NC State DE Noah Potter: 'I think we have a good shot at winning the ACC'

Noah Potter knew NC State was a potential destination when he entered the transfer portal, and an all-out recruiting effort from the Wolfpack coaching staff helped wrap up his recruitment quickly. Now, the defensive lineman is in the middle of his first spring practice with ACC title aspirations for 2023.

After considering NC State coming out of high school, Potter heard from defensive line coach Charley Wiles, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and head coach Dave Doeren on the first day of the transfer window. 

That, combined with the program’s recent success and family connections in the area, all led to the Wolfpack standing out. 

“The first day in the portal, I heard from coach Doeren, coach Wiles, Coach Gibson, a couple other coaches just wanted me to get down here, so it was a lot of love early on,” Potter said.

Potter said he received a “decent amount” of interest once he decided to transfer from Cincinnati, and NC State was one of the programs he was looking forward to hearing from. 

“I knew going into the portal that NC State was one of those schools I was hoping to hear from, so when I got the 919 area code, I was keeping my eye out for that one,” Potter said.

Going into the spring, the 6-6 defensive lineman is working to carve out a role in a crowded defensive line room that returns three players with significant experience as starters. Potter learned the 3-3-5 system at Cincinnati, so he is used to playing in that formation as well. 

During his Tuesday morning press conference, the lineman said he plans on helping the Wolfpack take the next step to win an ACC title this year.

“They’ve been successful consistently,” Potter said. “They’ve had the one down year, in ‘19, but ‘20, ‘21, and especially last year, were good years, and I saw the opportunity to come in and make an impact. I think we have a good shot at winning the ACC. That’s our main goal.”

After signing with Ohio State out of high school, he spent 3 seasons with the Buckeyes and dealt with some adversity while in Columbus. Within a few weeks of undergoing foot surgery, an eye injury almost led to Potter losing vision in his right eye. Due to the injury, he only appeared in 7 games during his Ohio State career. 

“It’s one of the toughest things to think about losing your eye but, on top of that, I lost my life,” Potter said. “Football is my life and, not being able to do that, that was my first time I wasn’t able to play because of injury. 

“It took everything in my power to get back to really feeling the drive to be the best player I can be, but I’m happy that I was able to get through that through a great support system, great training staff too, great doctors that allowed me to get to where I need to be to keep going forward.”

He then transferred to Cincinnati and recorded 17 total tackles in 2022, including 3 for loss. Potter has family members who are NC State fans in Pinehurst who, during his recruitment, tried to convince him to consider the Wolfpack. That has now come “full circle,” the lineman said.

During his first couple of months in Raleigh, Potter shared that he has already built an extremely strong bond with Wiles. 

“I just like his laid back demeanor,” Potter said. “That’s how I am. He’s not a guy that’s going to yell at you just to yell at you. He will get on you, but I just like getting in the room with him. He’s a great guy. He’s like a father figure to me so far.”

His initial experiences with the NC State program have all been positive, and he is looking forward to continuing his career with the Wolfpack. 

“Coach Wiles, coach Gibson, coach Doeren especially, they’ve been really supportive, really confidence-boosting, and I love playing for them,” Potter said.

Christopher Toudle echos ACC Championship aspirations

NC State tight end Christopher Toudle also spoke with the media Tuesday morning and said he considers an ACC championship the main team goal going into the 2023 season. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae’s offense will be a key part of that run, and Toudle was clearly excited about the new system.

“It’s pretty awesome to be a part of,” Toudle said. “It’s a lot different from the past. As a tight end, we’re considered hybrids now. . . It’s just really fun to be a part of. It’s nothing like I’ve been in before. It’s a lot to learn, a lot more new skills to learn, but we’re adapting quickly and getting better every day.”