UCF DT Thomas Collins on Defensive Physicality and Beating No. 2 BYU

It was about BYU coming into this week, ranked number two, just beat number eight top quarterback, What does it mean to come in and knock those guys off and get the highest ranked win in UCF history? Man, it's huge. It's a great feeling to, especially to be out with these guys that you've been working so hard with. It's to win games, you know what I'm saying? We're taking it one week at a time. And just to get this one on the right side, it's so great, man. Scott, the tip ball that you had, just going to that play and seeing Tack, to go ahead and grab the interception, just what that moment was like? I mean, it really started the play before. I saw Coach Martin and Coach Dawson jumping up and down, telling me to wave, like to disrupt the ball path, basically. And I went full power, jumped up, did it, and then I knew Tackett was up back there somewhere. You know, I've seen him do it before. So we just had full faith in everything going our way, and, yeah, he came down with a huge play. Scott talked a little bit about finishing games in the last couple weeks. Obviously, with stuff going on in Houston and in the state, Did you guys, was that kind of the message going into this week, is making sure you finish what you guys did? We were just coming in with the mindset of being hard for four quarters, matching them, matching their intensity. And just wanting that extra, wanting that extra hoop, you know what I'm saying? We've been so close so many times, and just to be able to really keep our foots on their neck was a big part of it. What were your immediate emotions after the last play of the game? Man, it was just overwhelming excitement, man. We was just running around, seeing all the fans jumping up and down and it was just a great it was just a great place. How special is this for you man? It was huge for me finally, yes, being on the field you know what i'm saying, just playing football especially being from Sweden and i can't you know i'm saying i could never imagine anything like this so it's just awesome man, have you ever been a part of you know the field storming before uh man not like this, this is crazy. Well i was gonna say being in the middle of it like what does it feel like what would you know you see them all on tv or what's it like to actually be in the middle no it's overwhelming but it's like uh it's so it's so cool like just being able to actually be with the fans, you feel kind of separated when you're down on the field and the fans are up there, but just feeling everybody and just, you know, being in that moment together, it's so awesome. Like family. What does this win say about this team? There have been some tough road losses prior to this one, but to pull a game out like this, what does this say? What kind of message does it send to the rest of the season schedule? I mean, it really goes behind what we've been doing, what we've been working for, and we already know, you know, we can compete with any team in this league, any team in the nation, so we're just happy to come home with this one and now we're getting back to work tomorrow. How much does it build confidence for you guys? I mean, if you're coming off two games losing streak, you get this big win, how much does that kind of make you build your confidence when you talk about it? I mean, we already know that we could beat anybody, and we come in with that confidence every game, which every day at practice, but, I mean, obviously this helps a lot, you know what I'm saying? We know, now we know that we can do it, and we've been able to do it throughout the season, so it's huge. Thomas, back during media day, we talked about your mom getting a chance to see you play in person for the first time I guess you got a chance to play in person more the rest of the season and just wasn't meant to you to be able to play at the power level. No, I mean, it was a true blessing for my family. They would come out here for my first game. And they've never seen me play football in the US before. So that was just huge to be able to show them around the facilities and show them the game environment, like how awesome Knight Nation is. And so it was just awesome having them out for the first game. They haven't been able to come back, unfortunately, but hopefully we'll be able to cover up some money and have them come out here again. How has that visit kind of helped propel you forward now that you actually had it happen? Man, it was just, I don't know, it was kind of surreal. It was like actually being able to show my parents and my sister and my brother what I'm actually doing, and I'm chasing my dream and being out here. So just knowing that they're behind me and all that, it's awesome. Coach Ross talked about the character on this team. How happy are you for your brothers on the field? You know, through that adversity you had the adversity game, but like you said earlier. You guys were able to pull it off. How happy is that? Man, I'm so happy for all the guys, especially the offense and special teams and obviously the defense. I feel like we've been working so hard for so long now, man. You know, finally we're here. What did it discourage you after the two tough road losses that you guys could come back and beat the highest-ranked team in the country? I mean, we was there. We was in the game. You know what I'm saying? We know that we've been able to beat any team we've played so far this year. Other things came in the way of that, but we have the full confidence to know that we can beat any team in the nation. What goes into the teaching of putting your hands up, tipping the ball, just reaction time, how much has it made you work on and practice and talk? No, it's worked on all the time. We try to, and Coach Martin's a big guy on the details and being thorough in the pass rush and everything. So if you're not putting pressure on the quarterback, you better get your hands up and So that's something we're working on all the time, maybe with one arm or two arms, just trying to get up the block and up off the guys in the back end. Scott said you guys were more physical, felt like you guys were more physical today. Was that kind of the emphasis this week, is to maybe be a little more physical up front? Yeah, I mean, we knew they came in with an experienced line and with a couple guys that can play. So we just come in like we do every week and just striking the guy first. And working hard in the trenches, never giving up, and spraying it hard to the ball. What was the plan defending Bear Bachmeier? Did you feel like you did a good job containing him, especially in the run game? I mean, I feel like we usually play against blank faces. We just try to beat the guy in front of you and make a play. And specifically, it wasn't anything I think we thought of too much. We just try to play fast, play physical, and make plays. Thomas, you're dealing with a lot of injuries behind you in the linebacker corps, which affects you guys in the middle of the depth of space. What can you say about how you guys have stepped up? I feel like this part of the season, everybody's hurt. Everybody's got injuries. So it's all about coming together as a group and supporting your brothers. I know I play hard because I know he's going to play hard next to me. So you know just putting on the line for the guys and putting on the line for UCF, That's what it's all about Man, a few high fives for sure. Super excited for him. Thank you guys so much.