CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

Jaylen Harrell

NRG Stadium

Michigan Wolverines

Press Conference

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: First-round pick.

Q. Play on turf or grass?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Grass.

Q. Where a suit or sweats?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Sweats.

Q. Better feeling, beating Ohio State or beating Alabama?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Beating Ohio State.

Q. Favorite uniform combo you've worn?

JAYLEN HARRELL: All blue.

Q. Go-to hype song?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Hype song? Dreams and Nightmares, Meek Mill.

Q. Loudest stadium?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Last game.

Q. Meal before game?

JAYLEN HARRELL: If it's an early game, 12 o'clock, I'll go with an omelette, some pancakes, strawberries, some water, and we're good to go.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Bringing Kris Jenkins.

Q. Why?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Adventurous. He'll know what to do.

Q. Superstitions or pregame rituals?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Pregame rituals.

Q. What's your mantra?

JAYLEN HARRELL: It's just another opportunity, another game, don't make it bigger than what it is and got to go out there and execute.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Big games. I like to stay calm, stay in the moment, don't make it bigger than what it is, and just really stick to what I've done all year.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Rattle the quarterback, create pressure on the quarterback, that would be the biggest thing.

Q. What's it like to beat Ohio State and Alabama in the same season?

JAYLEN HARRELL: That was cool, a good feeling, but like I said, we got a different challenge ahead of us come Monday night, so that's the biggest focus right now.

Q. What's your favorite animal?

JAYLEN HARRELL: A rooster.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Those are three great linebackers, like you say. They bring different type of play styles to the game. Like I said, they do a great job. We'll work together as a great cohesive unit and rally around the ball, bring all 11 hats to the ball, that's what makes us so good as a defense.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Ernest? If you got to call from Ernest you'll be, like, what is he saying. He's very energetic. Mike B is laid back. Junior is laid back too, so, yeah, for sure.

Q. When last season ended other players said you would be back, a lot of players came back. What was the toughest part about it? What was the toughest part about this run, biggest obstacle from the end of last year to now that got you back?

JAYLEN HARRELL: The biggest obstacle I feel like just staying together, not hearing what the outside noise had to say. We've been battle tested all year, didn't have our coach for six games. We stayed together, stuck together, stayed true to what we know to our roots, and we have been able to rally and we're where we want to be now.

Q. When you came here, as big a name as Michigan is, that they haven't won a title since 1997, how much does that drive you?

JAYLEN HARRELL: It gives us a lot. All we hear about is the '97 team. Now we want to make them hear about the 2023 team.

Q. J.J. said losing to TCU was the greatest thing that happened, because everybody got together. Did you relate to that?

JAYLEN HARRELL: That was a good thing that happened for us. I feel like we took them lightly. I don't know if our preparation was the cleanest. I feel like after that game, especially as a defense, that's kind of where our pillars came into play. So, I feel like after that game we kind of just took a different shift, different mindset, and we were able to build everything and get here now.

Q. Michael Penix, can he be a little bit scary when you watch him on film?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Very. He can put the ball where he wants to. He has a great O-line, quick release. He's a great player, it will be a great challenge for us.

Q. Who is your favorite teammate?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Favorite teammate? I can't pick. I got a lot of great ones.

Q. Pick one.

JAYLEN HARRELL: What side of the ball?

Q. Defense.

KRIS JENKINS: Defense favorite teammate? A few? The whole edge room. Edge room. Mikey, Kari, Rod. (Laughing).

Q. Favorite coach?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Coach Mint.

Q. Who has been your favorite freshman this season?

JAYLEN HARRELL: Favorite freshman? Big Ten.

Q. I heard the nickname Rock going around. What is Rock? Why is that your nickname?

JAYLEN HARRELL: David Ojabo and Oz gave it to me sophomore year.

Q. Any reason behind it?

JAYLEN HARRELL: I can't remember the exact reason, but yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: For me, I like to change up the music, listen to some gospel, listen to some R & B, some rap or whatnot. I always pray before the game. I do some journaling too. Some journaling before the game, I kind of got that from Aidan, kind of writing some thoughts in my head down, maybe what my focus should be this game, stuff like that. So, I'd say like just praying, listening to different types of music and just journaling my thoughts.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Just the quarterback, great player. He's not the only great player they got, they got three great receivers, and they got an award winning O-line. So, it's our biggest challenge yet. Mike gets the ball out quick, quick release. He hasn't been hit many times. They only give up like 11 sacks. So, it will be a great challenge ahead of us we got to find ways to get him off his spot and just make him feel uncomfortable.

Q. Going up against Michael Penix, can you describe what kind of matchup he brings for your team?

JAYLEN HARRELL: He's probably got the best accuracy I've seen in a quarterback. He's got great pocket awareness in the pocket, quick release. He makes plays. He'll come a lot with his feet as well. So, in the big games, you seen him pull the ball and create some scramble plays and read options and stuff like that. So, great challenge ahead for us, great, great player and we got to be ready to go come Monday.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: They're both great athletes. I would say that's probably where they're similar. Mike just does such a great job of putting the ball where it needs to be. He has great playmakers on the outside. Mike brings a different capability with his arm.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Kind of different. West Coast team, Midwest team, so it's a little different, for sure.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: It's good for the sport. The two best teams battling it out, so that will be good to see.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Why will it be different? It's going to be a great challenge for us. Their O-line is really good. Mike gets the ball out really quick. We just got to work together as a whole defensive unit. We just got to work together as a great unit, and find ways to get him off his spot, and just causing disruption and getting in his, really just getting in his view so he can't make the big plays.

Q. (No microphone.)

JAYLEN HARRELL: Probably be a big atmosphere. Washington always brings a great crowd, we bring a great crowd, so that will be good. But main focus right now is preparing the right way and going out there Monday night and handling business.