NC State's CJ Bailey Discusses Leadership, Loyalty To NC State, Expectations, And More

NC State quarterback C.J. Bailey met with the media during the breakout portion of the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff.

NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Bailey’s interview.

How excited are you to get the season underway?
I'm very excited. Having ACC Media Days gives you that feeling that the season is right next door. I'm ready to get out there, get into camp, and get the ball rolling for sure.

You guys have a Week 0 game to open the season. Does that change the preparation?
We've been preparing this whole time, so I feel like going into the game we'll be fine. I love Week 0. I want to play in a Week 0 game. Especially against Virginia after they just came off an ACC Championship Game appearance, it's going to be a big game for us. Hopefully we come out with the win.

Does opening with such a big conference game make it even more important to get off to a fast start?
Of course. If we win that first game, it sets the tone for the whole season. If we get the ball rolling that first game, it's going to keep rolling.

There were a lot of teams interested in you during the offseason. How difficult was it to stay at NC State?
It really wasn't difficult for me. I knew where I wanted to be. I wanted to be at NC State. I told Coach Doeren and Coach Roper I wanted to be here, so don't even worry about it. I wanted to be at NC State, so I stayed here.

Where does that loyalty come from?
They were loyal to me first. It started during recruiting. They poured everything into me. I can't do anything but repay them. It's been good being with them.

What do you want to prove this season?
I want to prove that I'm the best quarterback in the country. I've got to keep working every day, and winning more games is what's really going to show that. I always believe in myself. I'm confident in what I can do, and I want to put the world on notice this year.

How is this offense different from previous years?
It's very different from the last two years I've been here. I've gained so much more knowledge about football, and now I have more control over the offense. I can go to the line and call plays. I can call an entire drive during a game.

We have bigger receivers this year, jump-ball guys, elusive guys like Victor Snow, good running backs with a one-two punch, and our offensive line is playing great right now. I'm really looking forward to this season.

How much will having that freedom help your development?
It's going to help a lot because that's what the NFL demands from quarterbacks. Being able to do that now is preparing me for the next level.

What's the biggest thing you've learned about yourself since arriving at NC State?
I've learned that I can do more than I originally thought. When I first got here as a freshman, I wasn't thinking about where I could eventually be. Now I still stay in the moment, but I also think about what I can become in the future. I've gotten a lot better in that area.

Do you believe you can be one of the best quarterbacks in the country?
I feel like I am right now. That's just my confidence. I feel like I'm the best quarterback in the country.

How much does it help having your offensive coordinator back?
It's a huge help because we have a great relationship. We're on the same page. I can go up and call things, he asks me what I like, I ask him what he likes, and the offense just keeps flowing. We're going to score points.

Do you look at this as your "money year" with the NFL Draft approaching?
I wouldn't say it like that. I look at it as a year to take over, win the ACC Championship, and get into the College Football Playoff.

Can you talk about your relationship with Dave Doeren?
Me and Coach D have built a personal relationship. It's family. The same goes for Coach Roper. The bond we have is different. Having that relationship between the quarterback, the head coach, and the offensive coordinator helps the entire team grow.

How much did those relationships influence your decision to stay?
That was one of the biggest reasons. I already had those personal connections. Why would I leave and try to build that with somebody else? Why would I try to learn a new offense? That just wasn't smart for me.

After finishing .500 in ACC play last season, what has to happen for NC State to compete for a championship?
We have to stay together and keep the main thing the main thing. Don't let outside stuff influence us. Stay inside the building. Don't worry about outside noise or what the media says. As long as we have each other, we're going to win a lot of games.

How has your leadership evolved?
I'm an alpha leader now. I'm the voice of the team. It's a huge difference from when I first came in. Everybody knows I'm the guy now. I'm the standard. We've created a different standard.

Coach Doeren has his standards, but we created our own as players: "Pack 'Em Up." That's our standard. We wanted something that belongs to us because we're the ones on the field.

Who came up with "Pack 'Em Up?"
I did. I felt like we needed to take advantage of that. As players, we needed our own standard. That's our stuff because we're the ones on the field.

How does replacing Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers affect the running game?
Losing Smothers was tough because he was one of my best friends, but I trust Duke Scott. Duke is a great player and he's going to make a lot of plays. We also added Davon Gause. Those two are going to be a great one-two punch. It'll be hard to tackle both of them all game, and I have no doubts about our running game.

Is replacing so many receivers a concern?
No. Those guys were really talented, but we brought in talented guys too, and I've built a connection with them. Spring practice told me everything I needed to know. We were explosive. If you came to practice, it was bombs away. We're going to make plays, and I'm excited to see what happens this year.

How much can you add to the running game yourself?
A lot. Being confident in my ability to run is going to be huge. I can use my legs, and that changes games. On third-and-long, if everybody drops into coverage, I can go get the first down, keep us on the field, and help us score more points.

What's your confidence level in Duke Scott?
It's very high. Duke and I came in together. We were both backups, and I saw what he could do back then. He just had veteran running backs ahead of him. Last year he showed everyone he can do it. I trust him, I believe in him, and I think he's going to have a great season.