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Things to Know about NC State’s Opponent: Texas Tech

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2 years ago

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The Wolfpack will host a Non-ACC Power 5 opponent tonight in Carter-Finley, for the first time since they beat Notre Dame in the rain in 2016. Here’s a few things to know about their opponent tonight: Texas Tech.

  • Joey McGuire is the new head coach for Texas Tech in 2022. After getting his start at the high school ranks, McGuire spent the his first 5 years of collegiate coaching at Baylor, where he served as an Assistant coach for 5 years.
    • Texas Tech fired Matt Wells in the middle of last season, after posting a 13-17 record. McGuire inherited a team that went 7-6 last year, a team that defeated Mississippi State (a team that beat NC State 10-24 in 2021) 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl.
  • Starting Quarterback Tyler Shough missed the final 9 games of last year due to a broken collarbone, and went down in Week 1 of this year with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm. Sophomore Donovan Smith stepped up to the plate in the season opener against Murray State, completing 14 of 16 for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns.
    • Against Houston (who was ranked #25 at the time), Smith struggled a bit. He threw 3 interceptions and fumbled the ball twice (0 lost). With that being said, he did throw the ball for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns.
    • Smith also has the ability to hurt you with his legs. His stats are deceiving. It says in the Box Score, that he rushed the ball 21 times for 31 yards, for an average of 1.5 yards per carry. It’s deceiving, because he was sacked 6 times by Houston. He actually gained 88 yards on the ground, but lost 57 due to sacks.
  • Turnovers killed the Red Raiders against Houston last week, because the game shouldn’t have been close. They had 20 more first downs than Houston, and held the ball for nearly 15 minutes longer than their opponent.
  • Tech had 2 receivers go for 100+ yards in the season opener.
    • Junior Loic Founji had 6 receptions for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns and Redshirt Freshman Jerand Bradley had 4 receptions for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns.
  • The Red Raiders rushing attack is better than their 3.4 yards per carry shows. 78 yards have been lost, and 57 of those are sacks on the QB.
    • Junior Running Back Tahj Brooks is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and has 4 rushing touchdowns.
    • Senior SaRodorick Thompson is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

FAU Transfer Defensive Tackle Decarius Hawthorne is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Next Week

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6 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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FAU Defensive Tackle Transfer Decarius Hawthorne (6’2″/295) confirmed with me that he is taking an Official Visit to NC State next week, beginning on Tuesday. Arkansas is expected to host him on Sunday.

Hawthorne entered the Portal on April 26th.

This past season, Hawthorne had 18 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 12 games for the Owls. All of those numbers were career highs for Hawthorne.

ON3 ranks Hawthorne as a 3-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and the #46 Defensive Lineman in the Portal.

NC State is in desperate need for depth at Nose Tackle. They return Junior Brandon Cleveland and Redshirt Sophomore DJ Jackson, and True Freshman Justin Terrell will arrive in the Fall.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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23 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

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1 day ago

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May 3, 2024

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A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

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2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

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