We caught up with Nevada football head coach Jeff Choate and players Caine Savage/Henry Ikahihifo

Spring practice like the spring practice yeah I think it's been really good I think it's been really good a lot of a lot of give and take competitively um defense is always going to be slightly ahead of the offense especially when you're putting in a new system but they they've brought good energy on a consistent basis and that's always the secret ingredient and if we continue to do that we're going to make our strides and we're going to get progressively better as the spring continues I know you're limiting scrimmage play so far I guess how are you assessing those players out there what assessments are you looking for yeah we start with effort first that's the thing I'm going to always I'm always critique first is how how hard they're playing and then it's about intent and operation they've got to own their role and there were some things today you know I brought it up at the end of practice where we we had some scheme that really gave the defense some problems today but we didn't execute it so we could put them in check you know and I think that's always the thing is they're going to learn from the mistakes but they're going to learn them way more if we score touchdowns on them and not if we throw incompletions or get to the wrong read and so we've got to take advantage when we have an advantage on the offensive side and make sure the defense learns from those mistakes and speaking specifically of linebacker first Nevada signning linebacker Kaden Johnson how's his development looking so far out on the field coming from Wisconsin yeah Kaden is going to be a very good football player for us he's played a lot of football very mature kid really good leader and he's has really good attention to details so I think you know right now when you book him him with Henry on the other side and some of the young guys that are starting to come along that's going to be a good group for usci I know your mind is on the field right now but is the season right March Madness you have your bracket filled out where do you have Nevada making a strong ride yeah I feel strongly they're going to get to the Sweet 16 and then have an opportunity to make some noise I just I like where they're at um you know I'm not a big Hoops guy uh so so my my critique of what really good basketball is but I know we've got really good players I mean you know you look at like Jared Lucas I love I love watching that kid play his his competitive character is is next to none and when you've got a guard play like that in the tournament it should be a fun run for the wolf pack how does maybe their some of their success if they do get to a sweet 16 help your program or just the brand of Nevada yeah I think it's just notoriety you know the more it's it's like anything else you know any publicity sometimes is good publicity this is great publicity being on an naal stage and have an opportunity to to have our brand out there consistently I think that's awesome and you know Steve and his group have done a fantastic job and that's kind of they're kind of the you know they're kind of the standard force in the athletic department right now and so you know all of us want to be able to make the postseason I know that's the expectation that Stephanie has when you look at uh five practices a third of the way through spring cramp I guess what are your biggest uh observations or or areas of positivity outside of that competitive you mentioned I I'd say willing you know they've been open to the schemes that we're putting in uh how we're coaching I've been really pleased with the coaching staff I think they've brought really good energy and they're on the field demeanor has been really good um I think there's opportunities to hold these guys accountable and we're taking advantage of those that's how they're going to learn we can't let the little things slide or they're going to become big things and so I think I've been really pleased with our coaching staff energy I've been really pleased with the the way the kids have taken to our coaching I want to ask about Henry you mentioned him earlier I mean he obviously wanted to play here last year didn't get that chance what have you learned about him and what wants to get out of his last year at College I think he's hungry you know he's a talented young player and um he's he's had to kind of you know wait his turn you know that's a tough deal when you're a 44 transfer and you think you've got your percentage degree and that's not what it is and now you got to kind of go down on Scout team and have a different role and uh you know I think he recognizes that he needs to be a leader on our defense and I think he's embraced that thus far you guys also added a couple of running backs Patrick Garo we were able to speak with last week I guess what it seems like a really great guy I guess what have you what' you like about his game and what have you learned about him as a person highly productive um you know he's like a mini Mark Ingram uh you know a guy that rest for almost 12200 yards in the ACC a very competitive conference um very mature very very seasoned as not just a player but as a person I think he's been a good a good Mentor for some of our younger players especially in that room and we're excited to get him rolling once we get to fall Camp the department announced the Jo bonio Austin corporate Camp coming back I don't know how much familiarity you have with them but just to see two guys who have had a ton of success in the NFL kind of kick off your guys' spring game what does that mean to you no I think it's awesome for the community I think it says a lot about this place that there's so many guys whether it's Virgil or Austin or Joel that come back and give back within this community and to this place and and that I think that speaks to how special it is and that's what we're trying to recapture is is having you know having this be a destination for our former players they want to come back they want to live in Reno they want to get back to this community in a variety of ways like like those three gentlemen that I talked about are I think we saw Chris all exciting out here I guess uh having him involved in the program how important is that for you given uh the respect that you kind of showed for him during your introductory press conference and what he has done for this school yeah I mean he he's an institution I mean there's no other way I mean a guy that played here coached here three different tenures he's a Hall of Fame coach and I think that having having him out here to to bounce ideas off of or just let him have some observations or him being able to encourage our guys that's that's hugely important and the one thing I can tell you is nobody has all the answers and if you can surround yourself with people who have experience you can gain from that and that's what I'm looking for from from coach is every once in a while you know he's not going to he's not going to give me information or advice we had that talk but if I ask for it I'll get an honest answer and I appreciate that what's the biggest area you feel like you guys need to improve where's maybe the biggest efficiency you've seen through five praxes yeah execution I mean like just just you know it's a lot of its timing repetition whether it's some of our option stuff or you know in the red zone some of the scheme plays that we have dialed up and it's just hard to hard to replicate that you know hey we do the install they get to track it they do it on air it's just way different when you have live bullets and I think that we're probably about where I thought we'd be defense slightly ahead of the offense but offense is quickly making strides and starting to make some plays and so that's been really gratifying to see and I think it I think we're going to have a really competitive second half of Spring ball all right so you know in your opening press conference you emphasized running the ball so you know through these first couple practices how does having a coach like Mike Lynch help maximize the potential of that yeah I think it's not Running the ball just Mike but but Brian Armstrong I think uh you know when we were at Montana State we were consistently one of the top five teams in the country running the football and the one thing that I always appreciated about both Mike and and Brian was it wasn't just the scheme going in that worked it was their ability to adapt and adjust at halftime to take advantage of what the defenses were doing to us and I think those were two guys that have had a lot of experience doing that and that's an invaluable thing when you have hey because there's going to be times where they you know hey they're going to take away the base things that you're trying to do so you have to be able to adapt and both of those guys are experts at that yeah so I mean with 10 running backs currently on the roster right now I mean what have you seen so so far through uh through practice that's really stood out about the group yeah I think Sean has done a really nice job he he's shown a lot of maturity it's a hard transition right you know a guy that came from Oregon and and now he's got to kind of earn his earn his stripes again so to speak and he's been awesome his leadership has been really good I think he's got the talent to be really productive back in the Mountain West uh I like Dom you know Don Ball's the other kid that has has flashed at times unfortunately put the ball on the ground down here in the Red Zone but he'll learn from that uh but he's a dynamic guy he's got really good speed and I think those those two guys have probably stood out the most out of that running back room right now and then we've got the other guys kind of waiting in the wings once we get Ashton and and Patrick healthy can you just walk us through Last year last year I guess some of the emotions you went through hoping to play for the wolf pack and not being cleared man that was probably one of the worst experience of my life uh just sitting on the sidelines every Saturday seeing my boys gr out to war and I couldn't helped them at all and I couldn't make the impact that I know I can make uh it actually hurt me a lot mentally but also brought a fire back in me to prepare myself for this upcoming year uh it was a big learning step for me and and I'm just grateful that it happened because I came back better and stronger and I I came back lighter than ever so I obiously I'm grateful for that for that you had to practice with the team right you just couldn't play in games like as was it like going through practice you know trying to put in that hard work and just knowing that Saturday was never going to come uh practice actually was kind of hectic cuz I got a lot of a Henry chill out you know calm down you know but I I was just so eager to make plays in practice and but then again I still want to bring that juice and fire every day uh last year and I'm still going to continue to do that today I guess what did you learn through that uh experience about yourself you know just having to display that patience that maybe you didn't think you were going to have to do uh what I learned is it can happen to anyone uh I honestly thought it was going to be clear I thought last year was going to be my last year but then again you know being actually you know one of the few people that got their year taken away I would say it's a big learning experience but I say I Grew From it what's the biggest positive I guess that that you do take from it knowing that you know you are going to have another year and you maybe got a year to get better in practices uh the best that I learned uh that I could say is being with Coach honestly uh he's a big program changer uh you know he he's he's a players person uh he takes care of his players you know we got a nutritionist we never go hungry uh man like I I just love him I love what he's about he's a realist and I'm just grateful that I actually get to be under him there's probably some apprehension after coach Wilson left I guess um you know when did you know coach show was someone that you you'd jive with and that you would be excited to play for uh I knew he was going to be one when uh one of my cousins played for him at Montana State uh you know I was thinking about leaving you know I had some questions about it I talked to my family about it but then Coach to he met with me 10 one he completely changed my mind uh I saw what he was about I saw the energy he brought you know he doesn't want to restart he wants to launch and and that's what we're ready to do and I honestly believe like this year is going to be the one who's the cousin and what was his uh message to you I guess yeah so his name is Taylor Tu Soo he played guard over there with Montana State under Coast tote they won a championship together and the message that he told me is I would regret leaving under Coast tote uh and honestly ever since then I don't I don't regret leaving at all obviously you know playing on the defensive line is a little for you so getting a year worth of practice I guess what did you learn most about that position you know getting back up there on that line uh so I actually switched to outside linebacker uh you know the the biggest thing I had to do was lose weight uh last year I was 271 now I'm 238 uh I feel faster quicker and this defense that coach Cho and Coach iion got for me is it's a beautiful scheme and and they they really depend on me to make plays and I'm coming I'm coming this year to to satisfy that to that edge position then that's what you wanted to play last year right that's what I was wanting to play but they had other minds but I'm I'm happy I got to play and be more comfortable where I'm at why do you why are you more comfortable there why do you feel like guess it fits your skill set more I feel like because I'm a I feel like I'm a great pass rusher uh this conference doesn't have it like you know known for a lot of pass rushers we had one last year at Colorado State couple at Fresno State and I want to be that one for Nevada uh I want to make sure that we bring that edge you know we got we added a couple uh weapons to the room solo Caden and it just feels good having two edges on the field with me that you know can ball and do the same exact thing as me oh so two edges inste of one this year yes sir I guess uh what are your expectations for this year personally what what are the goals you want to achieve to win uh man I two and 10 I I never want to experience that again uh but really with this year I'm really focusing on you know making first team being that dude this year being the guy that everyone looks up to uh I really want to make be that impact player that everyone's depending on me to be your brother's on the team too right I the what does that mean you to finally get to play with him man it means the world uh you know I always want to play with him uh that was the goal from start and I'm happy I get to finish it here at Nevada where I started I'm sure the parents are really happy as well I guess what are their emotions seeing you guys on the same roster on the same team they brought a couple tears to them uh they were actually you know they didn't believe it at first but for us to actually be together you know it it means a lot cuz me and him having that brother connection he yeah it means a lot how did you go about losing 40 PBS man it was it was tough at first but man uh if I wanted to do what I want to do for Nevada I had to do it I had to lose the weight it was a lot of mental focus and a lot of dedication so I had to make sure to lock in and be the best player for myself so I could help impact the team the switch in positions is that something you brought to coach CH or I guess how did that play out uh I guess they saw the twitchiness in me uh I actually played outside linebacker at car before I came here so I it's a little familiar with the play schemes and stuff like that but yeah awesome that's all we got for you thanks so much for your time good luck this Coach Choate year uh so walk us through last year your first year at Nevada I guess uh what did you take away from that season um I feel like as a team we we left a a lot out of there out there on the field but I I I feel like I really established myself as a player for this defense and I look forward to contining that yeah really the second half of the Season you got to BU a lot more I guess how much um confidence did that give you know when you West it gave me a lot more confidence coming from a place where I didn't play too much and just getting that opportunity to come here and just really establish myself and earn that I mean get that confidence and then walk us through the coaching change and I guess how you absorb that and what excites you about this new era and about a football uh the coach ch's been good so far I feel like I'm I'm still getting to know know most of the coaches but it's been good what do you like about Coach CH I mean seems like a pretty passionate motivational kind of guy I like that he's real he keeps everything real just he's all about just keeping us all together and just really competing we didn't have too much competing last year and this year we're really competing you can feel the energy at practice where everybody just going at it talking and just we're competing at a high level obviously you guys lost a couple of really good safeties in amanii and Richard I guess what what do you see as your role in in this defensive back field this season um I'm still playing a nickel spot but we do got we we still got guys that can still play back in that safety spot Aiden Tori uh Keon Kean we got a lot of lot of guys that could uh take that take that step yeah they definitely had a lot of safeties I guess how have you tried to welcome them and and make them comfortable here in Nevada knowing that you know you were a transer at one point and kind of new to this area uh just help him out any way I can you know it's hard kind coming to a new place and getting to know everybody just being kind to those people and just really getting to know them and that's really it so you mentioned you didn't play a ton at Utah and then you know coming here and getting on the field I guess were there any doubts of you know how how do I stack up as a college player or did you always have that confidence I feel like I always had that confidence in myself like I always knew I could play and that's why I decided to go somewhere else and just get the opportunity yeah I guess what did you I guess learn about you know the college level and actually being out there on Saturdays and and feeling what that was like I mean I played a little bit at Utah so I got a little taste of it but it it's it's fun it's it's it's competitive physical and I like that what makes you a good Nickel in your mind what do you think are your your main skill sets that make you a good college player uh I feel like I'm a very smart player I pick up on things really fast and I just do do my job and make sure everybody else around me is good how have you uh I guess uh you know kind of enjoyed uh you know this spring and learning this new scheme you know what are maybe some of your favorite things about the the new defense you guys are learning um I like that we run a lot of man in this defense you know it's always fun just taking care of what you got in front of you and I really enjoy that obviously Keaton came here with a lot of accolades I guess tell us a little bit about his game what you've enjoyed about him in the back field uh I feel like he is just very athletic he he know he knows what he's doing like he picks up with things really fast you can see that coach schz talked a lot about the unity in trying to build this team together I mean talk us through some of the stuff you guys did in the winter conditioning and trying to bond a little bit more maybe last year well we had these things called uh culture win so every Wednesday we came in we just did something as a team whether that was just getting in small groups and talking to each other getting to know getting to know our teammates really cuz we didn't have a lot of that like a lot of people from last year said they they didn't know like many guys names so we got small groups we went around campus doing things we had to do like a treasure hunt and just in small groups for time like it was it was fun it was competitive and it was like we're all together we had to all work together pushed a truck across the field I think Ash you guys were diving for bricks in the bot yeah we had to dive for bricks in the bottom of the pool that I ain't going to lie that that pool was hard that water was hard did you have like a favorite and a least favorite activity most challenging uh my favorite was probably the pool cuz I was good at it I just do straight in there and just grabbed the brick and and just went straight up so I was I was pretty good at the full one okay and what about the hardest one uh I'm going say pushing that truck was hard pushing that TR was hard Al so you weren't sitting in it cuz there were some guys who got I was sitting in it but I I can see how how it feel like it was like my group we did the pool first so we already tired from the pool so the the truck was the last thing we did so everybody's already dead and I can see it in their face like we had to push it 100 yards so you could tell that was the hardest thing for people in my group how's that going to benefit you guys once you get to into the season just you know having that different Bond um I feel like we we know like we know our teammates and we know what they can do we know how they can contribute and we just we just use that to motivate them and we we really get to know our teammates what are your goals individually for this season um just just establish myself with this new coaching staff and just earn everybody's respect yeah I mean kind of a first impression a new Fresh slate for everyone and like you said you were playing a lot at the end of last year do you feel like you kind of have to reprove yourself to these coaches most definitely got there yes sir like nothing they said it when we came here nothing's given so everybody starts over from zero and just got to work their way back up