Grayson McCall injury update: Latest news on NC State quarterback's status after hit to head vs. Wake Forest

Daniel Mader

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Grayson McCall injury update: Latest news on NC State quarterback's status after hit to head vs. Wake Forest image

NC State came into Week 6 of the college football season looking to improve to 4-2 with a win over ACC rival Wake Forest. But one of its top stars exited the game in the first quarter with a scary injury.

QB Grayson McCall, who was returning to the field after missing the last two games for the Wolfpack, left the game after taking a big hit to the head in the first quarter of Saturday's game.

Freshman CJ Bailey, who had started for NC State over the last few weeks with McCall sidelined, came on in relief after the injury.

Here are the latest updates on McCall's injury against Wake Forest on Saturday.

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Grayson McCall injury updates

As NC State looked to score from the red zone early in Saturday's contest, McCall scrambled up the middle on a 3rd & 11.

After the 23-year-old QB picked up a few yards, multiple Wake Forest defenders converged on him from different angles, and McCall's helmet appeared to come off as he was being hit.

McCall remained down after the play and eventually was carted off the field, though he was conscious and was able to move his arms as he left the game with the medical staff. He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

There were no flags on the play, but it was a scary hit on McCall, especially as his helmet appeared to come off during the play. His entire NC State team took a knee on the sidelines as concern for the quarterback grew. 

After the game, NC State head coach Dave Doeren said reports from the hospital McCall went to were "positive" so far. Soon after that, NC State announced that McCall had been released from the hospital, stating on social media: "He is alert and in good spirits and all scans were normal."

McCall has a concussion history, including a head injury with Coastal Carolina in 2023 that ended his season.

Daniel Mader

Daniel Mader Photo

Daniel Mader joined Sporting News as an editorial intern in 2024 following his graduation from Penn State University. Previously, he covered Penn State, high school and local sports beats for NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. He grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.