NC State junior running back Davion Gause met with the media to discuss his time in Raleigh, the start of fall camp, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
First of all, what has this first camp been like for you? And obviously, you went to the spring with NC State, but what has this camp been like so far at NC State?
It's been a good experience, just seeing where we were in the spring and getting back out here on the field and seeing how all the guys are flying around and making plays, so it's been fun overall.
What's it been like being on this side of the rivalry with Carolina?
It's a different experience. I see how NC State tricked and robbed, and I see how UNC tricked and robbed, so it's good to see both sides of the rivalry.
Overall, how is the program different from what you experienced in the past?
From NC State?
Yeah.
I would say we're being more player-led this year, so players on the team, we're taking leadership into our own hands, making sure everybody is on the same accord, one accord. And I think that's what we need to go win a championship, an international championship.
Obviously, you're friends with CJ, but how much did you play against NC State, seeing what they did? How much of that kind of played into your decision to play for NC State? Say it again? Was there anything, like when you played against them on the field, that made you think about whether it was their culture or how they played? Did any of that stick out to you when you were in the program?
Yeah, what stuck out the most to me was how physical the guys were when we were playing, how much pride they had in going out on the field and playing for a little while.
How instantly did you reconnect with CJ once you guys, as players, as teammates, got back out on the field?
It really wasn't a drop-off from high school, because we've been playing with each other since he was eight. So I know his strengths, and I know what he likes to do, and he knows what I like to do. So it was kind of like we were just getting back together.
CJ's not the only guy from the Miami area. How has that familiarity helped you all in fall camp and in Spring Ball?
Yeah, it's kind of like us just getting back together, because all of us kind of played with each other from Miami. King Mack, he played one age group above us, but we all used to scrimmage each other. So it was kind of us just getting back together and bringing that Miami mentality up there.
So you feel like it makes it easier to do everything here?
Yes.
How good of a kicker are you, though?
Back then I used to be a pretty good kicker, yeah.
I was gonna say, I mean, what do you feel like are the biggest strengths that you bring to NC State and the system that you've been in?
My physicality, my hard running, complimenting Duke real good, and my pass blocking and catching out in the backfield, and my IQ, as far as like that set of defenses and knowing when the pressure is coming, when they're not coming, stuff like that.
How much pride do you take in that aspect, being able to catch the ball out of the backfield and not just being one trick ball?
I take a lot of pride in that because now in the NFL, that's what a lot of running backs are doing. So when I get there, that's what I wanna show the NFL staff: that I can also catch the ball out of the backfield.
What's it like for you to team up with a running back like Duke, and have you guys be able to play off each other a little bit?
I feel like it's good to have two workhorses in the backfield, because we can let defenses out, and they ain't gonna tackle us all game.
Keep you out of pressure, right?
Yeah.
So do you like the kind of, I don't know, by committees or rotational situation in a running back room?
Yeah, because I feel like, I mean, I feel like a running back can play the whole game, but you won't go 100% every play, as if you could go out in the game and know that your brother is coming in, stepping in, and there's no drop-off when you're getting in the game. So I feel like it's good to have Duke and me in the backfield, and other guys in the room that can also step in and play, making it a running back by committee.
You guys have a tough start, Virginia. So you got some big games coming up. Do you like that?
Yes, I like that. I mean, I get to see where the team is at and test us early in the season. So later on down the road, when we're going to get that ACC championship, we know, and we're already battle-tested for what we gotta go through to get there.
Do you feel like you were utilized properly in the last two years, or do you feel like you had a lot more to show?
I had a lot more to show.
This is your third coach in three years?
Yes.
How tough is it to maybe try and adjust to those different schemes? It's really just adjusting to the culture of the team overall. But as far as offense, everybody is kind of identical in every way. I mean, every offense takes, they nitpick from the other offense. So you just gotta learn their terminology and their verbiage, and it'll be easy.
Does having a guy like CJ, who already knows all of that, help you in your adjustment period?
Yes.
In what ways?
As far as knowing what I'm doing. When I know what I'm doing, he could also teach me and help me with what the receiver's doing, why I'm running my route, and why the receiver's running the route, to get who open on certain plays, or who I'm getting open on certain plays, if I'm flat control, and bringing a nickel down to cover me, so we can get a deep over route. Little stuff like that.
Do you find this is an instructive unit where everybody's sort of lifting up? Yeah, and describe that if you don't mind.
I feel like everybody here is together, like it's in the arm a little bit, like one pack, one goal, and hard together. And that's what we really bring about. That's really what we're about, and I feel like everybody on the team is together, and we're bringing each other up each and every day.
Like today, I mean, yesterday, CJ threw a pick, and then he was screaming across the field, it's all right, CJ, kick your head up. So we all just stayed together; even though we play against each other in practice, we are working better together.
