NC State has been the model of consistency under Dave Doeren, winning eight or nine games in six of the last seven seasons, but the Wolfpack haven’t been able to get over the hump to put together a truly great season.
The Wolfpack returns several All-Conference level players, so could this be the year they take the next step? Who are the top 10 returning players hitting the college football field with NC State in 2024?
NC State Wolfpack’s Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal area. As such, we’ve included transfer-portal athletes that were included on each team’s roster page to open fall camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Caden Fordham, LB
The linebacking corps was one of the best in college football last year for the Wolfpack, but they lost their two leading tacklers from that group. Caden Fordham is now the veteran and he’s vitally important to NC State’s chances this season.
A redshirt junior, Fordham had 53 tackles last season and returns as the anchor for the middle level of the defense.
9) Noah Rogers, WR
Noah Rogers makes this list on potential alone. Out of high school, I ranked him as the top player in the state of North Carolina. Despite loving NC State, he enrolled at Ohio State, failing to log any statistics as a freshman for the Buckeyes.
He transferred back home and should factor in heavily to NC State’s offensive plans. Rogers is a big play waiting to happen, averaging over 20 yards a catch as a junior in high school while scoring 22 touchdowns.
8) Wesley Grimes, WR
Like Rogers, I was extremely high on Wesley Grimes out of high school. He’s another deep threat with excellent size and speed and put up 17 yards a catch at Wake Forest. He’s likely to slide in as a starting receiver across from KC Concepcion and should have more opportunities with Grayson McCall at quarterback.
Grimes has the ability to make NC State more balanced and keep pressure off of Concepcion. He’s nearly 6’3″ and should continue to add weight in the offseason.
7) Red Hibbler, Edge
Red Hibbler had an extremely strange season last season, finishing 16th on the team with 13 tackles, but racking up a team-high 6.5 sacks. He’s a high-level pass rusher who can disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
This year, he’ll likely have a bigger role and should log significantly more snaps as a senior. He was a JUCO transfer who had 16.5 sacks in three years at Northwest Mississippi Community College
6) Devan Boykin, S
Devan Boykin has been with the Wolfpack for four years, getting extended playing time from the beginning. The NC State safety had a career-high 54 tackles and three interceptions last year. He brings some senior leadership to a strong Wolfpack defense.
MORE: 2024 ACC Weekly Football Schedule
He’s likely the strong safety this year, and if he can stay healthy, he should have another huge season as a fifth-year senior.
5) Zeke Correll, IOL
Zeke Correll transfers into NC State after a year as Notre Dame’s starting center. The Fighting Irish were fantastic in the running game last year, and Correll played a huge part in that success.
The new Wolfpack center has one more year of eligibility and should slot in as an immediate starter on the interior of the offensive line.
4) Sean Brown, LB
Sean Brown had a breakout year last season for the Wolfpack as a safety and will transition to a hybrid-linebacker role this year. He flies around the ball and always seems to be in a position to make a play, which is crucial with Payton Wilson heading to the NFL.
Brown will play all over the defense this year and should lead the team in tackles — or at least get close to leading the Wolfpack.
3) Davin Vann, DL
Vann has 14 career sacks and will anchor the NC State defensive line once again as a fifth-year senior. Vann is the veteran on the defensive line now and has experience at multiple alignments along the defensive front.
Not only is he a force against the pass, but he also led all Wolfpack defensive linemen in tackles as well.
2) Grayson McCall, QB
Grayson McCall used his Covid year to move up to Power Four competition after three Sun Belt Player of the Year seasons with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He threw for over 10,000 yards in four seasons as a starter with the Chanticleers and added over 1,000 yards on the ground.
McCall took a step back in his final year at Coastal, with time missed due to injury impacting his ability to fully grow into a differing offensive scheme under a new staff. Under NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae, McCall should return to his previous form.
1) KC Concepcion, WR
Kevin “KC” Concepcion’s huge freshman campaign surprised many who did not watch him in high school, but the NC State staff knew he would be a huge part of the offense. He’s explosive and versatile, finishing with 95+ yards from scrimmage in seven of his last games.
KEEP READING: 2024 ACC Power Rankings
The Wolfpack used him after the Louisville loss to jumpstart their running game, and he averaged over 40 rushing yards a game after that 13-10 defeat. His 1,159 total yards and 10 touchdowns, combined with his impact on the NC State offense, resulted in Concepcion being named the CFN Freshman Offensive Player of the Year following his debut campaign.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!