D.J. Eliot: "That Competition Makes Us Better"

NC State defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot recently met with the media to discuss spring practice, players who have stood out, and much more.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

Okay, is this getting to a point now where it's starting to become your normal being here at NC State? Or is it still new? Where are we at on that? 
I think we're becoming normal. I've been here since the first of January and gotten to know all the coaches, all the players, how things operate. Now, there's still some things that are new to me, they have such a good routine here, such a good culture, and everybody kind of falls in line, so it's easy. It's easy to get involved early. 

Who are some players that have stood out to you so far? And, obviously, all of these players are new for you still, but, who are some guys that have stood out so far this spring? 
I think Sean Brown's done a great job. I think Brandon Cleveland’s done a great job. Travali’s done a great job. And there's many others, too. But those guys have really caught my eye.

Coach talked a lot about how the offense really returned most of their talent from a year ago. So, how much more challenging does it make it for spring ball for you as you're trying to install it in defense? 
It is a challenge, but it's a great one because we're getting work against an offense that's clicking, an offense that has a bunch of guys back, an offense that has great players, and it makes us better. That competition makes us better.

You guys went up in the transfer portal and added a lot of new talent as well. I mean, who are some of those players that have stood out to you?
Just like the ones Coach mentioned. J.J.'s done a great job. Tra's done a great job. We're seeing some good things from J.J. We have two J.J.'s, right? We've got a corner. I was going to say it again. Yeah, Jamel, okay. So, we've got two of those guys doing good, too. 

Is Raleigh becoming your new normal or are you settling into NC State, this campus, this area? 
Definitely, definitely. It's a great town, right? It's a great university. It's an easy place to like. It's a place that you can get used to real quick. It's good people. I'm from Philly, so it's great weather. You know what I mean? I mean, it's really a place that's been good to me.

How unique is that relationship with Tra after coaching him previously and now getting the chance to do the same thing here in his final year? 
Tra and I have a tremendous relationship. I recruited him. I coached him. I even mentored him after I left and went to the Eagles. And so, him coming and us having that already, we were able to kind of get ahead because we didn't have to build that like I had to with some of the other players. 

What have you seen as the biggest challenge installing a new defense for the players to pick up on? 
The biggest challenge would be that some techniques are different, right?  Words are – I'm trying to use as many words that they already knew because it's easier to teach one guy something new with words as opposed to teaching 50. So what's different is some of the techniques, how they do things. 

How was it for you to watch the Super Bowl run? 
It was great. I love those guys. So many relationships with the coaches and the players. You know, I was very happy for them.