Justin Witt: "We're Going To Run The Same Offense"

NC State junior tackle Justin Witt discusses the upcoming season at the 2019 ACC Football Kickoff.

What can you say about John Garrison as the O-line coach for you, what you take from him?
John Garrison has been a great coach for us so far. Him coming in after Coach Ledford left us was kind of hard. Getting to know Coach Garrison's system has definitely been huge for us. He brings different things that we didn't learn from our past coaches, but we know now.

He's definitely going to be a great coach for us.

Officially your offense is called the pro-tempo offense. How it looked this season, some different personnel, what will determine whether it's as effective as it was last year?
Comes down to us as players. We control the tempo. Our coaches try to stress to us how to keep a good tempo throughout the game. It all depends on how fast we get up to the line, how fast can we get the ball snapped before the defense is ready.

With you guys losing three starters on the offensive line, replacing your coach, how important do you feel like your role as a leader is to help that offensive line gel is one of the guys who is back from last year?
It's a huge role. We got a lot of young guys coming in. We had guys in the past who taught me how to be a great leader, like Garrett Bradbury, Terrone Prescod, Tyler Jones, Tony Adams who all taught me to be a great leader.

I feel like I can pass that knowledge down to younger guys, who are going to have to step up one day and be another leader for us.

How would you describe your leadership style? What characteristics lend to what it is you are as a leader?
I like to be a vocal leader. I like to lead by example. I feel like if I'm doing the right things, younger guys can look at that, All right, I want to model my game after that, I want to act like that outside of the field.

I feel like I can just lead younger guys by example.

You were a little pass heavy last year. Worked out. With the change in personnel to where you're younger at those positions, would you expect to be more run-oriented this year?
I feel like we're going to run the same offense. We got great quarterbacks that can come in and step up after Ryan Finley left.

We've got great running backs who can step up after Reggie Gallaspy left. I feel like we're going to run the same style of offense and with some of the guys coming in now.

As you think about the number of snaps you've taken, as you think about being a junior this year, you're halfway through your career, what are your goals moving forward?
I got higher goals for myself. I feel like if you set the bar too low, you won't meet your goals where you want to meet 'em. I feel like I have a great chance to make it in the NFL. It all starts with what I did today.

I feel like I'm in a role where I can go out there and compete with anyone right now. It all depends on, like, if I get the work in in the off-season.