NC State Football
Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Syracuse
NC State and Syracuse will kickoff tonight at 8pm on ESPN, but before they do, here’s a preview of the Orange.
Team Stats
Schedule
Rundown
Syracuse was projected to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division, even picking up 2 first place votes. Thus far, they have not met expectations, getting crushed by Maryland and Clemson, and are underdogs against the Wolfpack tonight.
The Orange are struggling on both sides of the ball, ranking 11th in Total Offense (385.8), and 12th in Total Defense (438.2).
Two strengths will be up against one another tonight. Syracuse ranks 1st in the ACC in turnovers forced (12), and NC State has turned the ball over only 4 times, which is the lowest in the conference. The Orange have forced a turnover in 19 straight games, which is the 2nd longest streak in the FBS.
When Syracuse has scored in 2019, it’s been explosive. Eleven of their fifteen scores in the past two games have been drives of two minutes or less.
Player Rundown
It was questionable whether or not Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Tommy DeVito, would play tonight, but he looks to be set to play. His 11 touchdown passes rank 3rd in the ACC, and ranks 4th in passing yards per game (246.8).
DeVito’s main target is Redshirt Junior Trishton Jackson, leading the team in receptions (24), receiving yards (393) and touchdown receptions (5). Jackson is averaging an impressive 16.4 yards per carry. His 5 touchdowns ranks 3rd in the ACC.
Even though they haven’t had the success this year that Jackson has had, Senior Sean Riley and Sophomore Taj Harris lit the Wolfpack up last year. In the Dome in 2018, Harris had 10 receptions for 164 yards, and Harris had 6 receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
While he doesn’t have the stats that the receivers do, Tight End Aaron Hackett has 3 touchdown receptions in the past two games.
Senior Moe Neal leads the Orange’s rushing attack, averaging 63.4 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry, with 3 trips to the end zone. He is a receiving threat as well, ranking 10th among running backs in the FBS in receptions (14).
On the defensive side of the ball, Senior Middle Linebacker Lakiem Williams is averaging 7.8 tackles per game, which ranks 9th in the ACC. He also has 3.5 sacks.
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Chris Fredrick has 6 passes defended, which ranks 3rd in the ACC.
The Orange have two very dangerous Senior Defensive Ends in Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman. They are the top returning sack tandem in the ACC, combining for 20 in 2018. They are off to a little bit of a slower start (Robinson 2.5/Coleman 2), but can bring the pain on a good day.
ON3’s Jesse Simonton ranked the Top-25 College Football Coaches heading into the 2024 season, and NC State’s Dave Doeren ranks 23rd.
Here’s what Simonton had to say about Doeren:
23. Dave Doeren, NC State
Doeren became the Wolfpack’s all-time winningest head coach last season, overcoming all manors of offensive ineptitude to win eight games for the fourth straight season. He still hasn’t busted through the glass ceiling and taken NC State to an ACC Championship, but the Wolfpack have legitimate conference title hopes in 2024 with the offseason work Doeren has done via the portal (quarterback Grayson McCall, tailbacks Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers and receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes).
In 11 seasons in Raleigh, Doeren’s program has been steadily consistent and has become a model for development (17 NFL Draft picks since 2018) and strength and conditioning. (ON3)
ACC Coaches in the Top-25
6. Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
7. Mike Norvell (FSU)
20. Jeff Brohm (Louisville)
23. Dave Doeren (NC State)
The 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft will begin this evening at 8pm on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. NC State has had 19 players drafted in the 1st round.
NC State ranks 8th in ACC history in 1st Round Picks.
Three of the Wolfpack’s 1st Round Picks have come under Dave Doeren’s watch, which ranks 2nd all-time in school history. Chuck Amato had 5 players drafted in the 1st round, which is the most ever under a coach at NC State.
Chuck Amato – 5
Dave Doeren – 3
Mike O’Cain – 2
Dick Sheridan – 2
Bo Rein – 2
Earle Edwards – 2
While most projections don’t have Wolfpack Linebacker Payton Wilson going in the 1st round tonight, a few do. Wilson was invited to attend the NFL Draft, but he will be tuning in from his home in Hillsborough. We’ll have to tune in tonight to see if Wilson hears his name called on the 1st night of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Auburn Transfer Linebacker Cam Riley Decommits from NC State
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NC State has Produced 19 1st Round NFL Draft Picks
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