ACC KICKOFF: Doeren, Armstrong, White, Wilson Discuss Upcoming Season

NC State’s Dave Doeren, Brennan Armstrong, Aydan White, and Payton Wilson met with the media for the Wolfpack’s 2023 ACC Football Kickoff press conference.

NOTE: Click on each respective thumbnail to watch each press conference in the player above.

Dave Doeren
 

Looking at college football today and the fact that coaches change every few seasons, you've had over a decade at NC State. Just what can you say about that tenure, your belief in the program, the program that's continuing to buy into you, and just what that relationship has been like in a world that we don't see that consistency a lot?

For me it's a blessing to be at this school this long. Really in my life I've never lived anywhere this long. Even as a child, moving around. To be able to say that all three of my sons didn't have to move through their childhood years and their schooling, I think that's a huge win in the parenting box. From a stability standpoint NC State has definitely supported me ask Sara and the kids. I love the leadership. Chancellor [Randy] Woodson has been huge in this for me, and now Boo Corrigan. I came to NC State for the same reason I'm still there. I think it's a great fit. It's a bunch of blue-collar, tough, hard-working people that enjoy good food, good music. The state of North Carolina, fishing, mountains, beach, lakes. I mean, you can't beat it. It's really just a tremendous place to live. So thankful to be here, and honestly hope that they let me finish here. That's my goal is to retire here one day. The winningest coach in school history and be able to kind of go to the parking lot and tailgate myself and have some fun. Maybe not have as much stress and get a vacation every now and then. It's a fun group too, and the guys that I've been able to coach and the coaches I've been able to work with make it the ride that -- that's what it's about. It's that journey you have.

You mentioned that fit and culture. I'm curious, Robert Anae, how has he fit in? How that is that relationship gone? How has his work on the field progressed?

It's great having Coach Anae. I have several staff members that worked with Robert at other stops before I hired him that could really give me some good insight into what this relationship would be like for me are with Ruffin McNeil and him going back to Texas Tech and UNLV. Tony Gibson, my D coordinator and he were together at Arizona. Brian Mitchell and he were together at BYU. So I had some insight into what kind of person. I coached against Coach Anae four different times and knew the kind of play-caller that he was and what his guys were like to play against. So it's been a great match. He has been very unique. For those that have interviewed him, you know where I'm coming with that. He is definitely a different personality in a good way. He has a fun personality, but he is a tough ball coach. He expects guys to do things a certain way. He is demanding. His creativity, I'm not saying it's unmatched, but it's in the top 10% in college football. He does a lot with the different things he can do in the offense for the players.

What does your defensive coordinator Tony Gibson do to make him a consistently quality defensive coordinator for you guys?

His system was unique. Not a lot of people run the 3-3-5. He understands the ins and outs of it really, really well. He knows how people are going to attack them. He knows what the answers are before they happen. So if they do this, I'm going to do this. He has that for everything. He has a good progression. Not just of teaching, but of when to add things in and when it's time to change things up. He is a great chemistry guy. Not just with players, but with staff. I like that he is tough on the guys. He demands a lot, but he is also a guy that loves on his players. He has really, really been a great hire for us, and he has done a tremendous job. So have the coaches that are with him. I know Payton and Aydan will speak to this, the chemistry of that side of the ball, and not that it's not on the other, but Tony deserves a lot of credit for that. When he was promoted four years ago, I guess it was, to defensive coordinator, he changed a lot of things, and those things have paid off for us.

They say that the team takes on the attitude and temperament of the head coach, and we've seen that over the years with you and this team being very tough, hard-nosed, all that good stuff. It seems like this team is on the cusp year after year after year. You are right there. What needs to change with this team or with you or in general to kind of break through that ceiling and get your first ACC Championship?

I would love to see it, and it's great to see you, [Kenton Gibbs], as a former player of mine. We finished second in the league a couple of times records-wise. Second in the league for league wins three years now combined, and I think it's third over the ten years that I've been here for league wins. So we've had a lot of success. How do you get over the top? That's a great question. I say this to the team. It's one more play sometimes or one more player sometimes or one more play-call. It's a very little thing that takes place. Sometimes you have to have some luck too. Staying healthy is a big thing in college football. If you look at the teams that make it to the end, that's a factor.
There's a lot of pieces in it, and I've been fortunate to win championships at several of the schools I've been at. Those things come together at the right time. You just make some clutch key plays. Sometimes it's just a routine play at the right time. Once you do it one time, it's amazing. The repetition of it is not as hard as the first time doing it, in my opinion, because of the belief that goes with it.

You bring in an experienced OC in Robert Anae. You bring in an experienced O-line coach, Coach [Garett] Tujague, and you bring in an experienced quarterback to pilot this thing in Brennan. Can you speak on where you feel the ceiling is for this new-look offense in 2023?

Well, I think the ceiling is being the best in the league. That's our goal. We can't control the stats and all the things outside of the ACC. We got to try to win the ACC. Our goal is always going to be to be the best statistically in the areas that we consider important. So I know Coach Anae has his pillars on offense that he preaches to these guys that they're going to be working hard to attain. It's no different on defense. We want to finish in the top one, two, or three in every category that we care about. There's certain tenets of the program when it comes to taking care of the football on offense and taking the ball back on defense that is paramount for us. The penalties, it's an area that hurt says a few years ago. Not beating ourselves with things we can control. So there's a lot of things you look at that I don't think at this phase of the season you can ever say this is what we're going to be. You have to go earn it. You have to get on the grass and go play and get in these games and see who is better.

Dave, obviously last year the dynamic was completely different. Do you feel like your teams perform better when there's not as heightened of expectations, when you are seen as the underdog going into the season?

I've been asked that a lot. I think we performed really well last year, considering four quarterbacks had to play. I mean, there's never been a team in the history of college football win eight games with four quarterbacks. When you sat in this meeting a year ago, we would have all said eight wins was not what we were hoping for, but I know I was quoted last year saying this. You guys are asking me to protect 12 games with the line-up that I have for game one. That's not reality. The team changes a lot when you lose a quarterback, another quarterback, another quarterback. So the fact that complementary football played into it, the defense was No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, the special teams were No. 1 in the league, our offense did not turn the football over and kept us in games. So that's how we won. I look at last year as a huge success with the difficulties we faced. Would have loved to have not had those challenges and been in the championship game and all of that, but that's not the reality of sports. You have to compete with what you have to compete with. I felt like this staff did that, and we're going to do it again, and hopefully -- we will have obstacles, we will have adversity, we'll have things happen we didn't want. I just hope that they're not in the injury category when we're facing them.

There's plenty of game film on what Brennan Armstrong can do and Robert Anae's offense, but what has he done in terms of ingraining himself within the locker room, within the offense that you have seen through the spring and the summer and how good of a teammate he is?

Yeah, I think it's probably a question to ask these players when they come up here. From my standpoint I like how he just came in and put his head down and went to work. He proved himself and his competitive spirit. Going back to the winter runs, he put him in a competition, and he is winning every rep. You see how he cheers on his teammates when they win things, and his excitement level for that. How hard he competed in spring ball, and you would see him coaching guys. The way he goes about his business is where the respect for me is. As far as how he is with them, I think that's probably better for them to answer.

Being in Raleigh, which is one of the fastest-growing cities right now, does that help with the recruiting process at all in bringing players that help best fit your team?

For some it does. I think the internships that are available due to the growth and the fact that it's still growing, and Apple bringing all this stuff to the Triangle, it definitely helps for the guys that care about that. I also think it being the capital, the different things that are already there industry-wise, and now that NIL is what it is, there's opportunity in that to have more corporations, more businesses for these guys to potentially be contacted by through the collective. It's crazy being there now going on 11 years and seeing the growth of our city every year. The highways are a mess. They can't keep up with the growth, and a number of new schools and new restaurants, new this, new that. It's an awesome place to live right now. For the guys that get there and realize it, I don't think they know how good they have it. Trust me, being a coach that's lived all over the country, been in big towns, farm towns, you name it, Raleigh has it going right now. It's an awesome place to live and work.

Given your passion for NC State, we like to get the sound bite. 16 of their last 17 at Carter-Finley. Talk about the fan base.

Wolfpack Nation, we've already sold more tickets. This was two weeks ago they told me there was only 2,000 seats left for the entire season completely combined. So the most tickets they've ever sold in school history for football. The most revenue generated from that as well. Last year they added these lights that turn on and off and go red and all this, which was pretty cool for the players and the fans. Now we have the largest jumbotron in the league with the new sound system, which is going to add even more to the game day environment, which I know will fire our fans up. We love the Wolfpack fan base and continue to ask them just to be in the stands for four quarters and try to make life hell on the opponents.

Brennan Armstrong
 

Brennan, this is your third consecutive ACC Kickoff. Can you talk about the responsibility of being a leader for a football team this year with NC State?

I think it's a huge deal. Obviously I'm a new face. I think Coach Doeren hit it. My coming into the team, I just put my head down and worked hard, and now I'm just trying to start -- I've kind of started to be a vocal leader. I kind of said this a few others times out there. I was starting to -- I think I'm going to start showing a little bit more fiery side of me. I've been cool, calm, and collected. I don't want to scare some guys on game day if I get fired up out of nowhere because technically that's how I play. I've been kind of playing it cool, so I think I'm going to incorporate that here in the fall camp and just continue to be a voice, try to instill confidence and just determination on the offensive side.

You and the offensive coordinator, Robert Anae, returning to Charlottesville in a couple of months. Can you speak a little bit about how much thought you've put into returning to Virginia?

It's another game. I think every ACC game is going to be very important, especially without the divisions now. The top two go to the ACC Championship game. It's going to be a good experience. Boos, cheers, whatever comes with it, I'm just there to win a game. That's my mindset going into that game.

About that relationship with Robert Anae, how has it changed from when he was first coaching you to maybe where you are now as more of a veteran?

I mean, at the beginning when I was a freshman/sophomore, I used to hate him. He knows that. He was on me all the time. It grew as I got older, and now it's honestly a great relationship. It was weird. I said this before. It was weird going into the NC State facility and then seeing Coach Anae, a familiar face in a different area. That was a little weird for me and just a new experience. Yeah, no, it's grown. He treats me like a grown man now, so that's kind of cool seeing where it started and where it's at now. No, it's same seam old Anae. I think you've obviously had interviews with him. It's same old Anae still, though, yeah.

How much do you stay in touch with your former teammates at Virginia? I imagine you guys have a bond for life given all you had to go through last season?

Yeah, I stay in touch with most of them. Most of the older guys that are still there, I've obviously came up and played, shoot, three, four seasons with them. So I keep in touch with them here and there. We check in on each other just to see how things are going. A lot of the quarterbacks still and then a few of the running backs, a few of the receivers. Some of the guys are gone, so they're just out of Virginia, and they're either in the NFL or doing something else. I still keep in touch with some of those guys. Yeah, like you said, what happened made us definitely become closer, yeah.

You were talking about Coach Anae, just what he brings out of you and your game that makes you feel like this one last opportunity and this last ride could give you the best opportunity for the NFL?

Just lets me be me. I don't feel confined. I don't feel like I'm locked up at all. I am just allow to do play how I want to play. I think he has a good why idea of how I play, kind of my thoughts. I have a good idea how he thinks. Everyone talks about the running quarterback. He lets me run the ball. He doesn't care. He designs things for those things too, and I think I'm at my best when I'm able to play free and not worried about those type of things, like sliding or anything like that. Obviously there are certain situations to do those things in, and I'm well aware of that, but he just allows me to play free and just lets me go out there and play the game and have fun.

Brennan, everybody is talking about your relationship with Robert Anae and all that and the things that are familiar to you, but I want to talk about what's new to you a little bit in terms of a lot of people are saying that these are the best group of weapon that you have had in your career. So can you elaborate on whether or not you agree with that assertion and how you feel in terms of playing with this new set of guys?

The first thing I noticed when I came in was just the eagerness, that they're willing to just put their head down and work. I feel like they kind of let the team down a little bit last year, and then this year they're willing to just work and are eager to get better. So that's what I've noticed right away. That's all you can really ask for. That's all I really ask for is the eagerness and the work ethic and the workout they have and they've shown that. I'm just super excited. I think we're going to have a lot of guys step up. I think in fall camp we're going to confine to what we want to do and motions and certain things that we're trying to create as an offense. I think we're going to see a lot of guys really become -- or step into their role well and start to separate themselves. I'm just kind of looking forward to that and just seeing who that is.

Aydan White
 

Aydan, you played the most coverage snaps in the country without allowing a touchdown last year with 482. Can you talk about the attitude and the swagger that comes with being a lockdown corner in this league?

For myself I say I play on the left side, so when a quarterback opens up, right-hand quarterback, they see me automatically. I like that a lot for myself or my defense. With the pressure that my D-line penetrates, the quarterback got to get the ball off so fast that it's not time for a deep route. They run a slant. They're running glances. Something fast I can make a play on.

I wanted to ask you, Aydan, in particular do you feel like the expectations of you have changed since last year? How much has that changed given where you were at this point last year compared to where you are going into this year?

I don't want to say the expectations have changed because the coaching staff already know what I can do, and I just hope to replicate what I did do last season.

I was just wondering what you have been working on this offseason? What's kind of the next step in your game that you are trying to improve?

I've just been watching film on myself a lot recently, looking at my weaknesses and trying to make those my strengths. Especially with our discipline, press man, and being more physical in the run game.

I was just wondering, what were those weaknesses, and kind of just what are you doing to address them?

Oh, kind of like he was saying just with our discipline on the upside. I had got a lot of that towards the end of the season. It started messing me up so that my press man and just working more on my feet coming out of my brakes and being more disciplined.

Last season 46 total tackles, four interceptions. What you have done in this offseason to elevate your game in those specific areas that you've keyed in on and you think are going to maybe increase those numbers this year?

I would say just working out with our strength staff. Coach Thunder does a great job with us in the weight room and on the field getting us in shape. Just becoming stronger in my legs, becoming stronger in my upper body, all-around, so I can have more so low tackles this year.

Last year most people would look at the linebacking corps and say that was the strength of this team, that was the heart and soul of this team in terms of Payton Wilson, who is up there with you now, Isaiah Moore and Drake Thomas, who are both going on to the NFL at this point in time. But this year it seems a very decided advantage for NC State in terms of the defensive backfield over everybody else. Can you talk about how well or how you're expecting the defensive backfield to play in this upcoming season as they're expected to lead this defense to some extent?

I expect our defense to be No. 1 in the passing defense throughout the whole league. We just have a lot of depth coming back and a lot of experience. For example, our corners, our safeties, and our nickels, we all watch film together keying on things we need to do for the season. So just having that depth and having that experience all around can help. If a man goes down, we have the next man coming up.

You have a very talented teammate in the defensive backfield in Shyheim Battle. Can you talk about his influence on and off the field to you?

It's crazy. It's really a full-circle moment because I came in 2020, and Shyheim came in 2019. Shy was one of the first guys to hit me up asking me to train as soon as I got on campus. I really appreciate that guy reaching out to me. Just knowing that when a ball goes up in the air, Shyheim is so consistent that I don't really have to worry about traveling size with the wide receivers because I know what he is doing on that side. It's easy for our defense and offense to have two shut-down corners playing on both sides.

Payton Wilson
 

You went through things out of your control in your career at NC State. You know, suffering injuries and having to kind of bounce back from that. To look back on that adversity to where you are today, what would you say about how it didn't break you, but essentially made you into the player that you are as you step into 2023?

Yeah, of course. I tell people this all the time that the injuries that have happened to me, yeah, they kind of suck, but at the end of the day they made me a better person on and off the field. Being younger and just playing injury-free, I used to take the game for granted. I didn't really understand that that next snap could be my last. Then just mentally, I mean, just the things that it's engraved in me as a person. It's tough watching people do what you love to do, and you can't do it for year after year. That mentality that comes with that and just understanding that nothing is guaranteed in this life and you got to give your 100% every percent of the time.

You deciding to come back to NC State is a massive boost to what was already a very good defense last year. Can you talk about your hunger to reintroduce yourself as one of the top linebackers in this conference?

Yeah, I think not meeting our goals last season, just kind of the way it unraveled. And as a defense we had what everyone says good year, but we didn't meet our requirements. We didn't win every game, and we put that on ourselves because people were able to score. So just getting back to that mentality of nobody scores a point on us. The other team can't win. It doesn't really matter what happens on the offensive side of the ball because if they don't score, they can't win. Then just trying to carry that over the years and carry that intensity, that violence that we played with last year into it year.

In terms of health and leadership, do you feel as though you have more to offer this year in comparison to years past?

Yeah. I've kind of just with certain guys -- I mean, Isaiah was that vocal leader for us in the past for the last three years. With him being gone, you know, just kind of coming out of the shell, I mean, it's not only helped me become a better leader, but just in situations like this, public speaking and everything that I do, it's just helped me so much. Then just learning more about myself, getting out of my comfort zone is something that you can ask any of these guys up here. I used to never talk. I used to never be around all that leadership stuff, but now that I'm bought into it and understand the meaning of it, I really take pride in it and do it to the best of my ability.

I chattered with Coach Thunder [Dantonio Burnette] recently, and he said that this is the fastest team that NC State has fielded that he has ever seen. Can you talk about what you are seeing in terms of team speed and how you think that's going to play out on Saturdays and Thursdays and whenever else you play throughout this season?

Yeah, I mean, I think in the past when you think of NC State, you just think of a team that is blue collar and they're going to play you as hard as possible, but we still have all those standards. This summer and the times that we were seeing and the 40s that people were running -- not only 40s, but the pro agility, it's some of the craziest statistics, times that I've ever seen. Credit to Coach Thunder and what he is doing with us, but, yeah, we're going to be flying around on both sides of the ball at every position. We have 300-pound men running 4.8 40s and stuff like that. It's pretty crazy.

There are a lot of student-athletes that when they choose to go to school, they like to get away from home. Why is it that being from Hillsborough you decided to stay so close to home?

PAYTON WILSON: I'm a big-time mama's boy, and I would never leave my mom. That is 100% why, and that is why I'm here.