RALEIGH, N.C. — One year after earning his way to the top of the depth chart, Hollywood Smothers embraces his leading role in the NC State backfield this season.

The standout running back led the Pack in rushing and yards from scrimmage last season but now finds himself the leader of the running back room in 2025. Having learned from Jordan Waters and DeMarcus Jones before him, Smothers is enthusiastically leading the charge for the Wolfpack’s running backs.

“I’m really being a leader,” Smothers said. “I had Jordan Waters with me last year really bringing the right energy and teaching us things coming in and how things work. Now I’m that guy that has to be first in the building and make sure my guys are held accountable and make sure everybody knows what they’re doing. I’m stepping more into the leadership role.”

True to his nickname, Smothers’ leadership style is very much like Hollywood: bold. He not only mentors young players but challenges them to surpass him every day. It may seem counterintuitive to challenge Duke Scott to take your starting job, but that’s exactly the standard Smothers implements.

“I tell him every day he should be trying to take my spot every day,” Smothers. “That’s for everybody in the room. Everybody behind him should try to take his spot. That’s the standard I want. I tell him that every day. The more confident he gets, the more he knows how good he can be is better for us.”

Scott’s got what it takes to pull it off, too. The talented running back out of Stockbridge (Ga.) redshirted last season and looks primed to makes some waves as the thunder to Smothers’ lightning. Many in college football saw what Smothers can do with the ball in his hands last season. This time around, the Pack brings yet another powerful weapon out of the backfield.

“Duke’s got it all,” Smothers said. “I can’t wait to see what Duke — combo of speed and power. He comes to work every day. Genuinely wants to learn the game like a student of the game. Duke’s got it all. It’s going to be exciting to see for Duke.”

State’s rushing talent and Smothers’ audacious leadership feeds into a team with a chip on its shoulder entering this season. The Pack knows it left a lot on the table in 2024. It remembers the sting of four one-possession losses capped off by defeat to East Carolina in the Military Bowl. With several guys returning from last year’s squad, NC State enters this fall camp motivated to correct its mistakes and reestablish itself as a program.

“If you’re going to make a mistake, don’t make the same mistake twice,” Smothers said. “Figure out the rights and wrongs that we did, how we didn’t finish games when we came down to one possession. We’re definitely close. We take it seriously. The approach to it is different now. We’ve got everything we need to be successful, to get 10 more wins.”

The Wolfpack begins its quest for 10 wins when it hosts East Carolina in the season opener Aug. 28. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Carter-Finley Stadium.

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