Dave Doeren: "We're Getting Mother Nature's Touch"
NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Wolfpack's progression heading into the 2024 season.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Doeren’s interview.
On what he’s learned about his team over the past week…
There's really good leadership at a lot of positions. We got a good test yesterday with the downpour right in the middle of practice. We stayed outside in it. We didn't turn the ball over one time, didn't have a bad snap one time. I mean, it was pouring. You could barely see the film. Sometimes, teams will complain: "Hey, use the indoor over there. Let's go use the indoor.” Nobody said a word. We just kept playing, and that was great as a test. Today was super muggy, so again, another test. We started camp, and it was 95 and felt like 106. We're getting Mother Nature's touch right now and seeing who's got a little bit in their tank. Today, we pushed them. We're going to scrimmage tomorrow. It really wasn't a long practice, but we had some sustained, long drives today, so you got to see stamina and where guys are at. They’re figuring out who they are a little bit right now. There’s good competition. Some of the freshmen have really showed kind of some things here. Keenan Jackson has been very consistent. Jayden Scott, a young running back, has been very consistent. We’re excited to see that. C.J. [Bailey] had a really good practice for us yesterday, and we’re getting to see him getting more work. Tomorrow is going to be fun. I’m excited. A scrimmage obviously tells you way more than a practice.
On the battles between the wide receivers and the secondary…
I think there's a lot said about the receivers all through spring, and then we added these older players after spring. That "iron sharpens iron” mentality that we carry, you're really seeing it. D.K. [Kaufman], a transfer from Auburn, played really good football. He has great command. He understands the scheme. He talks to the guys. We’re seeing the same thing from Ja'Had Carter: consistent, quick learners. [With] Kerry Martin, it’s the same thing. Now you're seeing that older player against older player [matchup], and it's been fun. It's been a lot of fun to see these guys definitely making each other better.
On having experienced players learn the defense…
It helps a lot. You guys will talk to D.K., but he’ll tell you: he's been through like five position coaches in his career, so he's had to learn a new language almost every year. It’s easy for him to adjust. That's one thing as a coach you can't do: you can't make a player more experienced. That's the value of bringing an older player in. Even though you may have a talented young guy, he won't have the game reps and learning from success and failure. They're also at the end of their time, and so that urgency to be good is different.
On recruiting Noah Rogers the second time around…
We carry a mentality here that has nothing to do with the portal: do the most right thing. We put a lot of time into recruiting guys. We want them to be happy and successful in college. Sometimes, it works out where we get them. Sometimes, it doesn’t. I don't think you get any benefit out of mistreating somebody when you don't get it your way. Just wish them well. You may get them back. You may not. You never know when you're going to run into that guy again or that he's going to run into you. It’s just doing the right thing, treating people with respect. I’ve known Noah since he was a seventh grader, so there's a very big relationship timeline there for us and for the players on our team who grew up with him.
On the running back room…
There's competition. The guys have worked hard. Bringing in Jordan [Waters], an older player, allows Kendrick [Raphael] to have a guy like that that can help him off the field. Kendrick did a great job in the offseason, building his body up. Through recruiting, we brought in Daylan Smothers and Jayden Scott. DeMarcus Jones has always been a workhorse for us; he does anything and everything. It's an experienced and young group. It has good leadership, experience, and brotherhood. These guys really do a nice job helping each other.
On Coastal Carolina utilizing NC State’s facilities with Hurricane Debby passing through the Carolinas…
Mother Nature, you know? We feel for the folks that are going through it with this hurricane. Tim [Beck] called and asked if they could use our indoor. Obviously, yes, if it's outside of our practice times. We’re happy to help them and hopeful that it won't last too long and create too much damage in their town.
On Travali Price…
He's completely changed everything: his habits, his routine. He’s benefited from that. He’s built his body up to 280 pounds. Last year, he was up and down, and when you're up and down with body weight, the results are up and down because your energy is going to be different day in and day out. I’m very proud of Travali, and I'm really proud of his growth on and off the field.
On Brandon Cisse…
He’s got a great mentor in there with Aydan [White], and I think he takes every rep to heart. He’s really serious about getting better in the competition. We got him in a lot of games as our starting dime last year, so he has valuable game experience in our defense.