The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525890
he was not. And that is what excites Do- eren the most. "To have a guy as proven as Grayson is with a chip on his shoulder at the same time, that's hard to find. It really is," Do- eren said. "I'm excited for him. Grateful that he came to our program." McCall feels the same way. He is ready to take over the Wolfpack offense and brings with him to Raleigh an un- wavering belief in his talents. "I know I can get it done. I've known for a long time that I could play football at this level," McCall said. "I think for anybody, when you go out and have a lot of success, your confidence is boosted. … My confidence has never been higher. I'm in a great spot, and I'm excited." ■ NC State brought in a wealth of talent this offseason in hope of continuing its positive momentum coming off a nine-win performance in 2023. This year, the Wolfpack wants to take home the ACC title and reach the College Football Playoff. The stars of this team are well-known. Sophomore wide receiver KC Concepcion and senior cornerback Aydan White both made the preseason All-ACC squad. Defensive lineman Davin Vann and graduate left tackle Anthony Belton will likely be NFL players by this time next year. Incoming graduate transfers — quarterback Grayson McCall and running back Jordan Waters — will provide consistency in the Pack backfield. In addition to that core, NC State will look to a group of emerging players who could leap into the national spotlight with standout 2024 seasons. The perfor - mances of those athletes will determine the ceiling of this squad. Redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown Brown will take on the Will linebacker role this season, and he looks like the per- fect player to fill the void left by Payton Wilson. Is it realistic to expect him to reach the heights of Wilson's All-America performance last year? No, but everything we've heard about the converted safety indicates he could be really, really good. He's listed at 207 pounds, so he'll play at a lighter weight than most linebackers. That's not a concern for the staff, though. As a 200-pound safety last fall, he played 197 snaps in the box and missed just 4 tackles — 6.1 percent of his attempts. Expecta- tions are very high, and it sounds like he's taking noticeable steps forward as a leader. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Travali Price NC State needs someone to step up at defensive end following Savion Jackson's departure, and Price has absolutely crushed this offseason. The redshirt junior played a lot last fall and recorded 13 tackles. After impressing the coaches and strength staff over the past few months, he appears ready to take a step forward. Jackson did not put up massive numbers during his Wolfpack career, but he was a great player who filled his role in the three-man front extremely well. His 40 tackles last fall leave a sizable production gap, and Price needs to have a breakout season to continue NC State's standard of play along the defensive line. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers Rogers has the potential to be great. That was clear when he was a high school recruit, and the buzz around him throughout the offseason was extremely posi - tive. He is on pace to be a dominant outside receiver at some point in his career. With all of the hype around Rogers, it's important to remember he's only a redshirt freshman. His game-changing potential might not come together imme- diately, but he's so talented and should develop extremely quickly as he accrues game reps. Rogers has the chance to be NC State's top outside receiver this fall, and the level of play he reaches during his first season in Raleigh will have a sig- nificant impact on how good the team's passing game can be. Sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse Multiple members of NC State's coaching staff expect Cisse to emerge as a key contributor for the Wolfpack this fall. He'll see plenty of snaps and may even end up starting ahead of senior Corey Coley, a Maryland transfer with ample experience. NC State will be deep in the secondary regardless of Cisse's development. Junior Devon Marshall, redshirt sophomore Jackson Vick and Coley fill out a talented cornerback rotation. If the hype around Cisse is legit, he will help solidify one of the most talented defensive back units in the ACC and possibly the country. Senior Aydan White will likely shut down his side of the field for a third year in a row, which means Cisse is probably going to receive plenty of targets. His ball production numbers could be elite this fall if he can make the plays. Junior tight end Justin Joly Will NC State have two All-ACC pass catchers this year? Joly could help make that happen. The No. 2-ranked transfer tight end picked the Pack over plenty of Power Four options after leaving Connecticut, and he appears to be a perfect fit with what offensive coordinator Robert Anae looks for in his flex-Y receivers. Joly played a huge role in his former school's offense last fall, leading the Hus - kies in receptions (56) and receiving yards (578) and tying for the team lead in re- ceiving touchdowns (2). Improved quarterback play with McCall under center and more overall offensive firepower — UConn surpassed 30 points only twice last fall — should give the talented tight end a chance to emerge into the spotlight. If NC State takes the field with a consistent, explosive tight end, it dramatically increases the ceiling of Anae's offense. — Ethan McDowell These Five Players Are Ready To Shine In 2024 Sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse will be tested playing opposite veteran Aydan White in the secondary. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 ■ 25