RALEIGH – Six different players caught passes for NC State in the first quarter of its season opener against East Carolina in Raleigh, including four consecutive grabs by freshman Teddy Hoffman.
Quarterback CJ Bailey rushed and threw for a touchdown in the first half as NC State took a 17-0 lead over East Carolina in the season opener for both teams.
Bailey had an 11-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter. On NC State’s next drive, he connected with receiver Wesley Grimes for a 48-yard score. Bailey completed 14 of his first 16 passes in the game for 155 yards.
NC State dominated the first quarter with 144 total yards to just eight for ECU.
It was the first game for the Wolfpack’s new coordinators Kurt Roper (offense) and DJ Eliot (defense).
ECU defeated NC State 26-21 in the 2024 Military Bowl, which was marred by an embarrassing late-game brawl that left an official bloodied and multiple players ejected.
“As I stated after that game last year, I was embarrassed as the head coach, as a program, and know that I let down our fan base, our alums, our former players,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said before the ECU game. “What happened after the game can’t happen and won’t happen.”
NC State was without nose tackle Brandon Cleveland and right guard Val Erickson for the first half as a result of the fight.
Scoring summary
First quarter
NCSU — Nick Konieczynski 29 field goal, 8:34. Drive: 15 plays, 64 yards, 6:26. Key plays: Two penalties cost the Wolfpack 25 yards and stalled the team’s promising first drive. NC State 3, ECU 0.
Second quarter
NCSU — CJ Bailey 11 run (Konieczynski kick), 13:33. Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:31. Key plays: Teddy Hoffmann caught four consecutive passes to start the drive, including a 27-yarder from a scrambling Bailey. NC State 10, ECU 0.
NC State depth chart
OFFENSE
| Pos | No. | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Cl |
| LT | 65 | Jacarrius Peak | 6’4 | 308 | R-Jr. |
| 73 | Darion Rivers | 6’6 | 321 | R-So. | |
| LG | 75 | Anthony Carter, Jr. | 6’3 | 318 | Gr. |
| 78 | Trent Mitchell | 6’5 | 316 | R-Fr. | |
| C | 74 | Jalen Grant | 6’1 | 304 | Gr. |
| 72 | Spike Sowells | 6’2 | 312 | Fr | |
| RG | 79 | Kamen Smith | 6’5 | 325 | R-So. |
| OR | 50 | Val Erickson | 6’5 | 320 | R-So. |
| OR | 71 | Yousef Mugharbil | 6’5 | 322 | R-Sr. |
| RT | 54 | Teague Andersen | 6’5 | 322 | R-So. |
| 64 | Rico Jackson | 6’6 | 322 | R-So. | |
| TE-B | 7 | Justin Joly | 6’3 | 263 | Jr. |
| 82 | Preston Douglas | 6’3 | 228 | Fr | |
| TE-Y | 44 | Cody Hardy | 6’4 | 267 | Sr. |
| 87 | Dante Daniels | 6’6 | 279 | R-Sr. | |
| X | 6 | Wesley Grimes | 6’2 | 195 | Sr. |
| 12 | Teddy Hoffman | 6’1 | 181 | Fr. | |
| 80 | Ethan Dowdy | 6’2 | 197 | Jr. | |
| Y | 8 | Keenan Jackson | 6’3 | 202 | So. |
| 27 | Ashton Locklear | 6’1 | 188 | R-Jr. | |
| Z | 5 | Noah Rogers | 6’2 | 197 | R-So. |
| OR | 9 | Terrell Anderson | 6’2 | 192 | So. |
| RB | 3 | Hollywood Smothers | 5’11 | 193 | So. |
| 4 | Duke Scott | 5’10 | 215 | R-Fr. | |
| 31 | Coleson Fields | 5’9 | 187 | R-So. | |
| 25 | Darius Johnson | 5’10 | 205 | R-So. | |
| QB | 11 | CJ Bailey | 6’6 | 213 | So. |
| 2 | Lex Thomas | 5’11 | 195 | R-So. | |
| 10 | Will Wilson | 5’11 | 230 | Fr. |
DEFENSE
| Pos. | No. | Name | Hgt. | Wgt. | Cl. |
| E | 54 | Sebastian Harsh | 6’3 | 263 | Gr. |
| 92 | Chase Bond | 6’4 | 265 | R-Fr. | |
| N | 44 | Brandon Cleveland | 6’4 | 315 | Sr. |
| 52 | Chazz Wallace | 6’2 | 308 | Gr. | |
| 90 | Josiah Victor | 6’2 | 312 | Fr. | |
| T | 13 | Travali Price | 6’4 | 285 | Gr. |
| 88 | Isaiah Shirley | 6’3 | 280 | R-So. | |
| 43 | AJ Prim | 6’2 | 287 | R-So. | |
| JACK | 8 | Cian Slone | 6’4 | 252 | Gr. |
| OR | 4 | Tra Thomas | 6’3 | 237 | Gr. |
| NIC | 22 | Jackson Vick | 6’0 | 190 | R-Jr. |
| 26 | Asaad Brown | 6’0 | 199 | R-Fr. | |
| 14 | Jaren Sensabaugh | 6’1 | 190 | R-Fr. | |
| MLB | 0 | Sean Brown | 6’0 | 225 | Gr. |
| OR | 15 | AJ Richardson | 6’1 | 235 | Jr. |
| 38 | Logan Foust | 6’0 | 205 | R-Fr. | |
| WLB | 1 | Caden Fordham | 6’1 | 230 | Gr. |
| OR | 15 | AJ Richardson | 6’1 | 235 | Jr. |
| 30 | Zane WIlliams | 5’11 | 228 | R-Fr. | |
| SAM | 33 | Kenny Soares, Jr. | 6’2 | 233 | Gr. |
| 42 | Ke’Von Carter | 6’3 | 233 | Fr. | |
| LCB | 6 | Devon Marshall | 5’11 | 200 | Sr. |
| 32 | Michael Tate | 6’2 | 180 | R-So. | |
| 10 | Jivan Baly | 5’11 | 172 | R-Fr. | |
| SS | 16 | JJ Johnson | 5’10 | 200 | Gr. |
| 29 | Brody Barnhardt | 6’0 | 190 | R-Fr. | |
| 24 | Zack Myers | 6’1 | 202 | R-So. | |
| FS | 2 | Ronnie Royal II | 5’9 | 185 | R-Fr. |
| 19 | Tristan Teasdell | 5’11 | 180 | Fr. | |
| RCB | 21 | Jamel Johnson | 5’11 | 196 | R-Jr. |
| 7 | Brian Nelson II | 6-0 | 197 | R-So. |
SPECIAL TEAMS
| Pos | No. | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. |
| K | 91 | Nick Konieczynski | 5’11 | 215 | R-Fr. |
| 94 | Kanoah Vinesett | 6’1 | 205 | Gr. | |
| P | 98 | Caden Noonkester | 6’6 | 215 | Gr. |
| 96 | Owen Fehr | 5’11 | 187 | R-So. | |
| KO | 84 | Charlie Birtwistle | 5’11 | 210 | R-Fr. |
| 91 | Nick Konieczynski | 5’11 | 215 | R-Fr. | |
| LS | 95 | Jake Mann | 5-10 | 232 | R-Sr |
| 92 | Aiden Arias | 6’0 | 207 | R-So. | |
| H | 98 | Caden Noonkester | 6’6 | 215 | Gr. |
| 96 | Owen Fehr | 5’11 | 187 | R-So. | |
| PR | 6 | Wesley Grimes | 6’2 | 195 | Sr. |
| 12 | Teddy Hoffman | 6’1 | 181 | Fr. | |
| 9 | Terrell Anderson | 6’2 | 192 | So. | |
| KOR | 4 | Duke Scott | 5’10 | 215 | R-Fr. |
| 3 | Hollywood Smothers | 5’11 | 193 | R-So. |