WATCH: CJ Bailey After NC State’s Win Over Stanford (with transcript)

True Freshman Quarterback CJ Bailey had the best game of his collegiate career today in NC State’s 59-28 win over Stanford. He was 18 of 20 for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns. He spoke with the media in the postgame press conference after the game. You can watch it ABOVE and read the transcript BELOW.

What was it like on the sideline watching DK (Kaufman) just run like crazy on those two kickoff returns?

It was exciting.

I was telling everybody on the sideline, let DK return it. Let’s just keep letting him return it because he’s going to pop one. He kept on giving his explosive runs and everything.

I was like telling the camera, I was telling everybody, let DK run because he’s going to make a play for us. So it was really good to have DK back there making plays.

You said earlier this week that you don’t really consider yourself a freshman anymore. What do you think you really improved on this week in particular that led to the great day that you did have?

I think I really improved on staying relaxed while I was in the pocket. I got a little antsy a couple of games before, the Cal game, but just staying relaxed and having a plan before I even catch the ball.

That was my main thing coming into this week, have a plan before I catch the ball. I like to make plays, but I got to know where I’m going at first.

This is probably your most efficient game in college. Just speak to that if you don’t mind. What is it like of having these games where it’s starting to slow down and you’re not making as many mistakes and things are coming natural?

Yeah, it’s really great.

When there’s no mistakes, no turnovers going on for the offense, it eases up everything for the game. Having games like this really helps the team because now we can do what we want on offense and defense. So it really creates some relaxation, some space to just do what we want on offense.

Skill guys continue to make skill plays. I think this is a continuation of the fourth quarter against California. How neat is it to see guys breaking these long runs, breaking these long receptions?

It’s really great to see those guys like Hollywood (Smothers), Jordan Waters even came back breaking runs.

That O-line is like doing a great job up front. I really am proud of those guys and how they played this week. They opened up lanes for those guys like Hollywood and even KC (Concepcion).

When KC got in there, I ran it back. So it’s really good to see those guys blocking and crank those exposures. DK had those exposures on the kick return and everything, but I’m really more proud of that O-line and how they did this week.

What’s the biggest difference from your point of view on the rushing attack? It seemed like you guys were able to run the however you wanted to today.

Yeah, we had a lot more movement up front.

In previous games, we weren’t getting that much movement. We really moved those guys to open up lanes for our running backs and everything. That’s the biggest difference I’ve seen in all.

How much has that helped open up the offense when the running game is going?  It kind of seems like it took a little weight off your shoulders.

Like I said before, having a good run game takes a lot off of me and a lot off the offense. Now we can do whatever we want. Like we can pass, we can run, just because the run game is working.

We need a great run attack in each game for us to be good as an offense.

You and the offense have gotten better every week. Do you feel like at this point you’re in complete command of the offense and you know the players on the offense?

It’s getting to that point where it’s just like everything is going smooth. Everything is perfect right now. Let’s just continue to build off of that.

But it’s felt like everything is in control. Next week I feel like we keep that same pace and control the offense.

What does it mean for you to see that number 59 next to the scoreboard?

Yeah, it means a lot. Most of all, it means a lot to see a win on our record. Like, that 59 is huge.

I was telling those guys, it was 31 to 21. I said, ‘How does 60 points sound like? Let’s go for 60’ and 59, we fell short of the 60. But I love that 59 points on our scoreboard.

It meant a lot.

So many of the plays today were made by freshmen or redshirt freshmen or sophomores. Just how does it feel to be making plays with guys that are in your class or guys that are just within one year of you? And how special do you think this group of younger guys can be?

Yeah, we got a good group of talent. And you know, Kennan Jackson, Terrell Anderson, all these freshmen, all those guys making plays, it’s great to see. And I love to have those guys out on the field.

And the more reps they get, the better they get. I just love being around a lot of the talent we have on offense period.