Connect with us

A season ago Bra’Lon Cherry lost the punt returner job to Bo Hines because he was not sure handed enough, but things have changed for the Pack and Cherry this season.  NC State was anemic in the punt return game last season, ranking last in the ACC.  In fact they only averaged 3.6 yards per return.  Cherry has made it his mission to turn this weakness into a strength for the Wolfpack this season.  Through three games Cherry has helped bolster the Pack’s average to 18.4 yards per return.  The job of the punt returner is a difficult one, in fact it may be one of the most difficult positions in football.  Think about all the factors that one must process as they not only keep their eyes skyward to catch the ball, but must also navigate how many defenders are flying full speed towards them.  Fair catch?  Let it go?  How much will the wind affect it?  Is it sunny?  Where are my blockers?

All of these questions must be answered in the matter of seconds.  Indecision can lead to a disastrous turnover or a loss of valuable yards in field position.  Cherry seems to be adjusting and thriving as the punt returner  this season.  Against Eastern Kentucky, Cherry had 74 yards on four returns and could of become the first NC State player to cross the 100 yards returned on punts since 2004 were it not for a questionable block in the back call.  For the season Cherry has 161 total return yards on punts, which is good enough for a 20.1 average, ranking 4th in the ACC.  To put this in perspective through three games Cherry has almost three times as many yards as the entire team had in the entire 2014 season (62).

If Cherry continues to have success in the return game as the season progresses it will help the Pack drastically as they can expect to have a shorter field to work with and take pressure off of the offense. NC State plays South Alabama tonight on ESPN News at 8pm.  Keep an eye on Cherry as he will look to build upon a strong start to the season in the punt return game.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

Published

on

Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

Image

2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

Published

on

A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

Published

on

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

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

Published

on

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

Continue Reading