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Previewing NC State’s Week 1 Opponent: James Madison

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6 years ago

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NC State and James Madison will face each other in the 2018 season opener at Carter-Finley Stadium at Noon today. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about the Dukes prior to kickoff.

Recent Success

JMU was 14-1 last season, going to the FCS National Championship Game for the second consecutive year (lost to North Dakota State). In 2016, they were 14-1, and won the FCS National Championship (2nd in program history), defeating Youngstown St.

Dangerous vs. D-1 Teams

They proved their danger to Division-1 opponents in 2017, defeating East Carolina 34-14. They also beat SMU in 2015 (48-45) and Virginia Tech in 2010 (21-16).

Here’s a rundown of the Dukes vs. Division-1 opponents since 2003:

Preseason Expectations

They enter the 2018 season ranked #2 in the FCS, and once again are projected to win the CAA Conference. The Dukes have won their conference championship three years running.

2018 STATS FCS Preseason All-Americans 

1st Team

Senior Cornerback Rashad Robinson (5’11″/182) (Preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year)

2nd Team
Sophomore Longsnapper Daniel Caracciolo (5’11″/215)
Junior Punt Returner D’Angelo Amos (6’1″/182)

3rd Team
Junior Offensive Lineman Jahee Jackson (6’3″/295)
Senior Cornerback Jimmy Moreland (5’11″/172)

JMU’s Defense

The Dukes only allowed 11.1 points per game in 2017, ranking 1st in the FCS. They also led the FCS with 31 interceptions. James Madison created 44 turnovers last year, and boasted a gaudy turnover margin of +22. They only gave up 252 yards per game (3rd in the FCS), with a balanced defensive attack. The Dukes gave up 90.5 rushing yards per game (7th in the FCS) and 161.5 passing yards per game (10th in the FCS).

James Madison’s strength, their secondary, will be matched up against NC State’s strength, their wide receivers. As seen above, cornerbacks Robinson and Moreland are Preseason FCS All-Americans, and they will be matched up against the best wide receivers in the ACC in Kelvin Harmon, Stephen Louis and Jakobi Meyers.

The Dukes ability to create turnovers could be problematic for the Wolfpack. NC State lost the turnover battle three times in 2017, and lost each of those games.

JMU’s Offense

In a sneaky move, JMU didn’t reveal their starting QB this week. This isn’t shocking, because both Redshirt Junior Ben DiNucci and Junior Cole Johnson were expected to play. Dinucci is familiar with the Wolfpack, because he played quarterback for Pitt last season when the Wolfpack faced off against the Panther in Heinz Field. He was 19-of-32 passing for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception. On the year, he had 1,091 passing yards, five touchdown and five interceptions for the Panthers. Johnson has limited experience, passing for 141 yards last season.

The Duke’s offensive line was a weakness last season, ranking 77th in the FCS in sacks allowed, giving up 2.4 per game. If the new look Wolfpack Defensive Line can get in the backfield and bring down their signal callers, it could be a long day for the Dukes.

Senior Running Back Marcus Marshall played at Millbrook High School here in Raleigh. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry in 2017, rushed for 850 yards, and racked up 11 rushing touchdowns.

Senior Running Back Trai Sharp, from Carboro right down the road, had 759 yards rushing last season as well.

The running back that gives me the biggest concern is Senior Cardon Johnson, who was hurt most of last season. Before getting hurt, he blasted ECU for 265 yards. He previously rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2015 at JMU (1,037). He’s averaging 6.7 yards per carry for his career.

Conclusion

James Madison is a good football team. Yes, they are an FCS team, but they are one of the best, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If they turn the Wolfpack over, and find a way to rush on NC State’s new look D-Line, it could be a scary day in Carter-Finley. With that being said, I think that Finley is too smart and patient to get picked apart by the Duke’s secondary. I also think the Wolfpack receivers are too good for JMU’s defensive backs.

I also think that the Wolfpack defensive is going to be better than people realize. Darian Roseboro and Eurndraus Bryant have shown what they can do, and James Smith-Williams is ready to show off his freaky athleticism. In my opinion, the linebackers are much more athletic than last years. I think they are more than up to the task of stopping the JMU rush attack.

There might be a few scares, but NC State wins this game decisively.

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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.

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NC State Football

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class Ranks 7th Nationally After 2 Commitments this Week

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13 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class ranks 7th nationally according to ON3 after two commitments this week from Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. and Colorado Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace.

(ON3)

247Sports ranks the 14-man class 18th, and Rivals ranks it 28th.

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class

Akron S Kerry Martin Jr. 
Colorado NT Chazz Wallace
Auburn S Donovan Kaufman
Oklahoma RB Daylan Smothers
Villanova CB Devon Marshall
Ohio State WR Noah Rogers
Duke RB Jordan Waters
Maryland DB Tamarcus Cooley
Maryland CB Corey Coley Jr.
UCONN TE Justin Joly
Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall
Wake Forest WR Wesley Grimes
Notre Dame C Zeke Correll
Missouri OL Valen Erickson

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NC State Football

NC State’s Grayson McCall Ranks 4th Amongst Active QB’s in Career Passing Yards Heading into ’24

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14 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s Grayson McCall ranks 4th amongst Active Quarterbacks heading into the 2024 College Football season. McCall leads all Active ACC Quarterbacks in Career Passing Yards.

Image

McCall was at Coastal Carolina for his first 5 years, throwing for 10,005 yards, which is 6 more than the infographic from PFF above.

McCall transferred to NC State for his final year of eligibility, and he has the weapons in place to throw for 3,000 yards for the first time in his career. If he did, he would be the first Wolfpack Quarterback to do so since Devin Leary threw 3,433 yards in 2021.

Here’s a look at McCall’s highlights from NC State’s 2024 Spring Game.

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NC State Football

The Athletic Includes NC State in Their Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Top-25

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3 days ago

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May 9, 2024

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The Athletic released their 2024 Post-Spring Preseason Top-25, and NC State landed at #21. Here’s what they had to say about the Wolfpack.

21. NC State

The Wolfpack made a huge acquisition at quarterback in landing Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall. They also added former Ohio State wide receiver Noah Rogers, a North Carolina native and one-time top-50 national prospect. It’ll be hard to overcome the loss of linebacker Payton Wilson, one of the best defensive players in the country a year ago, and there are plenty of personnel questions in the secondary. But Dave Doeren always has this team ready to go. (The Athletic)

ACC in the Top 25

10. Miami

12. FSU

18. Clemson

21. NC State

22. Louisville

Tennessee, who the Wolfpack will play in Week 2 in Bank of America Stadium, is sitting at #15.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown

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3 days ago

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May 8, 2024

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Here’s a look at NC State’s current Football scholarship breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback 
Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall
Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas
4-Star Freshman Cedrick Bailey

Transferred Out: MJ Morris
Transferred In: Grayson McCall

Running Back
Redshirt Senior Jordan Waters
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones
Redshirt Junior Jordan Poole
Sophomore Kendrick Raphael
Redshirt Freshman Daylan Smothers
3-Star Freshman Jayden Scott
3-Star Freshman Isiah Jones

Transferred Out: Jordan Houston, Michael Allen, & Delbert Mimms III
Transferred In: Jordan Waters & Daylan Smothers

Wide Receiver
Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit
Redshirt Junior Jakolbe Baldwin
Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins
Junior Wesley Grimes
Sophomore Kevin Concepcion
Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers
4-Star Freshman Jonathan Paylor
4-Star Freshman Terrell Anderson
4-Star Freshman Keenan Jackson
4-Star Wide Receiver Jimmar Boston
3-Star Freshman Christian Zachary

Transferred Out – Porter Rooks, Anthony Smith, Terrell Timmons, Josh Crabtree, Christopher Scott & Julian Gray
Transferred In – Wesley Grimes

Tight End
Junior Justin Joly
Junior Dante Daniels (JUCO Addition)
Sophomore Juice Vereen

Transferred Out – Christopher Toudle, Cedd Seabrough & Fred Seabrough
Transferred In – Justin Joly

Offensive Line
Redshirt Senior Dawson Jaramillo
Redshirt Senior Timothy McKay
Redshirt Senior Anthony Belton
Redshirt Senior Zeke Correll
Redshirt Junior Sean Hill
Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr.
Redshirt Junior Matt McCabe
Redshirt Junior Patrick Matan
Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann
Redshirt Sophomore Jacarrius Peak
Redshirt Sophomore Valen Erickson
Redshirt Freshman Obadiah Obasayui
Redshirt Freshman Kamen Smith
Redshirt Freshman Darion Rivers
Redshirt Freshman Rico Jackson
4-Star Freshman Tyler West
3-Star Freshman Robby Martin
3-Star Freshman Trent Mitchell

Transferred out: Lyndon Cooper & Jaleel Davis
Transferred In: Zeke Correll & Valen Erickson

Defense

Defensive Line
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann
Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Chase Bond
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Justin Terrell
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Joshua Alexander-Felton

Transferred Out: Nose Tackles C.J. Clark & Nick Campbell
Transferred In: Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace

Linebackers

Redshirt Senior Devon Betty
Redshirt Junior Sean Brown
Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham
Redshirt Junior Jayland Parker
Junior Wyatt Wright (JUCO Addition)
Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride
Redshirt Freshman Kamal Bonner
4-Star Freshman Elijah Davis
3-Star Freshman Cannon Lewis
3-Star Freshman Zane Williams
3-Star Freshman Joshua Ofor

Transferred Out: LB’s Daejuan Thompson & Torren Wright

Defensive Backs

Redshirt Senior Safety Kerry Martin Jr.
Senior Cornerback Aydan White
Senior Defensive Back Corey Coley Jr.
Senior Safety Devan Boykin
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald
Senior Safety Donovan Kaufman
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall
Junior Cornerback Rente Hinton
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Crowell
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Tamarcus Cooley
Redshirt Freshman Safety Zack Myers
Redshirt Freshman Safety Daemon Fagan
4-Star Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III
4-Star Freshman Cornerback Asaad Brown
3-Star Freshman Cornerback Jivan Baly
3-Star Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt

Transferred Out: Safety Jakeen Harris, Defensive Back Nate Evans, Defensive Back Darius Edmundson, Nickel Cecil Powell
Transferred In: Tamarcus Cooley, Corey Coley Jr., Devon Marshall, Donovan Kaufman & Kerry Martin Jr.

Specialist

Redshirt Junior Caden Noonkester

That’s 83 players on scholarship, with 2 available.

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