​Before quarterback CJ Bailey signed with N.C. State football in December 2023, Miami made a late charge to land the Miami native.During a media availability at the Under Armour All-America Game in January 2024, Bailey dove into his decision to join head coach Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack in Raleigh.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”Miami just came so late. I was with NC State for the longest,” Bailey told reporters in 2024. “I had my vision and my mind set on N.C. State forever and I couldn’t wait to get up there. They had everything I wanted and everything I needed – and they still have that.”Loyal in 2023 and in 2026, Bailey continues to keep his commitment to the Pack. Loyal was the buzzword when discussing Bailey’s return at ACC Kickoff during the league’s preseason media days in Charlotte.’MEAT ON THE BONE’: Why NC State coach Dave Doeren was discussing steak at ACC football media daysCJ’S LIST: NC State QB CJ Bailey says Wolfpack fans need to know these 4 players in 2026 seasonAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWOLFPACK SCHEDULE: Ranking NC State football’s opponents from easiest to toughest ahead of 2026 seasonEntering his third season as a starter for the Wolfpack, Bailey’s loyalty to N.C. State and vice versa is paying off with the 6-foot-6, 220-pound quarterback set to be one of the nation’s top signal-callers in the 2026 season.“I’m back ‘cause I love the city of Raleigh, I love N.C. State,” Bailey said Wednesday, July 15, in Charlotte.“I love how they recruited me. They poured in their loyalty to me and I’m here to pay it back. I’ve been through a lot with Coach Doeren, built a personal relationship with him and Coach (Kurt) Roper. I feel like they’re gonna take us to the next level.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing a sophomore season that saw him complete 69% of his passes for 3,105 yards and 25 touchdowns, with just nine interceptions, Bailey could have landed a big payday by entering the transfer portal. Instead, he’s poised to vault his name up the N.C. State record books. He’s seventh in seventh in career TDs (53), eighth in passing yards (5,518) and eighth in TD passes (42).“N.C. State is a different place. It’s a different place for me. It’s home for me,” Bailey said.“Throughout my whole process of the recruiting or whatever the case may be, they were loyal to me. Coach Doeren was loyal to me. Coach Roper, they poured into me. It’s only right I give it back to those guys.”Sometimes I often think, even though it was offseason, I was thinking like, Why would I go anywhere else to learn a new offense, build a new relationship with other people when I got a good home right now, right here? They’re going to prepare me for the next level. I’m ready to win with those guys.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat loyalty, as Doeren discussed in Charlotte, is rare given the current landscape of college football. It’s something the 14-year leader of the Pack hopes