Freshman Focus: 5 young football players who could make a splash in NC State’s fall camp

By Noah Fleischman

NC State enters fall camp with a stable of young players eager to make an impact with the Wolfpack. The Pack isn’t afraid to play young talent, either, as freshman wide receivers Keenan Jackson and Terrell Anderson played in significant roles last fall.

Now, who could take a step in fall camp to earn playing time this season? Let’s take a look at five freshmen — both true and redshirt — as NC State prepares to open fall camp practices Wednesday on the grass fields next to Carter-Finley Stadium.

Note: All players are listed alphabetically by last name.

WR Teddy Hoffmann

NC State pulled off a late flip ahead of December’s signing day with Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic three-star wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann changing his commitment from Florida Atlantic. The speedster logged 162 receptions for 2,728 yards and 49 touchdowns in three seasons at the varsity level, breaking out later in his high school career. 

But when Hoffmann arrived at the college level, the 6-foot-1, 172-pound receiver made a strong case to push for snaps at slot receiver. He is a natural there, and NC State seemed to be intrigued about what he did in the slot during spring practice. Hoffmann will likely have to battle Anderson for the starting spot, but he should see some action this fall with another strong performance in fall camp.

CB Jaren Sensabaugh

Although he picked Missouri out of Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth High, cornerback Jaren Sensabaugh eventually landed at NC State via the transfer portal this offseason. The defensive back redshirted his freshman campaign, playing just six snaps in the 2024 campaign. 

Sensabaugh is a likely candidate for the Wolfpack to play at nickel this season. He enters the 2025 season with high hopes of sliding into the starting lineup, and this fall camp will be critical for the NFL legacy player to carve out a role in Raleigh. 

The No. 34 cornerback in the 2024 cycle has an ACC-ready body after a year spent practicing to play in the SEC last fall.

RB Duke Scott

The buzz of the summer workout slate, redshirt freshman running back Duke Scott is primed to push for a big role this fall. He impressed in the weight room, leading the Wolfpack in power clean (375), while running a 4.35 40-yard dash and squatting 550 pounds. Those testing numbers all turned heads around the Murphy Center this offseason.

Scott, who rushed for more than 4,500 yards and 66 scores as a high school running back, is the expected No. 2 running back going into camp as he steps into Kendrick Raphael’s shoes this season. Camp will be key for Scott to put everything together, but all signs point to him in a significant role within the offense by the opener against East Carolina on Aug. 28.

OL Spike Sowells

NC State’s highest-rated recruit of the 2025 cycle, Louisville (Ky.) Male four-star center Spike Sowells arrived on campus with plenty of fanfare. He enrolled early, joining the Wolfpack for Military Bowl practice, and quickly emerged as a player to watch on the practice field.

Sowells’ transition to the college game has gone well, and he’s drawn rave reviews from his teammates about it. There’s a reason why the 6-foot-2, 300-pound interior offensive lineman is battling for the starting center spot along with veteran offensive lineman Jalen Grant, who’s entering his sixth collegiate season. 

Time will tell on Sowells competing for the starting center job, but this is a crucial month’s worth of practices for him. If he wins the job, then he’s ahead of the game. If he’s the primary backup, then all the first-team reps he earns in camp will be critical for his development as the center of the future in Raleigh.

DL Josiah Victor

Nose guard Brandon Cleveland is going to anchor NC State’s defensive line, but there’s plenty to fight for behind him. That’s where freshman defensive lineman Josiah Victor, a former three-star recruit, enters the picture. 

Victor, a Georgia state champion at Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, brings a winning pedigree to NC State. He logged 42 tackles, including 13 for a loss, with 3 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries as a senior. Victor looks the part of a college defensive tackle at 6-foot-2, 311 pounds. 

The nose tackle impressed this offseason as he lost 11 pounds while adding muscle in the process. Victor posted standout testing numbers with a 5.11 40-yard dash at his size, a 535-pound squat, a 340-pound clean and a 385-pound max bench. There’s a lot of competition at nose guard, but Victor has the talent to work his way up the depth chart with a strong showing in fall camp.