Sun Devils Jordan Clark and Kyle Soelle talk with the local media on 6/22
JORDAN CLARK, Redshirt Junior Defensive Back
On transitioning into being a leader on defense:
"I feel like it's been pretty smooth. The great part about the secondary group in years past is that we had leaders. We all held each other accountable. There was no alpha, there was no guy that was above everyone else. It was equal opportunity and equal accountability for everyone in the group from the beginning. Transitioning into a leadership role per say has been an easy transition, but my teammates hold me accountable just as much as I do them throughout the entire program. It's been pretty dope."
On what he's learned from past leaders like Jack Jones and Chase Lucas:
"From Jack, I would just say supreme confidence, all the time-- always feel like you are the best football player in the room no matter where you are or which room you are in. From Chase, I would just say passion and love for the game. Chase was so passionate. Obviously, you guys know that getting to watch him for so many years. He really just loved Arizona State and he loved playing football and he approached working and he approached every game with that intent and with that in mind, so just taking those two things and trying to implement them in each and everyday I think has helped me a lot."
On mentoring younger guys on the roster and blocking out the outside noise:
"All the noise and the surrounding controversies surrounding the program, we haven't really left infiltrate this building. It's always been about the people that are in the building, not the people who have left and those guys who have left they are my brothers and I love them to death. They will be my friends for the rest of my life, but it's about what's inside the building. It's about what's in that weight room working with us everyday. What's in the meeting room with us every single day and I like what we've got. It's been smooth."
On Coach Fletcher:
"Coach Fletch is just a real professional. He's real professional and really passionate about his job. He does everything that he can to help us learn the defense, to give us tools and techniques to use out there on field. He's a great man and a great coach. I feel like I can talk to him about anything. Through spring it was a great experience and I can't wait to learn more from him."
On his perception of his role this season:
"I think we've got a group of really versatile guys. Guys that don't necessarily have one set position, like myself. I've played corner and safety and middle here and seemingly nickel and safety are going to be my role this year, so I'm just learning that and getting ready to play those positions, but obviously I'm ready to play anywhere just like everyone else is."
On replacing the past leaders and conversations and challenges regarding that:
"The conversations around it are just 'get your job done'. There are not really any excuses that can be made. If you aren't getting the job done, you aren't going to play. It's really just get the job done, know what you are supposed to be doing and don't throw an opportunity away. The challenges that have come with it are just learning a new position. Evan (Fields) and Dre (Pierce) and those guys did a great job of pouring into me while they were still here with all the knowledge that they had from the situations that they had been in, so I feel comfortable back there and I can't wait to showcase that."
On his personal and team expectations this season:
"Just to take it one game at a time and prove to the people that believe in us and support us. I'm not here to feed off of the negativity or anything like that, but to all the people that have been super positive and have stuck with us through his really controversial and tough time just give them really fun games to watch on Saturdays and go out and put a smile on their faces every week."
On the defense's strengths:
"It's a lot. There are a lot of positives. I'm trying to nail it down to just be one thing, but as always, we are really fast. Just do our workouts, watching the guys move around and run, and all the speed training we've been doing, we are really fast. We are a veteran group. For as many people that have left, we have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football, Kyle (Soelle) is still here, myself and I've played a good bit of football. You got Timarcus (Davis) who has been excellent here, so we are a veteran group. D-line is excellent and we are really fast, so I'm excited."
On a teammate that made the most progress in the offseason:
"I could sit here and talk about my teammates all day, especially the guys in my room. I would say Ed Woods. Ed grows and matures every single day in every aspect of being a football player. Just watching him this offseason he has been taking his nutrition so seriously, working super hard and has been super locked in, so I think Ed has made incredible strides. Mason Williams it's just everyday he's surprised me. He's such a talented guy, but he's also such a great football mind, so getting to talk to him and play football with him has been dope. Ed Mo and KB (Khoury Bethley) are two guys that game in through the portal, but have played a lot of football and have been really successful at other schools. I thought they came in and fit in like puzzle pieces. For the both of them, I thought that they've shown that they are more than capable of playing here and they fit in the system well. There's a lot of guys. I could go on all day."
On what he's seen from the safety group:
"Although people haven't played as many snaps here we do still have a very experience group. You've got Chris (Edmonds) who came from Samford and he was an All-American there. You watch his film from Samford and it speaks for itself. Same thing with KB (Khoury Bethley) coming from Hawaii. KB is a top 25 safety projection on some boards. You put that under Coach Fletcher, he's put a lot of guys in the NFL and he's a great football mind. Coach Donnie at the helm as a defensive coordinator. I understand with Evan and Dre leaving people feeling that way, but when you look at the numbers and you really play attention to football that's not the case.
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KYLE SOELLE, Redshirt Fifth Year linebacker
On blocking out the outside noise and silencing the doubt:
"We obviously see the outside noise and I think the team's really got a chip on our shoulder. Everyone is doubting us, "a three win team we've seen," "we are at rock bottom," we've seen it all and we just can't wait to get on the field, and I think everyone is excited. You've seen that in the off season we have been working really hard and building that team chemistry. The guys we've lost, I wish them the best, but the guys we've got that came in, they are ready to play and they're excited to prove themselves to Sun Devil Nation and I can't wait for you guys to see them."
On being a leader to the new guys:
"I think the most important thing is just to be there for them, anything they need. It's a new place for a lot of guys. Obviously, I'm a local kid here. I know things to do and how to make them comfortable, really just be there and be a helping hand. It makes the job easier when you have a group of leaders like we do now. We've welcomed everyone into the Sun Devil family with open arms and everyone is here for the same reasons that we are which is to win a championship, do your work, and do the best that you can to get to the next level. I think that we are all excited to continue to do that this summer and showcase everything that we've worked on this summer for the fall."
On managing the team's expectations and blocking out the noise:
"We see the work that gets put in everyday and we see the performances we put on in practice and we compete with each other every day, so we know what's realistic and we understand what the standards are within the building and not outside. Inside the building we have a championship standard. We fell a little short last year, but we feel like with everyone that we brought back, we are still right there in contention and everyone that we've gained is going to put us over that hump and help us turn the corner and make a championship run this year. We are excited and we have a chip on our shoulder and we just can't wait to prove everyone wrong."
On the impact of Chris Claiborne remaining the linebackers coach:
"Not only with the linebackers, but you see it with the defensive line. Guys like Jordan Clark and Timarcus Davis in the secondary group. We still have the great core that we had last year as the number one ranked defense. It's still here. We lost some guys in the back end, but I think that the guys that we brought in have great experience in college football with KB and Chris Edmonds. We also brought in some more corners that have the ability to play. That continuity is still there, the same standard is still there. We want to be the best. We want to win that championship. We hold ourselves to our own standard and if someone is lacking that we have enough leaders in the room that they are going to get called out and everyone is held to the same standard, so we are excited."
On lessened Covid restrictions making it easier to incorporate full groups of guys in practice:
"Covid threw a wrench at the whole world. You just had to change, you had to adapt. It was a lot more responsibility on the players to get working themselves. I really think our team did an outstanding job and I think it shows with the maturity of this team and it's been continuing. Now that we are all here in the building with Coach Joe (Connolly) and his staff and having the guidance of the coaches upstairs, it's just a lot better. More Hands-on work and getting that face-to-face interaction. You can feel someone's emotions and you can tell if they care about something. It's just better-- in-person work."
On the key to a strong start with new faces this season:
"I think the most important part is getting everyone to understand the playbook the best that they can and to get the questions out of the way immediately. Also to let them know that there is nothing wrong with asking questions. I've had questions obviously in the past, but now that I'm an older guy and I'm comfortable with the system I know a lot more, but it comes with asking those questions and getting those answers that you don't quite know answered. I think really just getting all the details worked out. That is the most important and really just getting them comfortable to be themselves. I think that's something that Coach Herm really prides himself on as a head coach. He allows you to be yourself and that's really the environment here. I think the guys have taken to that really well."
On his personal goals:
"For myself specifically I would just say make sure the whole team is ready. I feel like I am able to get myself ready for any game coming up, but really just making sure the team is ready, making sure everyone is comfortable with the schemes and making sure that everyone is confident. I think that's the most important. On Saturdays you've got to play with full confidence and understanding that it's not necessarily beating the other team as much as it is beating ourselves. I think that was a theme that we focused on this spring and we are going to continue working on going into the fall, so that is something that we are really going to harp on."
On seeing his brother Connor's accomplishments and growing within the program:
"As an older brother you try to set the best example that you can. It's tough because you want to give him his own space to be able to develop as a person. I've been very proud of my younger brother and seeing him grow. I've got two younger ones after him and I've been very proud of seeing them grow, but honestly just as an older guy on the team and as a captain, I've been really proud of this whole team just in the ways that we've grown and stood strong through everything that's been said outside of here. We've had a lot of things go on in this place, but everyone stayed focused and the goal at hand is still the goal at hand and everyone has been putting in the work to get to that and I just can't say it enough, we are just excited. We can't wait for everyone to see and we're looking forward to the fall."
On mainting focus and expectations if things don't go the team's way:
"I think with experience that's just something that you learn. You look at a game like Washington State last year or BYU last year, those were learning moments for myself, learning moments for a lot of people on the team. When we approach adversity like that you pick people up, you stay positive, you move past the negative and you just remember the goal at hand always and I think those learning lessons last year you are going to see them on the field this year and it's something that we've really harped on in this offseason, not shooting ourselves in the foot, not allowing small things to effect the team. We are going to continue to do that and looking forward to displaying it in the fall."
JORDAN CLARK, Redshirt Junior Defensive Back
On transitioning into being a leader on defense:
"I feel like it's been pretty smooth. The great part about the secondary group in years past is that we had leaders. We all held each other accountable. There was no alpha, there was no guy that was above everyone else. It was equal opportunity and equal accountability for everyone in the group from the beginning. Transitioning into a leadership role per say has been an easy transition, but my teammates hold me accountable just as much as I do them throughout the entire program. It's been pretty dope."
On what he's learned from past leaders like Jack Jones and Chase Lucas:
"From Jack, I would just say supreme confidence, all the time-- always feel like you are the best football player in the room no matter where you are or which room you are in. From Chase, I would just say passion and love for the game. Chase was so passionate. Obviously, you guys know that getting to watch him for so many years. He really just loved Arizona State and he loved playing football and he approached working and he approached every game with that intent and with that in mind, so just taking those two things and trying to implement them in each and everyday I think has helped me a lot."
On mentoring younger guys on the roster and blocking out the outside noise:
"All the noise and the surrounding controversies surrounding the program, we haven't really left infiltrate this building. It's always been about the people that are in the building, not the people who have left and those guys who have left they are my brothers and I love them to death. They will be my friends for the rest of my life, but it's about what's inside the building. It's about what's in that weight room working with us everyday. What's in the meeting room with us every single day and I like what we've got. It's been smooth."
On Coach Fletcher:
"Coach Fletch is just a real professional. He's real professional and really passionate about his job. He does everything that he can to help us learn the defense, to give us tools and techniques to use out there on field. He's a great man and a great coach. I feel like I can talk to him about anything. Through spring it was a great experience and I can't wait to learn more from him."
On his perception of his role this season:
"I think we've got a group of really versatile guys. Guys that don't necessarily have one set position, like myself. I've played corner and safety and middle here and seemingly nickel and safety are going to be my role this year, so I'm just learning that and getting ready to play those positions, but obviously I'm ready to play anywhere just like everyone else is."
On replacing the past leaders and conversations and challenges regarding that:
"The conversations around it are just 'get your job done'. There are not really any excuses that can be made. If you aren't getting the job done, you aren't going to play. It's really just get the job done, know what you are supposed to be doing and don't throw an opportunity away. The challenges that have come with it are just learning a new position. Evan (Fields) and Dre (Pierce) and those guys did a great job of pouring into me while they were still here with all the knowledge that they had from the situations that they had been in, so I feel comfortable back there and I can't wait to showcase that."
To clarify those who left are my brothers, and will be 4L. Just focused on winning football games. https://t.co/TZnJI9VYfk
— Jordan Clark (@Jclark21_) June 22, 2022
On his personal and team expectations this season:
"Just to take it one game at a time and prove to the people that believe in us and support us. I'm not here to feed off of the negativity or anything like that, but to all the people that have been super positive and have stuck with us through his really controversial and tough time just give them really fun games to watch on Saturdays and go out and put a smile on their faces every week."
SUPREMELY confident in our preparation. 1-0 everyday. https://t.co/tGzmJKMmIh
— Jordan Clark (@Jclark21_) June 30, 2022
On the defense's strengths:
"It's a lot. There are a lot of positives. I'm trying to nail it down to just be one thing, but as always, we are really fast. Just do our workouts, watching the guys move around and run, and all the speed training we've been doing, we are really fast. We are a veteran group. For as many people that have left, we have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football, Kyle (Soelle) is still here, myself and I've played a good bit of football. You got Timarcus (Davis) who has been excellent here, so we are a veteran group. D-line is excellent and we are really fast, so I'm excited."
On a teammate that made the most progress in the offseason:
"I could sit here and talk about my teammates all day, especially the guys in my room. I would say Ed Woods. Ed grows and matures every single day in every aspect of being a football player. Just watching him this offseason he has been taking his nutrition so seriously, working super hard and has been super locked in, so I think Ed has made incredible strides. Mason Williams it's just everyday he's surprised me. He's such a talented guy, but he's also such a great football mind, so getting to talk to him and play football with him has been dope. Ed Mo and KB (Khoury Bethley) are two guys that game in through the portal, but have played a lot of football and have been really successful at other schools. I thought they came in and fit in like puzzle pieces. For the both of them, I thought that they've shown that they are more than capable of playing here and they fit in the system well. There's a lot of guys. I could go on all day."
On what he's seen from the safety group:
"Although people haven't played as many snaps here we do still have a very experience group. You've got Chris (Edmonds) who came from Samford and he was an All-American there. You watch his film from Samford and it speaks for itself. Same thing with KB (Khoury Bethley) coming from Hawaii. KB is a top 25 safety projection on some boards. You put that under Coach Fletcher, he's put a lot of guys in the NFL and he's a great football mind. Coach Donnie at the helm as a defensive coordinator. I understand with Evan and Dre leaving people feeling that way, but when you look at the numbers and you really play attention to football that's not the case.
A challenge turned inspiration – A freshman-year ankle injury slowed @Jclark21_'s basketball career, but it motivated him to work even harder with his dad's help, making him a talented player and an excellent teammate: @mchlbrgss https://t.co/R39JpHWhan
— Cronkite News (@cronkitenews) July 16, 2022
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KYLE SOELLE, Redshirt Fifth Year linebacker
On blocking out the outside noise and silencing the doubt:
"We obviously see the outside noise and I think the team's really got a chip on our shoulder. Everyone is doubting us, "a three win team we've seen," "we are at rock bottom," we've seen it all and we just can't wait to get on the field, and I think everyone is excited. You've seen that in the off season we have been working really hard and building that team chemistry. The guys we've lost, I wish them the best, but the guys we've got that came in, they are ready to play and they're excited to prove themselves to Sun Devil Nation and I can't wait for you guys to see them."
On being a leader to the new guys:
"I think the most important thing is just to be there for them, anything they need. It's a new place for a lot of guys. Obviously, I'm a local kid here. I know things to do and how to make them comfortable, really just be there and be a helping hand. It makes the job easier when you have a group of leaders like we do now. We've welcomed everyone into the Sun Devil family with open arms and everyone is here for the same reasons that we are which is to win a championship, do your work, and do the best that you can to get to the next level. I think that we are all excited to continue to do that this summer and showcase everything that we've worked on this summer for the fall."
On managing the team's expectations and blocking out the noise:
"We see the work that gets put in everyday and we see the performances we put on in practice and we compete with each other every day, so we know what's realistic and we understand what the standards are within the building and not outside. Inside the building we have a championship standard. We fell a little short last year, but we feel like with everyone that we brought back, we are still right there in contention and everyone that we've gained is going to put us over that hump and help us turn the corner and make a championship run this year. We are excited and we have a chip on our shoulder and we just can't wait to prove everyone wrong."
On the impact of Chris Claiborne remaining the linebackers coach:
"Not only with the linebackers, but you see it with the defensive line. Guys like Jordan Clark and Timarcus Davis in the secondary group. We still have the great core that we had last year as the number one ranked defense. It's still here. We lost some guys in the back end, but I think that the guys that we brought in have great experience in college football with KB and Chris Edmonds. We also brought in some more corners that have the ability to play. That continuity is still there, the same standard is still there. We want to be the best. We want to win that championship. We hold ourselves to our own standard and if someone is lacking that we have enough leaders in the room that they are going to get called out and everyone is held to the same standard, so we are excited."
On lessened Covid restrictions making it easier to incorporate full groups of guys in practice:
"Covid threw a wrench at the whole world. You just had to change, you had to adapt. It was a lot more responsibility on the players to get working themselves. I really think our team did an outstanding job and I think it shows with the maturity of this team and it's been continuing. Now that we are all here in the building with Coach Joe (Connolly) and his staff and having the guidance of the coaches upstairs, it's just a lot better. More Hands-on work and getting that face-to-face interaction. You can feel someone's emotions and you can tell if they care about something. It's just better-- in-person work."
On the key to a strong start with new faces this season:
"I think the most important part is getting everyone to understand the playbook the best that they can and to get the questions out of the way immediately. Also to let them know that there is nothing wrong with asking questions. I've had questions obviously in the past, but now that I'm an older guy and I'm comfortable with the system I know a lot more, but it comes with asking those questions and getting those answers that you don't quite know answered. I think really just getting all the details worked out. That is the most important and really just getting them comfortable to be themselves. I think that's something that Coach Herm really prides himself on as a head coach. He allows you to be yourself and that's really the environment here. I think the guys have taken to that really well."
On his personal goals:
"For myself specifically I would just say make sure the whole team is ready. I feel like I am able to get myself ready for any game coming up, but really just making sure the team is ready, making sure everyone is comfortable with the schemes and making sure that everyone is confident. I think that's the most important. On Saturdays you've got to play with full confidence and understanding that it's not necessarily beating the other team as much as it is beating ourselves. I think that was a theme that we focused on this spring and we are going to continue working on going into the fall, so that is something that we are really going to harp on."
On seeing his brother Connor's accomplishments and growing within the program:
"As an older brother you try to set the best example that you can. It's tough because you want to give him his own space to be able to develop as a person. I've been very proud of my younger brother and seeing him grow. I've got two younger ones after him and I've been very proud of seeing them grow, but honestly just as an older guy on the team and as a captain, I've been really proud of this whole team just in the ways that we've grown and stood strong through everything that's been said outside of here. We've had a lot of things go on in this place, but everyone stayed focused and the goal at hand is still the goal at hand and everyone has been putting in the work to get to that and I just can't say it enough, we are just excited. We can't wait for everyone to see and we're looking forward to the fall."
"As an older brother, you try to set the best example that you can," @kyle_soelle said about his brother @cmsoelle. "I've been very proud of my younger brother and his growth, but as a captain of this team, I've been very proud of how the team has grown as a whole."
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) June 22, 2022
On mainting focus and expectations if things don't go the team's way:
"I think with experience that's just something that you learn. You look at a game like Washington State last year or BYU last year, those were learning moments for myself, learning moments for a lot of people on the team. When we approach adversity like that you pick people up, you stay positive, you move past the negative and you just remember the goal at hand always and I think those learning lessons last year you are going to see them on the field this year and it's something that we've really harped on in this offseason, not shooting ourselves in the foot, not allowing small things to effect the team. We are going to continue to do that and looking forward to displaying it in the fall."
While there have been several significant departures since the end of the 2021 season, key returning players on the Sun Devil squad realize that there are still some elements that are in their favor. More here from @HamAnalysishttps://t.co/sPxT2fNMzW
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) July 14, 2022