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NC State Football Transfer Portal Tracker: Breaking Down Every Departure After the 2025 Season
The transfer portal is about to swing open, and for NC State, the offseason movement has already begun. Though the official window doesn’t open until Jan. 2, players are allowed to declare their intentions ahead of time - and several members of the Wolfpack have already made their decisions.
This year brings a new format to the portal process. Gone are the multiple windows spread across winter and spring.
Instead, the NCAA has streamlined the system: a single 15-day window from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16.
Graduate transfers, who previously had more flexibility, are now held to the same timeline. The rules around coaching changes have also tightened - players now get just 15 days to enter the portal if a new head coach is hired after Jan. 2, rather than the old 30-day exception.
With the structure more rigid, each move carries more weight - and for NC State, the list of outgoing players is already taking shape.
OL Valen Erickson (Declared: Dec. 8)
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Valen Erickson is set to enter the portal after spending two seasons with the Wolfpack. Erickson transferred to NC State from Missouri ahead of the 2024 season, bringing with him experience under former Wolfpack offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz. But his time in Raleigh has been uneven.
In 2025, Erickson logged 110 snaps across seven games, including a season-high 39 against Duke - a game where he struggled in pass protection, earning a 48.7 overall grade and a 39.5 pass-blocking score from Pro Football Focus. His season-long grades reflected those struggles: 44.8 overall, 21.5 in pass protection, and 50.4 in run blocking.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Erickson is looking for a fresh start. His departure comes just ahead of NC State’s Gasparilla Bowl matchup with Memphis on Dec. 19.
DE Josh Alexander-Felton (Declared: Dec. 12)
Redshirt freshman defensive end Josh Alexander-Felton is also headed to the portal. He didn’t see the field for a single defensive snap in 2025, and now he’ll look to reboot his career elsewhere. Sometimes, a change of scenery is what a young player needs to find the right fit - and for Alexander-Felton, this offseason will be about finding that opportunity.
DL Justin Terrell (Declared: Dec. 16)
Defensive lineman Justin Terrell, another redshirt freshman, is on the move after two seasons with the program. Terrell saw limited action in 2024, appearing in three games and logging 25 total snaps. He made his lone tackle against East Carolina and posted a solid 61.4 overall PFF grade, with his best showing coming in just five snaps against Stanford (69.4).
In 2025, Terrell didn’t play a single snap. With eligibility and potential still on his side, he’s entering the portal looking for more consistent playing time.
RB Hollywood Smothers (Declared: Dec. 18)
This one’s big. Redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers is entering the portal after a breakout 2025 season that saw him become the first NC State player to lead the ACC in rushing yards per game (85.4) since 1997.
At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Smothers was a force when healthy, finishing the year with 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 160 carries. He also contributed in the passing game with 37 catches for 189 yards and another score. Despite battling injuries late in the season, Smothers posted four 100-yard rushing games and earned first-team All-ACC honors - the first Wolfpack running back to do so since Nyheim Hines in 2017.
His departure is a major blow to the offense, and he’ll be one of the more intriguing backs in the portal this cycle.
WR Christian Zachary (Declared: Dec. 21)
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Christian Zachary is also heading out. He appeared in just one game this past season, logging four snaps and no receptions. With limited opportunities in a crowded receiver room, Zachary will look to find a program where he can carve out a bigger role.
LB Elijah Groves (Declared: Dec. 22)
Redshirt freshman linebacker Elijah Groves didn’t see the field on defense in 2025, and he’s now opted to enter the portal. Like several others on this list, Groves will be searching for a chance to compete for playing time elsewhere.
S Daemon Fagan (Declared: Dec. 23)
Once a highly touted four-star safety recruit out of Florida, Daemon Fagan’s time in Raleigh never quite materialized the way many expected. After battling injuries throughout his career, Fagan finally saw the field for the first time in 2025 - playing 10 snaps in the fourth quarter against Campbell and recording one tackle.
That brief appearance marked both the beginning and end of his on-field action with the Wolfpack. Fagan is now looking for a fresh start, hoping to revive a career that was once full of promise.
S Zack Myers (Declared: Dec. 23)
Another safety moving on is Zack Myers, who, like Fagan, arrived with a strong recruiting pedigree but never found a consistent role on defense. Myers did contribute on special teams, playing in 22 games over three seasons, including 12 in 2025. He also logged 14 defensive snaps this year, though that was largely due to injuries at the position.
A product of Christ School in Arden, N.C., Myers could be eyeing a return closer to home. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.
WR Terrell Anderson (Declared: Dec. 24)
Perhaps the most impactful departure on the offensive side comes from wide receiver Terrell Anderson. Anderson led the Wolfpack in receiving this past season, hauling in 39 catches for 629 yards and five touchdowns.
He emerged as a go-to target in 2025, and his ability to stretch the field and win contested catches made him a valuable piece of the passing attack. With his size and production, Anderson figures to draw plenty of interest in the portal.
OL Brock Stukes (Declared: Dec. 27)
Another offensive lineman joins the list, as Brock Stukes has declared his intention to enter the portal. Details on his 2025 playing time weren’t immediately available, but his departure adds to the growing turnover in the trenches for NC State.
What’s Next for the Wolfpack?
With the portal officially opening Jan. 2, NC State is already facing significant roster turnover. From key contributors like Smothers and Anderson to depth pieces still looking to make their mark, the Wolfpack are feeling the full impact of the modern transfer era.
The good news? The portal works both ways. While these departures sting, they also open the door for new talent - and with a clearer, more structured window this year, expect NC State to be active in finding the right pieces to reload for 2026.
Stay tuned. The offseason has just begun.