Grayson McCall| NC State's quarterback retires after football series with head injury

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — NC State quarterback Grayson McCall has officially announced that he is retiring from football after suffering a series of serious head injuries that kept him off the field for most of the season.

In a post on social media, McCall said: “As you all know, I have struggled with injuries throughout my career, but I am not coming back from this injury… Brain specialists, my family and I have come to the conclusion that it is like that.” It is in my interest to hang up the studs.

McCall added that he will focus on a coaching career.

In the most recent incident, McCall was carried off the field on a cart after being caught in a double tackle following a scary first-quarter hit against Wake Forest on Oct. 5 that ripped off his helmet.

McCall ran for a gain of about 9 yards before being hit by three Wake Forest defenders, Quincy Bryant, Dylan Hazen and Nick Andersen. It appeared at least one Demon hit Deacon McCall with the crown of his helmet — a violation — but the play went unreviewed and no flags were thrown, sparking outrage among the Wolfpack fan base.

The play resulted in McCall fumbling at the Wake Forest 10-yard line and the Deacs' Evan Slocum returning the ball 88 yards to the NC State 2-yard line.

McCall lay motionless on the field during the second leg. As the game continued, NC State medical personnel rushed the field.

NC State players immediately called medical personnel after McCall was hit. Athletic trainers brought out a stretcher, cut off McCall's jersey and fitted him with a neck brace as the Wolfpack players left the field in tears.

After a long delay, McCall was carried off the field. He held up two fingers at the crowd but otherwise kept his eyes covered as medical personnel brought him into the tunnel.

McCall was making his first start – and ultimately his last – after missing the previous two games due to an injury he suffered against Louisiana Tech on September 14th.

After the game, coach Dave Doeren said McCall passed all concussion protocols before the Wake game and was cleared to play.

McCall has a history of concussions, including a serious head injury he suffered last year while playing at Coastal Carolina that ended his season — and most of his career.

A native of Indian Trail, McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina. He played at Porter Ridge High School before finding great success at Coastal.

“This game has taken me places I never thought I would go and shaped my family and me in ways I never could have imagined,” McCall wrote in his post. “I have created so many memories that will stay with me forever and I am so grateful for that.”

True freshman CJ Bailey, who started the last two games against Clemson and Northern Illinois, came in to replace McCall. Bailey has since started in a loss to Syracuse on Oct. 12 and a 24-23 win over Cal on Saturday in which he threw for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns.

The video is from a previous report

The Associated Press contributed