Roddy Jones: Grayson McCall could be the best quarterback at NC State since Russell Wilson

NC State has had one of the most impressive showings in the nation this offseason in the transfer portal, ranked No. 6 in On3’s 2024 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings with an impressive index score of 38 given their portal departures and arrivals.

One of the headlining members of the Wolfpack’s transfer portal class is former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall. Who ACC Network analyst Roddy Jones has some lofty expectations for next season, which he shared with On3’s Andy Staples on Thursday.

“The offense is what held them back last year, the quarterback position in particular, and I think Grayson McCall going to NC State is one of the least talked about giant transfers in the country,” Jones said. “And this a guy that was an absolute baller at Coastal Carolina, multi-time player of the year in that conference. I mean he captured our hearts and minds, that team did a few years ago in 2020.”

McCall led Coastal Carolina to a standout 11-1 season in his first year under center for Coastal Carolina. Going on to be one of the most efficient and decorated quarterbacks in college football with three Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year awards to his name and over 10,000 yards of total offense and 100 touchdowns in his career. With the potential to apparently be the next great quarterback for the Wolfpack.

“And I don’t want to be hyperbolic here, but it feels like he’s got a shot to be the best quarterback Russell Wilson and they’ve had some good ones,” Jones said. “Ben Finley was good, Jacoby Brissett was good, Devin Leary gave them some good years. But Grayson McCall’s a dude.”

“So you pair him with Kevin Concepcion who was basically that offense last year. Jordan Waters who’s a really good running back from Duke, transfers over as well. And as you said, there’s always money on that defense.”

Comparisons to Wilson are lofty, but there’s no question that McCall has the resume and talent to potentially make a significant impact for the Wolfpack. And that paired with a strong defense once again could result in NC State having an unexpected breakout season just like the school’s basketball programs.

“So if you’re gonna take a flyer, I mean it’s April and I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, if you’re gonna take a flyer on a team NC State’s not a bad one. It’s the year of Wolfpack too, they’ve got two teams in the Final Four, they’ve broken the curse,” Jones concluded.