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GAMEDAY PRIMER: NC State vs Charleston Southern | Keys to the Game and How to Watch

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9 months ago

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#18 NC State Wolfpack vs. Charleston Southern
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Raleigh, NC
TV: RSN (Bally Sports South in most of NC)
Line: NC State -44.5

NC State opens things up at Carter-Finley this season with a matchup against Charleston Southern. This is a game where NC State is favored to win by 44.5 points which may seem crazy after they just squeaked by unranked ECU with a 1-point win, but it seems Vegas thinks the Pack is ready to bounce back.

In recent history, the Pack has struggled when coming into a football season with high expectations, and that was the narrative coming into this season. It was hard to believe with so much veteran talent that they would open the season flat again, but it happened. However, this time they were able to escape with a win.

Maybe that was the wake-up call they needed. Maybe today we finally see the all-out assault that we all know this team is capable of. Maybe they’ll have a chip on their shoulder from falling the 3rd most spots of any team in the AP Poll. We’ll have to wait and see.

Getting to know Charleston Southern

The Buccaneers are currently 0-1 after being blown out by Western Carolina 52-38 at home (now does that 44.5 line seem more reasonable?). They are coming off a 4-6 season where they finished 5th in the Big South.

They are going to throw it a lot and they are going to rely on freshman QB Ross Malmgren to handle those duties. He was 30-45 in the opener, good for 392 yards and 5 touchdowns. He did throw 1 INT.

Meanwhile, freshman TJ Ruff will likely get the majority of the carries. In week 1 he had 9 carries for 60 yards.

Honestly, the Charleston Southern offense, led by freshmen, didn’t do too shabby in week 1. It was the defense that really let them down, giving up over 600 total yards and 7 TDs to Western Carolina.

Keys to the game for NC State

– Don’t be scared to open things up
We want to see the play calling get a little more exciting. Let Leary, your Heismann candidate QB, take control of the game. Let him take a few deep shots on 1st down. Let’s see what he can do when we put it on his shoulders. Conservative play calling almost cost NC State in week 1, so we’re hoping to see that change.

– Take care of business
If NC State can focus and execute, this is a win. It’s as simple as that. However, I think the fans want to see improvement in almost every aspect of the game this week. A win is great, but if this one is close then we might have a deeper problem. But I don’t think this will be the case. I think NC State comes out with a little something to prove against a team that really doesn’t have the horses to keep up.

– More Slimey Shark? 
NC State fans got to see their first real glimpse of RB Demi Sumo. He essentially split carries with Jordan. Houston, but out-gained him 79 yds to 55. Houston is going to be a big part of this offense and honestly I think there are going to be games where he has the better matchup. However, against these smaller, weaker teams, Sumo might really start to shine.

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NC State Football

Dave Doeren Led the Hurricanes to a Game 1 Victory Over Devils

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3 weeks ago

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May 4, 2023

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NC State Head Football Coach Dave Doeren helped lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a Game 1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the 2nd Round of the playoffs. Doeren was ferocious in sounding the siren.

The Canes demolished the Devils 5-1 last night. Go Canes!

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NC State Football

Which NC State Players Signed with NFL Teams as Undrafted Free Agents?

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4 weeks ago

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May 1, 2023

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Chandler Zavala was the only player from NC State that was drafted this past weekend in the 2023 NFL Draft. So which Wolfpack players signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents?

NC State has quite a few players playing in the NFL that went undrafted: Defensive Tackle T.Y. McGill, Running Back Zonovan Knight, and Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers.

The Chargers organization must have liked what was going on in Raleigh, signing 3 Wolfpack players as undrafted free agents.

The Bolts signed Safety Tanner Ingle.

Also heading to Los Angeles is Defensive Back Tyler Baker-Williams.

Los Angeles might have found their kicker of the future in Christopher Dunn.

Linebacker Isaiah Moore has signed with the reigning Super Bowl Champs in Kansas City.

Moore is joining former Wolfpacker Joe Thuney in KC.

Wide Receiver Thayer Thomas has signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Thomas is joining former Wolfpacker Garrett Bradbury in Minnesota.

Thayer’s brother, Linebacker Drake Thomas signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas joins former Wolfpacker’s Jakobi Meyers (WR) and A.J. Cole (P).

Cornerback Derrek Pitts has signed with Tampa Bay.

Defensive Tackle Cory Durden has signed with the Detroit Lions.

Durden joins former Wolfpacker Alim McNeil, who also plays Defensive Tackle.

Finally, Punter Shane McDonough is a rookie mini-camp invitee.

 

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NC State Football

Chandler Zavala was NC State’s Lone Draft Pick in 2023

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4 weeks ago

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May 1, 2023

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Surprisingly, NC State only had one player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, Offensive Lineman Chandler Zavala was that singular player.

The Carolina Panthers drafted Zavala in the 4th round with the 114th overall pick.

This marks the second year in a row that the Panthers have selected an offensive linemen from NC State, drafting Ikem Ekwonu with the 6th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Zavala and Ekwonu played beside one another in Raleigh on the left side, and there’s a chance that they will eventually do the same thing on Sunday’s for Carolina.

Zavala is coming off of a season where he earned 1st Team All-ACC honors, and didn’t give up a single sack.

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NC State’s Demie Sumo-Karngbaye Enters Transfer Portal

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1 month ago

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April 27, 2023

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NC State Running Back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye has officially entered the Transfer Portal. As a Redshirt Freshman this past season, he rushed for 305 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns. Sumo-Karngbaye also had 12 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Demie was electric to start the season, but battled injuries all season long. In conference play, he was limited, only rushing the ball 16 times for 53 yards (3.3 yards per carry) with 0 touchdowns.

There’s no denying that the Wolfpack Running Back room is crowded. From the beginning of the season, Sumo-Karngbaye shared carries with Jordan Houston, who is once again returning this season. After Sumo-Karngbaye continued to miss action due to injuries, True Freshman Michael Allen stepped in and proved to be more than ready for the spotlight, averaging 5.1 yards per carry (53 carries), with most of those carries coming against ACC opponents. Not to mention the fact that True Freshman Kendrick Raphael will look to make an instant impact this Fall.

With all of this being said, I don’t get this move. At the end of the day, every young man has to make the decision they think is best, but Sumo-Karngbaye had every reason to to expect significant playing time in 2023, as long as he could prove to stay healthy.

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