Where NC State football’s transfer portal departures landed this offseason

The transfer portal is similar to a revolving door — players come into programs just as fast as others leave for greener pastures. That’s no different for NC State, which lost 16 scholarship players to the portal in the winter and spring cycles, while it acquired 13 in those two windows. 

Let’s take a look at where each of the Wolfpack’s transfer portal departures ended up before fall camp opens next week around the country. Note: all players are listed alphabetically by last name.

LB Kamal Bonner – Miami

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 18 games played, 59 total tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 1 sack

Bonner entered the transfer portal on April 21 and it didn’t take long for him to land at Miami, doing so in just five days. He is expected to push for snaps in a rotational role with the Hurricanes, a similar spot he would have projected to be with NC State.

CB Devan Boykin – Indiana

Career stats at NC State (5 seasons): 45 games played, 117 total tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

A longtime stalwart within NC State’s secondary, Boykin missed the 2024 campaign after suffering a knee injury preparing for the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl. He elected to enter the transfer portal in early January. He landed at Indiana nine days later. Boykin projects to start in the secondary for former NC State quarterbacks coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. 

WR Dacari Collins – Louisville

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 24 games played, 38 receptions, 526 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns

Collins worked his way into a starting role at NC State, but chose to enter the portal in mid-April following a competitive spring practice slate within the wide receiver room. He committed to Louisville five days later. Collins projects to start at outside receiver for the Cardinals this season.

CB Tamarcus Cooley – LSU

Career stats at NC State (1 season): 13 games played, 39 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 9 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

After returning home to play at NC State, Cooley was a standout defender at nickel for the Wolfpack. He posted a standout season as he started eight of his 13 appearances, but with a probable shift out of nickel-heavy schemes with defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot’s hiring, Cooley went into the portal with hours left in the window in January. He landed at LSU 11 days later. Cooley projects to compete for a starting safety job with the Tigers. 

WR Kevin Concepcion – Texas A&M

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 25 games played, 124 receptions, 1,299 receiving yards, 16 receiving touchdowns; 60 carries, 356 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

One of the most-electric players in the country during the 2023 campaign that led to him being named the ACC Rookie of the Year, Concepcion opted to look elsewhere for a spot to play after his sophomore season. Texas A&M was the spot that was most attractive to Concepcion, who had a long line of potential programs waiting to make a pitch to him. He projects to start at wide receiver for the Aggies this season.

CB Brandon Cisse – South Carolina

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 22 games played, 38 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 1 interception, 6 passes defended

Cisse waited until the final hours of the winter transfer portal window to announce his decision to leave, and it didn’t take long for him to end up at South Carolina 11 days later. The Wolfpack’s top cornerback transferred back to his home state to continue his collegiate career. Like he would have been at NC State, Cisse projects to start at outside corner for the Gamecocks this season.

S Bishop Fitzgerald – USC

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 26 games played, 97 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 5 interceptions, 16 passes defended, 1 forced fumble

A former junior college transfer, Fitzgerlad entered the transfer portal to utilize the “Diego Pavia rule.” He landed on the opposite coast with USC to bolster the Trojans’ defensive backfield this fall. Fitzgerald was in line to start at NC State this season and he will do the same at USC in 2025.

DE Red Hibbler – Mississippi State

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 17 games played, 19 total tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles

After transferring in from the junior college ranks, Hibbler was NC State’s pass rush specialist for the 2023 campaign. While the Wolfpack wanted Hibbler to be an every down defensive end this past season, it didn’t end up working out. He elected to redshirt and enter the transfer portal after four games. Hibbler returned to his home state to go to Mississippi State, where he’s likely to be featured in a rotational role this fall.

OL Sean Hill – Tulsa

Career stats at NC State (5 seasons): 6 appearances, 33 total snaps played

Hill spent five years within NC State’s program, playing sparingly on the offensive line and on special teams during his tenure. Hill was pivotal off the field as president of Pack United, a student-athlete-led non-profit at NC State. Hill is expected to compete for a starting offensive line spot this fall for his final season of eligibility. 

OL Patrick Matan – Montana

Career stats at NC State (5 seasons): 37 appearances, 373 total snaps played

A reserve that played mostly on special teams during his time in Raleigh, Matan looked elsewhere to utilize his final season of eligibility. He landed at Montana to look to push for playing time this fall.

OL Robby Martin – West Virginia

Career stats at NC State (1 season): redshirted

Martin redshirted last season. He went into the portal in the winter window before landing at West Virginia of his home state.

OT Obadiah Obasuyi – Georgia State

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 0 appearances

Obasuyi elected to enter the transfer portal in the winter transfer portal window. He landed at Georgia State of the Sun Belt to push for playing time as a redshirt sophomore. 

LB/RB Jordan Poole – Nicholls State

Career stats at NC State (3 seasons): 38 games played, 16 total tackles, 1 pass defended; 1 receptions, 12 yards, touchdown; 1 kick return attempt, 16 yards

A linebacker turned running back, Poole did a little bit of everything for the Wolfpack. He decided to enter the transfer portal to find another place to play in the winter portal window. Poole pledged to Nicholls on May 12, nearly four months after he entered the portal.

RB Kendrick Raphael – Cal

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 23 games played, 145 carries, 734 yards, 4 touchdowns; 20 receptions, 137 receiving yards

After going through spring practice with the Wolfpack, Raphael decided to look elsewhere for a place to play this fall. He quickly landed at Cal, which had its running back room decimated by the portal. Raphael was in a battle for the primary backup spot at NC State, but is expected to start for the Golden Bears this season.

TE Juice Vereen – UConn

Career stats at NC State (2 seasons): 14 games played, 4 receptions, 65 yards

Vereen broke onto the scene with a four-reception, 65-yard performance against Notre Dame in 2023. But after that, he wasn’t able to crack the field on a consistent basis with the Wolfpack offense. As Justin Joly returned for his second season in Raleigh at tight end, Vereen went into the portal. Ironically, he landed at UConn, the very program Joly transferred from to end up at NC State. Vereen will push to start for the Huskies this season.

LB Wyatt Wright – Arkansas State → Alabama State

Career stats at NC State (1 season): 1 appearance

The only player on this list to have transferred again since leaving NC State, Wright, a former JUCO All-American, spent spring football with Arkansas State before entering the portal for a second time. He landed at Alabama State, where he should be able to crack the two-deep on defense.