ACC Football Kick Off 2024: NC State's Dave Doeren, Grayson McCall, Davin Vann and Jordan Waters

we welcome you inside the Hilton here in uptown Charlotte the third floor of the main Ballroom here day four of the 2024 ACC football kickoff the wolf pack of NC State have joined us for our 30 minutes we will spend 15 minutes with our head coach Dave Doran we will ask those folks that please raise your hand we'll get a microphone your way introduce or reintroduce yourselves please to our coach and our student athletes especially for those who are watching at home and we will start coach with our first question it'll be to your right in the third row how you doing coach Doran good good you know coach it's very cloudy here in Charlotte but State's future seems bright this season and one of the big reasons for that is it seems like you guys have been super active in the transfer portal you got two offensively skilled guys over there from the portal Chaz Wallace from Colorado a couple of defensive guys from the Big 10 in SEC my question to you is how much of a role has the transort portal played for you and your program you I think year to year um for us it's just another method of adding Talent uh adding the key ingredients to the roster and and it's all based on need and where you may have a void you know in the past um pre- portal you would look into the junior college areas uh and sometimes find a transfer that was a grb uh to fill a spot where maybe you had an injury or a player left early to go to the NFL well obviously as you guys know now there's outflow and inflow coming in at different times uh differently than there ever has been and so for us it's assessing your roster it's never ending it changes weekly on kind of where you're at um based on the health of what's going on who's coming back where you think you need to be better and just getting into to last season and how all this stuff came together I mean we've uh revamped our recruiting office two years ago and and once this stuff started felt like we were chasing our taals a little bit and so really came up with a plan um really based on NFL model on how they assess uh how they evaluate once players are deemed players they would want on their rosters how do they go about the process and and then integrating that into our program um have a great recruiting staff and so it was regionally based and you know you look at Jordan and Grayson two guys that chose to move on from their schools they were guys that are instate players to us and guys that I knew would have personal value and staying home and doing something with a team that has the largest alumni base in the state and sometimes things just kind of Click you know and and there was a bunch of guys in this cycle that wanted to come back to the state Noah Rogers dal's mothers uh several guys you know that were from Raleigh or from North Carolina that left and wanted to return back closer to their families and be a part of our program and we were just able to get the right type of guys and that's the biggest thing you know when you want Talent that's one thing um being here 12 years now I'm not going to take a risk on the culture with that Talent you know you have to find guys that fit what we're all about and it's earned not given it's guys that that want to work and that enjoy the Brotherhood of the game that are willing to sacrifice um for the cause and and that's really you know we were blessed this year we had a bunch of really good players that fit the uh kind of the design of what we were doing uh that fit returning players as well you know guys like Davin that have helped build this program we don't want to sacrifice all the hard work of the players that have been here for a guy that's just coming in for a year they needed to understand that they were joining something and and in that helping them continue to grow what we do and increase what we're doing and and so we're very pleased know obviously two of the guys are here but the team's you know pretty mixed if you look at that recruiting class there's still a great emphasis in high school recruiting as well coach follow the center aisle up to the left gentleman in the white shirt coach these last couple years your team has talked about wanting to be different doing things that take this program to the next level what have you seen from your guys this year in 24 that might prove that they are different well we're about to hit the grass on on Wednesday and so you know I think every day we're out there it's it's a measuring stick it is and you we're one of five programs um over the last four years that have won eight or more games in college football and so we've sustained a level of competitive greatness that not many people have been able to do um with that being said we want to win a championship and so different is that you know it's taken the program from the second most win since 2020 to winning the league and that is different and so you know what we did last year and the year before and year before was good you know when a nine games is good uh we don't want to be good we want to be the best at what we do and so these guys understand that we've talked a lot about what it looks like um to be the best and and how do we do that and using the voice of the players to describe that and then what does it not look like what do we need to stay away from what do we need to safeguard our program from and so you know there's been a lot of discussion there's there's obviously been a lot of hard work by these guys and our staff as we evaluate our schemes um to utilize the roster talent and to utilize the coaching talent that we have and to be integrated together in that and so each day it's it's really a challenge you know you go out there day by day just trying to be better than you were you know a year ago Wednesday when we started Camp that's a measuring stick to where we're going to be when we start camp on this Wednesday and it's everything you know it's how the grades come in from the summer it's what Thunder says about the summer workouts it's what Justin Smith says about the guys in the training room uh it's when I go down to the nutrition area and ask how the guys are doing all the comments add up you know and so you're always looking for signs of improvement and signs where hey we need to call this up we need to talk about this we're better than this and just holding each other accountable to what we want we want to be elite and and that means everything that we do can't cut Corners you know it's got to be something that we push forward together again let's follow the center aisle up this time to the right gentleman in the green Cory Smith with pack Pride Dave you know the last few years the running game hasn't quite been there for this offense but you get a guy like Jordan Waters out of the portal you know how much better does that make this run game and and do you feel like that's more of a bcal back type of guy for this offense too yeah Jordan's going to help us in the Run game for sure I think you know the whole offense um in general it always starts with what is the quarterback going to do right and and we feel great about what Grayson can do um and then the offensive line the blocking schemes that those guys are good at and the depth that you have there how the tight end plays into that run game and then the receivers the blocking on the perimeter is critical you know it is and so there's no doubt being balanced on offense um is something that you know I like at the same time we're going to play to our strengths and to answer that question today you know we need to get on the grass we need to go through training camp we need to see where we're at feel good about not just Jordan but the running back room in general uh it's a good room uh there's great leadership uh but there's good depth and there's competition and the guys are working hard and Jordan's done a really nice job showing them what it looks like you know coming back from the season he had last year and and you have young guys below them and that's part of your job as an older player is this is what it looks like this is what it doesn't look like and holding those guys to a standard and as we get into this I know coach and I and and the staff on offense offensive football has changed a lot you guys know that with the rule changes and football with the the lineman downfield and rpos and the tempo and and now you have another change you know you have sideline communication which allows our coaches to speak to these guys in the huddle on the field and so you're going to see another evolution in how that plays into offensive football uh this fall which really hasn't been talked about a lot but you know I'm excited to see how that does things for us and how we can take advantage of what those rules bring and you know I think for Grayson and for any quarterback he would tell you having a run game helps it changes the coverage as you're throwing the ball against it does and if they're worried about what's going on with those handoffs and and the pressure we can put put on people not just at the runs but the rpos behind them it opens up a lot of things and when you're talking about getting one-on-one coverage with the receivers that we now have obviously KC coming back but way darari Collins came on in the spring the way that you know we've seen Wesley Grimes and Noah Rogers um come in also from the transfer portal the the weapons are different for him out there and so it really plays into the entire thing and not that you just call plays where you're taking what they give but sometimes s you are you know and when you can spread the ball around to different people it just opens up things and creates a different pressure system on the defensive coordinator and that's one of the things that I really like about football you know it's just trying to create chaos uh on the other side of the football you know if you're on offense if you're on defense whatever that is let's make their jobs really hard coach right side front row right in front of you coach Dan toror dt.com how are you good bud looking at the fact that like you said you've spent a lot of time within the ACC you've seen change you've seen new institutions come in nowu Cal Stanford we see accomplished greatness but when you look at this conference throughout how would you define it and who's coming in and what this looks like as you step forward as a coach one of the longest tenured coaches in the conference you know I think maximizing the gift that God gave you um to me uh one of the tenants one of the standards of our program is is no underachievement allowed you know and I think that's just maximizing the opportunity you have as a person accomplishing greatness is that you know when you go to bed and lay your head down at night did you do everything you could that day to be the best version of yourself and if I get enough players and coaches to do that on a daily basis compared to those we compete against the score ends up being the consequence of those actions and you know what is greatness look like for NC State obviously we want to hold that Trophy up at the end of the year okay and there's a lot of ways to Define it but day in and day out it's about maximizing the gift you know I think we're all you know you you expect to wake up every day you expect for things to be a certain way and we all know that's not reality you know every day we get is a blessing and so taking advantage of that blessing it's something that you know the older I get um the more that I value I do and really the relationships and the Gratitude I have for the staff that I get to work with for the players that I get a coach I mean I got a great job I got great guys to work with and I'm thankful for that you know I'm thankful that these guys are here I'm thankful that they're getting ready to go to work and the and the work they put in this summer and they know it's going to be hard and I look forward to that with them you know when you talk about accomplishing greatness I don't think it's just something you can Define in one sentence I mean it's football seasons are crazy I mean the emotional swings that take place dayto day minute to minute the amount of things that happen over the course of the year and how fast it goes within that million things that goes on um it's going to be a fun Journey with these guys and so just you know really thankful um for the opportunity to do this with them and looking forward to where it goes coach thank you you referenced these guys let's go ahead and start meeting these guys you can trade places with Grayson Grayson if you would please come up folks once again if you would please introduce reintroduce yourselves in the medi that you were with that would be great looking for the first hand that goes up Grayson we're going to come back to the gentleman in the white shirt just up the center aisle and to the left Grayson Boon locked on Wolf Pack Grayson talk about what it's like being in a new program your last year of college football eligibility and you're being tasked as a leader what does that mean to you yeah it's uh it's refreshing to be in a new spot um an unbelievable opportunity for me to to put on the red and black and uh represent NC State so um first of all you know just extremely excited um for the opportunity that that that coach doran's given me and um as an older guy I know that's um you know that's my responsibility especially as the quarterback is to lead the guys um set the example com in every day and show them how it's done and um the transition was really smooth and those guys kind of showed me how we do it in Raleigh um and now that I know the standard and know what we do now it's my expectation and my job my responsibility to come in every day and um lead the guys um and that starts you know obviously with my actions and then um being more vocal on the field and just leading those guys in the right direction every day Grayson again up the center aisle back to the right Cory Smith with pack Pride Grayson I wanted to ask you about the inh helmet communication and and that being a part of this as well how much have you guys prepared for that ahead of fall camp and or how much is that kind of an emphasis heading into fall Camp as well yeah it was something that uh we implemented in the spring um we're able to get that going and um something that's great I think it's um you know it's it's about time that that college football did that I think um obviously as a quarterback it makes my job a lot easier I know um for play callers and things like that it kind of simplifies it for us um but you know it was awesome um I mean you have hiccups with with the mics and things like that on a day-to-day basis but um I mean just like anything the more you use it the better you'll get with it um but yeah it's been great um it was awesome to to do it for the first time and um like I said kind of simplifies things for me and we're able to communicate quicker and better so um yeah it was awesome looking forward to to using it in the fall gron we're going to stay on that road just a couple of slots over to your right Co be roer technician Grayson I was curious if there was like a moment or conversation with our player coach that really convinced you that state was a place for you to be in your last year yeah um you know just just on my visit walking into the place I mean just kind of overwhelmed with with the facilities and then um as I as I get there and able to talk to coach Dorne coach Roper coach andai and then meet some of the guys it's it's um it's unbelievable place to be the the culture is extremely strong um uh coach doran's been there for obviously over 10 years and the standard that he's he's set in place and um the play style that that the football team has weekend and week out the the toughness and the grit um the blue collar mentality kind of the chip on on their shoulder that's you know that's been me that's that's been me my whole career so um I think it's a perfect fit it's a it's a perfect mold for for me to go in there and get the job done but um it's been awesome unbelievable transition just really grateful for the opportunity to to be the quarterback at NC State Grayson now we're going to go right in front of him next gentleman up Tyler budge CF budge Grayson I see the hair starting to come back will the mullet be back in full force this season it's coming baby it's coming um the uh I I showed up to Raleigh with the with a buzz cut and the guys were wondering what was going on so I got a lot of mullet requests and bringing it back for the guys so ready to let this thing go and sort of as a followup when you committed to coasta Carolina back in 2018 they were just in their second year as an FBS program now this year you're going to be the starter in a power Conference team can you describe what that Journey has been like going from Coastal to now yeah um God works mysterious ways God's so good and uh you know kind of surreal for me to be here at ACC media day going into year six um as the quarterback at NC State so um it's been an unbelievable Journey uh a lot of UPS few Downs um but I wouldn't trade it for the world I'm so excited um for this this upcoming year and just so grateful uh every day I walk in the building with a smile on my face because I truly am grateful to to be in Raleigh and to be with the guys so um obviously wouldn't trade my time at Coastal Carolina for anything it kind of you know made me who I am and um you know love that place but you know looking forward and really excited to be in Raleigh to play for NY State Grayson your last question will come from right up there in front in front of you to your righton Dan tortoro wake up called dt.com you went into it a little bit of your relationship with coach and why that spoke to you but you said being around the guys like something just sold you on the wolf pack to know that there's one more ride one more opportunity this season for you what is it about the culture and the environment of this team that you felt like had to be a place for you to spend that last year you know the best football teams I've been on are player-led teams and and you you get that Vibe right when you walk into the building you have guys like Davin van and and players that have been there a long time that um have put in the work and kind of set the standard and and continue to build on it year in year out and um you know sitting down talking to the guys I mean it it really I know everybody says it but like it truly is like a family identity in that building like the guys love each other and it's a special place to be like coach said like he's around great staff great players like he loves doing what he do and like I'm the same exact way you walk in that building and like it it it's a good time to be there like it's exciting um to be in there with the guys and I mean when whenever I walked in and walked out on my visit I knew that was the place for me and um you know a lot of Buzz and Raleigh right now with um you know obviously the the men's and women's basketball team and and baseball so um a lot of energy a lot of support from from the fan and the fans in the community and um ready to get this thing rolling take this momentum and and keep it going so thank you Grayson thank you we can switch places with Davin and we'll have Mr van come up spend a little bit of time with us once again folks please introduce yourselves in the outlet that you are with we will look for hands in the air who would like the first question we're going to take to the right side gentlemen with the glasses about fourth row near the camera hey Dev Brian per with Pat pry I just want to ask you about uh how this stepping up as a defensive leader this year his second year in the number one Jersey I mean a big name to a lot of NC State fans pton Wilson off the NFL now how much are you specifically looking forward to stepping up as a leader on the defensive side of the ball I'm looking forward to a lot um you know I had some great guys in front of me coming up uh Drake Payton Z all those guys so they've taught me a lot in my four years that I've been here so I'm really looking forward to it and I'm excited to you know take charge and be the leader of the defense DAV a followup to that from the podium uh you were awarded the number one Jersey coach Doran said because you play with one speed what speed is that uh 100% uh 100% of the time you know uh that's something coach uh Thunder has helped install instill in me and Coach Gibby too um just playing 100% giving it all you got every time you go out there so that's my one speed next question right side third row right in the middle hey Scout Hughes from wbf you guys only leave the state uh three times to play at Clemson California and then Georgia Tech how important is that to play most of your games within the state of North Carolina this season oh you know that's real important um we have a great fan base um you know Wolfpack Nation helps us a lot uh in games you know they they bring the energy and stuff like that so I think that playing most of our games in state is a really good opportunity for us um and we're going to enjoy every moment of it DAV from the podium you were a u wrestler in high school heavyweight division how does your wrestling background help you in football uh it helps me a lot um wrestling has taught me a lot about you know self-discipline um body leverage body control things like that um so it's helped take my game to a NE the next level you know originally I didn't really want to wrestle but my mom kind of forced me to so I'm I'm appreciative of that um but yeah it's helped me a lot for sure front row right in front of you to your right dan t Tor wakeup call dt.com the the video that decision for you to come back just that moment going through that whole process bring me into that and how much fun that was to do with your family and also the why of doing that cuz when we hear from NC State there's something about when you're there you stay and coach was talking about you know that nucleus that culture so why did you decide to do it one more time um you know there was a lot of things that I wanted to work on personally um and Coach dor has helped me a lot with those things uh mentally emotionally and physically as well but it was more of the mental and emotional part that was really one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to stay and I also felt like there was a lot of unfinished business that I I had to you know wrap up before I left so those were kind of the biggest factors in why I stayed diving back towards that Center camera gentleman with a green shirt Cory Smith from pack Pride there's been a lot of talk this offseason about the revamped offense and and how good this offense is going to be you know on the defensive side of the football are you guys taking that a little bit personally is you know maybe the side of the ball that's getting a little bit overlooked this offseason uh of course we take it a little bit personally but I mean it's understandable I mean a lot of people like uh think that because we lost Payton we lost our whole defense but that's definitely not the case um you know the transfer portal has help played a really big role in that uh we got some some dogs are ready to go out there and go play so our defense is going to be real good Davin your last question from the podium you spoke about family you've got your younger brother on campus red chur freshman Ryland uh do you give him his space do you guys hang out a whole lot does he have his own identity describe that relationship uh yeah we see each other every day I mean of course in the weight room and stuff but we love hanging out outside of football um you know having my little brother at NC State with me kind of takes the Brotherhood aspect of football to a whole new level so I really enjoy being you know a part of his college football journey and I really enjoy him being part of mine so Dam thank you you can switch places with Jordan and we'll finish up our time with the wolf pack with Jordan Waters Jordan as you get set your first question will come to your left second row May damont the Players Lounge how are you today Jordan I'm good how about you I'm doing well thank you so you transferred in from du can you share a little bit about your transition into the wolf pack uh that transition was great uh everybody welcomed me with open arms there was no ego uh everybody know what we came to do and nobody felt any type of way and uh everybody's great man I love to be here I'm excited I'm happy and I'm blessed Jordan a followup to that from the podium you were with one family for so long how have you approached being the new guy in the new family uh just the same way I did that one like I said everybody open U welcome with me open arms uh there's great coaches great staff no one treated me differently cuz I come down the road uh coach D welcom me we went fishing a couple times and I beat him in fishing so it's been fun kind of uh Jordan to your right third row how you doing Jordan T TJ Wilkerson from 90.9 the light my question for you is coming into this program and working with guys like Robert andai the offensive coordinator um what has that been like for you especially from a guy that's been at so many other stats oh it's been fun uh when I first got here we went in and he showed me all the F of him lining running backs up at and Slot the wi out and I feel like I fit right in I feel like I can play all three Downs uh catch the ball anything and I feel like I can fit right in first row Jordan right in front of you to the right Dan toror wakeup called dt.com Jordan for you there's a history at NC State of some strong running backs and what does that mean to be able to carry that you have one more season one more go at it how would you like to be remembered in that long line of reputable running backs uh I got one more year and I just want to be remembered as a as a great teammate uh I do want to go come in here play some good ball uh ver for a lot of yards but just to come in and be a good person and be the best team I could and remember be remember as a great person Jordan we'll go back to the right side third row with TJ so Jordan in high school you played running back wide receiver and quarterback is that correct correct what is it about the running back position that you love so much compared to the other two uh it's easy for me to get the ball all you got to do is turn around hand it off to him but it's it's fun like I came in as a safety and I that wasn't for me I R I went to running back and all I got to do is get go out there and run and not get hit or try not to get hit so like back your football anything else for Jordan at the podium seeing none Jordan good luck Wolfpack thank you very much folks du up in the room at 11:00 is Syracuse we'll see you then