NC State Uses Portal while not Sacrificing its Culture

CHARLOTTE — Once again, the transfer portal and how it is used was a topic when NC State kicked off the fourth and final day at the 2024 ACC Football Kickoff.

Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren explained his portal plan and how he is able to evaluate and eventually chose a player from the portal. This off-season, Doeren was able to attract former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall and former Duke running back Jordan Waters.

“We came up with a plan based on the NFL model on how they assess, evaluate,” Doeren said. “Once players are deemed players they would want on their rosters, how do they go about the process. Then integrating that into our program.”

Doeren says he implemented his portal model three years ago when the portal really came into play in college football.  Since then, NC State has steadily improved. Since 2020, it is one of just five programs in college football to win at least eight games every year.

Of course, Clemson is one of those five programs as well.

“There were a bunch of guys in this cycle that wanted to come back to the state,” Doeren said. “Noah Rogers, Daylan Smothers, several guys from Raleigh or North Carolina that left and wanted to return back closer to their families and be a part of our program. We were able to get the right type of guys.

“That’s the biggest thing. When you want talent, that’s one thing. Being here 12 years now, I’m not going to take a risk on the culture with that talent. You have to find guys that fit what we’re all about. It’s earned, not given. It’s guys that want to work, enjoy the brotherhood of the game, that are willing to sacrifice for the cause.”

And now Doeren has the ‘Pack in position to seriously contend for its first ACC Championship in 45 years.

“We were blessed this year. We had a bunch of really good players that fit kind of the design of what we were doing, that fit returning players as well,” he said. “Guys like Davin that have helped build this program, we don’t want to sacrifice all the hard work of the players that have been here for a guy that’s coming in for a year. They needed to understand they were joining something, and in that helping them to continue to grow what we do and increase what we’re doing.

“We’re very pleased. Obviously two of the guys are here. The team is pretty mixed if you look at that recruiting class. There’s still a great emphasis on high school recruiting, as well.”