“A lot of different things go into calling the run game - especially at the line of scrimmage.”

“A lot of guys have tons of talent, but it boils down to the mental side of things. Preparing and knowing your offense and studying the defense. Being able to read and react quickly. The mental side is often overlooked.”

“All I care about is winning.”

“As a junior in high school, I had some injury problems with my arm and shoulder from baseball, so I didn't play quarterback as a junior. I played a little wide receiver, linebacker, and safety.”

“At the end of the day, you just want to go to a team that believes in you... and hopefully wants to build a franchise around you.”

“Being at NDSU and winning national championships, everyone's gunning for you. You got a big target on your back, and we had to be ready to go week in and week out. I think playing for a program like that, everyone's going to give you their best shot, and we embrace that.”

“Central Michigan was the one FBS team that recruited me hard.”

“Even at North Dakota State, football is a big deal.”

“Every down is important.”

“Everything that comes with the game, I think I will handle it extremely easily. I don't let a lot of that outside stuff bother me.”

“Football is football; I don't care if you're doing it in Division II, NAIA, or in the SEC or anything in between.”

“Honestly, I always told my coaches my whole career - we'll practice two-minute drills in practice, like, once a week and everything - I'm just like, 'Those are my favorite time of football.' I'm out there in total control, just getting everything lined up, getting everybody on the same page, and obviously, usually it's pass after pass after pass.”

“Honestly, I've always loved cheesesteaks. They're kind of my go-to when there's nothing else to have at restaurants, but obviously it's a little different when you're out in Philly and have an authentic Philly cheesesteak.”

“I actually hated hunting the first time I went when I was a kid. My dad took us deer hunting. We sat there for 30 minutes, and I felt like I was losing my mind. But in college, I fell in love with it. Football became a full-time job, and I needed an escape. I needed something that would mellow me out.”

“I can make all the throws. My mental side is a strength as far as understanding defense schemes and our playbook. I'm able to change plays when needed. I think that sets me apart.”

“I didn't even have cable back in my college house.”

“I do have a little chip on my shoulder. I want to make a name for this state. I want to represent this state well so that's kinda the chip on my shoulder in that regard.”

“I don't get nervous.”

“I enjoy creating relationships with my teammates, my friends, and I genuinely care about people.”

“I feel like I've earned respect with how I go about my business, how I carry myself.”

“I hate losing, and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to be the best at whatever it is I'm doing.”

“I hold myself to a high standard.”

“I just have to have trust in my guys to make plays. I play at a confident, fast pace, and when I like something, I take it. I rip it.”

“I know we're not going undefeated. I know I'm not going to throw a touchdown every game.”

“I listen to worship music before the game to calm my nerves and just go out and have fun. It's a game, and I try to enjoy it.”

“I remember just praying, 'Dear Lord, please let me grow to be at least 6 feet.'”

“I think I have the special ability to process information quickly and dissect defenses.”

“I think leadership is just something that comes really natural to me.”

“I think one thing I had going for me that a lot of rookies didn't is that we played 15, 16 games every year in college.”

“I think the biggest thing, even from Day 1 after the draft, was coach DeFillipo being very detailed with everything.”

“I view every day just as an opportunity.”

“If you can play, you can play - and I know I can. If anyone wants to doubt that, heck - I'm more than ready to prove you wrong.”

“If you throw the ball 60 times, you are going to make miss some of them. That kind of happens.”

“I'll be in a cadence, and I'll start to see one thing that a defense is starting to do, I'm like, 'I saw that two months ago on film.' And then that triggers whatever call you need to make.”

“I'm a competitive son of a gun. I don't like losing. I want to be the best out there. I want to lead the troops. I want to kind of take the bull by the horns and be in control.”

“I'm a very motivated person. I don't need extra motivation.”

“I'm going to put a lot of expectations on myself.”

“I'm just going to compete my tail off and hopefully win a lot of games.”

“I'm not an idiot; I can make adjustments to my life. But I like having a schedule.”

“I'm one that doesn't let the pressure or any of the outside kind of scrutiny, all those things, really get to me.”

“It doesn't matter if you're winning or losing. You've got to be the same guy; you've got to prepare the same.”

“I've always thought I played at a high level and played at a fast pace.”

“Names that come to mind that I've learned from are Tom Brady - the way he gets the ball out and is so decisive. You can tell he is in total control out there. Another name is Aaron Rodgers, and how he's in total command. And also, Cam Newton, the way he has fun. I love that part of it.”

“Playing football in Fargo has a total big-time feel. Everyone says it's FCS and it's a smaller school, but in Fargo, North Dakota, and in the state of North Dakota, NDSU football is the real deal.”

“There are going to be losses. There are going to be bad plays. There are going to be mistakes.”

“There is just something about being out in open country, about seeing the sun rise over a pond, that's really beautiful.”

“Timing and accuracy is really what matters at the end of the day.”

“We have a culture at NDSU that's about the team first.”

“When you come in as the second overall pick, the last thing you want is for guys to think you believe you've made it. Because that's the farthest thing from the truth.”

“You just control what you can control and just hopefully go win games and keep getting better.”

“Young quarterbacks usually experience bumps in the road. I'll take them in stride.”

“You're not always going to come out on top.”