There’s a reason why NC State football head coach Dave Doeren didn’t go looking in the portal for a veteran quarterback to backup graduate signal-caller Grayson McCall.
From what Doeren and the rest of his staff saw in spring practice, they felt freshman quarterback CJ Bailey was more than capable of being the number two behind McCall. Bailey showed why NC State had faith in him in the Pack’s 30-20 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Bailey stayed poised in the pocket, made decisive throws and showed off his playmaking ability to help NC State overcome a 17-6 halftime deficit. The former three-star recruit led the Wolfpack on three scoring drives in the second half to outscore the Bulldogs 24-3, including his first touchdown of his collegiate career.
“I think it’s just poise,” Doeren said when asked what was the most impressive part of Bailey’s performance. “He just went out there and played the game. Whether he was throwing the football or scrambling, throwing it away, rushing for some tough yards at times to extend the chains, he did a really good job just managing it and playing fast, and he looked really poised. So that was good to see.”
Despite Bailey being thrown into the fire after McCall was ruled out with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter, Bailey seemed calm. He was ready for this moment. Bailey played in nationally televised games at Chaminade-Madonna Prep — the No. 2 high school team in the nation last year.
Going up against some of the best teams in the country, Bailey passed for over 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns with just six interceptions his senior year. In his sophomore season, he also led Chaminade to an undefeated regular season and state title.
“I had that feeling when I was at Chaminade when we played in those big games,” Bailey said. “I wanted to play in those big games at NC State as well. It really prepared me a lot for these moments right here. I’m glad that when I went to Chaminade my coaches instilled everything I have in me when those big moments come, it’s just a game. Play the game, and don’t worry about the crowd.”
Bailey did more than just play the game. He provided a much-needed spark to the NC State offense after a lackluster first half. On his first drive of the second half, Bailey engineered a 13-play campaign that took over eight minutes off the clock. He went 7-7 passing for 62 yards before sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael ran in a three-yard touchdown for NC State’s first offensive score in six quarters.
While most of that drive consisted of quick passes less than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, Doeren said it was because of the prevent defense LA Tech was playing. He praised Bailey for the decisive throws he made to keep the chains moving. But the one time Bailey was tasked with creating a play, he did.
On third-and-9 deep in Bulldogs territory, Bailey looked right and scanned left before finding sophomore wide receiver Kevin Concepcion for a 14-yard gain. That was the poise Doeren was talking about. When Bailey’s first option was taken away, he didn’t panic, but he stayed in the pocket and found the open man.
“I think once you get a couple completions, you start feeling it,” Doeren said. “[Offensive coordinator Robert Anae] did a nice job, giving him some completions that were pretty easy with good protection, and let him get into rhythm, let him get going. He was playing confident football. I think everybody could see that.”
When NC State needed him most to go up two scores in the fourth quarter, Bailey’s unwavering confidence came through. After settling for quick passes for most of the game, Bailey finally got to show off the rocket arm that made the Wolfpack want him in the first place.
On second-and-10 in his own territory, Bailey delivered a 19-yard strike to redshirt freshman receiver Noah Rogers to get past midfield. The very next play, Bailey had his best throw of the game.
With a Bulldog defender barreling down on him, Bailey threw a laser to junior tight end Justin Joly on the left sideline from the opposite hash without stepping into the throw, knowing he would get hit. The completion went for 34 yards and four plays later, Bailey punctuated the drive with a one-yard touchdown run for the first score of his collegiate career.
“His arm is ridiculous,” said redshirt junior linebacker Caden Fordham. “The throws he can make and the velocity behind his throws, it’s really tough to defend. Sometimes if you’re not on the spot, the ball will be there before you know it.”
It wasn’t all positive for Bailey though. He made some throws that are expected from a true freshman. On his third pass of the game, he made an errant pass right into the hand of Bulldogs linebacker Kolbe Fields that set up a LA Tech field goal to go up double digits into halftime.
Then in the fourth quarter, deep into Bulldog territory, Bailey tried to force a pass to freshman wide receiver Terrell Anderson that was nearly picked off.
“It was a learning lesson for me especially when I threw that interception,” Bailey said. “I had to learn and overcome that and don’t hang on it. Like one thing that I used to do, I’m going to be honest with you, in high school, I would hang on to bad mistakes, like bad throws and interceptions. I had to forget about it. Learn how to just put everything in the past and move forward.”
Bailey’s good moments outweighed his bad ones, but if McCall isn’t ready to go next week, Bailey will have to grow up fast. Looking good against a Group of Five team that has won a combined nine games the last three seasons is one thing, but going into Death Valley to face Clesmon will be the real baptism-by-fire.
At the moment, all signs point to Bailey making his first career start against Clemson next week. But if Doeren didn’t think Bailey was ready for that moment, he wouldn’t be the backup quarterback right now.
“He’s done that in practice the whole time,” Doeren said. “I mean, what you saw today is what he’s been doing. He’s got a really good arm, he has a good arm talent, and so now it’s just the repetitions and how fast the defenses are playing. And he’s got good players around him, so he’s going to be a fun player to watch. He’s got a bright future for us.”
