The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516111
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ing to his home state. He's a deep threat with magnetic hands, which is why he was considered an elite recruit out of Rolesville High. Who Will Be The Starting Kicker? With Lou Groza Award winner Chris- topher Dunn and his successor, gradu- ate transfer Brayden Narveson, handling the placekicking duties, NC State was able to rely on its kicking game for the past six years. Now, the Pack is prepared to turn over those responsibilities to someone with very limited experience. Walk-ons Kanoah Vinesett and Collin Smith will likely compete for that role. They have a combined 2 field goal at- tempts and 2 extra points. Smith briefly entered the transfer portal before withdrawing Jan. 12. He is the Pack's longtime kickoff special- ist and pushed Narveson for the start- ing job during the 2023 offseason. The graduate is 1 for 2 in his career, with his make coming from 40 yards out. Vinesett, a redshirt sophomore, con- verted the lone PAT try of his career and will be involved in the kicker competi- tion this offseason. What's Next For A Revamped Backfield? NC State does not need to worry about its depth at running back, even though multiple players departed through the transfer portal. While Mi- chael Allen and Delbert Mimms III left, the Wolfpack used the portal to reload. The Pack acquired Duke transfer Jor- dan Waters (one year of eligibility re- maining) and Oklahoma transfer Day- lan "Hollywood" Smothers (four years) to bolster the backfield this fall. Those two, paired with rising sophomore Ken- drick Raphael, are expected to be the top three tailbacks. Waters spent his first five seasons with the Blue Devils, and the last of those years in Durham was the best. He ran for 819 yards and scored an ACC-leading 12 touchdowns on 153 carries during the 2023 campaign. The Fairmont, N.C., na- tive, is likely to be the workhorse back this fall for the Wolfpack. Smothers had 11 carries for 42 yards during his four games with the Soon- ers last season. Although he did not see much action, he is an accomplished running back. Smothers was named North Carolina State Offensive Player of the Year by The Charlotte Observer fol- lowing his sophomore and junior sea- sons at Julius L. Chambers High, during which he rushed for more than 2,700 yards and 40 touchdowns. Smothers and Raphael will likely serve as rotational backs this season. NC State may also get some run from freshman backs Isiah Jones and Jayden "Duke" Scott this fall, but both could be redshirt candidates after they appear in four games unless injuries pile up at the position. Who Will Be NC State's Breakout Performer? A year ago, it was freshman wide receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion who made his presence felt during spring practice. He ended up winning a start- ing role and became the Pack's leading wideout during the 2023 campaign. Sticking with that same theme, this year's breakout player could be another true freshman: Terrell Anderson. The four-star recruit headlined NC State's signing class after the Wolfpack with- stood an attempted flip by Georgia. An- derson finished the recruiting cycle as the No. 9 wideout in the class, accord- ing to On3. Hailing from Greensboro, N.C., An- derson became NC State's highest- rated wide receiver recruit in 20 years. He finished as the No. 2 recruit in North Carolina as well. Anderson caught 64 passes for 1,114 yards and 14 touchdowns during his se- nior season with the Whirlies. He had previously enjoyed a breakout junior campaign, with 64 receptions for 1,254 yards and 11 touchdowns. 2024 Football Schedule Date Opponent Aug. 29 WESTERN CAROLINA Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee* Sept. 14 LOUISIANA TECH Sept. 21 at Clemson Sept. 28 NORTHERN ILLINOIS Oct. 5 WAKE FOREST Oct. 12 SYRACUSE Oct. 19 at California Nov. 2 STANFORD Nov. 9 DUKE Nov. 21 at Georgia Tech Nov. 30 at North Carolina * Duke's Mayo Classic at Charlotte, N.C. Senior Devon Betty will be competing for the starting middle linebacker position this spring after making 33 tackles last season, including 4 for loss and 1 sack. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP