NC State defensive back Rakeim Ashford was carried off the field during Thursday’s season opener against UConn. Rashford was caught off guard on an NC State kick return with 1:54 left in the third quarter. He remained immobile on the field while medical staff attended to him.
The injury stoppage lasted more than 10 minutes as players from NC State and UConn kneeled Ashford while he lay on the ground. He was able to give a thumbs up while being brought into the tunnel at NC State, and reports at the scene indicate Ashford has shown signs of movement. Ashford has since been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
UConn was penalized for the hit on Ashford, which gave NC State the ball at the Huskies’ 27-yard line. The Wolf Pack was able to take advantage of their field position as quarterback Brennan Armstrong ran for a touchdown that gave his team a 24-14 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
Ashford, a graduate student, is in his fourth season at NC State. He joined the Wolfpack in 2020 after one season at Jones College in Mississippi. During his career at North Carolina State, he relied heavily on special teams while providing depth at the strong safety position.