NC State’s depth, competition impresses Doeren during fall practices

RALEIGH — NC State football coach Dave Doeren isn’t about to divulge information about who is winning the starting battles at Wolfpack fall camp.

But Doeren, entering his 13th season at NC State, is impressed by the level and depth of the competition.

“We have really good competition right now and on both sides of the football,” Doeren said Wednesday after practice. “I told the staff yesterday. From the specialists all the way through the position groups, it’s been refreshing because sometimes when you get to your twos and then your threes, there’s a massive drop off, and we’re not seeing that.”

NC State opens its season against East Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack, who finished 6-7 in 2024, lost to ECU in the Military Bowl last season. 

NC State has new offensive and defensive coordinators, and the Wolfpack have kept their schemes under wraps throughout the spring and fall. Doeren said at the team’s recent scrimmage, in the pouring rain, the team didn’t have a single fumble and no poor snaps among 140 plays.

“Which is pretty awesome,” Doeren said.

He said wide receiver Jonathan Paylor, quarterback CJ Bailey, defensive end Sabastian Harsh and linebacker AJ Richardson stood out. Paylor, an all-purpose player at Cummings High in Burlington, played in just three games last season as he learned the game and how to play receiver.

“He’s grown a lot since he’s gotten here,” said Doeren, adding that the Wolfpack is finding different ways to get Paylor the ball.

“Legit fast,” NC State offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak said.

Paylor was among a deep group of skill players that NC State brought in before the 2024 season with much fanfare and high expectations. Tight end Justin Joly (team-high 661 receiving yards) and running back Hollywood Smothers (team-high 571 rushing yards) had big debut seasons, but others were a bit quieter. Many of them are back.

“There’s growing pains that you go through,” Doeren said. “The players that returned have gotten a lot better in the offseason program, learning what to do with their bodies so they can play at a higher level, understanding the system, knowing their teammates. It’s the same thing with coaches. They understand the routine. They know what the expectations are. They know their players. They know how to coach them. And so I expect a lot of growth in the guys that came back that are second-year players for us from last year.”

The same goes, seemingly, for the entire team. Doeren said he has been impressed with what he’s seen from the group.

NC State hasn’t had back-to-back losing seasons under Doeren, rebounding from a 3-9 record in 2013, his first year, and a 4-8 campaign in 2019 to post eight-win seasons.

“They listen,” he said. “They take criticism well. They want to get better. They're intentional about it. They communicate. There's no ego. It's guys trying to get better, helping their teammates out, coaching guys that they're trying to compete against and with.”

Weather woes

The sweltering heat of the first days of NC State’s camp have been replaced by cooler – and wetter – days.

“We’d love to have some fall camp heat,” Doeren said. “We did for two days and then it’s been, as you all know, like spring weather. You can’t control that. You do the best you can.”

The weather does impact where the Wolfpack practices. Wednesday’s session was inside the team’s indoor practice facility.

“If it’s an average to light rain, we’re going to be in the rain,” he said. “But when it was buckets like it was today, you’re not going to get a lot of good work. Guys are going to be falling down, and you can’t run your offense the way you want systematically. We wanted to do some really good situational football so being inside helped us do that from a scrimmage standpoint. Unless there’s lightning, we’re going to be outside. We have to play in whatever Mother Nature gives us on that day.”