Dave Doeren post-practice Q&A after first workout in full pads

Thursday marked the first day in full pads for NC State football in preparation for the 2022 season. The opener is 23 days away, and for the first time since the start of practices last week head coach Dave Doeren met with the media to provide an update.

Here are highlights from that Q&A with Dave Doeren:

NC State football coach Dave Doeren Q&A

On why Savion Jackson received No. 9 jersey number:

Doeren: “The consistency over time. … Bradley [Chubb] had a really solid sophomore year. One that kind of gave us the belief in him. I see that in Savion. Now he still, just like Bradley, Bradley took it to another level, Savion still needs to do that.

“But we see it in him, and it’s just consistent behavior over a long period of time. As a coach that builds trust. With him, you can see he’s put on good weight. He’s moving well. He’s been out there every day working hard.

“It’s our way not to just honor those guys that wore No. 9 but to get a player to understand that we have confidence in them.”

Was it required that Jackson talk with Chubb:

Doeren: “Yeah, it is. I want to make sure those guys understand why we’re doing it. Bradley had to do the same thing. He called Mario [Williams]. Mario talked to him.

“It’s a responsibility. It’s one that is a legacy.”

On the walk-on program at NC State:

Doeren: “We’ve been trying since I’ve been here to build our walk-on program, and we have. We’re fortunate to be in a state that has so many kids that want to come to our school and be able to have the roster size we do … We’ve been able to grow our roster over time.

“There are kids we are turning away. It’s a great position to be in. Kids turning down smaller level scholarships at time to walk on here to play. It’s a school that want to play at, and play at the highest level, and see if they’re good enough.

“It helps you so much. Sometimes it’s not just on the scout team. Sometimes it’s a guy, a Thayer Thomas comes along or Brady Bodine a couple of years ago that earns a scholarship and becomes one of our better playmakers on our team.

On redshirt freshman receiver Julian Gray’s progress:

Dave Doeren: “More confident. He’s making catches. He’s more consistent, fewer mistakes. He’s been fast since the moment he was on campus, but now he knows where to go and how to use his speed.”

On under-the-radar players standing out:

Doeren: “[Receiver] Darryl Jones would be one just because he was out for most of the spring with a hamstring. Being able to watch him now for seven practices and see his growth, he’s what we thought he was going to be, but we didn’t know because he was hurt all spring. His name comes to mind.

“Defensively Jaylon Scott and Devon Betty are two linebackers that got a lot of reps last year because of injuries. Those guys are moving well. They are making a lot of plays in practice.”

On preserving practice reps for experienced players during camp:

Doeren: “I think each position group has a different room of guys. The running backs room going to practice differently, have more reps probably, than the linebackers room right now because we got three starters back at linebacker and no starter back at running back.

“Each coach has to manage his room. We do know how many snaps these guys have had in games. Really the magic of it is how much do they need to play as good as they can in 23 days? We don’t have to give them everything, but we do need to give them enough. That’s kind of where we have to discuss those reps everyday.”

On the difference on defense when safety Tanner Ingle is on the field:

Doeren: “Tanner is different. He triggers differently than a lot of people in the back end. He sees things. His vision, his ability to diagnose plays and react is unique. Having him out there, especially in the run game, makes a big difference, because he can go from 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage to the ball in a hurry.

“Even though he is in a pass coverage position at times, and we are not counting on him, he can go up and be an extra hat.”

On players who heard all offseason questions about their position:

Doeren: “Anthony Belton, for example, is a guy that all offseason heard about what’s gone instead of what’s coming back. For him, he’s got to prove that. He knows that he has an opportunity because naturally you are going to wonder who our next left tackle is. It’s an opportunity for him to be in that spotlight and be good enough.”

Is running back Jordan Houston similar?

“A little different with him because he played so much a couple of years ago, but yeah last year he was kind of the forgotten man, I think you would say, and he was a great role player on special teams and now it’s his turn.”

On all-access crew being at camp:

“It’s been great. They are professional. They respect what we’re doing. They allow us to have our say in what’s going on film. Even though they’re here, they’re very good at not seeing them very much. They kind of understand how to hide.

“It’s been awesome. I think it’s going to be good insight and opportunity to meet people on the team, our players, our staff, our coaches. Hopefully learn a lot about what really happens inside the building.”