WATCH: NC State WR Noah Rogers Was Excited to See QB CJ Bailey Named a Captain (with transcript)

NC State Redshirt Sophomore Wide Receiver Noah Rogers spoke with the media after Fall Practice yesterday. He was ecstatic to see Sophomore Quarterback CJ Bailey chosen as 1 of the Wolfpack’s 4 Captains for this season, breaking down how he’s grown as a leader. Rogers also believes NC State has the best Wide Receiver room in the ACC.

You can watch the video above, and read the transcript below.

What’s it like for you to see CJ Bailey selected as a Captain as a Sophomore?

Man, when I saw that this morning, it really was like a heartwarming moment, because it’s like I’ve been around him all offseason, and he’s just been pushing me. Being around him more, him being my QB, it grows my confidence.

Him telling me things about me, and just learning from him. He’s just helped me grow as a person, so it’s awesome. It’s amazing.

What do you think qualifies CJ as a Captain?

I mean, his energy. He’s just a tall guy that’s just always smiling. Good energy.

When we go out in the field, that’s what he wants to see, good energy. He told me, ‘I’d rather you drop a pass or something, than not being urgent, having energy, getting lined up, or not knowing the plays.’ So he just takes pride in his job, and making sure everybody knows what they’re doing.

I find that important as a leader. Everybody’s got to know what they’re doing, and he has to call the command, so.

How do you view this year and this opportunity for yourself? Obviously, you were a big recruit. You came back home. Last year was your first year. Now this looks like it could be a breakout year. How do you look at it?

Shoot, I don’t look at it as nothing. It’s just getting better day-by-day. We’ve got a game in nine days, and I ain’t really worried about that.

I’m just worried about what can Noah do today for his team, to get better at his game. So when the time comes, I’m performing well. It’s just living in the moment, not looking ahead, keeping my head level, and not getting complacent.

What kind of things have you done to get better in college, and maybe even specifically this off season?

One, just building a routine. I have a really good routine. I just keep on adding to it. It’s just working on the little things, sharpening my details.

I can never be too good at running routes. I just sharpen as much as I can. When I turn on the NFL tape, I just look at them like, there’s some right there that I could add to my game.

So it’s just being detailed, critical as much as I can.

What are some of the guys that you’ve watched closely, to kind of emulate?

There’s a lot of receivers in the league that I like, and love their game, but it’s hard to watch a guy like Stefon Diggs, because he’s not my size, but I do like the games like that. Guys I look up to, are guys like Justin Jefferson, Jameson Williams, or George Pickens. I think their games are very smooth and fluent.

How did being in the Wide Receiver Room at Ohio State as a True Freshman kind of help play into that, kind of seeing those guys?

Man, it did help a lot. It was definitely a blessing, because it’s like, how many times do you get to see a generational player come through, and play with you? Not too much often. So it was just really a blessing, just getting to learn. Being up there, it’s a great competition. Just having guys on-and-off the field pushing you, and trying to make sure you’re the best receiver you can be.

What have you seen from some of the younger wide receivers that were true freshmen last year that are trying to make that step this year?

Keenan Jackson, Terrell Anderson, Tank Boston, Christian Zachary. I think all those guys, they’re pushing, they’re striving.

They had tremendous jumps from last season, from the Spring, and it they just keep getting better and stronger. That’s what we like to see. I want somebody behind me that’s pushing me as much as they can.

It’s the same thing, vice versa, with me pushing them. I just love the competition we have in the room. There’s no doubt about it, there’s no better Receiver room in the ACC than us.

How fast is this room, and does Wesley (Grimes) have bragging rights?

When (Jonathan) Paylor was a receiver, I used to tell him and Wesley, ‘I’m telling you, if we were to run a 100-meter dash, I’m winning. There’s no doubt about it.’

I just need to get that ongoing speed, but they have great speed. That’s a great trait of our receiver room.

It’s just fast, game play, smooth.

Is CJ’s voice a lot louder this year, and was there a moment where he kind of surprised you with something he said to you? When you were like, ‘Ok, this is a different dude?’

Yeah, most definitely. It’s just the way he speaks with his chest.

I can feel it. I can feel the energy. When he walks in the room, the temperature rises for sure. That’s what we need in a QB.

Somebody who’s not scared or afraid. Even last year, he had to come in, step in, and he did his thing.

He kept giving energy.

When a young guy throws a pick, you would think they’d be mad and all, but he’s not. On the side, he’s like ‘Let’s go, guys, let’s go.’

So you know that he’s learned a lot this offseason, and he just keeps getting better and better. It’s just making the team better.

What do you think of the uniforms you guys are wearing next week?

Shoot, I love them. I think they’re real smooth. I definitely got to put my own sauce on it. I’ve got a couple pair of cleats. I’ve just got to see what goes with them. But speaking of uniforms, they’ve got to bring back the grey ones. The first game of the season versus South Florida (2021). I know y’all remember that one, but that was crazy.

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Rogers had 35 receptions for 478 yards and a touchdown last season for the Wolfpack as a Redshirt Freshman. He ranked 3rd on the team in receptions, and 2nd in receiving yards.

Coming out of Rolesville High School right down the road, ON3 ranked Rogers as the #26 overall player nationally in the 2023 recruiting class, the #8 Wide Receiver and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.