Video: Player media availability

Junior DB Dylan Haines

On defensive leaders stepping up: Absolutely. We lost guys like Quandre Diggs and Mykkele Thompson , but there's a lot of young and talented freshmen that you've never seen before that you're going to get a good look at because they're going to be ones that are competing for playing time this fall. I think there's that competition from them. Jason Hall is going to have to fight for his spot. I'm going to have to fight for my spot. Nothing is set in stone as far as who is going to be out there against Notre Dame, the first game of the season. I think all of that competition is going to make everyone better and we're going to turn out with a really good defense this fall.

On being impressed by the talent of the incoming guys: Since I've been here, that's probably one of the more, if not the most, talented groups that I've ever seen as far as true freshmen coming in. I know there are a lot of junior college guys as far as the o-line, but as far as the true freshmen go, it's definitely one of the most talented groups that I've seen.

On the offseason with Coach Strong and the coaching staff: Coach Strong and all of the coaches made it clear to all of the freshmen what was expected out of them this summer. It was more focused on becoming a team, becoming one unit. We've pushed a lot about getting to know one another, stop just hanging around your click. I think this group has been different because they've come in closer to the football family than some of the other groups. This offseason we've just made tremendous strides and we've worked really hard. We've made so much progress on the field and off the field, so we're in a really good spot going into camp.

On guys finally being ready to fight [regarding top recruiting classes not producing in previous years]: Obviously being Texas there is always going to be talent coming in here. There is always these top five, top 10 recruiting classes but sometimes you don't see that translate to the season. There's so many things that go on inside of a program that no one ever hears about, no one ever knows about because it's a family. You can have all of the talent in the world, but if you don't come together then it just doesn't work. We've always had "dogs", but now we've got a team. This is the first time I've really felt like we've had one team all together, and there's no one on the outside. There's no one on the fence. Everyone has just got the right idea.

Senior OG Sedrick Flowers

On not coming out of games last year when hurting because there wasn't depth: Even if there was someone behind me, I wouldn't have wanted to come out because I'm not that type of guy. If I'm hurt, I want to try to stay in as long as I can until the coach says look, we're putting someone from the second team in. But even if there was somebody behind me, I would've tried to stay in.

On comfort knowing there is depth entering fall camp: It feels good. If I'm not getting it done or I start to get tired, then there's someone right behind me. It feels good knowing that there's somebody behind you that can be there for you.

On last year's bowl game sticking with them: It left a really bad taste in all of our mouths. We did get better throughout the season. It was small and however you want to measure it, but I saw it. We got closer as a unit and started to get better throughout the season. We didn't get as good as we should've been, and that showed in the bowl game. Going from there to now, we've gotten a whole lot better. I'm really excited to see this season and how we're going to do. I've never really been this excited to get ready for camp.

On paving the way to help Johnathan Gray have a big year: Since he got here, he's worked hard. He's worked real hard. He's put his head down and just gone at it. Whatever Coach tells him to do, he goes at it 100 percent. He deserves to have a good line blocking for him so he can do what he needs to do this year. I'm going to do the best that I can, and I know that the other four guys are going to do whatever we can to do whatever he needs to do.

Redshirt freshman QB Jerrod Heard

On being a part of the quarterback competition: I think right now as a competitive guy, I just want to help the team. That's my goal. I want to be the guy that can be relied upon when that time comes. That's what I'm working on right now – just to be the most reliable QB I can be for this locker room. I just know my job right now is to keep pressing forward. That is what the coaches tell me. I just need to keep being that reliable guy. Anything can happen.

On junior QB Tyrone Swoopes ' leadership: We both have our ways of sharing the leadership role. He has a bigger voice than me. I respect Tyrone because of what he's done and the games that he's done. I have a great deal of respect for Tyrone. I still look up to him as a guy that's played and knows how to overcome adversities and been through tough times.

On playing two quarterbacks against Notre Dame: That goes to me being ready. When Charlie calls my number, I just have to be ready to put the ball in the end zone.

On what the winner of the quarterback competition has to do: We do have our different styles. Our focus is to just put the ball in the end zone. With this new offense and the quick decision making, I think it works better for both of us because it's what we both grew up playing in high school. We are just trying to get the ball in the end zone.

On redshirting last season and if that's extra motivation: It's definitely frustrating. It just made me work harder. I have a lot to prove and it gave me a chip on my shoulder. I just wanted to go out there and be a reliable guy for the team in the spring and summer. I just have to keep proving that I'm getting better. This is a young team and a young squad. They want to know whose going to be the guy now and in the future, so my job is to show that I'm going to be the reliable guy as long as I'm here.

Senior DT Desmond Jackson

On what is looking forward to at camp: Just putting a helmet back on and going out and doing it all over again.

On how he's improved: I'm mentally stronger than I was before. With the injury that I had, it makes you sit back and enjoy life a little bit more. I'm mentally stronger and just ready to go out there again.

On any setbacks from injury: As far as I know I'm 100 percent and ready to go out there and show them what I can do.

On how he stayed mentally strong through the injury: Everything happens for a reason. That was my biggest thing. Just stay calm, hungry, and humble about it. I'm just ready to go out there.

On Coach Brick Haley : He's a little different. I like Coach Haley a lot. He's a very humble guy. I talk to him on a regular basis. He just tells me that he's ready to see what I got. He knows that I love the team and once I get going, there's no going back.

Freshman LB Malik Jefferson

On excitement for this fall: I'm very excited. I'm ready to go out there and ball and do what I'm supposed to do because that's what Coach wants. That's what the whole team wants. We'll put in the effort to do everything we can to get ourselves back on the map and put the "T" in Texas.

On the biggest difference so far between college vs high school football: The speed of it. It's not really a hard game. You've got to study and know what you're doing, of course, but it's always going to be the speed of the game. It's just faster. It takes time.

On it being beneficial that he arrived during the spring: Big time. I think it separated me a lot from my freshman class. Those guys look up to me every day and ask me questions. I try to help them with what to do and what not to do. Of course with the whole weight situation and getting stronger and faster sooner, that plays a big part too.

On adjustments he's had to make in pass coverage: Pass coverage is not that hard. You just have to know when to be patient for the run. It's that type of deal. Playing inside is just a little bit slower. You have to see the bigger picture; you have to see the whole picture. It's going to be a lot harder than playing outside because you just contain the edge.

On eagerness to run through the tunnel for the first time: I'm really nervous honestly. I'm ready to get on the field because I know it's going to be crazy. I wish we were playing in our home stadium first, but that's just how things go. I'm going to be excited to be out there in my first college game and give it my best.

Senior WR/RB Daje Johnson

On how he feels about fall camp: I feel excited for it. We've been working this whole summer, myself and the receivers, in the summer camp. We've been working really hard getting used to this heat, so I'm really excited for camp.

On working hard to improve his game [regarding Coach Strong's comment that he hasn't made a play since two years ago against OU]: I've got to prove him wrong this year. We've been working towards that. These past three years have been an upset to me, just not making any plays really, so senior year is the last year and I'm really looking forward to making plays for the team and just helping the team win.

On what he believes has kept him from "breaking out": I've had trouble not really getting on the field with my own conflicts and everything. I'm going away from that and just having a positive lifestyle, so now I'm on the field, healthy, no issues off the field. I'm just ready to ball.

On why he is just now stepping up and focusing: Choosing to now is just me growing up and really being more mature. I've been wanting to do it this whole time, but my off-the-field issues kind of conflicted with all of that. Now I'm done with all of that, it just took me a minute to grow up.

On his capabilities on the field: I'm capable of doing everything on the field - catching punts and working on my blocking. That's been a big issue with me in the spring. Catching kickoff returns, receiving, running back, I feel like I'm very versatile on the field. I'm also helping my teammates get better on the field. Being a good communicator, that's one thing I've been working on. I'm just trying to be a good voice throughout the whole team.

Senior WR Marcus Johnson

On preparing for the 2015 Season: I think the best way to put it is just prepare. I think I've worked harder than I ever have coming into a season. I think continue to bond as a team. I think we've done a good job of that of coming together as a team and putting it together on and off the field.

On the quarterback battle: I saw great things from both. I think they've both gotten comfortable with the offense. I think the scheme shows their athleticism. Like in the spring game you saw both guys running around more and being able to get the ball out of their hand quicker so you see more of their attributes really show. Like I said it's just getting more comfortable with the offense.

On leadership role: I think the biggest thing is being prepared. As a leader the best thing you can do is practice what you preach in everything that I am telling them I am doing. I am not the most vocal guy but just leading by example and practicing what you preach.

On individually improving from last season: The best thing I did this summer was really prepare myself in a mental aspect to get ready for situations where I can help the team. A combination of different things along the summer but the most important thing was I brought teammates along with me. I didn't do it by myself.

On his impressions of the freshmen class: To be honest this is probably the shiest group. They are more of a humble group. They don't say too much. They do what they need to do but they are also a group where maybe I am walking around the stadium and I see them putting in extra work by the north end zone and things like that.

Junior QB Tyrone Swoopes

On what improved over the summer: I just worked on what Coach Watson and I talked about. Just being smarter game-management wise and checking the ball down when needed and footwork.

On freshmen wide receivers: I think as a whole group, they all came in as a group and started working from day one. They didn't complain and just came out and worked and learned the system. I think all of them are going to be really good.

On how much has the competition with Heard helped him: He's always been there and it's always been a friendly competition. We both want to play. We both are going to do what we have to do to get on the field.

On the change of offense: I wouldn't say it's drastically different from last year. Some of it is the same but we are doing a lot more tempo stuff and kind of trying to keep the defense on its heels.

On how competitive he is with Heard: Of course you want to be competitive with your position and everyone on the team for that matter, but I would say we are pretty competitive on the field. We don't carry it off the field. We are pretty good friends off the field.