NC State redshirt freshman defensive back Jivan Baly made the most of his first start for the Wolfpack, potentially earning more playing time moving forward. He recently discussed his play with the media.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
What’s it been like to be healthy and on the field after redshirting?
It felt really good just to get back out there playing live football again. So like you said, it was my first time being out there since I tore my ACL coming to high school. So like, I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to be able to bring that to play football again.
Was there a moment, like when coach said, it's your turn? Was there like, oh my gosh, like, am I, was there a sense of, am I ready? Or were you a hundred percent confident?
It wasn't a question about, am I ready? It was more so like about gaining that confidence and being ready for the team forever. Do whatever it takes just to like help my team out and be successful.
It wasn't nothing about getting ready. Like coach Thunder say, stay ready when you gotta get ready. So I was always ready for it.
Was there a point in the game where you kind of settled in and you're like, okay, it's typical?
Yeah. After that one play I had with Biscuit and I had like, came in there diving. That's when I kind of like got my mojo back. I was like, oh yeah, I'm in the groove of the game again.
How much have you leaned on Asaad kind of last few weeks of kind of getting ready to play nickel with him kind of being that same shoes as you are?
Yeah, it's all good. Asaad definitely was a big help. And also Jack Vick also helped me just like preparing me. Cause I really got moved to nickel like about like three weeks ago.
So it's one of the hardest positions on defense, too. It was definitely some big help getting me ready and prepared for the game coming up.
What's the difference between nickel and cornerback for you?
For a pro, just being in the box. Like you really see everything when you're at nickel. When you're at corner, you're just locked in on one or you're in the zone. But when you're in nickel, you're really in the box. You're in the pad game. You're playing quarterback. You're blitzing. Like you're doing everything.
How much did you learn from having a full game worth of film to look at yourself then?
I definitely got confidence back. Felt like I got my swagger back. And I just got to build on from it for sure.
What was it like to go through the film review where you're like, man, what was it like to go through the film review where you're like, man, they get to critique me now.
I definitely was kind of nervous. But like I was like, hey, it comes with it when you're playing. So like I just got to build on it and like keep going.
Speaking of it being one of the tougher positions, what does it mean to know that your teammates and the coaching staff trust you to be in there?
So good, though. Like, like you said, like they definitely trust me. I may go get a harder position on the field. That's like a lot of trust that you got to put into a person and like also start and also being moved from it like three weeks ago. So I definitely thank the coaches and thank God for giving me the opportunity. Like I said, it was great.
What was the conversation like when they told you you were going to slide inside. Who told you that? You remember?
It was after a practice and I guess they had told me they were like, sorry about it. It was safety and I was going to take the one rep to that nickel. And I just had to be ready. And I was ready.
What are some things you're going to have to do in this game? Come going up against a, you know, high power opponent like Notre Dame?
It's got to be physical, tough. And we got to out beat them. We got to play ahead of them. But it's something that we can do. I know we can do it.
How much of a challenge is their slot receiver?
He's definitely a good player. But it's not really about him. It's about us doing what we got to do. We do what we got to do. We handle business and it's just us.
Who's kind of like a person in your corner that really kept you going forward?
I'd definitely say Jackson Vick definitely kept me going. Just a leader for real. And just always keeping my head focused and make sure I'm always ahead of task. I never focus on what happens without the task.
Is there an excitement playing at Notre Dame Stadium, playing a big time game?
It's going to be a national broadcast. Yeah, it's definitely a big game. I grew up watching Notre Dame. They're a big traditional team. So definitely exciting to play them. But like I said, it's really about us. And if we go down there and handle business, we'll come back to rise above.
