On whether there are any young defensive linemen that are starting to make a name for themselves…

“All the young guys are starting to improve and showing things that they can do. With that question, all of them are stepping up to the plate, but everybody has something that they need to work and improve.”

On what ways he and Malik Herring play off each other on the field…

“Malik, he’s like my older brother. I’ve been looking up to him ever since I was in middle school and high school. He was 15 minutes up the road from me so, he’s always been one of those players that push me and help me be a better player even though we play the same position. Finally getting to compete against each other every day, it just motivates me to go hard and even when he’s hurting, he pushes himself, I push him. He stays on me and I stay on him.”

On whether there are other ways to disrupt plays if you don’t pressure the quarterback…

“When you can’t quite get to the quarterback, Coach [Kirby] Smart and Coach [Dan] Lanning want, I always emphasize if you run back to the ball on maybe like a screen, you can help get in on that play. Just if you don’t get to the quarterback fast enough, you can still be effective by chasing the ball down.”

On what ways he and Travon Walker play off each other on the field…

“Just trying to help him out in things he could have done and things I could have done. Just really try and help each other improve and getting better rushes, shed edges and making the plays we’re supposed to make.”

On the success the team has had coming out of bye weeks…

“I feel like why we’re so successful after the bye week is all the preparation during the bye weeks. We just go hard and focus on each other like camp practices. I definitely have seen that this past week.”

On the preparation for Kentucky’s offense…

“Really just try and stop the run. That’s what we preach every game, every day, just stop the run. With the quarterbacks, just have good contain and make sure we keep them in the box.”