Brandon Cisse: "We Know They're A Really Good Group"
NC State sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse recently met with the media to discuss the upcoming matchup against Duke.
NOTE: Click on the video above to watch the interview.
What's it like for you getting back out there this past weekend?
It's definitely good to be back out there flying around, making plays. I think that's when I'm at my best, that's when I'm confident. I feel like when football's going right, everything else in my life is going right. So it's good to be back out there making a lot more plays.
Well, what are you seeing from Duke as you go into this weekend?
A very talented group at receiver, that quarterback can make every throw. And I think this is gonna be probably the best group of wideouts we're gonna see all year coming into this game.
So they're probably the best group I've evaluated and broken down myself. So it's gonna be a good test and we're gonna have to match it really well. That's it.
This is your first year starting at outside corner. Over the course of however many games we're in this season now, what are some of the lessons you've learned about yourself?
I would say you always gotta know that next play mentality. And I think I kind of found that out versus Clemson. I made a big play on the post and then the next play I gave up a fade. So I think it's things like that, being consistent, just knowing who I am and just knowing all the abilities God's gifted me with. And I can make every play out there when I'm confident. So I just gotta really trust that and not go in and make plays when I'm confident. So when I'm confident, I feel like I can do anything.
How motivated are you underclassmen and seniors out when they're winning their last home game?
It's very motivating. Guys like Davin Vann have played a ton of snaps here. AB and all those guys, Aydan White is in my room. So he's been a great mentor to me. So it'd definitely be something bigger than myself to send those guys out on the right track.
A lot of times what happened last year doesn't really apply to this year. But in 12 years, I don't know if Dave Doeren has taken that Duke loss like he did last year. I don't know if there's another game that he took as personal as that Duke loss. That carryover at all this week, can you still sense that he wants to show Duke what the real NC State team is?
I think we treat every game the same. I don't think it's any more pride depending on who we're playing. I think obviously we look back at it and I think things kind of turned after we played them last year. But we got to treat every game the same. We know they're a really good group, but we got to focus on this game. Don't worry about last year's game. This one right here is the only one that matters. So we got to go on and on this week.
Stanford went at you a few times, so you were able to make those pass breakups. What was it like getting your first game back, being able to make those plays to build that confidence?
It's nothing like it when you're out there making plays. So I mean, they had a really good wide out. You hear about a good wide out all week and you want to go out there and you want to shut them down. So when you get those opportunities to match up with a guy like that, I mean, I pride myself on wanting to be one of the best corners in the country, right? So I mean, that's my test right there and when I got to match up.
Did a wide out you compete against help you prep for Duke and such?
Yeah definitely. All of them are great receivers. Noah, Wesley, Terrell, Keenan, Dacari, they're all good wide outs and they test me at each and every day. So each and every practice is gonna be a big test for me. One-on-one is when we get those kinds of periods, it prepares me only to be better on Saturday. So I'm pretty sure I'm making them better as well.
What's this cornerback group been like this year, with you and Aydan, but also the guys like Devon Marshall, Jackson Vick, guys just stepping up when they have the opportunity?
Yeah, I mean, I think it's big to show that we got depth everywhere. One guy goes down, another guy comes in and makes big plays. I think that's always been the standard in our room is to play as a person before you the best player you can be. Everybody in that room wants to be the best one. And I think that just pushes all of us. But the crazy thing about it is all of us love each other like you wouldn't think we compete like that. You know what I'm saying? We all love each other. We all want to see each other do great. So it's big.
What have you kind of picked up on Duke quarterback, Maalik Murphy?
He's a great quarterback, can make all the throws. He's big, he's got great size and he'll pick you apart if you let him pick you apart. He can make every throw, he's strong, he's physical. And he'll stand in the pocket, take a hit for someone to make a big play. So he's gonna be a good test for sure cuz he can throw it all over the place.
You mentioned Aydan White, this veteran guy going out there on senior day. What has his mentorship meant to you as one of the younger guys coming up? He may be able to pass on a lot of that veteran knowledge.
It's definitely special. That's kind of like an older brother to me. And I'll never forget the day I came in here and he kind of took me under his wing. He's one of the top cornerbacks in the country and he still has every tool, you know what I'm saying? So he's definitely been a great piece of my learning curve. He's definitely helped me mature a lot faster than some other people have. And I mean, I can't put it into words how much he means to me as a person. He's kind of like a little brother, just even off the field. He's always checking up on me, always calling me man. Really love that guy.