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Keys to the Game: Pack Ready To Challenge #1 FSU

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10 years ago

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NC State is looking forward to a huge opportunity on Saturday when they host the #1 ranked FSU Seminoles. The Pack is coming in at 4-0 and after escaping a near disaster against Georgia Southern they have been pretty dominant. State has scored over 40 points in each of their past 3 games and have only allowed 17 points combined over the last 2.

While these are all great numbers and show an ever-improving football team, they task at hand is in a different stratosphere. Florida State is a team stocked full of future NFL talent and will be State’s first time this season lining up against these type of players. The Seminoles will be returning starting QB Jameis Winston who was suspended last game for disciplinary reasons and the Pack needs to be ready. Let’s take a look at the keys to this matchup.

– Hit them in the mouth early, Keep the fans in the game
The beginning of this football game will be huge. State needs to come out of the gate and punch the Noles in the mouth if they want a chance to win this game. They’re not going to be able to tire, or grind one out against this team. They are too talented and have too many elite weapons for that. But that’s not going to be easy. State has started pretty slow in all 3 of their games thus far. If they are able to come out and make some big plays then they can keep their fans in the game. This is important because Florida State doesn’t necessarily have a great track record at Carter-Finley Stadium. It was only 2 years ago that the Wolfpack took them down in a game that squashed their national title hopes. If the fans can get under their skin early on, then maybe the memories of two years ago will creep into the back of the Seminoles players’ minds.

“[Carter-Finley Stadium] is definitely wild. It’s always packed and the stands are right by the sidelines, so they’re right in your ear every second of the game,” Williams said. “It’s a great atmosphere. You have to be focused and locked in to succeed.” said FSU junior CB PJ Williams.

– Put pressure on their defense.
While this team is currently ranked #1, they aren’t exactly the juggernaut they were last season. This year’s FSU team still has great playmakers, however defense and consistency have already plauged them a bit at times. They narrowly escaped a Clemson team that did everything they could to throw that game away and they also were in a tight one against Ok State in their opener. The Noles gave up 31 points in that one and only won by 6. So this team is not invincible by any means, but they are talented and they are going to come to play. State will definitely need to take shots downfield and play to win this game. It’s going to take 2 or 3 big plays to come out on top here, so pulling out all the stops and opening up the playbook will be necessary.

-Brissett must come up big
We’ve already seen what this kid can do, but now we’ll have to see how he handles this type of pressure. He’s putting up pretty gaudy numbers thus far and has yet to throw a interception, but FSU is nothing like Presbyterian or South Florida. They are going to try to rattle Brissett with pressure, so Jacoby’s ability to get outside the pocket and makes plays with his arm or his feet will be paramount if State wants to shock the world on Saturday.

-Establish the pass?
Doeren has been trying to establish the run early in games this season, and while the ground game has been strong overall it has also been a reason we feel that State has started off slowly in the first 3 games. That doesn’t matter much when you’re playing smaller teams that are offensively challenged, but against FSU the Pack must be pedal to the metal from the opening kick. Opening it up for Brissett early and allowing him to make plays from the get-go could knock the Noles on their heels and allow State to get some much needed early momentum. Now, we’re not saying Thornton and Dayes shouldn’t be getting their touches. In fact, these two guys having big games is a necessity on Saturday, but if they can spread FSU out early on, they’ll be able to find more running room as the game wears on. Keep in mind, FSU gave up over 400 yards to Clemson, most of which came in the air.

-Expose their injuries
FSU had already been underachieving on defense this season, but to make matters worse they’ve lost defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr to a concussion and DT Nile Lawrence-Stample to a season ending pectoral muscle tear (both against Clemson). While they’ll likely bring a few 5 stars in to take their place, they obviously won’t be at full strength which could allow Brissett more time in the pocket and allow the backs a little more running room. State needs to take advantage of this.

-Stop Winston
Easier said than done, but do note that FSU hasn’t had a RB reach the 70yd mark in any game this season. They’re doing all their damage through the air, so it makes it a little easier to really key on the pass here. Winston is going to look to get going early and quiet his critics who have lined up in droves the past 2 weeks to question his maturity and leadership abilities. State will be hoping to take advantage of his eagerness and get a few early turnovers before he settles in.

and just for good measure…

 

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NC State Football

NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown

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1 hour ago

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April 26, 2024

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Here’s a look at NC State’s current Football scholarship breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback 
Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall
Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas
4-Star Freshman Cedrick Bailey

Transferred Out: MJ Morris
Transferred In: Grayson McCall

Running Back
Redshirt Senior Jordan Waters
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones
Redshirt Junior Jordan Poole
Sophomore Kendrick Raphael
Redshirt Freshman Daylan Smothers
3-Star Freshman Jayden Scott
3-Star Freshman Isiah Jones

Transferred Out: Jordan Houston, Michael Allen, & Delbert Mimms III
Transferred In: Jordan Waters & Daylan Smothers

Wide Receiver
Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit
Redshirt Junior Jakolbe Baldwin
Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins
Junior Wesley Grimes
Sophomore Kevin Concepcion
Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers
4-Star Freshman Jonathan Paylor
4-Star Freshman Terrell Anderson
4-Star Freshman Keenan Jackson
4-Star Wide Receiver Jimmar Boston
3-Star Freshman Christian Zachary

Transferred Out – Porter Rooks, Anthony Smith, Terrell Timmons, Josh Crabtree, Christopher Scott & Julian Gray
Transferred In – Wesley Grimes

Tight End
Junior Justin Joly
Junior Dante Daniels (JUCO Addition)
Sophomore Juice Vereen

Transferred Out – Christopher Toudle, Cedd Seabrough & Fred Seabrough
Transferred In – Justin Joly

Offensive Line
Redshirt Senior Dawson Jaramillo
Redshirt Senior Timothy McKay
Redshirt Senior Anthony Belton
Redshirt Senior Zeke Correll
Redshirt Junior Sean Hill
Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr.
Redshirt Junior Matt McCabe
Redshirt Junior Patrick Matan
Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann
Redshirt Sophomore Jacarrius Peak
Redshirt Sophomore Valen Erickson
Redshirt Freshman Obadiah Obasayui
Redshirt Freshman Kamen Smith
Redshirt Freshman Darion Rivers
Redshirt Freshman Rico Jackson
4-Star Freshman Tyler West
3-Star Freshman Robby Martin
3-Star Freshman Trent Mitchell

Transferred out: Lyndon Cooper & Jaleel Davis
Transferred In: Zeke Correll & Valen Erickson

Defense

Defensive Line
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Chase Bond
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Justin Terrell
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Joshua Alexander-Felton

Transferred Out: Nose Tackles C.J. Clark & Nick Campbell

Linebackers

Redshirt Senior Devon Betty
Redshirt Junior Sean Brown
Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham
Redshirt Junior Jayland Parker
Junior Wyatt Wright (JUCO Addition)
Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride
Redshirt Freshman Kamal Bonner
4-Star Freshman Elijah Davis
3-Star Freshman Cannon Lewis
3-Star Freshman Zane Williams
3-Star Freshman Joshua Ofor

Transferred Out: LB’s Daejuan Thompson & Torren Wright

Defensive Backs

Senior Cornerback Aydan White
Senior Defensive Back Corey Coley Jr.
Senior Safety Devan Boykin
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald
Senior Safety Donovan Kaufman
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall
Junior Cornerback Rente Hinton
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Crowell
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Tamarcus Cooley
Redshirt Freshman Safety Zack Myers
Redshirt Freshman Safety Daemon Fagan
4-Star Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III
4-Star Freshman Cornerback Asaad Brown
3-Star Freshman Cornerback Jivan Baly
3-Star Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt

Transferred Out: Safety Jakeen Harris, Defensive Back Nate Evans, Defensive Back Darius Edmundson, Nickel Cecil Powell
Transferred In: Tamarcus Cooley, Corey Coley Jr., Devon Marshall & Donovan Kaufman

Specialist

Redshirt Junior Caden Noonkester

That’s 81 players on scholarship, with 4 available.

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NC State Football

A Look at NC State’s Draft Picks Year-by-Year

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4 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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NC State didn’t have any players drafted in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft last night, but I expect Linebacker Payton Wilson to hear his name called tonight.

Heading into the draft, NC State ranked 10th in NFL Draft Picks according to the ACC Media Guide.

Under Dave Doeren’s watch, 24 players have been taken in the NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at NC State’s NFL Draft Picks year-by-year.

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NC State Football

Auburn Transfer Linebacker Cam Riley Decommits from NC State

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13 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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Auburn Transfer Linebacker Cam Riley (6’5″/242) announced tonight that he is decommitting from NC State.

Back on February 26th, Riley verbally committed to NC State. Players out of the Transfer Portal don’t sign a National Letter of Intent like players out of high school, making it easier for them to change their mind.

247Sports and ESPN both ranked Riley as a Top-300 4-Star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #229 overall player nationally in the 2020 class, the #14 Outside Linebacker, and the #10 player in the state of Alabama.

In 2020 and 2021, Riley played in 22 total games (2 starts), playing in 160 snaps, tallying 23 tackles. In 2022, Riley broke out, starting in 7 of the 11 games, ranking 2nd on the team in tackles, with 65.

This past season, Riley played in 13 games, but only started in 1. He had 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. His PFF grade of 66.7 was the highest of his career.

Over 4 seasons, Riley played in 46 games (10 starts) for Auburn, tallying 948 snaps.

In my mind, there was a good chance that Riley was going to earn the starting role at the SAM Linebacker position at NC State, with Sean Brown at the WILL and Caden Fordham at the MIKE.

Unless NC State grabs a Linebacker out of the Portal now, I would expect Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride to be at the starting SAM position at the beginning of Fall Camp.

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NC State Football

ON3: NC State’s Dave Doeren is 1 of the Top-25 Best Coaches in College Football

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20 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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ON3’s Jesse Simonton ranked the Top-25 College Football Coaches heading into the 2024 season, and NC State’s Dave Doeren ranks 23rd.

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Here’s what Simonton had to say about Doeren:

23. Dave Doeren, NC State

Doeren became the Wolfpack’s all-time winningest head coach last season, overcoming all manors of offensive ineptitude to win eight games for the fourth straight season. He still hasn’t busted through the glass ceiling and taken NC State to an ACC Championship, but the Wolfpack have legitimate conference title hopes in 2024 with the offseason work Doeren has done via the portal (quarterback Grayson McCall, tailbacks Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers and receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes). 

In 11 seasons in Raleigh, Doeren’s program has been steadily consistent and has become a model for development (17 NFL Draft picks since 2018) and strength and conditioning. (ON3)

ACC Coaches in the Top-25

6. Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

7. Mike Norvell (FSU)

20. Jeff Brohm (Louisville)

23. Dave Doeren (NC State)

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