North Carolina State Wolfpack 2024 Preview and Predictions

(WR Kevin Concepcion – 247Sports)

Key Players Returning:

RB Kendrick Raphael, WR Kevin Concepcion, OG Timothy McKay, OT Anthony Belton, OT Jacarrius Peak, DE Red Hibbler, DE Davin Vann, NT Brandon Cleveland, LB Sean Brown, LB Caden Fordham, CB Aydan White, SS Devan Boykin, SS Bishop Fitzgerald, PR Jalen Coit, and PT Caden Noonkester.

Key Players Departing:

QB Brennan Armstrong, QB Devin Leary (Ravens R6), QB MJ Morris (Maryland transfer), WR Keyon Lesane, OC Dylan McMahon (Eagles R6), OG Dawson Jaramillo, DT CJ Clark (Miami, FL transfer), DT Savion Jackson, LB Payton Wilson (Steelers R3), LB Jaylon Scott, CB Shyheim Battle, NB Robert Kennedy, FS Sean Brown, KR Julian Gray (Liberty transfer), and PK Brayden Narveson.

(WR Terrell Anderson – Inside Carolina)

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
WR Terrell Anderson (Greensboro, North Carolina), LB Elijah Groves (Cross Plains, Tennessee), ATH Jonathan Paylor (Burlington, North Carolina), WR Noah Rogers (Ohio State transfer), TE Justin Joly (UCONN transfer), RB Jordan Waters (Duke transfer), QB Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina transfer), and ATH Ronnie Royal III (Gulf Shores, Alabama).

3 Star Recruits:  OL Zeke Correll (Notre Dame transfer), and QB Cedrick Bailey (Hollywood, Florida).

2023 Results:

G01  @ UCONN  W  24-14
G02  #10 NOTRE DAME  L  24-45
G03  VMI  W  45-7
G04  @ Virginia  W  24-21
G05  LOUISVILLE  L  10-13
G06  MARSHALL  W  48-41
G07  @ #17 Duke  L  3-24
G08  CLEMSON  W  24-17
G09  MIAMI  W  20-6
G10  @ Wake Forest  W  26-6
G11  @ Virginia Tech  W  35-28
G12  NORTH CAROLINA  W  39-20
BOWL  vs. #25 Kansas State  L  19-28

Misc. Team Information:

2023 Record:  9-4 (3rd in ACC)

Home:  5-2
Away:  4-1
Neutral:  0-1
ACC:  6-2
Non-AAC:  3-2

Head Coach:  Dave Doeren

NC State:  81-58
Career:   104-62
Bowls:  4-5

(DE Davin Vann – 247Sports)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  Kevin Concepcion (1-3, 17 yards, 33.3%, 5.7 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing:  Kevin Concepcion (41 car., 320 yards, 7.8 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving:  Kevin Concepcion (71 rec., 839 yards, 11.8 avg., 10 TD)
TDs Scored:  Kevin Concepcion (10)
Sacks:  Davin Vann (5)
Tackles:  Sean Brown (66)
Tackles For Loss:  Davin Vann (7)
Interceptions:  Devan Boykin (3)
Pass Deflections:  Aydan White (10)
Forced Fumbles:  Brandon Cleveland (2)
Kick Returns:  Julian Gray (17 ret., 442 yards, 26.0 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  Jalen Coit (16 ret., 166 yards, 10.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Kanoah Vinesett (0-0 fg/fga., 0%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 1 point)
Punting:  Caden Noonkester (71 punts, 3022 yards, 42.6 avg., 25 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  2  Grayson McCall  (GR/TR)
RB:  7  Jordan Waters  (GR/TR)
WR:  6 Wesley Grimes (JR/TR)
WR:  5  Noah Rogers  (RS FR/TR)
WR:  10  Kevin Concepcion  (SO)
WR:  15  Justin Joly  (JR/TR)
LT:  74  Anthony Belton  (GR/TR)
LG:  75  Anthony Carter Jr.  (RS JR)
OC:  56  Zeke Correll  (GR/TR)
RG:  52  Timothy McKay  (GR)
RT:  65  Jacarrius Peak  (RS SO)
KR:  0 Kendrick Raphael (SO)
PK:  94  Kanoah Vinesett  (RS SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  1  Davin Vann  (SR)
NT:  44  Brandon Cleveland  (JR)
DE:  13  Travali Price  (RS JR)
LB:  0  Sean Brown  (RS JR)
LB:  10  Caden Fordham  (RS JR)
LB:  8 Devon Betty (SR)
NB:  11  Ja’Had Carter  (SR/TR)
CB:  2  Brandon Cisse  (SO)
CB:  3  Aydan White  (SR)
FS:  5  DK Kaufman  (GR/TR)
SS:  12  Devan Boykin  (GR)
PR:  21  Jalen Coit  (RS JR)
PT:  98  Caden Noonkester  (RS JR)

(CB Aydan White – USA Today Sports)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  A
Kickers:  C
Punters:  B

Schedule:

08/29 
WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS  |  NC State leads the series 7-0.  The Wolfpack won (41-0) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

09/07  vs. Tennessee Volunteers  |  NC State trails the series 1-2.  The Wolfpack lost (21-35) the last meeting between schools in 2012.

09/14  LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS  |  NC State leads the series 2-0.  The Wolfpack won (3-27) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

09/21  @ Clemson Tigers  |  NC State trails the series 30-60-1.  The Wolfpack are 2-7 since 2014, and their last series loss (20-30) was in 2022.

09/28  NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES  |  NC State won (41-14) the last meeting between schools in 1997.

10/05  WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS  |  NC State leads the series 69-42-6.  The Wolfpack are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series loss (42-45) was in 2021.

10/12  SYRACUSE ORANGE  |  NC State leads the series 13-3.  The Wolfpack lost (9-24) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

10/19  @ California Golden Bears  |  First meeting between schools.

11/02  STANFORD CARDINAL  |  First meeting between schools.

11/09  DUKE BLUE DEVILS  |  NC State trails the series 37-42-5.  The Wolfpack lost (3-24) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (31-20) was at the prior meeting in 2020.

11/21  @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets  |  NC State trails the series 11-20.  The Wolfpack won (23-13) the last meeting between schools in 2020.

11/30  @ North Carolina Tar Heels  |  NC State trails the series 39-68-6.  The Wolfpack are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-48) was in 2020.

Predictions:

Home:  7-0
Road:  1-3
Neutral:  1-0
ACC:  5-3
Non-ACC:  4-0

Overall:  9-3 (5th in ACC)