CJ Bailey threw an interception on his second drive against Louisiana Tech, but the way he bounced back afterwards reflected the mentality he shows every day on the practice field. He helped NC State erase an 11-point halftime deficit after that moment with a poise that did not surprise Dave Doeren. 

One year ago, the true freshman quarter was in the middle of his senior season with Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep— a year that ended in a state championship. Everything he showed the staff in practice this year impressed the coaches enough to name him backup quarterback. 

Bailey threw for 156 yards against the Bulldogs, completing 13 of 20 passes and scoring his first touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Even when he turned the ball over early and went into halftime trailing, he still had a smile on his face. That confidence has only continued to grow this week. 

“He’s building off of what he did in the second half,” Doeren said. “He’s ready, he had a great week, the guys are playing hard around him, so it’s a great opportunity for CJ. We’re excited for him.” 

Throughout this young Wolfpack career, the freshman signal-caller showed off a consistency that impressed Doeren. Bailey has responded to every obstacle he has faced so far in a Wolfpack uniform. 

That the spring game— a day where he spent most of the scrimmage matched up against the first string defense, and he completed 8 of 12 passes for 170 yards and broke off an explosive run as well to finish with 72 yards on the ground. 

“Every time we’ve put him in a challenging situation, he’s just been the same guy,” Doeren said. “He’s been consistent, he’s been uplifting, he’s had energy, he bounces back if something happens, he’s very coachable. Those are habits, and you always fall back on your habits.”

Bailey backed up McCall for the first three games of the season, and redshirt freshman Lex Thomas will take on that role agianst Clemson. The former three-star recruit from Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High is the third brother in a storied Wolfpack sibling legacy. 

Thayer and Drake Thomas are both in the NFL now after starring for the Pack. Thayer, a former walk-on receiver who later earned a scholarship, made plays out of the slot and returned punts for the Pack and now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Drake was an All-ACC performer at NC State and plays linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. 

Lex redshirted his first year with the Pack and has not appeared in a game during his young career. That has not stopped him from preparing for moments like this one. Doeren said he can tell the quarterback has been taking mental reps during every snap of practice. 

“We feel good about Lex, and I’m really excited about what he’s shown us as far as how he prepares to play the game,” Doeren said. “And I’m not surprised, you know? The family that he’s in, that’s what those guys are about. They’re about working and doing all the stuff it takes to be ready.”

NC State’s veterans stepped up to help Bailey lead the team this week when graduate Grayson McCall left the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. The experienced signal-caller is not expected to play against Clemson, but he hasn’t let that stop him from contributing as a mentor.

Doeren praised McCall’s leadership earlier that year, and that’s another habit that continues to show up, even as the quarterback recovers from his injury. The Wolfpack’s three scholarship signal-callers are working together to help NC State succeed vs. Clemson. 

“He’s a great teammate,” Doeren said. “He jumped right into helping those guys in the meeting room, on the field, talking to them in-between series, walking in the huddle with them and listening to them talk, making sure he’s saying the right things. 

“He’s done a great job preparing these guys as well.”

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