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NC State freshman report: Who played in the Virginia win, breaking down each performance

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman8 hours agofleischman_noah
CJ Bailey Teddy Hoffmann Hollywood Smothers
Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Hollywood Smothers (3), wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann (12) , and quarterback CJ Bailey (11) celebrate a touchdown during the second half of the game against Virginia Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State found a way to storm back to beat Virginia 35-31 after trailing by 10 at halftime Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium. As the Pack put together its first come-from-behind victory of the year, it did so playing a season-most seven freshmen.  Most of the first-year players had rotational roles, but true freshman quarterback Will Wilson impressed in two critical must-get downs as a running threat to give a spark to the team’s offense. It’s important to note that players can appear in up to four regular season games and still retain their redshirt. We will track those numbers each week. Here’s a look at how the Wolfpack’s true freshmen played in the win over the Cavaliers