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#UNC WR Trech Kekahuna, LB Derek McDonald, DB Kaleb Cost and OL Andrew Threatt
Aug 6, 2026
#UNC WR Trech Kekahuna, LB Derek McDonald, DB Kaleb Cost and OL Andrew Threatt
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0:00
Hawaii. What was the football scene like
0:02
for you growing up there and how did
0:04
that translate into, you know, now over
0:07
here in your local game? Um, you know,
0:09
being from boys, a lot of guys get
0:11
overlooked around their size over there.
0:13
And I feel like that happens throughout
0:16
the majority of the type of players that
0:18
um, come from Hawaii. And I feel like
0:20
that just builds like a type of dog
0:22
mentality. And I feel like I have that
0:24
inside of me. And, you know, I just
0:25
always carry that with me ever ever
0:27
since I've been in college football. And
0:29
it's been shown on tape. So, just
0:32
blessed just that I can perform at this
0:34
um, high level. No,
0:37
>> you know Billy better than probably most
0:39
people here. Um, what's when you when
0:41
someone asks you about Billy, what's the
0:42
number one thing that stands out to you
0:44
about me as a quarterback?
0:46
>> What's the number one thing that stands
0:47
out to you about Billy as a quarterback?
0:48
First thing that comes to mind,
0:50
>> anything
0:51
as a quarterback.
0:52
>> Yeah. Oh, as a quarterback, you know,
0:53
he's a guy always vocal. Like he always
0:55
wants to be better. Like whether it's to
0:57
cover two and he wants you to come um
0:59
snap inside. Like just little things
1:01
like that to the little minute things to
1:03
get separation. and he's always just a
1:05
coaching type of player. Um, you know,
1:06
he's a older player type of dude. He
1:09
just tries to just kind of bring you on
1:11
your wing and um, yeah, that's the type
1:13
of thing I get from from being um, uh,
1:18
coaches and everything.
1:19
>> How much dialogue was there over the
1:21
offseason with him when obviously he
1:22
transferred here, you transfer here? Was
1:24
there a bunch of dialogue leading up to
1:25
that between the two of you? Um I would
1:27
say there's a good amount you know just
1:28
try to build that chemistry um on and
1:30
off the field just getting closer cuz
1:32
how last year went um me and like um
1:35
previous school um just unfortunately
1:37
and you know we just try to build that
1:38
chemistry as we um doing this off season
1:43
coming here as a transfer. What has
1:46
Jordan Ship's leadership been like? How
1:48
important has that been for you to get
1:49
acclimated to being in North Carolina
1:51
and how has he been as a as a teammate?
1:53
Yeah, you know, um first first day I
1:55
committed our first hour actually I
1:57
posted that I committed here texted me
2:00
um to be a DM and he just said you know
2:02
ready to get to work and um he's a he's
2:04
a type of player that always vocal um
2:07
always coaching you up a little things
2:09
of um double sets, single sets, split
2:12
releases, just anything to get
2:14
separation and that's just the type of
2:15
player he is. He's he's very positive
2:17
guy, you know, um he's guy oriented. So
2:19
that's another big thing for me and him
2:21
that um that we connect with and yeah
2:23
just little things like that you just
2:24
see plays a long way for him.
2:27
>> Tre going back to Billy, what did you
2:30
notice about him going through that
2:32
injury and the process of getting back
2:34
to this one? No knee brace go.
2:37
>> Um you know I've seen Billy come a long
2:39
way. Um how you said like I'm practicing
2:42
with the knee braces now. He's not
2:43
practicing me with it. So I've
2:44
definitely seen him come a long way and
2:45
you know it's just all a blessing from
2:47
the man above to for him to you know be
2:49
healthy and you know ready to go in
2:50
season within 3 weeks. So you know just
2:53
happy to see him stay healthy making the
2:55
right plays making um sometimes not not
2:57
making the right plays cuz that's what
2:58
makes us better and just all those ups
3:00
and downs. So just seeing him um push
3:02
through those hard times is you know is
3:04
what we needed a quarterback. So um
3:06
happy to you know be out there with him
3:08
in practice. Yeah.
3:09
>> What' you kind of notice about last year
3:12
as he went through that process.
3:13
Obviously getting hurt early and him
3:15
being out of the way.
3:17
>> Yeah. You know, majority of the players
3:18
when they get hurt, they kind of like
3:20
isolate himself from the team and you
3:21
know, Billy, he's not that type of
3:22
player. He was always on the sideline
3:24
motivating us whether he's in shoulder
3:25
pads or not. Um he'd always just every
3:28
drive go out, he always say, "Hey, next
3:29
mentality if the ball didn't come your
3:31
way or if it did." Um he's just always
3:33
coaching up on little things. Just going
3:34
back to what he asked him and just how
3:36
good Billy is. So there always coaches
3:38
you fixing little things and helping you
3:40
get better as a um player and as a
3:42
person.
3:43
>> Spencer coach, obviously the second
3:46
we're getting into the second week of
3:47
training camp, first day of couple
3:49
passes the other day. How have you seen
3:50
I guess the competition level kind of
3:52
kind of rise and the intensity crank up
3:54
as camps going on?
3:56
>> Yeah, me I've definitely seen the
3:58
intensity get higher and higher as the
4:00
you know the pass come on. Everybody get
4:03
excited to hit people, especially the
4:04
defensive guys. So you know they love
4:06
hitting us. So, I definitely see the
4:08
intensity coming up um higher and higher
4:10
um whether it's with the DBs,
4:11
linebackers um that you know and we as
4:14
offensive players try to feed off of
4:15
that. Um just try to build that energy
4:18
and throughout the whole team and you
4:19
know just try to mold it together and
4:21
overall looking good.
4:22
>> Cameron T. Um what kind of goals are you
4:25
setting for yourself this season and
4:27
kind of how do you keep yourself?
4:30
Um, you know, I have personal goals that
4:31
obviously I can't share because I keep
4:33
it to myself. But as a um offensive
4:36
player type of um goals I have is just
4:38
being a being a player being where I
4:40
supposed to be on the field um making
4:42
plays and just you know helping the team
4:44
win and that's why I came here for to
4:45
win and um try to do that in my best
4:47
ability and
4:49
>> yeah you mentioned personal goals
4:50
obviously don't want to help you
4:52
motivate you become a better player
4:55
perform.
4:56
>> Yeah, it's just things that I look at
4:57
every day. I wake up in the mirror, I
4:59
have it written down for the mirror. So,
5:00
it kind of just keeps me something, stay
5:02
grounded, um to just trust the process,
5:04
take one step at a time, and you know,
5:06
just remember who I'm doing it for. And
5:07
that's obviously my family. So, that's
5:09
probably one of the main things I'm, you
5:11
know, still doing it for.
5:14
>> Brian, hey, um I wonder what kind of
5:16
role they talked about when you were in
5:18
the transfer portal and then what do you
5:20
see of your role since you got here? How
5:22
do you think you're going to help us
5:24
off? Oh, you know, just with coach Pino,
5:26
he has players that he can put in
5:29
different positions. It's not just your
5:30
inside receiver, outside. The way he
5:31
runs his formation, just we can be all
5:34
over on the field. So, whatever he wants
5:36
and wherever he wants me to go, um
5:37
whether it's special teams, offense, I'm
5:40
just helping the team in any type of way
5:41
to, you know, like I said, just win.
5:43
Like that's the main goal of what we
5:44
want to do here is win win a
5:45
championship. So, that's the goal.
5:47
>> Is there a spot you feel most
5:49
comfortable in?
5:50
>> Um, whatever. Whatever. just gets me,
5:53
you know, on the spotlight. So, that's
5:55
it. Yeah.
5:56
>> And going off that last, what's it been
5:58
like to be coached by co obviously
6:00
throughout his spring practice training
6:02
camp? What have you noticed from him?
6:05
>> I've noticed he's a very he's real like
6:10
precise with his little things. If you
6:13
don't line up a yard outside where he
6:16
wants you to be, he gets mad at you. If
6:17
you line up in the yard inside, he gets
6:20
mad at you. So he wants everything to be
6:22
perfect. So just having a coach like
6:24
that is just um I feel like it's a good
6:26
thing for me to you know step up my game
6:28
um you know on the field and just
6:29
knowing how to recover just quicker, how
6:31
to line up quicker, how to get open,
6:33
just little things like that and just
6:35
having him as a coach is a blessing.
6:37
>> Right.
6:38
>> What aspect of your game do you think
6:40
separates you from maybe everybody else
6:41
in that wide receiver?
6:44
I would say for me I'm a I would say
6:47
it's like a I always say I'm a 11 on 111
6:50
dude. Like there's seven on seven dudes.
6:52
There's oneonone dudes. Like when it's
6:54
11 on 11 pass I'm a guy that would be
6:57
you know reliable. Throw the ball to me.
6:59
I'll make a play and what you just need
7:02
just need to count on me. I'll be right
7:03
there. So I would say that's the type of
7:05
player I am and continue to do that
7:07
throughout the season.
7:08
>> And last one for Ryan Tre you mentioned
7:10
being on 11 guy a smaller receiver. you
7:13
kind of have to have that edge. Where do
7:14
you get that edge from and how you
7:16
continue to play with that throughout
7:18
your career?
7:18
>> You know, that edge just comes from why
7:20
I grew up. You know, I've always been
7:22
underdog my whole life. I've always been
7:25
overlooked. Um, you know, like I said,
7:26
my size. I'm shorter. Um, not very a big
7:28
type of wide receiver. So, you got to
7:30
find that inside of you that um that
7:32
that want to that drive. And, you know,
7:34
it's just having that my whole life and
7:37
just having that motive inside of, you
7:39
know, my body is just type of player I
7:41
am. And I think I'm going to keep doing
7:42
that, man. Whether it's on the next step
7:44
or whatever I do in life, I want to keep
7:45
doing a competitor and, you know, just
7:48
try to help people feed off of that.
7:51
>> Good stuff. First, we right back.
7:55
>> Derek, uh, coming off the injury, how
7:57
did you go through that process? What
7:59
did you learn through that process? And
8:01
then how excited you get back out there?
8:05
>> Yeah. Uh, definitely learned a lot from
8:06
that process. I mean, that's just a part
8:08
of football. Obviously, everyone goes
8:09
through injuries. Um, but I'm just
8:11
excited to get back on the field. I You
8:13
have to learn how to deal with adversity
8:15
playing this game and going through ups
8:16
and downs. So, it was just another
8:18
obstacle in the road, but I'm rehab
8:19
super hard and I'm just ready to get
8:20
back out there and play ball.
8:23
>> Derek, you're coming into a linebacker
8:25
quarter that returns hardly any of its
8:27
production from last season. What has uh
8:29
coach Belich, coach Steve Belich relayed
8:31
to you about sort of the expectations of
8:34
just what you're inheriting and how much
8:35
you're going to have to shoulder to load
8:37
this season? Yeah, I mean I think we're
8:40
just focused on getting better every
8:41
day. We have a a group of really hungry
8:43
guys. I think guys that do everything
8:44
the right way. Um we've come in this off
8:46
seasonason with a great work ethic and
8:48
we've really grown together. So I'm
8:50
excited to see what we do on the field
8:51
this year. But I feel really confident
8:53
in the guys that that we brought in, the
8:55
guys that are already here and just our
8:56
growth as a unit because we've come a
8:58
long way and I think we're really
8:59
leading the defense.
9:01
Derek, you're going to around a lot of
9:03
defenses and obvious usually when
9:05
defenses have an edge wrestler like you
9:07
guys have with Melheart, it's important
9:08
for the guys on the other side to win
9:10
their one-on-one matchups. So far,
9:12
seeing those guys up front, who are some
9:13
of those guys opposite Mel that really
9:15
stood out to you?
9:17
>> Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of guys that
9:19
can rush. I think we have a lot of speed
9:20
on the edge this year. Um, I mean,
9:22
Donovan Holed is is a super good player.
9:24
He's super experienced as well. Jaylen
9:26
Harvey, really explosive, really fast.
9:28
But I mean it whether it's interior or
9:31
the edge guys. We have a lot of guys
9:32
that can win one-on-one. So it's going
9:34
to be exciting to watch that.
9:36
>> Spencer Derek, what's it like being
9:37
coached by Jamie Collins? A guy that's
9:39
obviously done it for a long time pretty
9:41
well for the next level. What's it like
9:43
for you?
9:44
>> Yeah, I mean I think it's really cool
9:45
for me because he more than any coach
9:48
I've ever had really understands like
9:50
what we go through as linebackers. I
9:51
mean, he played in the league for, you
9:53
know, 10 plus years. So, his experience
9:55
is unbelievable and he has those those
9:57
little pieces of advice, those tidbits
9:59
that uh I don't think you can get
10:00
anywhere else. He just he really knows
10:02
what he's talking about and he knows
10:03
what it's like to be a linebacker and
10:05
you know the things we have to work on
10:06
every day. So, it's been very helpful.
10:09
>> Brian, you know, what's it been like
10:11
without Steve Belch out there and how
10:13
have you seen other coaches?
10:17
>> Yeah, I mean, honestly, we have a great
10:18
defensive staff and we have so much
10:20
experience out there. So, um they've
10:22
done a great job. everyone just stepping
10:23
up and and filling in that role. But,
10:25
uh, they've all been working super hard
10:27
and, you know, we we made it work pretty
10:30
well. So, I think they've done a good
10:31
job.
10:32
>> How much do you feel like your
10:33
experience being in the ACC has helped
10:35
you make this transition to Carolina?
10:38
>> Yeah. Um, I mean, obviously I've played
10:40
decent amount of football. So, uh, being
10:42
in the ACC for the past few years, I
10:44
think I have some experience with that
10:46
and some stuff I try to pass down to
10:47
some of the guys. um especially some of
10:49
the younger guys you might not have
10:50
played as much but uh still have to go
10:52
out there and work every day just like
10:53
everyone else and get better. So yeah,
10:57
>> Derek, who was when you initially got
10:58
here to Chapel Hill, who was the guy or
11:01
group of guys who really took you under
11:03
their wing and made sure you got
11:04
acclimated um here to Chapel Hill.
11:06
>> Yeah, I mean I think everyone was pretty
11:09
accepting to be honest with you. Um Mel
11:11
Cart was right there in the second I got
11:13
here. Obviously, you know, we want the
11:15
defense to be on the same page. We want
11:16
to be able to make those communications.
11:17
So he was excited to get some
11:19
linebackers in here. Um K2, Caleb Cost,
11:22
uh Coleman Bryson, then all the other I
11:25
mean all the linebackers, John Ta. Um
11:28
everyone was was very welcoming. So it's
11:31
been a great transition.
11:32
>> Jitach.
11:46
Yeah. I mean, I think we talk about it a
11:48
lot, but competition is it's an iron
11:51
sharpens iron situation, right? So,
11:52
every time you're competing, everyone's
11:54
out there getting better, trying to get
11:55
better than the guy across from them.
11:57
Um, so it helps us even if you lose, you
11:59
know, you look at the film and you can
12:01
get better um for the next time. So, I
12:03
think we've been very competitive
12:04
throughout the first seven or eight days
12:06
of camp. And uh just continuing to to
12:09
bring that competitive edge every day
12:10
will help us grow as a team. Right,
12:12
[clears throat]
12:12
Derek. You've seen what powerful
12:14
defenders look like. People make a big
12:16
deal of the FCS, the FBS jump. What do
12:19
you see when you see Payton Seal and
12:21
what he can bring to this team?
12:24
>> Yeah, he's actually my roommate. Um, so
12:26
he's he's one of my best friends. But I
12:28
mean, I I think it's you look at the the
12:31
heart the guy has, how hard he plays,
12:33
and you know, he belongs out there.
12:35
Every time we're out there together, you
12:36
know, it feels like we've played
12:37
football together for years. um he plays
12:40
super hard and and he knows what he's
12:41
doing. He's he's a true linebacker. So,
12:43
it's just it's great having him on the
12:44
field.
12:45
>> Is it kind of how quickly has that
12:47
communication between y'all on the field
12:49
kind of translate with you all being off
12:51
the field?
12:53
>> Yeah, I'd say it's translated very
12:54
quickly. I mean, we do a lot of work on
12:56
communication um on just making checks
12:59
and getting through stuff like that. And
13:01
I mean, he we both love football, so we
13:03
love talking about it and we go home, we
13:04
watch film together, so it's it works
13:07
very well.
13:08
kind of going off Jack's question about
13:10
the competition. What's it been like
13:12
competing against I guess a power train
13:15
off?
13:16
>> Yeah. I mean, you can you can tell he's
13:18
he's been at it for a while. You know,
13:20
we we put in something new. We think we
13:21
got him and then he comes back the next
13:23
day and he he figure out how to scheme
13:25
us up again. So, he's a he's a super
13:27
experienced coordinator and he's been
13:29
he's been very successful for a reason.
13:31
So, it's it's exciting seeing what the
13:33
offense can do and seeing what he brings
13:34
to the table. But it's fun cuz that
13:36
remains a new challenge for us to adjust
13:38
and learn how to defeat it, you know.
13:41
>> Anything else to do?
13:42
>> Just curious, you've been around
13:43
football obviously for a while. What
13:45
could you ever imagine playing for Bill
13:47
Bich a handful of years ago when you
13:49
were in Syracuse or even in high school?
13:51
>> Yeah, I mean that is a crazy question. I
13:54
I actually was in the BE parking lot in
13:56
January and I got a call from the
13:58
Massachusetts number and he picks up and
14:01
it's it's like, "Hey, this is Bill Bich.
14:03
Coach." I'm like, "Yeah, I know who you
14:04
are."
14:06
But, uh, no, it's pretty surreal, but
14:09
it's been amazing. I mean, just the
14:10
knowledge he has and the passion he has
14:12
for the game. Um, when he told me, you
14:14
know, he watched my film and he wanted
14:15
me to be a part of this team. It was and
14:17
it was an easy decision. So, it's been a
14:18
lot of fun learning from him and
14:20
continuing to grow and just let's take
14:21
it into the season and see what we can
14:22
do.
14:23
>> Who's the first person you called after
14:24
that after?
14:26
>> Uh, I mean, probably my mom or dad, but
14:28
my brother was actually in the car. He
14:29
was he was like right next to horrible.
14:32
So
14:33
>> that's awesome. Good stuff there.
14:35
dude.
14:36
>> Which puppies have uh you've been in
14:38
this program for a while now. What have
14:40
you learned the most about playing your
14:42
position, being a part of the program
14:44
since you've been here? And then what
14:46
have you learned in a year under?
14:48
>> Really just learning the defenses in and
14:50
out. Uh learning my teammates as well,
14:53
how they fit in the defense. Um just
14:56
juggling everything together as a whole.
14:59
talking to guys, talking to coaches, and
15:02
just trying to get that collar of the
15:03
defense and as of the team, you know
15:05
what I'm saying? So, and really just
15:06
from better just the three things we
15:10
smart, self-dependent, you know what I'm
15:12
saying? So, that's it.
15:14
>> How have those conversations with him
15:16
changed as your role has continued to
15:19
develop as a leader?
15:21
>> Um, we just being more vocal. Uh I'm
15:24
telling you more vocal as a as a leader
15:26
defense as a guy that been here four
15:28
years.
15:30
Uh just talking to the younger guys
15:32
getting them acclimated the new guys
15:34
coming in transfers things like that. Uh
15:37
but it's been going pretty well. So
15:39
Michael
15:40
>> Caleb we had coach Belch in here earlier
15:42
in the morning. He specifically cited
15:44
your versatility both on defense and on
15:46
special teams as one of the things that
15:48
he really appreciates about you. Uh did
15:51
do you is was playing on special teams
15:53
something that you had to adjust to when
15:54
you came here? Was that something that
15:56
you've always enjoyed uh doing?
15:57
>> Absolutely. I mean it was something I
15:58
had to adjust to for sure but I wanted
16:00
to do wanted to get on the field like me
16:03
coming in Matt Brown area that's me
16:05
coming in as a freshman region.
16:08
So that's what I want to do. I wanted to
16:10
get on the field possible. And so me now
16:13
in that leadership role u just kind of
16:16
taking initiative like um um telling the
16:21
young guys and the new guys like it's
16:24
very important like special teams is
16:25
very important and just seeing over the
16:28
years playing ball like seeing how
16:30
important special teams is like they
16:32
just make tomorrow like even more you
16:34
know what I'm saying special because I
16:36
could groom those young guys and tell
16:38
them like you know what I'm saying how
16:40
important it is you know saying
16:43
>> you mentioned being a leader who was the
16:45
leader that you looked up to when you
16:47
were a younger player that you sort of
16:48
took inspiration of your own leadership
16:51
style.
16:52
>> There's a lot of guys, a lot of guys. I
16:54
say Camden Ruckers, Dre Boykins, Ted
16:58
Walker, all of Drake M. All the guys
17:00
that came through here were good leaders
17:02
in this program um and continue to lead
17:06
with the things they're doing. So,
17:08
>> you know, being one of the guys
17:10
returning here, what feels the most
17:11
different in fall camp from last year to
17:13
this year?
17:14
>> Really just the intensity. We're
17:16
camaraderated team. We feel like we're
17:18
together and we're competing like super
17:21
hard. Like every single day we're
17:23
getting after like, yeah, we cool in the
17:25
building, but we go out there on the
17:26
field like we going at it. So, um, at
17:29
the end of the day, ultimately that
17:30
makes us better. You know what I'm
17:32
saying? So, uh, makes us a better team,
17:34
makes the offense better, makes the
17:35
defense better, makes special teams
17:37
better. We ones every single day. So,
17:41
Brian,
17:42
>> you've been here for a couple years.
17:43
What stands out about Steve?
17:47
Um Steve, he just he he knows a lot.
17:49
He's just like his father. Like he he's
17:51
he's very knowledgeable of the game. Uh
17:54
he picks up a lot of coverages. Uh just
17:57
like just like OG, you know what I'm
17:59
saying? So uh yeah, like he tell like he
18:03
like in the meetings like he goes
18:04
through a film and things like that and
18:06
um breaks it down similar to his his
18:09
father. Um, but yeah, it's a it's a it's
18:12
a big it's a it's a difference between
18:15
the culture, but they're both they're
18:17
both pretty good coaches.
18:19
>> What's it been like here,
18:22
>> sir?
18:23
>> What's it been like here for the last?
18:26
>> Uh, it's been different. We miss him for
18:28
sure. He's still family. It's our love.
18:30
Uh, and we can't wait to see him back in
18:33
the building back with us. But obviously
18:36
like it's been it's been similar to the
18:38
same. We've been having team meetings,
18:40
player meetings, uh defensive meetings,
18:43
things like that. Uh it's been good.
18:46
It's been good. All the coaches on the
18:47
defensive side been helping out.
18:49
Everybody been um jelling together.
18:51
Everybody got a one common goal at the
18:53
end of the day in the defense. So, Coach
18:55
Jamie, uh Mondo, everybody from top to
18:58
bottom in the defense. So, everybody on
19:01
the same page and we take it to another
19:03
level.
19:04
Since you talk about the the competition
19:07
beating up, uh you just had Derek up
19:09
here asking about competing against the
19:11
five trainer offense every day. What's
19:13
it kind of been like in the secondary?
19:15
Has it been difficult? Has he impressed
19:17
you or what have you?
19:18
>> Oh yeah, it's it's definitely difficult.
19:20
Uh it's one of those offenses where you
19:22
got to play good with your eye, you know
19:24
what I'm saying? So there's a lot of
19:25
movement moving pieces, uh a lot of
19:28
motion, a lot of things like that. So um
19:30
this is definitely a good offense. might
19:32
you haven't figured out one way they
19:35
don't have it figured out. So
19:39
[clears throat] Caleb, Coach Belche, uh
19:41
in the offseason was very complimentary
19:42
about the player le practices that you
19:44
guys had, the fact that since there was
19:47
no spring transfer portal, the guys who
19:48
were here in January, the guys who are
19:50
here now, um how did this summer of work
19:53
uh compare to last summer for you and
19:55
some of the other veterans on the team?
19:57
uh this summer compared to last summer,
19:59
I feel like this summer is more of a
20:01
standard being set, the culture being
20:03
set. You know what I'm saying? So, uh
20:05
just all the leaders on the team and
20:07
everybody like going to this common goal
20:09
like yeah, OTAAS and player le
20:11
practices, everybody staying focused and
20:13
everybody staying locked in on common
20:14
goal so we can do what we got.
20:18
>> You feel like you have a better sort of
20:19
infrastructure in place now.
20:21
>> Absolutely. Absolutely. because I feel
20:23
like that so strongly because of the
20:25
players and the coaches as well. Like
20:27
everybody's locked in on one common goal
20:30
and that's what it takes to have a good
20:32
team.
20:33
>> Last one kind of like the like the
20:36
captain of the secondary losing you know
20:38
Drew and Mory in front of you. What have
20:40
you noticed about whether it be Derek or
20:42
Pton? What's your assessment of the line
20:44
for going into the year? to Derek,
20:47
Payton, John,
20:50
Tyler, all of them talked about. Uh,
20:53
it's been different, but they they
20:55
definitely they're definitely stepping
20:57
into those bigger roles for sure.
21:00
>> So, thanks so much, man.
21:02
>> Obviously, playing against powerful
21:04
competition now, competition. What would
21:06
you say has been the biggest adjustment
21:08
every day practice? I mean, obviously
21:11
coming from Charleston Southern, I had
21:13
to adjust to being in the ACC.
21:15
[clears throat]
21:16
I mean, if you really think about it,
21:17
it's all the same. Just
21:20
I guess playing playing for a different
21:22
offense, getting used to the call, you
21:24
know, just adjusting, fitting into a new
21:26
team. So, yeah, it's been really great
21:28
for me. Really enjoyed it.
21:29
>> With the competition though, it's like
21:31
is it a lot a lot better than the
21:33
competition?
21:34
>> I mean, yeah, definitely. It's a lot
21:35
better, of course. Yeah.
21:40
Andrew, what was kind of your welcome to
21:41
Carolina moment where you were like,
21:43
"Okay, this is this is different. I'm no
21:45
longer a Charleston Southern."
21:47
>> I mean, look at the [clears throat]
21:48
building we in. [laughter]
21:50
>> Yeah. I mean, from the doors, you know,
21:52
everybody's friendly. They're going to
21:53
miss Jackie over there. I speak to her
21:55
every morning. But yeah, this it felt
21:58
really good just to walk in the doors,
22:00
you know, feel the feel the energy in
22:02
the building, greet, talk to everybody,
22:04
the coaching staff, everything. Just
22:05
felt like it was home. And then as far
22:07
as from practice group, what was that
22:08
moment for you or in the weight room?
22:10
>> Yeah, I mean, of course, it's definitely
22:12
a difference coming from FCS up to ACC
22:15
power four level, you know, it's it's
22:17
definitely a big jump. Like, shout out
22:19
Moses. He definitely got us right there.
22:22
You know, actually since I uh since I
22:24
got here, I gained like 8 lbs of muscle,
22:27
lost like 12 lbs of fat. So, yeah, he's
22:30
shout out Moses. He's definitely doing a
22:32
good job.
22:33
Mike,
22:35
>> Andrew, Coach Belch was in here earlier
22:37
today talking about how much he values
22:39
versatility in players. Do you feel like
22:41
you can play anywhere on the line? And
22:43
what is your uh most favorite position
22:45
on the line?
22:46
>> I mean, for me,
22:49
honestly, I'll play anywhere where I'm
22:50
needed, anywhere that needs a spot. Like
22:54
for us, we like in general as offensive
22:57
line coach always talks about being
22:59
versatile. like he's going to play the
23:00
best five regardless age, uh, size, all
23:04
that. So, yeah. I mean, honestly, I it
23:08
doesn't matter to me. I don't really
23:09
have a favorite to be honest.
23:11
>> There's Which position would you say
23:13
you've played the most, though?
23:14
>> Uh,
23:18
I mean, definitely like interior,
23:21
say like guard.
23:25
>> Rey,
23:25
>> you mentioned just feeling the energy in
23:27
here. How have you seen kind of that
23:28
energy manifest between interactions
23:30
with other teammates and your coaches
23:32
while out there?
23:33
>> I mean, we're we're a family. You can
23:35
definitely tell once we step out the
23:37
field ready to go to battle for each
23:38
other. Um yeah, I love these guys. Like
23:41
they're my real brothers. Honestly, you
23:43
can you can tell like honestly just
23:45
walking around, the interactions,
23:47
everything. Like before fall camp, we
23:50
actually went to um a water park. Did a
23:53
little did a little bond in there. So
23:55
yeah.
23:57
Andrew, how quickly did Carolina come on
23:59
your radar when you entered the portal?
24:01
>> Uh, yeah, they came pretty quickly. Like
24:03
the first day, you know, honestly, I
24:05
could have came down the first day, but
24:06
like just like uh something with like my
24:09
parents schedule, we couldn't make it
24:11
down, but yeah, it it came on pretty
24:12
quickly. I got down like the second day.
24:15
So, yeah.
24:16
>> Do you remember the first time you
24:17
interacted with Bill Bich and realized
24:19
that that's going to be your coach? What
24:20
was that like for you and if your family
24:22
was with you as well? Yeah, honestly,
24:24
you know, everybody's nervous to meet
24:26
one of the greatest coaches to ever
24:28
coach the game, but I realized like once
24:30
we got in meet, like he's just kind of
24:33
like he I don't know, he's he's normal.
24:36
Like he speaks to you and talk to you
24:37
the same way as like your dad or your
24:39
mom. So, when I seen that, we talked
24:42
about the game, you know, just just
24:43
knowledge of the game, I was like, I
24:45
want to be here.
24:46
>> Since Andrew, obviously with the past
24:49
going on now, this is the part that the
24:51
big guys look forward to. what you
24:53
notice about the competition with the D
24:55
line.
24:56
>> I mean, yeah, honestly, if it was up to
24:58
me, we wouldn't go against Dline, you
25:00
know? [laughter]
25:02
>> But, uh, yeah, we we have a really good
25:04
Dline. They're definitely getting us
25:06
prepared for this season. Um, I feel
25:08
like every day it's been kind of like
25:10
back and forth, you know? They get one
25:12
day, we get one day. So, it's always
25:14
good to have that competition. We iron
25:17
sharpening iron. So, yeah.
25:21
And what's it been like to I guess play
25:23
alongside an older guy like Christo and
25:25
what also what have you learned from you
25:27
know he's got you know time.
25:30
>> Yeah. So uh Christo yeah that's my guy
25:32
as you know he's his sim his situation
25:35
was kind of similar to mine coming from
25:36
the FCS playing power for ball. So I
25:39
kind of I kind of lean on him a lot. You
25:41
know if say if I need help with
25:43
something I'll go to Christo. And then
25:45
as far as Aiden I mean that's that's our
25:47
T state guy. You know, like if I if I
25:49
want to if I want to model my game after
25:51
somebody were improveing something, I
25:53
look at Aiden.
25:54
[snorts]
25:57
>> Carolina has had a good amount of FCS to
26:00
FBS transfers in the past, and some of
26:02
them have talked about when they come
26:03
here, they have a chip on their shoulder
26:05
about maybe being an overlooked prospect
26:06
coming out of high school. Is is that
26:09
something that you have an experience
26:10
coming here as well? Do you sort of play
26:12
with that edge?
26:13
>> Yeah, definitely. I mean, since I got in
26:16
college, I was I was never like one of
26:18
those like big time guys. So, I always
26:20
used that as motivation to just keep
26:22
going, keep being the best version of
26:24
me.
26:26
>> When you face off against that defensive
26:27
line, outside of Mount Specifically on
26:30
the edge, who are some of the guys that
26:31
give you guys the most trouble, I guess,
26:32
in some of these practice?
26:33
>> You said specifically on the edge?
26:35
>> Yeah.
26:36
>> Uh, I mean, we got some pretty good
26:38
edges.
26:40
Like I can't really like point out one
26:41
person because like we're like we have a
26:44
lot of depth like everybody's you know
26:47
like through each group we're
26:51
>> what's stood out about your interactions
26:54
with Bobby so far and how he kind of
26:57
navigates the offense.
26:58
>> Yeah. I ain't going I love coach.
27:01
[laughter]
27:01
I remember my first time talking to him.
27:04
I was on my visit. I was getting fruit
27:06
out of the fruit bowl. He was like oh
27:08
you getting fruit. you like fruit? I
27:09
like, "Yeah, coach. I love fruit." You
27:11
know, we started talking then, but yeah,
27:14
it's it's great, you know, being one of
27:16
being around one of the greatest
27:18
offensive minds to coach the game, you
27:20
know, learning from him. I I learned a
27:22
lot from him so far just right now.
27:24
>> Yeah. What's one of those things that
27:26
sticks out in your mind that you kind of
27:28
never thought about, but you think about
27:29
how it was pointed out to you?
27:31
>> Yeah. Honestly, so how coach Patrino uh
27:35
like calls offense, he makes it where
27:36
the defense never right. like no matter
27:38
what run we run, what what pass we pass,
27:41
the defense is never right. So, yeah.
27:47
>> And obviously the running behind you is
27:48
a pretty talented and deep, you know,
27:50
group in the running back room. What
27:52
have what have you seen from each of
27:53
those guys? What do they bring to the
27:55
offense?
27:56
>> I mean, of course, you know, we we have
27:58
some pretty good backs
28:00
like uh I just say June. June's a pretty
28:03
good back. I'm pretty close to June. uh
28:05
J-Mack, Ben, all of those guys. I mean,
28:09
we're we're pretty talented back there.
28:11
I feel like no matter who's in, we gonna
28:14
get the ball in the end zone. So, yeah.
28:17
>> Anything else for Andrew?
28:19
>> Just a question on the quarterbacks.
28:20
What What have you noticed the most out
28:22
of some of those quarterbacks? And is
28:23
Billy Edwards, his experience? Is that
28:25
something that's pretty quickly stood
28:26
out to you and everyone else? Yeah, I
28:29
mean, yeah, we honestly if we could,
28:33
we'll play all five quarterbacks.
28:36
But yeah, I mean, it's it's he's
28:38
definitely standing out. I mean, we we
28:40
have pretty good quarterbacks. It's it's
28:42
not really like anyone standing out
28:44
specifically cuz everybody's doing
28:46
great.
28:47
>> But is Billy's experience sort of
28:49
running offenses in the powerful level,
28:51
the Big 10? Is that stuff helping you
28:53
guys come along as an offensive line,
28:54
too?
28:55
>> Yeah, definitely. Definitely. It's
28:56
definitely helping us. Yeah, Bill is a
28:58
great guy, great, great leader, great
29:00
player.
29:03
>> Good stuff. Thanks so much.
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