RALEIGH — Just a day before NC State is set to face Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl, redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, while also exploring potential opportunities in the NFL in 2026.
Smothers’ agent revealed the news to On3 and CBS Sports early Monday afternoon, just about 24 hours from when the Wolfpack will take the field against the Tigers. While an exit from Smothers was likely, his decision to enter the portal comes as something of a surprise.
The impact of a Smothers exit
After coming on late in his redshirt freshman season with the Wolfpack, Smothers thrived in his second season in Raleigh. He quickly established himself as a significant safety valve for sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, as the young signal caller still found himself learning the intricacies of being a leader on and off the field. Having spent a year with Oklahoma, Smothers knew what it took to be an elite running back; he just never had the opportunity.
The redshirt sophomore exploded early in the year, putting together signature performances against Virginia and Wake Forest when he rushed for a combined 304 yards and two touchdowns in those two games. Smothers finished the season with 939 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns. He fell 61 yards short of becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Gallaspy in 2018…