‘He helps guys feel more confident’: Why NC State QB CJ Bailey was voted a captain as a sophomore

As NC State sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey stood in front of the media for his first appearance as the Wolfpack’s full-time starter this past March in the early stages of spring practice, he set a goal to become a captain.  For some, it caught them off guard. A sophomore? Would he be ready to lead the offense as one of the team’s four go-to players voted into the role by his teammates? It was a bar Bailey wanted to surpass.  After all, the former three-star quarterback was thrown right into the fire as a freshman to replace graduate Grayson McCall, who medically retired from the sport due to concussions, last fall. Bailey’s leadership qualities existed, but they took time to show themselves at the college level.  But this offseason, however, the signal-caller made working on his leadership one of his main priorities. Not only did he stick out in the weight room, impressing Director of Strength and Conditioning Dantonio Burnette with his vocal command of the room, but he took that same approach to the field, too.  Now, he’s the youngest captain in the Dave Doeren era, which dates back to the 2013 campaign. No second-year player was ever recognized for their leadership like this before, but Bailey was able to earn the respect of the entire team.