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Former NC State RB Jordan Waters signs undrafted rookie deal with Los Angeles Rams

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•about 16 hours•

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Jordan Waters
© Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Former NC State running back Jordan Waters didn’t put together the senior season he had hoped, but his body of work from the collegiate level has earned him a shot in the NFL. The tailback is signing an undrafted rookie free agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams, according to KPRC’s Aaron Wilson.

Waters, a Duke transfer, began the season as the Wolfpack’s starting running back, but was relegated to a reserve as standout Hollywood Smothers emerged as the program’s top option across the final six games of the 2024 season. Waters finished his senior fall with 95 carries for 470 yards and four touchdowns.

“That dude’s a dog,” NC State linebacker Caden Fordham said of Waters shortly after his arrival on campus last spring. “He’s hard to tackle, he’s a big back. He’s faster than a lot of people think, too, when he gets in a straight line. It’s great to have him on my sideline and not have to worry about tackling him.”

The 6-foot, 215-pound running back had a season-best 115 yards with two touchdowns on just five attempts in NC State’s 59-28 win over Stanford on Nov. 2. He ripped off a 94-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter to extend the Pack’s lead to four scores. But after that performance, he logged just 95 total rushing yards on 24 attempts as Smothers became the team’s top option in the backfield.

While Waters turned in his lowest number of attempts, yards and touchdowns since the 2021 season, his last two seasons with the Blue Devils gave talent evaluators enough to go off of to give him a chance at the next level. Waters rushed for 556 yards with eight touchdowns on 123 carries in 2022 before he had a career-best 819 yards with 12 touchdowns on 153 attempts during the 2023 campaign.

NC State had just one draft pick this season as offensive tackle Anthony Belton was selected with the 54th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in Friday night’s second round. The Wolfpack has produced 30 draft picks through coach Dave Doeren’s first 12 seasons in Raleigh, including seven offensive linemen.

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