NC State 2024 Quarterback Preview

For the second straight year, NC State is heading into the season with a Transfer Quarterback in the starting spot. Last year, it was Brennan Armstrong, who transferred in from UVA. This year, it is Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina.

McCall is the starter. There is no debate here.

He is backed up by 2 scholarship QB’s: True Freshman CJ Bailey and Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas.

McCall played 4 seasons at Coastal Carolina, winning the Sun Belt Player of the Year Award the first three years. Last season, McCall started the first 7 games, but missed the remainder of the season after suffering a concussion.

If you take a look at McCall’s career numbers at Coastal, you’re looking at video game statistics. For context, his Passing Efficiency Rating numbers in each of his first three seasons are higher than any player in the history of NC State Football.

178.4 Passing Efficiency Rating
88 Touchdowns/14 Interceptions
69.9% Completion Percentage
1,113 Rushing Yards
18 Rushing Touchdowns

Prior to last season, McCall had never thrown more than 3 interceptions in a single season.

His PFF numbers at Coastal were extremely impressive as well.

You might notice that McCall’s numbers were down last season from the previous three years. In 2023, Coastal lost Head Coach Jamey Chadwell to Liberty, and brought in former NC State Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck as their new Head Coach. Beck brought in a completely new offensive system.

What is NC State getting in McCall?

McCall brings a wealth of experience to the Quarterback room. He is entering his 6th year of College Football. After redshirting in 2019, McCall was a starter at Coastal the next 4 years, starting in 38 consecutive games.

McCall knows how to win football games.

As a starter, McCall went 35-10 with the Chanticleers.

2020: 11-1
2021: 11-2
2022: 9-4
2023: 4-3

McCall is an extremely accurate passer, who rarely makes mistakes. His low interception rate isn’t an indication that he has an aversion to making difficult passes. It’s simply a testament to his accuracy. McCall has the ability to thread the needle and throw beautiful passes over the receivers shoulder. He has nice touch on his deep ball as well, though he doesn’t have cannon. McCall is a mobile Quarterback, and possess the ability to throw on the run, or while he is scrambling in the pocket.

Under Chadwell, Coastal ran a Triple-Option offense. McCall is extremely effective using his legs, giving NC State another weapon to use. In his career, he has rushed for 1,113 yards and 18 touchdowns.

We already know that NC State Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae’s offense has a lot of complexities, but he has stated that McCall is the best Quarterback he’s had at mastering the Offense at a high level. That’s saying something.

If there is a question mark regarding McCall, it’s whether or not the success he has experienced will translate to the ACC. This is in no way meant smear the Sun Belt, but there is no denying that ACC Football is a step up in competition. What will the learning curve be like for McCall?

Who is behind McCall?

There was some thought in the offseason that the Wolfpack might go out and snag a backup Quarterback from the Transfer Portal, but the fact that they didn’t, reveals the confidence the coaches have in Bailey.

All rumblings from practice are that Bailey looks like he will be a superstar Quarterback when his time comes. By not getting a Quarterback in the Portal, it’s clear that the Coaching Staff is confident putting the ball in Bailey’s hands this year, if McCall were to get injured. Also, it seems like a clear message that the ball will be placed in Bailey’s hands next season as a Redshirt Freshman after McCall leaves.

Bailey was a 4-Star prospect in the Wolfpack’s 2024 recruiting class out of Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood Florida, which was one of the best High School football teams in the nation. Last season his top two receivers were Jeremiah Smith, Zaquan Patterson and Joshisa Trader. Smith was the #1 player in the whole entire class according to 3 of the 4 national recruiting databases, and is playing at Ohio St. this year. Patterson and Trader both were ranked in the Top-60 nationally, and both committed to Miami.

Bailey led Chaminade to a state championship down in Florida last season, finishing with an undefeated record. He threw for 3,125 yards, completing 71.4% of his passes. Bailey’s touchdown/interception ratio was insane, throwing 47 touchdowns, compared to 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Behind Bailey is Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas, the brother of Thayer and Drake Thomas. Lex was a 3-Star prospect out of Heritage High School down the road in Wake Forest.