NC State football position analysis: Offensive line
NC State football opens fall camp on July 31. Before the Wolfpack takes the practice field, it’s time to take a look at the team’s veteran offensive line.
Over the next month, TheWolfpacker.com will preview each of NC State’s position groups leading up to fall camp. Here’s our fourth installment focused entirely on the offensive line.
Spotlight Player
Graduate Zeke Correll
Correll brings a wealth of experience to the NC State offensive line with 32 career starts during his five seasons at Notre Dame. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native missed spring practice for the first time in his career, but that allowed him to grow more as a leader.
Now, going into the fall, offensive coordinator Robert Anae thought Correll’s ability to lead from the front will be an added bonus for the Wolfpack’s offense.
“He comes as a bonafide two-year starter,” Anae said. “Not just starting and having all of that under his belt, but being able to connect with his teammates here is just who he is. It has been a huge plus for the program.”
Projected depth chart
Starters
74 Anthony Belton, Gr., 6-6, 336, Tallahassee, Fla.
52 Timothy McKay, Gr., 6-4, 312, Raleigh, N.C.
56 Zeke Correll, Gr., 6-3, 307, Cincinnati, Ohio
75 Anthony Carter Jr., R-Jr., 6-3, 305, Charlotte, N.C.
65 Jacarrius Peak, R-So., 6-4, 285, Valdosta, Ga.
Backups
64 Rico Jackson, R-Fr., 6-6, 323, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
69 Dawson Jaramillo, Gr., 6-5, 305, Portland, Ore.
55 Rylan Vann, R-So., 6-1, 285, Cary, N.C.
66 Matt McCabe, R-Jr., 6-6, 302, Cary, N.C.
79 Kamen Smith, R-Fr., 6-5, 316, Wilkesboro, N.C.
Waiting in the wings
54 Val Erickson, R-So., 6-5, 324, Chicago, Ill.
50 Robby Martin, Fr., 6-3, 302, Huntington, W.Va.
72 Sean Hill, Gr., 6-3, 320, Snellville, Ga.
60 Trent Mitchell, Fr., 6-5, 290, Gastonia, N.C.
Positional Grades
Starters – 3.5 stars
Anytime a team can return the bulk of a starting unit is a good thing, but especially if it is on the offensive line. The Wolfpack have an experienced group that has played together for at least one season, except for Zeke Correll, but he’s a veteran and will be able to slide right in. NC State’s group excelled as the year went on last fall, and now they can pick up where they left off in Week 1 against Western Carolina.
Experience – 3.5 stars
A unit that has four players entering at least their fourth year of college football? Yeah, that’ll do. The Pack has a veteran-laden offensive line, paced by Anthony Belton, Timothy McKay and Correll. Peak, the youngest of the bunch, played 510 total snaps a year ago in his first season of significant action. He impressed during that time and will be able to build off that this fall.
Depth – 3 stars
The Pack has competitive depth built on the offensive line, led by former Oregon transfer Dawson Jaramillo, who is able to play nearly every position on the front. While he’s there with 22 games of experience with the Ducks, NC State has a lot of young faces that have developed in their time in Raleigh and are eager to make their presence known if called upon.
Overall – 3.5 stars
NC State’s offensive line is expected to be an integral part of the offense, allowing quarterback Grayson McCall and the Wolfpack’s skill players to make plays downfield. The Pack has a talented and versatile group on the front and the starters’ experience will be key in having a successful offensive unit this fall.
By the numbers
2,009: Correll’s total career snaps played in five seasons at Notre Dame.
32: The number of pancake blocks made by Peak over the last five games of the 2023 season.
4: How many positions Jaramillo has played on the offensive line in his collegiate career (left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle)
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