NC State sophomore nose guard Josiah Victor is in position to have a big role this season, and he recently met with the media to discuss the start of fall camp and more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
Now starting, what's maybe different about this team than last year?
I'd probably say we're more focused. I feel like everybody is paying attention to detail. And I also feel like we're not trying to be 8-5. We want to go undefeated. And I feel that every day. And I just feel the energy right when we walk out of court. Right when we walk out of practice, it's like, let's go, let's do it. I feel like that's really changed the energy of us two.
What's it like competing and practicing alongside Harvey Dyson?
Ooh, man, that's my dog. Some days, like, I'd say back in the spring when he first got here, I was really new to him. But like, I think I remember this one play. I remember this one play I made. He came up to me, and he smacked the crap out of my head. I turned around, and he was like, let's go, let's do this. I was like, yeah, all right, man.
So after that, he motivates me a lot. He motivates me a lot. He's an older dude. He's going to be in the league after this year.
What's it like for you coming into the year where you can earn a bigger role along the defensive line? What did you learn from Brandon last year that you can use this year?
I'll probably say from last year, I'd probably say, like, how he carries himself. Like, there's a lot. It takes a lot of preparation to do what he does. And I just looked at him, like, how he prepares for games, how he prepares for practice. Because really, like, how you prepare for practice is how you're going to do in the game. So I'll just watch him. I'll just follow his footsteps.
There's a lot more opportunity for you this year. How much have you embraced that and what types of things have you focused on to get better and be ready for that role?
I'll probably say getting in shape. I put on, I think, six or seven pounds of lean mass. I've toned up. I'm in shape. Last year, I was just getting in the flow. I was in and out of games. And like I said, like, the defense, they put a lot of, like, pressure on me. Like, good pressure. Positive energy on me. Not, like, trying to break me down or anything like that. And they got my back.
How much of the snaps you did play last year kind of helped kind of set the tone for what to expect going into this year?
Yeah, were you kind of able to use- you played here and there last year on the line.
How much does that help going into this year, knowing kind of what to expect a little bit from other options?
Oh, okay. You're going to expect me to be more physical. You're going to expect me to stop and run.
