Bryson Speas: 'This team has a chance to be special'
Entering the 2021 season, NC State brings back a wealth of experience on the offensive line, including Bryson Speas, who has experience playing both tackle and guard.
Speas spoke to the media after practice this week, here’s a full breakdown of everything he had to say:
How much does it help you guys to have continuity on the offensive line?
It’s really important. Having that continuity up front, everything starts inside the trenches, whether it be O-Line or D-Line, so for us to have that camaraderie is a big deal for us.
What’s it like going up against that defensive line in practice?
It’s been great. The competition is great. Iron sharpens iron day in and day out, so we love it.
Has anything stood out to you about your position or this team in general?
I just know that this team has a chance to be special, as long as we keep grinding day in and day out. We know what we are capable of, so it’s just trying to put it all together.
What is the expectation for this team?
ACC Championship.
What is it that guys on the line like you and Ikem Ekwonu, who have played guard and tackle, how important is that, and do you guys make sure you recruit versatile guys who can play multiple positions up front?
It’s all really good, just being able to be versatile, because if something happens along the O-Line, it’s way easier to allow someone to step in and take over that position rather than searching for depth. As far as recruiting goes, I just feel like as offensive linemen, if you’re being recruited, you shouldn’t want to have a one-position mindset. Never come in with a one-position mindset. Be capable of doing many things, and you’ll just increase your value.
What’s the biggest difference between guard and tackle, and do you have a preference?
Things at guard tend to happen a lot quicker, because the D-linemen get right up on you when you’re playing inside on the offensive line. At tackle, there’s a little bit more time. As far as preference goes, I wouldn’t say I have too much of a preference, but that’s just me.
We’ve talked to Devin Leary about how much it helps to have a normal offseason with Tim Beck. From an offensive line perspective, how much does it help?
It’s great. I feel like everybody’s playing much faster. You’ve got a quick grasp on it. Last year COVID messed everything up, so for us to be back together and get around that family environment again, it’s been great.
From your perspective, what was the energy level like in full pads, and did anyone surprise you?
I feel like the energy level was great inside the trenches. As far as any surprises, I feel like everyone pretty much had a good day. With this team, we feel like we can win an ACC Championship, so every day, the competition [is a] high level. There’s high energy every day. There’s no let off.
As an offensive line group, has there been an area of emphasis this offseason?
Specifically, just improving in the pass game. Working on the pass game fundamentals. You always want to improve in the run game; that’s a big deal for the offensive line. So just always looking for ways to improve, whether it be in the run game or the pass game.
I saw Dylan McMahon got put on the Freaks List by The Athletic. What’s he like?
It’s the Freak List. He’s capable of doing anything. Dylan might be the most flexible offensive lineman I’ve ever seen in my whole life. He could probably do a full split if you asked him to, but that Freak List is no joke. When you look at the weight room numbers and what he’s capable of, you’ll see why he can do what he does on the field, as versatile as he is.
What’s the one thing he’s done in the weight room or on the field that made you say ‘Whoa?’
The technique on the power clean. I think Dylan’s been power cleaning since he was in the sixth grade. So, to see him power clean, it’s like as soon as the weight goes up, he’s bouncing down to the bottom like it was a feather, so it’s pretty crazy.