The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
TRACKING THE PACK NUMBERS AND QUOTES Sponsored by Colony Tire & Service www.colonytire.com PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS PHOTO COURTESY KHY'LIEB RODRGUEZ PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS 18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER I never thought I'd be in North Carolina for this long, but it's been good to me. I'm blessed to be here." — Davion Dozier, senior wide receiver, who spent last season at Appalachian State and is now at NC State after starting off his college career at Arkansas The defense, once one of the nation's best, has ranked outside the SP+ top 60 in back-to-back years. The run defense was reason- ably disruptive last season, but the combination of a nonexistent pass rush and a young secondary led to far too many big plays allowed. Six defensive backs with at least 200 snaps return, and five are sophomores or juniors, as are transfers Ty White (North Carolina) and Ondre Evans (Georgia). The addi- tion of senior safety King Mack (Penn State) could be vital, but the most impor- tant new player might be edge rusher Harvey Dyson (Tulane), who recorded 8 sacks and 12 TFLs for the American Conference champ." — ESPN college football analyst Bill Connelly on the Wolfpack's defensive rebuild 165 Receiving yards by NC State commit KHY'LIEB RODRIGUEZ in the first half of his senior season opener. A three-star wide receiver from Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell High, Rodriguez was unstoppable in a 50-7 win over Cuthbertson High Aug. 21. He scored on each of his 4 catches and also had a 47-yard kickoff return. Rodriguez did not see action in the second half. 78.1 CJ Bailey's QBR score going into the 2026 season. NC State's junior signal-caller is ranked No. 7 nationally in the ESPN Total Quarterback Rating metric, which "incorpo- rates all of a quarterback's contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties." 29 29 Consecutive sellouts for the NC State foot- ball team through the first two games of the 2026 season. The Wolfpack has sold out every game in 56,919-seat CARTER-FINLEY STADIUM since its 27-14 victory over Texas Tech on Sept. 17, 2022. It's the longest sell- out streak in program history. 6 Consecutive victories by the NC State women's soccer team to open the 2026 season. Paced by senior forward JADE BORDELEAU, who scored a team- leading 8 goals, the Wolfpack defeated James Madison, VCU, Charlotte, Elon, High Point and Davidson by a combined margin of 22-4. This year's fast start marked the first time since 2008 that NC State won its first six games.