NC State has settled on its 2026 leadership group, and the Wolfpack are going with a bigger captaincy structure than most teams. Five players will wear the captain label, with three more serving as assistant captains to help carry the load.
Quarterback CJ Bailey and running back Duke Scott will lead the offense. On the defensive side, linebackers Popo Aguirre and AJ Richardson, along with corner Brian Nelson II, were selected as captains. The assistant captain group features receiver Kennan Jackson, offensive guard Kamen Smith, and defensive tackle Isaiah Shirley.
“All eight of these men have shown great leadership throughout our offseason conditioning program, spring practice and fall camp, and I’m proud of how all of them represent our program,” said Head Coach Dave Doeren.
Bailey is the lone returning captain, and his second straight year in that role gives NC State continuity at quarterback. Doeren’s message was clear: this is Bailey’s team, and the Wolfpack’s ceiling will rise as far as he can carry them.
Scott enters the season as the clear headliner in the backfield after finishing last year as NC State’s second-leading rusher. He ran for 581 yards on 5.5 yards per carry and scored four times. He also landed on the 2026 Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Award Watch Lists.
Aguirre arrived after three seasons with the Hurricanes and wasted little time making his presence felt in Raleigh. He’s set to anchor the Wolfpack defense this season.
Richardson’s selection fits the profile of a player who’s built to lead. He comes from a family with ten siblings, and that background has helped shape the leadership traits he brings to NC State. He figures to be a major part of the defense.
Nelson II joined the program at the start of the 2025 season after beginning his college career at North Texas, and he quickly earned trust inside the locker room. Last season, he finished with 29 tackles for the Wolfpack.
The assistant captain spots were added after the captain vote came down very close, giving Doeren a way to recognize more of the players who stood out during camp and offseason work. Jackson was named one of those assistants after catching 28 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns last season. With a larger role expected in the offense, he now adds another layer of responsibility.
Smith brings experience to the offensive line and has appeared in 20 games for NC State. That kind of mileage matters up front, and it helped earn him a leadership spot.
Shirley rounds out the group with a resume that stretches beyond the field. He has played in 29 games during his career, posted 15 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown last season, and was a finalist for the Arthur Ashe Jr Sports Scholar Award.
Doeren had especially high praise for him, saying, "Isaiah Shirley exemplifies everything we want Wolfpack Football to stand for,” said Doeren. “He is dedicated to getting better on the field and in the classroom every day, and he is the definition of a true servant-leader.
He serves in many leadership roles on student organizations and is always willing to volunteer in the community. I’m so proud of him.”
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Victor sounds ready for the responsibility, and he has leaned into the chance to grow with both teammates and coaches around him. He spoke confidently about the role ahead and the motivation that comes with being counted on more heavily, which matters for a defense that will be asking him to help steady the middle from the start. For NC State, the question is no longer whether Victor can learn the job, but how quickly he can turn that preparation into production when the games begin. [Read more 🡒]