Kicker Collin Smith is Returning to NC State in 2024, Removing Name from Transfer Portal

News broke today that Kicker Collin Smith is removing his name from the Transfer Portal, and will be returning to NC State in 2024.

NC State kicker Collin Smith has withdrawn from the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.

He’s handled kickoff duty for the past two seasons at NC State. https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/ArthVLgwnm

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 12, 2024

On December 30th, Smith initially announced he was entering the Transfer Portal, but thankfully, he changed his mind.

Smith has handled kickoff duty for the past two seasons at NC State, but hasn’t won the job as the Wolfpack’s place kicker. Last season he was behind Groza Award winner Christopher Dunn, and this season he was behind Brayden Narveson, who transferred in last year from Western Kentucky.

While Smith has only served in the kickoff role the past two years, I expect him to compete for the Place Kicker role in 2024. I’m not saying he has been promised the job, but I can’t imagine he decided to come back if he wasn’t being highly considered for the role. Smith made 27 of his 41 Field Goal attempts at Guilford High School.

Considering that we don’t know who NC State’s Place Kicker will be in 2024, with the exodus of Brayden Narveson, knowing that Smith will be back in 2024 is great news.