CFP FIRST ROUND: TEXAS VS CLEMSON

December 21, 2024

Quinn Ewers

Gunnar Hill

Hayden Connor

Jaydon Blue

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas, 38, Clemson 24

Q. Jaydon, two big touchdowns today. Can you walk us through what you saw on the closer one and then the 70-yarder after that?

JAYDON BLUE: Yeah, the first thing, I want to give a lot to credit to the guys up front. Those guys paved the way for me. But we made a big emphasis that we was going to have to run the ball in order to win this game.

Like I said, I credit these guys. Those guys are the reason that those two touchdowns happened.

Q. Hayden, what was the second half like for you having to switch positions to a position that you don't play all the time?

HAYDEN CONNOR: Yeah, it was interesting for sure, but Jake being such a good leader and such a good role model for that position, it was really easy to transition over and have him coach me up on the sideline whenever I needed him to.

Q. Quinn, Sark was talking about having checked to both touchdown runs Jaydon had. Talk about that process of when you're reading the defense pre-snap and when a check pops like that, how does that feel for you as a quarterback?

QUINN EWERS: Yeah, it's a great feeling. Anytime you're able to get the offense into the correct play call for certain looks. I think it's just a testament to the coaches giving us those looks in practice and it being kind of easy to see and easy to be able to check.

Q. Jaydon, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but that 77-yard run, was that a season's worth of frustration being released when you scored that one there?

HAYDEN CONNOR: Yeah, of course it was a sour leaf after everything I've been going through. But it's all God. I stayed patient, and luckily I saw a crease, and it was everything from there.

Q. Quinn and Gunnar, Gunnar, you broke the single season receptions record for a tight end at Texas. Your reaction to that? And Quinn, just the connection that you had with him this season.

GUNNAR HILL: Yeah, first of all, I think somebody predicted me to have nine receptions this year.

Then yeah, no, super cool feeling. Super blessed. But obviously I wouldn't be in this position without the O-line protecting Quinn. Obviously without Quinn allowing me to make a great play.

I think that our line of communication is constant, and we trust each other out there, and glad I made the play.

QUINN EWERS: Yeah, I think me and Gunnar just have a great connection on and off the field, which I think the off the field helps the on the field. We've just got a great connection, and just always is open it seems like, so it makes my job a whole lot easier for sure.

Q. Jaydon, why do you think the running game (indiscernible) this year?

JAYDON BLUE: It all starts in practice. Like I said coming into this week, we made an emphasis that we were going to have to run the ball in order to win this game, and the O-line and us in the backfield took a lot of pride in working on that, so we'd be able to run the ball effectively.

Q. You came so close last year, in a similar position. Is that kind of a motivating factor for you this year, as well?

QUINN EWERS: Yeah, I think it motivates the entire team. Us being so close last year, a couple plays away from going to the National Championship, and then who knows what happens. But you can't live in that dream. We just try to go 1-0 each and every day, each and every week, and then see where that gets us.

Q. Gunnar, did you take the over on the nine receptions.

GUNNAR HILL: Yeah, I did.

Q. Quinn, Coach talked about overcoming adversity and here you are at Georgia putting together a big win. How does that bode well for you guys?

GUNNAR HILL: Yeah, I think it just gives testament to our culture once again, coming off a bye week, and ultimately a loss to Georgia, a team who beat us twice and just kind of circling back in and connecting back with each other and putting in the hours in practice and just getting ready for this game, going out there and competing, and ultimately having success in the run game and on the pass game.

Again, I think we played great complementary football tonight. Our job was to put the defense in great positions, and I believe we did that for the most part. If we can continue to play complementary football, I think we're going to be really tough to beat.

Q. Hayden, can you speak to how far this offensive line has come?

HAYDEN CONNOR: Yeah, it's definitely a brotherhood for sure. We all rely on each other. We trust each other, like when Kelvin went down at A&M, Goosby came in. We didn't skip a beat. That's why we practice. That's why we love each other and everything.

Q. Can you talk about how cool the atmosphere was for a playoff game, and would you want to see all the playoff games being on campus?

HAYDEN CONNOR: DKR is pretty special. We would have liked to have the bye, but getting another game at home is something to be grateful for, getting one more in front of the fans and everything. I kind of like traveling, playing away games.

Q. Quinn, you guys talked about adversity, bouncing back after the loss. Within games (indiscernible) the message to you guys. How does that come into play in every game, your ability to handle after an open drive touchdown today (indiscernible)?

QUINN EWERS: Yeah, I think we really just do a good job of staying enamored with us and not focused on what just went wrong. We're really just trying to focus on the next play, and I think we really did a good job of that tonight for sure.

Q. Gunnar and Hayden, especially with what happened up front and then when things don't necessarily go right in certain instances, how much pride do you guys take that there are so many aspects of this team that can lift you guys?

HAYDEN CONNOR: I think it's like Gunnar said earlier, we play really well, complementary football. When the defense got that turnover, it sucked that we didn't put points on the board, but defense responded well and we handled our business. If we can continue to play complementally football the way we did today, I think we'll do some good stuff.

GUNNAR HILL: Yeah, I think he hit it right on the head.

Q. For Gunnar and Quinn, Coach kind of said that they threw y'all a look you weren't expecting. Gunnar, on your touchdown you had to change up your route. Can you walk us through what you saw and how that happened?

GUNNAR HILL: Yeah, so it was more just kind of lean and then post route, just kind of selling the corner, and then when the safety bit down I just took it high.

One of my main jobs in that look is to cross the safety's face. If the look is not there for me to get the ball. When he pinned down, I tell Quinn all the time just to put the ball high and I'll do my best to go up and make a play, all 6'5" of me.

QUINN EWERS: Yeah, he did a great job. Again, like he said, we really harp on crossing the safety's face, but just the testament to him not being a robot and just running drawings. It was cool to see for sure.

Q. Hayden and Jaydon, Sark was in here and said that he specifically challenged the O-line (indiscernible) SEC Championship. How did he do that, and how much of that was what we saw today?

JAYDON BLUE: Well, to answer that, going back to the SEC Championship, we didn't run the ball well at all, and we went back and watched the film and those were one of the things that he brought up.

We were going to have to run the ball in order to be successful the rest of the way. He just stayed on us in practice, and the O-line, the running backs, the whole offense took that in, and we were more physical in practice, and we really made a big emphasis on us running the ball.