NC State’s offense heads toward 2026 with a mix of familiar faces and portal reinforcements, and Pro Football Focus’ 2025 grades give a pretty clear snapshot of where the Wolfpack has real proof and where the upside still has to be earned.
The strongest returning number belongs to backup quarterback Will Wilson, who posted an 82.2 grade on just 53 snaps. That’s eye-catching, but the more meaningful returning performance came from Duke Scott. The sophomore running back graded out at 78.3 across 336 snaps, the best mark among NC State’s returning offensive players who saw real action.
Scott’s season matters because he steps into a bigger role after the departure of Hollywood Smothers. He flashed late last year, and now he looks like one of the offense’s most important pieces. NC State needs that kind of production in the backfield, and Scott’s grade suggests there’s something tangible to build on.
Quarterback CJ Bailey is another central figure. He finished with a 67.8 PFF grade over 806 snaps, the heaviest workload of any returning offensive player on the roster.
Wilson had the better grade in limited action, much of it on designed run plays, but Bailey’s value is tied to something bigger: a full season of experience as the starter. That kind of volume should matter as he enters 2026 with a much better grasp of the offense.
Up front, NC State brings back several linemen who have already logged meaningful snaps. Spike Sowells Jr. led that group with a 69.0 grade over 350 plays.
Teague Andersen wasn’t far behind at 66.5, and his 727 snaps were the most among the returning offensive linemen. Rico Jackson and Kamen Smith also cleared the 300-snap mark, giving the Wolfpack a line with real game mileage.
Rylan Vann posted a 73.3 grade, though it came in only 23 snaps.
The rest of the returning offensive letterwinners show a wider spread of production. Ethan Dowdy graded at 61.6 over 32 snaps, Darius Johnson at 57.1 over 50, Preston Douglas at 57.5 over 52, and Yousef Mugharbil at 47.4 over 114. Keenan Jackson, who saw the most action among the returning receivers, finished at 55.1 over 604 snaps.
NC State also went into the portal and added eight offensive transfers, with the biggest splash coming at wide receiver. Former Buffalo receiver Victor Snow posted the top grade among the newcomers at 74.9 across 776 snaps. That combination of production and experience makes him one of the most interesting additions on the roster.
Former North Carolina running back Davion Gause was right behind him with a 73.1 grade over 231 snaps. His arrival gives NC State another backfield option alongside Scott. At tight end, Hunter Provience brought a 66.3 grade from Montana State over 356 snaps, which gives the Wolfpack a more seasoned presence at a spot where the returning group logged limited work last season.
The other incoming offensive transfers were Daniel Cruz, who graded at 66.5 over 14 snaps at Texas; Davion Dozier, who posted a 62.6 grade over 499 snaps at Appalachian State; Tyran Warren, who earned a 62.5 grade over 552 snaps at Alcorn State; JoJo Trader, who finished at 58.3 over 223 snaps at Miami; and Jimarion McCrimon, who graded at 56.9 over 866 snaps at East Carolina.
Snow stands out not just because of the grade, but because of the role he’s likely to play. NC State added four portal receivers in Snow, Dozier, Warren, and Trader, and that group will battle with Keenan Jackson for spots in Bailey’s passing game.
Snow brings the strongest statistical profile of the bunch, while Dozier and Warren each arrived with roughly 500 snaps or more on their résumé. Trader’s 58.3 grade at Miami gives him a baseline to work from as well.
PFF grades always need context, and the snap counts tell part of the story. A strong grade in a small sample doesn’t carry the same weight as one built over 700 or 800 snaps.
Role, scheme, position, and competition level all matter too. Still, the most encouraging numbers for NC State come from players who paired solid grades with real volume: Scott, Snow, Gause, Sowells, Andersen, and Bailey.
That’s the shape of this offense right now. The Wolfpack has more proven experience than the raw returnee count might suggest, with Scott leading the skill group, Bailey anchoring quarterback, and several linemen bringing back extensive playing time. The portal class, led by Snow and Gause, adds more players who have already shown they can produce.
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