FOOTBALL FOCUS: Ranking The Additions Headed Into 2023

January and February bring on a period of transition for the NC State football team. From now through August the Wolfpack coaches will work on building the 2023 version of the Pack. I decided to do a three part series on that process and what NC State will face in the coming months. 

We kicked it off last week by ranking the key players the Pack lost following the 2022 season. Today we’ll take a look at ten of the biggest additions headed into next season. 

1. QB Brennan Armstrong

When Armstrong was good, he was really good. With a strong supporting cast and Robert Anae as his offensive coordinator, Armstrong combined for nearly 6,600 yards passing and 49 touchdowns in 2021-22. He added 14 touchdowns and 800 yards on the ground as well. The question is, will State have enough pieces in place to help get Armstrong anywhere near that level of production in Raleigh in 2023? A familiar offensive system will be in place. If it all clicks, the Pack could be vastly improved this year.

2. NIC Robert Kennedy

I thought Kennedy was a player that really started to blossom in 2022 at Old Dominion. What impressed most was that some of his best games came against Old Dominion’s toughest opponents. Against Virginia Tech he recorded a 79.2 run defense and 81.3 tackling grade according to PFF. Facing Virginia he logged a 77.6 and 81.6 in the same two categories. Against Coastal Carolina he notched his best tackling grade of the year (82.8) which is notable because Coastal forces you to defend out in space. State needs a nickel to emerge during spring ball and I think you’re going to see a lot of Kennedy next year.

3. PK Brayden Narveson

This was an important addition for NC State. I consider this to actually be a tough spot for Narveson because immediately following a legendary player isn’t always ideal. However, I was very impressed with Narveson’s confidence, and I think that’s a necessity for a kicker. While he may not have a booming leg, I do think leg-strength wise he’s similar to Chris Dunn. He connected on 13 of 14 field goals in 2020 so he’s shown consistency. The biggest hurdle Narveson may find himself facing is that he’ll inevitably be compared to Dunn every time he misses a kick. 

4. WR Dacari Collins

I think Clemson viewed Collins as a Joseph Ngata-type player but for whatever reason it never worked out in Death Valley. Exiting high school Collins was one of the most sought-after receivers in the nation. We only got a small sample size of his potential while at Clemson. I think there’s a ton of potential there. Now, it’s a matter of Robert Anae and Joker Phillips tapping into that and getting the results on the field. It’s no secret, wide receiver was a huge deficiency for NC State in 2022. A guy like Collins has the talent to help turn that around in a big way this season.

5. S Bishop Fitzgerald

NC State has become a very active player in the junior college ranks and I thought Fitzgerald was a key addition. First off, personality-wise I think he matches up well with the type of player Dave Doeren likes to target. On the field, Fitzgerald brings the versatility that Tony Gibson likes in his defensive backs. He can get downhill and play physical but he’s also effective out in space. Fitzgerald has great instincts and does the little things off the field to improve. He’s a guy that could certainly figure into the two deep headed into the upcoming season.

6. DL Noah Potter

First off, you know Ohio State basically has their pick of the litter when it comes to recruiting, so you know they saw something in Potter. His career there was derailed by an eye injury and he decided to transfer to Cincinnati. I think we got a small glimpse of his potential in 2022 but he didn’t put up gaudy numbers by any stretch. He steps into a spot at NC State where I don’t think he’s necessarily needed to be a star. If Potter can provide snaps at defensive end and improve the depth, I think that’s a net positive for State. With that said, I do think the talent is there that, if Charley Wiles is able to tap it, Potter could emerge as much more than a rotational guy.

7. DL Red Hibbler

I have to be honest. When watching film of the new additions, Hibbler’s may have been my favorite. He is so explosive at the point of attack and really brings a skill set that I don’t know NC State has right now. I think Davin Vann would be the closest comparison. Listed at 6-2, 255 pounds, the obvious concern is size. Is he big enough to compete on the FBS level? Certainly he will be at some point, perhaps this year. One thing is for sure -- if he maintains that quickness with the added size, watch out.

8. OL Dawson Jaramillo

With three significant contributors from 2022 gone from the offensive line, NC State needed someone who could help from day one. The Pack hopes they addressed some of those depth issues with Jaramillo. The good news is Jaramillo brings some versatility in that he can play both tackle and guard. For whatever reason, Jaramillo’s snaps regressed in 2022. State will hope to turn that around next year.

9. CB Rente Hinton

Cornerback is another position the Pack needed to add depth heading into next season. At 6-3, 190 pounds Hinton is very similar to Shy Battle in size. He does a great job of being physical at the line of scrimmage and disrupting the receiver’s route. Hinton seems to excel at staying in phase with the wide receiver and eliminating him as a target. Obviously there’s going to be a huge jump in the talent level of the wideouts he’ll face going from junior college to power five. However, if Hinton can give the Pack a rotational piece that can carve out some snaps each game, that’s a win for State in 2023. It also sets the stage for Hinton to earn a starting spot headed into 2024.

10. RB Kendrick Raphael

Raphael is the only high school player I placed on this list. For the record, I only considered the early enrollees. If Raphael plays in 2023 it’ll be for one of two reasons -- he’s really good or State suffered a lot of attrition at running back. Personally, I think Raphael is really good, but given the Pack’s depth at running back I’d prefer if he could use 2023 as a redshirt year. Of all the backs that started in 2022, if I added Raphael into that group, I’d say he is probably the purest running back of the group. What I mean by that is, I could likely take Michael Allen, Jordan Houston, or Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and put them at another skill position in a pinch. With Raphael, he’s purely a running back. Within the class of 2023, it’s a close race between Raphael and Javonte Vereen as to who was the jewel of the class.