NC State’s first 11 transfer portal commitments by the numbers

By Noah Fleischman

NC State was active in the first nine days of the transfer portal window with 11 commitments ahead of the three-day dead period. The Pack filled several needs, including plenty on the offensive side of the ball, while it was able to add to its evolving defense with experienced players.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Wolfpack’s new additions have done in the past before arriving at NC State.

By the numbers: Transfer portal edition

0: The number of touchdowns allowed by Penn State safety King Mack in 270 total coverage snaps this past fall, according to Pro Football Focus. It was Mack’s first full season as a starting defensive back at the collegiate level, and he was able to hold his own in the Big Ten. Mack, who spent his sophomore campaign at Alabama, intercepted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in coverage during the fourth quarter of the Nittany Lions’ Week 11 clash with Indiana.

4: Top-300 high school recruits in the transfer portal class. Mack was No. 93 in the class of 2023, while Georgia cornerback Ondre Evans was No. 102 in the 2024 cycle, Miami wideout Chance Robinson was No. 102 in the same class and Texas interior offensive lineman Daniel Cruz ranked No. 291 on the recruiting trail two years ago as well. NC State seemed to prioritize high-upside players with blue-chip backgrounds with the latter three additions to the squad.

4.04: Average hang time per punt by Arkansas State punter Jackson Waller. He consistently logged an average hang time of more than four seconds in eight of his 12 appearances with the Red Wolves this past season. Waller’s best average was 4.39 on a pair of attempts at University of Louisiana Monroe in Week 5.

5: Total quarterback pressures allowed by East Carolina tackle Jimarion McCrimon over the last seven games of the 2024 campaign. It was his first season as the Pirates’ starting left tackle, which came with some growing pains to the tune of 10 pressures allowed in his first five games, but McCrimon settled in and was effective down the stretch to become a first-team All-AAC selection.

8: Tulane EDGE Harvey Dyson’s AAC-leading sack total this past season. He would have led NC State’s defense in sacks if he posted that total in Raleigh after outside linebacker Tra Thomas paced the Wolfpack with 4, while Dyson would have ranked fifth in the ACC in that department. 

12: Players from the Miami Metro region now on NC State’s roster. UNC running back Davion Gause, Mack and Robinson are the latest two additions from the area, while they join redshirt junior long snapper Aiden Arias; redshirt junior offensive lineman Rico Jackson; junior quarterback CJ Bailey; sophomore tight end Preston Douglas; sophomore defensive lineman Adrian Farrow; sophomore wideout Teddy Hoffmann; sophomore cornerback Caden Gordon; redshirt freshman defensive tackle Omarian Abraham; redshirt freshman running back Deandre Desinor in hailing from South Florida. 

19: Punts placed inside the 20-yard line by Waller. He had six games with multiple punts that landed inside the 20, including a season-high three in a pair of games: at South Alabama and at Appalachian State.

20: The total number of transfer portal targets NC State had on campus in the first nine days of the portal being open before the dead period. The Wolfpack picked up commitments from 10 of them, while it earned one from Evans, who didn’t need to make a trip to Raleigh to make his mind up.

22.4: Alcorn State wide receiver Tyran Warren’s average yards per catch over the last two seasons. The deep threat was able to take the top off defenses with his elite 4.41 40-yard dash speed.

65: The length of the punt return touchdown Buffalo wideout Victor Snow posted at Bowling Green on Nov. 1. He logged 213 return yards on 20 attempts, averaging 10.7 on each try.

387: Yards after contact that Gause has racked up over the past two seasons. He’s been a tough runner to bring down, averaging 3.15 yards after contact per carry in his collegiate career. The former Tar Heel has forced 21 missed tackles over his stretch.