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NC State’s Wesley Grimes Feels Good Being Back Home

Published

2 months ago

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When Wake Forest Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes announced he was transferring to NC State on December 8th, he was committing to come back home.

Before playing his first two years of college football at Wake Forest, Grimes was a 4-star prospect at Millbrook High School, right down the road from NC State 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.

For Grimes, Raleigh is home.

“It feels great. I feel real comfortable. I’ve trained in this facility a lot,” said Grimes. “I’ve worked out here a lot. I’m used to a lot of the stuff around here. So playing here feels like home.”

Home is a place, but home is also people. Grimes isn’t just coming home to a place on a map that is familiar. He’s also coming back to people he grew up playing football with, dating all the way back to 4th and 5th grade.

“It feels great (playing with Noah Rogers). It’s not just Noah. I played with Coelson (Fields) in Pop Warner. I played with Lex (Thomas) in Pop Warner,” said Grimes. “Just a bunch of guys I played with around Middle School age, 5th grade…4th grade. I played 7-on-7 with Keenan (Jackson). I knew of Terrell (Anderson). We’re all close. Being back with everyone is a good feeling. When you play with your brothers, it’s a fun time again.”

Maybe the most noteworthy connection Grimes had was with Noah Rogers, who like Grimes, just transferred back to Raleigh (from Ohio St.). Grimes played for Millbrook, and Rogers played for Rolesville, but the connection went back way further than that.

“Noah (Rogers) and I started playing Pop Warner together in 3rd or 4th grade. We played against each other. I played for Cap City and he played for North Raleigh,” said Grimes. “7th grade year we went to Disney, and got close. We started training in Covid a lot together, and got real close. In High School we played against each other. We’ve always been competing, getting each other better.”

Check out the highlight reel of Grimes and Rogers that went viral a few years back.

In the end, some of the players Grimes had connections with went to NC State, while others, went elsewhere, like himself. Nonetheless, like Grimes, they all found their way back home.

“Out of high school, we definitely talked about it a little bit, but we all went our different ways,” said Grimes. “We were all at different times, and we decided to go our separate ways, but in kind of a full circle moment, we all ended up in the same place, and it all worked out for the better.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown

Published

11 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

By

Here’s a look at NC State’s current Football scholarship breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback 
Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall
Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas
4-Star Freshman Cedrick Bailey

Transferred Out: MJ Morris
Transferred In: Grayson McCall

Running Back
Redshirt Senior Jordan Waters
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones
Redshirt Junior Jordan Poole
Sophomore Kendrick Raphael
Redshirt Freshman Daylan Smothers
3-Star Freshman Jayden Scott
3-Star Freshman Isiah Jones

Transferred Out: Jordan Houston, Michael Allen, & Delbert Mimms III
Transferred In: Jordan Waters & Daylan Smothers

Wide Receiver
Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit
Redshirt Junior Jakolbe Baldwin
Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins
Junior Wesley Grimes
Sophomore Kevin Concepcion
Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers
4-Star Freshman Jonathan Paylor
4-Star Freshman Terrell Anderson
4-Star Freshman Keenan Jackson
4-Star Wide Receiver Jimmar Boston
3-Star Freshman Christian Zachary

Transferred Out – Porter Rooks, Anthony Smith, Terrell Timmons, Josh Crabtree, Christopher Scott & Julian Gray
Transferred In – Wesley Grimes

Tight End
Junior Justin Joly
Junior Dante Daniels (JUCO Addition)
Sophomore Juice Vereen

Transferred Out – Christopher Toudle, Cedd Seabrough & Fred Seabrough
Transferred In – Justin Joly

Offensive Line
Redshirt Senior Dawson Jaramillo
Redshirt Senior Timothy McKay
Redshirt Senior Anthony Belton
Redshirt Senior Zeke Correll
Redshirt Junior Sean Hill
Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr.
Redshirt Junior Matt McCabe
Redshirt Junior Patrick Matan
Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann
Redshirt Sophomore Jacarrius Peak
Redshirt Sophomore Valen Erickson
Redshirt Freshman Obadiah Obasayui
Redshirt Freshman Kamen Smith
Redshirt Freshman Darion Rivers
Redshirt Freshman Rico Jackson
4-Star Freshman Tyler West
3-Star Freshman Robby Martin
3-Star Freshman Trent Mitchell

Transferred out: Lyndon Cooper & Jaleel Davis
Transferred In: Zeke Correll & Valen Erickson

Defense

Defensive Line
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann
Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Chase Bond
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Justin Terrell
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Joshua Alexander-Felton

Transferred Out: Nose Tackles C.J. Clark & Nick Campbell
Transferred In: Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace

Linebackers

Redshirt Senior Devon Betty
Redshirt Junior Sean Brown
Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham
Redshirt Junior Jayland Parker
Junior Wyatt Wright (JUCO Addition)
Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride
Redshirt Freshman Kamal Bonner
4-Star Freshman Elijah Davis
3-Star Freshman Cannon Lewis
3-Star Freshman Zane Williams
3-Star Freshman Joshua Ofor

Transferred Out: LB’s Daejuan Thompson & Torren Wright

Defensive Backs

Redshirt Senior Safety Kerry Martin Jr.
Senior Cornerback Aydan White
Senior Defensive Back Corey Coley Jr.
Senior Safety Devan Boykin
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald
Senior Safety Donovan Kaufman
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall
Junior Cornerback Rente Hinton
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Crowell
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Tamarcus Cooley
Redshirt Freshman Safety Zack Myers
Redshirt Freshman Safety Daemon Fagan
4-Star Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III
4-Star Freshman Cornerback Asaad Brown
3-Star Freshman Cornerback Jivan Baly
3-Star Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt

Transferred Out: Safety Jakeen Harris, Defensive Back Nate Evans, Defensive Back Darius Edmundson, Nickel Cecil Powell
Transferred In: Tamarcus Cooley, Corey Coley Jr., Devon Marshall, Donovan Kaufman & Kerry Martin Jr.

Specialist

Redshirt Junior Caden Noonkester

That’s 83 players on scholarship, with 2 available.

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NC State Football

Colorado NT Chazz Wallace Commits to NC State!

Published

11 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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Colorado Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace (6’2″/295) was on an Official Visit to NC State today, and he just announced his commitment to run with the Wolfpack.

Wallace played in 10 games for Coach Prime this past season at Colorado, starting in 4. He finished with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 56.4.

Prior to Colorado, Wallace spent his first three years at Old Dominion.

NC State was in desperate need to add a Nose Tackle out of the Portal, and they met that need with Wallace.

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NC State Football

PI EXCLUSIVE: Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. Breaks Down His Commitment to NC State

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 8, 2024

By

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. committed to NC State earlier today after wrapping up an Official Visit. I caught up with Martin Jr. to get his reasons for deciding to run with the Wolfpack.

Why did you decide to spend your final year of eligibility at NC State?

It was a no brainer. Along with the relationships that are already instilled, I see that I have an opportunity to come in and uphold the standard that has been set. I also have the shot to be able to continue to pursue the next level and where is a better place to be than with those who know your capabilities as an athlete, and will continue to mold me as a man using their experiences in life.

How much did your prior connection to Coach Gibson play into your decision?

The connection between us was the factor. Unfortunately, I was not able to learn from his by initially signing to WVU out of high school. You can say that life has its way of making things come full circle. Much gratitude for the situation I’m coming into, especially with open arms amongst the staff and players.

Did you talk to your cousin Derrek about his time in Raleigh?

I have not discussed it in depth with him yet, but I will soon. I’d imagine it would only exceed my expectations because of his relationships I hear about with his former teammates here.

With one year left, what’s your goals for next season?

My goal is to solely do what it takes to win, add more value to the team and compete to get to the next venture we all dream about.

What type of player is NC State getting in Kerry Martin Jr.?

The type of player NC State is getting out of me is a blue collar worker. Appreciative for everything that has come to me, and that will come. A humble person that you can talk to, so if you see me and recognize me, don’t hesitate to stop for a conversation as I enjoy learning about others.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. Commits to NC State!

Published

22 hours ago

on

May 8, 2024

By

NC State just landed a commitment from Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1”/195).

Martin Jr. began an Official Visit at NC State yesterday.

Prior to the visit, Martin Jr. was familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

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