NC State will be without its top running back when it lines up against Stanford, and the Wolfpack’s injury list keeps getting longer.
Duke Scott is officially out after leaving Saturday’s game against Louisville with an apparent leg/foot injury. NC State will also be without starting safety Tristan Teasdell, while several other players are already done for the season, including Spike Sowells, AJ Richardson, Vander Ploog and Yousef Mugharbil.
Scott’s absence hits the Wolfpack’s offense right where it hurts most. The junior has led NC State in rushing yards this season and has already turned in two games with multiple touchdowns. With Scott sidelined, Davion Gause is next up, though he has averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry over the last two games.
The issues in the trenches are just as glaring. Only two Week 0 starting linemen, Teague Andersen and Jimarion McCrimon, are still available.
If Kamen Smith can make it back after being listed as questionable for a second straight week, NC State would at least get a needed boost up front. Otherwise, the Pack may need Brody Smith and/or TK Whitset to handle a bigger role.
At receiver, Jojo Trader is questionable.
Stanford is dealing with key absences of its own. Linebacker Matt Rose, who finished second in the ACC in tackles last season, will miss a third straight game. The Cardinal will also be without starting cornerback Brandon Nicholson, who has two pass deflections and one interception this season, and starting center Aidan Kilstrom, who has been out since getting hurt in the second half of the Week 0 game against Hawaii.
Here is the full ACC injury report for both teams:
NC STATE
OUT
Running back Duke Scott
Safety Tristan Teasdell
Tight end Vander Ploog
Nickel Isaiah Crowell
Linebacker AJ Richardson
Running Back Dylan McCoy
Offensive lineman Rylan Vann
Offensive lineman Yousef Mugharbil
Center Spike Sowells Jr.
Tight end Stephen Brown
Tight end Ian Flynt
Kicker Nick Konieczynski
QUESTIONABLE
Wide receiver Joshisa Trader
Offensive tackle Kamen Smith
STANFORD
OUT
CB Brandon Nicholson
CB Breylan Thompson
ILB Matt Rose
OL Aidan Kilstrom
OL Nathan Mejia
ILB Preston Jernegan
TE Reiman Zebert
LS Peyton Warford
QUESTIONABLE
NB Lonnie McAllister III
CB Chris Garland
PROBABLE
DB Lasiah Jackson
In Other News...
NC State Faces A Road Test That Just Got More Complicated
Stanfords latest win gave the Cardinal a burst of momentum heading into a visit from NC State, and Micah Ford made sure the Wolfpack had reason to take notice. Ford piled up a career-best 231 scrimmage yards and matched Stanfords single-game mark with four rushing touchdowns against Elon, a performance that underscored how dangerous the Cardinal can be when its run game gets rolling.
For NC State, the trip only gets trickier from here. Dave Doeren has already talked through the bye week and the travel demands of a cross-country game, and the Wolfpack arrive with quarterback CJ Bailey and top receiver Keenan Jackson carrying much of the offensive load while the status of leading rusher Jayden Scott is still part of the conversation. How NC State manages all of that, and how much it can lean on its usual plans after the long haul, will shape a road test that already looked tough before Stanfords backfield turned up the heat. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Showed One Encouraging Trait And One Early Concern
NC State got an early look at where its new basketball group stands in an exhibition against Mississippi State, and there was at least one encouraging sign to take away from it. The Wolfpack closed strong with a 12-2 run, and a handful of newcomers and key pieces helped carry the offense, with Darius Adams, Preston Edmead, Paul McNeil Jr. and Ven-Allen Lubin all making their presence felt in scoring and at the free-throw line.
The finish gave NC State something to build on, but the game also showed there is still work to do before the results start counting. Rebounding was the clearest issue, with Mississippi State owning the glass and creating extra chances throughout the night, a gap the Wolfpack will need to address quickly as it moves on to another exhibition against Lenoir-Rhyne University. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Isaiah Shirley Just Earned Recognition Wolfpack Fans Will Love
Isaiah Shirleys impact at NC State has gone well beyond the defensive line this fall. The Wolfpack defensive tackle has been recognized as one of 20 semifinalists for the tenth annual Jason Witten Man of the Year Award, an honor that spotlights leadership and sportsmanship on and off the field. Shirleys profile has been built not just on his play, but also on his academic achievements and community service, the kind of rsum that tends to resonate in a program that values the full picture.
The award now moves into its next stage, with the field set to narrow again in December before the winner is eventually announced in the spring. For NC State, Shirleys inclusion is another reminder that some of the most meaningful recognition in college football comes from what happens away from Saturdays, where consistency, character and involvement still carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]