5 players who could take NC State’s season from good to great
NC State football brought in a ton of talent this offseason, looking to continue its positive momentum coming off of 9-win year in 2023. This year, the Wolfpack wants to take home the ACC title and reach the College Football Playoff.
The stars of this team are well-known at this point. Sophomore wide receiver KC Concepcion and senior cornerback Aydan White both made the preseason All-ACC squad. Defensive lineman Davin Vann and graduate left tackle Anthony Belton will likely be NFL players by this time next year.
Incoming transfer stars— graduate quarterback Grayson McCall and graduate running back Jordan Waters— will provide consistency to the Pack backfield.
In addition to that core, NC State will look to a promising group of emerging players who could leap into the national spotlight with standout 2024 seasons. The performances of those athletes will determine the ceiling of this squad.
Redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown
Sean Brown will take on the Will linebacker role this season, and he looks like the perfect player to fill the void left by Payton Wilson. Is it realistic to say he reaches the heights of the All-American’s 2023 season? No, but everything TheWolfpacker.com has heard about the converted safety indicates he could be really, really good.
He’s around 215 pounds right now, so he’ll play at a lighter weight than most linebackers. That’s not a concern for the staff. As a 200-pound safety last fall, he spent 197 snaps in the box and missed 4 tackles— 6.1 percent of his attempts. Expectations for him are very high, and it sounds like he’s taking noticeable steps forward as a leader as well.
If he can pace the Pack in tackles, that likely means this linebacker group successfully minimized any potential drop off from last season.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Travali Price
NC State needs someone to step up at defensive end following Savion Jackson’s departure, and Travali Price has absolutely crushed this offseason. The redshirt junior played a ton last fall and recorded 13 total tackles. After really impressing the coaches and the strength staff over the past few months, he appears ready to take a leap.
Jackson did not put up massive numbers during his Wolfpack career, but he was a great player who filled his role in the three-man front extremely well. His 40 tackles last fall leaves a sizable production gap, and Price needs to have a break out season to continue NC State’s standard of play along the defensive line.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers
Noah Rogers has the potential to be great. That was clear when he was a high school recruit, and the buzz around him coming out of spring practice and over the first week of camp continues to be extremely positive. He is on pace to be a dominant outside receiver at some point in his career.
With all of the hype around Rogers, it’s important to remember he’s only a redshirt freshman. His game-changing potential might not come together immediately, but he’s so talented and should develop extremely quickly as he accrues game reps. Rogers has the chance to be NC State’s top outside receiver this fall, and the level of play he reaches during his first season in Raleigh will have a significant impact on how good this passing game can be.
Sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse
Multiple members of NC State’s coaching staff expect Brandon Cisse to emerge as a key contributor for the Wolfpack this fall. He appears to be the favorite to start alongside Aydan White. If he wins that battle, it’s great news for the Pack because that means he has progressed beyond Maryland transfer and experienced, reliable cornerback Corey Coley.
NC State will be deep in the secondary regardless of Cisse’s development. Cornerbacks Devon Marshall, Jackson Vick and Coley fill out a talented rotation. If the hype around the second-year athlete is legit, then he will help solidify one of the most talented defensive back units in the ACC and possibly in the country. White will likely shut down his side of the field for a third year in a row, which means Cisse is probably going to receive plenty of targets. His ball production numbers could be elite this fall if he can make the plays.
Junior tight end Justin Joly
Will NC State have two All-ACC pass catchers this year? Justin Joly could help make that happen. The No. 2-ranked transfer tight end picked the Pack over of plenty of Power Four options after leaving UConn and to be a perfect for what offensive coordinator Robert Anae looks for in his flex-y receivers.
Joly played a huge role in his former school’s offense last fall, leading the Huskies in receptions (56), receiving yards (578) and tying the team-best for touchdowns (2). Improved quarterback play with McCall under center and more overall offensive firepower— UConn scored more than 30 points twice last fall— should give the Wolfpack tight end a chance to emerge into the spotlight.
If NC State takes the field with a consistent, explosive tight end, it dramatically increases the ceiling of Anae’s offense.
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