NC State WR Kevin Concepcion named The Athletic preseason All-American
After a standout freshman season at NC State, sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion has generated buzz to be among the best in college football this preseason.
The Athletic named Concepcion a preseason second team All-American, one of 50 players to make the outlet’s cut going into the 2025 campaign. He joined Missouri’s Luther Burden (first team), Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (first team) and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka (second team) as the wideouts on the list.
Concepcion, who garnered the most preseason All-ACC votes this month, was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list earlier this month and he is no stranger to the national landscape. He was the ACC’s Rookie of the Year, in addition to the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year last fall. Concepcion was named a freshman All-American by FWAA, The Athletic, PFF and On3 a year ago.
The Charlotte, N.C., native was also On3’s True Freshman of the Year on offense after he logged 71 receptions for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. The wideout was featured in the run game, too, recording 41 carries for 320 yards, while he completed a 17-yard touchdown pass as well.
Concepcion set the Wolfpack’s single-season freshman record for receiving touchdowns and receptions, while he had the second-most receiving yards by a first-year player in program history. The wide receiver had the fifth-most touchdown catches in program history, logged the sixth-best overall reception total and the 14th-most receiving yards last season.
That’s a lot for Concepcion to top going into his sophomore year, but the wide receiver appears to be primed for another big season within NC State’s offense with more options around him.
“KC had a lot of weight on his shoulders last year,” NC State quarterback Grayson McCall said. “He had to do a lot of different things. I think it’s important this year that we have a lot of different guys that can do a lot of things. Defenses aren’t going to be able to cue in on where No. 10 is.”
While the Wolfpack’s wide receiver room was revamped in the offseason to give Concepcion more room to breathe, NC State will still look to get the ball to its top playmaker in space.
“KC is KC,” McCall said. “He’s going to make big plays and do good things out there. The more we can get him the ball, the better. … When KC gets the ball, good things happen.”
That was the recipe for success a year ago, and it led to a five-game winning streak to close the season before the awards rolled in for Concepcion. Now, the Wolfpack will look to get creative with the wideout yet again this season.
