Pack in the Pros

Carlos Rodon is the Hottest Pitcher in MLB Over His Past 5 Starts

Published

6 months ago

August 9, 2018

Former NC State All-American pitcher Carlos Rodon has been the hottest pitcher in Major League Baseball over his past 5 starts.

His 1.56 ERA over his past 5 starts is tops in all of baseball. In all 5 of those starts, he has pitched 6+ innings, and has not recorded a loss (his record over the stretch is 2-0).

White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper attributes a lot of his success to first-pitch strikes, and the development of a slider. He is throwing first-pitch strikes 59.2% of the time, which is 4.4% higher than his career average. He currently has the 17th best slider in baseball, and uses it 24.5% of the time. Also, his pitches aren’t getting crushed as hard this year, with his hard hit rate sitting at a career low of 27%. (Info via 670)

In Cooper’s opinion, Rodon has the stuff to be the best lefty in baseball.

“The stuff he’s got, he can be one of the best lefties (in the game),” Cooper said. (Link)

With a little less than 2 months left in the regular season, Rodon is easily compiling the best season of his 4-year career. His ERA (2.94), WHIP (1.09), opponent batting average (.191), and hits per 9 innings (6.16) are all at career lows.

Here is a quick clip from his 8K no-hit bid from late July.

Pack in the Pros

Dennis Smith Jr Dunks Over J. Cole, Finishes 2nd in 2019 NBA Dunk Contest

Published

16 hours ago

February 18, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Former NC State ACC Freshman of the Year Dennis Smith Jr. competed in the NBA Dunk Contest on Saturday night, and finished 2nd behind Hamidou Diallo.

Smith’s best dunk of the contest was a soaring leap over rapper J. Cole, which earned him a score of 50. He also picked up another 50 score for vaulting over Dwayne Wade and catching an alley oop from Stephen Curry.

The highlights are below.

Pack in the Pros

Joe Thuney Wins 2nd Super Bowl Ring!

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2019

Matthew Bradham

The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII last night, giving former NC State All-American Offensive Lineman Joe Thuney his second Super Bowl ring.

Thuney made NFL history last night, becoming the first player to start in 3 Super Bowls in their first 3 seasons.

He has been a rock of consistency at offensive guard for the Pats ever since they drafted him in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft, starting every single game since day one…51 straight games.

Thuney joins Mike Cofer and Perry Williams as the only players in NC State history to win 2 Super Bowls.

Joe Thuney – LI & LIII – Offensive Guard – New England Patriots
Mike Cofer – XXIII & XXIV – Kicker – San Francisco 49ers
Perry Williams – XXI & XXV – Cornerback – New York Giants

His 3 Super Bowl appearances are the 2nd most in NC State history.

Jim Ritcher – 4
Joe Thuney – 3
Mike Cofer – 2
Perry Williams – 2
Mike Jones – 2
Torry Holt – 2
Russell Wilson – 2
J.R. Sweezy – 2
Steven Hauschka – 2
(Bill Cowher – 2 – as a head coach)

Pack in the Pros

Former NC State ROY Dennis Smith Jr has been Traded to the New York Knicks

Published

3 weeks ago

February 1, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Dennis Smith Jr., former NC State ACC Freshman of the Year, has officially been traded to the New York Knicks.

The team has acquired guard Dennis Smith Jr., center DeAndre Jordan, guard/forward Wesley Matthews and two future first round draft picks from Dallas in exchange for forward Kristaps Porzingis, and guards Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke and Courtney Lee.

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 31, 2019

It’s fitting that Smith landed in New York, considering he just dropped his 2nd career triple-double in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

13 PTS. Career-high 15 AST. 10 REB.

In the @dallasmavs win. @Dennis1SmithJr becomes the 2nd youngest player to record a triple-double at the current Madison Square Garden (Magic Johnson)! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/cou3PeFj0d

— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2019

After it was all said and done, the Knicks will have roughly $71 million in salary cap space heading into the summer, which could pay two max salary players to package with Dennis.

Top targets: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard.

The buzz around Durant has been that New York might be his most likely destination.

Through 101 games over the past two seasons with the Mavericks, Smith finished his time there averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 assists.

Pack in the Pros

Former NC State WR Alvis Whitted Named Wide Receivers Coach for Green Bay Packers

Published

3 weeks ago

January 31, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Former NC State Wide Receiver Alvis Whitted has been named the Wide Receivers Coach for the Green Bay Packers.

#Packers name Alvis Whitted wide receivers coach 📰https://t.co/PAPsC4J4o0

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 30, 2019

Whitted has spent the past 9 seasons as the Wide Receivers Coach at Colorado State, developing 3 All-Americans in that span (Michael Gallup, Rashard Higgins, and Preston Williams).

Prior to becoming a coach, Whitted spent 9 years as a wide receiver himself in the NFL, spending 4 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars (who drafted him in the 7th round of the 1998 NFL Draft, with the 192nd overall pick), and 5 with the Oakland Raiders.

He finished his NFL career with 74 receptions for 1,030 yards and 6 touchdowns.

At NC State, Whitted compiled 29 receptions for 461 yards.