NC State freshman quarterback CJ Bailey to make first career start against Clemson

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The North Carolina State football program is making a change at the quarterback position.

True freshman quarterback CJ Bailey will make his first career start for the Wolfpack on the road against Clemson this weekend, N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren announced during a news conference on Monday.

Bailey replaces starting quarterback Grayson McCall, who went out with an injury in the second quarter of N.C. State’s 30-20 win over Louisiana Tech. The first-year player led a second-half comeback for the Wolfpack after they found themselves trailing 17-6 at halftime.

“I was really proud of the way that the team rallied around CJ,” Doeren said. “At halftime, when he knew it was his time to play, he was ready for the moment.”

He finished the game completing 13-of-20 passes for 156 yards, as well as running four times for 27 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

McCall, who transferred from Coastal Carolina over the offseason, is considered “day-to-day” with the undisclosed injury, according to Doeren.

He didn’t go into specifics regarding the injury, but Doeren noted that Bailey is “going to run the show” until McCall is healthy enough to return.

“We’re going to take our time, and when he’s ready, he’ll be ready,” Doeren said. “CJ is ready to play.”

“I’m excited to see what CJ can do,” Doeren added. “And whoever that quarterback is wearing the red and white, the fans need to have his back. They need to be supportive. They need to pray for those kind of things when they happen, and that’s what family does.”

N.C. State travels to Death Valley on Saturday to face No. 21 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference play opener for both teams. Kick-off is slated for noon.

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