Red Hibbler: "I Just Love Sacking The Quarterback"
NC State defensive end Red Hibbler met with the media to discuss where he has improved, the season opener, and much more.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
So first of all, just talk to me about the transformation you went through this offseason, gaining some weight. What types of things have you worked on the most to be a guy that can be dependent on more this season?
Really just getting my weight off, just being able to stay in my gaps and being able to be every down guy is what I really wanted to work on this offseason. So just trying to be every down guy.
What's this like for you going from year one at NC State to now being here for going into year two, what's been the biggest difference [from] this time last year?
I think the difference, you mean like on the field? Yeah. Or personal? I would just say everything has really been easier. I would say I can react faster, I can move. It's kind of hard trying to move with this weight, but I'm able to do it. I've been able to maintain this weight. It's really just the weight, just trying to maintain the weight as well.
How big of an adjustment was it going from junior college to the ACC?
I'd say the game was faster and the linemen were bigger. That's what held the main thing. The linemen, they're way technique sound. In JUCO, I could just fly past guys, but here I gotta actually do a move or do something to get faster.
We've heard a lot of the defensive players say that “no drop off” is kind of a rallying cry behind this offseason. When did that start? Who started it?
I'd say it started from years that you guys have been here. Guys that come in, they just uphold the standard and are able to play this type of football, and that's how we've been able to keep improving.
How excited are you to be in game week prep, knowing this thing's closing in?
Going against our guys, iron sharpening iron, I'm just ready to finally hit somebody who's a different jersey. Hit somebody with a different jersey.
You talk about how frustrating it is all the time for a guy like you that likes to take a quarterback down.
Man, it's just the sun, man. That's what it is, just the sun. It so hot out there, and that's how it is, it’s just so hot.
You talk about wanting to be an every down guy. Third down was big for you last year. What kind of steps are you taking to be that guy out there?
To become an every down guy? Really when I just gaining my weight, gaining my muscle. Just enjoying passing, passing as much as I enjoy run stopping. That's really what I'm trying to get to.
What are the biggest lessons you've learned from being under Charley Wiles?
Biggest lesson I've learned, I'm gonna say coming from JUCO. I'm gonna tell you, he taught me a lot about the game of football. It's also, like I said, he'll be a run stopping coach. He's been big on teaching me how to run stop, and stay in that gap. He taught me a lot on and off the field.
What do you like about getting after the quarterback?
I just love sacking the quarterback, man. And just seeing the fans, how excited they be when I get [a sack]. It's just, it's a true feeling, unexplained.
Were there moments last year where you've been like 17 year old me would never imagine playing at Carter Finley Stadium in front of 60,000?
The moment when I got the sack against Miami and just looking at the crowd. I guess something I would have never thought, would have never thought I'd feel at 17.