RALEIGH, N.C. -- Davion Gause didn’t come to NC State just because of CJ Bailey, though that connection mattered plenty.
The former UNC running back said the fit in Raleigh was about more than a familiar quarterback. It was also about the way the Wolfpack carried itself, especially after he watched last year’s season finale at Carter-Finley Stadium - a 42-19 beatdown that made an impression.
"What stuck out the most to me was how physical the guys were when we were playing," Gause said. "And how much pride they had going out on the field and playing for the Wolfpack. ...
It's a different experience. I've seen how NC State treats the rivalry and how UNC treats the rivalry.
It's good to see both sides, but this side's better."
Gause entered the transfer portal when it opened, visited NC State the next weekend and committed during that trip. The 5-foot-11, 217-pound back spent two seasons in Chapel Hill, where he logged 67 carries for 326 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2024, then followed with 61 carries for 259 yards and three scores in 2025. He also added 20 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns over those two years.
That receiving work stands out on his resume. Pro Football Focus gave Gause the top receiving grade on the Tar Heels roster, an 82.1 overall, on 20 targets as a sophomore. It’s a part of his game he’s made a point to sharpen.
"I take a lot of pride in [pass catching] because now in the NFL, that's what a lot of running backs are doing," Gause said. "So when I get there, that's what I want to show the NFL scouts -- that I could also catch the ball out the backfield."
NC State has already seen flashes of that skill set this spring and summer, along with the burst and balance that made Gause turn heads. He also arrived at 212 pounds and is now up to 217, adding strength that should help him in pass protection when Bailey is in the backfield.
Still, Gause isn’t walking into the Wolfpack offense as a one-dimensional piece. Bailey, who grew up with him in Pop Warner and high school at Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna, knows exactly what he brings as a runner.
"I don't have any doubt about what's going on in the running game or what's in the backfield. They're going to have a good 1-2 punch," Bailey said.
"It's going to be hard to tackle both of them all day. On a lot of these RPOs, just letting them run it is fine with me because I know they're going to make something happen with the ball."
That kind of split workload fits what NC State has done in recent years. The Wolfpack hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2018, and in four of the last six seasons it has had two backs top 400 yards apiece.
Gause could have chased a spot where he was the clear lead back. Instead, he chose a room where he could pair with Duke Scott and give NC State the kind of rotation Bailey described.
"I feel like a running back could play the whole game," Gause said. "But you won't go 100 percent every play like you could if you go out the game and know that your brother coming in stepping in, and there's no drop off when you get in the game. So I feel like it's good having me and Duke in the backfield and other guys in the room that could also step in and play."
He played just 128 total carries over two seasons at UNC, and now he’ll get a much bigger chance to show what he can do in Raleigh. Gause said the move was about more than a new jersey color.
"I had a lot more to show," Gause said with a smile.
That first chance comes Aug. 29, when NC State opens the season and ACC play against Virginia in Charlottesville. The Wolfpack won’t get a chance to flip the rivalry until Nov. 28 in Chapel Hill, giving Gause a full-circle return to the place he left behind.
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The timing is what makes the post stand out. A recent court injunction giving graduating seniors an extra year of eligibility has added another layer of uncertainty to the portal, and if that ruling holds, the ripple effects could reshape how teams plan for next season and how players weigh their options. For NC State, any casual appearance involving familiar names tends to invite speculation, and this one only added to the sense that the Wolfpacks offseason could still take more turns before the picture settles. [Read more 🡒]