Season review:
Looking at the schedule one can begin to appreciate how good an 8 win season is in the SEC. In the four games against ranked opponents, the Bulldogs finished 0-4, but had a chance to win in three of them. Outside of the lopsided loss versus Alabama this team was competitive all season long.
The strength of their schedule has helped mold this team and will make them an extremely difficult matchup for NC State. Offensively this is an elite team who has scored over 30 points a total of 7 times.
Top player: Dak Prescott
The senior signal caller has been one of the most electrifying players in all of college football the past two seasons. Last season he was named first team All-SEC as he accounted for 41 touchdowns (passing, rushing, and receiving) and had 4,435 yards in total offense.
It’s hard to follow up that type of performance, but Dak has been the heart and soul of this team once again this year. This season Coach Mullen has asked Prescott to do more inside of the pocket and beat teams with his arm (3,413 yards 25 TD’s). Prescott considers himself an extension of his coaches on the field as he has benefitted from being in the same offense for his whole career.
Coach Mullen stated the following about Dak this season,
“He allows me to be riskier because he’s not going to put us in bad situations, let’s attack, attack, take a chance. He’s going to get you out of problems, which is what you want.”
It will be a special opportunity for NC State fan to watch Prescott as he is one of the premiere players to play the QB position at the collegiate level.
What team will show up?
Mississippi State has the talent and offense to beat any team in the country, but motivation has been a problem. Last season the team fell flat in the Orange Bowl as they lost to Georgia Tech 49-34, after they were just on the outside of the playoffs.
Dak Prescott has gone on record saying that the only way he intends to end his college career is with a win. The Belk Bowl will be his swan song along with 14 other seniors. Will Prescott’s words be prophetic come December 30th? Or will the Pack spoil his final game in Maroon and White?
Stay tuned as we’ll be examining this matchup over the next few weeks.
NC State Football
NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years
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
NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.
NC State’s Shyheim Battle has been invited to rookie mini camp with the Jets with the opportunity to earn a priority free agent contract. #ncstate #NFLDraft #wpn
— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) April 28, 2024
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.
