CJ Bailey handles adversity, returns to NC State's starting spotlight

CJ Bailey officially burned his redshirt when he ran onto the field just a few drives into NC State’s Oct. 5 matchup with Wake Forest. For the third time this season, he took over quarterback duties in the middle of a matchup.

The true freshman played 6 snaps against Tennessee in the waning moments of that game. Then, he filled in for an injured Grayson McCall against Louisiana Tech. NC State trailed by 11 at halftime of that game. He led the Wolfpack to a win. 

“I had to play for Grayson and the team,” Bailey said after that contest

Clemson’s sold out Death Valley environment created a raucous atmosphere for his first career start. After helping NC State win its third game of the year back at home against Northern Illinois the following week, Bailey took on the backup role once again as McCall returned to the lineup. 

NC State’s graduate transfer started the Wake Forest game with 3 completions for 42 yards on the opening possession. McCall strained to pick up a first down on a scramble and took a huge hit that concussed the quarterback— an emotional moment at Carter-Finley Stadium that Dave Doeren described as the scariest of his coaching career. 

Bailey was under center once again with limited practice reps to lean on. He recorded season highs in passing yards, touchdowns and completions in a heartbreaking loss to Wake Forest. The freshman threw the game-sealing interception, but he also put the program in position to win. 

“I was proud of him,” Doeren said Saturday afternoon. 

McCall was released from the hospital Saturday evening and remains in concussion protocol. He’s in “good spirits,” Doeren shared Monday. 

For now, Bailey will return to the starting spotlight, looking to help NC State improve on its 3-3 start to 2024. The Pack did not plan on the freshman starting any games this year, but he will hold that responsibility while McCall recovers. Doeren did not rule out a future return from the graduate. 

The Wolfpack has asked a lot out of Bailey over the past month. He’s not immune to freshman mistakes, throwing 3 interceptions so far this year, but the first year quarterback has been up to the challenge of his new role. 

“He has handled adversity very well,” Doeren said. “He’s got great energy and enthusiasm and belief in himself. He gets better with each game. You can see him improving.”

Bailey brings the energy. He was smiling in the halftime locker room against Louisiana Tech, and that same smile remained on his face as he tried to will the team to a win over Wake Forest

“He loves football,” Doeren said. “He just really enjoys the process of going through the game plan and practice, and he’s not an excuse guy either. When he makes a mistake, he’s the first one to own it. I just think he’s a guy people want to play for,  and he’s also a great teammate. He hurts for Grayson.”

Through 5 appearances and 2 starts, Bailey has thrown for 741 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, completing 65.4 percent of his passes and adding 2 more scores and 42 yards on the ground. 

He throws the ball with the zip necessary to fit the ball into tight windows. The freshman is quick, elusive and has forced 12 missed tackles— the second-most of any rusher on the Wolfpack roster. 

And when things go poorly, like when he threw an interception on his third career passing attempt, the quarterback is able to move on quickly. 

“I’ll be honest, I had the nervous jitters in my body,” Bailey said after the Louisiana Tech win. “After that bad mistake I made, I just said, ‘Let’s play ball, just go play ball.’ Do what you were taught for all of this time you’ve been playing football, just go play ball in that second half, and that’s what I did.”

Bailey will face another test Oct. 12 against Syracuse. The Orange mixes up defensive fronts and will throw multiple looks at the freshman signal-caller. Clemson did the same thing, Doeren said. 

“CJ has already seen a lot, and he’s got a veteran center with him,” the head coach said. “And we’ll have to make a plan, obviously one that he feels good about, and that’s our job as coaches to help him with that.”

The freshman threw for 272 yards on 28 completions against Wake Forest. It was also his first time throwing multiple passing touchdowns in a game. 

He evaded defenders on his first scoring pass to extend the play and find a wide open Keenan Jackson 9 yards away in the end zone. With 13:08 to go in the contest, he threaded the ball between two defenders and connected with Justin Joly for a 20-yard touchdown. 

“CJ, his arm is ridiculous in my opinion,” linebacker Caden Fordham said earlier this fall. 

NC State clearly has a lot of faith in the quarterback moving forward. The freshman stressed after the game that the Wolfpack still has goals to meet, and Bailey will likely be the one to lead them there.