NC State quarterback Grayson McCall has been medically forced to retire from football.
The former Coastal Carolina QB announced his retirement on Instagram Wednesday evening. McCall has been out since suffering a concussion and being taken off the field on a stretcher after a hit against Wake Forest on Oct. 5.
“Unfortunately my dream has just been cut short,” McCall wrote. “As you all know, I have struggled with injuries throughout my career, but this is one that I cannot come back from. I have done everything I can to keep going, but this is where the good Lord has called me to serve in another space. Brain specialists, my family and I have come to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to hang up the cleats.”
“While I feel like my whole world is being taken away from me, I feel a sense of contentment. Every time my feet touched the grass, I left every ounce of me on that field. I always played as hard and as best as I could because I never knew which game would be my last. I have had no regrets throughout my career and that is something I can be proud of.”
The concussion McCall suffered against Wake Forest was at least his second in 13 months. In October 2023, McCall suffered a concussion after being knocked out while sliding and his head hitting the turf.
That appearance was his last at Coastal Carolina as he transferred to North Carolina State after the season. At NC State, he left the team’s game early on September 14 with what the team said was an undisclosed injury. The game against the Demon Deacons was McCall’s first game back on the field since then.
McCall was one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football during his time at Coastal Carolina. As a sophomore in 2021, he completed 73% of his passes for 2,873 yards and 27 TDs. In five seasons with the Chanticleers, he threw for 10,005 yards and 88 TDs to just 14 interceptions.
In parts of four games at NC State, McCall was 53 of 80 for 518 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. C.J. Bailey started in McCall’s absence as the Wolfpack were 4-4 through the first nine weeks of the season.
