NC State football coach Dave Doeren talks expectations, transfer portal at ACC media day

CHARLOTTE — NC State football coach Dave Doeren discussed expectations, maintaining momentum and the Wolfpack's additions from the transfer portal on Thursday at ACC Kickoff, the league’s preseason media event.

Coming off a 9-4 overall record, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC, the Wolfpack welcomes back several starters and a highly-touted group of players from the transfer portal.

NC State will start its 12th season under Doeren on Thursday, Aug. 29, against Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium before a big-time matchup against Tennessee in Charlotte as part of Duke’s Mayo Classic.

Here are the highlights from Doeren’s press conference at ACC Kickoff.

Dave Doeren on NC State football’s transfer portal activity

The Wolfpack is 18th nationally in the transfer portal rankings, according to 247Sports. Jordan Waters (Duke), Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) and Noah Rogers (Ohio State) were among the Wolfpack’s key additions via the portal.

“I think year to year for us it's just another method of adding talent, adding the key ingredients to the roster. It's all based on need, where you may have a void,” Doeren said.

“. … 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.”

Dave Doeren on NC State football being ‘different’ in 2024 season

Because of its returners and additions from the portal, expectations are high for N.C. State. The Wolfpack has won at least eight games in four straight seasons for the first time in program history. The next step? Competing for an ACC championship.

“I think every day we're out there it's a measuring stick, it is. … With that being said, we want to win a championship. So different is that. It's taken the program from the second-most wins since 2020 to winning the league. That is different,” Doeren said.

“What we did last year and the year before and the year before is good. Winning nine games is good. We don't want to be good, we want to be the best at what we do. These guys understand that.”

Doeren wants NC State offense to 'create chaos'

After finishing toward the bottom of the ACC in total offense last season, N.C. State appears to have the pieces for a revival on that side of the ball in 2024.

“When you can spread the ball around to different people, it just opens up things and creates a different pressure system on the defensive coordinator,” Doeren said.

“That's one of the things that I really like about football. Trying to create chaos on the other side of the ball. If you're on offense, defense, whatever that is, let's make their jobs really hard.”

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State football coach Dave Doeren talks expectations, transfer portal at ACC media day