NFL players from NC State
141 NFL players came out of NC State (North Carolina State University). Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
141
Players
14
Easy to name
Unicorn
Best link
More NC State players suited up for the New York Giants than any other franchise (18).
How this plays in The Chains
A shared college is a link, just like a shared team, and every link is scored by how unlikely it was that a fan would name it. Connect two players through Devon Smith and the NC State link is rated Unicorn (+600 bonus points). Some daily puzzles even require a NC State alum in your chain.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers from this school.
- Common
Philip Rivers
QB · 2004–2025 · IND, LAC
- Common
Torry Holt
WR · 1999–2009 · JAX, RAM
- Common
Russell Wilson
QB · 2012–2025 · DEN, NYG, PIT, SEA
- Common
Mario Williams
DE · 2006–2016 · BUF, HOU, MIA
- Common
Bradley Chubb
LB · 2018–2026 · BUF, DEN, MIA
- Common
Adrian Wilson
DB · 2001–2012 · ARI
- Uncommon
Germaine Pratt
LB · 2019–2025 · CIN, IND, RAI
- Uncommon
Koren Robinson
WR · 2001–2008 · GB, MIN, SEA
- Uncommon
Jerricho Cotchery
WR · 2004–2016 · CAR, NYJ, PIT
- Uncommon
Jacoby Brissett
QB · 2016–2026 · ARI, CLE, IND, MIA, NE, WAS
- Uncommon
Manny Lawson
OLB · 2006–2016 · BUF, CIN, SF
- Uncommon
KC Concepcion
WR · 2026 · CLE
- Uncommon
Dewayne Washington
DB · 1994–2005 · JAX, KC, MIN, PIT
- Uncommon
Stephen Tulloch
MLB · 2006–2016 · DET, PHI, TEN
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR · 2018–2026 · BUF, GB, KC, LAC, NO, PIT +1
- Rare
Brian Williams
CB · 2002–2011 · ATL, JAX, MIN, NYG
- Rare
Nyheim Hines
RB · 2018–2025 · BUF, IND, LAC, NO
- Rare
Jakobi Meyers
WR · 2019–2026 · JAX, NE, RAI
- Rare
David Amerson
CB · 2013–2018 · ARI, RAI, WAS
- Rare
Brandon Cisse
DB · 2026 · GB
- Rare
Mike Quick
WR · 1990 · PHI
- Rare
Darwin Walker
DL · 2000–2008 · ARI, CAR, CHI, PHI
- Rare
Payton Wilson
LB · 2024–2026 · PIT
- Rare
Mike Glennon
QB · 2013–2022 · ARI, CHI, JAX, MIA, NYG, RAI +1
- Rare
Alim McNeill
DL · 2021–2026 · DET
- Rare
Justin Jones
DL · 2018–2024 · ARI, CHI, LAC
- Rare
Kentavius Street
DL · 2019–2026 · ATL, CHI, NO, PHI, SF
- Rare
Anthony Belton
OL · 2025–2026 · GB
- Rare
Terrence Holt
FS · 2003–2008 · ARI, CHI, DET, NO
- Rare
Ikem Ekwonu
OL · 2022–2025 · CAR
- Rare
Willie Young
DE · 2010–2017 · CHI, DET
- Rare
Dontae Johnson
CB · 2014–2022 · ARI, BUF, LAC, SF
- Rare
Thaddeus Moss
TE · 2021 · CIN
- Rare
Haywood Jeffires
WR · 1990–1996 · NO, TEN
- Rare
B.J. Hill
DL · 2018–2026 · CIN, NYG
- Rare
Vaughan Johnson
LB · 1990–1994 · NO, PHI
- Rare
Garrett Bradbury
OL · 2019–2026 · CHI, MIN, NE
- Rare
Justin Joly
TE · 2026 · MIA
- Rare
Jim Ritcher
OL · 1990–1995 · ATL, BUF
- Rare
Ray Agnew
DL · 1990–2000 · NE, NYG, RAM
- Rare
Corey Smith
DE · 2002–2008 · DET, SF, TB
- Rare
Ryan Finley
QB · 2019–2020 · CIN
- Rare
Joe Thuney
OL · 2016–2026 · CHI, KC, NE
- Rare
Juston Burris
DB · 2016–2022 · CAR, CLE, NYJ, RAI
- Rare
Drake Thomas
LB · 2023–2026 · SEA
- Rare
Alvis Whitted
WR · 1998–2006 · JAX, RAI
- Rare
Jaylen Samuels
RB · 2018–2021 · HOU, PIT
- Rare
Jesse Campbell
DB · 1991–1998 · NYG, PHI, WAS
- Rare
Nate Irving
MLB · 2011–2015 · DEN, IND
- Rare
David Merritt
LB · 1993–1995 · ARI, MIA
- Rare
Steven Hauschka
K · 2008–2020 · ATL, BAL, BUF, DEN, JAX, SEA
- Epic
Andre Brown
RB · 2010–2013 · CAR, DEN, IND, NYG, WAS
- Epic
Bobby Houston
LB · 1990–1998 · GB, KC, LAC, MIN, NYJ
- Epic
Tank Tyler
DT · 2007–2009 · CAR, KC
- Epic
Josh Jones
DB · 2017–2022 · DAL, GB, IND, JAX, SEA
- Epic
John McCargo
DT · 2006–2011 · BUF, TB
- Epic
AJ Cole
P · 2019–2026 · RAI
- Epic
Mark Thomas
DL · 1992–2001 · CAR, CHI, IND, SF
- Epic
James Smith-Williams
DL · 2020–2024 · ATL, WAS
- Epic
Sean Locklear
G · 2004–2013 · ATL, NYG, SEA, WAS
- Epic
Chandler Zavala
OL · 2023–2025 · CAR
- Epic
Clayton White
LB · 2001 · NYG
- Epic
Perry Williams
DB · 1990–1993 · NYG
- Epic
Dylan McMahon
OL · 2024–2026 · RAM
- Epic
Kelvin Harmon
WR · 2019 · WAS
- Epic
Larrell Murchison
DL · 2020–2026 · RAM, TEN
- Epic
Joe Milinichik
OL · 1990–1994 · LAC, RAM
- Epic
Trenton Gill
P · 2022–2024 · CHI, TB
- Epic
Bishop Fitzgerald
DB · 2026 · DET
- Epic
Bam Knight
RB · 2022–2026 · ARI, DET, NYJ
- Epic
Brayden Narveson
K · 2024 · GB, TEN
- Epic
J.R. Sweezy
G · 2012–2020 · ARI, SEA, TB
- Epic
T.Y. McGill
DT · 2015–2024 · CLE, IND, LAC, MIN, NO, PHI +2
- Epic
Cory Durden
DL · 2023–2026 · NE, NYG, RAM
- Epic
Ted Larsen
C · 2010–2020 · ARI, CHI, MIA, TB
- Epic
Mike Cofer
SPEC · 1990–1995 · IND, SF
- Epic
Damien Covington
LB · 1995–1997 · BUF
- Epic
Marcus Hudson
FS · 2006–2010 · CAR, SF
- Epic
Markus Kuhn
DT · 2012–2015 · NYG
- Epic
Audie Cole
MLB · 2012–2016 · MIN
- Epic
Earl Wolff
SS · 2013–2016 · JAX, PHI
- Epic
Trevor Graham
WR · 2012–2015 · BUF, NO, NYJ, TEN
- Epic
Erik Kramer
QB · 1991–1999 · CHI, DET, LAC
- Epic
Levar Fisher
OLB · 2002–2003 · ARI
- Epic
Tanner Ingle
DB · 2025–2026 · RAM
- Epic
Vi Jones
LB · 2022–2024 · SEA, TB
- Epic
George Hegamin
OL · 1994–2000 · DAL, PHI, TB
- Epic
Lin Dawson
TE · 1990 · NE
- Epic
Danny Peebles
WR · 1990–1991 · CLE, TB
- Epic
Izel Jenkins
DB · 1990–1993 · MIN, NYG, PHI
- Epic
Carlos King
RB · 1998 · PIT
- Epic
Charles Davenport
WR · 1992–1994 · PIT
- Epic
Andre Brown
WR · 1990 · MIA
- Epic
Will Richardson
OL · 2018–2021 · JAX
- Epic
Carl Reeves
DL · 1995–1998 · CHI
- Epic
Lloyd Harrison
DB · 2000–2001 · LAC, WAS
- Epic
DaJuan Morgan
SS · 2008–2010 · IND, KC
- Epic
Fernandus Vinson
DB · 1991–1994 · CIN
- Epic
DeMario Pressley
DT · 2009–2011 · CAR, HOU, NO
- Epic
Jason Perry
DB · 1999–2002 · CIN, LAC, MIN
- Epic
Denzelle Good
T · 2015–2021 · IND, RAI
- Epic
Leroy Harris
G · 2007–2013 · DET, TEN
- Epic
Pat Thomas
OLB · 2005–2008 · JAX, KC
- Epic
Gary Downs
RB · 1994–2000 · ATL, DEN, NYG
- Epic
Brian Clark
WR · 2006–2010 · DEN, DET, TB
- Epic
Anthony Hill
TE · 2009–2011 · HOU, IND
- Epic
Chris Colmer
T · 2005 · TB
- Epic
Scott Kooistra
T · 2003–2007 · CIN
- Epic
Ian Rafferty
OL · 1999–2001 · NYJ, TEN
- Epic
Todd Harrison
TE · 1992–1993 · MIN, TB
- Epic
Ricky Bell
DB · 1996–1998 · CHI, JAX, PIT
- Legendary
Sebastian Savage
DB · 1994–1995 · WAS
- Legendary
Naz Worthen
WR · 1990 · KC
- Legendary
Tremayne Stephens
RB · 1998–1999 · LAC
- Legendary
Dovonte Edwards
CB · 2005–2007 · DET, MIN
- Legendary
Terrell Manning
ILB · 2012–2014 · CHI, GB, NYG
- Legendary
Eddie Goines
WR · 1995–1996 · SEA
- Legendary
Reggie Singletary
OL · 1990–1991 · GB, PHI
- Legendary
Michael Brooks
DB · 1990–1991 · DAL, LAC
- Legendary
Derrek Pitts
DB · 2023 · TB
- Legendary
Mark Thomas
TE · 1999 · NYG
- Legendary
Sean Berton
TE · 2003–2005 · MIN, NYG
- Legendary
Tony Scott
DB · 2000–2001 · NYJ
- Legendary
Caden Fordham
LB · 2026 · TB
- Legendary
Chris Coleman
WR · 2000–2001 · TEN
- Legendary
William Strong
DB · 1995–1996 · NO
- Legendary
Mike D. Jones
DL · 1991–1999 · ARI, NE, RAM, TEN
- Ball-knower
Sabastian Harsh
DL · 2026 · HOU
- Ball-knower
Lamont Reid
DB · 2005 · ARI
- Ball-knower
Reggie Lawrence
WR · 1993 · PHI
- Ball-knower
George Williams
DL · 1998–2000 · NYG
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Ball-knower
Oliver Hoyte
FB · 2006–2007 · DAL
- Ball-knower
David Grinnage
TE · 2018 · JAX
- Ball-knower
Rob Crisp
OL · 2016 · ARI
- Ball-knower
Jarvis Borum
OL · 2001 · ARI
- Ball-knower
Terrance Martin
DT · 2003–2004 · CIN, HOU
- Unicorn
Matt Dayes
RB · 2017–2018 · CLE, SF
- Unicorn
Justin Burroughs
OL · 1999 · NO
- Unicorn
C.J. Wilson
CB · 2013–2014 · CHI, TB
- Unicorn
Kenny Harris
DB · 1997–1999 · ARI, PHI
- Unicorn
Devon Smith
TE · 1999 · NE
Players who attended more than one school appear on each school's page. Team lists count franchises, so earlier cities and names are included (Raiders in Oakland, Rams in St. Louis). Rarity tiers come from the same scoring The Chains uses in its daily puzzles.