NC State football post-camp projected depth chart: Offense

The NC State football team officially ended preseason camp over the weekend. This week marked the first for the Wolfpack in game preparations mode. Traditionally, the first depth chart is released the Monday before the season opener.

How does the depth chart shape up for NC State post-camp?

Here’s how we see it playing out on offense.

Related link: Projected NC State depth chart on defense

NC State Football Offense Depth Chart

Quarterback

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
13	Devin Leary	R-Jr.	6-1, 215	Sicklerville, N.J.
14	Jack Chambers	Sr.	5-10, 180	Lilburn, Ga.

The big change from the pre-camp depth chart is obviously the backup quarterback. Chambers gets the nod over true freshman MJ Morris in our projection, but those two are the pair that are battling for the spot.

The pre-spring choice for us had been third-year redshirt freshman Ben Finley, but from all accounts he has slid down the depth chart behind Chambers and Morris for NC State.

Running back

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
3	Jordan Houston	Jr.	5-10, 192	Waldorf, Md.
0	Demie Sumo-Karngbaye	So.	6-0, 210	Willingboro, N.J.

The only change from pre-spring here is the new jersey number for Sumo-Karngbaye.

Houston has patiently waited two seasons for this opportunity after playing extensively as a true freshman in 2019, but Sumo-Karngbaye has earned a lot of buzz since his arrival at NC State. He was the lone member of the 2021 class not to redshirt last fall, even though Sumo-Karngbaye only played on special teams.

Sumo-Karngbaye has the edge in our depth chart over fourth-year redshirt sophomore Delbert Mimms III, who seems more suited for a short-yardage role.

Slot Receiver

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
5	Thayer Thomas	R-Sr.	6-0, 195	Wake Forest, N.C.
4	Porter Rooks	So.	6-1, 195	Charlotte, N.C.
8	Julian Gray	R-Fr.	5-11, 197	Charlotte, N.C.

In our pre-spring depth chart, we went with the bolder pick that Thomas would be moved to outside receiver to find a way to get Rooks and Gray on the field more often.

However, we have adjusted the slot receiver depth chart for NC State football by putting Thomas back in the slot, but we did keep make three-deep to include Gray. The redshirt freshman speedster has earned a considerable amount of camp buzz.

Outside Receiver

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
15	Keyon Lesane	Jr.	5-11, 190	Lumberton, N.C.
11	Darryl Jones	Sr.	6-3, 195	Virginia Beach, Va.

Lesane was one of the standouts of the spring game, catching five passes for a team-best 88 yards. He’s also known for embracing the physicality that NC State coaches ask for from those outside wideouts.

From all accounts, Lesane appears to have picked up where he left off from spring and is in line for a larger role in the receiving game after catching 24 passes for 196 yards in the prior three years.

Jones is another who seems to have earned the trust of the offensive coaches. The Maryland graduate transfer caught 47 passes for 672 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his time in a Terrapins uniform. After missing most of the spring with a hamstring injury, Jones debuts on our projected depth chart.

Outside Receiver

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
88	Devin Carter	R-Jr.	6-3, 215	Clayton, N.C.
85	Anthony Smith	So.	6-2, 190	Huntingtown, Md.

Carter, who caught 31 passes for 556 yards and six touchdowns a season ago, is hoping to shine enough in 2022 to make it his last season in Raleigh. He considered entering the NFL Draft after last year but elected to return.

The question is who will back up Carter? Smith is one of the most athletic wideouts on the roster and appears close to putting it together, if the spring game was any indication.

Jones was restricted in the spring due to an injury.

H-Back

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
6	Trent Pennix	R-Jr.	6-3, 230	Raleigh, N.C.
29	Christopher Toudle	R-So.	6-4, 240	Wilmington, N.C.

Pennix and Toudle are interchangeable. Whoever starts, the other is likely playing similar snaps. Pennix however is a tad older and more athletic, so he gets the nod.

The two are both weapons and combined to make 36 catches for 436 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago.

Pennix, a former running back, and Toudle, formerly at receiver, were also new to the position in 2021. Thus, it is reasonable to expect more production this fall.

Tight End

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
87	Kameron Walker	R-So.	6-5, 250	Camden, N.C.
47	Ced Seabrough	R-Fr.	6-4, 245	Swainsboro, Ga.

There’s not a lot of experience returning at this tight end position. Dylan Parham did the lion’s share of the reps where physicality and blocking are placed at a premium, but he exhausted his eligibility. Walker continues to get the nod, but this position group could look a number of different ways.

Redshirt freshmen Ced and Fred Seabrough Jr., are also in the mix. The latter had a productive spring game receiving the ball, catching four passes for 38 yards, but he may be more suited for the H-Back version of the tight end position.

Our original pick for the backup spot, third-year redshirt freshman Ezemdi Udoh, is also a contender.

Left Tackle

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
74	Anthony Belton	R-So.	6-6, 330	Tallahassee, Fla.
76	Patrick Matan	R-Fr.	6-4, 310	Chevy Chase, Md.

The duration of camp painted a clear picture that Belton was going to get a chance at left tackle. We had, perhaps stubbornly, held onto the notion that the NC State football coaches would go with experience over the more upside choice of Belton, who has not played extensively since 2019. The former junior college product had his 2020 season canceled and then did not play much last fall.

The backup choice will be an interesting revelation. Matan has been frequently on the two-deep the past two years despite not playing much.

Left Guard

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
64	Chandler Zavala	R-Sr.	6-5, 325	Boynton Beach, Fla.
75	Anthony Carter Jr.	R-Fr.	6-3, 300	Charlotte, N.C.

Prior to his injury, Zavala was playing well for NC State. His last three game grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF) were 79.1 vs. Furman, 71.0 in the double overtime win over Clemson and 67.0 against Louisiana Tech. All are considered above-average scores. He also graded out at 79.5 on the season in run blocking.

Doeren noted a healthy Zavala is NFL-caliber.

“It’s a game-changer if he can play,” Doeren noted.

We originally had third-year redshirt freshman Sean Hill as second-string left guard, and he is still very much a possibility, but made the switch to Carter here.

Center

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
50	Grant Gibson	R-Sr.	6-1, 310	Charlotte, N.C.
57	Lyndon Cooper	R-Fr.	6-2, 316	Atlanta, Ga.

Gibson has been one of the ACC’s better centers for the past two years and returns as a super senior.

Cooper is listed as the backup, but the most likely scenario if something happens to Gibson is that McMahon would get the first crack at starting at center for NC State.

Nevertheless, the NC State football coaches are very high on Cooper’s potential.

Right Guard

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
54	Dylan McMahon	R-So.	6-4, 305	Savannah, Ga.
53	Derrick Eason	R-Jr.	6-4, 315	Norfolk, Va.

McMahon started the first five games last season at right guard before moving to the left side when Zavala was injured.

Eason started the final seven games of last season at right guard after Zavala went down with an injury and flashed the upside that Doeren has spoken about in the past. The key for Eason will be consistency that should come with more experience.

Right Tackle

No.	Name	Class	Ht., Wt.	Hometown
56	Bryson Speas	R-Sr.	6-3, 315	Greensboro, N.C.
52	Timothy McKay	R-So.	6-4, 315	Raleigh, N.C.

Speas has been a mainstay at right tackle and returns here after originally being projected as the starter at left tackle in our mock NC State football depth charts. Speas was selected one of the team captains for this season.

McKay was part of the platoon at right tackle last season with Speas that proved to be steady. He’s likely worked himself into a position to assume a larger responsibility.