Q. Jaydon, how important is this month for the team and what you guys are building here under Billy Napier?
JAYDON HILL: Like I said, obviously we didn't get the result we wanted last weekend. Only thing we can do now, from here on out, is just keep fighting. It's got to mean something to you. You've just got to keep swinging.
Q. How big is getting to a bowl game for you guys? Is that critical for all the players in the program going forward?
JAYDON HILL: Yeah, no doubt. That's literally like the standard here. A bowl game, I feel like that's definitely something we -- I won't even say expect. It's more so like we're working to get to that most definitely.
Q. Did you play at the A&M game in 2020?
JAYDON HILL: Yes, sir.
Q. You were in that game?
JAYDON HILL: Yes, sir, I did.
Q. What do you remember about that day? Was it really as many people or as loud and crazy? What do you recall?
JAYDON HILL: Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, that was COVID year, but they did have probably the most packed stadium out of like everywhere we went that year. I just know like, since it's no restrictions, it will be pretty rowdy this coming weekend.
Q. Pass defense is creating a lot of interceptions but also giving up a lot of yards. How do you evaluate it, and what do you maybe need to do better by the end of the month?
JAYDON HILL: That just goes back to film study and just executing every down. Every down is a money down, in my eyes. They say third down, money down. I feel like every down is a money down.
I just feel like that just goes back to guys doing that one eleven, just executing their job every down.
Q. What was your, I guess if you can speak to it, the team's reaction to Brenton Cox being dismissed, and what kind of message do you think that sends across the roster?
JAYDON HILL: It definitely sends a strong message throughout the locker room. That's my guy. I'm still rooting for B to this day.
It kind of caught me off guard a little bit. I kind of found out when I got there. That's Coach Napier's decision, and I leave that up to Coach. We've just got to keep growing as a team and finish out strong, but I wish him the best for sure.
Q. Coach Napier brought up as well today and on Saturday that he saw kind of a different fight, almost kind of a turning point for you. When you think about just the togetherness of this team, how important is that message, I guess?
JAYDON HILL: Yeah, that just goes to show, when we're all together on one page and fighting, really the sky's the limit. I feel like honestly when we're all just fighting for one goal -- I seen someone's Twitter the other day like when no one -- I think it's from the Seahawks. He said something about when no one is looking to be rewarded with the crown, like the team's success it skyrockets. I feel like that's the approach we should -- well, must take.
Q. Was Brenton your roommate?
JAYDON HILL: No.
Q. You said my guy.
JAYDON HILL: No, that's just my guy.
Q. You came in with Lloyd. Obviously this is a big opportunity for him now. What have you seen from him and his development and being able to step up?
JAYDON HILL: Even with B, through the whole course, Lloyd has been taking from his game and just applying it to his. I feel like Lloyd has learned a lot from B as far as like his play. Lloyd has learned the urgency, and I feel like Lloyd has taken the big step to be ready.
Honestly, I'm confident of Lloyd and his play and all the other backs as well, Twaun, Reese. I'm confident in all those guys. I feel like they're ready, no doubt.
Q. Patrick Toney has taken a lot of blame from the fan base particularly for his defensive struggles. What would you say about his coaching ability and what you like about it and what maybe fans and people, casual observers are missing?
JAYDON HILL: I will say this. I see the hate too. I see it with coach. I feel like fans should take a step back and really understand that Patrick Toney is definitely -- he's definitely a great coach.
And I know it's hard to say with the results that we're giving, but that just goes back to we have to be on the same page as far as just, you know, players. We have to execute it. Patrick Toney can only do so much. He gives us the calls, and we have to execute it. You can't fault Coach Toney.
Q. What do you like about what he has to say? We heard all the players think he's brilliant. What stands out to you that maybe people don't know?
JAYDON HILL: One thing I will say, Patrick Toney is doing his hardest every week. He's in here before you all wake up, and he's in here when you're all going to sleep. He's doing his best to make sure we're in the best situation, the best position to be successful. I'm strongly confident in Coach Toney.
Q. How would you evaluate the secondary as a whole performance through eight games? What areas do you think you guys have been strong, and where do you think you still need to improve?
JAYDON HILL: I see it. We definitely have a lot of room for improvement. I honestly feel like we need to play the ball a lot better. Route recognition. There's a lot of things as a secondary we need to work on, and we know that as a group.
Q. What did you think of that pick by Perkins?
JAYDON HILL: That was a great play. I was too proud of him for all that. All the work he's put in, to come down with that ball, that was big time. That was a great play.
Q. Did you realize he got it right away?
JAYDON HILL: I didn't realize -- initially I thought it was a catch. I didn't know. But then I seen when he was holding the ball up. Then I watched the replay, and I'm like, oh, he got it. I was surprised myself. It was a great play.
Q. Jacksonville was kind of a road game. Not really, but the only real road game you guys had was against Tennessee. What do you take away from that experience going into where you have three of your last four on the road?
JAYDON HILL: So Tennessee, the environment was just off the charts. Obviously, just like when teams come into The Swamp, it's rowdy. Offensive advantage there.
So that's where we've got to be backs against the wall -- actually, backs against your other teammates and we're all we've got. You know what I'm saying? It's like we've just got to embrace the hate. Everybody against you. I feel like that should motivate you to want to go out and play even harder, just to shut them up.
Q. How critical was it winning the turnover battle? I know the results weren't what you were looking for, but something to build on.
JAYDON HILL: The results definitely wasn't what we wanted. To win that, that was the start. Just to see us keep fighting, and win a turnover battle is something that's big for us as a defense. That's something we talked about winning the turnover margin. That's something where we can start there. That's a good start.
Q. He plays a little bit far away from you, but Chris McClellan, we've seen his reps increase recently over the last several weeks. Seems like he's playing pretty well. What do you think he brings to this defense?
JAYDON HILL: Before Chris ever made the first play that you all seen, I always knew that just his approach in practice and his work ethic, I already knew Chris was going to be a good player for us. I honestly feel like Chris brings that extra edge to the defense. He gets to come off the bench, and he gets to make good plays.
He makes big time plays when we need him, and I'm thankful for Chris. He made a lot of big time plays for us.
Q. Just about A&M's offense. They have a new quarterback, real highly rated kid, finally getting his shot. What do you see from that offense and some of those young playmakers?
JAYDON HILL: Everybody knows A&M has a pretty good freshman class and a pretty good team, period. They've been on the rough end, kind of how we have been. A&M definitely has that explosive offense. We have to prepare well for that, and I look forward to doing so.
Q. Evan Stewart, does he jump out?
JAYDON HILL: He's definitely a playmaker. I remember actually him being here, helping recruiting him. But Evan, he's definitely a great player. I'm looking forward to getting out there and competing with him.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports