NC State Wolfpack College Football Media Day Quote, 07/22/2021

How much does it help you going into this season to have so many of your receivers back and your offensive linemen and your running backs, to kind of have that chemistry already built in?

Yeah, I think it helps me out tremendously. Like you said, being able to have so many guys back in the receiving corps, running back, our offensive line, everyone has great experience where it just makes my job that much easier.

I mean, Coach always said, Just be the point guard of the team, distribute the ball, make everyone else make the plays for you. Being able to have everyone back is very helpful.

How have summer workouts been with Emeka Emezie, Thayer Thomas? What attributes do they have as receivers?

Summer workouts so far have been good.

Even with Coach Thunder getting our entire offense prepared for the season. I think just being around guys like Emeka, Thayer, Devin Carter, I mean, the list goes on. I think it truly shows how much they truly love this game.

We’re doing everything as far as throwing routes on there, working on different footwork drills, even to in the film room. These guys are as hungry as everyone else on the team.

For me to be able to see how hungry and eager they are to play, it just makes me that much more excited.

What did you take away from last season prior to the leg injury, just what you saw out of yourself looking at that film? Where have the improvements come post leg injury?

Yeah, I think there’s always stuff to take away from film. I think last year before my injury there was multiple different plays or multiple different things I could have done better that I could take off of film, whether it’s within our offense or studying different defenses.

I think post-injury that’s my biggest emphasis, is just trying to study defense as much as I can and prepare the best way possible.

After playing last season with no or few fans in the stands, what is it going to be like running out the tunnel with a full house?

It’s going to be amazing. I can’t wait. It’s going to feel some type of normal I feel like for our whole team, just going back to what we’re used to. It’s a feeling that you can’t really describe. I’m really looking forward to it.

Can you walk me through what the advantages of having a season of experience as a quarterback and a team returning a quarterback that it’s familiar with?

Yeah, I mean, I think it’s a great advantage. I mean, last year obviously we had to go through different protocols and different things with COVID that kind of affected I guess our overall learning. Like Coach Doeren said, we had to do a lot of things virtual.

I think now this year being able to see everyone in person, being able to pick everyone’s brain, be able to communicate better with our offensive system is going to help us out so much more.

You talked about after your injury finding a love for the game in a different way. Can you talk a little bit more about the lessons you’ve learned off the field, how you plan to use that in this season.

I think really what I meant by the love of the game in a different way is I never really necessarily experienced an injury like I did last year. I think it kind of just puts things in a different perspective as far as just the smallest things, like celebrating in the locker room with your team, just every little thing you never really take for granted anymore. That kind of gave me a different perspective.

Now post-injury, you’re playing every single day, working out every single day like it’s your last. I’m going to continue to take that approach.