Josh Czajkowski didn’t merely make a near-miraculous return from a hamstring injury that was originally thought to be season-ending. The N.C. State kicker had a 47-yarder among his two field goals and three extra points in a 29-25 win over North Carolina.

“I told him on Thursday he should have done this a long time ago,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said. “No, I did. I said, ‘You should have pulled your hamstring a long time ago,’ because he’s smooth. … He’s kicking the ball better, he feels better, there’s a much better rhythm the way he’s doing it.”

The news that former Boston College kicker Billy Bennett wasn't going to be joining N.C. State hurt the Wolfpack most on its kickoff team.

Coach Tom O'Brien had hoped Bennett could boot kickoffs into the end zone to put N.C. State's defense in better field position, but Bennett didn't enroll this fall. O'Brien is eager to improve on the Wolfpack's net kickoff number, which at 37.3 yards per game was by far the lowest in the ACC.

Senior kicker Josh Czajkowski, whom O'Brien said has improved his kickoffs since last season, will handle that duty now that the strong-legged Bennett isn't coming.