How NC State's Dave Doeren and Texas Tech's Joey McGuire bonded over chicken fried steak

RALEIGH — NC State football coach Dave Doeren has a special connection with first-year Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire.

In 2003, when Doeren was an up-and-coming linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Kansas, McGuire was a first-time high school head coach at Texas powerhouse Cedar Hill, located just south of Dallas.

It was Doeren who helped sign Cedar Hill wide receiver Marcus Herford at Kansas, McGuire's first Division I recruit as a high school coach.

"Marcus is now a coach and a great young man," Doeren said. "And I got to know Joey very well and he became a state championship coach and then moved his way up in the profession."

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But what Doeren remembers most is the pregame meal McGuire served him before he took in a Cedar Hill game one Friday night.

"He had the best chicken fried steak and gravy that you've ever had," Doeren remembered fondly during Monday's press conference. "I remember crushing that with him. He's a good dude and he'll have his team ready to play."

The No. 16 Wolfpack (2-0) will host Texas Tech (2-0) at Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The Red Raiders are coming off a 33-30 double overtime win over then-No. 25 Houston. NC State defeated Charleston Southern 55-3 in its home opener last Saturday.

Doeren gives injury update on Payton Wilson

Doeren told the media Monday that linebacker Payton Wilson will suit up against Texas Tech after missing last week's win over Charleston Southern with an upper-body injury.

Wilson, who was injured in Week 1 against ECU, was seen wearing street clothes on the sideline last Saturday but with no brace or sling around his shoulder.

"He feels really good and he's in a good space," Doeren said. "It gives us another really good athlete to play against a spread offense."

Junior linebacker Jaylon Scott had taken othe starting spot for Wilson and led the team with eight solo tackles against ECU.

Doeren also added that defensive back Shyheim Battle would be back next week after missing Saturday's game. Battle suffered a minor injury against ECU and Aydan White started in his place.

David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How chicken fried steak cemented a friendship between NC State's Dave Doeren and Texas Tech's Joey McGuire