NC State backfield to lose major contributor. Who’s hitting the transfer portal
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hollywood Smothers enters transfer portal, creating vacancy in N.C. State backfield.
- Smothers finished 2025 season with 939 rushing yards and All-ACC First Team honors.
- NC State will seek to retain Duke Scott to help replace Smothers' production.
N.C. State’s backfield will take a hit after its leading rusher decided to enter the transfer portal.
Running back Hollywood Smothers will enter the portal when it opens in January, his agent told CBS Sports on Thursday. The portal opens Jan. 2 and will remain open for two weeks. Previously, there were two portal windows, but the single window was implemented this season to curtail constant movement.
Smothers, who finished the regular season with 939 rushing yards, led the ACC in total rushing yards for most of the season. He ended the season in third after Virginia’s J’Mari Taylor (1,062) and Duke’s Nate Sheppard (962) overtook him overall. Smothers, however, led the conference in yards per game (85.4), playing in 11 games versus Taylor and Sheppard, who played in 13 games. Additionally, the tailback had four 100-yard rushing games.
He earned All-ACC First Team honors, becoming the first N.C. State running back since Nyheim Hines in 2017 to earn the recognition.
The redshirt sophomore became known for his elusive running abilities, often breaking tackles through spin moves and finding running lanes through the middle and around the edges.
According to Pro Football Focus, Smothers could be a Day 3 pick if he decides to enter the NFL Draft. He’s listed at 5-feet-11 and 195 pounds — not the biggest or speediest back, but his ability to stay upright could provide an opportunity to prove himself on the next level. After walking on senior night, it was uncertain whether he would enter the NFL Draft.
Originally from Charlotte, Smothers spent his first season at Oklahoma and redshirted. He returned home to play for N.C. State last season and spent two years with the Wolfpack.
Smothers has a career rushing total of 1,552 yards — all but 42 coming with the Pack — and 12 touchdowns. He also served as a receiver at times, contributing another 453 yards and three touchdown catches. Last season, he was one of the first players to announce his return to the program. He stepped into a larger leadership role this year and helped guide the running back room.
N.C. State will seek to retain Duke Scott, a redshirt freshman running back, who played alongside Smothers. Scott recorded 196 rushing yards against Georgia Tech, the one regular-season game Smothers missed with an injury, to help lead the Pack past the Yellow Jackets.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM.
