Sam Leavitt, Cameron Skattebo, Keyshaun Elliott and Zyrus Fiaseu after ASU's 48-7 win over Wyoming

I mean we played hard um it was a that was a different team you guys seen it I seen it for myself felt more comfortable on the sidelines um I got taken out and eight minutes left in the third quarter that's a good feeling um I mean we we push each other leaders leaders have pushed each other um and everyone's been working starting to pay off um I knew a lot about the team just I mean coming out of Camp te it was the biggest I think the biggest thing uh we all seen it we all understood how close we were we knew who we were fighting with and for um and I mean yeah it's it's definitely a different change and it means a lot to me to be able to see that and that I'm a part of something like that Sam yeah I mean I had no doubt those guys were going to come out and do what they do I mean they take the ball away from us as much as Sam probably hates it you know they take the ball away from us too so um we we they preach it defensive coaches preach it every day um get the ball out get the ball out attack the ball I mean zyrus drops the ball we don't score um you know Watley falls down you never know so I mean those guys do a hell of a job of getting at after the ball and I mean it paid off yeah you know it was fun being out there with the team and seeing the atmosphere um felt like I played pretty well you know always going to be certain things you want back um overall happy about the win Sam Michelle Gardner Arizon Republic can you kind of talk about your thought going in being you know first start new team and just were you nervous were you composed how did you feel yeah I actually wasn't too nervous going into this game you know and that's a testament to the coaching staff and the team just you know preparing and having answers for every situation so you know on film you know just watching it and seeing the situation and understanding what I got to get to uh whether that's a check or you know getting the ball to my Playmakers you know and I didn't do anything special tonight just got the ball to my Playmakers and let him make a play and you know we had a great results yeah Zars what did you see on that first play I mean it looked like you were reading it the whole way uh it really just was play call I mean you know the play call was right and I did my job and when you do your job and you execute good things happen can you describe that moment when you you know ran over to Sunil or the student section over there you know what it it was more of seeing my teammates happy you know I mean I was glad I scored but you know at the end day I just did my job and you know like me and him we came to the sideline we was like this you know and just seeing everybody hyped you know it just you know the start of the Season it was just amazing uh zyus or Kean uh coach Al or coach Cooper was saying this week how you guys describe yourselves werewolves the cookie guys were out there feasting tonight what was uh what was going on uh I think that's just the identity we have as a room you know no days off doesn't matter who we're playing no playing a smaller school it doesn't matter you know we're still going to do our jobs we're still do you know whatever it takes trust the process and prepar as anybody else Kean zyus how do you guys feel that uh your interceptions early set the tone for the rest of the night I think it was good you know shout out to the coaches you know a testimony to our work what we've done in the offseason um you know we' both had interceptions just like that in practice so I mean that you know it shows up but uh it was a good play Cole you know quarterback having to throw it right to us so you know couldn't be in a better place Sam how did it feel for you getting a 140 Advantage before you excuse me 70 Advantage before you even touch the ball sorry can you say that again 70 Advantage before you even touched the ball how'd that feel for you oh yeah you know takes takes all the pressure off me it to watch my guys go to work and uh create momentum in the stadium um it just lets me go out there and play and have fun uh you know so and this wasn't a coin coincidences happen you know we've been harping on this since day one and you know in practice all the time they're talking ball disruption and you know takeaways and everything like that and you know it happens in practice and you know we get a great look and you know so the fact that that happened is just a teston to the work we put in cool uh Jordan Spurgeon Sports 360 a so all three of you guys are transfers what were your takeaways of your first atmosphere here obviously having a big win like that I believe it was the second biggest student section crowd showing they've had uh in program history so what was it like just to feel the atmosphere for the first time yeah I mean it was it was pretty dope I didn't think it was gonna be that loud running out um you know I saw I was super excited about that and got a got a chance to see what you know we could really make this and you know hopefully more people start showing up and we get this thing really rocking so yeah yeah I I thought it was huge you know the crowd showed out I don't think they realize how much of an impact they have you know for the defense and offense as well you know it's always nice to see the the stadium almost packed you know the energy was there throughout the fourth quarter so that was nice as well yeah just picking back off of what they said um so it was just great energy um the crowd was there and when the community is there and we know they got our back we got there back and you know we're going to put on a show for you guys Kean how would you uh assess the communication with the new com system that you guys have uh it was first game you know it it was nice uh definitely helped out a little bit you know little things we got to clean up in that you know situations but uh I I I liked it I thought the defense played well you know everybody was on the same same page throughout the game so and then Sam as the game went on how do you feel that you're kind of because I know coach a talked about getting in sync but obviously now finally game action from series to series how do you feel that you guys were were were you guys getting on the same page pretty easy yeah I mean always there's always going to be things that you want back you know whether that's a protection check uh you know how we pass things off and jail together as an offense um but overall you know we Flo into the next Drive really well and you know we weren't focused on the last Drive which was well I think was a you know a major factor in our success today you know don't get caught up in the first half we're up 27-0 and I came out talking yo this game ain't over you know we got to come out and uh you know keep putting on and you know that's how games are going to be and in college football you never know what's going to happen so you know just putot on the gas all game and mental stamina Sam I know you're one to obsess over the details you talked a lot in the preseason about uh pre- snap protections how that's something that you really value watch a lot of bow Knicks that's something that really set him apart how do you evaluate how you sort of handled that uh in your first start yeah today actually did really well super happy with that you know Leaf helps me with that the most you know veteran guy and he's able to see it very well you know so and that's a testament uh to the work we put in before you know so getting with him and doing Blitz pickup where that's on the fielder in the uh in the film room and everything that includes like that so you know he's he's the best person I could ask for with that super veteran guy has a lot of snaps under his belt and you know it's just a blessing for me to have that for the defense of guys it's been harped on since the spring takeaways last year it wasn't until the fourth game of the season ASU got the first takeaway you had three tonight in the game and you guys had some early you talk about maybe the concerted effort to get those takeaways uh I think it's you know part of the standard that we hold for ourselves as a defense I mean you're at almost every practice and you know we cheer for any any takeaway that we get whether it's you know versus the scout team or versus the one offense you know so it's something that we hold hold ourselves accountable for um you know I think it's if you get three turnovers is a crazy percentage of winning so we're always saying take three you know we're counting up to three if we get four that's even better so yeah yeah um so uh when our you know our meetings they talk about Keys Victory and um takeaways is always one part of it and you know we getting a lot of takeaways in the offseason and I think we're doing a good job with them yeah Sam you seem very poised out there how did you feel like ahead of the game knowing that it was your first start and how did that compare to like last year maybe in high school yeah you know just preparation and that's a you know that's coach Royal and Coach Dillingham you know everything to do with them and you know just putting me in the best situation uh you know with the game plan and you know so that I have answers to every single situation that happens uh so that's just a testament to them and you know what we do together and the um you know I come in on Thursdays and Fridays and talk about my favorite you know every situational play and every single thing that we could get and what we're going to do so you know makes me 10 times Cal I'm already know where I'm going to go with the ball so it's just a matter of making the play so you were very po calm out there yeah 100%