Travali Price: "There Are A Lot Of Dogs Out There"

NC State defensive lineman Travali Price is ready to anchor the Wolfpack's defensive front. He recently met with the media to discuss fall camp, the defense, and much more.

NOTE: Click on the video above to watch the interview.

You got the opportunity to start last year. What do you feel like you tried to work on the most to be able to improve where you were last year? 
Getting out back. Just being able to stay in my gap. Not the running back. I'm sorry, the tackle back. And then also being very active with my hands. Just being more proactive in trying to get to the quarterback. Relentless effort. 

We were just talking to Tra about trying to get to the quarterback and that being an emphasis. How much do you feel that more so in the room compared to the last few seasons? 
There's no drop off like what you said earlier. We've got a lot of competitive depth this year. We've brung in a lot of guys from other universities but they're all pretty good. They're studs and we're out there competing every day. 

What did you learn from Davin and DK and playing behind them? 
Oh yeah. I learned a lot from them. Just having integrity. They have the work ethic. They've always been dogs. What inspired me most was their relentless effort and practice.

How does Brandon Cleveland make the job easier for people around him? 
He makes everything easier. He's a rock in the middle. He's really just that force in the middle. Honestly, nobody's going to get in between the A gaps. That's his job. He does it really well. 

How do you think Coach Thunder has helped transform the way you want to be in play this year? 
He's always on top of you. He makes sure you get all the reps in. He's making sure you're working. That's a big thing with Coach Thunder. 

Do you feel like your body has transformed the last couple of years? 
Absolutely. I came in at 250. I'm almost 285 now. It's made a big jump.

How big is it for a team to control? Obviously, control between the A's and the C's. Is that almost like a test of manhood type of thing? To control that area? 
Absolutely. That's your job. When you don't do your job, you're letting your teammates down. That's a big must. You have to maintain gap integrity. 

The Wolfpack fans are kind of concerned. They don't know any of you guys. There's a whole new team on defense. Tell us why the defense is going to be good. 
I really like the new scheme that we have. I don't want to get too deep on that. I think that we have, like I said, a lot of competitive depth. A lot of guys that are here to work. I'm very confident that there won't be any drop-off, any fall-off at all. A lot of guys out there that we just don't know about who's going to court could be dogs, right? Absolutely. There are a lot of dogs out there. 

For you as well, do you feel like this season opener, playing against ECU, is that kind of a get-back after the way last year ended? 
Oh, yeah. Absolutely. It left a bad taste in our mouths. We want to go out there and dominate. You need to make a statement on day one, first game.