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NC State Quarterback Grayson McCall Announces His Retirement From Football

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7 hours ago

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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.

 

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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.

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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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Howler
Howler
6 hours ago

Well said Grayson and the very best of luck from this Wolfpack old timer.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Bowl Projections After Week Week 8

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13 hours ago

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October 23, 2024

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NC State is currently 4-4 with 4 games remaining in the 2024 regular season. The Wolfpack needs two more wins to become bowl eligible.

Here’s a look at the current 2024 Bowl Projections for NC State after Week 8.

CBS Sports – Fenway Bowl vs. South Florida – December 28th at 11am in Boston, Mass.

Action Network – Birmingham Bowl vs. Michigan St. – December 27th in Birmingham, Ala.

ESPN – Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs. Arizona – December 28th in Shreveport, Louisiana

Athlon – Gasparilla Bowl vs. Kentucky – December 20th in Tampa, Florida

College Football News – Go Bowling Military Bowl vs. Navy – December 28th at 5:45pm in Annapolis, MD

 

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NC State’s CJ Bailey Earns Week 8 ACC Rookie of the Week Honors

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2 days ago

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October 21, 2024

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NC State True Freshman Quarterback CJ Bailey earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors for his performance in the Wolfpack’s win at Cal in Week 8 this past Saturday.

ROOKIE – CJ Bailey, NC State, QB, Miami, Florida
Bailey led NC State to a one-point road victory over Cal, 24-23, as he completed 25-of-36 pass attempts 306 yards. The Wolfpack was down 13 points in the fourth quarter before Bailey led the offense on scoring drives of 75 and 70 yards to complete the largest fourth-quarter comeback by NC State since 2012. The freshman quarterback threw two touchdowns without an interception against Cal’s defense which ranks second in the country in interceptions. (ACC)

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NC State vs. Cal: Defensive PFF Grades Report

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3 days ago

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October 21, 2024

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NC State defeated Cal 24-23 to improve to 4-4 on the season yesterday. Here’s a PFF Grade Report for the Wolfpack Defense in Week 8.

Redshirt Sophomore Nickel Isaiah Crowell – 81.3
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald – 77.5
Redshirt Freshman Nickel Tamarcus Cooley – 74.4
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall – 73.5
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann – 72.6
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Jackson Vick – 69.7
Senior Safety DK Kaufman – 68.3
Senior Cornerback Aydan White – 67.4
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter – 64.7
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 62.6
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Kamal Bonner – 60.4
Senior Linebacker Devon Betty – 57.5
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson – 56.0
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley – 54.0
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price – 51.9
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Sean Brown – 47.3

Notes

  • Nickel Isaiah Crowell has made the most of the opportunity presented to him with the exodus of Ja’Had Carter, and targeting call on Tamarcus Cooley. He led the team with the highest grade, and this was obviously the highest grade of his career.
  • Bishop Fitzgerald posted his highest grade of the season.
  • Sean Brown posted his lowest grade of the season.
  • Travali Price posted his lowest grade of the season.
  • Isaiah Shirley posted his lowest grade of the season.
  • As a team, NC State had the best coverage grade of the season (87.2).

Top 5 Highest Graded Defensive Players Through 8 Games (adding 1 extra, because Fordham is out for the year)

  1. Nickel Tamarcus Cooley – 76.2
  2. Cornerback Devon Marshall – 76.1
  3. Defensive End Davin Vann – 73.0
  4. Linebacker Caden Fordham – 72.8
  5. Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 71.5
  6. Nose Tackle DJ Jackson – 70.7

Bottom 5 Lowest Graded Defensive Players Through 8 Games (75+ snaps)

  1. Linebacker Devon Betty – 58.5
  2. Linebacker Sean Brown – 59.0
  3. Defensive End Noah Potter – 59.5
  4. Defensive End Travali Price – 60.3
  5. Linebacker Kamal Bonner – 62.7

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NC State vs. Cal: Offensive PFF Grades Report

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3 days ago

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October 21, 2024

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NC State defeated Cal 24-23 to improve to 4-4 on the season yesterday. Here’s a PFF Grade Report for the Wolfpack Offense in Week 8.

Redshirt Senior Center Zeke Correll – 82.1
Freshman Quarterback CJ Bailey – 81.9
Junior Tight End Justin Joly – 75.9
Sophomore Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion – 73.9
Redshirt Sophomore Right Tackle Jacarrius Peak – 67.5
Redshirt Junior Left Guard Anthony Carter Jr. – 67.0
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Dacari Collins – 66.0
Redshirt Freshman Running Back Hollywood Smothers – 65.5
Redshirt Senior Left Tackle Anthony Belton – 65.4
Freshman Wide Receiver Terrell Anderson – 63.3
Sophomore Running Back Kendrick Raphael – 61.5
Junior Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes – 57.1
Redshirt Senior Right Guard Timothy McKay – 56.0
Freshman Wide Receiver Keenan Jackson – 52.9
Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Noah Rogers – 46.6
Junior Tight End Dante Daniels – 43.7

Notes

  • Center Zeke Correll posted his 2nd highest grade of the season.
  • Quarterback CJ Bailey had the best grade of his career.
  • Tight End Justin Joly posted his best grade since the season opener.
  • Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion had the best grade of the season.
  • Wide Receiver Noah Rogers posted the worst grade of his career.
  • Wide Receiver Keenan Jackson and Tight End Dante Daniels both had the 2nd lowest grades of their career.
  • As a team, this was the best Pass (88.6) and Pass Block grade (92.7) of the season.

Top 5 Highest Graded Offensive Players Through 8 Games

  1. LT Jacarrius Peak – 76.4
  2. C Zeke Correll – 75.6
  3. RB Hollywood Smothers – 74.0
  4. QB CJ Bailey – 73.0
  5. TE Justin Joly – 71.2

Bottom 5 Lowest Graded Offensive Players Through 8 Games (50+ snaps)

  1. TE Matt McCabe – 38.4
  2. TE Dante Daniels – 53.8
  3. WR Keenan Jackson – 57.9
  4. WR Wesley Grimes – 59.4
  5. WR Terrell Anderson – 62.9

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