NC State defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland met with the media to discuss his play in the season opener, Virginia's offense, and much more.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
On being out of the game for the first half...
I mean it was very hard, like just sitting there watching the guys go out there and play, and I couldn't play. So I definitely learned from the last ECU game it was a dumb decision to like get in fights and stuff and never do it again. It was like the worst feeling in my life to be out there in the locker room watching them play.
Were you able to notice anything by watching the first half that you could use when you went out there in the second half?
Oh yeah, definitely. I mean just, I'm watching them play and I'm about to go out there and play against them so I got a lot of things in there.
How different was your energy level going into the second half knowing, alright I'm fresh, I can make an impact?
Yeah, I knew I was fresh and stuff but I still just wanted to execute and do the right assignment because I mean at the same time they've been playing the game and been in the game so I just wanted to make sure I was still on point.
Where did you watch the first half though?
The weight room and the lobby. Just on TV? Just on TV, yeah. And a few of the weight room doors.
Did you laugh when they put the TV cameras on you?
Yeah that was funny.
What was it like to see the young guys at Nose? Especially just how they get out there and be able to play while you were not able to get out there?
I mean it warms my heart because I pour a lot into them so just to see them go out there and execute, it means a lot. It says a lot about me.
What was your impression of the edge players? Especially like Harsh and Slone and them fellas?
Yeah those guys are dogs. I mean like Nose tackles don't really make a lot of plays but we stop a lot of plays so like to stop plays and like feed them to them and they make plays and feed them back to me. It's just a good feeling to be out there and be all in unison together.
Have you seen Virginia yet? Have you watched them? Your impressions?
I think they're a good o- line. They play square so we just got out physical and that usually wins the game.
You guys hold ECU to some 40 yards rushing in this game. I mean how much pride do you guys take in that especially after what happened the last time around?
I think it starts up front so I mean we take that personally. We don't want guys running the ball on us. We want to dominate the opposing o-line so it means a lot to not have a lot of rushing yards on us.
