With spring football in the books, NC State is currently committed to having 83 scholarship players on the roster next season.
The scholarship roster breaks down as follows:
Seniors (15)
Fifth-year seniors (9): QB Ryan Finley, WR Stephen Louis, WR Maurice Trowell, OL Garrett Bradbury, OL Tyler Jones, OL Terronne Prescod, DE Deonte Holden, LB Germaine Pratt, S Dexter Wright
Note: Kicker Carson Wise is still listen on NC State’s roster, but head coach Dave Doeren has announced that Wise is not expected to kick again due to a leg injury.
True seniors (6): RB Reggie Gallaspy, DE Darian Roseboro, DT Eurndraus Bryant, K Kyle Bambard, P A.J. Cole, LS Tyler Griffiths
Juniors (15)
Redshirt juniors (10): WR Jakobi Meyers, OT Emanuel McGirt, OT Tyrone Riley, OT Philip Walton, DE James Smith-Williams, DT Larrell Murchison, NIC Freddie Phillips, CB Vernon Grier, S Stephen Griffin, S Jarius Morehead
True juniors (5): WR Kelvin Harmon, DE Joe Babros, CB Nick McCloud, CB Kishawn Miller, S Tim Kidd-Glass
Sophomores (19)
Redshirt sophomores (14): WR C.J. Riley, TE Cary Angeline, TE Dylan Autenrieth, TE Dylan Parham, OT Kendall Brown, OT Justin Chase, OG Harrison Gee, OG/C Joe Sculthorpe, OT Justin Witt, DT Shug Frazier, DT Val Martin, LB Brock Miller, CB Markel Valdez, S Isaiah Stallings
True sophomores (5): WR Emeka Emezie, OG Joshua Fedd-Jackson, LB Louis Acceus, LB Raven Saunders, CB Chris Ingram
Freshmen (34)
Redshirt freshmen (13): QB Matt McKay, RB Erin Collins, RB Nakia Robinson, WR Max Fisher, TE Adam Boselli, TE Damien Darden, OL Kollin Byers, OL Bryson Speas, DE Ibrahim Kante, DE Xavier Lyas, DT Grant Gibson, DT Dante Johnson, LB Isaiah Moore
True freshmen (21): QB Devin Leary, RB Trent Pennix, RB Ricky Person, WR Devin Carter, WR Jasiah Provillon, OL Kahric Belle, OL Gabriel Gonzalez, OL Jalynn Strickland, DE Joseph Boletepeli, DL Derrick Eason, DT Alim McNeill, DT Davontae McCrae, LB Calvin Hart, LB Payton Wilson, NIC Tanner Ingle, NIC/S Tyler Baker-Williams, CB De’Von Graves, CB Taiyon Palmer, CB Teshaun Smith, S Malik Dunlap, K Christopher Dunn
• Thus far NC State has lost six players to attrition this offseason. Running back Nyheim Hines and offensive lineman Will Richardson left for the NFL, receiver Daeshawn Stephens transferred to North Carolina Central, quarterback Jalan McClendon left as a grad transfer to Baylor, cornerback Bryce Banks transferred to South Dakota State and offensive lineman Aaron Wiltz took a medical hardship.
McClendon and Richardson would have been fifth-year seniors, Hines a true senior, Wiltz a redshirt junior and Stephens and Banks redshirt sophomores had they stayed.
Speaking of attrition, we went back and calculated how many players from head coach Dave Doeren’s first four full recruiting classes (not including transfers) that are either still around or completed their full eligibility at NC State (unofficial rule of thumb is keeping somewhere between 3/5 or 2/3 of the class intact throughout is probably pretty good):
2014: 20 of 31 (64.5 percent)
- Offensive lineman Will Richardson turned pro after his redshirt junior season. If you adjusted the numbers to include those who played their entire football at NC State before either graduating or turning pro, the retention rate would rise to 67.7 percent.
- Quarterback Jalan McClendon (Baylor) corner Troy Vincent (walked on at Iowa State), safety Kalen McCain (JC and then North Carolina Central), receiver Bo Hines (Yale) and defensive tackle Daeshaywn Middleton (Norfolk State) transferred to other schools.
- Running back Marcelias Sutton did not qualify and signed with Oklahoma out of junior college.
- Corner Elliott Davis and tight end Micah Till were dismissed from the team. Till ended up playing basketball at Division II Slippery Rock where he was named third-team All-American in March.
- Offensive lineman Eric Shute and linebacker/defensive tackle/offensive guard Coult Culler gave up football.
2015: 12 of 22 (54.5 percent)
- Running back Nyheim Hines turned pro after his junior season. If you adjusted the numbers to include those who played their entire football at NC State before either graduating or turning pro, the retention rate would rise to 59.1 percent.
- Running back Johnny Frasier, receiver Brian Sessoms, defensive tackle Quentez Johnson and offensive lineman Daris Workman left the team for undisclosed reasons.
- Offensive lineman T.J. McCoy transferred to Florida where he started nine games this past season at center before suffering an injury.
- Defensive end Emmanuel Olenga and receiver Freddie Simmons were dismissed. Olenga has matriculated at Campbell. Simmons had been expected to end up at Akron but never made it on their roster.
- Offensive lineman Aaron Wiltz and linebacker Riley Nicholson took medical hardships.
2016: 16 of 24 (66.7 percent)
- Corner Bryce Banks (South Dakota State), corner J.J. Givens (Norfolk State), tight end Thaddeus Moss (LSU) and receiver Daeshawn Stephens (NCCU) transferred to other schools.
- Tight end Bryce Dixon was dismissed from the team.
- Linebacker Garrett Hooker and offensive lineman Bryce Folsom left the team for undisclosed reasons.
- Nickel Trae Meadows left the team for personal reasons and is now at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. His return has never been ruled out, but Meadows was spotted with teammates at Nebraska’s spring game.
2017: 18 of 20 (90.0 percent)
- Receiver Antoine Thompson and defensive end Kevince Brown were dismissed from the team.
• As for scholarships for next year’s class, there are currently 15 scholarship seniors (not counting Wise) on the roster, although that number could shrink more, so that is the base number. However, here is an example of how much attrition through the year can add to the number.
- In the fall of 2017, there were 14 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 25 players.
- In the fall of 2016, there were 10 scholarship (non redshirting) seniors, and the Pack signed 20 players.
- In the fall of 2015, there were 10 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 24 players.
- In the fall of 2014, there were 15 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 22 players.
- In the fall of 2013, there were 14 scholarship (non redshirting) seniors, and the Pack signed 31 players.
So as you can see through the numbers, the Pack will likely end up in a position to take close to a full class of 25 in the 2019 class. The average number of players signed over the number of leaving scholarship seniors was 11.8.
• Here are the breakdown of players currently scheduled to come back after the 2018 season (thus are juniors, sophomores or freshmen for the upcoming season). Currently there are 71 scholarships committed to the 2019 season. The limit is 85.
- Quarterbacks: 2 (McKay, Leary)
- Running backs: 4 (Collins, Robinson, Pennix, Person)
- Wide receivers: 7 (Harmon, Meyers, Riley, Emezie, Fisher, Carter, Provillon)
One commit: Chris Toudle
- Tight ends: 5 (Angeline, Autenrieth, Parham, Boselli, Darden)
- Offensive linemen: 14 (McGirt, Riley, Walton, Brown, Chase, Fedd-Jackson, Gee, Sculthorpe, Witt, Byers, Speas, Belle, Gonzalez, Strickland)
One commit: Timothy McKay
- Defensive ends: 6 (Smith-Williams, Kante, Lyas, Babros, Boletepeli, Eason)
- Defensive tackles: 7 (Murchison, Frazier, Martin, Gibson, Johnson, McCrae, McNeill)
Note: Eason and McNeill could project at either DT or DE.
- Linebackers: 6 (Miller, Acceus, Saunders, Moore, Hart, Wilson)
- Nickels: 5 (Griffin, Phillips, Baker-Williams, Ingle)
One commit: Jalen Frazier
Note: Baker-Williams could also project as a safety, and Griffin can play safety, too. Frazier could play corner.
- Cornerbacks: 8 (McCloud, Grier, Miller, Valdez, Ingram, Graves, Palmer, Smith)
• Safeties: 4 (Kidd-Glass, Morehead, Stallings, Dunlap)
• Special teams specialists: 1 (Dunn)
The scholarship roster breaks down as follows:
Seniors (15)
Fifth-year seniors (9): QB Ryan Finley, WR Stephen Louis, WR Maurice Trowell, OL Garrett Bradbury, OL Tyler Jones, OL Terronne Prescod, DE Deonte Holden, LB Germaine Pratt, S Dexter Wright
Note: Kicker Carson Wise is still listen on NC State’s roster, but head coach Dave Doeren has announced that Wise is not expected to kick again due to a leg injury.
True seniors (6): RB Reggie Gallaspy, DE Darian Roseboro, DT Eurndraus Bryant, K Kyle Bambard, P A.J. Cole, LS Tyler Griffiths
Juniors (15)
Redshirt juniors (10): WR Jakobi Meyers, OT Emanuel McGirt, OT Tyrone Riley, OT Philip Walton, DE James Smith-Williams, DT Larrell Murchison, NIC Freddie Phillips, CB Vernon Grier, S Stephen Griffin, S Jarius Morehead
True juniors (5): WR Kelvin Harmon, DE Joe Babros, CB Nick McCloud, CB Kishawn Miller, S Tim Kidd-Glass
Sophomores (19)
Redshirt sophomores (14): WR C.J. Riley, TE Cary Angeline, TE Dylan Autenrieth, TE Dylan Parham, OT Kendall Brown, OT Justin Chase, OG Harrison Gee, OG/C Joe Sculthorpe, OT Justin Witt, DT Shug Frazier, DT Val Martin, LB Brock Miller, CB Markel Valdez, S Isaiah Stallings
True sophomores (5): WR Emeka Emezie, OG Joshua Fedd-Jackson, LB Louis Acceus, LB Raven Saunders, CB Chris Ingram
Freshmen (34)
Redshirt freshmen (13): QB Matt McKay, RB Erin Collins, RB Nakia Robinson, WR Max Fisher, TE Adam Boselli, TE Damien Darden, OL Kollin Byers, OL Bryson Speas, DE Ibrahim Kante, DE Xavier Lyas, DT Grant Gibson, DT Dante Johnson, LB Isaiah Moore
True freshmen (21): QB Devin Leary, RB Trent Pennix, RB Ricky Person, WR Devin Carter, WR Jasiah Provillon, OL Kahric Belle, OL Gabriel Gonzalez, OL Jalynn Strickland, DE Joseph Boletepeli, DL Derrick Eason, DT Alim McNeill, DT Davontae McCrae, LB Calvin Hart, LB Payton Wilson, NIC Tanner Ingle, NIC/S Tyler Baker-Williams, CB De’Von Graves, CB Taiyon Palmer, CB Teshaun Smith, S Malik Dunlap, K Christopher Dunn
• Thus far NC State has lost six players to attrition this offseason. Running back Nyheim Hines and offensive lineman Will Richardson left for the NFL, receiver Daeshawn Stephens transferred to North Carolina Central, quarterback Jalan McClendon left as a grad transfer to Baylor, cornerback Bryce Banks transferred to South Dakota State and offensive lineman Aaron Wiltz took a medical hardship.
McClendon and Richardson would have been fifth-year seniors, Hines a true senior, Wiltz a redshirt junior and Stephens and Banks redshirt sophomores had they stayed.
Speaking of attrition, we went back and calculated how many players from head coach Dave Doeren’s first four full recruiting classes (not including transfers) that are either still around or completed their full eligibility at NC State (unofficial rule of thumb is keeping somewhere between 3/5 or 2/3 of the class intact throughout is probably pretty good):
2014: 20 of 31 (64.5 percent)
- Offensive lineman Will Richardson turned pro after his redshirt junior season. If you adjusted the numbers to include those who played their entire football at NC State before either graduating or turning pro, the retention rate would rise to 67.7 percent.
- Quarterback Jalan McClendon (Baylor) corner Troy Vincent (walked on at Iowa State), safety Kalen McCain (JC and then North Carolina Central), receiver Bo Hines (Yale) and defensive tackle Daeshaywn Middleton (Norfolk State) transferred to other schools.
- Running back Marcelias Sutton did not qualify and signed with Oklahoma out of junior college.
- Corner Elliott Davis and tight end Micah Till were dismissed from the team. Till ended up playing basketball at Division II Slippery Rock where he was named third-team All-American in March.
- Offensive lineman Eric Shute and linebacker/defensive tackle/offensive guard Coult Culler gave up football.
2015: 12 of 22 (54.5 percent)
- Running back Nyheim Hines turned pro after his junior season. If you adjusted the numbers to include those who played their entire football at NC State before either graduating or turning pro, the retention rate would rise to 59.1 percent.
- Running back Johnny Frasier, receiver Brian Sessoms, defensive tackle Quentez Johnson and offensive lineman Daris Workman left the team for undisclosed reasons.
- Offensive lineman T.J. McCoy transferred to Florida where he started nine games this past season at center before suffering an injury.
- Defensive end Emmanuel Olenga and receiver Freddie Simmons were dismissed. Olenga has matriculated at Campbell. Simmons had been expected to end up at Akron but never made it on their roster.
- Offensive lineman Aaron Wiltz and linebacker Riley Nicholson took medical hardships.
2016: 16 of 24 (66.7 percent)
- Corner Bryce Banks (South Dakota State), corner J.J. Givens (Norfolk State), tight end Thaddeus Moss (LSU) and receiver Daeshawn Stephens (NCCU) transferred to other schools.
- Tight end Bryce Dixon was dismissed from the team.
- Linebacker Garrett Hooker and offensive lineman Bryce Folsom left the team for undisclosed reasons.
- Nickel Trae Meadows left the team for personal reasons and is now at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. His return has never been ruled out, but Meadows was spotted with teammates at Nebraska’s spring game.
2017: 18 of 20 (90.0 percent)
- Receiver Antoine Thompson and defensive end Kevince Brown were dismissed from the team.
• As for scholarships for next year’s class, there are currently 15 scholarship seniors (not counting Wise) on the roster, although that number could shrink more, so that is the base number. However, here is an example of how much attrition through the year can add to the number.
- In the fall of 2017, there were 14 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 25 players.
- In the fall of 2016, there were 10 scholarship (non redshirting) seniors, and the Pack signed 20 players.
- In the fall of 2015, there were 10 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 24 players.
- In the fall of 2014, there were 15 scholarship seniors, and the Pack signed 22 players.
- In the fall of 2013, there were 14 scholarship (non redshirting) seniors, and the Pack signed 31 players.
So as you can see through the numbers, the Pack will likely end up in a position to take close to a full class of 25 in the 2019 class. The average number of players signed over the number of leaving scholarship seniors was 11.8.
• Here are the breakdown of players currently scheduled to come back after the 2018 season (thus are juniors, sophomores or freshmen for the upcoming season). Currently there are 71 scholarships committed to the 2019 season. The limit is 85.
- Quarterbacks: 2 (McKay, Leary)
- Running backs: 4 (Collins, Robinson, Pennix, Person)
- Wide receivers: 7 (Harmon, Meyers, Riley, Emezie, Fisher, Carter, Provillon)
One commit: Chris Toudle
- Tight ends: 5 (Angeline, Autenrieth, Parham, Boselli, Darden)
- Offensive linemen: 14 (McGirt, Riley, Walton, Brown, Chase, Fedd-Jackson, Gee, Sculthorpe, Witt, Byers, Speas, Belle, Gonzalez, Strickland)
One commit: Timothy McKay
- Defensive ends: 6 (Smith-Williams, Kante, Lyas, Babros, Boletepeli, Eason)
- Defensive tackles: 7 (Murchison, Frazier, Martin, Gibson, Johnson, McCrae, McNeill)
Note: Eason and McNeill could project at either DT or DE.
- Linebackers: 6 (Miller, Acceus, Saunders, Moore, Hart, Wilson)
- Nickels: 5 (Griffin, Phillips, Baker-Williams, Ingle)
One commit: Jalen Frazier
Note: Baker-Williams could also project as a safety, and Griffin can play safety, too. Frazier could play corner.
- Cornerbacks: 8 (McCloud, Grier, Miller, Valdez, Ingram, Graves, Palmer, Smith)
• Safeties: 4 (Kidd-Glass, Morehead, Stallings, Dunlap)
• Special teams specialists: 1 (Dunn)
