WATCH: Brandon Cisse Breaks Down his Return, Duke and What Aydan White Means to Him (with transcript)

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.