NC State star Grayson McCall retires from football at 23 over head injuries

Grayson McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of nan Year pinch Coastal Carolina and whitethorn person had nan champion opportunity of his collegiate profession to amended his NFL draught banal this twelvemonth astatine North Carolina State.

Injuries derailed McCall’s playing time, and nan last 1 was nan past straw. The 23-year-old, sixth-year elder announced Wednesday he was hanging up his cleats.

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North Carolina State backmost Grayson McCall, #2, looks connected during nan pre crippled lukewarm up of an NCAA assemblage shot crippled connected Sept. 8, 2024 successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser, File)

The determination came astir 3 weeks aft a vicious deed knocked him retired of a crippled for nan 2nd clip this season. He suffered caput injuries against Wake Forest connected Oct. 5 and Louisiana Tech connected Sept. 14. He besides had concussion problems while astatine Coastal Carolina.

"Unfortunately, my dream has been trim conscionable short," he wrote successful portion connected Instagram. "As you each cognize I person battled injuries my full career, but this is 1 that I cannot travel backmost from. I person done everything I tin to continue, but this is wherever nan bully Lord has called maine to service successful a different space. Brain specialists, my family, and I person travel to nan conclusion that it is successful my champion liking to bent nan cleats up.

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Coastal Carolina Chanticleers backmost Grayson McCall, #10, throws a walk during nan 2nd 4th against nan Appalachian State Mountaineers astatine Kidd Brewer Stadium successful Boone, North Carolina, connected Oct. 20, 2021. (Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)

"As I consciousness for illustration my full world is being taken from me, I consciousness immoderate consciousness of contentment. Every clip my feet deed nan grass, I near each azygous ounce of myself connected that field. I ever played my hardest and to nan champion of my expertise because I ne'er knew what play would beryllium my last. I person nary regrets passim my profession and that is thing I tin beryllium proud of. I want to usage this clip to show my appreciation to everyone who has been on for nan ride. To my family, friends, teammates, fans and each nan coaches who person poured into maine complete nan years, I want to opportunity convey you from nan bottommost of my heart. Without you all, nary of this would person ever been possible."

McCall led nan federation pinch 2,488 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes successful nan coronavirus-pandemic-impacted assemblage shot play successful 2020. He past led nan federation successful 2021 pinch 27 touchdown passes.

He was named nan Sun Belt’s Player of nan Year successful 2020, 2021 and 2022.

North Carolina State Wolfpack backmost Grayson McCall, #2, earlier nan crippled against nan California Golden Bears astatine California Memorial Stadium successful Berkeley, California, connected Oct. 19, 2024. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

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He transferred from nan Chanticleers’ programme to nan Wolfpack aft nan 2023 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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