The 10 best quotes from NC State football's ACC media day

NC State traveled to Charlotte for the final day of the ACC Kickoff media days Thursday. Head coach Dave Doeren, linebacker Payton Wilson, cornerback Aydan White and quarterback Brennan Armstrong all shared their thoughts on the upcoming season.

The Wolfpack discussed everything from Robert Anae’s offense to record-setting ticket sales by the fanbase. These quotes are in no order, but they stood out as key comments from the event.

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The 10 best quotes from NC State football’s media day

1) Doeren shared the program’s expectations for the 2023 season

“I think the ceiling is being the best in the league,” Doeren said. “That’s our goal. We can’t control the stats and all the things outside of the ACC. We’ve got to try to win the ACC.

“Our goal is always going to be to be the best statistically in the areas that we consider important. So I know Coach Anae has his pillars on offense that he preaches to these guys that they’re going to be working hard to attain. It’s no different on defense. We want to finish in the top one, two, or three in every category that we care about.”

2) Doeren is entering season No. 11 with the Wolfpack and has genuine love for Raleigh

“It’s crazy being there now going on 11 years and seeing the growth of our city every year,” Doeren said. “The highways are a mess. They can’t keep up with the growth, and a number of new schools and new restaurants, new this, new that. It’s an awesome place to live right now.

“For the guys that get there and realize it, I don’t think they know how good they have it. Trust me, being a coach that’s lived all over the country, been in big towns, farm towns, you name it, Raleigh has it going right now. It’s an awesome place to live and work.”

3) Wolfpack nation is setting a historic pace with its ticket sales

“Wolfpack Nation, we’ve already sold more tickets,” Doeren said. “This was two weeks ago they told me there was only 2,000 seats left for the entire season completely combined. So the most tickets they’ve ever sold in school history for football. The most revenue generated from that as well…

“We love the Wolfpack fan base and continue to ask them just to be in the stands for four quarters and try to make life hell on the opponents.”

4) Armstrong discussed showing a little more emotion on the field during fall camp

“I think I’m going to start showing a little bit more fiery side of me,” Armstrong said. “I’ve been cool, calm, and collected. I don’t want to scare some guys on game day if I get fired up out of nowhere because technically that’s how I play.

“I’ve been kind of playing it cool, so I think I’m going to incorporate that here in the fall camp and just continue to be a voice, try to instill confidence and just determination on the offensive side.”

5) Armstrong said NC State tight end Trent Pennix is a totally unique football player

“I’m excited for Trent,” Armstrong said. “He is one of the fastest and biggest strongest guys I’ve ever seen tote the ball. If I can just get the ball in his hands, he will make a lot of plays.”

6) White expressed a ton of confidence in the Wolfpack defensive back room

“I expect our defense to be No. 1 in the passing defense throughout the whole league,” White said. “We just have a lot of depth coming back and a lot of experience.

“For example, our corners, our safeties, and our nickels, we all watch film together keying on things we need to do for the season.”

7) White also talked about his strong bond with fellow shutdown cornerback Shyheim Battle

“It’s really a full-circle moment because I came in 2020, and Shyheim came in 2019. Shy was one of the first guys to hit me up asking me to train as soon as I got on campus. I really appreciate that guy reaching out to me.

“Just knowing that when a ball goes up in the air, Shyheim is so consistent that I don’t really have to worry about traveling sides with a wide receiver because I know what he is doing on that side.”

8) Wilson shouted out director of strength and conditioning Dantonio Burnette for getting this year’s Wolfpack squad into explosive shape

“Credit to Coach Thunder and what he is doing with us, but, yeah, we’re going to be flying around on both sides of the ball at every position. We have 300-pound men running 4.8 40s and stuff like that.”

9) Wilson also talked about what he has learned about taking care of his body during his NC State career

“I fell in love with the process of staying healthy,” Wilson said. “Just understanding what it takes, the nutrition, the prehab, the rehab, just living in a training room.”

10) Wilson detailed the next step for NC State to take as a program

“Last year, we lost some games that we shouldn’t even come close to losing just due to discipline. We lost to BC last year, and the defense was very undisciplined that game. We talk about it all the time within our building, just don’t beat ourselves…

“Championship teams do everything in a championship way and, until every single thing across your program is done like that, you won’t get there.”