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NC State Newsstand: Julian Gray takes home ACC honors

On3 imageby: Ethan McDowell09/19/23ethanmmcdowell
Julian Gray
Sep 16, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack receiver Julian Gray (8) runs after a catch during the first half against the Virginia Military Institute Keydets at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 season is officially underway for NC State football, and there will be no shortage of news between now and the Wolfpack’s season opener. Our daily ‘Newsstands’ will be a way for our readers to catch up on what they missed from the day before. 

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TheWolfpacker.com’s Tuesday Morning Newsstand

Julian Gray put up some explosive numbers Saturday against VMI and received the ACC’s special teams player of the week award as a result. The redshirt sophomore wide receiver caught 2 passes for 80 yards, including one explosive 64-yard play, and returned 2 kickoffs to the end zone.

One of those scores was called back due to a penalty, but Gray’s 82-yard run back in the third quarter of NC State’s 45-7 win counted. That was his first career touchdown with the Wolfpack.

“It felt really good, finally, to have the opportunity to score in the Carter,” Gray said. 

He finished the game with a team-leading 181 all-purpose yards.

Through three games, Gray is one of the nation’s top kick returners. The receiver ranks No. 1 in the ACC and No. 8 nationally in average kick return yards per attempt. After he reached the end zone against VMI, he said that run back felt no different than the previous ones. He believes he can score on every return.

“That’s kind of my feeling with every return,” Gray said. “I hope to take every return to the house… After I got to the second level, l turned on the jets, and it was over with after that.”

Gray is the second NC State athlete to take home an ACC player of the week honor this fall. Payton Wilson received the conference’s linebacker of the week award after the UConn game.

Tweets of the day

The Pack picked up a commitment from three-star linebacker Joshua Ofor Monday afternoon.

Here’s a video of Ofor’s announcement!

Head coach Dave Doeren shared injury updates on cornerback Aydan White and center Dylan McMahon.

NC State quote of the day

This quote is from Doeren, discussing the Pack’s performance against VMI.

“In all three phases, we scored touchdowns, and we were able to play a lot of guys on the roster,” Doeren said. “We improved in a lot of areas that we were really focused on in that football game.”

Today’s top NC State headlines

Dave Doeren impressed by strides from NC State’s underclassmen

NC State starting center Dylan McMahon day-to-day with injury

Joshua Ofor breaks down his commitment to NC State

NC State football depth chart for Virginia

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