Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones met with the media after practice yesterday. He broke down what it means to stay healthy in his final season, what this school means to him and what it’s like to be a leader to the younger Running Backs.

You can watch the video ABOVE, and read the transcript BELOW.

You’ve had injuries on and off virtually your whole career. What’s it been like to stay relatively healthy this season and get to make some plays?

It’s just a blessing. You never know when you can go down.

I’m just thankful to be back out there with my guys in my last year. Just thankful to get the opportunity.

Walk us through that spin move on Saturday.

It just happened.

We practice things like that every day, but when it happens, it happens. It’s almost second nature.

Doeren mentioned when y’all were looking at some of that game tape, looking at that spin move, a lot of the guys were really cheering, ‘hey, look at Demarcus.’ What does it mean to have that level of camaraderie in this locker room, at this point in the season, where guys are really pulling for each other like that?

We actually feed off of each other. I feed off of other guys making plays. We’re happy to see each other be successful. We’re trying to get in a groove these last few games.

You’ve played a bunch of different roles this Fall, whether it’s blocking or handoffs in the backfield, just what have you enjoyed about this season?

Just mainly just making it this far, like she said. I had injuries last year, but really, I’m just thankful, just to be able to do what I can do. I do whatever they ask of me. It doesn’t matter what it is. If they ask me to go play linebacker for a snap, I’ll go do my best.

What is it like to have two members of your family here?

It’s phenomenal, just being able to have blood here, just being able to be around them every day, people I grew up with.

How has Isiah kind of made things a little different, having a younger teammate who’s also a relative?

So actually, when we were younger, he hung around me and another older cousin of his. So it’s almost like having my little brother here. I try to do better, try to have a great attitude every day, just show him what it’s like to finally get old.

But I also encourage him to stay as young as possible.

Last year you guys came out on of the open date, ran the table, won five in a row. Does that give the returning players confidence that you can match that and do it again?

It definitely does.

We’ve  got to make sure that we take it day-by-day, not get ahead of ourselves, because that was last year. Just come out with the same mentality that we do every game, and just take it day-by-day.

You’ve been here for a long time. What has this program meant to you just as a human being?

It means a lot. I walked on here. I started out as a walk-on, earned a scholarship. So it’s just a blessing to be able to play in my hometown from Wendell, not too far from here, just a country boy.

So just being around here at a blue-collar school, it’s just a blessing.

How much do you embrace the mentorship role? I mean, it seems like every time you talk to a young running back, they throw out the name  Demarcus Jones as a big influence, not just on the field, but adjusting to college life, playing college ball. What does that mean to you?

To finally be in it, it’s crazy.

I used to look at the older guys and be like, ‘I’ll never be that old.’ I try to be the same person every day, try to make them laugh, and let them know that it’s still a game that we play at a young age, just enjoy it. There’s going to be ups and downs, so just enjoy it all, embrace the journey.

Thoughts on Duke

They show a lot of different looks, blitz-wise. So we gotta be on our P’s and Q’s. They force a lot of turnovers.

We gotta make sure we protect the ball and just attack head-on.

You had rivalry games, I’m sure, between Wake Forest, Heritage and Roseville in high school. What’s in the water in that area of the state? And do you have a favorite memory from that rivalry?

Really, I don’t know. I personally think North Carolina football is the best football in the country. We’re all friends outside of it. When we play, it’s almost like it looks like bad blood, but at the end of the day, we still talk to each other outside of it.

We go out there and just honestly give our best shot.

Y’all could earn bowl eligibility this week. Is that something you’re actively thinking about or just let’s get out of this one with the win?

Yeah, we’re trying to take it day by day.

Of course, that’s in the back of our mind. But we also want to just win out and not focus on the future.

Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse met with the media yesterday after practice. He talked about what was like to get back on the field after missing three games due to injury, what Duke presents and what Senior All-ACC Cornerback Aydan White has meant to him.

You can watch the video ABOVE, and read the transcript BELOW.

What was it like for you getting back out there this past weekend?

It was definitely good to be back out there flying around, making plays. I think that’s when I’m at my best is when I’m confident. And I feel like when football is going right, everything else in my life is going right.

So it was good to be back out there making a lot more plays.

What are you seeing from Duke as you go into this weekend?

A very talented group at receiver. That quarterback can make every throw. I think this is going to be probably the best group of Wide Receiver’s we’re gonna see all year coming into this game.

So they’re probably the best group I’ve evaluated and broken down myself. So it’s going to be a good test and we’re going to have to match up really well.

This is your first year playing at outside corner. Over the course of however many games you’re in this season now, what are some of the lessons you’ve learned about yourself?

I would say you always have to have that next play mentality. I think I kind of found that out versus Clemson.

I made a big play on the post and then the next play I gave up a fade. So I think it’s things like that, being consistent, just knowing who I am and just knowing all the abilities God’s gifted me with. And I can make every play when I’m confident.

So I just have to really trust that. And I’m making plays when I’m confident. So when I’m confident, I feel like I can do anything.

How motivated are you underclassmen to send the seniors out on their last home game?

It’s very motivating. Guys like Davin Vann have played a ton of snaps here. AB (Anthony Belton and all those guys, Aydan White, he’s in my room.

So he’s been a great mentor to me. So it’d definitely be something bigger than myself to send those guys out on the right track.

I think we treat every game the same.

I don’t think it’s any more personal, depending on who we’re playing. I think, obviously, we look back at it, and I think things kind of turned after we played them last year. But we’ve got to treat every game the same.

We know they’re a really good group, but we gotta focus on this game, not worry about last year’s game. This one right here is the only one that matters. So we’ve got to go 1-0 this week.

Stanford tested you a few times this week, and you were able to make those pass breakups. What was it like in your first game back, being able to make those plays to build that confidence?

I mean, there’s nothing like it when you’re out there making plays. They had a really good wide out.

You hear about a good wide out all week, and you want to go out there, and you want to shut them down. So when you get those opportunities to match up with a guy like that, I pride myself on wanting to be one of the best corners in the country, right? That’s my test right there. When I got the matchup, I feel like I made the most of my opportunities

Did the wide outs you competed against in practice help you prep for Duke?

Yeah, definitely.

All of them are great receivers. Noah (Rogers), Wesley (Grimes), Terrell (Anderson), Keenan (Jackson), Dacari (Collins), they’re all good wide outs. And they test me each and every day.

So each and every practice is going to be a big test for me. One-on-one, when we get those kind of periods, it prepares me only to be better on Saturday. So I’m pretty sure I make them better as well.

What’s this Cornerback room been like this year with you and Aydan, but also guys like Devon Marshall, Jackson Vick, guys are stepping up for the opportunity.

I think it’s big to show that we got depth everywhere. One guy goes down, another guy comes in and make big plays.

I think that’s always been the standard in our room, is to play as elite as the person before you or be the best player you can be. Everybody in that room wants to be the best corner. And I think that just pushes all of us.

But the crazy thing about it is, all of us love each other. Like you wouldn’t think we’d compete like that. You know what I’m saying? We all love each other. We all want to see each other do great.

So it’s big.

What have you picked up on Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy?

He’s a great quarterback, can make all the throws. He’s big, got great size, and he’ll pick you apart if you let him pick you apart.

He can make every throw. He’s strong, he’s physical, and he’ll stand in the pocket, take a hit for someone to make a big play. So he’s going to be a good test for sure, because he can throw it all over the place.

You mentioned Aydan White. This is a guy going out there on senior day. What has his mentorship meant to you as one of the younger guys coming up? 

It’s definitely special. That’s kinda like an older brother to me. I’ll never forget the day I came in here, and he kinda took me under his wing.

He’s one of the top cornerbacks in the country, and he still has every tool, you know what I’m saying? So he’s definitely been a great piece of my learning curve. He’s definitely helped me mature a lot faster than some other people have. I can’t put it into words how much he means to me as a person.

He’s kinda like an older brother, just even off the field, he’s always checking up on me, always calling me man. I really love that guy.

NC State’s CJ Bailey isn’t simply the best True Freshman Quarterback in the nation currently, he’s the #6 overall Quarterback in college football after Week 10 according to 247 Sports’ Clint Brewster.

True freshman signal caller CJ Bailey for NC State has been phenomenal. He’s tossed nine touchdowns over the last four games and has completed 72 percent of his throws. Bailey was lethal on Saturday in a 59-28 win over Stanford, completing 90% of his throws and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s the full package at the quarterback position. At 6-foot-6, 190-pounds he’s seeing the field and delivering with anticipation and conviction. (247)

Heading into week 11, NC State has played 9 football games. Before the Wolfpack plays Duke this Saturday, here’s a Redshirt Report.

A redshirt season, is a year that doesn’t count against your 4 years of eligibility. If a player plays more than 4 regular season games, the player is no longer eligible to redshirt the season. Every player is allowed 1 redshirt season in their career.

NC State has 3 True Freshman that have already burned their redshirt, playing 4+ games.

True Freshman who have burned their Redshirt

WR Terrell Anderson – 9 games

WR Keenan Jackson – 9 games

QB CJ Bailey – 8 games

The following True Freshman have seen action this year, but haven’t played in 5 games. As a result, they currently still have the ability to redshirt this season.

True Freshmen that haven’t burned their Redshirt

S Ronnie Royal III – 3 games

LB Zane Williams – 3 games

WR Jonathan Paylor – 2 games

NIC Asaad Brown – 2 games

DE Joshua Alexander-Felton – 1 game

WR Tank Boston – 1 game

LB Cannon Lewis – 1 game

OL Robby Martin – 1 game

OL Trent Mitchell – 1 game

RB Duke Scott – 1 game

DE Justin Terrell – 1 game

WR Christian Zachary – 1 game

The following three players aren’t Freshman, but they haven’t used their redshirt season at this point in their collegiate career, and haven’t exceeded 5 games played in 2024.

Non-Freshmen who potentially could Redshirt the year

SO TE Juice Vereen – 4 games

SR DT Chazz Wallace – 4 games

JR LB Wyatt Wright – 1 game

Vereen was listed as sick when he missed LA Tech and Clemson, but returned to play a total of three snaps against Northern Illinois and Wake Forest. He hasn’t seen the field since then. I will say, after the workload he received as a True Freshman, this is an interesting development to watch.

Wallace transferred in this offseason from Colorado, and has been #3 on the depth chart at Nose Tackle all season. He hasn’t played a snap in the past three games.

Wright was a JUCO commit in last years class. With the turnover at Linebacker, I’m sure he thought he might have been a more significant contributor in the Wolfpack’s defense this year. Last week, he played on Special Teams, seeing the field for the first time this season.

It will be interesting to monitor these three over the next three games.