NC State QB CJ Bailey ready to take next step as a leader this spring, moving forward

There was never a moment where NC State sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey thought he was going to leave after a standout freshman campaign. It was a simple choice, one he didn’t even have to entertain despite those on the outside that might have been interested if he went into the transfer portal. 

His mind was made up. Bailey wanted to be the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback in 2025. 

“I wanted to come back to State,” Bailey said after NC State’s first spring practice session Tuesday. “I wanted to be with Coach [Dave] Doeren and Coach [Kurt] Roper. This is an amazing coaching staff and team, but I already had my mind made up.”

That settled that. 

Bailey, who made nine starts during his first year of college football as Grayson McCall dealt with a pair of head injuries in the 2024 campaign, entered this spring practice slate with a different mindset from what he had a year ago. 

In 2024, the 15 practices were meant to be a way for Bailey to get acclimated to the college game. He weighed around 170 pounds and was eager to learn under McCall. Now, however, Bailey is 210 pounds and he knows what it takes to play in the ACC. 

So where did Bailey want to improve the most this offseason? Becoming more of a vocal leader. 

Dave Doeren, who is entering his 13th season leading the Wolfpack, likes to have a quarterback that can command the room. He believed it was unfair to put a freshman who was tossed into the starting lineup because of injury to have all of that responsibility right away. 

But that’s different going into Bailey’s sophomore season. He doesn’t need to have that pressure taken off his shoulders to remain above water. Instead, the program’s freshman record-holder for completion percentage (64.9) is prepared to take that next step in taking charge of the entire team — not just the offense. 

“He’s learned how to lead, that’s been a big thing in the offseason with him and I: using his voice,” Doeren said. “He’s always used it on the field, but is learning how to use it off the field — not just with guys you throw the ball to or lineman that block — with the whole team as the alpha leader, which your quarterback needs to be.”

Bailey noted that was the biggest thing he learned from his freshman year, which featured 2,413 passing yards, 22 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his 11 total meaningful appearances.

“I started to use my voice more, break out and be that leader,” Bailey said. “That’s what I learned at the end of last year and it helped the team. Coming into this year, I already started the offseason with the guys. I’m being more commanding, taking control of everything — being a leader. It’s bettering the team right now.”

That’s exactly the role Bailey wanted. He embraced that in high school as he played for Miami (Fla.) powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Prep. There were times he would be the one to pick up the entire team, including the coaching staff, as a high school quarterback that went 39-2 in three seasons as the Lions’ starting quarterback.

It’s nothing new for Bailey, who admitted he has embraced it his entire football career ever since he emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class. 

“The way I come to practice every day, knowing guys are looking for me, looking for CJ Bailey,” Bailey said. “I like that. That’s why I play quarterback. I like feeling the pressure and everybody leaning on me.”

It’s an interesting spot for Bailey to be in. He is in charge of an offense that features several underclassmen in key roles, like a pair of redshirt sophomores in running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Noah Rogers. Then, there’s the veterans of the group, including senior tight end Justin Joly and redshirt junior tackle Jacarrius Peak. 

But Bailey has become the rallying point for the offense. He stayed — and so did practically every key player with eligibility left (except for rising junior wide receiver KC Concepcion, who transferred to Texas A&M). 

Bailey believed this spring will allow the continuity of the offense’s playmakers to take another step forward under Roper, who spent last season as the Pack’s quarterbacks coach, in his first year as the program’s offensive coordinator. 

“Our chemistry is on the next level,” Bailey said of the group. “We were all here last year, we know what it feels like to lose. We bled together. It’s great to have those guys come back with me. We could really go somewhere with this offense because we’ve been together, we’ve felt it.”

If the offense does continue its upward trajectory, Bailey’s leadership will be a key reason why. And he has his sights set on being one of the main figureheads of the Wolfpack roster in 2025. 

“I want to be the captain of this team,” Bailey said confidently. “I want to lead this team.”