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Former Wolfpacker, Andrew Knizner, to make St. Louis Cardinals roster, back-up Molina

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Andrew Knizner hasn’t ‘officially’ been declared the back-up catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, but as manager Mike Shildt said, ‘you can read between the lines.’

Knizner is hitting .280 this spring and has 25 spring training at-bats. The Cardinals starter, Yadier Molina, has 28 and the other two catcher vying for a roster spot have 10 a piece. So yeah, read between the lines. Andrew Knizner is all but locked into a roster spot and the backup catching role.

Yadier Molina, the long-time Cardinals backstop is almost a sure-fire hall of famer. The guy is about to play his 17th MLB season, all with St. Louis. He sports a .293 career average and is one of the best defensive catchers that’s ever played. But he’s 38 years old, and for a catcher that plays almost every day, that’s almost unheard of.

That is why St. Louis is grooming their next back stop. Former NC State star, Andrew Knizner.

“It’s good he’s getting the multiple looks,” Shildt said. “He’s creating familiarity with them. He’s done more than his share to get his opportunity to go play. We know Yadi (Molina) is our guy, but he (Knizner) has been a good teammate over the last couple of years. He’s been patient, taking advantage of his time and he deserves to get his opportunity when it’s appropriate, and he has taken advantage of it.” (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Knizner was the #6 rated Cardinals prospect coming into the 2020 season after being drafted in the 7th round in 2016.

Over his career at NC State he hit .312 and hit 15 HRs, but the real reason everyone loves his bat so much is that he’s an elite contact guy who will take a walk and rarely strikes out. On top of that, he’s profiling to be an above-average defensive catcher.

Keep an eye out for Knizner this season as he gets his chance to prove he’s the St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher of the future.

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Pack in the Pros

Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines Signs 1-Year Deal With Cleveland

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines has signed a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns worth up to $3.5 million.

Maybe Cleveland will use Hines to his full potential. If you’re not using him as a Swiss Army Knife in the passing game, you’re wasting an opportunity.

The former All-ACC Running Back Hines missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in a boating accident.

This will be Hines’ 7th season in the NFL.

When you look at what former NC State players have done in the NFL, Hines ranks in the Top-10 in Rushing and Receiving.

His 1,015 rushing yards ranks 7th in school history and his 10 rushing touchdowns rank 9th. Hines’ 240 receptions rank 8th and his 1,778 receiving yards rank 10th.

In the return game, he’s one of the best to represent NC State in the NFL as well. His 1,015 punt return yards ranks 2nd in school history and his 817 kickoff return yards rank 6th. Hines’ 2 punts returned for TD’s ranks 3rd, and his 2 kickoffs taken to the house ranks 1st.

 

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Signs 1-Year Deal with Pats

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is signing a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots, rejoining the team that drafted him in the 3rd Round back in 2016.

The deal is worth $8 million.

After the Pats traded away Quarterback Mac Jones to the Jaguars yesterday, it’s abundantly clear what they are planning to do with the 3rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After winning a Super Bowl in his lone season in New England in 2016, Brissett went on to spend 4 seasons in Indy, before spending the next 3 seasons in 3 different cities: Miami, Cleveland and Washington.

Brissett has had a great career as a backup Quarterback through 8 seasons in the NFL, playing in 79 games (starting 48), throwing for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns, with 23 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 85.3.

Brissett ranks 5th in NC State history in career passing yards and touchdowns, and 3rd in QB Rating by a former Wolfpack player in the NFL.

Prior to making a dime from New England in 2024, Brissett has made $50.9 million through his first 8 seasons in the league.

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones Signs with Arizona

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones (2014-17) has signed a 3-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

The deal is worth a total of $30.1 million, with $19.75 million guaranteed.

Jones spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he started in every game, recording 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

In 2018, Jones was taken in the 3rd round by the Chargers. After playing in 15 games as a reserve as a rookie, Jones started for the Bolts for the next 3 years before signing with the Bears.

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Former NC State Quarterback Russell Wilson to Sign with the Steelers

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Former All-ACC NC State Quarterback Russell Wilson announced last night that he would be signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There is no denying that this is a bizarre free agent signing. Wilson was released by the Broncos, who will ultimately still be paying him roughly $38 million this season, and Pittsburgh will be paying him the league minimum, which is $1.21 million.

Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, with a QB Rating of 98.0 last year in Denver. He also rushed for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns. Wilson ranked 8th in QB Rating and 9th in touchdowns last season. Wilson did this for a coach who obviously didn’t want him to be his Quarterback.

According to Ian Rapoport’s report, Wilson is being brought in to compete with Kenny Pickett for the starting job, but I expect that Wilson will be Pittsburgh’s starting Quarterback Week 1.

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