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Sophomore B.J. Hill played running back and defensive end at West Stanley High School (Oakboro, NC), but when he arrived in Raleigh early for the 2014 Spring semester, the NC State coaches began training him to be a defensive tackle.  Hill adjusted quite well, recording 40 tackles as a true freshman, with 7.5 of those being for a loss.  He started 5 out of the last 6 games, and brings much more experience into the season than other sophomores, but he feels like it’s still the little things that he’s trying to improve on this year.
“I’ve improved a lot.  I’ve gotten stronger and bigger,” said Hill.  “I’ve been growing in the little things, all of the fundamentals that Coach Nielsen has been teaching is.”
Coach Nielsen, Hill’s defensive line coach, spoke to me very highly of Hill’s continued improvement as a technician.
“He’s come a very long way with the fundamentals.  He played running back in high school.  Going from that to nose tackle, is a completely different position,” said Nielsen. “B.J. is a very smart player in terms of understanding the position…body angles, pad level, hands and things like that.  He’s come a very long way.”
 When asked what Hill needed to do this year to take his game to the next level, he kept it simple.
“Take those fundamentals, apply them to gameday, and make plays.” said Nielsen.
Hill thinks that the defensive line will surprise people this year, and that the Wolfpack team as a whole has a chip on its shoulder this year.
“We’ve got a young group.  There are three sophomores starting and one senior.  I think we are all going to surprise everybody,” said Hill. “I think we walk around with a chip on our shoulder.  I think we have a lot to prove.  I think we are definitely going to do better than last year.  More than 8 wins…I think so.”
NC State squeaked out a 24-23 victory against Georgia Southern in the season opener in 2014, and Hill reassured me that the Wolfpack team wasn’t taking Troy lightly.
“We’re going to treat the Troy game like it’s the Clemson game,” said Hill. “It doesn’t matter who we are playing, we are going to treat them like their top dogs.”


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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

NC State Sits in the Top-20 in 247’s Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Poll

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5 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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247’s Brad Crawford released his Post-Spring 2024 Preseason College Football Top-25 recently, and NC State moved up 1 spot to #20.

ACC Teams in the Top-25

11. FSU

14. Miami

16. Clemson

20. NC State

24. Virginia Tech

25. Louisville

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NC State Football

NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years

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3 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and NC State had two players drafted: Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd round, and Center Dylan McMahon in the 6th round.

Over the past 10 years, NC State has produced 25 NFL Draft picks, and 3 1st round picks. The 25 Draft Picks ranks 8th in the ACC, and the 3 1st Round picks is tied for 7th.

NC State produced 18 NFL Draft Picks in the first 5 Draft’s of Dave Doeren’s tenure. Only 8 Wolfpack players have been selected in the past 5 NFL Drafts.

Players selected in the NFL Draft under Dave Doeren:

2024

Payton Wilson, LB – Pittsburgh – 3rd – 98th
Dylan McMahon, C – Philadelphia – 6th – 190th

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NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

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4 days ago

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April 28, 2024

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NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.

He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.

In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.

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NC State Football

NC State DB Robert Kennedy III Signs Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Bolts

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4 days ago

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April 27, 2024

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NC State Nickel Robert Kennedy III has signed an Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Kennedy III won’t be without a friend. He will be joined by Defensive End Savion Jackson, who also signed an Undrafted Free Agent deal.

Kennedy started for the Wolfpack in every single game this season at Nickelback, tallying 31 tackles, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

His ProFootballFocus grade for the season is 79.7, which is the 2nd highest grade on the Wolfpack defense, and the highest grade of all the Safeties that came out of the Transfer Portal last year.

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