Meyers: "This Is Another Family Environment For Us"

NC State redshirt junior wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is focused on helping his team win the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

Opening statement...
Definitely. I felt like that was a stepping stone for us, beating a top-tier school. It gave us a chance to  show that we can play with anybody.

On showing college football the ACC is more than Clemson/FSU...
Like I said, we do appreciate all wins, but it just shows the world that we can really play. We’ve got a chance to pick it up every year.

How has the experience been in Jacksonville?
This is new to me. I’ve actually never been to Jacksonville. There’s a lot to do. Being right here on the beach, we couldn’t really ask for much more. It’s been nice.

How have the practices been?
Really good. We did a lot of practicing back in Raleigh, too, so now it’s kind of fine-tuning little details here and there.

Has it been crisp in practices, business-like?
Definitely. We know it’s a business trip.

Do you expect any guys to step up?
The whole receiving corps basically. We’ve got a lot of young linebackers and a lot of young receivers that got to show what they can do to get their chance. And with the new redshirt rule, you might have a lot of new redshirts that get a chance to show what they can do. So just watch out for the young guys for sure.

Is it fun to see new guys show out a little bit?
We see them in practice all the time, so we know what they have. I feel like it’s just hidden gems here in the offense and the defense that can show you that they can really play. They can get their chance, hopefully, in this game.

People talk about guys sitting out the bowl games.  How do you as players view those guys?
We understand the nature of the business. With Kelvin, we know he’s got to take care of people. It’s an injury-risk business, and we understand that. We still love him the same as if he was on the team or not. He’s going to come back for the bowl game to support with us, so we’re going to appreciate him the same as if he were playing.

Do you feel like outside people who aren’t part of teams give those guys a bad rap?
Everybody has their own opinion, and that’s everybody’s right to have their own opinion. I wouldn’t say what they’re doing is wrong, but whatever they say isn’t going to affect how Kelvin made his decision at the end of the day. The people that really matter to him agree with him. His teammates and family agree with him, and I think that’s all that really matters.

How did he tell you guys he wouldn’t play?
You tell your closest friends, and then you tell the coaches, and word gets out to the team. And everybody’s talking about it. ‘Oh, you know Kelvin’s not playing in the game?’ ‘Yeah, we already knew.’

Where were you at on that list?
I wasn’t the very first, but I was kind of up there. I knew for a minute. Kelvin’s a guy who lives his life by a plan. He always had a plan on how he wanted his season to go, and he accomplished it all.

What was your reaction about moving from quarterback to wide receiver?
I was pissed. I was extremely pissed. I hated it. I hated everybody. I wanted to leave, but I stuck with it. I talked to a lot of good people. I thought about it, and it worked out.

Why do you think it paid off... he knew and you didn’t?
Coaches get to see a lot of players work. They’ve been through it. All the young guys, we think we know everything, but when you come here, you honestly don’t. I guess since he’s been through this situation and I hadn’t, I took his word for it.

Now that it’s paid off, have you said anything to coach Doeren?
We joke about it a lot. Everybody always say, ‘If you’d stuck with quarterback, where would you be?’ I have no idea, but I’m grateful for where I am now. We talk about it a lot.

How much fun has this week been for you?
I love it. I love any time I can take a business trip like this with my family. I appreciate these guys more than football. This is another family environment for us. We just love it all. I love being here with them.

Is that the best part, hanging out with the guys in a different city?
They put us all in one hotel. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s a lot of good times and memories from all the bowl games, but there’s definitely good ones from here, too.

Does it make it more fun that it’s an SEC team?
We want to treat every game the same, but the chance to get that recognition and show everybody the same hype that other people are getting, I feel it’s amazing for us.

Do you feel like the program is trending upward?
Definitely.

Look at the class they just signed. Oh my goodness! They’ve got a lot of good talent coming in; there’s a lot of good talent here that we haven’t even seen yet play. So I think it’s going upward definitely.