Vanderbilt’s offense and defense both bring a handful of names NC State has to have circled heading into Saturday, and the biggest one might be the quarterback.
Diego Pavia has been the headline act for the Commodores through two games, but the player drawing the most attention now is Curtis, the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He is likely to make his first career start against NC State after stepping in for Blaze Berlowitz for the second straight week when Vanderbilt’s offense stalled against Delaware last Saturday. Curtis, who played the entire second half in the 35-26 win, finished 14-of-22 for 210 yards and a touchdown.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound freshman hasn’t yet flashed the running ability that made him such a dangerous prep player, but that part of his game is still very much on the table. He ran for more than 1,700 yards and 36 touchdowns in high school, and that makes him a key watch item Saturday.
Another offensive name to track is the Commodores’ three-year starter at receiver. He posted his best season last fall with 54 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns, and even though drops showed up in fall camp and carried into the first two games, he still managed five receptions for 94 yards last week.
On the season, he has nine catches for a team-high 164 yards. He also adds value as a kick returner, which means NC State has to account for him in the kicking game, too.
On defense, graduate linebacker Nick Rinaldi has become a real problem for opposing offenses. The former walk-on broke through last season with 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a team-best nine quarterback hurries.
He also became the first Commodore to be named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year last December. This year, he’s picked up right where he left off, piling up 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in Vanderbilt’s first two games.
State also has to deal with the return of two-time team captain Yilanan Ouattara, who missed all but two games last season because of injury. The 6-7, 305-pound defensive lineman has looked healthy so far, with six tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. The German native is one of Vanderbilt’s most seasoned defenders and is set to play his 37th game for the program on Saturday.
Another defensive piece worth watching is the Clemson transfer Jones. He arrived in Nashville after putting together a strong 2025 season with the Tigers, when he had 46 tackles, an ACC-best six interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
That performance earned him All-ACC recognition from multiple media outlets. He has been quieter so far at Vanderbilt, though, with just five tackles and one pass breakup in the Commodores’ 2-0 start.
In Other News...
NC State Turned To A Former Soccer Standout In A Kicking Emergency
When NC State needed help in the kicking game, the answer came from an unlikely place. Drew Lovelace, a former Wolfpack mens soccer player, could no longer continue in soccer this season after becoming ineligible, so he shifted over to the football team and tried out as a kickoff specialist after an injury created an opening.
The move happened fast, but Lovelace adapted quickly enough to earn a debut in front of nearly 60,000 fans and deliver a kickoff touchback. Coaches have pointed to the ease of his transition and the work ethic that helped him get there, a useful reminder of how quickly college rosters can change when one emergency leads to another. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Enters A Stretch That Could Heat Up Dave Doeren Fast
After a rocky opening stretch, NC State is headed into a run that could tell a lot about where Dave Doerens program stands in the broader coaching carousel conversation. The Wolfpacks recent games have already sharpened the scrutiny around the season, and the schedule ahead now gives them a chance to change the tone quickly if the team can put together a cleaner stretch.
For Doeren, the stakes are familiar: keep the Wolfpack moving in the right direction and the noise fades, but stumble through the next few weeks and the questions around the program only get louder. In a year when several Power Four jobs are already drawing attention, NC State does not need much more turbulence, which makes this upcoming stretch one of the more important ones on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Gets A Key O-Line Boost Before Tough Vanderbilt Test
Dave Doeren gave NC State some encouraging news as the Wolfpack turns the page toward Vanderbilt, saying starting center Spike Sowells Jr. is expected to be ready to go. Sowells left the previous game early because of an injury, but the early read from the coaching staff is that there is no major concern about his recovery.
For a line that has leaned on Sowells as a stabilizing presence, the timing matters. He was a Freshman All-American last season and has continued to stand out in pass protection, so getting him back in the middle of the offense would be a welcome boost before a tough test against Vanderbilt. [Read more 🡒]