NC State OLB Harvey Dyson met with the media to discuss transferring to NC State, spring practice, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
On spring practice...
It's been a great introduction, just getting out here with all my teammates, creating bonds through our winter training, and now finally being here at Spring Ball. It's just been a blessing just to be here at NC State, and I'm glad to be here.
How's the program different than when you were at Tulane?
It's got a lot of similarities, but at the same time, it's a great culture here. We're all family here, and I felt that from the beginning. Just all my relationships with my teammates, I've built a lot of bonds with these guys already in the short amount of time I've been here.
Like, we're not even to summer training yet, and I know, I feel like I know a lot of guys. Like, I played with them for the last few years, so just the family environment, that's with the coaches, the whole staff, and it's just a family environment here, and I love it here.
What was that program time period from the ballgame to picking NC State? Did you see many schools? I mean, how quickly did this go?
Yeah, it was a very quick process. It was something that I was trying to make the best decision on, but also trying to get past it as quickly as I could, making the best decision for me. I went on a couple of visits. I even had some schools try to hit me up after I signed, but I'm locked in here, and this is where I want to be, and I'm glad to be here. As I said, it's a blessing to be here, and I'm ready to work.
Joseph is on the defense at Texas Tech. How much did that help with the decision to know what you're locked into?
Yeah, Joseph and I had a few conversations with him before I actually came on a visit here, so hearing some good stuff from him, just asking him how stuff was here, it definitely helped me make a decision, part of my decision to come here.
How did Coach Eliot explain his vision for how he views you?
When I first entered the travel portal, Coach Eliot was the first person to contact me from here. I was on the phone with him for like over an hour, and he was just explaining to me the plan he had for me in place and how he could develop me and what he saw in me that I could hop and flourish and continue to get better.
A lot of schools I talked to, they told me about how good I was and what I was able to do, but Coach Eliot, he made it short and simple and sweet for me, just telling me what I could work on, and that's what I'm all about, just getting better, and I feel like since I've been here, that's what I've been doing.
Have you set any specific personal goals for yourself yet, or is it just still kind of figuring stuff out within the program?
Yeah, we got some coming up, but right now I'm just focusing on just being better every day, and 1%, as I said, this season, it ain't even close. So right now I'm just trying to focus on coming in here, whether it's a live or a meeting, it doesn't matter, practice, I'm just trying to get better every single day, and everything else will fall into place for me. It's been great. They got some talented guys over here with Jimarion.
I actually played him last year at ECU. Teague is another great alignment. So just seeing some great looks between them, too, every single day, and the rest of the guys, it's been fun and great battles so far. Has there been anyone in the defense that's really stepped up as a leader this spring? Yes, I'll say from the transfer side, Popo.
I think Popo's been doing a really good job of leading us and trying to gel us together, and we've been following his lead. I've been trying to put in my leadership skills, but also getting to know the guys and just trying to welcome myself as well as to try to step into the leadership role here as well. So I'm just trying to learn and continue to get better.
You guys had a big win against Duke. How much of a burning desire did you have to get a sack against the Duke quarterback? Were you kind of hoping to get another chance this year?
I mean, they haven't really batted at me. I'm ready to sack whoever on the schedule, so yeah. I'm guessing you weren't allowed to be ahead in practice, though, right? Yeah, no. It was a fun game, but as I said, I'm ready. It doesn't matter who's back there. I'm ready to be up in the backfield.
