NC State S DK Kaufman plays with joy in final season of college football

NC State’s DK Kaufman lined up at cornerback with Northern Illinois on its own 16-yard line. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s play call had the safety blitzing from the edge, looking to get into the backfield untouched. And the second the ball was snapped, Kaufman came flying in on quarterback Ethan Hampton’s blindside.  As Kaufman took two steps into the backfield, he saw there was only green grass between the defensive back and the ball. The only thing in the way? Hampton’s back. “Oh, this is real,” he thought to himself. “I might have a chance.” Kaufman, running at full speed, appeared as if he was a tiger chasing after its afternoon snack on the African safari. By the time he reached Hampton, Kaufman already knew what his intention was going to be: strip the ball away.  The New Orleans, La., native is always looking for the ball, and he was able to knock it out of Hampton’s right hand at the 8-yard line. From there, it was a race to the ball as it squirted free towards the goal line.  Kaufman was the first to it and he easily scored after retrieving the ball at the 3-yard line. It marked his second forced turnover of the season, and his second touchdown of the first five weeks after Kaufman logged a pick-six two weeks prior.  “It kind of feels fake, I swear,” said Kaufman, who had not scored multiple touchdowns in the same season since his senior year at Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel High School. “I’m just living in the moment, honestly. Just having fun. … I put a lot of work in and I feel like it’s just my time.” But for Kaufman to reach this stage of his collegiate career, he had to make two stops at a pair of SEC programs. Before that, he lived without his father for eight years. The combination of those experiences as the graduate transfer appreciating every day at NC State with a simple mindset this fall: Enjoy the moment.