The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FACES OF THE FUTURE BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN F or the first time in three years, NC State didn't have to look outside the program for its starting quarterback. As a result, the Wolfpack has been able to focus during the offseason on the stable of signal-callers it already has on hand. Sophomore CJ Bailey headlines the position group after be- ing called upon due to Grayson McCall's two concussions last fall. He didn't just fill McCall's spot; Bailey took it by the horns and developed into one of the most successful freshmen in all of college football. The Miami native pushed Nebraska's Dylan Raiola for the top spot among freshman quarterbacks with 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns on 64.9 percent completions. Now, he's ready to build off that performance this fall. "He's experienced and he has chemistry with his team- mates. Last year, he didn't know any of his teammates. He's confident as a player, hungry as a player," NC State coach Dave Doeren said. "He's a returning starter instead of trying to learn an offense. All of that makes him a different person than he was." While Bailey is the star of the show, the Wolfpack is comfortable with his two up- a n d - co m i n g ba c k u ps : re d s h i r t sophomore Lex Thomas and true freshman Will Wilson. The duo did enough during spring practice that NC State didn't feel the need to find a veteran backup to sit behind Bailey. Thomas, the younger brother of former Pack standouts Drake and Thayer Thomas, redshirted his freshman campaign while recovering from a high school injury. He served as Bai- ley's primary backup after McCall went down, which led to his first collegiate action to close out the game at Clemson last fall. He tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to freshman wideout Terrell Anderson for the first score of his Wolfpack career. Wilson, meanwhile, arrived at NC State as a three-star prospect who could push to become the Wolfpack's starter once Bailey's time in Raleigh is over. He was an early en- rollee, joining the team for bowl practice after he accounted for 11,080 yards and 119 total touchdowns in his varsity career at Columbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast. Having a stable quarterback room is imperative, and for Do- eren, that goes deeper than just who the starter is. "When you know who has the job and who the backup is and who's the third, it helps," he said. "Our competition is not at the top, it's more with Lex and Will. It's them learning to make sure our No. 2 and No. 3 are ready." ❱ ❱ ❱ QUARTERBACKS PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT PLAYER SOPHOMORE CJ BAILEY Bailey took the program by storm a year ago, helping lead the Wolfpack to bowl eligibility, an effort that included a come- from-behind win at UNC. His infectious smile won the hearts of many in the NC State fan base, but what's something that most people don't know about the Pack's 6-foot-6 signal-caller? NC State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper was impressed with Bailey's ability to use social media and video games in his free time. "It's funny, I'm getting older and learning the youth of today and what they're capable of doing with technology," Roper said with a grin. "CJ's got a total grasp of that." BY THE NUMBERS 2nd CJ Bailey's national rank among true freshman quarterbacks with 2,413 passing yards, despite starting just nine games. 64.9 Bailey's completion rate from his debut season, setting a program record for an NC State freshman. 11,080 Yards of total offense (passing and rushing) gained by Will Wilson in his varsity career at Columbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★ ½ CJ Bailey proved to be one of the top freshman quarterbacks in 2024 as he settled into his role. The signal-caller didn't look rattled, even in his first career start at Clemson. Now, he's looking to take a step forward after a full offseason as the team's starting quarterback. EXPERIENCE ★ ½ Although Bailey was able to impress in his nine starts last season, he's the only player in the room to have played more than 14 snaps in a game. Lex Thomas tossed a fourth-quarter touchdown pass at Clemson last season, but he has only played 26 total snaps in his college career. Will Wilson is a true freshman. DEPTH ★ ½ NC State didn't feel the need to dip into the transfer por- tal to find a backup quarterback this offseason. The Wolf- pack staff is confident in both Thomas and Wilson, allowing them to battle for the primary reserve role this fall. OVERALL GRADE ★★ Bailey has tremendous upside and potential as NC State's face of the program. The Wolfpack hasn't had a young signal-caller with this much promise in some time, so it presents an opportunity for him to take the league by storm this fall. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown 11 CJ Bailey So. 6-6 210 Miami BACKUP 2 Lex Thomas R-So. 5-11 196 Wake Forest, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS 10 Will Wilson Fr. 6-1 228 Columbia, S.C. CJ BAILEY