Boykin, Fields meet with media after practice

TCU returned to practice Thursday after being off since Sunday for finals week.

Afterward, Trevone Boykin and Devonte Fields met with the media for the first time all season.

Here's some highlights from the freshmen's post-practice media session, as well as some nuggets from head coach Gary Patterson:

Devonte Fields

On meeting with the media for the first time: "It don't make me nervous, but I was kind of used to it (in high school). It's alright."

On whether or not he was surprised by his success this year: "I guess so, but I couldn't do it without the coaches and the hard work I put in. All the plays the coaches called, I had to run them right, so I couldn't do it without them."

On learning from senior Ross Forrest, whose injury made room for Fields in the starting lineup: "Ross has been helping me out since the summer time so I was kind of getting used to the plays. Him just being there, helping me out and coaching me every play helped me get used to everything. I just thank Ross for that."

On playing opposite of Stansly Maponga: "That's a real big deal. Stansly helps me out, just like everyone else on the defensive line."

On his confidence right now: "I'm gaining it a little bit."

On his favorite play of the season: "I think it would be the Texas Tech game when coach called the blitz play and I got the sack and almost knocked the helmet off (the quarterback). It was OK game for me. I can do better. I just have to keep working."

Trevone Boykin

On how he found out he would start for Iowa State: "After the situation that happened, Coach Burns called me. They just told me I was going to be the guy. That's all it really was. He called me and said they needed me to step up and be their leader. And I just played my role. That's what they got me here for, and that's what I've tried to do."

On the Iowa State game: "The game was fast. During practice, we practiced fast, played fast. Once that next week came, it kind of helped me."

On the support of his teammates: "My team fell behind me. I just stepped into a role. That's basically all I did. My teammates, they build me up. My offensive line, they build me up. Blaize Foltz, all the seniors - they were behind me and said this is my team. I just took that and ran with it."

On what he needs to work on: "I have a lot to learn. Footwork, keeping my arm up - a lot of balls get knocked down. I have a lot of bad decisions. My main focus right now is Michigan State."

On the possibility of having to compete with Casey Pachall for a starting job next year: "Me and Casey - he's a good guy. We have a great relationship. I competed against him every day, but right now my main focus is on Michigan State."

On true freshman running back B.J. Catalon: "B.J. is a quick dude. He enrolled in the spring, so he basically knew our offense. Once he had to step up when Waymon got hurt, it really wasn't a step backwards for us. But we miss Waymon a lot."

Gary Patterson

On returning to practice: "We're just getting through finals, we're just getting done, so it was a short practice. They're not fully focused in yet. We did a lot of good on good today, and working on a couple personnel groups for Michigan State, but it's still getting back and moving at a high rate."

On waiting to let freshmen like Boykin and Fields talk to the media: "Every time you guys put them on camera, they're being judged. And until they're ready to do that, we don't do that, because everybody's the face of the program."