Ohio State’s Mattison, Young, Borland and Okudah preview matchup with Clemson in Fiesta Bowl

Select players and coaches from Ohio State and Clemson met with the media today. Here’s what the OSU defense said about facing the Tigers.

Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland

Q. Is Coach [Ryan] Day completely different?

TUF BORLAND: No doubt, completely different style.

Q. More reserved?

TUF BORLAND: A little bit. I think Coach [Urban] Meyer is little bit more fiery, more emotional. Coach Day is just so laid back.

Q. Even keeled, measured, you know what you’re getting. Both work, right?

TUF BORLAND: Yeah.

Q. You were here for the first game. You got to see it.

TUF BORLAND: That was my redshirt year, and that was before the redshirt rules where you get four games or something.

Q. You mentioned that Clemson was the best offense that they faced all year. Do you think Trevor Lawrence was the best quarterback?

TUF BORLAND: Unbelievable player. You can’t say enough good things about him. You guys see him sitting back there and making throws all over the field. He’s also able to extend the play, when he gets out of the pocket and finds some open guys. So he’s an unbelievable player.

Q. What’s the key to slowing down Travis [Etienne]?

TUF BORLAND: I don’t know. Collectively, as a group, we have to tackle extremely well, we have to run the ball.

Q. Do you know anybody on Clemson’s team?

TUF BORLAND: I don’t.

Q. What sort of stands out with them when you guys as a team are watching back film? I don’t know how often you do it as a team versus positionally. What is often mentioned about them and the cornerbacks and safety?

TUF BORLAND: It is all position-based really. Those guys are just so talented. They work so well as a unit, Jeff [Okudah] and Damon [Arnette] on the outside. I put them up with any receiver in the country. Those guys are that good. Jordan [Fuller] back there, safety net. Shaun Wade is just so versatile, you can put him anywhere on the field.

Next … Quotes from Ohio Sate linebacker Tuf Borland