NC State football holds first spring practice. Get a look at the new Wolfpack

N.C. State started spring practice on Tuesday morning in preparation for its 2024 season, and everyone is excited to start things up again.

“It felt great to get back out there. I got injured about halfway through the season last year, so haven’t had the helmet on in a while,” graduate transfer quarterback Grayson McCall, formerly of Coastal Carolina, said, “but just really blessed to be able to have the opportunity to come out here.

“Obviously, [it’s] a little bit different wearing the red and a new jersey number but just an awesome feeling to be out there with the guys and to get going.”

Fans should remember, however, there are six months until the season opener, and this is a very early look at things. Anything can happen between now and then, so be prepared for changes. The coaching staff can — and likely will — make them this week, injuries may occur, additional players will arrive, and general adjustments will be made to personnel and the playbook.

The Wolfpack is coming off a 9-4 season and a trip to the Pop Tarts Bowl. It finished just short of the illustrious 10-win season. With all the changes college football, most notably the College Football Playoff expansion to 12 teams, there’s more than enough motivation to continue the work from last fall.

“I know that we have an opportunity this season with college football landscape changing to 12 teams,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “Teams like us that have been in the top 20 over and over and over can knock on the door differently than we used to.”

N.C. State lost 30 letterwinners, according to program notes, and brought in 32. Some of those who departed the program include quarterbacks Brennan Armstrong and MJ Morris; center Dylan McMahon, defensive lineman Savion Jackson and CJ Clark.

The Wolfpack is set to open the season on Aug. 29 against Western Carolina.

Here are three takeaways from the first outing for the 2024 Pack program.

Quarterback play

The Wolfpack picked up McCall and added to the depth chart with freshman CJ Bailey. Both looked clean during the footwork drills and their throws to the receivers were on target more often than not.

On day 1, McCall looked comfortable in his new jersey. He found wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion and tight end Justin Joly on several passes.

McCall looks somewhat reminiscent of Brennan Armstrong. The roster lists McCall at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, an inch taller and about eight pounds heavier than Armstrong.

McCall’s resume includes five seasons at Coastal Carolina, where he completed 710 of 1,016 passes for 10,005 yards and 88 touchdowns. He averaged more than 238 yards per game and threw just 14 interceptions in five seasons.

The grad transfer added 1,113 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, as well.

NC State football lands commitment from QB Grayson McCall. Here’s what to know

Doeren said McCall has the ability to be a mobile QB like Armstrong with “freelancing” in the backfield and designed runs. N.C. State doesn’t know how that will manifest or to what extent, though.

“He has the skill set to be a runner. That’s the one thing that you’re going to have to account for is him in the run game, even if it’s limited to certain situations with field positions or down in distances,” Doeren said. “They’re going to have to know that he can do that, because obviously, over his career, he’s been very dynamic as a runner.”

McCall is a leader already, too. He works hard, learns quickly and isn’t afraid to be vocal. Doeren said McCall is confident in himself, performs with a “next play mentality” and handles adversity well.

His experience alone makes him the favorite to be the starter. It wouldn’t be surprising, though, to see Bailey in the rotation if the first hour of practice was any indication.

Bailey provides a lot of height, standing at 6-foot-6, and length. His efficiency and accuracy looked promising, despite being months away from the season.

Regardless of how things shape up over the next several months, one thing is clear: the goal.

NC State transfer QB Grayson McCall sets high expectations — for himself and the Pack

Doeren said the expanded College Football Playoff provides opportunities for teams that have finished in the top 20.

McCall said last month, that’s why he came to Raleigh.

“I mean, our expectation is to be in the final 12 at the end of the year,” McCall said. “Obviously, we want to win the ACC… We want to win. We expect to win. And you know, that’s the reason I’m here.”

New players galore

The Wolfpack roster features 32 new players, Doeren said. Eighteen experienced their first collegiate practice, while the other half have experience but don’t know the system.

McCall said learning the new offensive system, terminology and coaching styles have been the biggest changes. It’s OK, though. They’ll learn.

He said the team held meetings already to learn the playbook and felt like practice went smoothly, all things considered.

One of the most important parts right now is building trust among the new guys and the returners. Davin Vann said players have meals together and he met McCall for the first time in study hall. Then, Doeren mentioned weekly meetings meant to inspire vulnerability.

Those early efforts look to have helped, because even when players didn’t know everything about play installation or drills, they at least seemed comfortable in each other’s presence.

“When you just add 10 to 15 guys mid year, it’s not as hard to integrate, but 32 is a lot,” Doeren said. “For me, it’s been, ‘How do we get this glue, this bond that we need?’ Because that’s what wins games when games are tight; one possession games. That brotherhood is a big part of winning, so I’ve got to really cultivate that.”

Sean Brown moves to linebacker

Junior Sean Brown moved from the safety spot to linebacker, hoping to be one of the players that can fill Payton Wilson’s spot. It’s a big ask, since Wilson was last season’s ACC defensive player of the year.

The coaching staff told Brown last season to plan for the switch, so it wasn’t a surprise this offseason.

“Coach Gibby was actually kind of trolling me during the season last year, saying that he’s gonna move into linebacker,” Brown said. “I kind of knew it was coming once the season was over.”

He also thinks it’s going to be a positive move. There may be less coverage in this spot, though Brown could be spotted during practice grabbing catches out of the air.

“I went back and watched Payton’s film, just to see what he did good,” Brown said. “Then, I hit him up and we talked about what’s the keys to be a good will linebacker, just being with him and just watching films, it’s just gonna help me excel at playing that position.”

Brown finished the 2023 season with 37 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.

He knows there are big shoes to fill, from Wilson to Drake Thomas and Germaine Pratt, but Brown is excited to do his thing, too.

“I just want to be Sean Brown,” the junior said. “You know, I want to be my own guy. I want to get my own legacy. That’s just kind of what I want to do.”