NC State is 4-4 heading into their first bye of the 2024 College Football season. Here’s a detailed statistical look at the Wolfpack’s Running Game through 8 games.

Rushing Yards

Kendrick Raphael – 287

Jordan Waters – 260

Hollywood Smothers – 157

CJ Bailey – 63

Carries

Jordan Waters – 56

Kendrick Raphael – 54

CJ Bailey – 49

Hollywood Smothers – 33

Grayson McCall – 19

Kevin Concepcion – 10

Yards Per Carry 

Kendrick Raphael – 5.3

Hollywood Smothers – 4.8

Jordan Waters – 3.9

Kevin Concepcion – 1.3

Rushing Touchdowns

Kendrick Raphael – 3

Jordan Waters – 2

CJ Bailey – 2

Hollywood Smothers – 1

Demarcus Jones – 1

Kevin Concepcion – 1

Yards After Contact Per Carry

Grayson McCall – 3.67

Hollywood Smothers – 3.36

Jordan Waters – 3.35

Kendrick Raphael – 3.28

CJ Bailey – 2.34

Missed Tackles Forced

CJ Bailey – 15

Kendrick Raphael – 15

Jordan Waters – 8

Hollywood Smothers – 6

Grayson McCall – 5

Carries of 10+ Yards

Kendrick Raphael – 8

Jordan Waters – 8

Hollywood Smothers – 6

CJ Bailey – 6

Grayson McCall – 3

1st Downs 

Jordan Waters – 16

Kendrick Raphael – 15

Hollywood Smothers – 8

CJ Bailey – 7

Rushing By Direction

NC State has struggled running on the outside to the left, and on the outside of the Right Tackle. The Wolfpack has found the most success running in between the Left Tackle and the Left Guard, in between the Left Guard and the Center and in between the Right Guard and the Right Tackle.

According to Brian Murphy of WRAL, NC State has scheduled a home-and-home football series with Kansas State, which will begin in 2027.

The Wolfpack lost to the Wildcats 19-28 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at the end of last season.

The first game of the series will be played on September 25th, 2027, in Raleigh, and the second game of the series will be played on September 18th, 2032, in Kansas.

NC State now is scheduled to play North Carolina A&T, Texas Tech and Kansas State in non-conference play in 2027, and currently, the game against Kansas State in 2032 is the only non-conference game on the schedule at this point.

Last year’s bowl game was the first time the two teams have ever played on another on the gridiron.

NC State is 4-4 heading into their first bye of the 2024 College Football season. Here’s a detailed statistical look at the Wolfpack’s receivers through 8 games.

Receptions

Kevin Concepcion – 43

Justin Joly – 26

Noah Rogers – 23

Dacari Collins – 14

Wesley Grimes – 13

Hollywood Smothers – 12

Terrell Anderson – 11

Jordan Waters – 9

Kendrick Raphael – 9

Keenan Jackson – 5

Receiving Yards

Justin Joly – 447

Kevin Concepcion – 365

Noah Rogers – 313

Hollywood Smothers – 175

Wesley Grimes – 168

Dacari Collins – 157

Terrell Anderson – 133

Touchdown Receptions

Kevin Concepcion – 4

Justin Joly – 2

Noah Rogers – 1

Hollywood Smothers – 1

Dacari Collins – 1

Terrell Anderson – 1

Jordan Waters – 1

Keenan Jackson – 1

Targets

Kevin Concepcion – 67

Justin Joly – 35

Noah Rogers – 30

Wesley Grimes – 19

Terrell Anderson – 18

Dacari Collins – 17

Kendrick Raphael – 14

Hollywood Smothers – 12

Jordan Waters – 12

Reception Percentage (10+ targets)

Hollywood Smothers – 100% (12/12)

Dacari Collins – 82.4% (14/17)

Jordan Waters – 75% – (9/12)

Justin Joly – 74.3% – (26/35)

Noah Rogers – 73.3% (22/30)

Wesley Grimes – 68.3% (13/19)

Kendrick Raphael – 64.3% (9/14)

Kevin Concepcion – 64.2% (43/67)

Terrell Anderson – 61.1% (11/18)

Yards Per Reception

Justin Joly – 17.2

Hollywood Smothers – 14.6

Noah Rogers – 14.0

Wesley Grimes – 12.9

Terrell Anderson – 12.1

Dacari Collins – 11.2

Jordan Waters – 10.9

Kevin Concepcion – 8.5

Kendrick Raphael – 4.7

Yards After Catch Per Reception 

Hollywood Smothers – 13.2

Jordan Waters – 8.7

Justin Joly – 6.7

Noah Rogers – 6.4

Terrell Anderson – 6.3

Kendrick Raphael – 6.2

Kevin Concepcion – 5.6

Wesley Grimes – 3.0

Dacari Collins – 1.9

Contested Catches (Contested Targets)

Justin Joly – 6 (7)

Dacari Collins – 3 (3)

Noah Rogers – 3 (6)

Dante Daniels – 1 (1)

Kendrick Raphael – 1 (2)

Wesley Grimes – 1 (4)

Kevin Concepcion – 1 (3)

Missed Tackles Forced

Justin Joly – 9

Hollywood Smothers – 9

Kevin Concepcion – 7

Kendrick Raphael – 5

Dacari Collins – 3

Noah Rogers – 2

1st Downs 

Justin Joly – 18

Kevin Concepcion – 18

Dacari Collins – 11

Noah Rogers – 11

Wesley Grimes – 9

Jordan Waters – 7

Terrell Anderson – 6

Keenan Jackson – 5

Hollywood Smothers – 5

PFF Receiving Grade

Hollywood Smothers – 91.4

Justin Joly – 74.4

Noah Rogers – 66.1

Jordan Waters – 65.7

Kevin Concepcion – 64.5

Dacari Collins – 64.1

Terrell Anderson – 61.7

Wesley Grimes – 59.8

Kendrick Raphael – 42.4

Drops

Kendrick Raphael – 3

Kevin Concepcion – 3

Dacari Collins – 2

Wesley Grimes – 2

Justin Joly – 2

Jordan Waters – 1

Terrell Anderson – 1

NC State Redshirt Senior Quarterback Grayson McCall announced this evening that he has made the very difficult decision to retire from the game of football. McCall, his family and brain specialists came to the hard decision that it wasn’t in the best interest for his future to continue to play the game he loves.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Grayson McCall (@1gray0)

Below is the transcript from the above post:

As a young kid I never wanted to watch cartoons or do things that most of the other kids were doing. As a young kid I wanted to watch football and run around with the ball in my hand. Throughout that time, I developed a deep love and passion for the game. Through God’s work and some pretty good genetics, I found out that I could be better than all the other kids if I just kept working at it. As I began to develop and grow, I envisioned this crazy dream for myself to grow up and be just like the guys I was watching on TV.

From Porter Ridge to Conway and this past year in Raleigh, this journey has been better than any dream I could’ve ever envisioned. This game has taken me places I never thought I would go, and has shaped my family and I in ways I never imagined. I have made so many memories that will stay with me forever, and I am so grateful for that.

Unfortunately, my dream has been cut just short. As you all know I have battled injuries my whole career, but this is one that I cannot come back from. I have done everything I can to continue, but this is where the good Lord has called me to serve in a different space. Brain specialists, my family, and I have come to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to hang the cleats up.

As I feel like my whole world is being taken from me, I feel some sense of contentment. Every time my feet hit the grass, I left every single ounce of myself on that field. I always played my hardest and to the best of my ability because I never knew what play would be my last. I have no regrets throughout my career and that is something I can be proud of. I want to use this time to show my appreciation to everyone who has been along for the ride. To my family, friends, teammates, fans and all the coaches who have poured into me over the years, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you all, none of this would have ever been possible.

I look forward to taking my passion and love for the game into the coaching space to serve and lead the next group of kids with a dream.

Thank you ❤️

McCall transferred to NC State this offseason after spending his first four seasons at Coastal Carolina, where he won the Sun Belt Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons. While he battled injuries throughout his career, he suffered a major concussion that forced him to miss the final 5 games of last season. Looking for a fresh start in Raleigh, tragically McCall suffered another serious concussion when the Wolfpack played Wake Forest this season.

It’s heart breaking for the game of football, which McCall loves so much, to be taken from him. With that being said, throughout this season, when he hasn’t been able to play on two separate occasions, NC State head coach Dave Doeren has emphasized numerous times that McCall was going to make a heck of a coach one day.

While this didn’t go according to plan, it looks like McCall will be pursuing a coaching career sooner than expected.

Grayson, you’re a warrior, a leader, and a heck of a young man! I’m praying for your health. I’m praying for your heart and mind as you process this. I’m praying for you to trust the Lord as he guides your next steps. May He fill you with wisdom and hope as you continue to live this life in step with Him.