As NFL teams put the finishing touches on their rosters ahead of the 2026 season, NC State has quietly carved out a spot among college football’s better NFL pipelines.
The Wolfpack currently has 18 former players on NFL rosters, which ties the program for 28th nationally and puts it firmly inside the top 30 in the country.
That number also gives NC State a solid perch inside the ACC. The Wolfpack ranks fourth in the league, tied with Florida State. Only Clemson, Miami and Stanford have more players in the NFL right now.
Here’s how the ACC stacks up:
- Clemson - 30
- Miami - 27
- Stanford - 23
T-4. NC State - 18
T-4. Florida State - 18
- North Carolina - 16
T-7. Pittsburgh - 15
T-7. California - 15
T-7. Boston College - 15
T-10. Syracuse - 14
T-10. Louisville - 14
T-10. Duke - 14
- Virginia Tech - 13
T-14. Wake Forest - 11
T-14. Georgia Tech - 11
- SMU - 10
- Virginia - 6
If you zoom in on the local picture, NC State sits ahead of North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest in NFL representation. The Wolfpack is also just five players behind Stanford for third place in the conference.
The list of current NC State pros mixes proven veterans with younger names still carving out their place. Joe Thuney, AJ Cole, Bradley Chubb and Garrett Bradbury are all established NFL regulars.
Jakobi Meyers, Alim McNeill and BJ Hill are in that same steady category. On the other end, Payton Wilson, Anthony Belton, Sabastian Harsh and Justin Joly give the group a younger look.
Thuney, Cole and Chubb have all made Pro Bowls, and Thuney and Cole have also earned All-Pro recognition.
NC State’s 18 players currently on NFL rosters are:
Anthony Belton - OT - Packers
Garrett Bradbury - C - Bears
Joe Thuney - OG - Bears
Bradley Chubb - LB - Bills
AJ Cole - P - Raiders
Cory Durden - DT - Patriots
Ikem Ekwonu* - OT - Panthers
Sabastian Harsh - DE - Texans
BJ Hill - DT - Bengals
Justin Joly - TE - Dolphins
Dylan McMahon - C - Rams
Jacoby Brissett - QB - Cardinals
Bam Knight - RB - Cardinals
Alim McNeill - DT - Lions
Jakobi Meyers - WR - Jaguars
Kentavius Street - DL - Bears
Drake Thomas - LB - Seahawks
Payton Wilson - LB - Steelers
*Ekwonu will begin the season on the PUP list as he works his way back from injury.
There’s also a strong amount of NFL experience in the group. Of the 16 players listed above who were in the league last season, 14 started games.
In Other News...
Jakobi Meyers Is Closing In On Major NC State NFL History
Jakobi Meyers has spent seven seasons carving out a place in the NFL that few undrafted receivers ever reach, and the former NC State standout is now stacking up numbers that put him in rare company from both angles. Through 7 seasons, he has 468 catches for 5,427 yards and 23 touchdowns, production that already has him 20th all-time among undrafted players in receiving yards while also putting him near the top of the Wolfpacks NFL record books.
For NC State fans, the broader significance is easy to see: Meyers is no longer just a nice success story, but one of the programs most productive pass catchers at the pro level. With his recent performance keeping him on that trajectory, the next question is how high he can climb among former Wolfpack receivers and where he ultimately lands on the broader list of undrafted NFL wideouts. [Read more 🡒]
Jarkel Joiner Just Landed Another Shot To Keep His NBA Dream Alive
Jarkel Joiner is getting another crack at making an NBA impression, this time with a familiar in-state backdrop. The former NC State guard has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets, a move that keeps him in the league pipeline after previous stops in the NBA G League and Summer League with several organizations, including Atlanta and Toronto.
Charlotte cleared the roster spot by waiving guard Kyle Mangas in the corresponding move, and Joiner now heads into camp with a chance to turn another opportunity into something more lasting. For a player who has kept working his way through the pro ranks since leaving Raleigh, it is the sort of chance that can keep a dream alive a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces The Kind Of FCS Test Fans Never Trust
There are plenty of reasons for NC State to treat Richmond like more than a routine nonconference opponent when the teams meet Sept. 11. This series goes back to 1895 and will reach its 20th game, with the Wolfpack holding an 18-1-1 edge, but Richmond has long been one of the more respected FCS programs in the country, with a national championship and multiple conference titles on its rsum.
For NC State fans, the unease comes from the familiar shape of these games. Richmond has already shown it can handle business early this season, and any FCS team with that kind of track record brings a level of danger that never feels comfortable in Raleigh. The Wolfpack know the history is heavily on their side, but the kind of test that usually gets remembered is the one that stays close deep into the fourth quarter. [Read more 🡒]