Linebacker Sean Brown playfully held an unopened water bottle above Hollywood Smothers’ head, joking as if he were about to drench him in celebration before the running back stepped up for his press conference — a lighthearted nod to Smothers’ breakout performance. N.C. State edged Virginia, 35-31, at home in a nonconference matchup, powered by one of its strongest offensive showings. The Wolfpack improved to 2-0 after racking up 416 total yards, including 216 on the ground at an efficient 6.2 yards per carry. Smothers, a redshirt sophomore, was central to that success, accounting for 140 rushing yards — 115 of them after halftime — and averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.
“It was great to see Hollywood get in the mix and do so much for this team,” quarterback CJ Bailey said. “He’s been grinding all camp, and these first two games have shown he’s a key part of our offense. We’re going to need him the rest of the season.”
Smothers wasted little time jump-starting the Wolfpack’s ground attack, slipping through defenders with spins, sharp cuts, and bursts to the sideline. His balance and quickness kept drives alive, as he broke tackles, found gaps, and turned runs into first downs and touchdowns. Early in the second half, the redshirt sophomore punched in a 14-yard score to set the tone.
“It was awesome to see us run the football the way we did,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “Coach [Kurt] Roper and the offensive staff made some great adjustments and said, ‘Let’s just give the ball to No. 3 and get downhill.’ That first drive after halftime, that’s exactly what we did. The offense was physical — tight ends, backs, receivers, everyone contributed to making plays.”
Smothers’ biggest play of the night came in the third quarter, when he burst free for a 57-yard sprint to the Virginia 23. He added another 6 yards on the same series, setting up quarterback CJ Bailey and redshirt freshman Duke Scott for a touchdown. The Charlotte native capped the quarter himself, powering into the end zone in the final minute on what proved to be the last scoring drive of the game.
While three of his runs went for double-digit yardage, Smothers did most of his damage by steadily grinding out 5-, 6- and 7-yard gains that kept the offense moving. He was remarkably efficient, finishing with just one negative play — a 1-yard loss in the fourth — and a single incompletion from Bailey in his direction. With 140 yards and two touchdowns, Smothers became the first Wolfpack player since Reggie Gallaspy in 2018 to eclipse 130 rushing yards with multiple scores in a game. On Saturday, Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers more than lived up to the nickname.
“That’s what we were hoping for,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “He ended the [2024] season that way, too. In the second half of last year, you could see he was ready.”
Smothers’ effort against Virginia marked his fifth straight game — and sixth in the last seven, dating back to last fall — with at least 75 rushing yards. He closed his first season at N.C. State with 571 yards while sharing carries with Jordan Waters and Kendrick Raphael. Now, just two games into 2025 as the featured back, he’s already more than a third of the way to that total.
Doeren credited Smothers not only for his production but also for his leadership and unselfish play. “He brings energy, he holds people accountable, and he plays hard as hell,” Doeren said. “He wants the football, but if he doesn’t get it, he’s still going to block, he’s still going to run routes — he doesn’t care, he just wants to win. Guys like that make plays. Unselfish, tough, hard-working players with talent — every touch is a chance for something explosive.”
Even after his breakout game, Smothers stayed grounded. He acknowledged the hard work he’s put in but was quick to credit his teammates and coaches. Running back Duke Scott chipped in 30 yards on eight carries, while true freshman quarterback Will Wilson converted two fourth downs with his legs, gaining 6 yards. Quarterback CJ Bailey was equally versatile, throwing for 200 yards and adding 44 more with two rushing scores — including a 30-yard touchdown to open N.C. State’s scoring.
“The baby giraffe can run a little bit,” Smothers joked, nodding to Bailey’s lanky 6-foot-6, 213-pound frame. “It’s great to have him. CJ is tough to stop. He can change the game in so many ways — with his legs, with his arm. Having somebody like that, who defenses have to game-plan for, makes my job 10 times easier.”
Smothers also praised the offensive line, which bounced back after a rough outing the previous week. Against Virginia, the unit consistently opened lanes for the ground game. “I want the ball — that’s what I keep telling them,” Smothers said. “My offensive coordinator trusts me. My team trusts me to run the ball and do whatever it takes to put us in the best position. The guys up front made it easier for me.”
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