Jax State Football Press Conference 2026--Kennesaw State
10/2/2026 3:10:00 PM | Football
Coach Charles Kelly
Q: You guys get into a key stretch here in Weekday CUSA. Kind of walk us through the schedule adjustment using these extra couple of days, and then getting ready for the midweeks.
A: Playing five straight games, we've been going since the last week of July. Players had a couple days off, which they needed. Usually, I'd try to give them an extra day off after four weeks, but just because of the way the schedule worked out, we went five weeks. They got a couple days off, and then we came back. We did practice Wednesday and Thursday, and had good practices. They were physical. Our our main focus is on us getting better as a team, focusing on the details that it takes to to win. We've worked a lot of situations where we've struggled this year. The truth of the matter is, we're a little over two minutes away from sitting here undefeated. But you can play 58 minutes of the game really well, or 59 minutes, and you don't play a situation. Well, it puts you in a bad situation. So we've focused on doing those details, whether it be working in the red zone, working on third down, working two minute situations because those are the situations in the game that again are going to affect the outcome of the game. I know everybody's watching baseball right now. At least I am. I'm a baseball fan. I'm a big sports fan. But it's interesting to me. Like you watch these games and people move the ball up and down the field, but they don't score in the red zone. Well, it's no different. Two days ago, when I walked out to practice, I could have told you the Braves were going to lose. It didn't matter what the score was. And somebody said, "Why'd you know that? I said, "Because they left all those runners in scoring position. And then last night, the reason why the Phillies lost is because they left all the runners in scoring position. The same thing in football. You get down there, you got a chance to get points. You got to get points, and we should score touchdowns if we can prevent them from scoring points, and we got a we got a good chance of winning. It's just that's the way it works in sports. So we focused on that kind of stuff all week, and you know hopefully we'll see it improve.
Q: Give us your early impressions on Jerry (Mack's) team as you get ready to play Kennesaw State.
A: Coach Mack's got another good team. What I really respect about him is, first of all, he's a really good man. I've known him for a long time, but what I respect about him is his team. They do what they do. When you turn the video on, they are who they are on offense, and they are who they are on defense. They believe in what they do, and that that's half the battle is when when you have confidence and you you know you have conviction about what you do, that that that makes you a good team. And you know, they do that. He's got playmakers on offense. They're good on the offensive line. Quarterback's playing good. They got good running backs, and they got good wide receivers. Defensively, Baron (Hopson) is good a defensive player as there is in this conference. I got a ton of respect for him, but they also got some other good defensive players too. They're multiple in what they do. They're a 3-4 defense, but they can cause you some issues in protection, and they change the coverages up a little bit. So we'll have to do a good job of recognizing, and then in special teams, they got good skill people, so you know it'll be a be a good matchup.
Q: Could you give an update on Walker O'Steen?
A: Walker's going to miss the rest of the year. It's a tough, tough deal for us. You know, I'm really straightforward with y'all guys. I'm a little leery until we have the official diagnosis. But he'll miss the rest of the year. I hate it for him because he's been very instrumental in a lot of our success since I've been here. But you know it'll give some other guys opportunities. I think JQ (Brooks) will tell you we got other guys on the team that will develop. As I said last year, we had guys get hurt, especially in the linebacker room. We had guys get hurt, and that's how Mac (Sanders) developed into what he was last year. So I hate it. I hate it for Walker, but you know, that's part of part of this game.
Q: Amari Odom and Ricky Collins. What's the difference in those two guys?Â
A: I think both are very talented. Both can make throws. Both can be dangerous running the football when the protection breaks down. That's the one thing I see about Jerry and his staff. They do a good job. That's a sign of a good football coach is when you change people and it still looks the same, and I think it does. So we'll have to do a good job of containing them, and being able to eliminate explosive plays. That's what they thrive on. They look for, and we we've got to be able to do a good job of that.
Q: What do you need to see, and who are you calling on to step up?
A: Myles Butler's played a lot of football since he's been here. He's getting better. Morven Joseph was injured last year, but he's very athletic. Has made some plays from a from an ability standpoint and skill wise. I mean, he's got as much ability as anybody, and then, A-Dot Aidan (Thompson), he's got to continue to get better. He brings a toughness element to our team that's really important. You got some young linebackers; Mikey Rosa, who we've played him at outside a lot, but he's made a lot of plays. He's kind of going under the radar a little bit, but he plays inside and outside, and he's got some length. He's got some size, and then the two young backers, you know, Braden (Matthews) and Jameson (McCullough), they're good players. There's a reason why we signed them here, and you sign them to play. The only way you learn how to play this game is play. You don't learn by watching. So I think in that room there'll be some surprises. But we are where we're at. I said the first week. We are not in the excuse-making business,
Q: Could you tell us just a little bit about Lucas (Farrington)? How he is a player and a person, just in light of his recent success.Â
A: I'm gonna say as a person. I mean, he is a great young man. All right, doesn't say a whole lot. I think he will probably be the first to tell you that I've probably challenged him as much as anybody else on this football team, because and the reason for that, and I say myself, he and Coach Max (Thurmond) probably have challenged him as much as anybody on this team, because we see we coach him for the player that he can be, not for the player he is right now, and I think he started to figure that out. And he's like, okay, I mean, there was never any doubt in my mind from an ability standpoint, he's fought through some things too, to make himself he he gets a lot of credit for it because he's fought through and he's been patient and doesn't say anything just whenever his you know numbers called I don't know if a lot of people realize but that last two minute drive against Ohio where we got down there at the end of the game before we go into overtime, I thought that was the first time I thought, okay, he's getting it, he's getting it, and you know. But I think he'll be, he'll tell you as well. It's just that whole room of backs that they're playing about what I. That's what I thought. All of them have something different that they bring, which that makes it tough as a defensive coordinator scheming against them because again they're all a little bit different and they have a little bit different skill set.
Q: Â The run game, I think it was the best game of the year at least statistically. Just what did you see, and what was the was there something different that you guys were able to do against Middle Tennessee?
A: I don't think so. I think what you're seeing is, we've been able to throw the football more efficiently, and when you do that, you have to play a certain way. You have to respect the deep part of the field if you can throw the football. Well, when you respect the deep part of the field, it creates numbers in the run game. I want to be able to line up in 12 personnel on the first play of the game and knock it out of the park for a 12-yard gain, but sometimes people play you different. So I think what's happened is, I think first of all, our conditioning has helped us because the the longer we go in the game, it seems like the better we get in the run game, and I think that comes down to conditioning. And but I think it all goes together. Some sometimes you get the looks to be able to run a little bit more. Sometimes you get the looks to be able to execute the passing game. I think of the championship game last year. I mean, we weren't able to really establish that run at all in that game at any any point consistently, so we got to continue to do that.
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RB Lucas Farrington & CB JQ Brooks
Q: What was working well for you on Saturday?
LF: Â I feel like coming into the game, we had a lot of preparation. Being with Coach Kelly, just making sure we stay focused because I know going into the game, man, all the running backs was getting really good reps in practice, doing what they had to do, and I just feel like the biggest like focus for me was coming in whenever my numbers called, just being able to execute so that my team knows what to expect every time I get in the game.
Q: The only way to get better at this game is by playing it. You've started all five games so far. Really, your first college action. Give us an idea on how you've grown from that first snap against North Dakota State to where you are now.
JQ: I say from my first snap against North Dakota, I felt like I was nervous. I mean, I made like minor mistakes, but as the as the weeks went on and as I practiced preparing myself the right way, I feel like I got better as an athlete.
Q: What did you see from the run game?
LF: It's all bits and pieces that go into it. First off, I'm gonna give credit my offensive line because I feel like, as Coach Kelly said, with the conditioning piece, I know going deep into the game, we'll get deep into drive, and I know one of the big things I focus on is giving credit the O-line, letting them know like I'm here with y'all. We're just as tired, you know. We gonna keep working through the drive, but also having (Caden) Creel, as you said, he he can be a person that you got to stop too. So it's like he can open up a lot of room for the running backs and, of course, the receivers stretching the field as well. Like defenses have to respect that. So I feel like whenever a defense has to respect all parts of of the play, and I feel like when they got look at everything, it's kind of like okay, the run game is going to open up a little bit more, so I felt like that was a big piece of this game.
Q: Without Walker, what does this defense maybe need to do as a group?Â
JQ: I mean, just as the defense as a whole, like we just got trusting in each other. Like D-line trust the linebackers, linebackers trust the safeties, safeties trust the corner. Like it's a big chemistry. So I feel like with Walker going down, we got a lot of young guys, like Coach Kelly said, that's ready to step up and ready to do their job.
Q: It seems like you guys are not only good carrying the ball, but you guys have had a good year catching the ball. Is that an emphasis? Is that something you guys talk about?
LF: Coach Thurman, I know he's really focused on. He knows, like we can run the ball really well. I feel like definitely catching is something you need to emphasize in practice. Getting reps at that, and I feel like everybody in the running back room really came with that ability at some point in time. So that's a blessing, of course, because everybody doesn't have that ability. But I definitely feel like everybody in the room has the ability to be able to do that, and I feel like that's a big skill nowadays for running backs.Â
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Q: You guys get into a key stretch here in Weekday CUSA. Kind of walk us through the schedule adjustment using these extra couple of days, and then getting ready for the midweeks.
A: Playing five straight games, we've been going since the last week of July. Players had a couple days off, which they needed. Usually, I'd try to give them an extra day off after four weeks, but just because of the way the schedule worked out, we went five weeks. They got a couple days off, and then we came back. We did practice Wednesday and Thursday, and had good practices. They were physical. Our our main focus is on us getting better as a team, focusing on the details that it takes to to win. We've worked a lot of situations where we've struggled this year. The truth of the matter is, we're a little over two minutes away from sitting here undefeated. But you can play 58 minutes of the game really well, or 59 minutes, and you don't play a situation. Well, it puts you in a bad situation. So we've focused on doing those details, whether it be working in the red zone, working on third down, working two minute situations because those are the situations in the game that again are going to affect the outcome of the game. I know everybody's watching baseball right now. At least I am. I'm a baseball fan. I'm a big sports fan. But it's interesting to me. Like you watch these games and people move the ball up and down the field, but they don't score in the red zone. Well, it's no different. Two days ago, when I walked out to practice, I could have told you the Braves were going to lose. It didn't matter what the score was. And somebody said, "Why'd you know that? I said, "Because they left all those runners in scoring position. And then last night, the reason why the Phillies lost is because they left all the runners in scoring position. The same thing in football. You get down there, you got a chance to get points. You got to get points, and we should score touchdowns if we can prevent them from scoring points, and we got a we got a good chance of winning. It's just that's the way it works in sports. So we focused on that kind of stuff all week, and you know hopefully we'll see it improve.
Q: Give us your early impressions on Jerry (Mack's) team as you get ready to play Kennesaw State.
A: Coach Mack's got another good team. What I really respect about him is, first of all, he's a really good man. I've known him for a long time, but what I respect about him is his team. They do what they do. When you turn the video on, they are who they are on offense, and they are who they are on defense. They believe in what they do, and that that's half the battle is when when you have confidence and you you know you have conviction about what you do, that that that makes you a good team. And you know, they do that. He's got playmakers on offense. They're good on the offensive line. Quarterback's playing good. They got good running backs, and they got good wide receivers. Defensively, Baron (Hopson) is good a defensive player as there is in this conference. I got a ton of respect for him, but they also got some other good defensive players too. They're multiple in what they do. They're a 3-4 defense, but they can cause you some issues in protection, and they change the coverages up a little bit. So we'll have to do a good job of recognizing, and then in special teams, they got good skill people, so you know it'll be a be a good matchup.
Q: Could you give an update on Walker O'Steen?
A: Walker's going to miss the rest of the year. It's a tough, tough deal for us. You know, I'm really straightforward with y'all guys. I'm a little leery until we have the official diagnosis. But he'll miss the rest of the year. I hate it for him because he's been very instrumental in a lot of our success since I've been here. But you know it'll give some other guys opportunities. I think JQ (Brooks) will tell you we got other guys on the team that will develop. As I said last year, we had guys get hurt, especially in the linebacker room. We had guys get hurt, and that's how Mac (Sanders) developed into what he was last year. So I hate it. I hate it for Walker, but you know, that's part of part of this game.
Q: Amari Odom and Ricky Collins. What's the difference in those two guys?Â
A: I think both are very talented. Both can make throws. Both can be dangerous running the football when the protection breaks down. That's the one thing I see about Jerry and his staff. They do a good job. That's a sign of a good football coach is when you change people and it still looks the same, and I think it does. So we'll have to do a good job of containing them, and being able to eliminate explosive plays. That's what they thrive on. They look for, and we we've got to be able to do a good job of that.
Q: What do you need to see, and who are you calling on to step up?
A: Myles Butler's played a lot of football since he's been here. He's getting better. Morven Joseph was injured last year, but he's very athletic. Has made some plays from a from an ability standpoint and skill wise. I mean, he's got as much ability as anybody, and then, A-Dot Aidan (Thompson), he's got to continue to get better. He brings a toughness element to our team that's really important. You got some young linebackers; Mikey Rosa, who we've played him at outside a lot, but he's made a lot of plays. He's kind of going under the radar a little bit, but he plays inside and outside, and he's got some length. He's got some size, and then the two young backers, you know, Braden (Matthews) and Jameson (McCullough), they're good players. There's a reason why we signed them here, and you sign them to play. The only way you learn how to play this game is play. You don't learn by watching. So I think in that room there'll be some surprises. But we are where we're at. I said the first week. We are not in the excuse-making business,
Q: Could you tell us just a little bit about Lucas (Farrington)? How he is a player and a person, just in light of his recent success.Â
A: I'm gonna say as a person. I mean, he is a great young man. All right, doesn't say a whole lot. I think he will probably be the first to tell you that I've probably challenged him as much as anybody else on this football team, because and the reason for that, and I say myself, he and Coach Max (Thurmond) probably have challenged him as much as anybody on this team, because we see we coach him for the player that he can be, not for the player he is right now, and I think he started to figure that out. And he's like, okay, I mean, there was never any doubt in my mind from an ability standpoint, he's fought through some things too, to make himself he he gets a lot of credit for it because he's fought through and he's been patient and doesn't say anything just whenever his you know numbers called I don't know if a lot of people realize but that last two minute drive against Ohio where we got down there at the end of the game before we go into overtime, I thought that was the first time I thought, okay, he's getting it, he's getting it, and you know. But I think he'll be, he'll tell you as well. It's just that whole room of backs that they're playing about what I. That's what I thought. All of them have something different that they bring, which that makes it tough as a defensive coordinator scheming against them because again they're all a little bit different and they have a little bit different skill set.
Q: Â The run game, I think it was the best game of the year at least statistically. Just what did you see, and what was the was there something different that you guys were able to do against Middle Tennessee?
A: I don't think so. I think what you're seeing is, we've been able to throw the football more efficiently, and when you do that, you have to play a certain way. You have to respect the deep part of the field if you can throw the football. Well, when you respect the deep part of the field, it creates numbers in the run game. I want to be able to line up in 12 personnel on the first play of the game and knock it out of the park for a 12-yard gain, but sometimes people play you different. So I think what's happened is, I think first of all, our conditioning has helped us because the the longer we go in the game, it seems like the better we get in the run game, and I think that comes down to conditioning. And but I think it all goes together. Some sometimes you get the looks to be able to run a little bit more. Sometimes you get the looks to be able to execute the passing game. I think of the championship game last year. I mean, we weren't able to really establish that run at all in that game at any any point consistently, so we got to continue to do that.
Â
RB Lucas Farrington & CB JQ Brooks
Q: What was working well for you on Saturday?
LF: Â I feel like coming into the game, we had a lot of preparation. Being with Coach Kelly, just making sure we stay focused because I know going into the game, man, all the running backs was getting really good reps in practice, doing what they had to do, and I just feel like the biggest like focus for me was coming in whenever my numbers called, just being able to execute so that my team knows what to expect every time I get in the game.
Q: The only way to get better at this game is by playing it. You've started all five games so far. Really, your first college action. Give us an idea on how you've grown from that first snap against North Dakota State to where you are now.
JQ: I say from my first snap against North Dakota, I felt like I was nervous. I mean, I made like minor mistakes, but as the as the weeks went on and as I practiced preparing myself the right way, I feel like I got better as an athlete.
Q: What did you see from the run game?
LF: It's all bits and pieces that go into it. First off, I'm gonna give credit my offensive line because I feel like, as Coach Kelly said, with the conditioning piece, I know going deep into the game, we'll get deep into drive, and I know one of the big things I focus on is giving credit the O-line, letting them know like I'm here with y'all. We're just as tired, you know. We gonna keep working through the drive, but also having (Caden) Creel, as you said, he he can be a person that you got to stop too. So it's like he can open up a lot of room for the running backs and, of course, the receivers stretching the field as well. Like defenses have to respect that. So I feel like whenever a defense has to respect all parts of of the play, and I feel like when they got look at everything, it's kind of like okay, the run game is going to open up a little bit more, so I felt like that was a big piece of this game.
Q: Without Walker, what does this defense maybe need to do as a group?Â
JQ: I mean, just as the defense as a whole, like we just got trusting in each other. Like D-line trust the linebackers, linebackers trust the safeties, safeties trust the corner. Like it's a big chemistry. So I feel like with Walker going down, we got a lot of young guys, like Coach Kelly said, that's ready to step up and ready to do their job.
Q: It seems like you guys are not only good carrying the ball, but you guys have had a good year catching the ball. Is that an emphasis? Is that something you guys talk about?
LF: Coach Thurman, I know he's really focused on. He knows, like we can run the ball really well. I feel like definitely catching is something you need to emphasize in practice. Getting reps at that, and I feel like everybody in the running back room really came with that ability at some point in time. So that's a blessing, of course, because everybody doesn't have that ability. But I definitely feel like everybody in the room has the ability to be able to do that, and I feel like that's a big skill nowadays for running backs.Â
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Players Mentioned
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