it about this team that you guys have been down a lot this year and something just happens? Is someone saying something, or is it just like, all right, it's time to go?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: First, I think you have to give credit to God, just being honest. I think God has definitely had a helping hand over us for sure, but ultimately that comes in different ways.

Different guys speak up. Last game it was Marcus. Then it went from Marcus to Stetson to myself to Darnell and Kenny and everybody kind of gets into it.

Then there were games like Missouri where everybody just kind of looks at each other and there's an understanding, without words being said, that everyone has to do their job.

So I think it kind of comes in different spots. Ultimately, I think it comes from our summer training with Coach Sinclair.

Q. As you look at this three-man front that TCU runs, anybody you've played that you can compare that to or is similar to?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I know it was Kansas State and Sanford we played. They both played like a 3-3-5-ish ordeal. That's really the only team we played -- Mississippi State as well. They had a very similar ordeal as well. They just kind of brought a lot more guys and twists and different things like that.

Those are probably the teams we played this season that are probably close to that, but I think really what makes them great is the fact that they have guys up front that really hold point. 52 is a guy. We know Tymon is really good. 95 and 98 is really good as well.

So I think really it's the guys up front that makes that defense go.

Q. Have you thought about going up against Tymon and maybe after the play give him a little wink or a little pat?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Ultimately we'll talk to each other after the game. That's a guy that we have a tremendous love and respect for. But ultimately, we're trying to go out there and win a National Championship. So that will have to wait until after the game.

Q. What are two or three things this offense has to do Monday night to be successful?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a great question. I think ultimately it's going to have to be what we always talk about, being efficient on first and second down, being able to convert on third down, and being good in the red zone.

Q. You're from New Orleans? Favorite food growing up that you can't have?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That I can't have outside of football?

Q. Down south. That you miss about it.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably fried shrimp honestly. I know that Georgia has fried shrimp, but it's not the same like back home.

Q. There's a lot of things every day. You line up against a lot of guys. What's it like lining up against Warren Brinson?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Warren Brinson, fast twitchy guy. Very physical up front, moves really quick. He has the ability to kind of turn it on and off. You may think that he's assessing a play, and all of a sudden he's flashing by you. So hard guy to block.

Q. You have an opportunity just to go back to back. Can you talk about what this opportunity means to you?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think this opportunity is amazing just for the simple fact of it's very unique. Not many teams have been able to go 15-0 in a season and win a National Championship. I believe we'll be the first team, if we can capture it, to go back-to-back in the CFP era.

So just a chance to be first and be legendary is huge. We really look forward to the opportunity to compete, and we understand that TCU is a very good team. They're not just going to lay over and allow us to do it because they have hopes and dreams just like we do. We understand it's going to take a lot of focus to get there.

Q. In track and field, which one is your favorite?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Honestly probably discus. I wasn't the best -- I was the best at shotput. I was better at shotput, but discus is fun when you get the spin going. It's pretty fun.

Q. Javelin or discus?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Javelin for sure. If you turn that -- really just the angle of the javelin. If you turn at all, it's a bad throw.

Q. Was discus hard?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It was hard, but I don't think it was as hard as javelin. Javelin was one thing I was never able to conquer.

Q. The Bulldogs play on a grass field at home. SoFi has a turf field. From an offensive line perspective, what's it like playing on grass versus turf? What are the struggles you face?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably the biggest thing, if you have a brand new pair of cleats, your cleats get caught more on turf. It's a lot easier to trip with brand new cleats on turf.

Honestly, it's not that big of a deal. You kind of just learn to adapt.

Q. What's your go to at Waffle House?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Sausage, egg, and cheese hash brown bowl with either a regular waffle or pecan waffle.

Q. What's your top choice for waffle?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Either/or. Depends how I'm feeling that day. If I'm feeling really fat, I go pecan waffle. But on a regular day, I just go regular waffle.

Q. Who on the team most embodies a bulldog.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably Nazir Stackhouse. Fun, gentle guy when he's not on the football field, but very sleepy.

Q. If Coach Smart were to get an NIL deal, what would it be?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: NIL deal? I know he already has one with Ford, so I can't say that, but I think that fits very well. That's a great question. Maybe like a microphone NIL deal because he loves the microphone at practice. I wish we could take that away from him. But probably a microphone for sure.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably a wrestler for sure. I feel like he'd have a mean elbow or something like that, or a leg drop. Something like that for sure.

Q. Who has the best facial hair?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: The best facial hair? That's a weird question. Who has the best facial hair?

Q. Maybe you do.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Thanks, man. I appreciate that.

I'm trying to think. Maybe Naz. I'm not sure.

Q. International TV tour or National Championship?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah, I gotta think. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to go National Championship, but that's definitely a close second.

Q. If the whole offensive line had an eating competition, who would win?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Micah Morris for sure. 100 percent, hands down. It's not even close.

Q. Where would you fall in the ranks?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I can go, I don't know, maybe like third or fourth.

Q. Which member of the offensive line would you not let date your sister?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Would I not let date my sister? Yeah, definitely Brod or Micah. Like neither of those guys for sure.

Q. Is your answer determined based on who is behind me right now?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: No. Honestly I wouldn't let none of them date my sister, but definitely not Brod or Micah.

Q. Which member of the offensive line is the best dancer?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably Doug -- Jared. Doug. That's a terrible dance, bro. That's so bad.

Q. You've been in L.A. for about a day now. Who's got the better food?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: New Orleans. That wasn't a hard question. I didn't even have to think about that.

Q. Best friend on the offensive line?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Best friend?

Q. On the offensive line.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Everybody.

Q. Choose one.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Like everybody though.

Q. Which side is your favorite side? I know you already answered this, but I need confirmation again.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably like when we go like quarterback sneak, like everybody just comes together. That's probably my favorite side.

Q. So your right side?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: No, because we're all one.

Q. But your right side?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: No, we're all one.

Q. How does it feel to be in the National Championship?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it feels pretty good honestly, but it will feel better when we win.

Q. Last year how it all went down?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It was dope. It was crazy. For me honestly, it was crazy just because I think for us we didn't really want to believe it was real until the clock hit absolutely zero. But it was absolutely one of the most surreal things I've ever been a part of.

Q. So it's 3:00 a.m., right, and you're at the Waffle House, what's your go to order?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Sausage, egg, and cheese hash brown bowl with either a regular waffle or a pecan waffle.

Q. Let me ask. What's the bev? What you going to?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: The bev? Probably apple juice, honestly. Or pineapple juice.

Q. You can get pineapple juice at Waffle House?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think you can. I believe I've done it before.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah, so I just Googled an image of Harry the Dog, and I drew the first one I saw.

But I kind of discovered my talent for art as a kid, came home from school one day, and I had finished all my homework. My mom made me a snack, and we had these playing cards. One of them had like a Joker on there, and I just drew the Joker. My dad came home from work, and he was like that's pretty good.

Then like I want to say two or three years later I got tested for talented and visual arts, and I passed. Ever since then, I've been in that program.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I want to say that was either kindergarten or first grade, one of the two, when I first discovered that.

Q. So you still draw for fun?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I can if I have to. To be honest with you, my focus goes so much to school and football that I don't really have time. Every once in a while, I kind of do something.

Q. Is there something that you like to draw the most?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Honestly, it kind of comes off of inspiration. It may come from music. It may come from watching a football game. It may come from just being out in the open. It kind of comes and goes.

I think over time for myself it definitely has to be sports has to be my favorite thing to draw.

Q. So football, you draw like scenes?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I know I have some old drawings. I know I've drawn a bunch of different people -- Cam Newton, CJ2K. I'm drawing guys that played at Penn State. I think it was Marcus Allen I drew. There's been a bunch of different people I've drawn and kind of looked at over the years. It all kind of comes and goes.

Q. Do you have them?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Not in my phone, but I do have a sketchbook at home just full of old drawings.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Essentially in New Orleans you just kind of take a test. I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere. I know there we kind of take a test, and it's either pass or fail. I ended up passing, and from that day forward all the way until my senior year of high school, you have a dedicated class to being a visual artist.

Literally it's like an allotted block for drawing, honing in on your skills, and being taught different artistic skills.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It's a bunch of different things, but it kind of depends on the teacher. Some teachers like drawing. Some teachers like painting. But there is a curriculum that they kind of follow, and it goes from there.

Q. Do you feel like this gives you a different eye in football?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a pretty good question. I'm not sure if it does play a part, but I can say it definitely gives me I guess a little bit more inspiration beyond when I do go on the football field because I kind of see things from a more imaginative field.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Honestly, I think my imagination kind of goes so far. So I kind of come up with different scenarios or like these storybook endings or whatever it may be for kind of each game. It kind of just gives me the inspiration to go out there and just want to play harder, if that makes sense.

Q. Have you seen the video?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah, I saw it. It was pretty interesting to see kind of a talent as it's happening. For me it was just a sketch. It was pretty cool to kind of see that.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah, Chris Smith was pretty unhappy about that because his is compared directly next to mine. So he wasn't too happy about that.

Q. Do you talk trash about that?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I don't talk trash to him. It's my God given gift, so it don't make no sense to talk trash to him.

Q. How long did it take you to draw that?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Maybe 15 minutes. Just to get the proportions semi correct. They weren't exactly correct, but it was just a sketch. So something to kind of put things in place.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It's funny just because you kind of see all the emotions that he goes through in the game. He had a number of different emotions in the Ohio State game. It's funny to mess with him after the game and be like you were crying or different things like that because he tries to act like he was never worried or these different things.

So it's pretty interesting, but to kind of have Little Smart around and be able to kind of have him as somebody who looks up to us is pretty cool.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It's amazing how close he is to us because he kind of looks for individual players before the game to give a dab too or a high five. It's a pretty unique experience to have the head coach's son around to kind of look up to you.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah, it's pretty good. Andrew is one of those guys, he looks for me before the game to just kind of see. So every time I see him, I try to stop and talk to him.

Q. How about junior college for Stetson Bennett?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I believe Knox. It's like something brook or something creek like that.

Q. Jones County College.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I was off. Okay.

Q. What is Ladd McConkey's real first name?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: You're messing me up with that one. Is Ladd not his real name? Wow, he has never told us that. I have no clue.

Q. I'll give you a hint. You said it a couple times today to me.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Andrew? Wow, yeah, I didn't know that. I did not know that at all.

Q. What country is kicker Brett Thorson something from?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I know he's from Australia.

Q. What NFL team currently has the most former Dogs?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I'm trying to think. So I was going to say the Rams. I think my next guess would probably be maybe the Ravens. The Ravens and maybe the Dolphins.

Q. The Giants.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: How did I not guess that? Andrew and all of them. How did I not guess that?

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: No, I have not. First time. Hopefully we can win and maybe we have time to experience it. Honestly this is a business trip, so probably just have to come back.

Q. First time in California?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Ever. I haven't been anywhere outside of Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, if you don't count like official visits because, if that counts, then I went to Oklahoma. But that's about it.

Q. How do you describe flying in, seeing it for the first time?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Honestly, it was not as bad as I thought. I was expecting a lot of traffic. I was expecting it to be jam packed tight, but it was actually kind of moving pretty smooth. So that was interesting.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Honestly, I think the SEC, we've seen some teams that played three down and do different things. We haven't specifically seen the 3-3-5.

But I think it just changes according to what Coach Monken wants. It's all going to depend on what he wants and who he sees as the biggest threats, and we kind of just go off of that.

Q. How do you feel you are as far as a leader in communicating and changing things?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I would like to think I'm pretty good at communicating and changing things based on my football intelligence. I think Coach Monken and Stetson they trust me enough to give me the freedom to see certain things and go from there. I think I do a pretty good job.

Q. The last couple weeks being around you, your intelligence has impressed a lot of people. Where does this mind and intellect come from?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it just comes from childhood. Education was huge for my mother. To be honest with you, my mom does not care about football, not one bit. She's learned to adapt and kind of care a little bit just because that's what I care about.

Just to be 100 percent honest with you, my mom has instilled education in me from a very young age. Getting good grades and being owe obedient was something that's a part of my childhood.

Q. Any honors or accolades you got?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: As a kid? I remember one semester in high school I had a 4.3 GPA because I took -- what's it called? It's not honors classes.

Q. AP?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yes, I took AP classes. I had a 4.3 that semester. I can't think of too many other things. I know I was on dean's list and principal's honor rolls a bunch of times.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think it's all reaction based. I think God has allowed us really, I think as humans, just our natural ability to react. I think that's kind of one thing, like we kind of talked about the football intelligence of knowing what's supposed to happen and kind of make an educated guess based off of your reaction time.

Q. What's the sort of mindset of this team going into Monday night knowing they can win a second straight National Championship?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's a great question. I think that it's understanding that TCU's a great team. I think they're going to come out fighting very hard. Just understanding that in a game like this you know you have to leave no doubt. You have to go out there, and you have to work for everything.

TCU has dreams. They have aspirations. They have hopes. So nobody's going to give you anything. TCU's not looking to come out there, lay down, and just hand you a national trophy. If you want it, you have to execute. You have to focus.

And you have to be able to take what they bring because, just being a hundred percent honest, they're a very talented team. I think they're very fast and very physical. So just being able to match that and understand that everything they have coming forward, we have to be able to execute on our end.

Q. You've observed Stetson the last few years. What do you think has allowed him to have this success?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think 100 percent it's preparation. Like I said, time in and time out, that's the guy that's there 10:00, 11:00 at night on a daily basis. I think it's preparation that allows him to play well.

Q. A lot of people said Stetson's life should be a movie. If you had to cast an actor to play Stetson, who would it be?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: See, I would do his movie as something funny. I wouldn't do it in a serious manner. So I don't know, maybe like Adam Sandler or somebody.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Just being 100 percent honest, I think it all goes back to hopes and dreams. We had a hope, we had a dream, we had aspirations to win a National Championship. Just being 100 percent honest, you work towards those things.

So the work that you take every day in and out of football, being able to withstand summer workouts, different things like that, you kind of realize throughout the course of the season that all of that work plays a part in where you are today.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Being a hundred percent honest with you, kind of flipped the page like a week after the National Championship last year. It was onto the next. We understood that last year had nothing to do with this year, so we had to work for everything.

Q. Who do you feel is the funniest?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Chad Lindberg.

Q. Why do you say Chad?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Because Chad is just funny, man. He finds a way to make guys laugh, and he finds a way to be the life of the party.

Q. How do you feel about Bah?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: What do you mean by that?

Q. As a teammate, in the offensive line room.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think Bau comes in with his lunch pail every day, man. He works hard. I think Bau is just a great guy, somebody that you're going to see there after hours, getting late night work in and things like that.

Q. Who do you feel has the best drip in the offensive line?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably me honestly. Mr. Put That, as the kids say, put it on. I think that's probably me to be honest.

Q. What do you genuinely feel like is your best outfit?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It might be this one honestly. This is like crazy drip. This is something that the kids wouldn't expect me to put on, just like Georgia football style.

Q. One last question. Who do you think has the most iconic facial hair?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Probably Tate. He has that Jake the Snake thing going.

Q. What do you like better, brisket or pulled pork barbecue?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Brisket.

Q. Quarterback, Trevor Lawrence or Joe Burrow?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I'm going with Joe Burrow.

Q. (No microphone)?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: College? I think I'm going to go Justin Jefferson.

Q. Most of the season is played on a Saturday? Do you wish this game was on Saturday too?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: That's not my decision, but I think it would be pretty cool if we were able to play on Saturday.

Q. What's the craziest question you got today?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It wasn't that bad today honestly. It wasn't that bad. I forgot, what was I asked? Oh, I think Warren asked me what was better, L.A. food or New Orleans? That's not a real question. That's not debatable at all. That's 100 percent New Orleans.

Q. Do you like the food here?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: It was straight. It wasn't New Orleans, but it wasn't bad.

Q. What did you have last night?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: We had lemon pepper bonus wings and fries. It wasn't bad at all.

Q. Hotel or did you order out?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Hotel.

Q. Did you see the stadium from flying in?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: No.

Q. Was it cloudy?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I was asleep. I was knocked out. I'm not even going to lie to you. We went first class, so like they had the little bed seats. Out of there.

Q. You were out?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: Yeah. Outta there. That was my first time too, so I took advantage of it.

Q. What are you going to remember the most about playing with Stetson? He's obviously a phenomenal story, a guy who's always been overlooked. What's going to stay with you years later when you remember him?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I think what's going to stay with me is preparation. His preparation for games is unmatched, in my opinion. I think for me it's just understanding and remembering that, if a guy can work that hard, so can I.

Q. You say his preparation. What about his preparation?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: The time that he puts in, especially as a college student. We don't have that much free time. So the fact he chooses to spend his free time watching film and spending it on football is astonishing.

Q. Are you ever amazed at his story as a walk-on?

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I don't think I'm amazed by his story at all just because I believe that God rewards those who work hard, just being 100 percent honest with you. Of course there are people who are immensely talented and blessed by God, but if you don't work hard enough, eventually that's going to run out.

So I 100 percent believe the harder and more work you put in, the more God will bless you.

Q. A lot of people don't think about the offensive line, but you guys are probably the most important element on the team.

SEDRICK VAN PRAN: I'm extremely proud of the offensive line this year. I think we've done a tremendous job of being able to adapt and accept circumstances and taking on challenges.

We look forward to this National Championship, being able to take on another challenge. I think TCU is immensely talented up front. So we just look forward to being able to go out there and compete.