Jordan Waters: "I Can't Wait To Go Out There"

NC State running back Jordan Waters met with the media in the breakout session of the 2024 ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte.

So now you know the defense over there at Duke. How do you think you’ll take advantage of that being on the other side?

I know the players, but like I said, it's the offseason. They're all working to get better. So we want to know until we go out there and play.
 

Yeah, I know you said you could see yourself being utilized in the past game. How has it been building that relationship with Grayson and building that trust in the past game?

We come in, we connect. Like I said, every weekend, we're out there playing and trying to get better with each other, but it's been very nice, you know, really.
 

Within the ACC, with the running back groups, among some of the running backs that are here today, what do you just kind of make of the ACC kind of being an underrated running back?

I think it's got some names on it. Yeah, that's very great. It's very effective, but there's some dogs out there. There's Omarion, there's Phil. I have to put myself in there, but there's a lot of dogs in there, and I don't think we're getting recognition for that.
 

What do you think of the college football video game?

Honestly, I can't stay off of it. I had to say that. I was in a workout the other day, and I was just thinking about it. I want to play the game.
 

What do you think of their assessment of what you are in the game?

It's kind of similar. It ain't bad. It ain't too much else, but I think that rating will be a little higher.
 

Does that give you, I know there's a lot of things you guys need for motivation, but is that kind of a motivating factor too?

It's the game, man. I wouldn't worry about the money. I would just like, decide to be on there.   I grew up playing that game, so I'm just happy to be on it. 
 

You said it was hard leaving Duke, so I was curious if there was a moment that you had when you got to NC State or a conversation that convinced you like NC State was the place to be after you left Duke?

Really, it was my choice. I know NC State. I played against them, and their motto is hard tough together, and they really live by it. And I knew I could stay here in North Carolina close to my parents and play some good football, so the decision wasn't to
 

You guys brought some guys who have been five years, six years, part of a transformative era of college football. What do you just kind of, what do you think 2019 Jordan Waters says to himself now five, six years later? 

Oh my God. Just to be patient. I think that's the biggest thing I learned. Just to stay down until you come up. And that's probably one of the biggest things I learned, because there was one point where I did not want to play football, and there was a time when we were going like two games, three games, but just to stay down until you come up, and now I'm here in front of you guys, so it's awesome.
 

You've been part of Duke teams that the first year, two years ago, the expectations were not high. Last year going into the season, the expectations were high, obviously the injury significantly hurt that. What type of approach do you take going into the season, knowing how high the expectations are, and knowing that you've gone through that before?

You just can't hear the noise. You just got to go out there, prepare with your team, prepare with your teammates, and do whatever you got to do to get better. You can't hear the outside noise. There's a lot of people that's hyping you up. There's a lot of people that's talking down on you, so you just can't hear all that.
 

How good is it to have a lot of veterans who have gone through that before, to be able to be that voice for this team, as opposed to having a younger team or something along those lines?

It's great, especially when you've got guys like Grayson and Davin, who are very vocal, and guys listen to them, and they don't realize, but when they speak, everybody listens. So it's been great.
 

I don't know the stat on this, but you guys beat Clemson at your place last year. NC State beat Clemson this year. Are you going to be too annoyed against Clemson on different teams?

I'm looking to go. I'm really looking forward to seeing UNC. Yeah, I'm going to show that.
 

That never changed, right? 

Oh, no, no.
 

Your regular season, I think, starts in August. So we're getting into T-minus mode, and start counting backwards. Yeah, it's about time to amp up, about time. Pretty soon, you'll be in game week mode, right? How geeked up are you for that? How excited?

I can't wait for it. I haven't played ball in a while, so I can't wait to go out there. I'm ready to go on the grass next Wednesday, and just go out there and run around and have fun.
 

Is it different when you're in game week prep? When you get that first game week prep, does it feel like somebody's flipped a switch?

No, I think that switch flips next week. When I get on the field, I'm going to keep that same energy all year. I'm ready.
 

State has struggled at times running the ball last year, how much do you feel like that you could be part of improving in their ability to have more of a balanced offense? 

I feel like I play a good part of it, but we're going to keep it balanced. Without the O-line, I can't do anything. There's two guys that I don't get the recognition that they deserve. It’s Demarcus Jones and Jordan Poole. They do all the dirty work that nobody sees, but I see it. There's a big part in the running game, and it will be this year.
 

That balance that they look for, is that part of the reason that you transferred to NC State?

Oh, definitely.
 

Because you're home and that kind of thing?

It's all that, definitely. But knowing I can come here and be one of the top guys to run the ball, behind a great O-line, it's a big part. 
 

It's still kind of strange to look down and see that wolf wearing the red instead of that blue. 

Every morning. Every morning I come, I'm like, I'm really here. But it's been great.
 

Jordan, when you look at position groups, players individually, whatever comes to mind, who do you think has the potential for us to be top?

I don't even know where to start. If I had to choose, I'm going with two people. I'm going, besides KC, I'm going Noah Rogers. Yeah, we know about him. I'm going Noah Rogers and Justin [Joly]. Two dogs that work hard. Some of the best hands I've seen. They're young, though. I have to remind myself every day, they're only like 20. 20-19, it's crazy.

And your impressions of Dave Doeren?

Dog. Like I said earlier, he comes off as uptight, but once you talk to him, he's one of the nicest guys I ever met. I love him a lot. 
 

Any other adults in the room had a great impression on you? Coordinators? 
Coach Goebbel. Tod Goebbel. That's my running back coach and special teams coordinator. And we talk all the time. We've been golfing a couple times together and all that. And we talk all the time. We've been golfing a couple times together and all that.
 

Do you feel like it's building up towards more, deeper than just a team?

Already, yeah. As soon as I got there, I felt that energy. And they're definitely keeping it going.
 

Grayson McCall texted me like, “Let’s do it”. I was like “yeah let’s do it”.  We got here, and it's been great, man. He's a natural born leader. Great guy. It's just cool to be around him. He's a lot of fun.
 

You mentioned that. How much does he kind of play in your recruitment as well?

Oh, a lot. I know Grayson. I grew up in South Carolina, so I know all about Coastal and what he's done and how he plays. And I was excited when he committed. 
 

He said that a lot of guys were motivating him to get the mullet back. Were you one of those players?

Yeah, when he walked down, I'm like, that is not Grayson McCall. I was like, who is that? I'm like, yeah, you need that mullet back.
 

Is that part of that? Like, it's not just a look. It's an attitude.

Yeah, it's a part of him. That's him. That mullet is Grayson McCall.
 

Does he seem more laid back, pressed on for him? Not having as much pressure, I guess, on himself? 

Yeah, but I don't think it gives to him at all. There's no pressure, he’s all the same person. 
 

How is academic school life, man, I know it's summer. But still, how's that been over your state?

 It's been great. I went to one of the most prestigious universities in the world.  So I'm good.