Clemson linebacker James Skalski
Q. What’s the best thing about having Isaiah Simmons on your defense?
JAMES SKALSKI: He’s so versatile, you know? He can cover you. As in, like, if you mess something up a little bit, I mean, you know that guy is behind you flying around. So he’s so versatile. He can cover up mistakes quick, and he’s just a great player.
Q. How do you see someone like him being especially important in a matchup like this? Ohio State can be versatile as well, what they do offensively between the running game and the passing game. Even with the running game they got [Justin] Fields and [J.K.] Dobbins. How does Isaiah [Simmons] neutralize that?
JAMES SKALSKI: We’re going to need him to show up and play well. That’s how you win games. Your best players show up and play well. If he just plays his game and does his job, just like all of us, we’ll be all right.
Q. I think you’re probably already getting questions about respect. And your coaches talked about it, too. Does that factor in a little bit for him, too? Do you feel like Isaiah [Simmons] hasn’t maybe gotten his national credit or due as much as he needs it?
JAMES SKALSKI: He’s a Butkus Award winner. That’s pretty solid, if you ask me.
Q. But he’s not maybe a household name the way Chase Young is, for example.
JAMES SKALSKI: Well, that’s probably more of a question for him. But, I mean, around South Carolina, around Clemson, I tell you, everyone knows how special he is. That’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Q. Ohio State, the way Chase Young plays, can that be something the rest of the team feeds off of? Have there been examples this year where Isaiah [Simmons] has been that kind of factor for you guys?
JAMES SKALSKI: 100%. You see him make plays, and it’s just a whole energy. I mean, that’s — that’s football in general, man. You’ve got guys showing up on first down and making big plays. I mean, that’s just momentum. Everyone else just feeds off of it. And he’s definitely been probably the focal point of that constant this year.
Q. How did the support of the program manifest in those few weeks after your dad passed?
JAMES SKALSKI: Well, I can remember just like yesterday being in the office with Coach [Dabo] Swinney. They were no longer coaches. They were just there for me. Football was out the window, who cares it’s about being a man then. They were just rocks in my life at that point. I mean, after that — something cool about this place, it’s football and then it’s life, family, and being a man. They are together, but there’s a time and place for that. And the rest, you have to do that. And that’s going to be the rest of your life, too. And they did such a good job of separating the two and helping me understand how important it is.
Q. Meeting with Coach [Dabo] Swinney and [Brent] Venables, is that when you went back?
JAMES SKALSKI: That’s right when I found out. I remember being in his office right then and there. But, yeah. We were preparing for our focus Fridays. And my neighbor had called me and said something had happened right before I was going to go to the team meeting. I didn’t think anything of
it. And then I thought about what she said, something is wrong. Then I got into the facility and I remember the GAs and stuff are coming up to me and saying, I’m praying for you. They found out after I did.