Who ya got?
There are a lot of guys on this NC State team who are going to step into new roles or larger ones, and with the Wolfpack losing a lot of production, especially off the defense, opportunities abound. Here are a few guesses at who will seize them.
1.) Wesley Grimes — While Noah Rogers’ talent is undeniable, I like the fact that Grimes saw significant action last season, and he put together a nice debut in spite of the underwhelming collection of quarterbacks at Wake Forest, tying for the team lead with four touchdown grabs.
In looking ahead, I’ve been thinking a lot about 2018, when Emeka Emezie broke out in his sophomore year, thanks in no small part to the attention placed on Jakobi Meyers and Kelvin Harmon. It feels like we could see a similar scenario this fall, with KC Concepcion and Justin Joly requiring a lot of attention at the top of the scouting report. Again, teams only have so many quality defensive backs, and someone is going to leverage the attention elsewhere into a good season. Put me down for Grimes here, who I’ll wager will end up with 600+ receiving yards and a handful of TDs.
2.) Brandon Cisse — Not exactly a bold choice, as many expect Cisse to thrive in his second college season as he steps in for Shy Battle at the starting corner spot opposite Aydan White. I love the tools he brings to the secondary, and he had an excellent spring. That he was able to get onto the field consistently as a true freshman is a good sign, and I expect his first full offseason in college and another year of experience with Tony Gibson’s system will pay big dividends.
3.) Red Hibbler — Hibbler led the team with 6.5 sacks in 2023 despite playing just 251 snaps, and added to that three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. There’s room to up that snap count considerably this fall, and I think he’ll prove he can handle it. Playing opposite Davin Vann can only help, and as with Cisse, I expect having a year of experience in the defense will have tangible benefits.