Skip to main content
nc-state logo

NC State football countdown to 2023 kickoff: 69

MattCarterby:Matt Carter•06/23/23•

TheWolfpacker

Photo by Ken Martin
NC State offensive lineman Dawson Jaramillo (Photo by Ken Martin/On3)

The NC State football season opener for 2023 is at Connecticut on Aug. 31 — or 69 days away. TheWolfpacker.com’s countdown for the season looks at the significance of the number 69 in Pack history.

NC State Football And The No. 69

• Wearing No. 69 this season for NC State football will be offensive lineman Dawson Jaramillo, a grad transfer from Oregon.

According to Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren, Jaramillo has already made a positive impression, comparing favorably to Bryson Speas, a former NC State multi-year starter at several positions. Jaramillo may actually be even a tad bit more versatile than Speas. Whereas Speas could play any guard or tackle spot on the offensive line, Jaramillo can even take snaps at center.

During the NC State football spring game, Jaramillo handled most of the snapping duties with the Red Team, which were the primary starters and reserves, in place of projected starter Dylan McMahon, a fifth-year redshirt junior who was held out of the scrimmage.

Jaramillo’s mullet is also likely to make him one of the more recognizable faces on the NC State football roster.

• Speaking of an offensive lineman who wore No. 69, one of the most famous incidents in recent NC State football history at Carter-Finley Stadium involved Kalani Heppe, who donned that jersey number.

Heppe was flagged by well-known official Ron Cherry for “giving him the business” (video proof below) towards the end of a lopsided loss to Maryland in Heppe’s last home game on Senior Day in 2007.

ESPN.com’s David Hale posted an oral history of the famous call 15 years later, including rare on-the-record comments from former NC State football head coach Tom O’Brien.

Turned out, Heppe was aiming to get thrown out at the end of a frustrating afternoon.

“We go three-and-out like we had most of the afternoon, and then we go to punt, and I just started in on him again,” Heppe recalled to Hale. “And he starts trotting off the field. We’re stride for stride, and he looks at me and says, “6-9, you can say whatever you want to me, but you’re finishing this game, son.” Well, s—. It wasn’t his first rodeo.”

• In 1969, former NC State quarterback Roman Gabriel became the first and only Wolfpack alum to be named the NFL Player of the Year.

Gabriel was a four-time NFL Pro Bowler after a stellar NC State career that included being a two-time first-team All-American quarterback. His No. 18 is retired by the Wolfpack, and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

You may also like