Projecting NC State's Offensive Depth Chart Before Summer Training

The most important thing for NC State in 2026 will be to ensure Bailey is comfortable in the offense, while also taking another leap as a passer and extension of Roper on the field. The continuity is very helpful for a team coming off an 8-5 finish last year, with a key coach and player totally aligned on how they want to approach the coming season.

To help with that process, Doeren, Roper and wide receivers coach Joker Phillips completely reloaded the wide receiver room with new options, many of them coming with proven production elsewhere. How that group lines up is trickier to predict, especially with Teddy Hoffmann suspended for the 2026 season. The expectation is for JoJo Trader, Bailey's high school teammate and Miami transfer, and Keenan Jackson to be critical pieces of that position group.

The Wolfpack returned a pair of starters in the trenches, bringing back Teague Andersen and Spike Sowells to anchor the offensive line in 2026. Sowells should slot back into his preferred position, finally get a shot to play center at the collegiate level, although it is believed that Daniel Cruz is likely cross-training as a center as well. That could be more of a necessity than anything else, as the program is somewhat thin in its depth with that group.

Tight end was such an important position group in 2025, but that entire group is gone, including standout Justin Joly. Rising sophomore Preston Douglas and Oregon transfer Vander Ploog seem poised to compete for Joly's old touches, while Hunter Provience should slot nicely into the blocking role previously occupied by Cody Hardy. There shouldn't be a ton of drop-off in the prowess of that group in 2026.