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NC State Quarterback Retires From Football Due To Concussions

I was just having a discussion the other day with someone about when athletes retire from their particular sport. If you thihk about it, very few get to “walk off…

Grayson McCall retires from football
Lance King/Getty Images

I was just having a discussion the other day with someone about when athletes retire from their particular sport. If you thihk about it, very few get to "walk off into the sunset" on their own terms. Very few "go out on top." That being said, the way that Grayson McCall's life as a football quarterback ended yesterday was sadder than most.

Who Is Grayson McCall?

Grayson grew up in Union County in Charlotte and started his college football career spectacularly as the three-time Sunbelt Conference Player of the Year for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. As our son began attending CCU in 2020, we were front row for all of those years. Grayson McCall helped put Coastal Carolina on the map and was the leader of one of the most exciting offenses I've ever watched in college football. However, Grayson battled injuries his couple of years at Coastal and decided for a fresh start and to transfer to North Carolina State for his final year of college eligibility.

What Happened To Grayson McCall?

Things did not go as planned as Grayson McCall's propensity for injury followed him to Raleigh. He missed a couple of games early on this season as a result but returned to the lineup for the game against Wake Forest, And this play happened. I warn you; this is a hard watch.

This concussion has proven to be something that Grayson McCall could not overcome as an athlete. And yesterday, he made this announcement on his Instagram page.

The good...no, GREAT news. Grayson McCall is a man in his early 20s. He may not realize it now, but the best of his life is in front of him. There will come a time when he'll look back and say, "As cool as being a college quarterback was, it's nothing compared to _____." You can bet on that.

Meet Ripken NC State’s Tee Retrieving Dog

NC State's Football Team is having a fantastic year and is undefeated at home with one more game left this Friday. But Ripken NC State's tee retrieving dog has stolen some of the attention from the team. And it's easy to see why. Ripken is also the bat dog for the Durham Bulls and is absolutely adorable.

Ripken trains at Sit Means Sit dog training in Apex, North Carolina.

Look At That Crowd!

Such A Good Boy

Listen To That Crowd!

Laser Focus

Ripken Is Also The Durham Bulls Bat Dog

Work Hard Play Hard

A Birds Eye View

Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.