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NC State Football

NC State Defeats Pitt 35-17, Takes Lead in Atlantic

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7 years ago

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It wasn’t always beautiful, but NC State defeated Pitt on their home turf 35-17 to improve to 6-1 overall, and 4-0 in the ACC.

Some claim the game was closer than the final score. I disagree.

The Wolfpack receivers dropped 6 passes throughout the game, with a majority of those coming in the 1st half when the Wolfpack offense was anemic.

Cornerback Mike Stevens did pick up his first interception of the season, but the NC State defense also left three other gimme interceptions on the field.

Also, Ryan Finley threw a touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers at the end of the 1st half, but the points were taken off the scoreboard because of a bogus pass interference call on Kelvin Harmon. Then Wolfpack place kicker, Carson Wise proceeded to miss a 34-yard field goal, that was easily the worst field goal attempt I’ve seen in my life (I’m not kidding.)

Despite all of this, NC State beat Pitt 35-17.

Running Back Nyheim Hines put the team on his back in the first half, and probably served as their inspiration at halftime. He had an 83-yard touchdown run, which he followed up with a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown (the longest since 1926). Hines finished the day with 16 carries for 135 yards and 2 total touchdowns (8.4 yards per carry). This was Hines’ third straight 100-yard rushing performance.

Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon had 3 receptions for 113 yards, with one of them being worthy of the Sportscenter Top-10. He went up and MOSS’d the defender, making a catch that has come to be expected from the stud Sophomore.

H-Back Jaylen Samuels and Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers were also crucial in the Wolfpack victory. Samuels rushed the ball 6 times for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns and also had 4 catches for 28 yards. Meyers had 5 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown, with a couple of those coming on key third down plays.

Linebacker Germaine Pratt had the type of game that matched the hype around him in the preseason. He finished the game with 9 tackles (1 for loss). Cornerback Johnathan Alston had 7 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Defensive End Darian Roseboro honored his recently deceased father well, collecting 5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

Great teams that go on to have great seasons win games even when they aren’t clicking on all cylinders.

NC State is off to the best start since the 2002 season when Philip Rivers was at the helm, which went on to be the best season in school history (11-3 & Gator Bowl victory over Notre Dame).

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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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2 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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3 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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