3 Remaining NC State Players Who Will Define the Season After NFL Draft Losses

Every time NC State football is mentioned, the fact that the program returned its rising star at quarterback is quickly the first thing brought up by fans and pundits alike. CJ Bailey is going to be the key to any success the Wolfpack has in 2026, especially if he can take a leap after already showing tremendous progress in his sophomore season.

Bailey is one of the only returning quarterbacks in the ACC. With offensive coordinator Kurt Roper back at the helm for another year and all sorts of new weapons to work with, including two high school teammates, the young signal-caller could be ready to take over the league.

CB Brian Nelson

NC State lost its alpha in the secondary with Devon Marshall signing as a UDFA with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the draft, but there might be a replacement in the building already. Brian Nelson transferred in from North Texas and started for the Pack all year long.

Nelson's first season in Raleigh came with ups and downs, despite the fact that he brought a tremendous reputation as a Group of Five ballhawk at the cornerback position. The Wolfpack needs more out of one of its top transfers from a year ago if it wants to improve some of the defensive numbers and make them more consistent moving forward.

RT Teague Andersen

An enormous part of any success Bailey has in 2026 depends on the play of his offensive line. The 2025 group did a nice job, but three of the five regular starters either exhausted their eligibility or transferred to a new program. One of the key returners was Teague Andersen, the rock-solid starter at right tackle for the Wolfpack.

Andersen was a tremendous pass blocker in his first season with NC State and now finds himself in a leadership role for some of the new additions to the offensive line. If he can provide Bailey with protection on the right and Jimarion McCrimon slides in as a quality transfer on the left, the Pack could be in business offensively.