The NC State football team is slated to have one of the most interesting teams on paper in the NCAA next season, with multiple star players from last season having graduated and many new faces joining the starting lineup. What the team lacks in star talent, it makes up for with returning player growth. Here is a look at what production needs to be replaced and what needs to be replicated for the upcoming year.
Quarterback
As the three-year starter for the Pack, Ryan Finley threw for a total of 10,501 yards, 60 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. That type of production will be hard to replicate, but the team has redshirt sophomore Matt McKay to look forward to. McKay was the backup to Finley last season and saw game action a handful of times, where he showed off excellent accuracy and great understanding of the playbook.
Now prepared to be the starter for the Pack, McKay’s growth from last year to this year is one of the biggest stories for the team. While a quarterback’s success is also derived from the talent surrounding him, McKay has a chance to establish himself as the quarterback of the future immediately.
Running Back
Reggie Gallaspy Jr. went undrafted in last year’s NFL Draft and did not sign onto a team afterward, yet played an important role for the Wolfpack last season. At 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Gallaspy was the designated workhorse back for the Pack, and it will be up to the team to replace his 1,091 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns from last season.
With plenty of talent on the roster, freshman backs Zonovan Knight and Jordan Houston may make an early splash, while sophomore Ricky Person Jr. will likely continue his production from last season. In terms of pure size, redshirt freshman Trent Pennix, at 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, will have a chance to replicate the kind of production that Gallaspy provided on the goal line.
Wide Receiver
The Wolfpack had one of the most impressive receiving corps in the NCAA last season, with all three of its starters cracking an NFL roster after the draft. Kelvin Harmon was drafted by the Washington Redskins, Stephen Louis spent time with the Houston Texans and Jakobi Meyers has found success as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots.
Redshirt junior C.J. Riley and junior Emeka Emezie will be the one-two punch as the X and Z receivers, while redshirt sophomore Thayer Thomas and redshirt graduate Tabari Hines will split time in the slot. The all-around talent is definitely there, as the returning group of Emezie, Riley and Thomas posted 1,314 yards on 115 receptions and ten touchdowns.
Meanwhile, newcomer Hines has posted 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns for his career as a member of Wake Forest and Oregon.
Offensive Line
Garrett Bradbury, Terronne Prescod and Tyler Jones led one of the most talented offensive lines in the NCAA, allowing Finley to only be sacked a handful of times all last season. Bradbury was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, while Prescod and Jones both saw NFL opportunities after the draft. Jones was recently claimed by the Denver Broncos after being waived by the New York Jets.
Graduate student Emanuel McGirt Jr. will replace Jones at left tackle, redshirt junior Joe Sculthorpe will replace Prescod at the left guard spot, redshirt sophomore Grant Gibson will replace Bradbury at center, and junior Joshua Fedd-Jackson and redshirt junior Justin Witt will reprise their roles from last season.
Even the coaching staff is facing change in regards to this position, with John Garrison taking over for Dwayne Ledford, who left the team. Garrison will have much to figure out, in particular how to maintain the impressive NC State pass protection while improving lanes for quicker backs like Person and Knight.
Defensive Line
On the defensive frontline, the Pack is losing Eurndraus Bryant and Darian Roseboro, graduates who spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, after the draft.
Redshirt junior Val Martin and redshirt freshman Joseph Boletepeli will take over at the nose tackle and defensive end positions for the Pack this season. Martin saw action in just four games last season, recording four tackles in a 52-10 win over Louisville.
Linebackers
Germaine Pratt was the defensive leader for the Wolfpack last season, leading the team in tackles and finishing tied for most sacks. Pratt was also a highly regarded locker room presence and all-around leader. Pratt eventually went on to be drafted in the third round, joining Ryan Finley on the Cincinnati Bengals. Redshirt graduate James Smith-Williams has shown growth this offseason as a playmaker on defense and a locker room leader.
On top of this, Smith-Williams was the player who tied for the most sacks with Pratt last season, finishing with six on the year.
In terms of positional production replacement, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Moore will have his work cut out for him. Moore actually finished last season with the third-most solo tackles at 37 and had 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass deflections.
Junior Louis Acceus will join Moore as a starter after finishing last season with 25 total tackles.
Secondary
The Pack is not facing much turnover in the secondary, but did not see much production from this spot on the field last season, so returning players must step up. The main player gone from the secondary is safety Dexter Wright, who posted 51 total tackles last season and three pass deflections at the free safety spot. Wright signed on with the Texans after the NFL Draft but was released.
Sophomore safety Tanner Ingle does have experience starting, as he started the first seven games of last season as the nickelback, where he posted 34 solo tackles and a sack. Redshirt senior Stephen Griffin will be taking over this season.
Special Teams
A.J. Cole III played an important yet under-appreciated role for the Pack last season, recording some great punts for special teams — so much so that Cole ended up signing with the Oakland Raiders and seemingly winning the starting job over Johnny Townsend, a fifth-round draft pick by the Raiders last year.
Redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Morgan will take over for Cole and will be responsible for giving the Wolfpack defense great positioning to take over quickly.
Junior wide receiver Emeka Emezie hauls in a catch despite coverage by redshirt freshman cornerback Malik Dunlap during the Kay Yow Spring Game on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Emezie will be a key player in the Wolfpack passing game this fall.
