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| Grayson McCall throws downfield in NC State's victory over Western Carolina (Photo by Jaylynn Nash of USA Today) |
It was all so familiar, yet at the same time completely new for Grayson McCall. And he was thankful to be in this position, leading a team into battle.
The sixth-year senior quarterback has been around the block a few times, winning three Sun Belt Conference player of the year awards at Coastal Carolina and helping the Chanticleers to multiple league titles. But he missed the last half of the 2023 season after a scary injury, and wasn’t even sure whether he would be able to play football again.
"Originally it was my plan to enter the draft after last season, but the injury set me back and changed that," McCall told reporters during the summer. "At one point I didn't even know if I'd play football again. Dealing with a brain injury, that's nothing to play with. Knowing that, it did come into conversation with doctors that there was a possibility that I wasn't going to be able to play again."
Yet play he did in the Wolfpack’s season-opening 38-21 victory over visiting Western Carolina, and quite well at times. The Charlotte native finished with 318 yards and three scores, all to dynamic wideout KC Concepcion, but also threw an early interception.
There were some plays left on the field in an uneven first half, which saw NC State head to the locker room deadlocked at 14.
It wasn’t as much worry at halftime as it was simply refocusing on what needed to be done.
“We had to make some adjustments at halftime,” McCall said. “I don’t think I played my best ball. It was my first time being out there in a while after not playing the back half of the season last year. It was good to just get out there again.”
McCall admitted to having nerves before the game – partly due to that being typical and partly due to being back on the field for the first time in ages. Those nerves settled quickly, and McCall was able to get down to business.
He found Concepcion streaking across the middle for a 17-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter, and the second connection was an easy five-yard score early in the second quarter.
The duo hit the trifecta early in the fourth quarter when Concepcion took a slant and motored 35 yards past the Catamounts secondary for his final touchdown. That gave the Wolfpack at 24-21 lead, an advantage that would not be relinquished.
"I didn't play my best ball, but I'm happy to be out there, play four quarters of football, and get the win,” McCall said. “I'm able to go in tomorrow and watch the tape, and there's a lot to get better from."
Heading into the spring, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren knew that he would need to find a new quarterback. Brennan Armstrong graduated, and MJ Morris transferred to Maryland, and though CJ Bailey was a top 50 quarterback recruit, he likely wasn’t going to be ready to take on the challenge of running the offense. So to the portal Doeren went, where he got one of the top three or four available signal-callers.
McCall fits the mold of what Doeren looks for in a quarterback, and that fact that he had a ton of experience was a bonus.
“He understands the game, he’s a quick learner and he’s a really good teammate,” Doeren said. “He holds himself to a high standard and has no problem holding other guys accountable, and he does it in a good way. He’s demanding, but not demeaning. He’s got great touch on the field … he’s a vet and he’s a great fit in our program.”
Early practice reviews were positive, and McCall took the leadership reins immediately. There was no doubt who was in charge on the field.
“He’s a good quarterback. He knows what he’s doing,” wide receiver Dacari Collins said in preseason. “He’s been in a great offense at Coastal, threw for a lot of yards. He’s a great mobile quarterback running out the pocket, so I’m excited to play with him.”
Though McCall took visits after seeing Raleigh, he knew in his heart that he would end up as a member of the Wolfpack. He told Doeren of his decision, which brought some whoops and hollers to the coaches room and eased Doeren’s mind heading into spring drills.
“(We saw it) right away. The conversation we had was, ‘Coach I want to come home and show the rest of the schools that they missed.’ Just how he goes about his work. The thing that you notice is he’s ready for practice. When he steps on the field, he’s ready,” Doeren said.
“When you get into scrimmages and move the ball situations, there’s another thing that happens and he really understands how to compete and raise his level of play. When you watch his career, some of his best games were in the biggest games. He’s done that a lot.”
McCall came into the season as one of the most accomplished passers in college football, amassing over 10,000 yards in five seasons in Conway. His 88 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions is eye-popping, but the Chanticleers offense gave him a chance to thrive.
Things are a little different in Raleigh under coordinator Robert Anae, but in the end, football is football. A player must make plays, and McCall is confident that he can do that.
"It's been a bit of a mental rollercoaster," McCall said. “I'm grateful to just be here, healthy, and ready to go -- I think it makes that much sweeter when it's all said and done. At the end of the day, I'm going to go let it rip and put and prepare myself to be in the best possible position to be healthy and available."
McCall won 35 games in his time at Coastal, and that winning mentality was a big check mark in Doeren’s book as he wanted someone who was able to put the team over individual goals.
“He’s a winner,” Doeren said. “Three-time player of the year, won a bunch of championships, carries a big chip on his shoulder. In the first conversation we had I could just tell the intangibles that I look for in a quarterback – the way he’s going to lead, his confidence and also the way he cares about people.”
McCall flew under the radar at Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail, a suburb of Charlotte, and was rated as a two-star prospect by the recruiting services. Even with sold tape and a winning resume, recruiters weren’t exactly beating down his door.
"Coming out of high school, I won a lot of football games, put a lot of good stuff on film and only received four offers," McCall said. "Then at Coastal, I had three really good years and won some really big games there as well but still flew under the radar and felt I wasn't earning the respect I deserved."
That lack of respect is as much responsible for the chip on his shoulder as anything, and it fuels McCall’s desire to be great.
McCall is nonplussed by the jump into a brighter spotlight, and he relishes the high expectations that have been set. In his mind, no one has higher expectations than he does.
"The expectation in Raleigh is not only to win but to win the league," McCall said. "There's a lot of buzz in Raleigh right now. With both the men's and women's basketball teams going to the Final Four and with the baseball team making it to Omaha, we're looking to keep the momentum going into the fall."
