Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - Zen Michalski & Hosea Wheeler
8/21/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– As the fourth week of fall camp continues, seniors Zen Michalski and Hosea Wheeler addressed the media inside Memorial Stadium on Thursday (August 21).
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Zen Michalski | R-Sr. | OL
On his decision to transfer...
ZM: I think a change of scenery was definitely something I needed. When you are at a place for four years, I think that new coaches and new people, the environment has ben huge for me. It has been great. I just think I am so blessed to be here.
On where he felt he was at after spring ball...
ZM: I don't have a whole lot of experience at right tackle, so spring ball was definitely going to be a learning moment for me. Coach [Bob] Bostad said that he was happy with how I'd been doing. Coming from being a full-time left [side] guy to playing right [side], learning the plays, learning the system and stuff, he said I did really good job. I just kept working over the summer, and camp is going good, and just grinding through it. I think that coach Bostad is an amazing coach and I love being with him every day.
On the switch from left side to right side...
ZM: As an offensive lineman, especially as a tackle, after a certain amount of time your body is programed a certain way: your hips, your hands, your eyes, just the way that you set, walk, and kind of do everything. It is technique based. I'd say the best way to describe it is learning to write with your non-dominate hand. It's kind of like, 'Okau, I have to relearn all of the little, basic things that you might not have to be thinking about that I have been doing for four years. I think that with coach Bostad's coaching and the way he goes about stuff, he has made it very easy. It's been a better transition than I thought it would be, especially after spring ball.
Hosea Wheeler | R-Sr. | DL
On the biggest adjustment he had when joining the program in the spring...
HW: The biggest challenge for me was really at my old school, we played a lateral defense, and this defense is really vertical and attacking everybody. That was really the biggest struggle for me. And, doing it at multiple positions, because I am playing different positions, so getting adjusted to that.
But, Coach [Pat] Kuntz, he is the best defensive line coach in America. He got me going really quick. He has really brought me a long really fast, and it has helped me so much. With him and the other guys pushing me a long, seeing Tyrique Tucker and how be plays vertical and Dominique Ratcliff - he came from a vertical defense - seeing them and adjusting to them just helped me a lot too.
On the biggest adjustments of playing a vertical defense...
HW: Usually, we'd step side-to-side, going against these big offensive linemen, but now we get to go attack and actually be physical with them. That was the biggest challenge, but I think I am getting the hang of it, and I am really enjoying myself here.
On his career success against Power 4 opponents while at WKU...
HW: It gives me big confidence, bit I just need to bring my A game every week, be a leader every week. I went against really good opponents, you know, Alabama, Ohio State. It's just about being consistent. I can't just have flashy games in the big games, and them when its a regular game I just can't be mediocre. I just have to continue to be consistent and have those games throughout the whole entire season to help us win.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Zen Michalski | R-Sr. | OL
On his decision to transfer...
ZM: I think a change of scenery was definitely something I needed. When you are at a place for four years, I think that new coaches and new people, the environment has ben huge for me. It has been great. I just think I am so blessed to be here.
On where he felt he was at after spring ball...
ZM: I don't have a whole lot of experience at right tackle, so spring ball was definitely going to be a learning moment for me. Coach [Bob] Bostad said that he was happy with how I'd been doing. Coming from being a full-time left [side] guy to playing right [side], learning the plays, learning the system and stuff, he said I did really good job. I just kept working over the summer, and camp is going good, and just grinding through it. I think that coach Bostad is an amazing coach and I love being with him every day.
On the switch from left side to right side...
ZM: As an offensive lineman, especially as a tackle, after a certain amount of time your body is programed a certain way: your hips, your hands, your eyes, just the way that you set, walk, and kind of do everything. It is technique based. I'd say the best way to describe it is learning to write with your non-dominate hand. It's kind of like, 'Okau, I have to relearn all of the little, basic things that you might not have to be thinking about that I have been doing for four years. I think that with coach Bostad's coaching and the way he goes about stuff, he has made it very easy. It's been a better transition than I thought it would be, especially after spring ball.
Hosea Wheeler | R-Sr. | DL
On the biggest adjustment he had when joining the program in the spring...
HW: The biggest challenge for me was really at my old school, we played a lateral defense, and this defense is really vertical and attacking everybody. That was really the biggest struggle for me. And, doing it at multiple positions, because I am playing different positions, so getting adjusted to that.
But, Coach [Pat] Kuntz, he is the best defensive line coach in America. He got me going really quick. He has really brought me a long really fast, and it has helped me so much. With him and the other guys pushing me a long, seeing Tyrique Tucker and how be plays vertical and Dominique Ratcliff - he came from a vertical defense - seeing them and adjusting to them just helped me a lot too.
On the biggest adjustments of playing a vertical defense...
HW: Usually, we'd step side-to-side, going against these big offensive linemen, but now we get to go attack and actually be physical with them. That was the biggest challenge, but I think I am getting the hang of it, and I am really enjoying myself here.
On his career success against Power 4 opponents while at WKU...
HW: It gives me big confidence, bit I just need to bring my A game every week, be a leader every week. I went against really good opponents, you know, Alabama, Ohio State. It's just about being consistent. I can't just have flashy games in the big games, and them when its a regular game I just can't be mediocre. I just have to continue to be consistent and have those games throughout the whole entire season to help us win.
Players Mentioned
OL
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DL
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DL
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DL
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