Cory Durden locked-in on winning ahead of matchup with former team
Cory Durden is extremely familiar with Florida State. He has a degree from the university, grew up considering the program his dream school and, after finishing up a successful high school career in Florida, the defensive lineman signed with the Seminoles and spent four seasons there before transferring to NC State last year.
In his first season in Raleigh, he put together an All-ACC year at nose tackle and helped stifle the Florida State offense in a 28-14 win. He is preparing for his second matchup with the Seminoles since transferring, but he continues to be entirely focused on improving alongside his Wolfpack teammates.
“It’s kind of just a normal game this year,” Cory Durden said. “No personal vendetta or anything, I feel like I got that out of the way last year, just really focusing on winning football games.”
The defensive lineman has recorded 8 total tackles through the first 5 games of the season. After falling to Clemson 30-20 in Death Valley last weekend, he said the team has not changed its goals for the season at all.
“In our head, our goal is not gone,” Durden said. “We’re still fighting for the same goal that we opened the year with.”
Durden, like the rest of the Wolfpack, did not spend much time stewing over the loss to the Tigers. This is his sixth year playing college football, so he knows you can not get too hung up on any one game.
He gave himself 24 hours, and then the lineman moved on.
“That’s really just the biggest thing about college football,” Durden said. “You can’t dwell on the win or the loss. You’ve got that Sunday, and you’ve got to get over it.”
The lineman’s teammates elected him as one of the Pack’s captains this fall, and he has been one of the program’s vocal leaders, which did not change this week. Durden said the captains are very involved and are helping the team improve in practice.
“That’s really what cost us Saturday,” Durden. “[It] was just our practice habits.”
NC State’s response to the week-six setback starts with this Saturday’s primetime showdown with the Seminoles. This will be the first time the Pack has faced FSU signal caller Jordan Travis.
The quarterback and Durden are friends from their time in Tallahassee, and he recently reached out to him after Travis left the game injured against Louisville. The lineman complemented Travis’ skill set.
“He’s a tremendous quarterback, tremendous player,” Durden said. “He’s actually one of my boys, so I’m excited to play against him. I feel like he’s definitely an NFL-caliber quarterback. He makes their offense go.
“He’s explosive like a receiver, but he’s at quarterback. You don’t see many people like that.”
The lineman recognizes the opportunity in front of the program this weekend, and the Pack remains locked-in in preparation for the matchup.
“It’ll be a good game, a good test for our team,” Durden said. “It’ll be a great environment. Sold out, 8 o’clock game, and there’s nothing like playing in the Carter in front of all our fans.”
