DK Kaufman Impressed By The Culture At NC State

NC State safety DK Kaufman shares his thoughts on the start of fall camp, his transfer from Auburn, and much more.

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DK Kaufman on the Defenses He’s Played In...
So many different systems. I didn't have, you know, all good DCs, and I didn't run 4-3 defenses. This is my first time in 3-3-5 though, so. And it's actually, it gave me the play quick. You know, the 4-3 defense, you run a lot of quarters, a lot of thinking. You know, there's thinking in this, but it's not as much, so you really get to play free. But it was easy just learning that playbook, and I think Coach Gibby did a good job with the installs and breaking them up into certain days, you know, getting guys that time. But like you said, I'm an older guy, so I feel like now, I'm basically a DC. 

So you said you get to play more free. Like, how do you think maybe this defensive scheme actually leans towards your strengths and maybe new ways? 
Yeah, so for me, I'm the kind of player like, I like to bounce around a lot, but I know I have to do my 1-11. But with this defense, it's not as much thinking. So I know you might have a check here too, but that's nothing like compared to a quarter's defense. You know, motion, you come to this. Motion back, you go to this. If he off the ball, you got to do it on this. So with this defense, it's really one of two things that you just got to look at. And then I'm in a boundary. So, you know, it's more congested.  My things happen fast, but like I said, it's more congested. You see a little, you see a lot. So that's the biggest thing.

You were the first of the DBs to transfer in, and I wouldn't call it spring, but dead of winter, I guess. You know, but when you saw Ja’had and then Kerry Martin, you know, coming after you, you know, did this kind of help you a little bit? Did you have some other guys to kind of adjust with? 
Yeah, for sure. So for me, I mean, all of us, we came in the same time. We all came in in May. We all did the same thing. I know me and KJ didn't play spring ball. So it was really just us just trying to stay fit, you know, working out. But coming in with those guys, like they're older guys too, and they just sit around and play ball. So really, when we first came in, like we live together.

All three of us, we live together. So just getting to pick each other's brain and trying to bring that to the younger guys and trying to show them, you know, the right way, how to do things and have a routine about yourself. 

What's the best thing that's surprised you about NC State so far? 
Um, I don't know. I’ll see when the game comes, but the biggest thing, the culture. There's a real good culture here. The best culture I've been around while I've been in college. So, for sure, the culture. 

You mentioned you're kind of like a DC right now. At what point did the complication aspect leave and it became simpler and it became more common? 
Probably my second year of college because my first year, I was with Derrick Mason. You know, he ran that pro style. So there's a lot of checks. And it was hard getting that at first. But after my first year, you know, went through that spring. Then I went through that spring, I had Jesse Minter. He ran the Ravens defense. So I learned that. And then I had to turn right back around. And I was with Mason again. So that kind of helped me pick up on things faster. 

You said, again, like you say, you're like a DC, but you still find yourself learning and growing and evolving?
Yeah, there's always more to learn and evolve. Because, I mean, I say that, but I've been in the game for I don't know how long. But you got these guys who've been coaching for 30 years. Like, they know way more than I do. So really just trying to pick their brains. And every day I'm learning something new. 

Do you see yourself as being somebody like look at that, maybe one day that could be me? 
Look at that. Maybe that one day could be me. Yeah, I don't think at the college level. I don't think. They put in a lot of hours, man. I'm not going to lie. I know that's schedule-packed. I could see myself doing high school. I would want to coach high school or park ball. Because I feel like I can actually make a difference with those guys. You know, they're younger. So they're not saying college dudes don't listen. But you're growing once you get to college. You know, you're going to make your own choices. But I feel like high school or park ball, I can actually change those guys' lives. 

And you feel like you're interacting with people. And you're at a school at NC State that can get you to the places you want to go in life. 
100%. Yeah, that's the ACC. I mean, they didn't put a lot of dudes in the league. So I just have to do my part. 

What's the mindset of NC State going into this season? 
In terms of team goals. One Pack, One Goal. One united mission, one championship.