NC State football roster gets early 2024 shakeup as Battle, White announce departures
N.C. State’s secondary took a hit this week after two starters announced their departures.
Cornerback Shyheim Battle declared Wednesday he will enter the NFL draft. Fellow cornerback Aydan White entered the transfer portal.
Battle, from Rocky Mount, played five years with the Wolfpack and finished with 144 total tackles, seven interceptions and 25 pass breakups. He recorded a career-high 46 tackles, 30 solo, in 2023.
The redshirt junior received All-ACC honorable mention after his regular-season contributions.
“Thank you to all the family, friends, fans, coaches and teammates that have helped me along this journey, just helped me become who I am today,” Battle said in a video announcement. “This will always be my home. Always and forever. Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, having the opportunity to play football in my backyard is one of a kind. I can’t thank N.C. State enough for giving me the opportunity to play here.”
White, a junior from Asheville, opted to pursue other opportunities as a graduate transfer. The two-time All-ACC selection logged 101 career tackles, eight interceptions and 25 pass breakups in his four years with the Pack.
“I am filled with gratitude to be able to wear the Wolfpack colors and represent this great institution,” White said in a statement posted to social media. “I want to thank God for the opportunity to do what I have loved since (I was) a kid.”
The Wolfpack’s secondary looks thin after the announcements. It already lost Cecil Powell, Jakeen Harris and Chris Scott to the portal. Robert Kennedy declared for the NFL draft, while Rakeim Ashford sustained a season-ending injury this fall and has not announced whether he plans to return.
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N.C. State, however, signed Corey Coley Jr. and Tamarcus Cooley from Maryland. Bishop Fitzgerald, Devan Boykin and Sean Brown are among the top returners. Boykin and Brown recently announced partnerships with Savage Wolves NIL for 2024.
