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.

NC State will have a new Quarterback in 2024 in Coastal Carolina Transfer Grayson McCall. A few weeks back, McCall looked sharp in the 2024 Spring Game, completing 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. McCall was accuracy and composure were evident in his first time playing in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Check out McCall’s tape from the Spring Game.

NC State legend Quarterback Roman Gabriel has passed away at the age of 83.

We mourn the passing of our legendary former quarterback Roman Gabriel and offer our condolences to his family.

More about this Hall of Famer: https://t.co/GJHEp5h4t8 pic.twitter.com/yPvI5v9vfz

— NC State Football (@PackFootball) April 20, 2024

Gabriel’s Accolades

• 2 time ACC Player of the Year (1960 & 1961)
• 2 time 1st Team All-American (1960 & 1961)
• 2 time 1st Team All-ACC (1960 & 1961)
• 1st ACC QB to throw for 1,000 yards in a season
• Left NC State with 22 school records and 9 ACC records
• #1 pick in the AFL and #2 pick in the NFL
• 16-year NFL career with the Rams & Eagles
• 4 time Pro Bowler
• NFL MVP in 1969
• Led the NFL in Passing Yards in 1973
• Led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 1969 & 1973
• Inaugural member of the NC State Hall of Fame
• Ranks 1st all-time in Rams history in Touchdown Passes & 3rd in Passing Yards
• First player to have their jersey number retired at NC State, on January 20, 1962.

RIP Roman Gabriel 🙏🏻#Rams #Eagles

A Tribute to a Colossus of a Quarterback

The 1969 NFL MVP, 1973 PFWA Comeback Player of the Year, and the Rams’ all-time career leader in touchdown passes pic.twitter.com/rFUOABC2P3

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) April 20, 2024

Praying for the Gabriel family!

After NC State clinched a series victory over UNC last night in Baseball, I thought it would be a good time to relish in how the Wolfpack has dominated the Tar Heels Athletic Program as a whole in 2023-24.

The Wolfpack Baseball team has won the first two games in the series against the Tar Heels, clinching a series victory over UNC for the first time since 2021. It marks the first time NC State has won a series against the Tar Heels in Raleigh since 2016.

NC State defeated UNC in Volleyball 3-1, winning in Chapel Hill for the first time in 25 years. The Tar Heels had won the last 5 matches against the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels 39-20 in Football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It marked the 3rd consecutive win over UNC.

NC State lost both regular season games to UNC in Men’s Basketball, but when it mattered most, the Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game 84-76, winning their first title since 1987.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team lost to their rival in Chapel Hill, but defeated UNC 63-59 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 5 of the last 7 against UNC.

In Gymnastics, NC State defeated UNC 196.725-194.925 in Raleigh. This marked the 3rd straight victory for the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels.

NC State’s Men & Women’s Swimming & Diving teams both beat UNC. The Men won 258-93, and the Women won 196-157.

The Wolfpack Wrestling team defeated UNC 33-6 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 11 straight Duals against the Tar Heels.

The NC State Men’s Tennis team defeated UNC 4-0, winning against their rival in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack Women’s Tennis team has defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 on two occasions thus far this season, and will face their rival again today.

The Cross Country teams didn’t have individual meets against UNC, but the Women obviously beat them, because they won the ACC Championship. The Men didn’t, finishing 8th in the Conference, with the Tar Heels finishing 1st.

The only other NC State athletic team that didn’t taste victory against UNC this year was the Women’s Soccer team, losing 0-4 in Raleigh.

Of course, each of these NC State athletic teams has much higher goals than just beating their rival, but there’s no denying how sweet it is to beat the Tar Heels.