⚡ CFB Dashboard

NC State enters fall camp as a team on a mission and it's not a new one. In fact, since the day he was hired in December of 2012, head coach Dave Doeren has enforced his 1Pack1Goal philosophy: a united mission to win a championship. The Wolfpack has enjoyed success under Doeren, who ranks 10th in the FBS among active coaches in career wins. NC State has earned six straight bowl bids, ranks second in the ACC in wins since 2020 and is tied for second in conference wins. There is a sense of excitement and urgency around the Murphy Center as preseason practice is set to start on July 29 prior to a Week 0 kickoff on August 29 at Virginia. Here's a look at some players who are hoping to make an impact in 2026. Of course any breakdown of the 2026 Wolfpack team should begin with the the Alpha Wolf: quarterback CJ Bailey (6’6, 213, Jr.) . A ‘unicorn’ in this era of college football, Bailey in entering his third year as a starter with the same team and his 22 career starts ranks fifth in the Power 4 leagues for a QB at the same school. Bailey has spent the offseason not only honing his football skills, but his leadership qualities as well. He takes his role personally and seriously as he has said loudly and publicly. He enters year three with the top career completion percentage in school history (.671) and ranks seventh in career touchdown responsibility (53), eighth in in passing yards (5,518), fifth in passing yards per game (220.72) and eighth in touchdown passes (42). He also ranks seventh in career rushing by a quarterback (494). Will Wilson (6’1, 230, So.) didn’t have to be the starting quarterback to be an offensive weapon as a freshman. In year one, he rushed for 10 touchdowns - the second-highest total in school history for a quarterback and the most for a player at any position since 2018. Wilson converted for a first down or touchdown 29 or the 37 times he ran the ball. Also at signal caller is transfer Tad Hudson (6’3, 227, Sr.) who transferred from Coastal Carolina in January. Hudson saw action in 11 games last season, throwing for 1,253 yards. Although he started just two games last season, Duke Scott (5’10, 225, Jr.) established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his first season of competition, topped off by a 196 yard output in the win over No. 8 Georgia Tech. In his two starts where he was the primary option at running back, Scott averaged 145 yards. Another top leader on the offense, Scott was honored with the No. 1 jersey for 2026. The addition of Davion Gause (5’11, 212, Jr.), a transfer from UNC, gives RB coach Todd Goebbel a great one-two punch at running back. Known as “Bullet,” Gause started 25 games over the past two years as his previous school and his relationship with Bailey goes back to their days playing youth football in the Miami area. A name that might have fallen off the radar is Johnathon Paylor (5’9, 182, Jr.) . After showing great promise in early preseason camp a year ago, Paylor suffered a season-ending injury and has spent the past year rehabbing. The Burlington native may some time early, but his speed and versatility make him an intriguing option all over the field. Darius Johnson (5’10, 205, Sr.) saw most of his snaps on special teams last season, but did play at least one snap at running back in 11 contests. The 2026 tight end room looks very different than it did a year ago, as first-team All-ACC tight end Justin Joly and Cody Hardy are on NFL rosters and Dante Daniels is playing in Canada. Preston Douglas (6’3, 228, So.) saw action in 52 snaps at the position last season, catching just one pass should lead that group heading into preseason camp, Hunter Provience (6’5, 245, Sr.) played in 14 games at Montana State a year ago, catching 11 passes, while Vander Ploog (6’6, 230, So.) transferred from Oregon but has not seen collegiate action. Ian Flynt (6’4, 265, Jr.) saw very limited action a year ago but could see more of a role. Add in freshmen Tex Vaughn (6’2, 231, Fr.) who went through spring ball, and Stephen Brown (6’6, 200, Fr.) , who joined the team this summer and TEs coach Gavin Locklear has a talented unit for 2026. The bad news? The Wolfpack returns just two players who caught more than 10 catches last season and returning players account for just 17.5% of the total receptions from a year ago. The good news? The wideout spots have been retooled and restocked with talented transfers and freshmen with a diverse array of skills, giving Joker Phillips a wealth of weapons to choose from. Keenan Jackson (6’3, 202, Jr.) is the most experienced returner in the wide receiver room, as the junior has played in 26 games and started 11. A reliable pass catcher, Jackson hauled in 28 grabs a year ago. The Wolfpack will be without the services of talented sophomore Teddy Hoffman, who is ineligible for competition this season, but Ethan Dowdy (6’2, 197, Sr.), Je’rel Bolder (6’0, 212, So.) and Ashton Locklear (6’1, 188, Gr./5th) are both returnees with limited experience. NC State loaded up at wideout in the portal during the offseason, bringing in Jojo Trader (6’1, 290, Jr), Davion Dozier (6’3, 195, Sr.), Tyran Warren (6’3, 180, Sr.), Victor Snow (5’8, 170, Sr./5th) , and Chance Robinson (6’1, 209, Jr.) . Trader may be the most intriguing addition, as he has been on the receiving end of Bailey’s passes since the two were playing under the streetlights. Robinson is also a long-time friend and teammate of Bailey, so there was already familiarity before those two stepped foot on campus. Both are transfers from Miami. Dozier started seven games at Appalachian State last season, recording 20 catches and five touchdowns. Warren had 25 grabs at Alcorn State a year ago, also scoring five TDs. Snow is the most experienced of all of the transfers after playing in 35 games at Buffalo and catching 117 catches over the past two years. The speedy fifth-year player also returned 20 punts for 213 yards and a TD. He ranked 21st in the FBS with a 10.6 ypr mark. Rounding out the group are freshmen Amiri Acker (6’2, 190, Fr.), Tyreek Copper (6’1, 185, Fr.) and Jai Richburg (6’2, 190, Fr.) who joined the team in January and went through spring drills. Don’t sleep on the Wolfpack offensive line in 2026! Although on paper, only two starters return, that number may be a little deceiving for Garett Tujague’s group. Right tackle Teague Andersen (6’5, 322, Sr./5th) started 12 games a year ago, leading the unit in pancake blocks per game. Spike Sowells (6’2, 312, So.) , who came to the Wolfpack as a highly-touted center, started six games at guard, earning freshman All-America honors. Guard Kamen Smith (6’5, 325, Sr.) was hampered by injury late in the season but also started six games at guard. Rico Jackson (6’6, 322, Sr.) gained valuable experience as well, starting four of the last six games and playing guard and tackle throughout the season. Yousef Mugharbil (6’5, 322, Gr./6th) played in every game last season and saw action on offense in six games, starting the win over Virginia at right guard. He was granted as sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will be back in action this season. Two talented transfers should play big roles in the O-line rotation this season. The all-important left tackle spot could be manned by Jimarion McCrimon (6’5, 295, Sr.) , a two-year starter at East Carolina. Daniel Cruz (6’2, 315, Jr.) is a center who transferred from Texas, where he saw action in two games last season. A number of other players will provide much needed depth on the offensive line in 2026, including veteran Rylan Vann (6’1, 285, Sr), who has moved to guard, and Michael Gibbs (6’4, 303, So.), Kage Payne (6’2, 290, So.) , and TK Whitset (6’4, 300, So.) who sat out last season but gained valuable experience on the scout team. Elisha Shaw will coach the entire D-line this season, as veteran coach Charley Wiles has moved over to the recruiting staff. His first task has been to find a replacement for the man in the middle, as Brandon Cleveland, a two-year starter at nose, was drafted by the Raiders in April. There isn’t much in the way of experience at that spot, but there definitely is in the way of talent. Josiah Victor (6’2, 312, So.) should enter fall camp in the lead, as he played in nine games last season in his first year with the program. Omarian Abraham (6’1, 297, So.) saw action in just one contest last year, but is also in the mix, along with freshman Melo McKenzie (6’1, 313, Fr.) . Isaiah Shirley (6’3, 280, Sr.) one of the top leaders on the 2026 squad, will fill the tackle spot, where he played every game of 2025 and started two. One of the four finalists out of 900 nominees for the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars Award, Shirley played 336 snaps last year and returned an interception 41 yards for a score against Wake Forest. Backing up Shirley are two players who didn’t see action last season, but made huge gains in the weight room and gained experience on the scout team: Colby Cronk (6’3, 270, So.) and AJ Prim (6’2, 287, Sr.). There should be great competition at end, as three players who saw frequent action last season will be in the rotation: Joseph Adedire (6’3, 260, Sr/5th.), Chase Bond (6’4, 265, Jr.) , and Adrian Farrow (6’3, 265, So.) Defensive coordinator DJ Eliot will coach the outside linebackers, where the Pack made a key portal addition at the JACK spot. Harvey Dyson (6’2, 248, Sr./5th) led Tulane in tackles for loss and sacks last season, then had a great spring for the Pack. Josh Warren, Jr. (6’2, 235, So.) and Elijah Satchell (6’3, 229, Fr.) will also look for playing time at the JACK OLB spot. Ke’Von Carter (6’3, 223, So.) is a talented returnee at OLB, after he gained great experience as a rookie. Sterling Dixon (6’2, 221, Jr.) missed last season with an injury, but will be back in action, alongside freshman Lawrence Brown, Jr. (6’3, 209, Fr.) . Isaiah Moore, who was a three-year captain for the Wolfpack is now coaching the inside linebackers for his alma mater. Expect another transfer to make a big impact at the MLB spot: Popo Aguirre (6’1, 235, Sr.) . Lacorian Hodge (6’2, 217, So.) , who saw action in eight games as a freshman, and Jordan Moreta (6’1, 223, Fr.) , who joined the team in January, will also be in the mix. There should also be a fall camp battle for playing time at WIL linebacker. AJ Richardon (6’1, 235, Sr.) was hampered by injuries last season but will fight for the spot alongside transfer Da’Kaari Nelson (6’3, 232, Sr.) . Bailey Benson (6’0, 207, So.) may also see time at WIL. Safeties/nickels coach Charlton Warren had a revolving door of players last season due to an inordinate number of injuries. But last year’s pain should be this year’s gain, as he returns multiple players with game action under their belts. Jackson Vick (6’0, 190, Gr./5th) is the returning starter at nickel, while UNC transfer Ty White (5’10, 176, Jr.) had a solid spring at that spot as well. Chino Aguirre (6’0, 205, Fr.), the younger brother of Popo, will also compete at nickel. Four players who started games at safety will return in 2026: Brody Barnhardt (6’0, 190, Jr.), Asaad Brown, Jr. (6’0, 199, Jr.), Ronnie Royal III (5’9, 185, Jr.),  and Tristen Teasdell (5’11, 190, So.) . Those returnees, along with transfer King Mack (5’10, 195, Sr.) , who started eight games at Penn State last season, could make the safety spots some of the strongest on the team. One name keeps popping up as someone to watch on the Wolfpack defense for 2026: corner Brian Nelson II (6’0, 197, Sr.). Nelson will lead Coach Brian Mitchell’s group that includes Georgia transfer Ondre Evans (6’0, 187, Jr.) as well as returnees Caden Gordon (6’1, 194, So.), Jaren Sensabaugh (6’1, 190, Jr.), Cam Strong (6’0, 183, So.) and Michael Tate (6’2, 180, Sr.) . The Wolfpack returns both of its kickers from last season. Kanoah Vinesett (6’1, 205, Sr.5th) has started 24 games over the past two seasons, and although he only attemped six field goals last season, connected on 48 extra points. Nick Konieczynski (5’11, 215, Jr.) took over kickoffs in game eight a year ago and will continue in that role in 2026. Jackson Waller (6’2, 214, Jr.) enters camp as the starting punter after transferring from Arkansas State, where he averaged 41.3 yards per punt. He will be backed up by Christian Harthan (6’5, 195, So.) and will handle the holder duties as well. Aiden Arias (6’0, 207, Sr.) will handle the long snapping duties, backed up by Taylon Tranel (5’10, 215, Fr.).