NC State football transfer tracker: Which Wolfpack players are on the move?
N.C. State closed the 2024 season with a 26-21 loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl. At the time, it had 13 players who expressed an intent to enter the transfer portal. That number has grown since the Wolfpack’s finale and the announcement of defensive staff changes.
DJ Eliot was named the new defensive coordinator, replacing Tony Gibson. Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay earned the title of co-defensive coordinator, nickelbacks and safeties coach. Former safeties coach Joe DeForest announced his retirement at the same time.
Keep up with those who plan to leave N.C. State for the transfer portal and those who commit with this transfer tracker. It will be updated as necessary. The portal closed Dec. 28 for mid-year transfers, but there is also a spring transfer window April 16-25.
Incoming transfers
OL Brock Stukes (North Carolina A&T): Stukes comes to N.C. State from North Carolina A&T, where he played two seasons and started at guard in 2024. He is listed at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds. According to Pro Football Focus, Stukes finished the 2024 season with an overall grade of 62.2 but excelled in pass blocking, where he graded out at an 80.2 after allowing just four quarterback pressures. He has two seasons and a redshirt year remaining.
OL Teague Andersen (Utah State): Anderson recently became another addition to the Wolfpack’s offensive line after spending three seasons with the Aggies. He earned an overall grade of 68.1, according to PFF, and 81.3 for pass blocking. Anderson allowed nine pressures in 11 starts. He also has two years of eligibility remaining.
OL Jalen Grant (Purdue): Despite transferring from a 1-11 Purdue team, Grant is the highest-ranked incoming transfer, according to 247Sports. In three games played, Grant earned a 70.3 overall grade, per PFF. His skill set lends itself to run blocking, for which he earned an 81.9 and did not give up a sack or pressure in two games. He struggled with pass blocking at times, but with the additional transfers, the Wolfpack should have that taken care of.
TE Cody Hardy (Elon): N.C. State picked up another in-state player with the addition of Hardy. The tight end from Monroe provides depth at the position that includes Justin Joly, Dante Daniels, Gus Ritchey and Preston Douglas. Hardy recorded six catches for 36 yards and one touchdown in his junior season, but he was primarily used in the Phoenix’s run blocking schemes.
LB AJ Richardson (Norfolk State): The Wolfpack picked up a commitment from Richardson on Christmas Day. Originally from Kings Mountain, Richardson brings to N.C. State 169 tackles, five sacks, four fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and an interception in his first two seasons with the Spartans. Richardson led the team in tackles both season and recorded 100 in 2024, including a career-high 18 against Towson. He is a three-star transfer, according to 247Sports.
CB Jaren Sensabaugh (Missouri): Shortly after losing several defensive players to the portal, N.C. State added Sensabaugh. The former Missouri cornerback played one game for the Tigers before redshirting. Originally from Nashville, Sensabaugh is no stranger to the Triangle. He was a target for the Wolfpack in 2024 and his father, Gerald, played one season at North Carolina 20 years prior and led the Tar Heels with 78 tackles. The younger Sensabaugh is listed as a three-star transfer.
CB Jamel Johnson (Temple): N.C. State picked up a second cornerback out of the portal, with Johnson’s addition. His agent told 247Sports of Johnson’s selection. The defender has one season of eligibility remaining. He started every game for the Owls in 2024, recording 47 tackles, two interceptions and nine breakups. He only allowed a 37% completion rate by opposing quarterbacks, according to PFF.
DE Tra Thomas (Temple): Thomas becomes the second defender to announce his transfer from Temple, where new defensive coordinator DJ Eliot previously worked. Thomas contributed 28 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2024. He started his career on the junior college level and was granted an additional year of eligibility.
SAF Jeremiah Johnson (Georgia State): Johnson announced his commitment over the weekend, after spending three seasons with Georgia State. He earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2023. He notched 164 tackles, a pair interceptions, a sack and forced fumble in his time with the Panthers. He added six pass breakups in 2024. According to PFF, Johnson graded at or above 71 in rush defense and pass rush defense.
LB Sterling Dixon (Alabama): The Wolfpack picked up a major commitment from Dixon last week, who has four years of eligibility remaining. The linebacker was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024 and played one game for the Crimson Tide, in which he contributed one tackle. As a high school recruit, Dixon had offers from programs across the country, including Oregon, Penn State, Miami, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn.
Outgoing transfers
WR Kevin “KC” Concepcion: Concepcion, from Charlotte, became the first player to complete the season and announce his transfer.
The sophomore played 25 games and recorded 1,655 total yards and 18 touchdowns in his two seasons with N.C. State, notching freshman program records and All-ACC recognition.
OL Sean Hill: Hill will enter the portal as a graduate transfer. He played five games since joining N.C. State in 2020. Hill’s biggest impact came off the field, where he was the president of Pack United, an on-campus nonprofit, and represented the football team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Hill led Pack United in its efforts to promote civic engagement, social justice, educational equity and access to food and housing through voter registration events and volunteer efforts. N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren complimented Hill in September for being a strong teammate and leader.
“He’s a tremendous young man,” Doeren said. “It’s great to see a guy (who’s) not playing on game day, but his impact is felt throughout the locker room. You love seeing that in a player.”
OL Obadiah “Obi” Obasuyi: The offensive lineman leaves after two seasons. He did not play. Obasuyi was a three-star recruit out of high school and redshirted his freshman season.
TE Juice Vereen: Vereen is a former four-star recruit who spent two seasons with the Wolfpack and played 12 games. The Havelock native contributed four receptions for 65 yards.
WR Jalen Coit: Coit entered the transfer portal after spending four years in Raleigh. He finished with 21 receptions and was the primary punt returner. Coit contributed 215 return yards and had his best season in 2023, when he notched 166.
WR Jakolbe Baldwin: Baldwin spent four years with the Wolfpack and seeks to transfer as a graduate student. Baldwin played 11 games this season and 29 during his career, mostly on special teams. The senior had three receptions and three tackles in his time at N.C. State.
WR Elijah Tillery: The freshman spent one season in Raleigh as a walk-on. He did not see game action.
RB Jordan Poole: Poole announced his decision to pursue other opportunities after spending four seasons with the Wolfpack in a reserve role. Poole can play on both sides of the ball, starting his career at linebacker before switching to running back. He appeared in 41 games during his N.C. State career primarily on special teams. Poole contributed 16 tackles, a kickoff return, one reception and a touchdown with the Pack.
“I thank God for the opportunities and experiences,” he wrote in a tweet. “I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year of eligibility after completing my education as a spring graduate. Open to any and all opportunities as a running back.”
CB Brandon Cisse: Cisse was one of N.C. State’s main starting cornerbacks in 2024. He contributed 28 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups in 2024. He was also the highest-graded cornerback for the Wolfpack, earning a 73.0 grade on PFF.
CB Tamarcus Cooley: Cooley transferred to N.C. State last offseason after a redshirt season at Maryland. He finished with 39 tackles, nine pass deflections, a pair of forced fumbles and three interceptions. Two interceptions took place in the Military Bowl loss.
SAF Devan Boykin: Boykin joined the program as a freshman in 2020. He suffered an injury last season before the Pop-Tarts Bowl and missed all of 2024. In the 2023 season, Boykin contributed 54 tackles and a trio of interceptions.
SAF Bishop Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald announced days before the bowl game he intended to return in 2025 under a new rule that allowed junior college players to retain their eligibility. Roughly 10 days later, Fitzgerald decided to enter the portal. In two seasons with the Wolfpack, the safety recorded 97 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
DL DJ Jackson: Jackson, from South Carolina, played eight games for the Wolfpack this season. The redshirt sophomore contributed 0.5 sacks for a loss of 3 yards against Syracuse. He has three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out in 2022 and 2023 with injuries.
LB Jayland Parker: Parker played in 11 games this season, mostly on special teams. The Georgia native spent four years with the Wolfpack and graduates this month. He recorded 13 career tackles, including seven in the 2024 season opener against Western Carolina. Parker will be a graduate transfer with one season of eligibility remaining.
LB Wyatt Wright: Wright’s agency announced he planned to transfer. He played one game in his lone season with the Wolfpack after playing one season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and another at Fresno City College. Wright is originally from Delaware.
LB Cannon Lewis: The freshman played four games for the Wolfpack this season and recorded two tackles. One came against Stanford and another took place the week after against Duke.
LB Keyaan Abdul-Rahim: Abdul-Rahim spent two seasons with the Wolfpack. He played one game last fall but did not play this season.
DE Red Hibbler: Hibbler was removed from the N.C. State roster in October after opting to redshirt the rest of the season and transfer. The senior from Mississippi played 17 games in two seasons with the Pack, recording 6.5 sacks, 19 tackles, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles. Hibbler’s 6.5 sacks led the team in 2023.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 1:37 PM.
