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SI Lists NC State as 1 of 5 Sleepers That Could Contend

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7 years ago

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Sports Illustrated released their preseason Top 20, but followed it up with a list of 5 schools not listed that could be contenders. NC State was one of the five schools, and here is what they had to say about the Pack:

The Wolfpack wouldn’t be flying this far under the national radar had they won one of two close games last season. The first was a 24–17 overtime loss at eventual national champion Clemson in October in which NC State kicker Kyle Bambard missed a 33-yard field goal at the end of regulation. The second was a four-point home defeat to Florida State in November wherein the Wolfpack led deep into the fourth quarter, only for Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois to hit NFL-bound wideout Travis Rudolph for a 19-yard touchdown with just over three minutes remaining one play after nearly throwing a potentially game-sealing interception.

NC State takes just one of those close decisions, and it heads into this season as the clearest threat to shake up the ACC’s duopoly. Instead, the Wolfpack have been reduced to scrapping for “Others receiving votes” love, and Dave Doeren is showing up on coaching hot seat lists. Doeren needs to offer evidence of progress in 2017; the Wolfpack have posted a 25–26 record during his four years in Raleigh, and they haven’t notched anything that remotely qualifies as a signature win. That drought ought to end this year, as NC State hosts both Clemson and Louisville, our No. 7 and No. 14 teams, respectively.

But looking beyond their potential to wreak havoc in the upper reaches of the division standings, the Wolfpack should be able to handle business against the ACC’s middle class without much fuss. Their defensive line is big and ferocious, and it’ll stop opposing running games in their tracks while stud end Bradley Chubb causes problems off the edge.

NC State is experienced on the other side of the the trenches, where second-team all-conference guard Tony Adams returns, and offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz will have two fun playmakers (Jaylen Samuels and Nyheim Hines) and a returning starter at quarterback (Ryan Finley) to work with. If NC State can turn even one of 2016’s close losses into a W and avoid a head-scratching toe stub on the order of its 21–14 home loss to Boston College, it’s hard to imagine 2017 not being Doeren’s most fruitful campaign in Raleigh to date. (SI)

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

NC State Football

NC State’s Kevin Concepcion Ranks 57th in CBS Sports’ Preseason Top-100 College Football Players

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4 mins ago

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April 16, 2024

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CBS Sports released their Preseason Top 100 College Football players heading into the 2024 season, and NC State Sophomore Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion was ranked #57.

57. NC State WR Kevin Concepcion

The rising sophomore is an all-around talent who can beat you in a bunch of ways, but mainly as a receiver. Concepcion rushed for over 300 yards at 7.8 per carry and caught 71 balls and 10 touchdowns for the season. The true freshman lit up the ACC and did most of his damage on the intermediate part of the field but has the speed to make the explosive catches as well. In his second year of college football, I’m positioning Concepcion as a top-10 receiver in the country. (CBS)

ACC Players in the Top-100

24. Clemson LB Barrett Carter

30. Miami QB Cameron Ward

33. Miami DL Rueben Bain Jr.

35. FSU Edge Patrick Payton

57. NC State WR Kevin Concepcion

59. UNC Edge Kaimon Rucker

62. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo

63. Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor

63. UNC RB Omarion Hampton

70. Louisville Edge Tyler Baron

78. Clemson DL TJ Parker

82. Louisville Edge Ashton Gillotte

88. SMU Edge Elijah Roberts

98. Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

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NC State Football

WATCH: Kendrick Raphael was the #2 NC State RB in the Spring Game

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5 hours ago

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April 16, 2024

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It’s clear that Jordan Waters is NC State’s starting Running Back heading into the 2024 season, but who will be #2 on the Depth Chart? In the Spring Game, Sophomore Kendrick Raphael functioned in that role. I don’t think that’s a guarantee that he will be the #2 Running Back when the Fall rolls around. Redshirt Sophomore Hollywood Smothers might have something to say about that, but nonetheless, Raphael went out their 2nd, and made the most of his opportunities.

With that being said, it’s worth noting Raphael rushed the ball 3 times for times for 39 yards and a touchdown, and also caught one pass.

Check out his tape from the Spring Game.





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NC State Football

Transfer Portal Rundown: Who Transferred Out and Who Transferred In?

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1 day ago

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April 15, 2024

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NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray is Entering the Transfer Portal

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2 days ago

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April 14, 2024

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NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray announced today that he will be entering the Transfer Portal.

This past season, Gray had career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (170). He ranked 4th on the team in receptions, and 7th on the team in receiving yards.

Gray has served as NC State’s primary Kickoff Returner the past two seasons, averaging 24.9 yards per return. This past year, he averaged 26.0 yards per carry, which ranked 3rd in the ACC, and 11th nationally. It stands as the 5th best single-season average in school history.

Back in 2021, ON3 ranked Gray as a 4-star prospect, the #197 overall player nationally, and the #13 player in the state of North Carolina.

For the past two seasons, Gray has carried a lot of preseason hype that hasn’t ultimately materialized in the season. I’m not saying that’s Gray’s fault, or his role in the offensive scheme. It is what it is, but with the influx of talented Wide Receivers that the Wolfpack brought in through the Portal and the High School ranks, it seems like Gray if he was looking for an increased role in 2024, it probably wasn’t going to be in Raleigh.

Gray has 2 more years of eligibility remaining.

 

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