However, the biggest Landers fan of them all, his mom, Tracy Matthews, arrives in Arizona on Friday, and she’ll be there Saturday night at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
“That’s my biggest supporter,” Landers said Thursday at Fiesta Bowl Media Day. “That’s my No. 1 fan. That’s my backbone. She stresses if she can’t make the game. I’m just glad she can make the game so she doesn’t have to stress about it as much.”
QUIZ: Ohio State’s bowl history
HISTORY LESSON: Explore Ohio State’s 46 bowl appearances
Landers was on the sideline a year ago when Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, but he knew he was redshirting as a freshman and wouldn’t play. Now he’s a part of the eight-man rotation on the defensive line. He recorded 7½ tackles for a loss in the regular season.
Landers doesn’t know how many snaps he’ll get Saturday. Every game is different.
“It all depends on how the game is going,” he said. “I don’t care how many snaps I get. My biggest thing is whatever your role is, play it. If you get minutes, make those the best minutes. If you don’t, then you don’t. Cheer on your teammates, and support them the best you can.”
Defensive line Larry Johnson tells Landers and the other defensive linemen when to enter the game.
“He says, ‘If you’re not on my hip when I call your name, then we have a problem,’” Landers said. “I say, ‘Yes, sir, I’m going to be right in your pocket.’”
Lisle update: Centerville grad Evan Lisle has been in the center of some of the biggest plays of the season for the Buckeyes.
As a redshirt junior offensive lineman on the field-goal unit, he has experienced the best and worst of the season: the game-tying field goal in the final seconds against Michigan and the field goal blocked by Penn State and returned for one touchdown in Ohio State’s only loss.
On Thursday at the Camelback Inn, Lisle talked about both of those plays.
Of the Tyler Durbin kick against Michigan, a field goal that followed two misses, Lisle said, “You can’t flinch or else the game would be over. You just had to hold your gap. It was awesome. You’ve just got to do your job. He’s been good all year. Every kicker misses a field goal once in a while. You can’t let him get down.”
Of the block by Penn State, Lisle said, “The guy timed it up perfectly and jumped up. You look back on it and watch it. You’ve just got to move on, and we did as a team.”
Lisle competed for a starting job this season when three starting jobs opened. He’s listed as a backup at left tackle to junior Jamarco Jones.
“It’s hard,” Lisle said. “You’re here for the team. My role is to do anything to help the team.”
At least one spot on the line will open after this season because Ohio State loses Pat Elflein. The competition for that job has already begun.
“I’ve got a year left,” Lisle said. “(Starting is) the goal. It starts in bowl practice. It’s been going on for a while. It’s all season. We’re always looking for the next guy.”
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