The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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MARCH/APRIL 2024 ■ 37 The 6-foot-2 wide receiver has a chance to be a Day 1 starter in NC State's offense, just like Concepcion was last season. Will NC State Need A Fourth Scholarship QB? This is a hot-button question. NC State has three scholarship quarter- backs heading into spring practice: Coastal Carolina graduate transfer Grayson McCall, redshirt freshman Lex Thomas and true freshman CJ Bailey. All three are on campus and will par- ticipate in spring practice. McCall is the only member of the trio who has taken a collegiate snap — 2,446 total plays through five seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. He threw for 10,005 yards and 88 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions during his tenure with the Chanticleers. McCall is the presumptive starting quarterback for the Wolfpack, while Bailey and Thomas are expected to com- pete for the second-string spot. Thomas redshirted last season, while Bailey com- pleted 215 of 301 passes for 3,125 yards, with 47 touchdowns and 6 intercep- tions at Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade- Madonna Prep. He also had 253 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries. Doeren mentioned that the Pack will evaluate the quarterback position dur- ing spring practice. If he and the staff are comfortable with the current situ- ation, NC State likely will not go to the portal seeking a backup. But if there are enough question marks at quarter- back after the 15 practices, the Wolf- pack could seek an experienced backup signal-caller. ■ NC State's 2024 football schedule was released on Jan. 24, and the offseason hype trains of speculation, pessimism and hope have all left the station. The Wolfpack kicks off its season against West- ern Carolina. That showdown on a Thursday will begin a three-month stretch of intriguing match- ups, homestands and road trips. It's clear that NC State's weekday games worked out favorably. It's also clear that the bye weeks are extremely, perhaps absurdly, late, and that the team will learn a lot about itself during the first four weeks of the 2024 campaign. No Rest For The Wolfpack For the second consecutive year, the Wolfpack will have to wait for its first bye week until the season's second half. NC State took Week 8 off last fall. This year, the ACC gives all of its teams two bye weeks, but the Wolfpack's first does not arrive until Week 9. Duke blew out NC State prior to last year's open date, leading to a period of reflection that resulted in a thrilling turnaround and a nine-win season. Head coach Dave Doeren said it was the longest NC State played without a bye in his 11-year tenure with the Pack. This season, the Wolfpack will have to wait even longer for its break from com - petition. And the game that precedes the open date will be a cross-country road trip to play Cal. Weekday Games Help More Than Hurt NC State's two Thursday night games could not have worked out better. Thanks to its season opener versus Western Carolina and a late bye week, the Wolfpack will not have to play on a short week this year. The game against the Catamounts, an FCS program, is scheduled for Aug. 29. It will be the Pack's second consecutive Thursday night opener. Then, deep into the regular season, the Wolfpack has the weekend of Nov. 16 off before a Thursday night game against Georgia Tech on Nov. 21. That is an ideal scenario for NC State, because the team will not have to worry about the quick turnaround that weekday games usually present. NC State played two Friday games in addition to its season opener against Connecticut last year, and the Pack won its only short week showdown against Virginia before dropping the following Friday night game against Louisville. NC State's Thursday tilts give the program a total of four extra days of prepara - tion for matchups versus Tennessee, an early-season, neutral-site showdown against a likely top-25 team, and its season-finale rivalry game against UNC. The Wolfpack is 4-1 over the program's past five weeknight games. The Pack Will Face Early Tests NC State already knew the start of its nonconference slate, an FCS opener fol- lowed by a showdown with the Volunteers. Tennessee finished the 2023 season third in the SEC East with a 9-4 record. The Pack is 2-2 against the Vols all time, los- ing the most recent matchup in 2012. NC State will likely be tasked with stopping former top-ranked, five-star signal-caller Nico Iamaleava in his third career start. The Pack did not originally know that a date with Clemson loomed two weeks later. NC State will play arguably its two most challenging matchups of the season, with a home contest against Louisiana Tech sandwiched between, in the first four weeks of the fall. Clemson will be as talented as ever in 2024, and the atmosphere is sure to be raucous when the Wolfpack visits to open the conference season for both teams. The Tigers will also have a bye week Sept. 14 to prepare for their Sept. 21 clash against the Pack. NC State is winless in its past nine trips to Death Valley. — Ethan McDowell Clemson's Memorial Stadium is sure to be full and rocking when NC State visits on Sept. 21 for both teams' ACC opener. The Pack hasn't won in Death Valley since 2002. PHOTO COURTESY ACTIONSPORTS Three Takeaways From NC State's 2024 Schedule