The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN hen NC State sopho- more quarterback CJ Bailey stood in front of the media for his first appearance as the Wolfpack's full-time starter this past March during the early stages of spring practice, he said publicly he wanted to become a captain. That goal caught some observers off- guard. A sophomore? Would he be ready to lead the offense as one of the squad's four go-to players voted into the role by his teammates? Bailey felt he was ready. After all, the former three-star quarterback was thrown right into the fire as a freshman to replace Grayson McCall, who medically retired from the sport due to concussions last fall. Bailey already had displayed lead- ership qualities as a high school player, but he was new to the college game. This offseason, the signal-caller pri- oritized his leadership. Not only did he stand out in the weight room, impressing strength and conditioning coach Danto- nio Burnette with his vocal command of the room, he also brought that same ap- proach to the field. Now he's the youngest captain of the Dave Doeren coaching era. Prior to this year, no second-year player had ever been named a captain during Doeren's tenure, which dates back to 2013. The Pack's other three captains — graduate left guard Anthony Carter Jr., graduate linebacker Caden Fordham and redshirt senior linebacker Sean Brown — are all veterans, and there's a reason Bailey has joined them in the team's leadership quartet: He proved through his actions that he was a worthy honoree. "Over the past year, he's progressed a lot as a leader," senior wide receiver Wes- ley Grimes said. "He's gained that voice. He's got more confidence to speak up. I think with Grayson being here last year, he felt like he should let Grayson do his thing and lead. Grayson was a great leader, but now he's taken that initiative to fill his shoes and lead for the team." Bailey continued to grow as a leader throughout fall camp. No matter what happened in practice, he was the first to celebrate his teammates' successes and was also right there to pick them up when needed. "He helps guys feel more confident, even when we mess up," Grimes said. "Today, I dropped a pass and he said, 'I know you're going to catch that ball next time.' He has our backs to make sure we don't hang our heads, and he's keeping that confidence in us." Bailey's energy is what sets him apart from anyone else. He's always wearing a smile, and if an offensive player needs an energy boost, he's usually the one to supply an instant jolt. "He's a tall guy who's always smiling with good energy," redshirt sopho- more wide receiver Noah Rogers said. "When we go out on the field, that's what he wants to see. "He takes pride in his job, making sure that everybody knows what they're doing. I find that important as a leader." Bailey's goal this fall is to help the offense continue to grow. The captain's "C" on his jersey only serves to re- inforce the importance of his words. Not that he needed a title for his teammates to value what he says. "He's a very charis- matic guy," graduate offensive lineman Jalen Grant said. "He's a cool guy to be around. Everybody loves him. When he talks, you listen because he's giving you some knowledge. He's a young guy, but he has a way about him. He's definitely easy to listen to." Bailey earned an opportunity to fill a large pair of shoes as a team leader. It's not an easy position for a young player to find himself in, es- pecially in a locker room full of four- and five-year veter- ans, but it's exactly what he wants. Bailey likes the pressure that comes with the job, and his teammates ap- preciate his willingness to take it on. "I definitely believe in CJ," Grant said. "I trust him, and I believe in him." ■ W A GOAL A GOAL FULFILLED FULFILLED Sophomore QB CJ Bailey Wanted To Be A Captain, And Now He Is Bailey is the youngest player to serve as an NC State football captain since coach Dave Doeren took over the program in 2013. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS