WATCH: Dave Doeren Shares His Thoughts On Spring Practice

NC State head coach Dave Doeren discusses a variety of topics, including quarterback Matt McKay, nickel Stephen Griffin, cornerback Maurice Trowell, and much more.

On redshirt freshman QB Matt McKay...
You’re not going to be perfect all the time and as a quarterback you want to make those unbelievable, highlight reel plays all the time and you have to realize they are going to happen if you are just smart with the football. He’s getting there. I think being in that room with Ryan is really good for him. It’s about reps, reps, reps for him.

On how young McKay is...
He’s young and he’s matured a lot in a year, not just mentally but his physique, everything about him, the way he carries himself. He’s a young kid, he graduated high school a semester early and was an age behind. I think he just turned 18, so he’s a young guy.

On how Maurice Trowell switching to corner and how he compares to Jonathan Alston last year...
I don’t know about playing time yet, we’re in a competition at those spots. Similarities are obvious, from a guy having to learn all the technique. Alston was a high school DB so it wasn’t as unfamiliar probably but Maurice has played corner on our punt return for us every year.

He has really good feet and hips, tracks the ball really well. He made two really nice plays today in the red zone. That was good for him to make a couple plays and build his confidence. He’s got incredible make-up speed and that’s the one thing you can’t coach. It’s just going to be a matter of time for him.

On replacing nine defensive starters...
It’s just progress. Yesterday I didn’t think we were very good coming off of spring break. I thought our fundamentals as practice went on got worse. We can’t be a team that doesn’t play with great technique all the time.

We have to line up right and play with incredible technique and then finish, have that toughness and that edge to us. The guys play with a lot of spirit but we’ve got to get better, consistent technique on the defensive side of the ball with those younger players as they play more reps. A lot of them have played, and played in big games, but they haven’t played as much as their playing now in that starting role.

On Tyrone Riley switching to offensive line...
Well obviously he’s a long guy. He has a seven foot wingspan and so his ability to keep people away at 6’7 and seven foot wingspan he’s a prototypical body type for that. At end, he can do some good things but he always a little slower twitched than some of the other guys but now he’s probably the most athletic guy in the room behind Bradbury and Tyler.

Excited to see it when he gets back, he’s still rehabbing from offseason surgery but he’ll be full go this summer and it’ll be interesting to see how he transgresses over there.

On early enrollees...
It’s been good. We’ve got a transfer, Joe Babros, here too. Anytime you can get guys inserted into the lineup quicker.

Joseph Boletepeli got a ton of reps at defensive end today and De’Von Graves got a ton of reps at corner today. For those guys, they’re going to be so much further ahead because they have film to watch on themselves now in our systems. It’s fun to see them compete and improve, and they’ve improved pretty quickly.

On Stephen Griffin...
He’s got an edge to him. He’s very hungry. It’s very similar to when Brissett was here because they both had played at their previous universities and then had a year when they couldn’t play because they were redshirting.

Being on the scout team is a big case of humble pie. He’s exciting to watch out there and he’s made us better at the nickel position immediately.

On the makeover at the tight end position and Cary Angeline coming in...
Well first of all, the guys that are here. I know Coach Faulkner is excited and has been developing those guys and Dylan Parham and Dylan Autenrieth both had valuable minutes last year and made plays. Dylan’s (Parham) getting a ton of reps, had a really nice catch yesterday.

Boselli is a guy that needs to come on and have a good spring and develop because he redshirted last year. Damien Darden same thing. Those four guys are getting soaked right now.

When Cary Angeline gets here, he’s going to be a big part of what happens on offense. He’s a big target that can run and catch. He’s 6’7, 250 pounds. He gives us another option in there and a taller option then we’ve had.

On Adam Boselli changing his body...
In a good way. He got too big, too fast when he got here and was kind of soft around the edges. He’s really lost some weight and done a nice job changing his body. This is important for him.

He missed almost the entire training camp with some tendinitis and just staying out there and being consistent and developing.