It’s clear that Jordan Waters is NC State’s starting Running Back heading into the 2024 season, but who will be #2 on the Depth Chart? In the Spring Game, Sophomore Kendrick Raphael functioned in that role. I don’t think that’s a guarantee that he will be the #2 Running Back when the Fall rolls around. Redshirt Sophomore Hollywood Smothers might have something to say about that, but nonetheless, Raphael went out their 2nd, and made the most of his opportunities.

With that being said, it’s worth noting Raphael rushed the ball 3 times for times for 39 yards and a touchdown, and also caught one pass.

Check out his tape from the Spring Game.

With NC State having Wide Receiver Julian Gray announce he was entering the Transfer Portal, I thought it was a good time to look at who has transferred out, and who has transferred in.

NC State has had 23 players enter the Transfer Portal

DT Nick Campbell
WR Julian Gray
RB Delbert Mimms III – Eastern Michigan
TE Fred Seabrough
Nickel Cecil Powell – Troy
WR Christopher Scott – Austin Peay
OL Jaleel Davis – Florida International
WR Josh Crabtree – Murray St. 
OL Lyndon Cooper – Pitt
WR Terrell Timmons – Colorado
LB Torren Wright – Temple
NT C.J. Clark – Miami
QB MJ Morris – Maryland
S Jakeen Harris – UNC
TE Cedd Seabrough – West Georgia
WR Porter Rooks – Eastern Michigan
DB Nate Evans – Delaware
LB Daejuan Thompson
RB Jordan Houston – Marshall
RB Michael Allen – UNLV
DB Darius Edmundson – UNC-Pembroke
WR Anthony Smith – East Carolina
TE Christopher Toudle – Western Michigan 

NC State has had 9 Players Transfer In (Transfer Class Ranks 5th According to ON3)

TE Justin Joly – from UCONN
OL Valen Erickson – from Missouri  
C Zeke Correll – from Notre Dame
WR Noah Rogers – from Ohio St.
WR Wesley Grimes – from Wake Forest
RB Jordan Waters – from Duke 
RB Hollywood Smothers – from Oklahoma 
S Donovan Kaufman – from Auburn
LB Cam Riley – from Auburn 

NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray announced today that he will be entering the Transfer Portal.

This past season, Gray had career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (170). He ranked 4th on the team in receptions, and 7th on the team in receiving yards.

Gray has served as NC State’s primary Kickoff Returner the past two seasons, averaging 24.9 yards per return. This past year, he averaged 26.0 yards per carry, which ranked 3rd in the ACC, and 11th nationally. It stands as the 5th best single-season average in school history.

Back in 2021, ON3 ranked Gray as a 4-star prospect, the #197 overall player nationally, and the #13 player in the state of North Carolina.

For the past two seasons, Gray has carried a lot of preseason hype that hasn’t ultimately materialized in the season. I’m not saying that’s Gray’s fault, or his role in the offensive scheme. It is what it is, but with the influx of talented Wide Receivers that the Wolfpack brought in through the Portal and the High School ranks, it seems like Gray if he was looking for an increased role in 2024, it probably wasn’t going to be in Raleigh.

Gray has 2 more years of eligibility remaining.

Junior Wesley Grimes, who transferred to NC State after playing his first to seasons at Wake Forest this offseason, stole the show at the Wolfpack’s 2024 Spring Game, reeling in touchdowns of 30 yards and 90 yards.

Grimes led NC State in receiving yards and touchdown receptions in the contest.

Check out his tape from the Spring Game.

As a Sophomore this past season, Grimes caught 20 passes for 339 yards and 4 touchdowns in 12 games. As a True Freshman the year  before, he played in 6 games, collecting 4 receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown.

In all reality, Grimes is coming home. He was a 4-Star prospect out of Millbrook High School here in Raleigh. ON3, 247Sports and Rivals all ranked Grimes as a Top-250 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, with Rivals ranking him as the #36 overall player nationally, the #4 Wide Receiver, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

Back in 2021, Grimes chose the Demon Deacons over NC State, Tennessee, Duke and Louisville. On December 8th, 2023, Grimes decided to come back home and run with the Pack.