NC State Wolfpack quarterback Aaron McLaughlin enters transfer portal
Aaron McLaughlin came to N.C. State as one of the top-rated players in the class of 2021 and the quarterback of the future.
He’ll leave Raleigh without throwing a single pass in a game.
On Saturday McLaughlin, a native Cumming, Ga., announced on social media that he was entering the transfer portal.
“My time at North Carolina State has been nothing but first class from the second I stepped foot on campus,” McLaughlin wrote. “This is not an easy decision for me, but the one I know in my heart is best.”
McLaughlin (6-5, 219) was the only quarterback in his recruiting class. He arrived at N.C. State as the No. 28 quarterback in the country, according to 247Sports. McLaughlin enrolled last January and went through spring practice with the Wolfpack. He went 0-for-3 in the spring game last April.
In the fall, he played behind Devin Leary and Ben Finley, taking just five snaps in two games. He didn’t attempt a pass and only ran the ball once. McLaughlin joins former N.C. State defensive end Terrell Dawkins and defensive back Khalid Martin on the list of players who have entered the portal. Dawkins committed to South Carolina.
At Denmark High School, McLaughlin passed for 7,637 yards and 101 touchdowns in his career.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE QB ROOM
The good thing for N.C. State is the most important player in the quarterback room is back.
Leary had a breakout campaign in 2021, passing for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns. The 35 passing touchdowns were a single-season school record.
Leary started all 12 games last season and Finley and McLaughlin only saw spot duty in blowouts. Finley completed 5-of-9 passes for 28 yards in 2021. The Phoenix, Ariz. native has proven himself in meaningful games.
As a true freshman, Finley played in the game at UNC in 2020 for 33 snaps. He completed 13-of-20 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. After that game, however, Finley didn’t take another snap all season. In the spring game, Finley finished 10-of-20 passing for 154 yards.
Three-star prospect M.J. Morris, out of Carrollton, Ga. will enroll over the summer. Morris is the only quarterback in the class of 2022.
As a senior, Morris completed 186-of-295 passes for 3,089 yards and threw for 33 touchdowns. He rushed for 602 yards and seven more touchdowns.
N.C. State starts spring practice on March 2. The spring game will be played on April 9.
This story was originally published February 19, 2022 at 2:03 PM with the headline "NC State Wolfpack quarterback Aaron McLaughlin enters transfer portal."
