NC State HB Jonathan Paylor met with the media to discuss his return to the field this year, how he handled his injury, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
What did you do this year to get back on the field and get back to what you do?
I can just say it was a growing experience. Getting injured, nobody really dreams of anything like that. But just to be able to get back on the field with the guys, to be able to connect with them and to be able to express myself how I usually have throughout the years, it's been great.
What was it like to finally break off that explosive play?
It was sort of like a payday. It's one of those days where you work every single day just to get the same result, and when you finally break, it's like, "Ah, dang." But it was good. It was great fun, for sure.
How did you stay mentally strong through this, and who helped you along the way? I'm sure the last two years have been a lot harder than anyone would have anticipated.
Our running backs coach, Coach Goebbel, and Duke Scott and Davion Gause have all been great leaders for us. Throughout the whole fall camp, coming back, getting my feet wet, and everything like that, those guys have literally poured their best into me so I could come back.
Did you ever have any doubts along the way?
No. If you think like that, you'll never come back.
How did you approach it when you had the injury? I know you couldn't play last year, but you worked through that. Did you think you'd be ready?
I would just say, overall, our training room did the best for me.
I came in every day. We treated the training room like a Super Bowl. For me, every day it was, "How much stronger can I get? How much faster can I get? How well can I land a box jump?" Anything like that.
It was my Super Bowl.
Do you feel like you're the underdog now?
No. If you have that mentality, you just sink into the back and don't really pay attention. But if you have the mentality that you'll always be the No. 1 guy, you just get what you carry.
How good was the result this past Friday for team morale, especially given how the Virginia game went?
Honestly, that's the football we've been playing for years. A team like Richmond, they're a great team, for sure. We came out ready to play, ready to pop.
I know the last game against Virginia was not our best output, but I know NC State. That's how we come out to play, for sure.
What do you like about the running back room right now? Obviously, you're a freshman here with the receivers. What do you like about being a part of it?
The connection I have is coming from high school. I was the type of guy who, if you gave me the ball, would make something happen.
But now it's like I have different rules, different things to follow, and learn, of course. Just learning all that with Coach Goebbel. It's going to be great.
What is Jonathan Paylor like as a kick returner?
Explosive. Twitchy. Ready to play.
