LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players

Several NC State players met with the media via Zoom following the Wolfpack's 36-29 win over Syracuse Saturday afternoon.

NOTE: Click on each player’s respective thumbnail to watch each interview.

Payton Wilson

How nerve-racking was that last drive?

“Against Miami, we failed to [stop them from scoring the go-ahead touchdown], so it’s something we have been looking forward to: getting back out there, making that stop for the team, and winning the game for the team and not putting it all on the offense like we had in the past. I wouldn’t say it was nerve-racking, just more of us being anxious to get out there and prove what we could finally do."

What was your thought process on that final play where you went from coverage to sacking the quarterback?

“I was in coverage trying to help out on some routes, but I didn't see any threats around me. I saw that the D-line was struggling to get the quarterback down, so my first instinct was, ‘I’m going to go get him down. I’m just out here in no man’s land, so go do something and be effective.’"

What was your thought when the quarterback spiked the ball on fourth down?

“The way I looked at you right now was my exact look. Like, ‘He really just spiked it on fourth-and-goal… Whoa.’ It was kind of shocking to me. I thought they were going to try to throw it in the end zone. It was a mental mistake, but it won us the game, so I was happy with it."

What’s the clean version of Dave Doeren’s halftime speech?

“Coach Doeren keeps it simple. He tells us that we’re beating ourselves and we can’t beat ourselves. Nobody can win the game if we beat ourselves. We’ve got to come out here and do what we do. We’re not playing how we play. The offense wasn’t executing right. The defense was making mental mistakes. He got upset a little bit, but you know that it’s something that we needed to give us a kickstart and say, ‘Hey, we came out here flat, we need to pick it up, and we need to win this ball game.’"

Can you talk about the ability of this team to continue to find ways to win?

“We talked about it all year; we find a lot of ways to win no matter the circumstances. I don’t think the game should have been that close. We didn’t play as good as we should have, but we seem to always fight to the very end and try to win. It’s in our culture to keep fighting and play to the last whistle."

Bailey Hockman

How hard was it to flip the switch after the first half to perform well in the second half?

“For me, it’s just to keep going 1-0. Coach [Tim] Beck tells me that almost every drive and every play. I just try to keep playing my game and keep making good decisions, and it just worked out like that. That’s kind of the story of my life: ups and downs. It’s just who I am at this point."

What do you get from Thayer Thomas that makes the two of you a potent combination?

“He just works really hard. He’s always running his routes full speed. When receivers in practice are running their routes full speed, it really gets that in-game timing down. In the game, I know exactly where he’s going to be, and I know exactly how I’ve got to throw the ball which makes it way easier. He’s just a great player, making plays left and right. Hat’s off to him."

Was Thomas a guy that you prioritized when going through your reads?

“Yeah, definitely. I definitely do what my coaches tell me to do: go through my reads and whoever that guy ends up being. A lot of times, it ends up being Thayer. He just does a great job of getting open and creating that step of separation that you need to put the ball past the defender and into his hands."

Did facing the 3-3-5 every week in practice help prepare you for Syracuse?

“Definitely. Seeing the rotation of the safeties and things like that helped me read it. I think seeing it everyday makes it easier on game day."

How nice would it be for the Wolfpack to face a marquee opponent when bowls are announced?

“That would be huge. That would be awesome. That’s what we’re fighting for. We just want to prove ourselves. After last year and the ups and downs with things that have gone on, I think we deserve it. I’m so proud of our team. I’m so proud of the way they play. I’m proud of the offensive line, the wide receivers, and every single guy on the team, really. They just find a way to win, and it’s fun to watch.”

Has that thought of getting that kind of opponent crossed your mind any?

“Yeah, Coach has brought it up in team meetings. ‘If we win these next two games, we’ll get in a big bowl game, and that’ll be huge for the program.’ It’s awesome. I’m excited to be a part of it."

Thayer Thomas

What growth have you seen from Bailey Hockman from the start of the season up to now?

“Obviously, you can tell that he looks more comfortable out there. I knew that was going to happen, like I said before, because at first Devin [Leary] was getting a lot of the reps at the ones, and then Bailey would get his turn in there. The chemistry wasn’t all there, in my opinion. Ever since the UNC game and our bye week, we’ve really locked in with him, knowing that he’s going to be the guy from here on out. The connection continues to grow, and we’re looking forward to the last [regular season] game and the bowl game and to continue to grow with him."

What was Hockman’s demeanor at halftime for him to come back to have that strong second half?

“It just shows his leadership and his want to go out there and fix whatever he did. I know he had a tough play in the first half where he was reaching the ball across which I know he probably wants that one back. I feel like it showed a lot of poise from the whole offense in general to come out. I think we went 17 unanswered points, and we were able to put the game away in that way."

Do your eyes light up when you see man coverage?

“Yeah, Florida State played a lot of man coverage on me, and obviously Liberty did not. Liberty dropped everybody, and it was hard for us to find those windows. I knew it was going to be like that. Today, they played a lot of man coverage and a lot of Cover 2 which allowed me to find the windows as well. Whenever it’s man-to-man, basically he’s going to come my way, and I’ve just got to make a play. All week in practice, we make those plays, and it gives us the confidence to go out there and do it in the game."