Akheem Mesidor Claims Staying Calm The Key For Hurricanes In Cfp Title Game

You've heard of nan oculus of a storm, particularly a hurricane? Well possibly protect lineman Akheem Mesido is nan calm of what Miami hopes to unleash successful nan CFP National Championship Game connected Monday.

He talked astir it during Miami's media time for nan title game. In fact, he utilized nan connection galore times during his convention pinch reporters, which is not a connection they're utilized to proceeding very often from anyone playing that position, aliases from that shot progam.

Here's everything he said Saturday:

Q: Akheem, talk astir nan emotions coming into this game. You're 2 days out. What are nan emotions for illustration for you guys getting ready, 2 days away. As it gets person and closer, nan adrenaline, nan feeling. You'll beryllium successful your location building. What does it consciousness like?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: For our team, it's important to enactment calm, not fto nan nerves get up aliases get affected by these things. For maine personally, it doesn't really consciousness existent yet. It will astir apt consciousness existent erstwhile I tally retired to nan section for warmups. Right now, we're calm, preparing, getting fresh for nan game.

Q. Akheem, you said stay calm. What was believe for illustration this week for you guys?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's been nan aforesaid arsenic each different week. Again, it's a crippled wherever we're facing different opponent. Obviously, it's nan astir important crippled of nan year, but we're going to hole for illustration they're anybody else. Practice has been nan aforesaid arsenic it has for nan past 16 weeks. It's not really different. Just practice, preparation, and getting fresh for nan game.

Q. No specifications connected preparations, but really do you woody pinch a backmost for illustration Fernando Mendoza? What you person seen, I'm sure, connected crippled movie passim nan play and nan past 2 playoff games? The past one, he threw for 5 touchdowns.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Obviously, he's an astonishing player, Heisman Trophy winner. It's beautiful simple. They don't play analyzable football. They're a very elemental squad but a very disciplined team. They want to tally nan ball. And erstwhile they person to aliases request to, move it up and person Mendoza propulsion it. He tin propulsion nan ball, obviously. Very talented, smart player. Our extremity is extremity nan tally and unreserved nan passer and get him uncomfortable and make him make silly decisions while affecting him.

Q. I cognize you guys are nan visiting team, but you get to usage your location locker room. So is that a use for you guys, conscionable for illustration nan comforts of being acquainted pinch things?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I deliberation it could beryllium a benefit. We're successful our location locker room. We're comfortable, location we've been before. We're acquainted pinch nan atmosphere. It could beryllium a benefit.

Q. You've been present a number of years. This travel arsenic a subordinate and to culminate your last play successful assemblage winning a nationalist championship, what is that for illustration for you, that journey, because it's been a agelong one, right?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Yeah. It intends nan world. I've had a agelong journey. I've been successful assemblage longer than most. I've dealt pinch a bunch of different things. But yet getting this acold and being capable to compete for a National Championship intends nan world, and I'm capable to do it pinch guys I've been astir for 4 years. And moreover nan caller guys coming in, we've built a brotherhood, and it's awesome to beryllium capable to compete for a nationalist championship.

Q. Akheem, could you talk astir your narration pinch Jason Taylor; erstwhile you met him, erstwhile you were reasoning of coming here. And what, specifically, has he worked pinch you on?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: When I first sewage here, I didn't really cognize overmuch astir Coach Taylor, but everybody told maine he was a Hall-of-Famer and he was an astonishing player. So I did nan investigation myself and, yeah, he was awesome. He's our coach, but he's besides for illustration a large relative to me, I consciousness like. He's difficult connected america erstwhile he needs to be. I spell to his agency almost each time and conscionable beryllium location and bent retired pinch him. We'll watch shot aliases we'll watch nan news, immoderate it is. I tin bent retired astir him. I tin spell to his location if I want to. Like he's really for illustration an older relative to me. I person a ton of respect for him, and he respects america arsenic well. It's mutual. He's taught maine a bunch of things. I'd opportunity chiefly mental, for illustration nan measurement he sees nan game, nan measurement he sees different statement fronts, nan measurement he would onslaught aliases attack different blocks. Football is 80 percent mental, and I deliberation he's really impacted maine mentally connected really I spot nan game.

Q. Against Ole Miss, you had nan elbow. Tell maine what's going connected pinch your elbow. What benignant of rehab, betterment person you done this week?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Rehab and treatment, I sewage fitted for a civilization brace. I person that now. You'll spot maine connected nan section pinch a immense brace connected my arm. It's really to extremity nan activity from happening, overextending my elbow. I'm crippled time ready. I've conscionable sewage to protect it.

Q. You guys didn't springiness up successful nan crippled against Ole Miss erstwhile it was frustrating, you couldn't rather get to nan quarterback. How do you spot nan crippled pinch Indiana playing out? Can you get home? Can you get to nan quarterback?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I deliberation we'll beryllium capable to get to nan quarterback, because Indiana is simply a elemental team, but they play very difficult and they're very disciplined. They want to tally nan ball, lb nan ball, and past operation it up and person nan shot successful nan air. But, really, our extremity is to extremity nan tally and unreserved nan passer and impact Mendoza. It's really that simple.

Q. What's been nan biggest alteration pinch Coach Hetherman coming successful and pinch nan defense from past near.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Coach Hetherman has been huge. We've added a full bunch of caller guys, guys connected nan D-line, nan O-line DBs. Obviously, Hetherman is simply a leader of that and, you know, he put successful his playbook, his protect strategy and stuff. It's huge. I consciousness for illustration we're a D-line oriented defense truthful that's bully for me, awesome for us, really. His mentality of unit and his attack to swarm and each that worldly has been immense for us, and we've been practicing it since January past year, a full twelvemonth ago. He conscionable emphasizes violence, swarm, and excitement to beryllium connected nan section each azygous day. I deliberation that's nan attack we play with.

Q. How aggravated is he disconnected nan field?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: He's beautiful intense. Even erstwhile he tries to joke around, it's aggravated joking around. He doesn't make dada jokes. He, like, pushes you around, asks if you're going to beryllium convulsive today. Yeah, he's different.

Q. Akheem, what is nan cardinal to getting to Mendoza? I mean, it's really important for you to triumph this game. Do you request to do it amended than you did Mississippi? Mississippi, you had acold little sacks than you had nan first 2 playoff games.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Ole Miss, they're a speedy crippled team. They wanted to get nan shot retired of nan quarterback's hands very fast. They're a tempo team. When it comes to Indiana, they're a slower team. They don't spell tempo. They'll huddle up. The extremity is to extremity nan tally connected first and 2nd down, unit him to 3rd and long, unreserved nan passer, and make Mendoza uncomfortable.

Q. Talk astir your narration pinch Reuben. You're astir apt nan champion extremity rushers successful nan country. How did it develop, and really did you get to wherever you are?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: In nan disconnected season, we compete successful everything. In workouts, conditioning, each these different things, we're competing. We get to outpouring ball, we're competing astir who has nan astir sacks, who has nan astir productive day. In nan movie room, we're competing connected who ran to nan ball, who vanished nan play. On crippled day, it's ever astir who's going to get to nan backmost first. It's ever a competition. Reuben is my roommate successful nan edifice room. We're ever together, ever astir each other. Just that, itself, conscionable makes america better.

Q. He's your roommate successful your hotel, and you enactment pinch him connected nan road?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: He's my on-the-road-roommate. At home, I unrecorded by myself. Hotels and each that, we're ever together. Hotel room, gathering room, each these different things, we're ever together. We're ever pushing each other.

Q. Akheem, I cognize nan mentality pinch nan Hurricanes is ever 1-0. You're ever focused connected task astatine hand. Have you guys allowed yourself to bask nan infinitesimal and beryllium successful nan infinitesimal this week?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I person briefly, like, erstwhile I spot nan guys successful nan EQ, successful EQ stitching connected nan 2026 spot connected their jersey, I look astatine that like, man, we're successful it. I effort not to do it excessively much. My family and my woman will show maine clasp nan moment, soak it in. I don't for illustration doing that. I for illustration to attraction connected nan adjacent crippled and enactment for illustration a regular game, for illustration immoderate different game. I don't for illustration to get successful my feelings aliases deliberation astir really large nan infinitesimal is. You want to attraction connected 1-0. If I deliberation excessively much, it will impact maine passim nan week. I don't for illustration that. I for illustration to enactment cool, calm, collected, and attraction connected nan crippled scheme and onslaught it.

Q. Akheem, everybody has their ain sentiment connected PFF grades. You've been 1 of nan highest graded players successful assemblage shot this year. Is it bully to get that boost of recognition?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Yeah, it's cool. It's bully to look at. At nan extremity of nan day, if I don't play nan measurement I request to, those grades spell away, and nobody's talking astir me. I'm not really focused connected what group say. As agelong arsenic I play bully football, value football, and I'm ascendant connected nan field, that's each that really matters to me.

Q. Akheem, funny to know, what would beryllium your Mt. Rushmore for Miami shot players each time. Four players.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Four players. I'll commencement pinch Ed Reed, Ray Lewis. I'll spell pinch Warren Sapp. Got to get a D-lineman, and I'll do Michael Irvin.

Q. Akheem, there's truthful overmuch talk astir you guys pressuring nan backmost and nan occurrence you've had. When you watch nan film, what is nan cardinal for you guys to effort to make Mendoza uncomfortable, to get to him arsenic you prep for this game?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Stop nan tally connected first and 2nd down, unit 3rd and long. Once we're successful nan walk unreserved down, I deliberation me, Reuben, Justin Scott, Ahmad, Blay, whoever it is will beryllium capable to get aft him. We've sewage to unit 3rd and agelong and fto our D-line eat.

Q. Akheem, nan opportunity to extremity nan play wherever it started, what did you study astir nan squad since August, and really person you each changed since then?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I learned we're a relentless team. Our squad loves football. We're ever together. You bent astir nan facility, you spot a bunch of guys hanging astir aft practice, catching jugs. Me and Reuben doing D-line work. Ahmad hitting nan bag. Ahmad and J Scott aliases Blay hitting nan bag, DBs moving connected their steps, coverage, immoderate it is. We're a squad that loves football, we're a relentless team, and we each want to win.

Q. Akheem, astatine what constituent did you benignant of consciousness for illustration you sewage to cognize Coach Hetherman? Like were you funny astir him erstwhile he came in? What were immoderate of nan early moments that led you to say, okay, this guy's a bully fresh for us?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Yeah. When he first came successful nan building, I deliberation it was nan first time erstwhile he introduced himself, I wanted to get to cognize him. I wanted to cognize his defense. Me and Ahmad met pinch him for an hr half, 2 hours nan first time he came in. I didn't cognize astir him personally, but I wanted to study astir his scheme. As we went connected and he started moving meetings during summertime workout aliases wintertime workouts and worldly for illustration that, starring into outpouring ball, he ever talked astir physicality, swarm, and excitement to beryllium connected nan field. Even his power retired there, he's a crazy feline who is ever jumping around, screaming. Personality matches his civilization and what he tries to instill successful us.

Q. What would it mean to triumph a title astatine location present for Miami?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It would mean nan world. Not only for me. It would mean a batch for me, evidently to triumph a title successful Miami. But I'm much excited for nan guys who grew up here, guys for illustration Reuben, Ahmad, Coach Cristobal who was a Cane from birth, really. It intends a batch to me, but I'm chiefly much excited for nan fans, group who grew up present and our players who grew up astir Miami football.

Q. Miami's produced a batch of legends complete nan years. What's it for illustration erstwhile you spot Michael Irvin aliases Ray Lewis correct adjacent to writer on this travel pinch this team?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's awesome. It's ever bully to person those guys successful your area cheering connected for you.

Q. Akheem, you guys person won immoderate adjacent games successful nan playoff run. Indiana's had immoderate blow-out wins. When it comes down to a one-possession triumph late, what makes you guys truthful comfortable successful nan moments down nan stretch?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: We believe those moments each time successful practice. Every time connected Greentree, we're doing a two-minute drill, each those different things. We're fresh for nan moment. It's a matter of who's going to beryllium connected nan field, discourtesy aliases defense.

Q. How absorbing is it walking present aliases to wherever nan squad edifice is from 10 miles distant aliases so, whereas Indiana has to travel down? Have nan logistics been a use to you guys this week for each this benignant of stuff?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Definitely. I'm not going to opportunity nan hotel, but being capable to believe successful our believe installation for illustration we do each different day, I deliberation it's a immense use to us. We're not practicing successful a random precocious schoolhouse wherever we don't person a batch of equipment. We person each of our equipment. The worldly I for illustration to usage pregame I'm capable to usage and worldly for illustration that. Being capable to enactment location and believe connected Greentree is huge.

Q. How is this week for you? We talk astir nan distractions and nan different stuff. At what constituent during nan week did you opportunity this feels normal. None of this worldly is really getting to us. You consciousness comfortable, you're focused connected nan game, and not each nan worldly astir it?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: For me, it started nan time aft Ole Miss. And past for nan team, I can't speak for everybody, but erstwhile we sewage into nan squad meeting. The Monday of shot week, I'm not judge what time it was, and I don't moreover cognize what time it is today. But nan Monday of nan shot week, truthful 2 days aft nan game, we had a squad meeting, and Coach Cristobal explained to america that disregard nan media. Ignore everybody praising you. Ignore each that worldly because it's really cipher extracurricular of whoever's successful this room is going to make a play for you. The 150 group successful this building are nan ones who person been pinch you from time 1 to now. So attraction connected us, disregard nan exterior noise, and get this 1-0.

Q. How has slumber been nan past fewer days?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Sleep?

Q. Yeah.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's been good. Yesterday, we slept astatine nan hotel. The time before, I slept astatine home. Sleep is simply a immense point for me. This year, that's 1 of nan main things I changed is what clip I spell to furniture at. Before, I utilized to spell to stake beautiful late, 11:00, 12:00. Now I effort to get successful furniture by 9:00 and beryllium dormant by 9:30. So slumber is great.

Q. What's successful your headphones connected Monday? What are you listening to successful nan locker room?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Oh, my headphones connected Monday? A small of inexpensive Keith, a small spot of Drake, a small spot of Gunna.

Q. Okay, okay. We'll see. Ball retired Monday, baby.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Thank you.

Q. Are you emotion bully today?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Yes, sir.

Q. I want to inquire you, nan past mates rounds, Indiana's done a awesome occupation protecting Fernando Mendoza. But if you look backmost this season, Penn State game, a batch of blitzes, a batch of pressure, really important is it for you to get to Fernando and your squad to get him disconnected his spot to create nan unit to make him make mistakes and put a batch of unit connected nan offense?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's highly important. I deliberation that's what's going to determine nan game, our expertise to extremity nan tally and past to unreserved nan passer connected 3rd and long. You want to deed nan backmost early, right? You want to deed Mendoza early, make him consciousness you truthful he remembers that each clip he throws nan ball, possibly he won't spell done his afloat progression aliases he won't return his afloat measurement aliases he'll measurement backmost arsenic he's throwing nan ball. You want to get him uncomfortable early successful nan crippled and unit him to make possibly bad decisions passim nan game. Getting to him is going to beryllium ace important.

Q. Thanks. Good luck.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Thank you.

Q. Akheem, you said astir getting to Fernando Mendoza early. Indiana doesn't make a batch of mistakes offensively. With a what tin you opportunity what it's for illustration to person nan collision of an discourtesy that doesn't make a batch of mistakes pinch your defense that evidently has provided a batch of opportunities to get to this nationalist championship?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Well, they're a very disciplined, arsenic you say. We person to beryllium disciplined. We person to extremity nan tally connected and first and 2nd down, unit nan tally connected 3rd down. We person to beryllium capable to unreserved nan passer. They're a awesome violative line. We're a awesome protect line. Should beryllium a awesome matchup. We want to impact Mendoza and make him uncomfortable.

Q. What is it astir nan squad that you deliberation sewage you to this moment. When you look astatine nan roadworthy that started a twelvemonth ago, if not longer than a twelvemonth ago, what are immoderate of nan things group don't spot that sewage you here?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: There person been a bunch of immense changes. Defensively is evidently nan biggest changes we made to nan team. The offense, their expertise to tally nan ball, power nan clock. And not only tally nan ball, but propulsion nan ball. We've sewage playmakers for illustration C.J., Malachi, and we've sewage an explosive offense. We're capable to tally nan shot and power nan timepiece if we want to. And past defensively, nan biggest change, our D-line is reasonably akin to past year, beautiful overmuch nan same, a batch of guys coming back. The biggest point is our DBs. We've sewage a bunch of caller additions astatine area and safety. With Coach Hetherman arsenic good putting successful his defense, I deliberation we're a complete team. We're beardown successful nan trenches, and we've sewage beingness guys connected nan perimeter, receivers, DBs, and that helped america get this far.

Q. Miami has ever been a spot wherever you've sewage a batch of erstwhile players coming through, ex NFL guys, he ex-All America guys. When you spot guys for illustration Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, what's nan takeaway for you? What are you learning from them that has helped construe onto nan section for you aliases nan team?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Is awesome. It's ever bully to not only person alumni but legends successful your area supporting you. At nan extremity of nan day, they're not making nan play. They'll motivate you, talk to you, springiness you hints, pointers, immoderate it is. But you've sewage to remember, they're not nan ones making nan plays today. This is nan 2025 Miami Hurricane team. It's not 2001, it's not nan '90s. It's ever awesome to person them successful our corner. You've spell nan to remember, we're nan ones connected nan field.

Q. So it's little thief maine get amended connected Saturday. It's much large image stuff, you consciousness like, you're getting from these guys? Big image of really to beryllium successful arsenic an jock and arsenic a team, but not truthful overmuch really to beryllium amended arsenic a player?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It depends. Ray Lewis came and said to us. Michael Irvin came and said to us. They'll springiness america their sentiment connected what a winning squad looks like, what their squad looked like, nan brotherhood. You ever perceive nan guys, for illustration nan legends talk astir brotherhood, really they're ever together. So they'll talk to america astir what their winning squad looked for illustration truthful we tin use it to our team. And then, for illustration I said, they'll springiness you pointers and worldly if you ask. But, yeah, they make it look amended because we return what they opportunity and we effort to use to ourselves. But individually, unless you meet pinch them personally, effort to watch movie pinch them and inquire them questions, you astir apt won't get amended individually. I tin inquire Michael Irvin immoderate I want. If I spot Ray Lewis connected nan sideline, I tin inquire him questions. All they tin do is talk to america and springiness america pointers. At nan extremity of nan day, we're nan ones connected nan section playing nan game.

Q. Akheem, is location immoderate much consciousness of urgency this week, knowing that nan protect backmost room is simply a small banged up? You person Lucas evidently retired for nan first half. Do you arsenic a group, talking to each other, talk astir really to get location to Mendoza, particularly pinch what's going connected down you?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I don't deliberation there's a different consciousness of urgency this week arsenic location is for immoderate different week. We're playing a awesome team, yes, but we've played a awesome squad nan past fewer weeks. There's nary different attack to this game. It's going to beryllium nan aforesaid attack arsenic each different week. Yes, our DBs are banged up, but we've sewage a heavy DB room truthful it's ever going to beryllium adjacent man up mentality. D-line wise, we're going to effort to extremity nan run. Once we get to 3rd and long, impact nan passer by rushing. It's a elemental crippled plan. Stop nan run, unit him to a 3rd and agelong passing situation, and make Mendoza uncomfortable.

Q. How do you feel? You sewage banged up successful nan 2nd half of Ole Miss. Feeling good?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Yeah, I'll beryllium each right.

Q. You touched connected this a small bit. So overmuch is made of nan passing game. The moving crippled is beardown too. How do you take sides against that? Hemby has had a bully season.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: We person to beryllium technically sound up front, and our linebacker has to capable successful nan gaps and nan information has to thief astatine nan 3rd level. If we're beingness up front, play technically sound, bully technique, spread integrity, I deliberation we'll beryllium capable to extremity nan run. Once we get to 3rd and long, I deliberation our walk unreserved speaks for itself.

Q. It feels for illustration this season, nan measurement teams person attacked your walk unreserved is to get nan shot retired fast. How do you take sides against that, for deficiency of a amended term?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Really, conscionable for america arsenic a D-line, there's thing you tin do if nan shot comes retired fast. All you've sewage to do is proceed to triumph your 1 connected one. Eventually, he'll person to clasp nan shot for 2.9, 3 seconds plus. When those situations do come, you've sewage to return advantage of it.

Q. Regardless of really Monday goes, this is really nan play ends. What does it mean to you?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's crazy. It's my past assemblage shot crippled of my life. That's really it. It's conscionable being capable to compete for a National Championship arsenic nan past crippled of my assemblage profession is awesome. I'm going to springiness it my all.

Q. What's it for illustration to play nan assemblage shot playoff National Championship crippled and besides play it successful Miami?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It's huge. I'm highly excited. I've been present for 4 years. But I'm moreover happier for my teammates guys who grew up here, Ahmad, Reuben, Wesley, each those guys. I'm happy for those guys and their families and nan fans, nan group who person been diehard Miami fans since they were babies. It's cool for me, but it's moreover amended for them. I'm excited for everybody other who has been present and grew up present because this is each they've known. This is each they've been around.

Q. You've astir apt answered for illustration 10 questions astir this already, but tin you conscionable talk astir Indiana's violative line? You've been highly effective successful getting to opposing quarterbacks this year. What's it going to return to get past that group?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: We request to extremity nan tally connected first and 2nd down. They're a squad that tin tally nan shot effectively. Their 2 starting moving backs, number 1 and number 8, each person a 1000 yards rushing. They're very tin of moving nan ball. We person to extremity them connected first and 2nd down, unit 3rd and agelong a passing situation, and I deliberation our walk unreserved speaks for itself. We person to make Mendoza uncomfortable.

Q. This is nan measurement you spell retired of your assemblage career. I conscionable want to cognize your crippled time process and if it's immoderate different successful a crippled of this stature, for illustration a title game.

AKHEEM MESIDOR: My crippled time process is beautiful simple. I aftermath up. I don't perceive to fast-paced music. I'll astir apt perceive to a small spot of slow Drake, a small Cesar, commencement disconnected nan greeting slow. Once I get to nan stadium, I'll rotation retired my hamstrings, my little assemblage and my back. And past erstwhile it's clip to commencement warming up, I'm commencement listening to faster music. It's beautiful similar.

Q. I'm from Louisville, outcry retired Bryson Tiller. What changed for you guys? Your guys were against nan wall aft nan Louisville nonaccomplishment and nan SMU loss. How did you judge you could get her?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Coach Cristobal told america it wasn't complete with. That's our leader. That's nan leader of this team. Anything he says goes. We're fresh to do immoderate erstwhile it comes to Cristobal. He told america it wasn't over. He told america if we triumph out, there's a precocious probability we'll make it into nan playoffs. Once we make it into nan playoffs, we've sewage to return advantage of it. That's what we did.

Q. How overmuch information do you guys return from being nan underdog successful your ain stadium this time?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: I can't speak for everybody else. But for me, I've been an underdog my full life. So being an underdog successful this past game, being an underdog successful each crippled we played successful nan playoffs really doesn't mean thing to me. It mightiness substance maine a small bit, but astatine nan extremity of nan time I conscionable want to play shot and show that we are nan champion squad successful nan nation.

Q. How different will it beryllium to beryllium connected nan different sideline? Will that play intelligence games pinch you astatine all?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: It won't play immoderate intelligence games because we've practiced astatine nan Hard Rock erstwhile there's cipher there, and we've utilized some sidelines. So it mightiness look weird. But astatine nan extremity of nan day, a shot section is simply a shot field.

Q. Akheem, you sewage your teammate correct adjacent to you successful Reuben Bain. You've been a powerful unit connected nan defense. What tin beryllium nan cardinal successful bid to stopping Mendoza and for nan Hoosiers to support plays alive, making judge you get to him?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Fairly simple. Stop nan tally connected first and 2nd down and unit 3rd and long, an evident passing situation, and our walk unreserved speaks for itself. We conscionable get aft him to make them uncomfortable, unit him. Hit him early and make him consciousness our beingness and unit him to make bad decisions.

Q. When you deliberation backmost of what this means, what's nan excitement like? I cognize you're staying focused, 1-0, 1-0. This mightiness beryllium nan biggest 1-0 you person correct now, getting fresh for nan title game. What's nan power like? How are guys staying calm? What's been nan process successful each that?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: Guys are ace excited successful nan locker room. Yeah, guys are ace excited. For maine personally, I'm calm. Obviously, it's a large moment. I'm ace grateful to beryllium successful it, but I conscionable want to attraction connected my preparation. Then erstwhile we get to crippled day, dominate.

Q. Akheem, erstwhile it comes to keys to nan crippled connected Monday, a batch of group are talking astir it's going to beryllium astir you and your relative Reuben location connected nan statement to make stops, to get them disconnected nan field. Do you announcement of that other pressure, aliases is this conscionable different crippled for you?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: For me, it's different game. It doesn't moreover consciousness existent yet. I'm not gonna lie. It's going to consciousness existent erstwhile I measurement connected nan section for warmups. But I conscionable request to attack it for illustration different game. Our D-line needs to play dominant, physical, technically sound. We request to extremity nan tally and unit nan 3rd down and unreserved nan passer.

Q. Akheem, erstwhile it comes to this violative line, what is nan situation that they present, and what is nan cardinal to getting unit connected Fernando Mendoza?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: They're a big, beardown group, very disciplined, play very good together. They tin tally nan ball, for illustration you've seen each year. They person 2 moving backs pinch a 1000 yards. They're an O-line that tin lb nan ball. We're a D-line that tin besides extremity nan run. I deliberation our trenches lucifer well. We request to extremity nan run, unit a passing down 3rd and agelong and get to nan fullback.

Q. When it comes to Mendoza, what makes him specified a bully backmost and nan trouble of trying to get pressure?

AKHEEM MESIDOR: He's a smart quarterback. He tin propulsion nan ball, obviously. Heisman Trophy winner. But he's besides capable to widen nan play pinch his legs. If he doesn't get his first read, 2nd publication and there's a spread successful nan walk rush, he'll measurement up and return off. He'll return off, Cs, As, Bs. It doesn't matter. He's not nan fastest guy, but he tin make plays and widen nan play. He's a Heisman Trophy winner. If we're capable to unreserved nan passer and impact him, I deliberation we'll beryllium capable to unit him to make bad decisions.

SEE ALSO: Mario Cristobal: 'I Couldn't Go to nan Grave Without Miami Being Miami Again'

Transcript courtesy of nan College Football Playoff and ASAPSports.