Many around the program believe that Elijah Arroyo is ready for a national breakout. Finally healthy, the 6’4, 250-pound TE spoke to reporters after the Canes’ second practice:
On practicing with no knee brace: Man, it feels great. I feel like myself again. It's just good being able to play without thinking about any injuries or anything that's going on. I can focus on the task at hand.
With injuries, confidence is a really big thing. Being able to get back to doing everything that I'm doing, it's been great for me.
On the first two days of camp: It’s been good. We’ve been competing. They feed off of me, I feed off of them. I'm making plays, they're making plays. If the defense makes a play, we're going to have to get after it.
On the team’s production at tight end: Tight end has always been big in this offense. We had a little setback last year with injuries and everything. I'm just excited for this year, to see where we can take it.
On Riley Williams and Elija Lofton: Both of those guys are beasts. Coming in, they’ve already got the size and the speed. They can both do it all. But I think they're doing a good job on becoming professionals. They're learning how to carry themselves off the field. Just keeping their heads down and working.
On Cam Ward: He's going to be a big difference for our whole offense. Just off the field, being the guy that he is, the leader that he is, he's going to be able to push our team to another level.
On his goals: I’m trying to get that natty and win games. That’s really the ultimate goal.
On whether he or Anez Cooper is the best NCAA Football video gamer: I haven't played Coop yet, but I'll whoop him.
On the new teams in the ACC: It’s cool being able to go play in new stadiums and play new teams. But shoot, right now we're focused on day one. We're focused on practice. We're focused on fall camp.
On practicing with no knee brace: Man, it feels great. I feel like myself again. It's just good being able to play without thinking about any injuries or anything that's going on. I can focus on the task at hand.
With injuries, confidence is a really big thing. Being able to get back to doing everything that I'm doing, it's been great for me.
On the first two days of camp: It’s been good. We’ve been competing. They feed off of me, I feed off of them. I'm making plays, they're making plays. If the defense makes a play, we're going to have to get after it.
On the team’s production at tight end: Tight end has always been big in this offense. We had a little setback last year with injuries and everything. I'm just excited for this year, to see where we can take it.
On Riley Williams and Elija Lofton: Both of those guys are beasts. Coming in, they’ve already got the size and the speed. They can both do it all. But I think they're doing a good job on becoming professionals. They're learning how to carry themselves off the field. Just keeping their heads down and working.
On Cam Ward: He's going to be a big difference for our whole offense. Just off the field, being the guy that he is, the leader that he is, he's going to be able to push our team to another level.
On his goals: I’m trying to get that natty and win games. That’s really the ultimate goal.
On whether he or Anez Cooper is the best NCAA Football video gamer: I haven't played Coop yet, but I'll whoop him.
On the new teams in the ACC: It’s cool being able to go play in new stadiums and play new teams. But shoot, right now we're focused on day one. We're focused on practice. We're focused on fall camp.
