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#UNC defensive back Will Hardy press conference
Oct 28, 2025
#UNC defensive back Will Hardy press conference
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0:00
after the UCF loss and you talked about
0:02
just you know the need for us to stay
0:04
together and we kind of hard stay
0:06
together. I know that Gio said that that
0:09
by week was crazy. It wasn't actually
0:11
good for you all. You felt like the team
0:13
really came together. I don't know if
0:14
we've had a chance to talk to you about
0:15
that, but from your perspective, how's
0:17
the team really come together since that
0:19
spring? What has that actually been?
0:22
Yeah, I think we've had um you know, a
0:24
lot of adversity throughout the year,
0:26
whether that's on the field or maybe
0:27
some stuff off the field. Um I think
0:28
it's only brought us closer together. uh
0:30
the team has solely been focused on um
0:32
whatever we need to do to win and so
0:35
that's performing in practice and
0:36
preparing off the field for the games on
0:38
Saturdays or Fridays this week and so
0:40
we're really not listening to any of the
0:42
noise if anything it's like you said
0:43
it's bringing us closer together and I
0:45
think we've seen that on the field
0:46
especially from the defensive side of
0:47
the ball uh the past couple weeks
0:51
well how have you seen the defensive
0:53
front grow back to the TCU guys give up
0:55
some big runs haven't really given up
0:56
maybe big runs since then how those guys
1:00
grown as far as how they deal with
1:01
blockers, you know, gap discipline and
1:03
all that kind of stuff. Making things a
1:05
little bit easier for the second level.
1:06
Yeah, I think that unit is playing as
1:08
one right now. Um they're playing
1:10
selfless. You know, all all those guys
1:12
in the front are making plays, but
1:14
they're making plays that are their
1:15
plays to make and they're not trying to,
1:17
you know, jump out of gaps and u make
1:19
tackles. They're they're really setting
1:20
the edge setting setting the edge of the
1:22
defense has been big. Guys like Melkart,
1:24
Tyler Thompson, Smith um doing a great
1:27
job. We have great interior defensive
1:28
linemen, but they're playing as one unit
1:30
right now. It's really making, you know,
1:32
my job as a DB and the linebacker's jobs
1:34
a lot easier to fit the run.
1:36
We hear all the time, previous other
1:38
programs, previous uh staffs here,
1:41
you're gap discipline, just general
1:42
discipline all the time, that defensive
1:44
front. Are you saying that that's kind
1:46
of one of the keys? They're they become
1:47
very disciplined up there.
1:49
100%. Yeah, the the discipline up front
1:51
has been uh very evident the past couple
1:53
weeks and it's an area that we want to
1:55
continue to improve. Thanks. Great. Hey,
1:57
well, um, you know, on Twitter, your mom
1:59
posted a picture of you and your
2:00
teammates locking shoulders during the
2:02
two-point conversion. Just given
2:04
everything that has happened, you know,
2:06
throughout the last couple, what can you
2:07
say about this team's resiliency and
2:08
also their constant improve? Because the
2:11
last two games, those are games where
2:12
everyone felt like you guys would have
2:13
won.
2:14
Yeah, definitely. The past couple weeks,
2:16
um, two tough losses where, you know,
2:18
you play well in areas and other areas,
2:21
you're just not making the plays you
2:22
need to make at the end of the games.
2:23
So, um, if anything, I think it's
2:25
encouraging for us seeing the
2:26
improvement we're making week to week.
2:28
Um, you know, that picture you just
2:30
mentioned, just a sign of how, you know,
2:31
close we are even through the struggles.
2:33
Uh, the team is not, um, pulling apart
2:36
at all. And so, if anything, we're
2:38
getting closer. And so, looking forward
2:39
to this week. I think it's going to be a
2:41
great week. Um, a short week, too, but
2:43
one that we sort of dealt with, you
2:45
know, a couple short weeks this year.
2:46
And so, I think we're prepared. And how
2:48
have the leaders in locker room
2:49
including yourself work to maintain and
2:52
also elevate the competitive edge
2:53
throughout the season?
2:55
Yeah, I mean just showing up day in day
2:57
out and for the practices and um
2:59
bringing that competitive edge. You
3:01
know, most practices it's offense versus
3:03
defense going at it. Um and you don't
3:05
want to lose that competitive edge when
3:06
you get late in the season, bodies start
3:08
to wear down. Um you still want to be
3:10
able to, you know, show up at practice,
3:12
play physical, and that's what we do
3:14
each day. Ryan,
3:16
well, I think it was after a punt
3:18
return, Coach Belich giving you a pretty
3:20
hard time there on the sideline. As a
3:22
captain, what are those dynamics like
3:24
with him and and how are those captains
3:26
meetings throughout the weeks with him?
3:27
Yeah, I mean, I think being able to take
3:30
criticism whenever you make a mistake is
3:31
really important. Um, and just
3:33
understanding that, you know, you're not
3:34
going to be perfect. Um, listening to
3:36
what what any coach has to say to you
3:38
and then correcting it and move forward
3:40
and not taking anything personally is is
3:41
very important as a player. Um, but
3:43
again, being a captain and being a part
3:45
of those captain's meetings is awesome.
3:47
Each and every week, you know, being
3:48
able to talk scheme with coach Bellich
3:51
really, you know, almost one-on-one and
3:53
and, you know, give, you know, any ideas
3:55
that, uh, we need to make, any changes
3:58
we need to make throughout the
3:59
throughout the week. So, those captain
4:01
meetings are really important and I
4:02
think, uh, they've done, you know,
4:04
really good for the team.
4:05
Yeah. How have those messages changed in
4:07
the captain's meetings with how close
4:08
y'all been to a breakthrough in these
4:10
last two weeks? I think yeah, I think
4:12
the message from coach Bichc is just
4:14
keeping the um you positivity and
4:16
encouragement throughout the locker room
4:17
and trying to get an idea of how guys
4:19
feel. Um and so as a captain, I think
4:21
we've got to, you know, continue to
4:23
uplift people and um be positive and
4:26
just, you know, correct the negatives,
4:28
but you know, you can't just just look
4:29
at the negative. You know, we're
4:31
improving a lot and I think it's going
4:32
to start showing the scoreboard this
4:33
weekend.
4:35
Brian, um two quick ones. One, how did
4:37
that uh that scene on site sort of come
4:39
together? Was that sort of just
4:40
spontaneous you guys all locking arms
4:42
like that?
4:43
Yeah, I mean it was you know it was when
4:45
we went for two so um a moment that was
4:47
sort of defining the game and um you
4:49
know got a lot of gas in their teeth.
4:50
Our team are um you know have have a
4:53
strong faith and so I think it's some
4:55
guys were praying some guys were even if
4:57
you're not you know religious you're
4:58
probably praying in that sense. So um we
5:01
were just sort of bonded together and um
5:03
just watching and hoping for that
5:05
moment. obviously didn't turn out the
5:06
way we wanted to, but um another sign of
5:08
showing our team sticking together.
5:10
And then we talked about Madric Tucker
5:12
with with coach Belch. You've seen guys
5:14
on this roster sort of come from
5:16
nowhere. Guju, I I don't know, there may
5:18
be a guy or two on defense as well. What
5:20
is it about the the way that the program
5:22
is structured that you didn't see a guy
5:23
come from? I think Ju Guu started sixth
5:25
on the depth chart. Madrid hadn't played
5:27
a single game this year, has eight
5:29
catches. Is there something about the
5:31
way practice is structured or the way
5:33
guys kind of get a chance to to show up?
5:35
Yeah, guys are always getting a chance
5:37
in practice whether they're first string
5:39
or, you know, fourth on the dep chart.
5:41
They're getting reps whether that's in
5:42
individual or in team settings. Guys are
5:45
not just, you know, if they're not
5:46
starting, they're not just not getting
5:47
reps throughout the year. And so, it's
5:49
been really important and it's been
5:50
impressive, you know, a guy like Madrid
5:51
to show up really having played all year
5:53
and get eight catches. I was very
5:54
impressed with him, but you'd seen it in
5:56
practice um each and every week. And so
5:59
it's been cool to see guys step up.
6:01
We've got a lot of guys stepping up on
6:02
defense. I think you know guy like Greg
6:04
Smith, um a younger guy, he's starting
6:07
to step up and be a crucial role in
6:08
third down for us. And so we when you
6:10
start to build that depth, especially at
6:12
this point this season, it's it's really
6:13
important to your success.
6:14
Is that slightly different than teams
6:16
you've been on in the past? You know, if
6:17
a guy was sixth or seventh on the diff
6:19
wasn't getting a ton of a ton of
6:20
opportunity.
6:21
Yeah. And I would just say coach Belich
6:23
does a great job with uh with everybody
6:25
on the team giving them chances in
6:26
practice to continue to improve
6:28
throughout the year.
6:29
Adam,
6:31
well, I was wondering what you've made
6:32
of the uh the two fumbles on the goal
6:35
line, the one at Cal by by Nate and then
6:38
the one by Kobe. I know they're
6:39
different circumstances, but you know,
6:41
it's kind of mind-blowing for them
6:43
having backto-back weeks like that. and
6:45
and just your thoughts on it and do you
6:47
think that those sort of speak to how
6:50
close you all have been to getting over
6:52
the hump and getting a victory?
6:54
Yeah, obviously pretty unfortunate um
6:56
events, especially backto-back weeks. Um
6:58
as a defensive guy, you got to be ready
6:59
to go on the field no matter what. And
7:01
so, um you know, we had a chance against
7:03
Cal to get a stop and get the ball back
7:05
to our offense and we weren't
7:06
successful. Um then again this week
7:08
against Virginia um went back on the
7:11
field and got a stop and so you know
7:13
whenever we go on the field it doesn't
7:14
matter how we got there or where the
7:16
ball is ready to go and make a stop. Um
7:19
but again yeah it speaks to how close we
7:21
are. You know we we talk about ball
7:23
security every day and we practice a ton
7:25
of drills on it each and every week and
7:27
so um I think the guys in offensive side
7:29
of the ball are taking pride in that
7:31
moving forward and keeping the ball
7:32
tucked. I mean, you even see Kobe Pac
7:35
had a chance sort of later in the game
7:36
to maybe stretch out and score and very
7:39
disciplined from him. So, that's even
7:41
within the game making that improvement
7:42
and adjustment. It's pretty mature from
7:44
him.
7:45
Is it kind of nuts though? I mean, you
7:46
played a lot of football in your life. I
7:48
mean, have you ever seen
7:49
I don't know, back toback games like
7:50
this where it's like happened?
7:52
I haven't. No, not I haven't part of it
7:53
and honestly when I was watching the
7:55
replay of Kobe um didn't even think
7:57
think of that as an option. I was ready
7:59
for a touchdown or you know first and
8:01
goal from the one yardd line and so just
8:03
sort of unfortunate um and that's an
8:05
area that you know our offense and
8:08
anybody that has the ball you know me as
8:09
a partner returner have to take pride in
8:10
holding on the ball um serve
8:14
well we were talking with ship after
8:16
after the Virginia game he said you know
8:18
wish we could go out there play Syracuse
8:20
tomorrow um that ability that sort of
8:23
mental ability to you know bounce back
8:25
just minutes after pretty heartbreaking
8:27
loss Where do you think that sort of
8:29
mental toughness comes from? And how can
8:31
you develop that as an athlete?
8:33
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, if
8:35
you're not competitive as an athlete,
8:37
then you probably shouldn't be playing
8:38
the sport, especially in a game like
8:39
football. You know, it's uh 11 guys on
8:42
the field, 22 guys on the field, but
8:44
it's really 11 one-on-one battles each
8:46
and every play. So, if you don't take
8:47
pride in winning your one-on-one battle
8:49
and being competitive in that scenario,
8:51
then you won't have success. So, a guy
8:52
like Ship, man, even when he doesn't get
8:54
the ball, he's trying to beat, you know,
8:55
beat the DB one-on-one. and the guy at
8:57
me. If if they don't throw it to my man,
8:59
I'm still trying to defend the guy. And
9:01
so, it's winning your one-on-one battle
9:02
and taking pride in that. And eventually
9:04
those add up and and uh the team with
9:07
the most I would say individual wins
9:09
usually wins the game.
9:10
Jeremiah.
9:11
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I know earlier you
9:12
talked about the defensive line
9:14
specifically and how their, you know,
9:15
improvements kind of helped the DBs and
9:17
linebackers, but as a collective unit
9:19
last few weeks, if you look at, you
9:20
know, points per game, for yards given
9:22
up, uh, looks like a different unit now
9:24
than it was, you know, kind of the first
9:26
part of the season. What do you think in
9:28
particular has kind of allowed you guys
9:29
as a defensive group to not only, I
9:31
guess, statistically even execution, you
9:34
know, kind of make improvements?
9:35
Yeah, I would say first and foremost,
9:37
it's just discipline. It's uh focus and
9:40
doing your job. You know, the scheme we
9:42
have, I I really trust coach Steve
9:44
Bellichic's scheme and the positions he
9:46
puts us in. I think everyone on the team
9:48
does too. Um and then secondly, it's
9:49
trusting your teammates. Um and trusting
9:51
that they're going to do their job and
9:53
then they can trust you that you're
9:54
going to do your job and not try to make
9:56
plays that aren't your players to make.
9:57
Um and so I've seen that sort of area,
10:00
those two areas of our defense grow the
10:02
past two weeks and it's it's shown on
10:03
the field.
10:04
When it comes to uh the secondary in
10:05
particular, obviously last couple games
10:07
you guys haven't had. um I guess from a
10:10
point parents perspective hasn't
10:11
necessarily made a a huge you know
10:14
impact or whatever. What do you think is
10:15
kind of allowing you guys to kind of
10:16
fill in the gaps there um even despite
10:19
the number?
10:20
Yeah, I think it's a credit to guys
10:21
staying ready to go. You know, Jaden
10:23
Patterson is a player that predominantly
10:25
played safety for us and was was a
10:28
safety on our team and sort of got some
10:30
reps at corner early this year and then
10:32
when that got hurt, he's stepped into
10:33
that role and and done a fantastic job
10:35
as a young player. Um but still, you
10:38
know, credit to Thaad even though he's
10:39
not on the field, he's being a huge
10:41
leader off the field. Um that's during
10:43
the week, that's in games. He's he's
10:45
leading those guys. And so Thad's doing
10:47
as much as he can to get back on the
10:48
field right now, but he's also doing a
10:50
lot to help those young guys play.
10:52
And last one for Shelby.
10:54
Um just really quickly, I hate to end on
10:56
this one, but I was curious just um with
10:59
uh the I think it was forget what point,
11:02
but the Marcus Als tackle um with Yeah,
11:06
and it was Harris then he was able to go
11:09
into the zone. I'm just wondering you
11:10
see from your perspective on that play
11:12
and maybe what
11:14
Yeah, I think you know that possession
11:16
specifically um they were doing a lot of
11:18
no huddle which is an area that we've
11:20
you know we practiced a lot last week.
11:21
Virginia was a great no huddle team and
11:24
Syracuse would do the same. So anytime a
11:26
team goes no huddle you're going to get
11:28
your fundamentals are going to break
11:29
down a little if you're fatigued. And so
11:31
I think that was an area, you know,
11:32
Marcus was in great position and just
11:34
um, you know, he must have been just
11:36
just tired and it didn't finish the
11:38
play. But um, we need more guys running
11:40
the ball, especially when there's no,
11:41
you know, a no huddle situation like
11:43
that. Um, but again, that's an area we
11:45
continue to to work on each and every
11:47
week.
11:48
There seemed like there's confusion
11:49
before the snap on that play. The
11:50
defense was kind of running around
11:52
pointing. Was was there some confusion
11:54
before that snap?
11:55
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Every, you
11:56
know, what everyone everyone was doing.
11:58
Um there may have been a sub that was
12:00
trying to occur, but um yeah, I think we
12:02
need to do a better job moving forward
12:04
in no huddle situations of um just
12:07
staying ready to go and locked on locked
12:09
on our mounds.
12:10
Perfect. Good stuff. Diane.
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