Notre Dame Players Excited for Opportunity in Sun Bowl
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, tight end Eli Raridon, defensive lineman Howard Cross III, and cornerback Jaden Mickey spoke before practice as the Fighting Irish prepare for Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.
JADARIAN PRICE
On what he wants to show on Friday:
“Just prove that I can put a final stamp on the season and go into next season showing all the Notre Dame fans they should be even more excited for next season. Just continue to build on the standard of our running back room.”
On teaming with freshman running back Jeremiyah Love:
“I love Jeremiyah. He’s currently my roommate right now. Every night we’re talking about what we think we’re going to do on Friday and how we’re going to shock the world.”
On quarterback Steve Angeli:
“I think he’s become a lot more confident since our opening game against Navy. He’s been in a lot of games since we’ve been blowing out a couple teams. You can just see the confidence in his eyes, his cadence and all that. I’ve seen that in practice when we break the huddle. He’s speaking a lot more. He’s speaking to all the position groups a lot more. We’re all very confident in him.”
ELI RARIDON
On building off the last half of the season:
”It was really special for me and important in the way I’m more confident in how I play now. I know what I can do. It’s been really important for how I practice and how I play the game - my confidence.”
On bowl prep with opt-outs and coaching changes:
”It’s been different. We have pretty much a whole new team. It’s been weird with the offense with a lot of guys who are new faces. The players and coaches have done a great job with all the distractions and keeping focused to get our work done. I feel really confident with where we are right now.”
On quarterback Steve Angeli:
”Angeli has been doing great. I only think great things about him. He’s going to do a great job and I’m very confident in him.”
On Gino Guidugli:
“He’s done a great job. It’s a big deal when our OC leaves. He’s done a great job of not panicking and stepping in where Gerad Parker was. He’s done a great job of filling in.”
On left tackle Charles Jagusah:
”Charles is going to be a really good player for us. He’s done a great job in bowl practice. He knows what he’s doing and he’s very physical, which is pretty rare to see out of a freshman. I’m excited for what he can do in the future.”
HOWARD CROSS III
On using this game to springboard into 2024:
”This is the starting point for a very great year. I was talking to my dad and if I want to go into the season being that guy, then this is it. This is where you prove to everyone you’re the best.”
On his decision to return to Notre Dame:
”Two things. The first one, I feel I still have a lot left in the tank here. Talking to our coaches and everything like that, I feel I can benefit from one more year. The other side of that is the NFL stands for Not For Long, so I want to get my master’s done and make sure I get everything I can get done at Notre Dame because it’s a great university.”
On Rylie Mills also returning:
”It’s huge. We’re both big parts of the defense, so both of us coming back is a really good base to build a great defense.”
JADEN MICKEY
On importance of getting to 10 wins:
”It’s first about winning the game and going 1-0. That’s in the back of our mind sitting at nine right now and coming from nine last year. Just to take a step forward for the program and as a team.”
On mindset entering the game:
”Same as it's always been. Really just focusing on every rep, winning the rep, winning each day leading up to the game and I’ve always been right behind Cam (Hart), so I’ve always went into the game in case somebody gets hurt. It’s the same approach for me focused, locked in on the details and ready to go.”
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