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Video: #UNC press conference with defensive back Marcus Allen and linebacker Khmori House
Aug 2, 2025
Video: #UNC press conference with defensive back Marcus Allen and linebacker Khmori House
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0:00
play time. I remember talking to Mac, a
0:02
few of us that you have potential to
0:05
play at the next level and all that kind
0:06
of stuff. Where do you see yourself now
0:08
with this last year and that's still out
0:10
there and you still a guy with those
0:11
specs? What do you have to achieve
0:13
versus how you approaching it so you can
0:15
be that kind of guy?
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Yeah, I'm approaching it just 100%. I'm
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just trying to work on my craft and
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perfect the little things that that kind
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of held me back last year. just just get
0:25
better at the things I know I need to
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work on and ultimately just go out there
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and make plays cuz I know what I can do
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so I just need to go out there put it on
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the field.
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What is it like having Fad on the other
0:35
side and what do you learn from
0:36
observing a guy coming in from a
0:37
different program?
0:38
Yeah, that that is one of a kind guy.
0:41
He's really he brings a lot of energy, a
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lot of confidence. So just having that
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on the other side of the field knowing
0:46
that that side of the field is being
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taken care of. uh having like a partner
0:49
just like you know kind of how it was
0:51
with Huzzy having a partner there that's
0:52
going to push each other and you know if
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one of us is you know messing up we're
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gonna hold each other accountable you
0:57
know make sure we get it right and make
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sure we do our part so that our team can
1:01
win. Jerem.
1:03
Yeah. Um to obviously elaborate from you
1:06
know what you just talked about with
1:08
that. He obviously is a guy that has a
1:10
lot of experience you know points he's
1:12
played in a you know national
1:14
championship and things like that. I
1:15
guess what types of you know baby
1:17
pointers is he kind of g your experience
1:19
play too but what kind of I guess things
1:22
do you guys talk about as far as you
1:24
know playing the defensive back
1:25
position?
1:25
Yeah you can always learn from somebody
1:27
that that is a great cornerstone. you
1:29
know, anytime he's giving out tips, you
1:31
know, we're always listening. Um, just
1:33
giving tips on just being able to read
1:35
routes better, uh, being able to find
1:37
the ball better, uh, just being able to
1:39
anticipate things and just be able to
1:41
play faster in general are some of the
1:42
tips that he's been giving out to us to
1:44
the guys.
1:45
Brian, you're being coached by three. I
1:48
wonder what differences you've seen
1:51
between them and we talked a lot about
1:53
build, but how would they do as coaches?
1:56
Yeah, I mean all three of them are like
1:57
their own different characters. Like
1:59
they act completely different. I'm not
2:01
gonna lie. Uh but Steve and Brian, Steve
2:04
is a great coach. He has a lot of
2:06
experience, like NFL experience. Uh he
2:08
was at Washington. He knows the defense
2:10
well. He knows what position we need to
2:12
be in. He knows the best position to put
2:14
us in to win. And then Brian is a he's a
2:18
mastermind. He knows everything that's
2:19
going on with the defense. So just
2:21
having them two together is really
2:23
allowing us to, you know, be a better
2:25
defense, uh, make more smarter calls,
2:28
uh, and just make more plays in general.
2:33
Marcus devel,
2:35
[Applause]
2:39
you know, watching film or doing drills,
2:42
what are some of the things you noticed?
2:45
Yeah, I say um more so just allowing us
2:49
giving us the call and allowing us to go
2:50
out there and play. Uh we've been really
2:53
working on our craft this off seasonason
2:54
with Moses, you know, strength and
2:56
conditioning just so uh we can be in
2:58
condition to keep up with the offense,
2:59
the tempo and all that. So I think just
3:02
um just especially Steve just being able
3:05
to call the correct call and just having
3:07
trust in us to go out there and play. I
3:09
think that's a the big difference.
3:15
on the field.
3:18
Yeah, it was a real real real high
3:20
energy. Everybody was out there excited
3:22
to be back. Uh we love football and you
3:24
know having coach Bill as a coach, you
3:28
know, automatically you have a lot of
3:29
energy cuz you know it's bringing in a
3:31
whole bunch of the spotlight and all
3:32
that, but really we just take it day by
3:35
day, work our hardest, go out there,
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perfect our craft, have fun. That's the
3:40
main point is to have fun while you're
3:41
out there. So today was a great day to
3:43
go out there, have fun, compete, and
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just get better.
3:46
Go to Michael.
3:48
Marcus, you and Max Johnson both started
3:50
the game at Minnesota. We won last year.
3:53
When you saw his entire journey from
3:56
going down on the field, to see him just
3:58
grinding and grinding and grinding for
4:00
basically an entire year and now he's,
4:03
you know, totally uninhibited out there,
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you know, going through full practice
4:07
with you guys. How cool has that been to
4:09
see? Yeah, I think that speaks a lot to
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like his character. Just seeing how
4:13
egregious like that injury was and just
4:14
for him to be able to just stay in tune
4:17
with the team, stay connected with the
4:18
guys, and just put in work every day to
4:20
be able to come back. It's it's great
4:22
seeing them back out there.
4:23
That said, you're still trying to pick
4:24
them off.
4:25
Oh, yeah. Absolutely.
4:27
Great.
4:28
Um Marcus, how important is the
4:30
versatility uh for this defense?
4:33
Uh versatility is important. you know,
4:35
we want to be a plug and play guys. You
4:36
know, have guys be able to play
4:38
different positions so that whatever you
4:40
can do best is, you know what I'm
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saying, what you're going to be put on
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the field to do. So, I think that Yeah.
4:46
And Marcus, so I know, you know, talking
4:48
earlier about Thad being one of the more
4:52
experienced transfer guys, but you're
4:53
like the I know you're not an old guy,
4:56
but you're like the old guy, the veteran
4:58
on UNCC's defense. How, you know, are
5:02
you going to continue to step up and in
5:04
your last year at Carolina, lead these
5:06
guys and hopefully build what's one of
5:09
the ACC's top defenses this this fall.
5:12
Yeah, I want to focus a lot on just
5:14
being a mentor to like the younger guys
5:16
and really bringing them along so that,
5:18
you know, they got to go in the game,
5:19
they'll be ready, they'll feel ready to
5:21
go out there. You know what I'm saying?
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Be confident and just just give the
5:23
knowledge that I've learned from
5:25
playing, you know, all these years just
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to the young guys so that they're ready
5:28
and prepared. and proud.
5:31
Marcus, I want to ask you about maybe
5:34
when was the moment that you realized
5:37
that it was going to be way more
5:39
tackling in practice uh and sort of the
5:42
um increased emphasis on physicality?
5:45
Like do you remember specifically being
5:48
like, okay, this this is how it's going
5:50
to be?
5:50
Um I wouldn't Yeah, I wouldn't say
5:52
there's like a specific moment. I just
5:54
when you know coach Bill came in here
5:56
that I was just already going to think
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it's about to be a whole different
5:58
change. So I think it's good that we're
6:01
being you know really physical in
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practice so that we can take the
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physicality from the practice and bring
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it to the game and you know ultimately
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football is about who wants it more. You
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know who's going to go out there and lay
6:12
it down on the other teams. So I think
6:14
the good the physical practice that
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we're having now the more tackling and I
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think that's going to be really
6:18
beneficial for us
6:21
like just
6:22
it just happened. Mhm. Just happened. We
6:24
just went out there. It's time to hit.
6:26
Yeah. Yeah.
6:27
Skip and finish this off.
6:28
Yeah. No, thank you. You mentioned
6:30
communication for me. Three DCs in three
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years.
6:33
What's the difference in communication?
6:35
Is it pretty consistent in football?
6:37
Um, I'd say it's pretty consistent to be
6:40
honest. You know, I obviously, you know,
6:42
each DC is going to come in with their
6:43
own terminology and specific plays, but
6:47
uh it's nothing really too different.
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Football is football at the end of the
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day. So, you just got to go, you know,
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learn what which DC like, learn what
6:55
Steve likes to call, uh, what
6:57
formations, you know, he's going to see
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this and call that. So, I think you just
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got to go in there and learn it and then
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we just get real comfortable.
7:04
Yeah.
7:04
How about on the field? Is is there do
7:06
they do it a little bit differently than
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you guys have done it before? Is it
7:09
still maybe like a Will on the back
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making some calls with the linebacker
7:13
making some calls? Who talks out there?
7:16
Yeah. Well, they've been emphasizing
7:18
everybody talking. That's that's a way
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for our defense to really step up is if
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everybody's on the field communicating
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what you're seeing, you know, pre- snap
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reads, uh, things that you might be
7:27
anticipating. Let your guy know, you
7:29
know, this might be coming from here,
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right? So, I think the big emphasis is
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everybody on the field communicating and
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us all being in sync with each other.
7:37
Perfect. Appreciate it.
7:39
Thank you. Appreciate it.
7:40
Coming over from UDub, you obviously are
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not the only come over that obviously
7:45
coach Steve Bichc. How much crossover
7:47
has there been between I know you've
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only done one practice so far uh with
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Carolina, but how much crossover did you
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see between what you did at Washington
7:54
and what you're doing here?
7:56
Yeah, man. Um last year was the 2024 um
7:58
Washington defense and this is going to
8:00
be the 2025 UNCC defense. So, um
8:03
completely new people, new defense, and
8:05
we just play to our strengths. Sure.
8:09
in Kamar. So I know you know what coming
8:13
here with following up on episode coming
8:16
here with Thad and Steve you know as you
8:19
guys look to make what are you guys
8:21
going to try and do throughout the
8:23
offseason and you know throughout the
8:24
season to measure how the defense is
8:27
performing this year and make UNCC one
8:30
of the more feared units in the country.
8:34
Well we said um our standard is being
8:36
tough um smart and dependable. So um all
8:38
our players we we just um you know tell
8:41
everybody my teammates we tell everybody
8:42
just be tough, smart and dependable.
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Bring that and let's just start there
8:46
you know and win each day you know one
8:47
and0 each day. We still trying to win
8:49
today. We got meetings coming up lift
8:51
coming up. So trying to win each day and
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go from there.
8:56
I'm going to ask you about Washington so
8:58
we can learn a little bit more about
8:59
Steve Bich.
9:00
Okay.
9:01
The defensive numbers dramatically
9:03
improved last year from year before when
9:05
you guys played for the national title.
9:06
What were some of the things that he did
9:08
that you saw directly impacting the
9:10
defense, which is why you guys made some
9:12
leaps statistically?
9:13
Yeah, man. I think he's just really good
9:14
at um knowing his players, knowing what
9:16
we're good at, and um using us, and you
9:19
know, being able to just let us play
9:21
free, let us um do what um you know, we
9:24
do, just play football, call a play. Um
9:27
and he's a great play caller, you know,
9:28
so I think he's just all around good.
9:32
A lot of people from Seattle came here.
9:34
Why did you come and did you hear from
9:36
the guys that came maybe first early
9:39
than you or made the decision stuff from
9:41
them to kind of inspire you to make that
9:43
decision?
9:44
Well, um I came here because, you know,
9:46
I just think this was the um right spot
9:48
for me, you know, um all the other
9:49
schools just just narrowing it down. I
9:51
felt like this was the best um decision
9:53
for me. You know what I'm saying? And n
9:55
I didn't know, but um I think I was one
9:57
of the first guys here and once I seen
9:59
my other some of my other teammates hop
10:01
in that portal, that's when I was trying
10:03
to get them. But I didn't know anything
10:05
of Yeah.
10:07
You like it here?
10:08
I love it here. We're going to win. We
10:09
win some games, man.
10:10
It's going to be great.
10:11
Yeah, man. And um Kamari, I know Steve
10:14
Belchure collections with a lot of guys
10:16
who are very versatile like yourself and
10:18
Gabby Gibson. How important is
10:20
versatility to the defense and also in
10:22
what ways does did he use you in the
10:24
past in Washington, but also with your
10:26
role increasing here at your childhood?
10:29
I think um he always tells us the more
10:30
you can do the more you'll play. So, um
10:33
it's very important on this defense and
10:34
the more you can I think that's every
10:36
defense. Um if you're a smart football
10:38
player and you can do a lot, you'll be
10:39
able to play a lot more. That's just how
10:41
it works. That's football. And what was
10:43
your other question again?
10:44
Uh so like you know how is he, you know,
10:46
compared going back to your time in
10:48
Washington also now? What how's he used?
10:51
He used me to my strengths. Um just just
10:54
used me to my strengths, called to my
10:55
strengths and was able to execute to my
10:58
strengths for sure.
11:00
Let's go Jeremiah. Yeah, Kamorei. Um,
11:02
you obviously alluded to, you know, Dad
11:04
Dixon being one of the teammates that
11:05
also came over here. Um, obviously last
11:08
year got some good reviews from the
11:09
spring, things like that. You watching
11:12
him, I guess, you know, close up last
11:14
year and everything like that. What are
11:16
some of his, I guess, strengths as a
11:18
football player, what allows him to kind
11:19
of stand out in the way that he is?
11:21
Um, his confidence. Um, he's he's a
11:24
relentless player. Um, I think I think
11:27
he's very smart, intelligent,
11:28
intelligent player. He's able to um
11:30
understand formations, understand um
11:33
great instinct. So, I think he's an
11:35
all-around good football player. You can
11:36
play him, he can do a lot of things.
11:38
Playing a nickel, play him in a corner.
11:39
He can even go to safety if he wanted
11:41
to. So, I think he's a just a great
11:43
all-around football player.
11:44
Some of the people that, you know, we
11:45
talked to obviously Mark just was in the
11:47
military last month was highlighting his
11:49
you know, leadership like know how
11:51
communicating the deep and things like
11:53
that. Um was he like that at Washington
11:55
too? was he kind of
11:56
Yeah, he's Yeah, same same same person
11:58
all around, man. It doesn't change um
12:00
who you are because of where you are.
12:02
He's just the same person. Um trying to
12:04
lead, be a leader, and I'm I'm trying to
12:07
step into a leader role, too.
12:10
Your way, how was it to leave the place
12:14
where you live your entire life? What
12:16
has
12:17
North Carolina as a whole?
12:19
Um I think it's it's a different it's a
12:21
different um area, you know. Um, we're
12:24
I'm from a city area, so but it it's
12:26
been a great adjustment. You know,
12:27
everybody here, the people in the south
12:28
is nice. Fans are great. So, man, we
12:32
it's a great adjustment. It's been
12:33
smooth. The um my teammates came in and
12:36
was able to um welcome us in, you know,
12:38
and now we're just a part of the family,
12:40
man. For sure.
12:46
Going right off, I had a question for
12:48
you being a Cali guy. I think it's like
12:50
seven or eight dudes from California on
12:53
the roster. Um, do y'all stick together
12:57
in a way trying to learn this place? Um,
13:00
being so far from home, like is there a
13:03
um Well, you're a LA set, you know, like
13:06
guys that that do things together.
13:08
I mean, yeah. I mean, we all do things
13:09
together. I feel like um we're not like
13:12
clicked up, but we're all we're all a
13:14
team. Um, you know, I live I live I live
13:17
with two of my u the transfers who came
13:19
over from Washington. So, we stay
13:21
together. But, um, yeah, I hang out with
13:22
everybody on the team to be honest. Um,
13:24
try to connect with everybody so we can
13:26
just, you know, play football together
13:28
and have that team chemistry that wins
13:30
football games for sure.
13:32
Is there any sort of push back from your
13:34
family, your friends? Like, why do you
13:36
want to go so far away? You know, that
13:37
type of thing? I mean, you're on the
13:38
West Coast up in Seattle obviously.
13:41
I think I think um, not really. Not
13:43
really. Um they they kind of trusting
13:45
the process now. Just just letting me
13:47
letting me um follow my journey and and
13:51
letting God take his place, you know.
13:54
Uh my what can you tell us about Andrew
13:56
Simpson? What kind of players he and
13:58
what have you seen from him since he
14:00
came over early in the summer?
14:01
Uh great football player, great
14:03
teammate, great leader. Um I think he's
14:05
going to be a great player on our team
14:07
and just we trying to take it day by
14:09
day. We only had one practice, so but
14:11
he's a great player, man. For sure.
14:15
And last one
14:17
defensive line obviously a big part of
14:18
the defense as a whole. What have you
14:20
seen from those guys up front this off
14:22
season sort of preparing? There's a lot
14:24
of new faces there as well.
14:26
Man, I love my defensive lineman, man. I
14:28
think they they're nice and big, man.
14:29
They they work hard. Uh we we we're
14:32
going to be great, man. The defensive
14:33
line, they work. Um yeah, man. Um we
14:37
taking it day by day, like I said. Um
14:39
just trying to stack days and we'll see
14:41
what it is. It was day one today and
14:43
we'll see what it is in day 20, day 30.
14:46
So, yes, sure.
14:49
Yeah. You mentioned just talking about
14:50
Steve and how you guys met Washington.
14:52
I'm just curious, how would you describe
14:54
your relationship and how did he kind of
14:56
work to get to know you when you first
14:57
arrived?
14:58
Yeah. Um, it's a good relationship. Um,
15:00
I talk about football a lot. Um, some
15:03
personal things, but um, it's it's it's
15:07
um, to to connect with him more. I I
15:09
used to go up to his office after
15:11
practice um try to learn learn about the
15:13
scheme more, learn about what we did and
15:16
I think that's how we connected just
15:18
just by learning learning and learning
15:20
how he operates.
15:20
Was that typically oneonone?
15:22
Um yeah, it's oneonone team meetings any
15:25
anything for real. Yeah.
15:27
Perfect. Good stuff.
15:28
Yes, ma'am.