Sean Brown: "It Was Fun To Be Back Out There"

NC State linebacker Sean Brown met with the media to give his thoughts on the start of spring practice, defensive changes, and much more.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

On the first spring practice...

I mean, it was fun to be back out there. You got new guys that transferred in, that the old guys that've been traveling. It's fun to always get back on the field and really do what you love. It makes you appreciate all that you work for. You came here to play football and get a degree. You know, that's one of the things that we're doing.
 

You're one of the old guys now. As you look around, I mean, that's not scary. You don't see too many people you saw last year on the defensive side. What's that like? 

I mean, I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm not really thinking about how old I am. I ain't that old as y'all think. I'm just coaching young guys, just keeping the team together, and just being a leader for them. 
 

What's it like having Coach Eliott in the linebacker room now? 

He's a very smart man, you know. Like Coach Doeren said, he coached all positions. He coached in the professional [league], so he knows what it looks like at the linebacker position. And so he's just really being a coach. He's coaching us hard. He's being very critical in everything he does. 
 

A couple of new guys in the linebacker room. As far as transfers are concerned, what have you seen from guys like Tra Thomas and obviously Sterling Dixon as well? 

They came in ready to work from day one. We taught them the standard, and they understand that. There's no complaining. They're not complainers. They came in ready to work every single day. 
 

Outside expectations are really high on this team this year. Can you guys maybe float under the radar and maybe surprise some people this year? 

I mean, it ain't a surprise to us. I mean, we all know what we're capable of, and we know what we're going to do this season. So, I mean, people can doubt us, whatever they want to do, but we don't really care what other people say. All we care about is the people in the facility.
 

How have you seen just how NIL affects the team, the locker room, change over the years, and as you enter a new season here, it's just kind of normal for the way things are now? 

Like you said, it's the way things are. You can't really do nothing about it. Guys want to leave for whatever purpose it is that they want to leave, so we can't really, I mean, we will want them to stay, but at the end of the day, it's their decision.
 

Sean, what kind of lessons can you learn from last season and incorporating this spring here and looking forward? 

One thing, or two things, we talked about maturity and just finishing. We lost a couple one-possession games, and we want to finish the game. We want to be able to put the hammer, I mean, hammer the nail, just get them out of here. 
 

Looking back at last year, what were the biggest, how big was the transition moving from safety to linebacker, and how do you feel like you're more prepared going into year two with the position? 

Yeah, I mean, going into first year, I'm a ball player, so you can put me at D-line, I'm still going to get mine. But going into year two, I'm feeling well-adjusted to it. My eyes and just my body weight and just the way I play. I'm just, I feel, what's the word? I feel good moving into it.