Here’s a look at which NC State Defensive players graded out the best and worst according to ProFootballFocus against Louisville last Friday night.

Top 5

LB Devon Betty – 76.8
FS Rakeim Ashford – 75.1
NT CJ Clark – 74.1
LB Payton Wilson – 71.5
LB Caden Fordham – 68.1

Bottom 5

DE Travali Price – 52.3
CB Shyheim Battle – 53.7
CB Rente Hinton – 56.2
DE Red Hibbler – 60.5
DE Savion Jackson – 62.0

Season Top 5

DE Davin Vann – 78.6
Nickel Robert Kennedy III – 76.5
LB Payton Wilson – 76.5
NT Brandon Cleveland – 74.5
SS Bishop Fitzgerald – 72.4

Season Bottom 5

CB Brandon Cisse – 33.0
CB Rente Hinton – 52.5
DE Noah Potter – 53.5
DE Travali Price – 54.2
NT CJ Clark – 60.6

With a couple of minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, NC State Free Safety Sean Brown was hit with an absurd targeting call. After reviewing the hit, the call was confirmed to be targeting, and Brown was ejected for the remainder of the game, and will miss the beginning of the Marshall game this Saturday.

I’m all for penalizing intentionally dangerous tackles, where the intent is blatantly to harm. That is not what happened in this instance. Brown’s tackle was textbook. For starters, the receiver squats. Secondly, Brown drives his face into the chest of the receiver. The helmet in no way makes initial contact with the opposing players helmet.

Here’s the “targeting” call in question. Watch it in slow motion. Hit pause and zoom in.

Sean Brown disqualified for this hit.

Smh… pic.twitter.com/U8jhOlVfNk

— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) September 30, 2023

Wolfpack Head Coach Dave Doeren shared at his weekly press conference yesterday that NC State is appealing the targeting call on Brown.

“Yes. We’ve submitted the paperwork through the league office. They turn it in and then eventually we’ll find out can he play in the first half or not. Right now we don’t have an answer.”

If the targeting call is upheld, then Brown will have to miss the first half this Saturday against the Thundering Herd. If it is overturned, he will be free to play.

Prior to the targeting call, Brown was having a career day. He had 8 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble.

Here’s a look at which NC State Offensive players graded out the best and worst according to ProFootballFocus against Louisville this past Friday night.

Yesterday Wolfpack Head Coach Dave Doeren announced that Sophomore MJ Morris would be starting at Quarterback, rather than Brennan Armstrong. To get yourself ready to watch Morris behind center on Saturday against Marshall, check out our 2022 MJ Morris Highlight Reel above.