1. This past week was the calm before the storm, with two big looming decisions between Monroe (N.C.) High senior athlete Jordan Young picking among NC State, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan and Alabama on Nov. 2 He’s checking out Michigan this weekend.
Clinton, N.C., senior safety target Jakarrion Kenan is officially visiting Nov. 9, and he’ll likely be on commitment watch following the trip. Stanford, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech, have offered since he decommitted from Rutgers.
The other key decision is Lincolnton (N.C.) Combine Academy senior point guard target Kaden Magwood, who will choose among NC State, Auburn and Mississippi on Nov. 11. He’s what I like to call a cross of former NC State guards Anthony Barber and Terquavion Smith in many ways.
The women’s basketball program will learn the decision of guard Destiny Lunan of Millenium High in Scottsdale, Ariz., at some point in early-to-mid November. She is down to NC State and Virginia Tech.
The next two months will go a long way in shaping what NC State will have for the 2025 season. For the first part of what we’ll call in thinking about future, here is a run down of next year’s schedule.
At Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are off to a 6-1 start behind sophomore running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. All five starters on the offensive line could return, along with sophomore receiver Jaden Greathouse. Sophomore middle linebacker Drayk Bowen is the leading tackler, and ND has a youth movement happening on defense. Sophomore defensive end Joshua Burnham, sophomore outside linebacker Jaylen Sneed, sophomore cornerback Christian Gray, freshman cornerback Leonard Moore and freshman safety Adon Shuler all could return.
Vs. East Carolina: ECU has already fired its coach, Mike Houston, and the roster will likely take a major hit through the transfer portal. Former Michigan State quarterback transfer Katin Houser, a sophomore, got the start against Army last week and threw for 282 yards, three touchdowns and an interception and rushed for a score in a 45-28 loss, and the Pirates fell to 3-4.
Vs. Campbell: The Camels are 2-5 and 0-3 in the CAA this season. Sophomore Chad Mascoe has established himself at quarterback, with three games of over 300-plus passing yards. Junior linebacker Jojo Pace is second on the team with 49 tackles and two interceptions.
Vs. Virginia: The Cavaliers are 4-3 this season, and will play the Wolfpack in non-conference action. Sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea, junior running back Xavier Brown and two key offensive linemen will return on offense. Sophomore middle linebacker Kam Robinson, sophomore nose tackle Anthony Britton and junior cornerback Jam Jackson are some of the returning players on defense.
Vs. Florida State: Florida State is a hot mess at 1-6 overall this season, and one offseason might not be able to clean that up. The offense seems devoid of big-play makers for next year, and junior defensive end Patrick Payton and junior safety Shyheim Brown will be back from the defense.
Vs. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are off to a 5-3 start and are trending well for the future. Quarterback Haynes King, running back Jamal Haynes, and wide receiver Malik Rutherford are all redshirt juniors and they are joined by sophomore wide receiver Eric Singleton. Three of the key offensive linemen are slated to return. The defense will need to get reworked, but redshirt sophomore linebacker Kyle Efford is a good start, along with redshirt junior cornerback Ahmari Harvey.
Vs. North Carolina: The Tar Heels are 3-4 and have rumors swirling about an impending coaching change, which would likely shake up the roster. Star junior running back Omarion Hampton will likely enter the NFL Draft. Three of five offensive could return. Sophomore middle linebacker Amare Campbell, junior cornerback Marcus Allen and sophomore “star” Kaleb Cost return from the defense.
Vs. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are off to a 4-3 start and will be starting anew on offense next year. Redshirt junior quarterback Kyron Drones, redshirt sophomore tight end Benji Gosnell and three key offensive linemen will be back. VT also loses star pass-rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who already has 11 sacks this season. Sophomores Mose Phillips III, a safety, and linebacker Caleb Woodson are tied for the team lead with 40 tackles.
At Duke: The Blue Devils are off to a 6-1 start under new coach Manny Diaz. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Maalik Murphy arrived from Texas and has solidified the position. Redshirt sophomores Brian Parker, a right tackle, and center Matt Craycraft and redshirt junior right guard Justin Pickett would return from the offensive line group. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Wesley Williams and junior defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr., along with redshirt junior Tre Freeman anchor the front seven. Junior cornerback Chandler Rivers and junior free safety Terry Moore return in the secondary.
At Miami: The Hurricanes will likely replace Clemson as the toughest ACC game on the schedule. The good news is Miami won’t have quarterback Cam Ward, who has them at 7-0 this season. Miami will likely feature current sophomore running back Mark Fletcher, sophomore receiver Isaiah Horton and sophomore defensive end Ruben Bain.
At Pittsburgh: The Panthers have been one of the big surprises of the ACC with a 7-0 mark. Pitt will return freshman quarterback Eli Holstein, junior scatback Desmond Reid and wide receiver Kenny Johnson from the offense. Sophomore linebackers Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles, and sophomore defensive end Jimmy Scott will lead the defense.
At Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are 3-4 and have a chance of getting to six wins and a bowl appearance. WFU will need to find a new quarterback, but junior running back Demond Claiborne, most of the offensive line and all but Taylor Morin return at receiver. The defense has will undergo major changes, with junior safety Nick Anderson, redshirt sophomore cornerback Jamare Glasker, redshirt freshman nickel Davaughn Patterson and redshirt junior linebacker Dylan Hazen returning.
2. So what does NC State football look like for next year, now that the dust has settled eight games in?
Quarterback: Freshman quarterback Cedrick Bailey has a chance to be really good and will be judged next year in the bigger games against Notre Dame, Miami and Pittsburgh. Very few freshman quarterbacks start nationally, and it wasn’t ideal how it happened, but it will pay off for next year. In a perfect world, it would be nice to add a veteran backup, but that has proven tricky the last two years to accomplish, resulting in Jack Chambers of Charleston Southern in 2023 and three scholarship quarterbacks in 2024.
Running back: NC State will return every back but Jordan Waters and are in a good position. The trio of redshirt freshman Daylan Smothers, sophomore Kendrick Raphael and Jayden Davis, who is redshirt this season, will lead the way.
Wide receiver: NC State doesn’t have any seniors at receiver this season. Sophomore Kevin Concepcion, juniors Wesley Grimes and Dacari Collins, redshirt freshman Noah Rogers, freshman Terrell Anderson and Keenan Jackson all return.
Tight end: NC State could use another veteran tight end to bolster Dante Daniels, a redshirt junior, and Justin Joly, who has a chance to be a star next year as a senior. Of the class of 2025 commits, tight end Gus Ritchey might have the best chance of immediate playing time.
Offensive line: Redshirt junior left guard Anthony Carter and redshirt junior right tackle Jacarrius Peak will return, and odds are good that Peak will get moved to left tackle. The offensive line reserves haven’t played much other than redshirt sophomore right guard Valen Erickson in a few games. Landing at least two starting caliber lineman is a must.
Defensive line: NC State will return redshirt junior defensive end Travali Price and junior nose tackle Brandon Cleveland from the starting unit. Getting two defensive ends to compete with Price and redshirt freshman Isaiah Shirley in the rotation would be ideal.
Linebacker: The linebacker position needs to be the stars of the defense. Redshirt junior middle linebacker Caden Fordham suffered an undisclosed season-ending injury, and redshirt junior Sean Brown and redshirt freshman Kamal Bonner will return. Whether NC State gets one or two linebackers in the portal will show the confidence level in the younger linebackers.
Safety/nickel: Redshirt freshman nickel Tamarcus Cooley appears to be a solid building block. Safety will be completely up for grabs, though injured senior Devan Boykin could redshirt and be back. Safety Ronnie Royal, who is redshirting, could be a darkhorse candidate to start next year.
Cornerback: NC State appears to be in good shape in light of junior Devon Marshall’s play this season, combined with sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse. The depth isn’t much, but redshirt sophomore Jackson Vick would be the third cornerback.
Specialists: NC State returns redshirt junior punter Caden Noonkester and redshirt junior kicker Kanoah Vinesett. Freshman Jonathan Paylor, who is redshirting this season, could boost the return game.
