How CJ Bailey’s confidence has added a new dimension to NC State’s offense after UVa win

By Noah Fleischman

CJ Bailey didn’t hesitate. He took the snap and immediately darted right, reading how his offensive line was blocking before following running back Hollywood Smothers leading the way. As the quarterback sprinted near the sideline, he pinballed off two East Carolina defenders before plunging into the end zone. 

Although that second-quarter touchdown seemed routine in the Wolfpack’s 24-17 win over the Pirates to open the 2025 campaign last Thursday, it appeared to have set the tone for Bailey’s offensive transformation in his second season as the team’s starting signal-caller. 

Bailey, a sophomore captain, has tapped into his ability to use his long strides at 6-foot-6 in the running game. He has the freedom to take off and run on designed plays, while he can also scramble at a high level. Both of those traits were on full display as the Pack stormed back to down Virginia 35-31 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium and improved to 2-0. 

The 18-year-old starter scored a career-high two rushing touchdowns with 44 yards on the ground via just six carries, while he was equally as efficient in the pass game, throwing for 200 yards with a touchdown with 16 completions on 23 attempts. 

Bailey, who is tied for the tallest on the team, has found a way to look like a gazelle on the field. He isn’t the fastest on the team by any means, but his strides have turned his legs into a weapon this fall — even if Smothers was ready with a joke postgame.

“The baby giraffe can run a little bit,” Smothers, NC State’s standout running back, said after he added a career-high 140 rushing yards with 2 touchdowns of his own against Virginia. “Everybody knows CJ’s super talented; he can change the game in many ways. He can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with his arm. It’s just great having somebody like that that they have to game plan for and watch out for. It makes my job 10 times easier.”

Bailey has emerged from his shell both in the media and on the field in his second season at the helm of NC State’s offense. He improved from week to week as a freshman, but now his self-belief oozes in both settings. 

And that has paid dividends in his ability to use his running as a weapon. 

The Miami, Fla., native is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and already has 3 touchdowns on the ground this season. In comparison to last fall, Bailey posted just 2.8 yards per attempt with 5 rushing scores on 99 attempts. He is well on his way to surpassing both of those marks this fall, which will help add another dimension to NC State’s offense. 

“I think my legs are going to help me out during the season,” Bailey said. “I really enjoy scoring points and doing whatever it takes for the team to win.”

Bailey isn’t afraid to run — he’s previously said that he enjoys taking hits — but NC State will be careful with as many body blows he takes each week. It used freshman quarterback Will Wilson as its short-yardage running quarterback against Virginia — he picked up a key 4th-and-1 from the Wolfpack’s own 28-yard line in the fourth quarter — which will likely continue. 

But when NC State’s offense is operating in the open field, it likes to be able to use Bailey in the plus-one running game. His budding confidence has made that decision even easier for offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, too.

“When you can throw the football the way he can, and have the skill around him, but then also make them have to defend his legs, that’s tough on a defense,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “It’s really hard. You’re going to add more people in the box when you’re worried about quarterback runs, it opens up more things in the air. 

“When you can utilize his legs — and be smart with it, you don’t want to put more hits on him than you need to … that extra element changes how you have to defend us on offense. It’s great to see his confidence in that.”

Bailey, at times, showed he could run during his prolific high school career with 44 carries for 674 yards and 6 touchdowns in three seasons at Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna. But with the talented wide receivers he had to throw to — Ohio State’s All-American Jeremiah Smith and Miami’s JoJo Trader — Bailey had plenty of opportunities to air the ball out instead. 

Now, however, he’s eager to continue gashing defenses with his dual-threat capabilities. He isn’t Lamar Jackson, although Virginia coach Tony Elliott used that comparison last week, but Bailey’s ability to improvise and use his strides to his advantage is a threat that the Wolfpack offense has the luxury of deploying. 

Bailey knows he belongs at this level. He is striving to help NC State reach new heights within the football program, and his legs are going to be a critical piece in keeping the Wolfpack’s offense multi-dimensional moving forward. But he wouldn’t be in this situation without his improved confidence. 

“I feel comfortable and confident going into each game,” Bailey said. “Since last year, I’ve been building on my confidence and being more poised every game. It’s been good for me.”