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NC State Football

Previewing Arizona St.’s Defense

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Arizona St.’s defense is capable of creating havoc for opposing offenses, but they also have major weaknesses, giving up an average of 447 yards per game, which ranks 102nd.

Junior defensive end JoJo Wicker is the leader of the Sun Devils D-Line, earning 2nd Team All-Pac 12 Honors for the second straight year, collecting 12 tackles for loss and 6 sacks.

The Sun Devils have couple of stud linebackers. Junior weak side linebacker Christian Sam leads the team with 127 tackles, and has added 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Sam earned All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention. Senior middle linebacker D.J. Calhoun stats are equally impressive, boasting 94 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Arizona St. has proven they can get to the quarterback in 2017, racking up 35 sacks, which ranks 17th in the FBS. Alain Latu has 7.0 sacks to go along with Wicker’s 6, and D.J. Calhoun has 5.5.

Working in NC State’s favor is the fact they are strong where ASU is strong. The Wolfpack offensive line have only allowed 12 sacks all season long.

Arizona St.’s secondary is a glaring weakness, but RS Freahman cornerback Chase Lucas earned 2nd Team All-Pac 12 Honors, accumulating 53 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Other than that, the Sun Devils secondary is a mess. They allow 268.1 through the air per game, which ranks 115th in the NCAA. They also give up 6.3 yards per play, which ranks 110th.

 

 

 

 

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

NC State Sits in the Top-20 in 247’s Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Poll

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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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NC State Football

NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years

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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

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NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

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NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

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.

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NC State DB Robert Kennedy III Signs Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Bolts

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NC State Nickel Robert Kennedy III has signed an Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Kennedy III won’t be without a friend. He will be joined by Defensive End Savion Jackson, who also signed an Undrafted Free Agent deal.

Kennedy started for the Wolfpack in every single game this season at Nickelback, tallying 31 tackles, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

His ProFootballFocus grade for the season is 79.7, which is the 2nd highest grade on the Wolfpack defense, and the highest grade of all the Safeties that came out of the Transfer Portal last year.

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