The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 ■ 29 completed 8 of 19 passes for 136 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. In the process, he showed the ability to rally his team around him, proving to the coaching staff that he was even more gifted than they realized. "You just knew there was something special about him," Jones said. "He hates losing. He prepares himself to make sure he's a winner. And when he's out there in the midst of it and things aren't going well, he's that voice you hear to rally everybody." Winning was all Bailey knew when he was a rising star in South Florida. As part of the Miami Gardens Ravens, he claimed national championships as if they were second nature; at Chami- nade-Madonna, he battled some of the best prep players in the nation and came away with a pair of state titles. Although he's 12-11 as a collegiate starting quarterback — including a 4-5 mark as a true freshman when he was forced to step in for an injured Grayson McCall — Bailey has the trust of every- one in Raleigh. He's looking to put it all together in what could be a breakout junior campaign, setting a lofty goal for himself this fall. "I want to prove that I'm the best quar- terback in the country," Bailey said at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte in late July. "I've got to work. I'm going to keep working every day. Winning more games is where it's going to show. I always believe in myself. I'm confident in what I can do. I'm going to put the world on notice this year." If that were to happen, NC State could be in position to compete for its first ACC championship since 1979. That story could live just as long (or longer) as those that have followed Bailey through his entire career to this point, and they'd make for quite a Miami Gardens Ravens reunion down the road. ■ Will Wilson was such a fixture in NC State's short-yardage offense as a true fresh- man last season that he became known in the Murphy Center as "Fourth-and-Will." The Wolfpack installed a package aimed at taking full advantage of Wilson's 6-foot-1, 227-pound frame, and it worked just as the staff had hoped. Of the backup quarterback's 43 carries, 29 resulted in first downs and 10 produced touchdowns. He led the team in rushing scores and totaled 146 yards. Now a sophomore, Wilson is again going to see action, but this year's role may differ from last year's. "Will did a hell of a job last year," head coach Dave Doeren said. "He has really improved as a passer as well. His menu of plays will be way different. Every year, it's a different offense when it comes to short yardage. You have to see how your O-line is put together; we had three senior tight ends who were pretty good in that package, too, and they're all gone." Wilson, a former three-star recruit, was a standout quarterback at the high school level with 2,482 passing yards and 42 total touchdowns as a senior at Co - lumbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast. But he didn't show off his passing skills during his debut season with the Pack. Looking like a quarterback who needed time in a college system, Wilson went 3-of-5 passing for 16 yards and an interception in NC State's 56-10 victory over Campbell last October. Wilson spent the offseason working to develop all facets of his game, knowing that he's only one play away from being the Pack's quarterback. Sophomore tight end Preston Douglas was one of his frequent targets on the practice field and said Wilson has made impressive strides as a passer. "He's actually developed a lot," Douglas said. "We saw a lot of run-game stuff from him, which he can still do at a high level, but he's really developing as a quar - terback. He's improved throwing the ball and accuracy. It's looking really good." Douglas isn't alone in that assessment. A source told The Wolfpacker that the sophomore has become more patient as a passer, going through his progressions with ease while exhibiting better footwork. Those factors have allowed Wilson to hit his targets more consistently, the source added. From the perspective of Kurt Roper, NC State's offensive coordinator and quar - terbacks coach, Wilson has continued to take the correct steps in his develop- ment as a collegiate signal-caller. "I say this all the time. There are a lot of guys who can throw the football; there are very few who can pass the football," Roper said. "Passing incorporates a con- cept, a protection, a coverage and a decision. Throwing the ball is just a guy going out there on air. Will is outstanding; it's not like he's had to grow as a thrower. "His understanding of what we're doing systematically is growing. His under- standing of concepts, reads, coverages and just experience now being in the system, you see him ascending in the right way." If there's any program that knows the importance of a good backup quar- terback, it's NC State. Last year, Bailey became the first Wolfpack signal- caller since Devin Leary in 2021 to start every game. From 2022-24, the Pack deployed seven starters under center: Leary (six starts), Ben Finley (two), MJ Morris (six), Jack Chambers (three), Brennan Armstrong (nine), Grayson McCall (four) and Bailey (nine). NC State would like to keep Bailey on the field for every game once again this fall. He bulked up to 218 pounds to prepare his body for another year of playing in the ACC, but if anything happens to the alpha leader of the unit, NC State's of- fense has the ultimate belief in Wilson. "If anything goes down," Douglas said, "he's definitely ready to go." — Noah Fleischman Will Wilson Looks To Build On An Impactful Debut Season Wilson led the Wolfpack with 10 rushing touchdowns as a true freshman. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS