Last week we had a look at NC State’s defense, which is doing a lot of rebuilding coming off a rough season, so let’s turn now to the offense, which also faces plenty of questions, but has the most important one answered. How far CJ Bailey can carry this side of the ball in year three is what we’re all wondering—we know he’s going to be good, but can he be great?
Retaining CJ Bailey was the biggest win for Dave Doeren’s program this offseason, by far. He’s the best player on the team, obviously, and
if he turns another corner this fall, it might start feeling a little like 2003 around here. (That team didn’t have a defense either.)
His play is going to be more important this season because retaining him meant leaving a flimsier operation around him. It’s an easy trade to make, and you do it every time, but these are the facts nonetheless. The offense has to replace its left tackle, starting running back, and its best wide receiver, all of whom portaled elsewhere. State spent to address these issues, but as in any case where you’re calling up a guy from triple-A to the Majors, there are questions to be answered.
Jimarion McCrimon’s speedy adjustment from the AAC to the ACC is critical for this team, given that he’s the guy now protecting Bailey’s blind side. The offensive line should be okay one through five but can ill afford an injury at either tackle spot. Spike Sowells’ move to center full-time is a comfort, but that leaves both guard spots to be sorted.
The ground game last season was largely salvaged by Hollywood Smothers’ elusiveness and explosiveness—NC State ranked only 94th in yards before contact on run plays, but was seventh and ninth in missed tackle rate and yards after contact, respectively. Duke Scott is much more of a north-south player, and so here is a reason for fretting about the run game, if you needed another one.
Dave hinted at the ACC Kickoff that Bailey might run more this season, and I think that’s a safe bet. The rushing attack was not exactly elite last season even with Smothers, and there’s no reason to think that it will be markedly better in 2026, so whatever Bailey can add here will be important.
At receiver, State needs Keenan Jackson to step up, but it spent in an effort to give Bailey more explosive options. Foremost among those is Victor Snow, who is coming off a very good season at Buffalo and should also be the punt returner. State added multiple guys who were big playmakers last season but at a lower level, and in a modest role. Davion Dozier had 20 grabs for 448 yards at App in 2025, for instance. That implies a lot of potential, but also a lack of refinement.
But, Anderson aside, there wasn’t a lot to like about the wide receiver room last season, and I don’t think replacing the production of Noah Rogers or Wesley Grimes is going to be difficult. There will be somebodies to find that territory. Teddy Hoffman was supposed to be one of the guys leading that particular charge this season, but his positive PED test put him on the shelf. That hurts because he’d be an obvious breakout candidate (unrelated to the steroids) after the year he just put in.
But so it goes. If there were an ideal way to position an offense around CJ Bailey, it would require like $5 million more dollars. It’s not all going to work. The important parts (offensive line) really need to work if State is going to take off, but I probably shouldn’t underestimate the ability of CJ Bailey to take them there regardless.
