How NC State RB Hollywood Smothers lived up to nickname in a win over Virginia
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- N.C. State improved to 2-0 with 416 total yards, including 216 on the ground.
- Running back Hollywood Smothers rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
- Offensive line rebounded from prior struggles to support consistent rushing gains.
Linebacker Sean Brown held a closed bottle of water over Hollywood Smothers’ head, laughing as he pretended to douse him with a celebratory shower before the running back’s press conference appearance — a nod to Smothers’ big performance on Saturday.
N.C. State defeated Virginia, 35-31, at home in a nonconference game behind an elite offensive outing.
The Wolfpack moved to 2-0 this season after putting up 416 yards of total offense, including 216 rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry. Smothers, a redshirt sophomore, contributed 140 of them and 115 in the second half. He averaged 8.2 yards per attempt.
“It was great to see Hollywood get in the mix and do a lot for this team,” quarterback CJ Bailey said. “Hollywood’s been a guy that’s been grinding hard all camp, and he’s showed this game and last game, he’s one of our important players on offense. We need him for the rest of the year.”
Smothers had little issue getting the run game going, spinning through defensive pressure and weaving his way to the edge. He was quick on his feet, breaking tackles, cutting back into gaps and making plays for first downs and touchdowns.
The second-year running back scored the first touchdown of the second half with a 14-yard run.
“It was awesome to see us run the football the way we did,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “I thought Coach [Kurt] Roper and the offensive staff made some adjustments and said, ‘Look, let’s just hand the ball to No. 3 and get downhill. That first drive of the second half, that’s what we did, and the offense did a great job of being physical; tight ends, running backs, receivers, tailbacks making plays.”
Smothers’ longest run came later in the third quarter, when he broke away from the defenders for 57 yards to the Virginia 23-yard line. He progressed another 6 yards on the drive, which Bailey and redshirt freshman Duke Scott ultimately used for another touchdown.
The Charlotte native found the end zone with less than a minute remaining in the third, punching in a TD on what was the final scoring drive of the game.
Three of Smothers’ plays were for at least 10 yards, but most of his success came by marching down the field in 5, 6 and even 7-yard increments.
Additionally, Smothers finished the day with only one play for negative yardage — a loss of 1 in the fourth quarter — and one incomplete pass from Bailey.
He is the first player since Reggie Gallaspy in 2018 to run for more than 130 yards and two touchdowns in a single game.
Smothers, whose legal first name is Daylan, looked every bit of “Hollywood” as one would expect from someone with the nickname.
“It’s what we hoped for,” Doeren said. “He finished the [2024] season that way, too. The last half of last year, you could see that he was ready.”
Smothers’ performance is his fifth straight game and sixth in the last seven, dating back to last fall, with 75 yards or more.
He finished his first season at N.C. State with 571 yards after splitting duties with Jordan Waters and Kendrick Raphael. Now, two games into 2025 and the primary back, he’s more than a thirdof the way to matching his 2024 numbers.
Doeren praised Smothers for his contributions, on the field, off the field and with the ball and without.
“He brings energy, holds people accountable. He plays hard as hell,” Doeren said. “He wants the football, but if you don’t give it to him, he’s not going to complain. He’s going to block, he’s going to run routes. He doesn’t care. He just wants to win. Guys like that tend to make plays; unselfish, tough guys that work hard. He’s got a lot of talent, so anytime he touches the ball, it’s a potential explosive play.”
Smothers, though he’s pleased with what he did, was humble about the performance. He acknowledges his work ethic but also credited his teammates and coaches.
Scott ran for 30 yards on eight carries. True freshman quarterback Will Wilson entered the game on two fourth down plays and rushed for 6 yards and the conversions. Bailey, who threw for 200 yards, added 44 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a 30-yarder to put the Wolfpack on the board.
“The baby giraffe can run a little bit,” Smothers said with a laugh, referencing Bailey’s slim 6-foot-6 and 213-pound frame. “It’s great to have him. CJ is super challenging. He can change the game in many ways. He can beat you with his legs, beat you with his arm. Having somebody like that — they’ve got a game plan for and watch out for — it just makes my job 10 times easier.”
Smothers also complimented the offensive line, which played with unity and helped open gaps that he could work with. Last week, the O-line gave up 10 tackles for loss, four quarterback pressures and one sack. The team finished with 105 rushing yards and 2.9 yards per carry.
“I want the ball. That’s what I be telling them,” Smothers said. “My offensive coordinator trusts me. The team trusts me to run the ball and … whatever I need to do to put us in our best situation. The guys up front made it easier for me.”
