The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
22 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN itting on a temporary riser on the second floor of the Hilton Uptown Charlotte, Jayden "Duke" Scott was s u r ro u n d e d by m e d i a members. Audio record- ers and microphones sat on the table in front of him, while dozens of sets of eyeballs and cameras were fixed on NC State's junior running back for more than 30 minutes. Two years ago, Scott would have likely been extremely nervous to field questions of all sorts at an event as big as the ACC Football Kickoff. He arrived at NC State as a quiet yet talented ball carrier — the kind of player who would prefer to let his performance on the field do the talking, rather than having to open his mouth. Traces of that shy personality are still evident in the 5-foot-10, 220-pound Scott, but he held his own at the confer- ence's preseason media gathering, an- swering each query that was sent in his direction. He was calm and confident, making eye contact with reporters while speaking directly to those who won- dered about him — even if the experi- ence was still outside his comfort zone. "This is not my strong suit," Scott ad- mitted with a grin. "It's sometimes a little hard for me to get out and talk. I'm start- ing to work it out, starting to figure it out." A Tireless Worker Having earned the Wolfpack's presti- gious No. 1 jersey — which is awarded to the player who, in the eyes of head coach Dave Doeren, "exhibits an elite work ethic and practice and training habits, while also serving as an exemplary leader" — Scott has stepped into a critical role within the team. He is looked upon as one of the players who must set an example for others to follow, but at the same time, he needs to be able to use his voice to hold his teammates accountable. Throughout the offseason, Scott worked to develop the leadership traits he knew he would need to display this fall. He understood that he would be in a key position as the go-to running back, but he also needed to have an outsized role in the Pack's maturation as a team. Breaking out of his shell was an im- portant part of that growth process. So far, Scott has excelled in a spot that most around him wouldn't have ex- pected when he first arrived on campus as an early enrollee in January 2024. Junior quarterback CJ Bailey, who as a sophomore last fall was the youngest cap- tain in Doeren's 13 seasons with the pro- gram, has seen Scott's growth firsthand. "When I first met Duke, he was so laid-back," said Bailey, a member of the same recruiting class as Scott. "The change that he's had so far, it's been different. He was a quiet guy, but you should see how much he uses his voice now. He talks every day to help motivate others, lead others. It's been big to see from him. I'm so happy for him. He's becoming an actual man, for real." Bailey isn't alone in that line of think- ing. Doeren joked that it might be tough to get to know Scott early in his career because he didn't talk much. Among players, senior defensive lineman Isaiah Shirley always knew the running back to be one of the team's hardest workers, though not the most vocal player on the roster. S FINDING HIS FINDING HIS VOICE VOICE Running Back Duke Scott Learns To Lead From The Front During the offseason, Scott was given the Wolfpack's No. 1 jersey, which goes to the player who "exhibits an elite work ethic and practice and training habits, while also ser ving as an exemplary leader." PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS