WATCH: Doeren Talks Fall Camp, Updates Several Position Groups

NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media following Monday's practice where he talked about several players and position groups.

Reggie Gallaspy at running back... can you just tell us a little bit about where he is at?
He's had another great practice, so I think this is the best place he's been physically and mentally.

Having a child a couple of years ago and all the things that can put on a player's life... then dealing with multiple injuries, I just think he's in a good place.

He's in good shape and he understands what's at stake. The stakes are higher when you have a child obviously, but I'm really excited about what he's done in four day.  He's just a senior, let's hope, but I'm saying he's playing like a senior so far. That's what it looks like so far.

Do you see him in Matt's role as the No. 1 guy or is it more like when you had Shad and Matt?
It's too early to say.  He's definitely our starting running back, now how much everyone else factors in will be a matter of what they prove here in camp, but it's too early to say.

We're a long ways away and they're all young guys that we're talking about, so they need time to develop and get reps.

How much of an asset is Reggie as a pass protector?
He's been big on third down for us.  Last year he was incredible on thrd-down blitz pickup.

For Ryan it's like having another starting offensive Lineman back there for him at times because he just trusts him so much with who he is going to block and pick up and the way he does it. 

Is it difficult for younger players to learn blitz pickup?
It can be.

I think it's about their football aptitude... what they were taught in high school. If you're coming out of a Wing-T offense... probably going to be challenging, but if you were in a spread offense where you learn things like that will be easier to apply.

Thoughts on Ricky Person‍ as a pass-catcher.
Both him and Trent Pennix‍ are like that, and that's what we look for when we're recruiting. Guys who can catch it out of the backfield and be moved around into the slot... things like that. Both those guys have the ability to catch the ball play in space. 

How do you feel about the depth at running back?
It's not where you would want it to be. Obviously with Nyheim leaving early and Erin Collins leaving the program, there's some holes there that weren't, when you set up your recruiting board, how you saw it playing out.  But as we all know there are freshmen and redshirt freshmen in college football who make a great name for themselves when they get an opportunity, so they just need time.

Thoughts on the four-game redshirt rule...
I don't  look at it as an experimental time for a kid, you know? If a guy is ready, we're going to play him, and that's based on the needs at that position. 

Having guys available in the middle of the season and the end of the season is valuable too. I don't think you just want to play them all early and see who can do because there's injuries in college football and then all of a sudden you've got guys you can bring up that were on the developmental team getting better.

At the end of the year, you'd have it for bowl games if you're waited. It will play by position... where the depth needs are and who is ready.

What have you seen from Nick McCloud?
 The first thing you like about Nick is just the way he processes the game...  how important it is, how he goes about his business, his preparation, and  work ethic. 

He's getting to go against great wideouts everyday so you can't replace experience, and I think that's the one thing for him. He's got some valuable game reps.

Thoughts on the returning experience...
There's guys who played a lot last year and you expect them to play better. You're seeing that.

There's some guys that were on the scout team that developed and got a lot of reps in bowl practice, a lot reps in spring ball.

Ibrahim Kante‍ is a guy that's really played well on the d-line the last two days, and in the spring it was bad.  The development is happening with some of those guys and these days are critical for them.

Any injury updates?
Nope.  Shug [Frazier] practiced today. Nothing major and nothing really new to report.

How is the defensive line coming along?
I like their mindset.

Ithink they got a chip on their shoulder.  All the talk that everyone does, which is normal when you lose four guys, inspires them to prove people wrong, and I think that's a good thing.

We have a lot of work to do the next 21 practices, but you see guys really buying into it and their chemistry is good.

How much have you seen that unit develop the last four days?
There's some guys that really jumped out to me.

James Smith-Williams and Roseboro have really jumped out

In what way?
Just the play after play consistency. For guy that wasn't playing play after play. They were rotating and that's kind of the biggest difference.

The inside group is just right getting rolled in there. We're trying to find out who wants that job.  Between Eurndraus Bryant, Shug Frazier, Val Martin and Alim McNeilll... just a lot of guys getting reps.

How does last year's defensive line success motivate Darian Roseboro?
I think it motivates him. He wants to be like Ryan, a high pick, and he wants to be one of thebetter players at his position in the country. 

He's giving himself that opportunity and now he has to maximize it. There were things left on the table that were important to him and his father that they talked about last year and now he wants to honor his dad with his play and he said that many times, that he came back here to finish some things.