Dave Doeren’s coaching career started in 1994, and he’s been the head coach at NC State for a little over a decade.

So when he calls Saturday’s hit on Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall the “scariest moment I’ve ever had” in his career, the comment carries a lot of weight. McCall was taken off the field on a cart after being placed in a brace after a 1st-quarter hit that jarred his helmet and knocked the football loose in an eventual 34-30 home loss to Wake Forest.

Doeren said that McCall was released from the hospital on Saturday night and is in the concussion protocol as NC State gets ready to host Syracuse this Saturday. McCall’s status remains questionable, but he has not been ruled out for the rest of the season, Doeren said Monday during his weekly press conference.


The senior QB scrambled for about a 9-yard gain before he was hit hard by multiple Wake Forest defensive players, including Quincy Bryant, Dylan Hazen and Nick Andersen. While many players ran to the other end of the field as Wake Forest returned the fumble, NC State medical personnel rushed onto the field to treat McCall.

McCall hadn’t played since exiting with a 1st-half injury on Sept. 14 against Louisiana Tech. He’s in his 1st season with the Wolfpack after transferring from Coastal Carolina, where he enjoyed a record-setting career.