3 things to watch as NC State closes fall camp
By Noah Fleischman
NC State is less than two weeks away from its season opener against Western Carolina on Aug. 29 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Before game preparation begins for next Thursday night’s game, here are three things to keep an eye on in the final week of fall camp.
Left guard competition
This is the biggest position competition yet to be decided in fall camp. NC State entered with outside cornerback and wide receiver as the marquee battles, but those appear to be over with Brandon Cisse and Dacari Collins earning those spots, respectively.
That leaves the left guard spot to be determined. It began with three contenders — redshirt juniors Anthony Carter Jr. and Matt McCabe, and redshirt freshman Kamen Smith — but it looks like the two older players are leading in the competition.
“We’re excited about Matt McCabe, and Anthony Carter’s got a lot of game reps,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “Those two guys will both be able to play for us. It’s been a good competition, it’s back and forth. You don’t see a lot of drop off either way.”
Carter, the incumbent starter at left guard from a year ago, owns more experience than McCabe. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman played 819 total snaps a year ago, while McCabe has played just 34 snaps in his college career.
Carter had a late start on the competition , missing spring practice while recovering from an injury, but he seems to have made up the ground in fall camp.
NC State is comfortable and confident in both players, which is a good sign at this point of fall camp, although the Wolfpack has not picked the starter yet. This could trend into the season if the starter doesn’t have consistent play, but the Pack would like to have continuity on the offensive line for the entire season.
Long snapper battle
While the left guard competition is between two veteran Wolfpack offensive linemen, the long snapper battle is between two players without NC State experience that are looking to replace NC State’s longtime standout Joe Shimko.
Shimko started in all five seasons he was at NC State and he is now battling for a spot with the Arizona Cardinals. The two players ltrying to take his spot are redshirt freshman Aiden Arias and Appalachian State transfer Jake Mann.
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“That’s continuing as we go,” Doeren said of the long snapper battle. “We feel like we have two really good snappers right now.”
Arias spent last season studying under Shimko, the Mannelly Award winner as the college football’s best snapper last season, while Mann was a reserve long snapper with the Mountaineers. Mann, however, was App State’s starter during the 2022 season after he transferred in from Oklahoma.
Both players are battling for one spot, likely for the entire season, and have big shoes to fill with Shimko not recording a bad snap in his Wolfpack career.
Team health
With the season right around the corner, NC State’s team health is of the utmost importance. The Wolfpack has scrimmaged twice, emerging from both without any major injuries, according to Doeren and program sources.
Although NC State star wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion was held out of the most recent scrimmage, along with tight end Juice Vereen, their situations do not seem serious. The Wolfpack likely held the duo out with minor bumps and bruises to avoid stressing those even more ahead of a crucial stretch of practice this week.
Other than that, the Wolfpack is looking forward to staying healthy ahead of the 2024 season. Graduate safety Devan Boykin, who injured his knee during the Pop-Tarts Bowl preparation, is still rehabbing to return this fall. His availability for Week 1 is uncertain at the moment.
