Samuels: "That Means Something Special To Me"

NC State senior athlete Jaylen Samuels met with the media at the 2017 ACC Football Kickoff.

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I mentioned to you last night they basically added a position on the preseason All-ACC team to recognize what you do for the Wolfpack. How does that make you feel?

It makes me feel very good just to add another position. I mean, that's crazy just to think about that. But that means something special to me, and I'm going to keep working hard to prove people wrong.

Not just yourself but also Nyheim Hines, both of you offensively and your versatility, how you can play off each other and really become a dangerous offense this year?

Yeah, me and Nyheim, we have a lot of versatility that we can bring to the table. Me and him, we have a lot of the same kind of skill sets together, being able to move out of the backfield, catch the pass, go in the backfield, run the ball. You know, it's going to be kind of scary for defenses to prepare for us next year.

Jay-Sam, you probably made big plays from as many different spots in the field as anybody at NC State history, as many different play calls. Do you stay awake at night fantasizing new ways to make your mark, and can you tell us one that you really are thinking about making happen this year?

Like every night, like, in the off-season, I'm just thinking about the upcoming season and like what I've got planned going into my senior season, my last year at NC State. Just trying to leave a mark for myself as a player on and off the field. You know, just at night I think about the plays that I could have made last year, but I don't try to think about it, I just try to move forward. But just try to work on the little things every day with Coach "Thunder" [Dantonio Burnette], him getting us right in the weight room. We've got one of the best weightlifting coaches in the country. Just every day just trying to push myself to be better so I know I can do better than what I did last year.

You've got a former Syracuse offensive coordinator now in the staff, George McDonald who works with the offense. I wondered how much interaction you've had with him and if you can speak to what he's been like.

Can you repeat that?

Yeah, George McDonald is now one of the assistants at NC State, used to be at Syracuse. I wonder what your thoughts are.

Oh, Coach McDonald, he's a great coach. He stays on me a lot. He's one of them type coaches he likes to joke around. He's joking with you, but he's really telling the truth. He's a great coach. He pushes me to the limit. He knows what I can do, and he just wants to see me be successful, and I thank him for so much, for all he has done, and I'm looking forward to spending my last senior season with him.