Already reeling from losing two wide receivers in the transfer portal, the NC State Wolfpack’s depth chart has just taken another critical hit. One of their promising young pass-catchers has been handed a suspension, leaving the program scrambling to fix this.

NC State sophomore wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann has been suspended for the entire 2026 college football season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The suspension was announced by the university on Monday, March 16, 2026, while the team was in the middle of spring camp.

“Teddy made a mistake that he’s taken responsibility for in front of his teammates and coaches,” coach Dave Doeren said. “It’s an unfortunate reminder about the importance of always checking with the sports medicine staff before taking any type of medication or supplement to make sure it’s permitted. I know he will learn and grow from this experience.”

Under the standard NCAA policy, a first-time positive test for the use of PEDs triggers an automatic one-year-suspension. Due to this mandate, Hoffman will lose a full season of eligibility rather than sitting out a few games. This instantly halts the momentum of his breakout freshman campaign.

While he has not released an official statement, Hoffmann posted on Instagram shortly before the announcement with the hashtag #free12 and the caption “All I know is God got me”.

Hoffman rose as an unlikely hero in his freshman year, despite being ranked the No. 163 wide receiver as a three-star recruit in the 2025 class, per 247Sports Composite. He featured in all 13 games for the Wolfpack, catching 25 passes for 349 yards and scoring three touchdowns. The receiver also returned eight punts for 32 yards and completed his lone pass attempt for 59 yards and a touchdown.

He had a splendid debut, with a 5-catch, 93-yard performance, and did not take too long to develop chemistry with quarterback CJ Bailey, who is also a Floridian. His season finale with the Wolfpack featured a brilliant 40-yard catch from Bailey in their 31-7 victory over the Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Hoffman’s suspension came at the absolute worst time for Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack. The team recently lost star wide receiver Terrell Anderson to the USC Trojans in the transfer portal. Anderson was ranked as the No. 11 wide receiver and No. 39 player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. In the 2025 season, Anderson caught 39 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns. They also lost Noah Rogers, who transferred to Alabama.

The suspension also means Hoffman now has two years of eligibility remaining and will be a junior in the 2027 season. But Teddy Hoffmann is not alone. Several other high-profile athletes have faced this season-ending penalty after testing positive for banned substances, often claiming accidental ingestion through supplements.

In the 2018 season, Clemson players, Dexter Lawrence (DT), Braden Galloway (TE), and Zach Giella (OL) were suspended just before the 2018 College Football Playoff. The players claimed that the trace amounts found on their reports were due to supplement contamination. While Lawrence turned pro and became a first-round NFL pick, Galloway and Giella had their appeals denied and were forced to miss the entire 2019 season.

What Teddy Hoffman’s suspension means for the NC State Wolfpack

After an impressive first year and following the exits of some senior players in the transfer portal, Hoffman was set for a more significant role on the roster. However, he would have to watch his team settle for a replacement for the next year.

His sudden suspension leaves the NC State Wolfpack at the mercy of a new set of wide receivers, who will be competing for a starting role in North Carolina in 2026.

Anticipating the need for depth, the Wolfpack aggressively worked the transfer portal to overhaul their depleted receiver room. Instead of relying entirely on unproven freshman talent, Dave Doeren secured five veteran transfers, highlighted by former Miami wideouts Chance Robinson and Joshisa Trader, who will immediately patch the void Hoffman leaves behind.

Joshisa is a former high school teammate of QB CJ Bailey. He recorded 13 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes last season. Meanwhile, Chance Robinson is a redshirt sophomore and former four-star recruit who appeared in six games over two seasons at Miami.

The other three wide receivers are mostly there to add depth in case of injuries. Davion Dozier from Appalachian State is a redshirt junior with 3 years of experience. He only had one reception each in his first two years at Arkansas. But last year at Appalachian State, he had 20 receptions for 448 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 2025 highlight would be a career-high 140 receiving yards and a touchdown against Oregon State.

Then there is Tyran Warren from Alcorn State. A 6-foot-3 senior transfer from the FCS level, Warren led Alcorn State in major receiving categories during the 2025 season. Last year, he went for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a single game against Jackson State.

There is also Victor Snow from Buffalo. A versatile redshirt senior, Snow was a primary offensive weapon at Buffalo, earning All-MAC first-team honors as a wide receiver in 2025. Snow is also a return specialist, recording 213 punt return yards, and one touchdown of 65 yards, in 2025.

But not all pieces are from the portal. Keenan Jackson is now the leading returning receiver. The Junior athlete recorded 28 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns in 2025 and has taken on a significant leadership role during spring camp. Je’rel Bolder is a Redshirt Freshman who was a former four-star recruit and is expected to see a significant jump in playing time now that Hoffman is out.

Then there are true Freshmen from the 2026 class, which includes newcomers Amiri Acker, Tyreek Copper, Jaire Richburg, and Aiden Smalls. All of them enrolled early so as to compete in spring practice.

The number of wide receivers on the Wolfpack roster might make matters worse for Hoffman. The Florida native will have to compete again to retain his spot when he returns in 2027.