WATCH: Quarterback CJ Bailey Talks After NC State’s 1st Day of 2025 Spring Practice (with Transcript)

Sophomore Quarterback CJ Bailey met with the media today after NC State’s first 2025 Spring Practice. You can watch the video ABOVE, and read the transcript BELOW.

First day back, getting used to the new guys and everything. It’s always fun when we hit that practice field. I enjoyed myself today, I’m looking for many more great practices.

How much bigger have you gotten this off season? 

Five, ten pounds. I’m looking to get way bigger, throughout the season, before the first game. I’m looking to gain more weight, but right now I’m just focused on football.

You got to go through spring practice, fall practice, everything last year. How much different is it being the guy going out into the first spring practice?

It’s a lot different. The way I come to practice every day, knowing guys are looking for me and looking for CJ Bailey. It’s great.

I like that. That’s why I play quarterback. I like feeling the pressure and everything, everybody leaning on me.

It’s different this year because it’s easier for me, it’s slower for me right now. I’m glad that I’m in that position because now when it’s slower for me, I can help everyone else out and I can do it as well, so it’s very different from last year.

What’s the biggest thing you learned last year that you can use this spring to continue your career?

The biggest thing I learned last year was, at the end I started to use my voice more.

Break out and be that leader. That’s what I learned at the end of last year and to help the team. Coming into this year, I already started this offseason with the guys.

I’m being more commanding, taking control of everything, being a leader, that’s what I learned.

Is becoming a captain a goal for you this season?

Yeah, of course.

I want to be the captain of the team and I want to lead the team.

You talked a lot last season about how significant Coach Roper was in your transition to the starting role. What’s it like seeing him elevated into the OC position and having your OC also be your quarterback’s coach?

Yeah, it’s just amazing.

When Coach Roper got the job, I was so happy. I was so happy for him and happy for this offense…for our future. I’m glad he’s the OC and also my quarterback coach because now we’re definitely on the same page with everything.

I know what’s going on next before everybody knows. It’s great to have Coach Roper. He’s a great guy, great coach.

I feel like he’s going to take this team to heights it hasn’t been before.

It’s funny the way things have changed. You got a starting job in the middle of last season. In the past, you’d be like, ‘okay, he’s going to be here for four years.’ Now the conversation is like, ‘oh my gosh, is he going to leave?’ People were worried. What was that process like for you? Were people coming after you and what made you want to come back?

The process was…it was not a lot.

I already had my mind made up. I wanted to come back to State and be with Coach Doeren and Coach Roper, and this amazing coaching staff and team.

I already had my mind made up. I wasn’t worried about the outside people, whoever was talking, whoever wanted me. I wanted to be at State.

How did you use January to unwind from the season? Did you watch the college football playoffs? Did you watch all the NC State games from this past year? How did you use January?

I don’t even use January. I often watch old games.

I watch the playoffs. Even when the playoffs are not going, I still watch it. I just like watching football period and learning from others.

Coach Roper elevated it for me with me learning defenses and everything. When I watch a game, I know where this person is supposed to be at. I’m taking notes on everything that they’re doing.

I love watching games and stuff like that.

Obviously, it’s a different role for you. How much different is the start of spring practice for this offense as a whole? Last year, you had a lot of veterans coming in…Grayson (McCall), Justin Joly, even Hollywood Smothers and Jordan Waters. All those guys came from different programs. You guys have all done this together now at this point.

It’s different. Our chemistry is on the next level. We’ve all been here last year.

We all know what it felt like to lose. We bled together. It’s great to have those guys come back in with me.

We could really go somewhere with this offense and everything because we’ve been together.

What’s it like watching Will Wilson go through what you went through last Spring?

Will felt it. He had those freshman moments like me.

I had those freshman moments all last year. Will is going to be a great player in the future. I love him for real.

Coach Doeren said all the spring practices are going to be closed. Not planning on having a spring game. Does that maybe take pressure off the team to feel like you have to have things ready to go super fast?

Not at all.

Our team is ready for whatever. I feel like we’re ready for anything that’s thrown at us. It proved in the offseason.

We had a lot of sudden changes and everything like that. Nobody cried or anything. We just got to work.

We’re ready for anything that happens.

How do you think the offense might evolve with Coach Roper as the OC?

We’re just trying to take everything slow right now. See how it’s going right now.

Of course it’s going to elevate. It’s going to elevate throughout this year. Next year it’s going to be way elevated.

We’re going to take things step by step. Slow it down right now.