NC State Coach Calls Bailey Best QB in Country
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- Dave Doeren told ESPN that CJ Bailey "could be the best in the country" as the 6-foot-6 junior enters his third year as NC State's starter following an 8-5 season in 2025
- Bailey threw for 25 touchdowns, ran for six more and completed 68.8% of his passes in 2025 — the third-best rate in the ACC
- Bailey's 22 career starts rank fifth-most among power-conference quarterbacks at a single school, and he already sits seventh in NC State history in touchdowns responsible for (53), eighth in passing yards (5,518) and eighth in touchdown passes (42)
- NC State hasn't produced a first-round quarterback since Phillip Rivers went No. 4 overall in 2004, a 20-plus-year drought Bailey is positioned to break
- Bailey resisted transfer portal overtures even as high-profile teammates departed — Hollywood Smothers to Texas, Noah Rogers to Alabama and Terrell Anderson to USC — citing loyalty to Doeren's staff
- Doeren said Bailey's 25-pound physical transformation from a "stick" freshman into a 220-pound frame has unlocked his willingness to run the ball, and Bailey said he wants to "use my legs in more crucial situations" this fall
Why it matters: NC State's 20-year drought without a first-round quarterback could end if Bailey delivers on Doeren's projection, giving the program a marquee NFL prospect while validating a retention-first roster strategy over portal acquisition. Bailey's loyalty amid three high-profile departures reinforces that identity, and his 25-pound weight gain adds a rushing dimension to a passing offense that already produced 25 touchdowns.
