When Jimarion McCrimon entered the transfer portal, he wasn't looking for the biggest name or the flashiest opportunity. He was looking for the right people.
"I was open, looking for the best people to better me," McCrimon said. "People with the best, who keep the standard of family and all that. NC State was the best place for me."
That decision brought the 6-foot-5, 307-pound offensive tackle from Kissimmee, Florida, to Raleigh after two seasons in Greenville, where he developed from a young offensive lineman into a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection.
Now, McCrimon is making the jump from the AAC to the ACC and is expected to play a significant role for NC State on offensive line. The expectation is to protect quarterback CJ Bailey and set the tone for Wolfpack offense.
North Carolina Already Felt Like Home
McCrimon grew up in Kissimmee and played his high school football at Osceola High School. North Carolina wasn't home when he arrived at East Carolina. It didn't take long for that to change.
"I'd never been to North Carolina," McCrimon said of arriving at ECU. "As soon as I got there, North Carolina definitely was home for me as quick as possible."
He did consider moving to a school closer to Florida, but "when NC State contacted me, I was already in North Carolina," he said. "It's already close to home anyway, basically. I always thought North Carolina was just like home for me."
The familiarity with the state wasn't the only factor. The people were. Doeren and staff have developed a culture at NC State and his players have always talked about being part of the family. Ultimately, the people became the deciding factor.
Since arriving at NC State, McCrimon said he has felt embraced by a program that made the transition from ECU relatively seamless.
"It's been a great experience since I got here," he said. "I already feel comfortable with it. They embraced me into the program easily. People respect me, the team respects me, the coaches, the program. And yeah, it's really just a great time for me to be here."
That sense of belonging appears to be important to McCrimon. It also helps explain why the rivalry component of transferring from ECU to NC State wasn't something that weighed heavily on his decision. When asked about playing against the Wolfpack during his time in Greenville, McCrimon didn't describe some deep personal rivalry.
"It wasn't really relevant to me, honestly," he said. "Didn't think of it as a rivalry, just thought of it as another game that we needed to win."
At the end of the day, it was about finding the right place and the right people who could help to continue his development.
A Tackle Who Has Already Made Significant Progress
McCrimon arrived at ECU as a developmental offensive lineman and saw his role grow significantly during his two seasons with the Pirates. In 2024, he played in 12 games and made seven starts. He logged 616 offensive snaps as ECU produced 436.4 yards per game, which ranked 24th nationally.
In 2025, McCrimon moved into the starting left tackle role and started 12 of ECU's 13 games. His progression culminated in first-team All-AAC honors following the 2025 season. That progression is important when evaluating what NC State is getting.
McCrimon isn't a prospect who has already reached his ceiling. He's a player who has demonstrated an ability to improve. He believes there is still plenty of room for that development to continue.
"I've definitely grown so much since transferring here," McCrimon said. "And I feel like me being better is definitely going to help this team. So I feel like I've gotten way better."
NC State is going to need that development to continue. NC State is counting on McCrimon being about to take that next step. His ability to continue to make improvements in his game will help him transition from the AAC to the ACC.
The Strength: Protecting the Quarterback
For an offensive tackle, there may not be a more important transition than the one McCrimon is making. The ACC will present a different level of athleticism and pass-rushing ability than he saw consistently in the AAC. McCrimon knows exactly where he needs to continue improving.
"Nowadays, pass protection is a skill set that I still need to work on," he said. "And I'm still working on that now."
McCrimon's size and length give him a natural foundation. At roughly 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he has the physical dimensions teams want at tackle. His experience on both sides of the offensive line also gives NC State flexibility.
McCrimon specifically pointed to the competition against NC State's defense as one of the biggest differences he's noticed since arriving.
"The competition against the defense is definitely different," he said. "More competitive from a standpoint, I definitely see that. It's making players better."
A Different Kind of Pressure
The Wolfpack's offensive line will inevitably receive plenty of attention entering the season. Bailey returns at quarterback, but NC State has to replace production around him, and the offensive line will be critical to determining how much the offense can accomplish.
For McCrimon, though, the answer isn't trying to look too far ahead. He's focused on the next practice, next rep. and the next opportunity to get better.
"I would say daily grind," McCrimon said when asked about the team's potential. "Obviously, focus on the day of the first game. Yeah, we all know what we're capable of; getting ACC wins is crucial."
That mentality fits the player NC State believes it is getting. A big, physical offensive lineman who understands that his job is largely about making other people successful. McCrimon's description of himself tells you he has the right mentality for the job ahead. When asked what NC State fans are getting from him, he didn't talk about awards, rankings or statistics. He talked about protection.
"They're getting a real energetic, big, protective guy," McCrimon said. "Obviously, I love protecting, because I'm a lineman, I'm a big guy, and I love playing here."
If there's one thing we know about State fans is they love guys who love NC State. Now, he just has to prove he can help keep CJ Bailey off the ground.
