Davin Vann Feels Defending Run Game Will Be Critical Against Syracuse

NC State defensive lineman Davin Vann discusses his development, Syracuse's run game, and much more with the media.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

What it was like on the sideline against Wake Forest when it was like every drive it felt like guys were going down? How do you just keep your composure when it kind of feels like you're having a quicksand moment?
Well, we focused on that all year, honestly. The four phases of football. There's the main three that everybody talks about -- offense, defense, and special teams -- but we always talk about the fourth phase which is the sideline energy. We talked about that all year and trying to stay positive. Just keep good energy on the sideline. That's something we've been working on all year.

Did it feel like you guys were able to keep that momentum even though it was a tough go?
Yeah, I think we were. There wasn't a moment where anybody really lost hope. I think it was, we felt like we were in it the whole time, even to the last second. There was no loss of hope at all at any point.

Coach Doeren talked about just how rare it is at NC State to have a 10-win season, and you guys have that opportunity. He said that was something that maybe he was going to have to talk to especially the younger guys about. Is that something that you guys kind of take pride in, kind of look at going, we have a chance to make some history for this program and kind of set a legacy?
Yes, but honestly we've just been focusing on trying to win one week at a time. We're not really worried about the 10 win season. We're kind of just trying to focus on Syracuse or whoever our next opponent is and get that win in the bag.

How long does it take to get over a loss like that? I know it's like a 24-hour rule or whatever when you win, but how long does it take to get over a loss like that?
Honestly, it's hard to get over a loss like that. With such great teammates like I have, it just makes you want to come back and get better as a player. We always talk about our one more’s and getting better, 1% better every day. It just makes you want to come back and just do better every week.

When you're riding home, what do you focus on after the game? Where's your focus go after a game like that? Just thinking, is it hard to stay positive or not?
No, you just kind of think back about the game and what you could have did better. I know that's what I focused on.

A lot was made of the game against Wake Forest for the division, but you're still in it. How much do you think that may help you guys get over that game, is the fact that you still have something to play for?
I think we're going to come back stronger than we have any time this year. When we took a loss to Mississippi State, we came back the next week and played as hard as we could. I feel like that's how we're going to be this week.

What's it like going against a guy like Icky every day during practice? Coach Doeren also said that he is kind of a guy who is super sweet, super nice, and then when he gets on the field, he kind of flips a switch. What's that like?
It's just fun, honestly. He's a great player. It's just fun to have that... he's not anytime where I feel like my safety's at risk. We can go as hard as we both can go and it's just fun. He's a great player, though.

Is he maybe one of the toughest dudes you've ever had to play against?
For sure. I think so.

The last few weeks you're a starter now. You've been playing starter reps ever since C.J. went down. What's working well for you? Is it all just coming together? Was it all just a matter of getting more snaps on the field and getting more experience or just a combination of experience and the snaps? What's working for you right now?
I definitely think that getting more snaps has helped me a lot. The game's starting to slow down a lot more, and I'm starting to understand what the coaches are telling me in my meetings and everything. I'm starting to just trust what they're telling me to do out there. It's kind of just becoming more and more muscle memory.

I imagine the physical part of it is and mental part of it are now clicking at the right time for you as well.
Yeah, I think so, one hundred percent.

In high school you said one thing you were looking forward to the most was getting on campus and working out with Coach Thunder and getting stronger and getting bigger. Obviously that's transitioned over to the field. How much more confidence has that given you, the off field stuff leading to confidence on the field for you?
I think that's had a tremendous impact on my confidence. Working with someone like Coach Thunder every day, not everybody gets to do that. I feel like that's just helped me a lot because Coach Thunder is somebody I could say I put near a hundred percent of my trust in it. I trust him with almost everything.

Was there a certain game or a certain moment where you realize, all right, things are clicking for me? I'm adapting to college football pretty well.
Yeah, I think I'd say the Boston College game. When I played at Boston College, just everything started to slow down. It was like I was seeing our drills come to life.

Syracuse has had some explosive games this year. What makes them tough to defend?
I think their run game is their best aspect. That's probably the toughest thing that they have. I don't think they would do very well in the drop-back pass, but if we could shut the run game down, I think we'll have a pretty good shot.

You said the Boston College game you were starting to see the drills come to light in the game. Anything in particular, any specific drills that you were like wow, this is really working for me in this game?
Yeah, we have one drill where we work on shedding blocks. Getting your inside hands, leveraging the ball. Coach says never swipe the hard too early because it would hit in your gap. You got to get vertical first and I did that. Got vertical in the B gap, swiped it hard, and made a tackle. That's really when I started to trust in the drills and trusting what Coach Wiles says.

I'm always curious with the former wrestlers. How much is your wrestling background helping you out on the football field at the college level?
I think it's helped me a lot. I think my balance is pretty good balance wise. It's helped me with my inside hands leveraging people. I think it's helped a lot.