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NC State will face off against Louisville this Saturday in their first ACC game of the season.  Here is a preview of the Cardinals key skill position players and what the Wolfpack will have to do to stop them.

Quarterback

  • Freshman Lamar Jackson – 6’3″/196 lbs ( 42/70, 495 yd, 2 TD, 4 Int, 314 yd rushing)
  • Sophomore Reggie Bonnafon 
  • RS Sophomore Kyle Bolin 

All three have seen significant time under center, but after their previous game against Samford, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino looks to have settled on true freshman Lamar Jackson as his guy.  Jackson is a dynamic play-maker, equally likely to burn you with his legs as he is his arm.  Physically he will be the most athletically gifted QB NC State has faced this season. While Jackson will take virtually all the snaps, Petrino has hinted that Bonnafon may be too talented to keep off the field, and he may be used in an H-Back role against State. 

Keys to containment

NC State historically has had a tough time with mobile quarterbacks, and few have the mobility of Lamar Jackson.  To be successful the Pack will need to bring pressure early and often, yet maintain gap responsibility and not give Jackson open lanes to take off.  Jackson has a tendency to try to do too much, or to try and cut back too many times while running.  Do not be surprised to see NC State use a similar approach to the one they employed against UNC QB Marquise Williams, where they hit him hard every chance they could.  Remember, hard hits often lead to big mistakes by Freshman QBs. 

Running Back

  • RS Junior Brandon Radcliff – 5’9″/214 lbs (52 rushes, 200 yd, 3 TD)
  • Sophomore Jeremy Smith – 6’2″/225 (41 rush yd, 13 rec, 214 yds)

Radcliffe has been the only running back to receive a substantial amount of carries for the Cards.  He is a smallish back, who was the teams leading rusher last year.  He is yet to have a breakout game, and had a terrible performance against a good Clemson defense.  Jeremy Smith is seldom used as a runner, but gets a load of work as a receiver.  He has good size and is a plus athlete.  He was banged up last week, but it appears he will be fine for the game.

Keys to containment

Simply put, to contain Radcliff NC State needs to have the same type of penetration that their Defensive Line has been giving them recently.  Running back has been the position the Pack has seen the most talent at, and they have absolutely shut opposing running backs down this season.  On the flip side, Linebackers and Nickelbacks must account for Smith is the passing game.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

  • RS Freshman Mickey Crum – 6’4″/257 (13 rec, 161 yd) 
  • Freshman Traveon Samuel – 5’7″/175 (13 rec, 135 yd)
  • Sophomore Ja’Quay Savage 6’3″/214 (12rec, 135yd)
  • Freshman Devante Peete – 6’6″/203 (7 rec, 127yds)

This is an extremely young, but talented group.  Crum’s numbers are deceiving as he has one game that is greatly skewing his stats (over 100 yds vs Houston).  He has seen relatively low usage in Louisville’s other games.   Samuel is similar to Nyheim Hines in that he is a high school running back who has moved to the slot at the next level.  Savage has good size and uses it on the perimeter.  Peete is a true big-play guy.  He is a massive receiver with good speed for his size.  The majority of his catches come downfield.

Keys to containment

The cornerbacks are going to have to play fast and physical.  Peete and Savage will make a play on the ball when it is thrown to them.  Tocho, Burris, and Stevens will have to do a better job of making a play on the ball when the opportunity presents itself.  When one of the shiftier receivers makes a catch underneath in space, the Linebackers, Safeties and Nickleback will have to be sure tacklers and limit yards after the catch.  This could be a game where Dravious Wright is called on to make a lot of plays.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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19 mins ago

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May 3, 2024

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

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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)

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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.

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7 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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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.

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NC State Football

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

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1 day ago

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May 2, 2024

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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.

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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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2 days 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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