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NC State Football

NC State’s KEYS to Victory over Syracuse

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7 years ago

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NC State quarterback Ryan Finley could be in for a big day against Syracuse today. The front 7 is the strength of the Orangemen’s defense, but the secondary is young and vulnerable. In the first 4 games, Syracuse has given up 6 touchdowns of 24-yards or more. Last season Kelvin Harmon had 104 yards receiving, and 3 other receivers had over 60 yards receiving. Ryan Finley had 340 yards passing last year at Syracuse, and I expect him and his crew to have another big game today.

Syracuse has been one of the best teams in the nation at stuffing the run thus far in 2017. They rank 22nd nationally in Rush Defense, allowing a meager 101 yards per game (3 yards per carry). The Orangemen haven’t allowed a single run over 20 yards in 2017. If the Wolfpack can establish the run game like they did last year (Matt Dayes had 108 yards and 3 TD’s), it could be an explosive day for the NC State offense.

Quarterback Eric Dungey could be a serious problem for NC State’s defense. Dungey has been injured quite a bit over the past two years, and the Wolfpack has yet to face him, but he is a quietly one of the better Quarterbacks in the ACC. He is completing 64% of his passes in 2017, and has thrown 6 touchdowns. What makes Dungey so dangerous is his versatility. He can beat you with his legs as well. He leads Syracuse in rushing with 233 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and 5 rushing touchdowns. In 21 career games, he has 16 rushing touchdowns. The NC State pass rush will have to play contain and not overcommit, or Dungey will make them pay. With that being said, Syracuse’s Offensive Line isn’t a strength, and their coach when asked what they could do to stop Bradley Chubb, responded with “I don’t know.” If NC State lives in the backfield, Dungey could be running all day…for his life.

The NC State secondary has been a point of concern in 2017. Senior Jonathan Alston has been targeted by the opposing quarterback on a weekly basis. Today Senior Mike Stevens will return, but how much he will play is unknown. Syracuse has two wide receivers will present NC State’s secondary with a serious challenge. Ishmael Smith is putting up gaudy numbers averaging 128 receiving yards per game and leads the nation in receptions per game (11.25). Syracuse’s running back is non existent, and Syracuse isn’t trying to fool anyone. They are going to pick you a part through dink-and-dunk passes all the way down the field. Smith and Ervin Phillips are big receivers that can go up and get the ball. The front 4 need to put pressure on Dungey like they did Florida St.’s James Blackman last week, and Dungey won’t have time to get the ball to Smith and Phillips.

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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.

NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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2 days 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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3 days 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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4 days 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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4 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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