NC State Newsstand: Pack football checks in among ESPN’s post-spring top 25

After a productive transfer portal cycle and spring practice slate, NC State football turned heads around the country. Now, heading into the summer the Wolfpack is in the mix nationally with what the red and white did during the offseason.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach ranked the Wolfpack No. 13 in his post-spring top 25 rankings that were released Monday afternoon.

“Dave Doeren has quietly guided the Wolfpack to 34 wins the past four seasons, including a 9-4 mark last year, despite having a mess in the quarterback room,” Schlabach wrote. “That position shouldn’t be a problem with former Coastal Carolina star Grayson McCall taking over the offense. He threw for at least 2,400 yards with at least 24 touchdowns and fewer than three interceptions in each of three straight seasons from 2020 to 2022.”

“McCall battled a head injury last season,” Schlabach continued. “He’ll be surrounded by plenty of talent at NC State, including transfer receivers Noah Rogers (Ohio State) and Wesley Grimes (Wake Forest) and returning star KC Concepcion, the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2023. Tight end Justin Joly (UConn) and tailback Jordan Waters (Duke) were big additions as well. NC State faces September tests against Tennessee in Charlotte and Clemson on the road, but it doesn’t play Florida State, Louisville, Virginia Tech or Miami — four of the best teams in the ACC — during the regular season.”

NC State was ranked the second-highest ACC school in Schlabach’s ranking, behind No. 11 Florida State. Those two programs were also joined by No. 16 Clemson, No. 21 Virginia Tech and No. 24 Miami in the post-spring rankings.

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Quote of the day

NC State baseball has dealt with a lot of injuries and illnesses during the season. Junior catcher Jacob Cozart talked about how the team overcame that this spring.

“We have all the trust in the world for each other, knowing that if we don’t get our job done, the next person behind you is going to pick you up,” Cozart said. “That’s the way this team has been built. This is the type of team that Avent has programmed us to be. … That’s the story of this team.”