NC State RB Jordan Waters talks transfer from Duke, Wolfpack’s veteran offense at ACC Kickoff

off and it's not a football question uh I love it myself but how do you beat somebody at fishing what was the criteria that you guys set up for the hey I was I was lying I did that I just did that to make him laugh but n we went fishing at uh this Academy and we got there and coach was killing me man he was catching all types of uh Striker basss and all that I was getting so jealous I was I was really getting mad he didn't he don't know that but we went in there and I just started I I turned up at the end but he he's a good fisherman he was flish and everything definitely a player's coach I mean I guess that's why one of the reasons when you came over there started talking with him cuz some guys will stand offish there's a definite line between player and Coach but uh he's kind of blurry on that line is that why he liked it so much over there and why yeah I love coach he's he come off as like real tough but when you get to know him he he's a very cool guy we we talked all the way to the uh fishing trip for like an hour and he's one of the best dudes I ever met I love him what did y'all talk about everything you name it anything food family football uh everything ask when it I was going to say when it came to the decision to leave Duke how much was that of that was influenced by you know your coach leaving or was it influenced by just looking for a new opportunity a little bit of both uh I had a tight connection with that old staff and them leaving did put a little toad on us all but uh it all worked out for the best so Jordan coming off of a great year last year like Multiple List um what have you done in the offseason to get acclimated to NC State and to improve your skill set a lot of studying uh coach Goble he helped me a lot he's one of the best he's my running back coach and also the Special Teams coordinator so he's been great with me uh they allowed me to go to Tampa for like 3 weeks and train that house athletes with my my cousin uh Shaquille Lyn so shout out to cuz who uh allowed me to go out there and get better and just that's just how they they do uh they're professional uh I'm not doing anything so it allowed me to go in there and get better and then just here working with the guys doing a little extra work with other running backs watching extra film stuff like that awesome I hope you have a stand out your I thank you thank you what are some of your pregame rituals for me yeah definitely talk to my family I have to talk my niece my nephews talk to them I don't go out pregame I'm usually in there just stretching uh I don't eat much but yeah once I talk to my family and see my family hug my mom and then I'm I'm great the last time we talked to last time we talked to you you were wearing some Duke gear yeah what what have you done with you here is it still still alive or sold it a lot of people actually hit me up the the the uh sell it but I'm not that kind kind of guy so I actually been giving a lot of away so you come back to my city you going to see a lot of Duke Blue out there yeah yeah Jordan what's stood out in those conversations with Coach watching film and kind of talking about the role you can bring to State oh how diverse he has his running backs I mean they run the ball they go out and catch the ball they blocking they doing everything that I want to do that they're doing on the next level and I feel like that'll help me get there does it help at all that there's a group of you guys on offense that have comeing together that you're all learning at the same time it helped a lot but the offense is uh not as bad as we think and they simplified it for us to get better and it's going to be great I see you've been around a lot of quarterbacks in years what's what's Grayson like one of the coolest dudes now honestly he's one of the coolest dudes I met and we we get along good and he's a he's like a natural born leader and I I actually look up to him to try to lead just like he do how much have you guys worked on I know when you came into football obviously you know you were a wide receiver what you played how much of you guys worked with that um you know being that pass catching back for him too oh a lot like every weekend we go out there we uh we're throwing routes uh on Wednesday we're out there catching balls and like I said coach goou he's want me to be the best so he's always Tex me like you catch the they guard a and catch some balls and I'm natural at it I think when was the last time you watch The Duke Tak in uh that Sunday after the game yeah just let it go yeah let it go is that how you are with every game oh yeah you got to be you have to be can you give me your best Dave Doran impression yeah but that's it that's it what kind of fish were you trying to catch uh we caught big mouth bass yeah I can show you some pictures later how much slack did you get from going from one big four school to another big four school that was a lot a lot but like I just like I said you have to get over the game you just got to not not hear all that stuff but is there good and bad but so I mean obviously your Duke friends your Duke Brothers I they sometimes family can be the I'm still getting some stuff from that I go I go to Duke all the time I still get my haircut there so when I'm on there I stop by and see my homeboys and they they get me help all the time all the time it's all love though you haven't found a barber in yet wor I mean I'm only 20 minutes I don't mind driving 20 minutes down the road to get a cut I got you yeah what will make what will this season be like to make all that Flack work it uh just go out there and be me just do what I do uh and run the damn B in States had a lot of transfers that come in last year R Armstrong was in the starting line for a while this year is a very good crop that's coming in I think it's top 20 nationally as far as transfers like how much of an excitement is there for like you ring some of the new guys coming in that you can make an impact as a new crop of guys it's real exciting there's so many Playmakers everywhere but somebody want tell you don't play the game on paper so we got a lot of athletes but we just got to go out there and and ball yeah what is the value you think with a team being able to do what NC State's done in terms of enhancing its roster through the port how much that could help it means a lot there's the guys that's willing to come here and it's going to help recruiting uh down the line there's going to be people wanting to come here want to leave so this big in terms of you you mentioned it in there the role to being considered a three down back is you know obviously to maybe go to the next level what were the things that they kind of showed you on the film that said hey I can I can fill those roles that's what coach Gober come in um we came in we sat out F and he's a special team coordinator and you know in the NFL not too many running backs make it that long or that long and you have to figure out a way to to stay on the team and special teams is one of those and I'm willing to do whatever to stay on the team how much special teams have you played in the spring and the spring oh a lot yeah coach go is the the coordinate the special team coordinator I'm in a room with him so you just imagine how that's going but it's a good thing though transferring within the triangle I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision but just what was that process like knowing that you know you're going to face your old team in a few months it was rough it was rough I I'm still getting some H about that but it's all up but it's going to be fun we play on my senior night so I got to win what uh what have you been able to teach some of the younger backs like SMS and Isaiah Jones and Jaden Scott uh just to have to be a pro I was taught how to be a pro how to take care of my body watch more film and just do what I got to do to to help myself and to help those guys they're they're they're willing to learn especially do Scott D Scout is like so mature for his age and it's it's ridiculous how much different is coach Thunders workout program compared to what you've been used to over the last few years there's not a big difference they both brok work very hard and the biggest difference is just the guys you got coach D you got Coach Dave Philly it's just that's the biggest difference there a big uh personality difference between C coach good star that's a big they're all three different guys but I love them all they're football coaches they're that different it's not that different last year you had your best game against NC State I think right 9.5 yard to carry 123 yards a touchdown so now you know their you know the defense over there with Duke how do you think you can take advantage of that be on the other side uh I know the players but like I said it's the offseason and they're all working to get better so we want to know twoo we go out there and playing yeah then I know you said you can see yourself being utilized in the past game a little bit just how is it being building that Rel ship Grayson and building that trust last game uh we come in and we connect like I said every weekend and Wednesday we're out there throwing and trying to get better with each other but it's been great and I'm I'm ready within the ACC but the running back groups among some of the running backs who are here uh today what do you just kind of make of the kind of be in an underrated running back conference you guys got some names in this yeah that's very it's very underrated but there's some dogs out there there amarion this fi uh I have to put myself in there but there's a lot of dogs in there and I don't think we get a recognition that we deserve but we will have you been wrapped up with the college football video again oh it's addicting I can't stay off but seriously I had to say I was in a workout the other day and I was just thinking about going home and play the game what do they what do you think of their assessment of you say it again what do you think of their assessment of what you are in the game it's it's kind of similar it ain't that it ain't too much out but I think that rating could be a little high we going to get there though does that give you I know there's a lot of things that guys look for motivation but is that kind of a motivating factor too like I want to get speed up I want to get like not really it's a game I wasn't even worri about the money I was just like excited to be on there I grew up playing that game so I'm just happy to be on it you said it was hard leading Duke so I was curious if there was a moment that you had when you got say or a conversation that convinced you like state was the place to be uh really it was it was my choice I I know n State I played against them and their motto is hard T together and they they really live by it and I knew I could stay here in North Carolina close to my parents and and play some good football B so theis want too hard you guys brought some guys who been 5 years 6 years 6 years part of a transformative era of college football what do you just kind of what do you think 2019 Jordan wild says to himself now five six years later oh my God just to be patient I think that's the biggest thing I learned just to just to stay down to you come up and that's the that's probably one of the realest things I learned cuz that there was what one point where I did not want to play football and then we went through a time where we was going like rning two two games three games but just a stay down till you come up and now I'm here in front of you guys so it's awesome you've been part of Duke teams that you know the first year two years ago it wasn't the expectations were not high last year going into the season the expectations were high and obviously the injury uh significantly hurt that what type of approach do you take going into the season knowing how high the expectations are and knowing that you've gone through that before uh you just can't hear the noise you just got to go out there prepare with your team prare with your teammates and do whatever you got to do to get better and you can't hear the outside noise cuz there's a lot of people that's Hing you up and there's a lot of people that's talking down on you so you just can't hear all that how good is it to have a lot of veterans who have gone through that before to be able to be that voice for this team as opposed to you know having a younger team or something along those lines it's great especially when you got guys like uh Grayson and Davin who's like very vocal and guys listen to them and they don't realize but when they speak everybody listens so it's been great I don't know the stat on this but you know you guys beat Clemson at your place last year um NC State beat Clemson this year wanted to be two and0 against Clon in different teams so how much oh I'm looking to I'm looking to go I'm really looking forward to beating UNC yeah we don't say that that never changed right oh no never regular season I think starts end August yes sir so we're getting in t- minus Mode start time C back about time yeah it's about time to amp up about time you pretty soon you'll be in game we mode how keeped up are you for that how excited I can't wait like I ain't played ball in a while so I can't wait to go out there I'm ready to get on the grass next Wednesday just go out there and run around have fun is it different when you game we prep when you get that first game we prep does it feel like somebody flipp The Switch n I think that's that's that switch flips next week when I get on the field and I'm going to keep that same uh okay and y' yeah I'm ready plays much of the game up leading up to that right yes sir I'm ready had a had struggled at times running the ball last year yeah how much do you feel like that you know you can be part of the Improvement in their ability to have more of a balanced offense I feel like I play a good part of it but we going to keep it balanced and without the o line I can't do anything and there's two guys that I don't get a recognition um they deserve and it's Demarcus Jones and Jordan p and they do all the dirty work that nobody sees that but I see it and there's a big part of the running game and will'll be this year that balance that they look for is that part of the reason that you know you chose NC State close to their home that kind of thing it's all that definitely but knowing I could come here and be one of the top guys and run the ball behind a great open Line it played a big part still kind of strange to look down and see that that that wolf and wearing the red cat instead of the blue every morning every morning I come I'm like I'm really here but it's been great Jordan when you look at position groups players individually whatever comes to your mind who do you think has the potential for us to be talking about season I don't even know where to start had a choose I'm going go with two people I'm going besides KC I'm going Noah Rob we know about him yeah I'm going Noah robs and uh Justin jie two dogs that work hard some of the best hands I've seen and they're young though I have to remind myself every day like they're they're only like 20 years old 2019 it's crazy and your impressions of Dave Dorne dog like I said he comes off as like like uptight but once you talk to him he's one of the nicest guys I ever met I love him a lot the other adults in the room had great pressure on you coordinators coach Goble Ty go that's my uh running back coach and the Special Teams coordinator and we we talked all the time we been golfing a couple times together and all that so yeah it's been you feel like it's building up towards more than Deeper Than Just A Team more already yeah as soon as I got there I felt that energy and they're definitely keeping it going what your impressions Grace and just as a guy you know coming in you know obviously know what he did previous school coming in so when when he committed I was decided he chased me like let's do it I was like let's do it and we got here and it it's been great man he's a he's a natural born leader great guy super cool to be around and he's a lot of fun you mentioned that how much did he kind of play in your recruitment as well oh a lot cuz I I think that they had a quarterback lead and the know I know Grayson I grew up in South Carolina so I know all about Coastal and what he's done and how he played and I was excited when he committed he said that a lot of guys were motivating him to get the mullet back were you one of those players yeah when he walked down I'm like that is not gray mall I was like who is that and it was him I'm like yeah you need that mullet back is that part of that like it's not just a look it's an attitude it's a part of him that's him that m is gr M yeah does he seem kind of more laidback Fresh Start from him not having as much pressure I guess himself yeah bro I don't think it gets to him at all like there's no pressure that he's like the same bra so that changed a bit how the academic school life been I know it's summer but still how's that been over it's been great I went to one of the most prestigious uh universities in the world so I'm good you make saying make friends make yeah it's good though there's a lot of nice people the staff is nice uh Ashley and Ally over there they good you guys start your ACC schedule with com in in Death Valley how are you feeling about that match I can't wait I hate to say this but I grew up a Clemson fan my cousin played at Clemson Anthony Waters and I always love Clemson and I've never been in Death Valley so I can't wait to go there and get wi J when I say Tobacco Road because you've been in two of the schools on the toac what does that mean to you uh Tobacco Road the food place that's what I think about we used to go there after every game and and go get the uh the buffalo chicken area awesome is that is Clemson like what is the road environment you're looking into most Clemson Clon yeah we we all know how it get I've never experienced it yet but we all know how def Val I can't wait to go the Clemson game last year I do heck of a way that was exciting that was it was that was a good time for dude to see the the stands packed out for once and it was a good experience how good is it to have kind of a buffer leading up that obviously you're going to have a big game against Tennessee but you have two other home games before you have to go on the road to face Clemson a little bit different than last year we had to face him the first game right yeah now you get some time but last year planning the first game that's all you thought about all fall camp but now we got teams that to play before him and we just got to take it one week at a time Jordan have you played college football 25 yet every day I can't stay out but I should have bought my game here but I like I'm not going to do that what's your game Dynasty so look when I first got it I had it on freshman I ran for like 300 yards no lie I had to get listen theme off have you done Dynasty Road to Glory Road to Glory but I'm k i be playing myself every day like third play I have my dude like B over he tired now Davin said it's not like it's not realistic that you can SP like two things going G right for the week yeah you like that that you can kind like Gamers can balance what you do the week studying uh recovery training in between weeks does that kind of what you have to balance yeah I I think you you should definitely make time for yourself whether that's playing the game hanging with your girlfriend anything but you definitely didn't make time for yourself and for me now I already graduated I'm not seeking a degree right now so I got nothing but time now when you get to word de Glory you graduate you don't have to spend any energy on study i w I don't know I was almost ineligible but I got it back up yeah but uh for for that for for you how cool is it to see theame see it's great man I got I got three nephews and they love me to death and I love them to death and just to see their face like when they see me on TV or playing the game is like one of the best building mention your cousin play Clon is he a little jealous that you're in the game I don't know I ain't talk to him maybe I need to talk I'm going see him this weekend I'm mention it to him we're working on a national player soon so you mentioned KC obviously but outside of players on your own team who's the ACC offensive player you respect what do want have om Maran yeah I talked to him a couple times he's one of the most quiet guys in the world but he's all about his business so yall like Mar who got on the defensive side somebody not on your team I don't know if bro name I like zero from Clemson okay yeah he can he's a dog he can play yeah what about anybody in the whole country any player you can take and put on can do what you could put any player in the whole country on NC State's roster who would that be maybe somebody you play with in the game no one I keep it how we got it right now yeah just going back to Maran a little bit though so I'm a student at UNC try and chatting with him he's very quiet like you mentioned what have been like some of the conversations that you guys have had like uh just the kind of things he work on or what he see and all that kind of stuff but like I said he he he rarely talks and I like that about him though cuz he's all about his business and he go out there he B every week you guys like compare notes like tricks tips n not like that not that close but maybe one day we'll get there but not right now he's a dog though I like Maran sorry how how much have you thought about the 12 team playoff and and the fact you don't have to get to the top four you can still get in that oh we talk about that every week and being 1 to 12 and it's the road to the playoffs is is is bright for us and I think we could get there when you talk about 1 to 12 Deon said one of 11 um is that on on some sayings or or hanging up in the locker room does that come so we all know what the playoffs like and we all want to get to the playoffs and I think we can and we will so you just want to be one of those teams up there what would it be like have you have you given yourself the thought of Carter Finley hosting a first round playoff game that would be great that would be great you think they Rock now it would be crazy man that would be great Jordan three of your best games last year Clemson and then against NC State and then against UNC all three rivalry games big games for yall what about you about your approach to those huge games helped you show up in a big I think I approach every game the same but I I had a great coaching St that dude that prepared me uh with the fil with my notes and just attacking every game the same talking about this run game from the last few years I mean how much do you I guess you weren't part of NC State for the last several years but how much do you kind of take it upon yourself to you know improve this run game from where it's been and make that you know another strength of this offense yeah I I mean I was in the AC SE so I seen what was going on but knowing that I could come in and contribute and help this this offense win and run the ball which is I feel like if you can run the ball you can do anything it plays a big factor but we also got guys like Ken Rafael and D Smothers as willing to step up and run the ball too at this point you're very familiar with the ACC um how would you describe ACC some dogs like I even like we talking about the running backs I don't think we get a recognition we deserve and everybody think if you can play SEC you can do anything but I think if you can come in ACC and play ball you can do anything we got some real dogs out there the only time you've gotten to play inside Carter Finley so far has been what back in 20 yeah 2021 and then during the spring game so you know what are you expecting from that environment when you get there oh every so our weit room faces outside and every doubt is go out there and St at and I co Thunder walked up to like yeah it's going to be rocking this year and I think it hold like 60,000 they said it it Rock I'm ready to see it I can't wait what do you what impresses you about concepion you know not just when you played against him but now that you know you've seen him close day in and day out the way he practic he practic that's how he plays like he catch a little hitch and he's running for a touchdown he does that in the game but the way he practice obviously you've seen the call now kind of up close day in and day out you feel like he's ready to make that jump from the from the uh belt to the ACC oh yeah he got it he came in with it and he's working on his craft and I think he's going to be great Jordan you making the transition into State you're entering more one of the unique rivales Clon you've also played them last year sort of what was that game like and what are you excited about just joining this new rival playing with wolf pack it was great not only for me but for like the Duke Family and the Duke fans and stay in that Stadium packed out blue it was it was a great time and and then to get the win it was even better experience Jordan they talked about building that block room and everything here what made it seem like n was were you uh their motto is hard tough together uh and I feel like I fit right in and the way I play and the way I run the ball who a Defender that you love going up against right now yeah the best kayen for I he Kaden's going to be a dog and he plays hard he's running around and having fun and I like kayen Jordan you ran all over uh in state last year that was a low moment for them have you had to answer for that at all in the locker room N I think everybody respect it and they know it's all big and I own love so what's it like being you know it's hard to be a transfer but there's a lot of transfers this year including the quarterback two of you guys are here is that made it easier oh it made a whole lot easier uh soon as I come in Grayson uh welcome me uh Justin Jolie and we all tight and we go out to eat together all the time and after practice we go get breakfast together so it's been good what do you think of uh Grayson's hair the mullet oh he got to keep it when he come in I was telling him I didn't know who Grace maau was with that buzz cut yeah he need to keep that what do uh that September schedule you guys got Tennessee and Clemson uh you know what's your impression of that and and you know how much defly mean you guys need to kind of H the ground running and and uh with those two I just another game uh we got Western Carolina first so we got to get through down then to Tennessee and just keep preparing like we do every week the defense is what NC State's known for but are we allowed to say the offense could be the strength of this team most definitely DAV might not like that but we can say that yeah what why why do you think it will be the strength oh a lot of Playmakers everywhere tight end receiver running back Old Line great so there's a lot of dogs out there you mentioned the old line what are your impressions of that I like them uh we got Tim M I don't want to mention Tim cuz me and Tim got his little thing when we go back I'll be talking jump to him but no we got Tim uh Z all those guys and they work hard and I never seen a group of guys that can move and the way they run and and uh agility station they killing there they're not tired there that finish it's crazy I'm excited I know Justin said that one of the big things he wanted to improve on the season was his blocking how much you know big how much bigger would it be to have a guy that's that's able to block on the outside and open that edge for you me and jie go go uh out to eat like every week uh and we eat I'm like bro you need like two burritos I need you like 250 to block when I run counter it's a joke but he he can eat but he's a dog man and he's going to be great and he's definitely working on blocking it his craft and perfecting it have you seen enough yet to got a sense of whether this team can be as good as it was last year oh definitely uh you seen it in on the spring and the way we were playing and running around playing fast and now we B in even more people and it's going to be even more fun how was the jelling process with those new people say it again how was the jelling process with those new oh great uh I did the same thing they did to me and I came in nobody had a big ego they welcomed me and I did the same thing for the new guys thank you thank y'all what made you decide look's look you know let's let's go to NC State as the next stot uh it had a a lot to play with my coach leaving and going down the road and for me I I wasn't ready to leave my family and friends down here in North Carolina and I knew I could stay here and go to a program that's that I fit right into to so it was it wasn't that hard to decision you mentioned a few of the guys in that running back room what are the different skill sets that these guy brings to the field too uh first you got me my old self that's known for being fi schol and and and running hard then you got Kendrick and dalen that's fast as I don't know what can catch the ball they can go out and line up at receiver and do everything so there's a lot of different traits all right ly B stures here from from straight up Sports how you doing I'm doing good how are you doing I'm good good um as a transfer from duke what are your expectations for this season if any for me I want to be a great teammate be known as a great teammate but for this team uh we got some big goals and we want to be 1 to 12 go to the playoffs and make a run and go win that ntional Championship also um last year having finished with 23 rushing touchdowns what is your goal for this year uh my goal just be better than I was last year yeah yeah that's it yeah all right thank you very much thank you last thing for you I know we've talked a lot about you know the leadup to the season and things along those lines this team started off four and three last season how much is a fast start like critical for what you guys are trying to do not only because of the fact that you know you just need to start off right but also the fact that you have two really important games here I know cuz then you there's two sides of like you have we started off fast then you got State who didn't start out fast but they finish strong so I personally I feel like it's all about how you finish and they did a great job with that they after we beat them they went on to win like win have nine games yeah that's all about how you finish though yeah yeah and working in Robert and I system how much different has that been compared to what you've done in the past two oh there's a lot different man um going out lining up that receiver in the slide and doing a lot of things that it's fun it's just fun to be in yeah and I know we talked about the weapons and things along those lines how much have you seen Justin Jolie kind of be utilized in a million different ways in this offense too oh he's he's running he's blocking he's catching the ball and he's very versatile fun to watch real physical guy and like I said he's he's so young and that's what's amazing me man and he going to be great perfect yes sir I appreciate you thank you