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RELEASE: Kurt Roper Named NC State’s New Quarterbacks Coach

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RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State head coach Dave Doeren has announced that Kurt Roper, a 23-year veteran of the coaching ranks, has joined the Wolfpack staff and will mentor the quarterbacks. Roper comes to Raleigh after coaching that same position at Colorado last season.

Roper brings a wealth of experience, plus a familiarity with the Triangle area, to NC State, having served as an offensive coordinator for two SEC programs and another in the ACC.

“I’m excited to add a tremendous coach and person with great experience to our offensive staff,” said Doeren. “Kurt is an incredible teacher and a true developer of players at the QB position. He’s also a connected and highly respected recruiter who knows this region well.”

“My family and I are thrilled about coming to NC State as a part of Coach Doeren’s staff,” said Roper. “Working for a great coach at a great university with an unbelievable fan base is a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

Roper spent 15 of his first 22 years of coaching in the SEC, beginning his career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee (1996-98) then coaching the quarterbacks at Ole Miss from 1999-2004 under head coach David Cutcliffe. He spent the 2005 season coaching that same position at Kentucky, then returned to UT from 2006-07 to coach the running backs.

In 2008, he rejoined Cutcliffe at Duke, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach until 2013 before serving in that same position at Florida in 2014.

After spending the 2015 season as a senior offensive assistant with the Cleveland Browns, Roper went to South Carolina, where he was co-offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach for two years before heading to Colorado.

Roper tutored All-America signal-caller Eli Manning, the 2003 SEC Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, during his six-years as the quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss. After winning the Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards in 2003, Manning has gone on to win two Super Bowls, was twice named the Super Bowl MVP and is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Another one of his quarterbacks, Thaddeus Lewis, spent six years in the NFL after a record-breaking career in Roper’s offense at Duke. Lewis finished his career as Duke’s all-time leader in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He joined the Wolfpack’s Philip Rivers as just the second player in ACC history to throw for over 10,000 yards.

In Roper’s last year at Duke, the Blue Devils enjoyed a record-setting campaign as they won a program-best 10 games en route to capturing the ACC’s Coastal Division championship. His offense set the school record for total touchdowns (60), while becoming the first squad in Blue Devil history to post 20+ rushing and 20+ passing TDs in the same season.

Also under Roper’s guidance, Anthony Boone finished his career as the winningest quarterback in Duke history with 19 victories, Brandon Connette became Duke’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, while wide receiver Jamison Crowder established school single-season records for receptions (108) and receiving yards (1,301).

At Kentucky, he coached Kentucky Andre’ Woodson, who went on to be a sixth round draft pick of the New York Giants.

An Ames, Iowa, native, Roper was a three-year letterman as a quarterback and defensive back at Rice from 1992-94. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rice in 1995 and a master’s degree from Tennessee in 1998.

Roper and his wife, Britt, have one daughter, Reese, and one son, Luke. His brother, Zac, is the deputy head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke.

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

Former NC State Running Back Jordan Houston Signs with Marshall

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Former NC State Running Back Jordan Houston has officially transferred to Marshall for his final year of eligibility. NC State played Marshall this past season, but Houston didn’t play against the Thundering Herd, because he had already opted to redshirt the remainder of the season.

After playing in three games this past season, Houston opted to redshirt the remainder of the season (despite the fact that he was the starter at the time), giving him the ability to transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

Houston played in 51 games for NC State over 5 years on the field, rushing for 1,392 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 398 yards and 1 touchdown.

Houston was a 3-Star prospect in NC State’s 2019 recruiting class out of Flint High School in Oakton, Virginia.

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NC State Football

Philip Rivers will Finally be Enshrined in the NC State Hall of Fame in April

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Wolfpack legend Philip Rivers will finally be inducted into the NC State Hall of Fame on April 20th!

Rivers was elected into the Hall of Fame back in 2013 (2nd year of the NC State Hall of Fame), but he has deferred his enshrinement over the years due to time constraints.

 

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Rivers pretty much owns every NC State record for Quarterbacks, and still has the most Career Passing Yards and Passes Completed in ACC history, and he ranks 3rd in Touchdown Passes. Rivers was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, and the ACC Player of the Year in 2003.

You can buy your tickets here.

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NC State Football

DJ Burns Had a Word for Wolfpack Fans After Winning the ACC Championship

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When NC State’s DJ Burns was giving his acceptance speech after receiving the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP Award, Burns had the following quote to say when asked what he wanted to say to the fans.

“I’m going to keep it real simple. Thank you to the ones who’ve been consistent throughout the ride, and welcome back everybody else.”

Burns’ words struck a chord.

Throughout much of this season, it was embarrassing to see all the empty seats in PNC Arena.

As the Wolfpack lost 7 of their final 9 regular season games, it was clear that this team wasn’t just losing games, but they were also losing much of the fanbase.

It’s clear from Burns’ words that the empty seats were noticed, and so were the words of fans online.

NC State finished the regular season 10th, and much of the fanbase was frustrated, and rightfully so.

But, frustrated doesn’t have to mean giving up.

‘Never giving up’ is kind of supposed to be NC State’s thing.

The words of Jimmy V reverberate throughout the history of NC State basketball.

This team didn’t always put W’s in the Win column this season, and it wasn’t always an easy watch, but never for a moment were these players not playing as hard as they could for their school, one another, and their coach.

They never gave up.

Fans have a right to be frustrated, but you can still show up for a team, even when they struggle, because that’s what loyal fans do. When players wear a jersey with NC State across the chest, and they don’t give up, their fans shouldn’t either.

NC State fans aren’t known to be fair weather fans. Let’s not get in the business of leading our players to think we are.

But, like Burns said, whether you’ve been along for the ride all season or not, it’s time to hop on.

 

 

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WATCH: PackInsider’s 2023 Sean Brown Highlight Reel

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This past season was a breakout season for Junior Safety, now turned Linebacker, Sean Brown.

This past season, Brown started in 11 of the 13 games that he played in, and ranked 3rd on the team in tackles (66) and pass breakups (5). He also had 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Brown’s PFF Grade of 63.7 ranked 13th on the team. His Tackling Grade of 86.6 ranked 2nd on the team behind Payton Wilson.

As you will notice in our Highlight Reel ABOVE, Brown lived in the box, and is a very ferocious tackler. He will fit right in at Linebacker next year for the Wolfpack.

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