LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
Several NC State players met with the media following the Wolfpack's 45-0 win over USF Thursday night.
NOTE: Click on each player’s respective thumbnail to watch each interview.
Ricky Person
To open the season like you guys did and for you to find the end zone three times, how much confidence does this game give you moving forward? For you personally, what was it like to come out of the gates with such a strong game?
First of all, I want to give credit to my offensive line. They did a hell of a job today. Honestly, I’ve been here long enough; it’s just another game. We’ve got to get back to it tomorrow. We’re going to go back to watch the tape tomorrow and see what we need to fix and what we need to capitalize on.
What is it with you and opening night games?
Honestly, it’s just the preparation. I’m so emotional right now. I give credit to God. I prayed about this day in and day out. It’s been a long time coming for this.
Do you get especially amped up on an opening night like this?
It’s not an opening night thing. It’s an every game thing. Like I said, it came with the preparation.
How much do you and Zonovan Knight feed off of each other when you’re both out there making plays? How much does it help each of you to rotate to keep each other fresh?
Honestly, the rotation that we have is great. We’re big on each other. When he’s out there, and he’s getting explosive runs, he’ll come to the sideline, and he’ll tell me what he sees. That’s something we come to the sideline and tell each other: what we see and how we can make our runs more explosive than what they are. We pick off little things throughout the game to be able to help each other throughout the way.
Was getting the backs more involved the passing game an area of emphasis with Tim Beck?
I felt like it was an emphasis for us. Last year, I felt we spent a lot of time in the pocket a lot during pass protections. That’s one thing [Kurt] Roper emphasized, implying we need to be able to get out fast and be a part of the pass game this year.
Do you mind sharing what emotions you’re experiencing right now and where they’re stemming from?
This is my last year. I just wish my grandparents were here to watch me. They’re watching above. I give them credit every day, day in and day out. I just talk to them before every game and tell them what I’m doing. This is why I’m emotional. I give it all to the game, and I’m seeing all the blessings fall into place.
Drake Thomas
How important was tonight’s shutout for the defense to show they’re living up to the hype built up in the preseason?
I feel like it was really important. We talk a lot of talk. We were getting a lot of credit and seeing a lot of stuff on social media, but when it comes down to it and when the lights are on, it’s just a matter of performing. We had a good start tonight in proving who we are.
How much of a role did the fans have in keeping the team’s motivation?
A huge role. It means a lot, especially with the fans staying to the very end during that last stop. We really appreciate them doing that. That’s big time. They play a huge role, especially on defense, bringing that energy. They feed it to us, and we feed off them. It’s great to see that and to have that back.
The defense had two picks in the red zone tonight. How much confidence does that give you to come up with big plays in that area of the field to keep them off the board?
It’s definitely a confidence booster. They get down in our red zone, and obviously the percentages get higher for them to score points. On paper, they should probably score in the positions they were in today, but we pretty much said, ’That’s not happening’ and took the ball right back from them. It’s a huge confidence booster, and it gives us a lot of confidence in ourselves.
How much did you all want to keep that zero on the scoreboard? What was your reaction when the ball fell incomplete on the Bulls’ last play?
In today’s college football, it’s very rare to see a shutout. We really wanted that shutout. Some of our guys were trying to get back in the game, but when we saw that last incomplete pass, we were super excited. It was awesome to see.
What message did you send tonight in this shutout?
I don’t necessarily know about what message we sent, but we tried to put on display what our brand of football is. We’re trying to play hard, fast, tough, together, and disciplined. I think we did that tonight. It was a good start. We’re going to look back at the film, get the corrections done, and move onto the next one.
Devin Leary
Did you feel like you had rust early in the game? What was your mentality after the interception?
I think, in the first half, there were missed opportunities that I wished I could get back. Something we always preach here, something that [Dave] Doeren and Coach Beck tells us, and something even I say to the offense every single series is that we just have to go 1-0. Continue that 1-0 mentality, and no matter what happens during the play, we always have the next play to bounce back. That was my approach the entire game.
Could you take me through your emotions going into this game?
I was extremely excited. There was a feeling I couldn’t really describe, and I haven’t really felt it before since last October. Being able to run into the stadium full with the Wolfpack nation and with all my brothers, my teammates, beside me is just an indescribable feeling. It’s something I’m going to cherish the rest of my life.
The defense put you guys into some pretty good field position throughout the night. You’ve practiced against these guys every day throughout camp. I’m sure you’re not surprised with how they performed against South Florida.
I thought they played tremendously. I thought Coach Gibson did a great job of preparing them with the perfect game plan. That’s just who they are. That’s what our defense is. They’re competitive guys. They always tell us: ‘Just get us some points. It doesn’t matter if we score three points or 50 points. We’re going to hold them to zero.’ That’s just their mentality. It’s awesome to go against in practice, to get that competitive feel and to get that game-like experience from them.
Offensively, how would you assess the team’s performance? What did you see from the offensive line?
I thought they played tremendous. That’s what [John] Garrison expects out of them. That’s what we expect out of them as an offense. We know exactly what they’re capable of doing each and every week, and I’m extremely proud of all those guys as well as our running backs. I thought Zonovan [Knight], Ricky [Person], Jordan [Houston], and Delbert [Mims] at the end played hard and ran the ball really well. Being able to play behind an offensive line like that makes it really exciting to be a quarterback and to be able to distribute the ball with guys in front of me that are willing to protect me all the time.
What did Coach Doeren say to you about that scramble near the end of the game?
He told me to slide. He didn’t want me taking any hits. That’s the player that I am. I guess you could say I’m a little hard-nosed, and I just wanted to get into the end zone. He told me to get down next time.