Where things stand with NC State football entering summer ahead of 2024 season

Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer

N.C. State football is expected to enter the 2024 season among the top 25 teams in the nation, according to several post-spring rankings.

The Wolfpack, which has won at least eight games in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history, returns several starters from a team that finished with a 9-4 record, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC.

N.C. State also added several highly-touted additions from the transfer portal ahead of its 12th season under head coach Dave Doeren, which begins Aug. 29 against Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here are some post-spring observations about the Wolfpack before it heads to the ACC’s preseason football event in Charlotte on July 25.

Grayson McCall, Noah Rogers, Jordan Waters among Wolfpack’s 15 transfers

Of the Wolfpack’s 15 incoming transfers, quarterback Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina), running back Jordan Waters (Duke) and wide receiver Noah Rogers (Ohio State) are expected to be among the team’s top contributors. In the spring game, McCall settled in by completing 16-of-20 passes for 205 yards and connected with UConn transfer Justin Joly for a touchdown. Rogers had seven catches for 133 yards and Waters finished with 69 yards and a touchdown. After an up-and-down year offensively in 2023, the Wolfpack should be better positioned to consistently score this season. N.C. State's transfer class is ranked seventh nationally, according to On3.com.

What about returners KC Concepcion, Davin Vann?

Along with its impressive haul via the transfer portal, N.C. State was able to keep two of its top returners from last season in wide receiver KC Concepcion and defensive lineman Davin Vann. Continuity is key for a program that has been able to consistently field a winner. Concepcion, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year, is expected to be one of the top playmakers in the nation. Vann could be even more important as he tries to help the Wolfpack navigate the loss of veteran linebacker Payton Wilson, an NFL Draft pick this spring. With Concepcion and Vann back, N.C. State has a pair of players on both sides of the ball capable of showing the new guys what it takes to succeed under Doeren.

Kickoff time, TV info set for NC State vs. Tennessee in Charlotte

If the Wolfpack is going to reach its potential in 2024, it starts with a big-time performance in primetime against Tennessee on Sept. 7 as part of the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte. In mid-May, it was announced that State and Tennessee would kick things off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC at Bank of America Stadium. Knocking off an SEC program in September in front of a national audience could prove to be an important game to look back on in December.

Is NC State an ACC, College Football Playoff contender?

According to BetMGM, N.C. State is projected to win 8 or 9 games in the 2024 season. Currently, the Wolfpack has the fifth-best odds to win the ACC, trailing Clemson, Florida State, Miami and Louisville. But in early January, several of State’s incoming transfers were clear in why they chose to come to Raleigh: they want a chance to be a part of the 12-team College Football Playoff. State travels to Clemson on Sept. 21, but the Wolfpack isn't scheduled to play the other contenders in the ACC. Entering the season with high expectations and plenty of hype, N.C. State has a chance to make some national noise if it can take advantage of its schedule.

2024 NC State football schedule

*denotes conference game

  • Aug. 29 – Western Carolina (Thursday)

  • Sept. 7 – Tennessee (Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte), 7:30 p.m. on ABC

  • Sept. 14 – Louisiana Tech

  • Sept. 21 – at Clemson*

  • Sept. 28 – Northern Illinois

  • Oct. 5 – Wake Forest*

  • Oct. 12 – Syracuse *

  • Oct. 19 – at Cal*

  • Oct. 26 – OPEN

  • Nov. 2 – Stanford *

  • Nov. 9 – Duke*

  • Nov. 16 – OPEN

  • Nov. 21 – at Georgia Tech* (Thursday)

  • Nov. 30 – at UNC*

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

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Post-spring breakdown of NC State football ahead of 2024 season

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