North Carolina State University Athletics
Three from Pack Football Take Home Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year Honors
8/7/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - The ACC announced the 2025-26 Graduate Scholar-Athletes of the Year, with NC State football seeing three names from last year's team honored in Anthony Carter, Jr., Matt McCabe and Caden Noonkester.
To earn ACC Graduate Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition, student-athletes must successfully complete a graduate degree program (excluding certificate programs) and meet the Conference's athletic participation requirements during at least one season while enrolled as a graduate student.
Carter graduated from NC State with a degree in communication in May 2024. He then pursued a master's degree in liberal studies. He played in 47 games for the Wolfpack, starting 36. He was a four-time ACC All-Academic Team honoree and a five-time ACC Honor Roll honoree.
McCabe, who graduated with a degree in management, played offensive guard throughout his career for the Wolfpack. He earned three ACC All-Academic honors while with the Wolfpack.
Noonkester earned his degree in crop and soil sciences at NC State. In 2025, he posted his third-best career average in school history. He had 147 career punts, which ranked 10th in school history, and his 6,316 yards rank seventh in program history.
The three made up half of NC State's six total graduate scholar-athletes.
