North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall was taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a hospital after a hard hit knocked off his helmet during the first quarter of the Wolfpack’s 34-30 loss to visiting Wake Forest on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.
McCall was involved in a collision with three Wake Forest players while scrambling for yardage. He appeared to be momentarily knocked out after the initial contact and was fitted with a neck brace before being put on the stretcher and carted off.
McCall displayed movement in his arms and signaled to the crowd with his hand while being taken off the playing surface.
“Grayson, once he came to, he was talking, and said, ‘I want the boys to win the game,'” NC State coach Dave Doeren said after the game. “He was trying to get up and the (medic) wouldn’t let him. I felt for him and his parents.”
The school said Saturday night that McCall was out of the hospital.
“Some great news: quarterback Grayson McCall has been released from the hospital. He is alert and in good spirits and all scans were normal,” the school said.
McCall has a history of concussions but the school didn’t reveal if he sustained one Saturday. McCall also left a game against Louisiana on Sept. 14 after taking a hit and the school never specified what type of injury he sustained.
The contest against Wake Forest was his first appearance since the Louisiana game.
McCall suffered a season-ending concussion last year when he played for Coastal Carolina. He was taken off the field via ambulance and hospitalized after that one, sustained Oct. 21 at Arkansas State.
McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year in four seasons at Coastal Carolina before transferring to the Wolfpack after last season.
NC State offensive lineman Tim McKay said it was tough to watch the scene play out.
“It was heartbreaking to see that,” McKay told reporters. “He’s a guy who fought hard for us. He came here from Coastal, is a captain. Seeing him go down earlier in the season and go down again this week is kind of disheartening. We know how hard he works for us. It’s really sad seeing that.”
McCall completed 3 of 5 passes for 42 yards before exiting Saturday. He has completed 53 of 80 passes (66.3 percent) for 518 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in four games this season.
CJ Bailey replaced McCall and passed for 272 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for NC State.
