Punt Quotes

I told them I would be comfortable with returning punts if I was needed, ... If my role is using me as both a wide receiver and punt returner, I`ve done it before. I just always have it in the back of my mind that I always have to go out there and be ready.

I`m a little sore, but I`m fine. I can still punt the ball. I can still hold the ball (for Adam Vinatieri). I had an angle on him, but you had the worst athlete on the team, trying to tackle the best athlete on the team.

I never felt so bad after a win. We`ve got to get better as a punt unit. I was sick last night.

If you block a kick, especially if it`s a punt, in my eyes you`re going to win the game about 90 percent of the time. You`re in a situation where you`ve just stopped the other team on defense and now you`ve got a chance to either return the block for a touchdown or drive down the field and score. It can make for a 14-point swing. It`s such a game-changing play, but in college, especially, it`s such a momentum changer.

Punt returns will kill you quicker than a minnow can swim a dipper.

I try to do my part. It`s gratifying when you pin them down there and the defense stops and they have to punt from the end zone - it`s kind of the hidden stuff.

When they leave that guy open out there, that`s in our play to throw it to him. It just so happened to be the first punt of the year. I was lucky that I saw it, and Ronnie Prude knew it was coming too. I saw (the defender) creep in, and I was thinking about it, `If he rushes, then I`m going to throw it to him.` As soon as the ball was snapped, he was rushing and I threw it to (Prude). I just saw the opportunity and took it.

Those punt returns were an asset for us tonight. Overall, we have very good speed -- probably the best since I`ve been here.

(On Chris Harrell`s near fatal late-hit penalty on Wildcat quarterback Brett Basanez in the fourth quarter, which would have forced Northwestern to punt deep in its own territory with the Lions down two points:) That could have changed the whole course of the game, ... But we could have folded at that point, but you just have to know there`s always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us.