Why NC State freshman OL Spike Sowells Jr. rose up depth chart to starting right guard

When NC State’s offense trotted onto the field to open its eventual 23-21 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon, a new face was out there for the opening snap: freshman offensive lineman Spike Sowells Jr.  The Wolfpack’s highest-rated recruit in the 2025 cycle as the No. 145 overall prospect in the class, Sowells entered the season on the cusp of earning the starting center spot. He vaulted through the rankings with a strong showing at the Navy All-American Bowl in January, clearly showing he was capable of playing this fall.  While he fell short of the starting center spot in fall camp — Purdue transfer Jalen Grant, a sixth-year player, won it — Sowells continued to practice with a desire to see the field. Soon enough, he did just that.  The former four-star recruit played 26 total snaps in the season-opening win over East Carolina, which featured 20 reps within NC State’s right guard rotation. He was featured briefly at left guard against Virginia (six snaps) and at Duke (seven snaps) as he patiently waited his turn for a larger opportunity.