You might remember Joe Sculthorpe as an All-ACC Offensive Guard (2020). That was the past. What is the present?
Learn his new name…Hank Walker…Professional Wrestler with the WWE.
Wrestling isn’t foreign to Sculthorpe. He was a North Carolina High School Heavyweight Champion out of Topsail High School (Hampstead, NC).
In March of this year, the WWE announced that 14 hopefuls had reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and Sculthorpe was 1 of the 14.
On June 8th, WWE trademarked the name “Hank Walker.”
He [Walker] made his in-ring debut with a loss to Von Wagner at the June 11 NXT live event in Largo, then came up short against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on the July 1 NXT Level Up episode, took a loss to Giovanni Vinci at the July 9 live event in Orlando, was defeated by Duke Hudson on the July 22 NXT Level Up episode, then failed to defeat Carmelo Hayes at the August 29 live event in Venice. (Link)
Sculthorpe’s (Walker) television debut was against Lorenzo on July 1st.
His next televised match was against Duke Hudson.
Sculthorpe lost his first two televised matches.
For the past couple of weeks, the WWE has had Walker (Sculthorpe) portray a member of the NXT Security Team, building out his story line, in which this security guard develops a beef with Javier Bernal.
All the beef led to a match between Hank Walker the Security Guard and Big Body Javy last night.
The WWE NXT fans have learned to hate Javy over the past 12 months, so the crowd was chanting “We Want Hank” as Bernal entered the ring. Sculthorpe’s persona Walker, walks out to no entrance music, in everyday clothes, to the crowd chanting “Hank…Hank…Hank!”
The commentators describe Walker as a developmental prospect within NXT, where many end up paying their dues serving as security. Walker was supposedly out of his depth against a NXT superstar like Bernal. But to the shock of the announcers, “security guy” Hank Walker (Joe Sculthorpe) won the match.
What followed after the match was legendary wrestler Shawn Michaels, who is now Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, found Sculthorpe’s persona Walker, and offered him an NXT contract.
Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.
Former NC State All-American Shortstop Trea Turner was named the National League Player of the Week last week.
The 30-year-old hit .462 (12-for-26) with a home run, four RBI, five doubles, a walk, 10 runs scored, a stolen base and a .481 on-base percentage in six games last week.
The Florida native led the Majors in runs scored; tied for the NL lead in doubles and extra-base hits (6); ranked third in slugging (.769), OPS (1.250) and hits (12); and ranked fourth in total bases (20).
The two-time All-Star recorded four straight multi-hit games from Tuesday through Saturday, putting together three-hit games on Wednesday against Colorado and Thursday against Chicago (AL). It was the third time in his Phillies’ tenure and eighth time in his career that he had at least four-straight multi-hit games.
The 2019 World Series Champion has hits in 10 straight games since April 11th, batting .429 (18-for-42) with two homers, six RBI, six doubles, two walks, 12 runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.169 OPS during the stretch. He has reached in each of his last 13 games since April 8th, batting .434/.483/.660 over the stretch.
The North Carolina State product stole home on Sunday against the White Sox, marking his 40th consecutive stolen base since September 6, 2022 when he was a member of the Dodgers. His current streak surpassed Jimmy Rollins for the fourth-longest all-time and is now tied with Hall of Famer Tim Raines for the third-longest streak in Major League history. Next on the list is Ichiro Suzuki, who swiped 45 straight bases from April 29, 2006 through May 16, 2007, and Vince Coleman, who stole a Major League record 50 straight bases from September 18, 1988 through July 26, 1989. (MLB)
Turner was a 2-time All-American at NC State. In 2012, Turner was named 3rd Team All-American by NCBWA, and in 2013 he was named 2nd Team by Collegiate Baseball, and 3rd Team by NCBWA and Baseball America.
Turner’s 113 career stolen bases at NC State are the most in school history.
Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1st Round with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft.
Payton Wilson – 1st Round – 29th Overall Pick – Indianapolis Colts
It’s a cliché to go “best athlete available” for the Colts, but Payton Wilson certainly ticked that box at the NFL scouting combine. Wilson was exceptional in his final season at NC State, earning grades above 75.0 in all three facets of defense, led by his 90.0 coverage grade with three interceptions and four forced incompletions.
Wilson has an early-round grade based strictly on his game tape, but durability concerns could drop him to this range — or even later. He had 130 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions last season.
Former NC State Guard Terquavion Smith earned a spot on the 2023-24 NBA G-League All-Rookie Team.
Smith averaged 22.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game for the Delaware Blue Coats. What’s crazy, is that he only started in 3 of the 36 games he played in. With that being said, he averaged 30.7 minutes per game. Smith shot 35.6% from three.
As a 2-way player, Smith also played 16 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 3.3 points in 5.3 minutes per game. He shot 37.1% from three.
Former NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson had a Top-30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday. Wilson is the first Linebacker the Steelers have brought in.
Updated Steelers visit tracker:
Interesting to note that Pittsburgh only met with one LB for a pre-draft visit: Payton Wilson. Huge injury history, but a great player (and athlete) when healthy.
The Pittsburgh #Steelers held a top 30 visit with #NCState LB Payton Wilson.
Wilson, at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, is the first linebacker to be brought in for a pre-draft visit by the team. He’s expected to be drafted in the second round. pic.twitter.com/fVxjVhQArA
Wilson has the length, movement ability, IQ and tape of a first-round linebacker. What will likely keep him from being drafted on Day 1 is his injury history and age. If healthy, he can be a starting inside linebacker in any defense. (PFF)
Will someone take Wilson in the 1st round? Will he be a 2nd round pick? If he slips past that, that’s just stupid.