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Junior Matt Dayes will be starting at running back for the Wolfpack against Troy.  When people think about NC State’s offense, they often think of Jacoby Brissett and Shadrach Thornton, but it was Dayes who won the Torry Holt Award for the best Offensive Player on the team last year.  Dayes led the Wolfpack with 13 touchdowns in 2014, which was also good for 3rd in the ACC.  He also led the team with 1,278 all purpose yards.  In fact, Dayes was one of just three players nationally with more than 300 yards rushing, receiving and by return.  He is the only player to reach those marks and also boast 5 or more touchdowns rushing and receiving.
Everyone has been talking about the arrival of True Freshman Reggie Gallaspy & Johnny Frasier, and no one is talking about RS Sophomore Dawka Nichols, who sits second on the depth chart for the Troy game ahead of Gallaspy.  Nichols only had 11 carries as a Freshman, but he racked up 66 yards in the small sample size.  Last season the Wolfpack also used Nichols to return kicks at the end of the season, and have lined him up as a slot receiver in camp.  He brings a lot of versatility to the position.
True Freshman Reggie Gallaspy enrolled early and took full advantage of it.  He rushed for 131 yards in the Kay Yow Spring Game in April, averaging 9.2 yards per carry.  As a Senior at South Guilford last year (4-star recruit), he led the state of North Carolina with 3,318 yards (9.5 ypc) and 52 touchdowns.  Gallaspy heads into the Troy game as the 3rd string running back.
Jacoby Brissett had one of the best single seasons of any quarterback in NC State history.  He had 2,606 passing yards (10th), 23 touchdowns (7th), and a 136.7 passing efficiency rating (5th).  Brissett is one of 8 quarterbacks in the past 5 years to pass for 2,000+ yards, rush for 300+ yards, throw 20+ touchdowns and 5 or less interceptions in a season.  What no one really talks about because he is a Senior, is that he did all of that as a first year full-time starter.
Jalan McClendon is entering his redshirt freshman season at quarterback. He was a 4-star prospect out of West Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, NC), and the 248th overall player in the 2014 recruiting class according to Scout.com.  Doeren has spoken highly of McClendon’s improvement since the Spring, and how much more confident they are entering this season having depth at the quarterback position.
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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

NC State has Produced 19 1st Round NFL Draft Picks

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4 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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The 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft will begin this evening at 8pm on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. NC State has had 19 players drafted in the 1st round.

NC State ranks 8th in ACC history in 1st Round Picks.

Three of the Wolfpack’s 1st Round Picks have come under Dave Doeren’s watch, which ranks 2nd all-time in school history. Chuck Amato had 5 players drafted in the 1st round, which is the most ever under a coach at NC State.

Chuck Amato – 5
Dave Doeren – 3
Mike O’Cain – 2
Dick Sheridan – 2
Bo Rein – 2
Earle Edwards – 2

While most projections don’t have Wolfpack Linebacker Payton Wilson going in the 1st round tonight, a few do. Wilson was invited to attend the NFL Draft, but he will be tuning in from his home in Hillsborough. We’ll have to tune in tonight to see if Wilson hears his name called on the 1st night of the 2024 NFL Draft.

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NC State Football

WATCH QB Grayson McCall’s Tape from the 2024 NC State Spring Game

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1 day ago

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April 24, 2024

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NC State will have a new Quarterback in 2024 in Coastal Carolina Transfer Grayson McCall. A few weeks back, McCall looked sharp in the 2024 Spring Game, completing 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. McCall was accuracy and composure were evident in his first time playing in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Check out McCall’s tape from the Spring Game.

 

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NC State Football

NC State Legend QB Roman Gabriel Passes Away at the Age of 83

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5 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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NC State legend Quarterback Roman Gabriel has passed away at the age of 83.

Gabriel’s Accolades

  • 2 time ACC Player of the Year (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-American (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-ACC (1960 & 1961)
  • 1st ACC QB to throw for 1,000 yards in a season
  • Left NC State with 22 school records and 9 ACC records
  • #1 pick in the AFL and #2 pick in the NFL
  • 16-year NFL career with the Rams & Eagles
  • 4 time Pro Bowler
  • NFL MVP in 1969
  • Led the NFL in Passing Yards in 1973
  • Led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 1969 & 1973
  • Inaugural member of the NC State Hall of Fame
  • Ranks 1st all-time in Rams history in Touchdown Passes & 3rd in Passing Yards
  • First player to have their jersey number retired at NC State, on January 20, 1962.

Praying for the Gabriel family!

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NC State Baseball

NC State has Dominated UNC in Athletics in 2023-24

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5 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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After NC State clinched a series victory over UNC last night in Baseball, I thought it would be a good time to relish in how the Wolfpack has dominated the Tar Heels Athletic Program as a whole in 2023-24.

The Wolfpack Baseball team has won the first two games in the series against the Tar Heels, clinching a series victory over UNC for the first time since 2021. It marks the first time NC State has won a series against the Tar Heels in Raleigh since 2016.

NC State defeated UNC in Volleyball 3-1, winning in Chapel Hill for the first time in 25 years. The Tar Heels had won the last 5 matches against the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels 39-20 in Football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It marked the 3rd consecutive win over UNC.

NC State lost both regular season games to UNC in Men’s Basketball, but when it mattered most, the Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game 84-76, winning their first title since 1987.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team lost to their rival in Chapel Hill, but defeated UNC 63-59 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 5 of the last 7 against UNC.

In Gymnastics, NC State defeated UNC 196.725-194.925 in Raleigh. This marked the 3rd straight victory for the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels.

NC State’s Men & Women’s Swimming & Diving teams both beat UNC. The Men won 258-93, and the Women won 196-157.

The Wolfpack Wrestling team defeated UNC 33-6 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 11 straight Duals against the Tar Heels.

The NC State Men’s Tennis team defeated UNC 4-0, winning against their rival in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack Women’s Tennis team has defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 on two occasions thus far this season, and will face their rival again today.

The Cross Country teams didn’t have individual meets against UNC, but the Women obviously beat them, because they won the ACC Championship. The Men didn’t, finishing 8th in the Conference, with the Tar Heels finishing 1st.

The only other NC State athletic team that didn’t taste victory against UNC this year was the Women’s Soccer team, losing 0-4 in Raleigh.

Of course, each of these NC State athletic teams has much higher goals than just beating their rival, but there’s no denying how sweet it is to beat the Tar Heels.

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