The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532241
MARCH/APRIL 2025 ■ 35 BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN A fter spending the first portion of its offseason inside the Murphy Center conducting winter workouts, NC State is getting set to take the field for spring practice. The sessions are set to begin Feb. 25. After finishing 6-7 with a Military Bowl appearance in 2024, the Wolfpack is looking to build momentum to reach at least eight wins for the seventh time in a nine-year stretch under coach Dave Doeren. NC State was able to retain most of its talent, while it bolstered areas of need through the transfer portal. Now it will look to use the 15-practice slate to establish chemistry across the board. The 2025 season is still seven months away, but there are a number of press- ing questions that NC State will need to answer. Below are three of the biggest heading into spring drills. 1. How will CJ Bailey continue his improvement? This is a pivotal time for the rising sophomore quarterback, who made eight starts in relief of injured signal- caller Grayson McCall during a season that was supposed to be a learning ex- perience. Although his promotion had been unexpected, Bailey made a strong first impression, throwing for 2,413 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 10 in- terceptions. This spring, Bailey will be focused on improving in two areas. The first is physical; he aims to add weight to his 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame. The second has to do with his com- mand of NC State's offense and his un- derstanding of how opposing defenses will try to attack it. Bailey is working to not only continue his momentum from last year, but he will do it in a new sys- tem under offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. Dissecting what players learn by watching film and using that informa- tion to further their development are key elements of Roper's approach. He expects Bailey to thrive in those areas. "I really teach football in three phases," Roper said. "You've got to know the system, one. You have to un- derstand situational football, two. And then you have to really start to grasp what defenses are trying to do. All of those are never-ending, so he's working on that part of it in the film room." 2. How is the offensive line shap- ing up? NC State's front five will have a new look in 2025. Standout left tackle An- thony Belton, center Zeke Correll and right guard Timothy McKay have ex- hausted their eligibility and are going through the NFL Draft process. That leaves three vacancies to be filled in the weeks and months ahead. Redshirt junior tackle Jacarrius Peak is expected to slide into Belton's spot on the left side, which will create a brand new right side of the offensive front. Those three positions — center, right guard and right tackle — are up for grabs. Purdue transfer Jalen Grant and freshman Spike Sowells are viewed as the top two options at center, while red- shirt junior Val Erickson and redshirt sophomore Kamen Smith appear to be the leading contenders at right guard. Utah State transfer Teague Andersen looks like the leader at right tackle, but don't be surprised if redshirt freshmen Trent Mitchell and Tyler West push the experienced lineman throughout the practice slate. 3. Who will emerge to fill vacan- cies on defense? While new coordinator D.J. Eliot will keep the same 3-3 stack base look that NC State deployed under Tony Gibson the past four seasons, he will alter pieces of it. NC State will be multiple this fall, allowing for a true edge rusher to have a consistent role within the Wolfpack's system. Who will fill that spot? NC State has competition there. Temple transfer Tra Thomas, who played in Eliot's scheme during his freshman season, is a con- tender, while redshirt sophomore Kel- von McBride and redshirt freshman Eli- jah Groves could also fill that role. In addition to edge rushers, the Pack has to replace several players in the sec- ondary due to transfer portal exits or exhausted eligibility. Temple transfer Jamel Johnson seems primed to take one of the starting outside cornerback spots, while Georgia State transfer JJ Johnson appears to be the leader at free safety. Strong safety is a wild card, with a trio of young players — redshirt soph- omores Daemon Fagan and Zack Myers, and redshirt freshman Ronnie Royal III — vying for the starting spot. ■ Rising sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey will be looking to build on a debut season in which he started eight games and threw for 2,413 yards. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL Three Questions For NC State Heading Into Spring Practice