Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason gave a handful of former NC State players another chance to make noise, and a few of them did exactly that on Saturday.
Jordan Waters kept his strong August rolling in the Rams’ 34-0 win over the Saints. The former Wolfpack running back handled 10 carries for 54 yards, added a catch for four yards, and finished with a 67.2 PFF grade across 32 snaps.
That followed a productive showing last week, when he rushed for 37 yards on just five attempts. Through two preseason games, Waters has piled up 91 yards on 15 carries, good for 6.1 yards per attempt.
Los Angeles also got a sharp outing from Dylan McMahon, who started at center and posted one of the day’s top marks among former NC State players with a 77.7 PFF grade. McMahon is still trying to carve out his spot on the Rams’ offensive line, and this kind of performance gives him a real boost.
Two more former Wolfpack defenders were in the Rams’ starting lineup as well. Tanner Ingle logged 32 snaps, made one tackle, and earned a 56.5 grade. Larrell Murchison played 23 snaps, recorded two tackles, and came away with a 44.4 grade.
New Orleans got a little production from Cody Hardy, who caught one pass for seven yards. The former NC State tight end played 10 snaps and received a 55.3 PFF grade.
In Chicago’s 27-9 loss to Cincinnati, Garrett Bradbury made his Bears debut and started at center. He played nine snaps and posted a 65.3 PFF grade. Chicago brought in the former first-round pick this offseason after his first six NFL seasons with Minnesota and last season with New England.
Kentavius Street also started for the Bears. The former NC State defensive tackle didn’t register a tackle in eight snaps, but he still graded out at 66.6. Joe Thuney, the former Wolfpack All-American who is expected to start at left guard for Chicago, did not play.
Zeke Correll got his first preseason action for Philadelphia in the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to New England. The center played 16 snaps and finished with a 51.8 PFF grade.
Caden Fordham was the busiest former Pack player of the day in Tampa Bay’s 16-15 win over Kansas City. The linebacker collected seven tackles, which ranked second on the Buccaneers, and added a tackle for loss. He played 30 snaps and earned a 62.0 grade.
A few other former NC State players were held out Saturday: Alim McNeill, BJ Hill, Cory Durden, Bam Knight, Jacoby Brissett, and Drake Thomas.
In Other News...
Dave Doeren Is Closing In On Rare NC State History
Dave Doerens run at NC State has already stretched into unusual territory for modern college football, and this fall brings another marker that underscores just how long he has been steering the program. Entering his 14th season, Doeren is closing in on a piece of school history that has stood for decades, with his current total of 165 games coached putting him on the doorstep of Earle Edwards long-standing standard.
The pace of the climb is set, too, with the Wolfpack expected to reach the tie in the eighth game of the 2026 season against California before moving past the mark the following week against Duke. For a program that has valued stability and steady success, the significance goes beyond a record book note. It is another reminder that Doerens tenure has become one of the defining stretches in NC State football history, even as the next milestone is still just ahead. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Bailey Knows What NC State Must Prove In The Opener
CJ Bailey has been around long enough to know the first in-conference game can say plenty about where a team stands, and the third-year NC State starting quarterback made clear this week that the opener against Virginia is about more than just getting into league play. Meeting with the media, Bailey talked through the Wolfpacks mindset, his own growth as a player and what he sees in Virginia, giving a veteran quarterbacks perspective on a game that already carries weight for both sides.
Bailey also touched on former teammates and the competitive edge that usually comes with a matchup like this, where familiar faces and fresh stakes tend to sharpen everything around the field. For NC State, the challenge is not just winning the opener but showing the kind of consistency and poise that tells the rest of the conference the Wolfpack are ready for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Has A New Defensive Voice Entering Virginia Week
Dave Doerens latest update after fall camp offered a good look at how NC State is trying to steady itself heading into its ACC road opener at Virginia. The Wolfpack are leaning into a broader leadership model this season, with eight captains spread across different position groups, a setup Doeren said reflects the balance and accountability the staff wants in the room. It is the kind of internal detail that often matters most once the games start getting tight on the road.
One of the clearest signs of that shift has been transfer linebacker Popo Aguirre, who has moved quickly from newcomer to one of the voices his teammates trust. Doeren pointed to Aguirres humility, work ethic and leadership as reasons he earned respect so fast, and the captaincy vote showed how quickly he has fit into the fabric of the defense. For a team trying to establish its identity entering conference play, having a new defensive presence rise that fast is a pretty useful development. [Read more 🡒]