Wolfpack football scouting report: Week 2 vs. Virginia

By Noah Fleischman

After picking up its first win of the season in the opener against East Carolina, NC State is set to welcome its first Power Conference opponent to Carter-Finley Stadium: Virginia. 

Although the two teams both reside in the ACC, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren wanted to be able to play the Cavaliers more often after seeing them just three times in his first dozen years in Raleigh. That led to this non-conference home-and-home — the first non-league game between these two programs since 1948 — beginning in the City of Oaks before going to Charlottesville next fall.

Virginia, which downed Coastal Carolina 48-7 to open the year, is set to make its first road trip of the 2025 campaign. Let’s take a look at the Cavaliers going into the Week 2 meeting in Raleigh.

5 UVA players to watch 

1. QB Chandler Morris

A product of the air raid system at North Texas, where he threw for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, quarterback Chandler Morris is a threat to push the ball downfield. He is an accurate passer with a 19-for-27 showing for 264 yards and two touchdowns in his Virginia debut. This is Morris’ fourth school in his six-year playing career, the first time he has been on the East Coast after playing at Oklahoma, TCU and North Texas. Morris left the Cavaliers’ opener early with a shoulder injury, but the initial prognosis was that it was not serious.

2. WR Cam Ross

Virginia needed to bring in an explosive playmaker on offense, and it didn’t have to look far to find one in the transfer portal this offseason. The Cavaliers looked just over the Blue Ridge Mountains to find James Madison transfer wideout Cam Ross, who began his career at UConn as teammates with Wolfpack tight end Justin Joly.

Another college football veteran in his sixth season, Ross is a dynamic threat within the Virginia offense. He caught seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, while adding a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the Cavaliers’ win over Coastal Carolina. Ross appeared much-improved from 2024, where he logged eight drops in 13 games with the Dukes last fall. He will be a true test for NC State’s secondary as a downfield burner that can make plenty of plays in space.

3. DE Fisher Camac

Another player to watch is another transfer. Notice a trend? Virginia revamped its roster through the portal this offseason, including UNLV transfer defensive end Fisher Camac. He was expected to bolster the Cavaliers’ pass rush upon his arrival, and after game one, it appears Camac is off to the right start. He posted five total tackles, logged 0.5 sacks and recorded a team-high three quarterback pressures in his Virginia debut against Coastal Carolina. The Gilbert, Ariz., native has a knack for getting into the backfield, posting 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss last fall at UNLV.

4. WR Trell Harris

Virginia wide receiver Trell Harris, who impressed early last fall before missing eight games due to an injury, picked up where he left off with three receptions for 93 yards against Coastal Carolina. The 6-foot, 200-pound wideout has now logged more than 70 receiving yards in three of his first five games with the Cavaliers. He is likely to put stress on the secondary trying to go deep, and it will be imperative for NC State’s defensive backfield to keep an eye on No. 11 in a Virginia uniform throughout the afternoon.

5. CB Donavon Platt

Virginia’s top corner from the opener against Coastal Carolina, Donavon Platt played well in his Cavaliers debut. The Army transfer conceded two catches on five targets, but he allowed just 18 total yards and was solid in coverage. Platt was a key part of the Black Knights’ secondary last fall with two interceptions and two pass breakups. He started all 14 games to help guide Army to the American Athletic Conference title in 2024.

3 keys to the game

1. Push the ball downfield

NC State’s offense showed something it didn’t do a whole lot of last season — it went vertical in the passing game. The Wolfpack allowed sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey to open up the air attack, and it worked. He was 4-for-7 passing for 171 yards and a touchdown on air attempts of 20 yards or more against ECU. It marked a career-most such attempts for Bailey, who excelled.

Coastal Carolina quarterback and former Wolfpack signal caller MJ Morris wasn’t able to exploit the Virginia defense in that department, going just 2-for-7 for 46 yards on the deep ball. Look for offensive coordinator Kurt Roper to allow Bailey to test the Virginia defensive backs downfield.

2. Special teams execution

Virginia Tech isn’t set to come to Raleigh for a few more weeks, but just like it is with the Hokies, special teams will be a focus to execute well against Virginia this weekend. The Cavaliers put on a masterclass in the phase against Coastal Carolina. Ross returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, while Virginia was able to block a punt deep in the Chanticleers’ end, which later led to a touchdown.

It will be imperative for NC State to execute well on its kick coverage unit — it didn’t allow a return against ECU — and on its punt protection. Virginia will look to exploit this opportunity, so the Wolfpack will need to have flawless execution in both facets this weekend.

3. Get creative in the pass rush

Morris, Virginia’s not Coastal Carolina’s, was able to perform well under pressure in the season opener with a 4-for-6 showing for 92 yards, but NC State will still need to find ways to get its defensive front in the backfield. At North Texas, he was just 48-for-102 (47.1 percent) when pressured last fall, including five interceptions. He was able to carve up defenses with a clean pocket — 3,145 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions — so finding a way to make Morris uncomfortable is a must.

NC State’s new pass rushers in Cian Slone and Sabastian Harsh lived in the backfield against ECU, logging nine total pressures between the two of them. Look for defensive coodinator D.J. Eliot to dial up some creative ways to get to Morris, looking to rattle the signal-caller in his first road start of the 2025 season.

1 NC State player who could change the game

WR Wesley Grimes

When Bailey wanted to push the ball downfield, he routinely looked to senior wideout Wesley Grimes. The veteran pass catcher has 4.24 40-yard dash speed, and it was evident against ECU. He caught four passes for a career-best 121 yards and a touchdown by making explosive plays the norm. If NC State is going to test Virginia’s defensive backs, Grimes will be a key reason why. His ability to use his elite speed to his advantage is going to be integral. If he can get behind the safeties, Bailey is more than capable of getting the ball to him with ease — setting up a big play.