The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530878
26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN oing into the December transfer portal window, NC State needed to be proactive. The Wolfpack went 6-6 this fall and it knew other teams were circling like vultures to take pieces of its roster for their own good going into the 2025 campaign. NC State's coaching staff compiled a list of 18 to 20 players that were essen- tial in keeping on the roster as the top priorities, which they later shared with 1Pack NIL, the collective that supports Wolfpack athletics. That teamwork allowed the two sides to be aligned on where to allocate re- sources moving into the 2025 season. The collective was able to take that list of priorities from coach Dave Doeren and his staff to match what it was going to do to keep as much of the group together as possible. "We're able to adapt to that appropri- ately, knowing that many of our student- athletes would have other opportunities if they went in the transfer portal," 1Pack executive director Chris Vurnakes said. "We didn't even want them to consider going into the transfer portal. We wanted to provide the means necessary to keep them in Raleigh with no doubt." NC State was able to be successful in that. The first announcement was argu- ably the biggest. Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey re-signed with the collective to affirm his commitment for the fu- ture. Redshirt freshman running back Hollywood Smothers followed, and that snowballed with junior tight end Justin Joly being the most recent major sign- ing. The collective has announced 22 NIL deals to keep players at NC State, though it has agreed and signed more than 50 since the regular season con- cluded. The coaching staff and collective entered the offseason with a wish list G After the Wolfpack gained bowl eligibility with a win over North Carolina, Dave Doeren and his staff turned their attention to the transfer portal in the hope of retaining the key players who helped the team rally this season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL RETENTION BONUS A Strong NIL Initiative Has Boosted NC State By Helping It Hold Onto Key Players