NC State Football’s Depth Chart vs. Western Carolina (with notes)

NC State has released their Depth Chart for the Football season opener next Thursday night against Western Carolina.

Notes

• Former Walk-On Graduate Matt McCabe ran out with the 1’s in the first Fall Practice, but it isn’t shocking to see Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr. as the starter. Carter Jr. started in 12 of 13 games last season.
  • McCabe, who isn’t a Tight End, is listed as the starting Tight End. This is reminiscent of the Wolfpack starting Jacarrius Peak at Tight End last year to get another blocker on the Offensive Line.
• Graduate Dawson Jaramillo was the 2nd String Center at the first Fall practice, but is listed as the 2nd String Left Guard. Jaramillo is extremely versatile, playing all over the Offensive Line at Oregon before transferring to NC State.
  • Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann, Davin Vann’s brother, is listed as the 2nd String Center.
• Sophomore Kendrick Raphael is the #2 Running Back behind Jordan Waters, but there is an “or” in between his name and Redshirt Freshman Hollywood Smothers (transfer from Oklahoma).
  • True Freshman Duke Scott, who Doeren raves about, is listed 4th.
• Redshirt Sophomore DJ Jackson is listed as the 2nd String Nose Tackle, but I expect Senior Colorado Transfer Chazz Wallace to push him for that spot as the season progresses.
• True Freshman Jonathan Paylor is listed as the #3 at Inside Wide Receiver behind Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit. Paylor arrived in the Summer, but I expect the more familiar he gets with the offense, it will be hard to keep him off of the field.
• Junior Wesley Grimes (transfer from Wake Forest) is the #2 behind Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers (transfer from Ohio St.).
  • True Freshman Keenan Jackson is at the #3 spot. He had an incredible Fall camp, with his name being dropped in a complimentary manner by coaches in media availability on a regular basis.
• True Freshman Terrell Anderson is listed as the backup to Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins.
  • Anderson was the #50 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class according to ON3, tying him as the 12th highest Wolfpack recruiting commit since 2002.
• Redshirt Freshman Isaiah Shirley is listed as the third string Right Defensive End, but Doeren said at today’s press conference that he will also come over to play blocking Tight End some like he did last year.
• There is an “or” in between Sophomore Brandon Cisse and Senior Corey Coley at Cornerback.
  • I think Cisse is established as the starter, but having a backup with as much experience as Coley (transfer from Maryland) is extremely valuable. He will definetly see the field.
• Senior Bishop Fitzgerald is starting at Strong Safety, with Devan Boykin recovering from ACL surgery. Fitzgerald played in all 13 games last season, starting in 3.
  • When Boykin returns to full health, I expect him to reclaim his spot, with Fitzgerald still playing significant snaps in rotation.
  • Backing up Fitzgerald at Strong Safety is Senior KJ Martin, who earned 3rd Team All-MAC honors at Akron last year.
• Redshirt Junior Rente Hinton has moved from Cornerback to Free Safety, and is backing up Senior DK Kaufman, who transferred in from Auburn this Spring.
• Junior Devon Marshall, who transferred in from Villanova, is backing up Senior Aydan White at Cornerback.
  • Redshirt Sophomore Jackson Vick is at 3rd String, and Doeren spoke highly of his development this Fall today.
• Both Jalen Coit and Sophomore Kevin Concepcion will be returning punts.
• Hollywood Smothers will be returning kickoffs.