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NC State Newsstand: Where CJ Bailey ranks among the top-50 FBS QBs going into 2025 season

Football season has arrived. NC State is just hours away from kickoff against East Carolina (7 p.m., ACC Network). And once the Wolfpack offense takes the field, sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey will begin his first full season as the team’s starter.

Although he has nine games of starting experience under his belt already from last season, Bailey enters the year as one of college football’s top 50 quarterbacks. CBS Sports’ David Cobb ranked Bailey as the No. 40 signal-caller in all of college football going into the 2025 season.

“After a full offseason as the clear-cut starter, Bailey is poised to build off the strong flashes of talent he showed in eight starts as a true freshman,” Cobb wrote. “NC State also has three of its top four pass-catchers and leading rusher back to support Bailey as he seeks to lead a bounce-back season for the Wolfpack.”

Bailey, who was thrown into the starting spot after Grayson McCall suffered a pair of concussions last fall, threw for 2,413 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his freshman season. He also added 99 carries for 279 yards and five scores.

Now, as Bailey prepares to take the reins of the Wolfpack as a sophomore captain, he is looking to solidify himself as one of the top signal-callers in the country.

Tweets of the day

Here’s a cool behind-the-scenes look at the Wolfpack’s new helmets being built.

Will Wade is set to rev Carter-Finley Stadium as the Alpha Wolf Starter of the Game tonight.

Bronx (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac four-star guard Jasiah Jervis is set to begin his NC State official visit Thursday.

Quote of the day

NC State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Kamen Smith has evolved into a starting-caliber guard for the Wolfpack. Senior left guard Anthony Carter Jr., a captain, has been happy to see his teammate’s development.

“It’s been amazing to just see him put his process and plan together, and to see him grow into the player he is,” Carter said. “It’s always been there. It takes time to build. It’s very rare that you see an offensive lineman just jump in as plug-and-play in his freshman year, so to see that hard work and dedication that he’s put in over the years and him finally getting his chance, it’s amazing.”