NC State LB Coach Isaiah Moore met with the media to discuss the linebacker room, Germaine Pratt's role, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
What’s it like, for you, it's another camp, having your own position group to work with, going into this season.
Yeah, it's fun. It's a blessing to be able to come here. I mean, Raleigh is a beautiful place. It's a university. It's absolutely awesome. This program is nothing but great. Coach Doeren has a great culture here, and the players really buy into it. I'm just blessed to walk into a room with a bunch of guys who love football and want to be great.
What's it been like having Germaine (Pratt) around with you and just being able to help you out in that room?
It's awesome. Being in the room with a player like Pratt for two years, I learned a lot from him. I mean, he is an extremely smart, intelligent guy who loves ball and knows ball. He taught me a lot as a young freshman: how to watch film, how to study tendencies, how to pick up on the small things. He's extremely detailed in how he not only receives information but also how he transmits it. So having him back in the room has been awesome. And I hope it's for a long time, selfishly, but he's ready to play right now. He'll get another opportunity here pretty soon, I'm sure.
What's it been like working with Popo and seeing his senior leadership?
Yeah, he's a guy who can tell you he's played a lot of football. Extremely smart, extremely great in the run game, smart in the pass game. And he just has a leadership mentality. He has an alpha mentality; he just comes in and commands the room, commands the defense. He's vocal out there—an extremely vocal leader. And he's really earned the opportunity to lead these guys with the way he's worked in the offseason and through camp.
How have you seen him change the defense's mentality or approach over the last seven months?
Having that experience last year on a national championship team in Miami, he brings a lot of experience. Both good and bad, right? He also, it would tell a guy that this is what we didn't do well, this is why we came up short, right? He's able to bring that winning experience to the team, to the defense, and he's really shared that openly with the guys. He hasn't had anything bad.
What makes for a good linebacker?
Great eyes, extremely loud, because the ball gives you confidence. And the big thing is you've got to get those guys in front of you to trust you. You are the quarterback of the front, right? You've got to be loud, the ball gives you confidence, and then you've got to be a dog, man. You've got to be a dog, right? You see a seed ball, get the ball, play with great hands, great eyes, great leverage, and you've got to be great at tackling. I have that at home right now.
Years ago, I think I asked you about the differences in coaching at different levels. What is this about being in a college level where you knew that this was your home?
Well, being here at NC State, for sure, it's home. But also, just the day-to-day, the opportunity to mold and groom these young minds, and these guys, they want to learn. They want to learn so much, and they're at their athletic peak in a sense. Physically, they can handle a lot of what you are asking. So this is where I see myself, for sure.
How much of an impact do you expect AJ Richardson to have coming off of his injury last year?
He's a guy who's extremely hungry. Extremely hungry. I mean, missing a lot of last year due to injury. He's worked his absolute tail off this offseason. And another really vocal leader for this team. And I expect him to have a huge impact on defense and on all of our seniors as well.
