NC State Football
Previewing NC State’s Opponent: WAKE FOREST
NC State’s football team will have their hands full today, as they try to pick up their first win on the road in 2019 against #23 Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons have one of the best offenses in the land.
5th in Total Offense (523.9)
7th in Passing Offense (327.7)
8th in 3rd Down Conversion Pct (50%)
17th in Scoring Offense (37.1)
One of the things that makes Wake’s offense hard to handle, is you barely have time to think, running the 5th fastest offense in the nation.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Jamie Newman has been one of the best at the position in the nation, but it is unknown if he will be able to play today. Head Coach Dave Clawson wouldn’t show his cards this week, saying that Newman would play if he could play. He didn’t play in the Demon Deacons victory over the Seminoles last week.
Newman leads the ACC in passing yards per game (295.3) and passing efficiency (160.7). I’m betting the breakout star plays.
Redshirt Sophomore Wide Receiver Sage Suratt is Newman’s favorite target, leading the ACC in receiving yards per game (125.9) and ranks 2nd in receptions per game (7.6). Suratt has earned ACC Receiver of the Week 4 times in 2019.
Oh yeah, Wake Forest has another Wide Receiver ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in receiving yards per game named Scotty Washington. The Redshirt Senior is averaging 74.7 yards per game.
Washington and Suratt are both nightmares for short defensive backs, standing 6’5″ and 6’3″ respectively.
The Wolfpack must respect the Deacs aerial attack, but they can’t ignore their ground game either. Wake Forest ranks 4th in Conference play, averaging 186 yards rushing per game. They don’t have one running back that has sexy stats, because they spread wealth, and it works.
Wake Forest’s defense could be a great first opportunity for NC State Redshirt Freshman Devin Leary to start his first career game. In conference play, the Deacs rank last in passing efficiency defense (161.2) and 11th in pass defense (285.3). They haven’t been any better at stopping ACC opponents on the ground either, ranking 13th in rush defense (215.3). On the whole, Wake is allowing ACC opponents to rack up an average of 500.7 yards of total offense, which ranks 12th.
The Deacs aren’t without a few strengths on defense, intercepting 7 passes thus far. Also, their opponents are only killing them on 2/3 of their drives, because they are forcing 3-and-outs 30.3% of the time, which ranks 19th in the nation. Also, the team that wins the turnover margin often wins the game, and Wake Forest is +2 (3rd in ACC) on the season, and NC State is -4, ranking last in the ACC.
NC State Football
NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years
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
NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.
NC State’s Shyheim Battle has been invited to rookie mini camp with the Jets with the opportunity to earn a priority free agent contract. #ncstate #NFLDraft #wpn
— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) April 28, 2024
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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