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Previewing NC State’s Opponent: UCONN

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8 months ago

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NC State beat UCONN at home 41-10 last year in Carter-Finley Stadium, but the Wolfpack will be facing a different team tonight.

UCONN was one of the most improved teams throughout the season in 2022. After losing 4 of their first 5 games, the Huskies went on to win 5 of their last 7 regular season games, and went on to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Marshall.

This year, the Huskies QB is Graduate Transfer Joe Fagnano from Maine. In a similar situation to NC State, UCONN’s Quarterback is reuniting with his former Offensive Coordinator (Nick Charlton’s first year in UCONN was last year).

Fagnano completed 57.1% of his passes for 2,231 yards with 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2022. Over his career, his passing efficiency rating is a solid 138.6, throwing for 45 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He also has the ability to hurt you with his legs a little bit, rushing for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns last year.

UCONN’s rushing attack is formidable. They return a tandem that combined for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. Junior Devontae Houston is listed as the starter. Last year, he didn’t have as many carries as Victor Rosa (So.), but he averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Rosa rushed for 11 touchdowns, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Houston’s PFF grade was an impressive 79.9.

NC State’s secondary will pretty much be facing a new receiving attack. Starters Brett Buckman (Delaware) and Geordon Porter (New Mexico) are Graduate Transfers. Buckman had 39 receptions for 470 yards in 2022, and Porter had 22 receptions for 312 yards. Junior Cameron Ross was injured last year when the Huskies came to Raleigh, and for that matter he’s been hurt for most of the past two seasons, but don’t sleep on him. In 2019, as a Freshman, he had 60 receptions for 723 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2019 according to ProFootballFocus.

The Huskies basically return 4 starters on the Offensive Line. The 2 Guards Haynes and Ofori-Nyadu are very impressive, posting PFF grades of 83.9 and 82.2 respectively. Left Tackle Valentin Senn’s grade in 2022 was 75.4.

On defense, UCONN returns 10 of their 11 starters. A couple of these fellas are studs. Middle Linebacker Jackson Mitchell (Sr.) led the team with 140 tackles. He also had 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, to go along with 2 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. His PFF grade in ’22 was 76.5.

Redshirt Junior Free Safety Malik Dixon-Williams posted an audacious grade of 84.1 last year. He had 90 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups. Senior Defensive End Eric Watts had  7 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in ’22.

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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.

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Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago

Wolves versus Huskies, going to be a dog fight!!

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NC State Football

Payton Wilson is the 7th Highest Drafted Linebacker in NC State History

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1 hour ago

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April 27, 2024

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Last night NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 98th overall pick.

Wilson is the 16th Wolfpack Linebacker to be selected in the NFL Draft, and the 7th highest drafted.

Levar Fisher – 2nd round – 49th overall (2002)
Nate Irving – 3rd round – 67th overall (2011)
Germaine Pratt – 3rd round – 72nd overall (2019)
Bobby Houston – 3rd round – 75th overall (1990)
Robert Abraham – 3rd round – 77th overall (1982)
Damien Covington – 3rd round – 96th overall (1995)
Payton Wilson – 3rd round – 98th overall (2024)
Stephen Tulloch – 4th round – 116th overall (2006)
Frank Bush – 5th round – 133rd overall (1985)
Terrell Manning – 5th round – 163rd overall (2012)
David Merritt – 7th round – 191st overall (1993)
Pat Thomas – 6th round – 194th overall (2005)
Audie Cole – 7th round – 210th overall (2012)
Bill Gentry – 12th round – 293rd overall (1967)
Scott Adell – 12th round – 330th overall (1992)
Henry Hipps – 16th round – 411th (1969)

Honestly, in looking at the list above, the best NFL Linebacker of the bunch wasn’t in the Top-5 highest drafted. The man right behind Wilson, Stephen Tulloch, easily had the best career of any Wolfpack Linebacker to be drafted, and he was taken in the 4th round.

It’s not where you start, but where you finish.

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NC State Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers Select NC State’s Payton Wilson with the 98th Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

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11 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 98th overall pick.

How on earth Wilson was the 98th player drafted is beyond me. Winner of the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Winner of the Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in College Football. Winner of the Bednarik Award, given to the best Defensive player in College football. Unanimous All-American. 3rd best PFF Grade by a Linebacker in 2023. Fastest 40-time by a LB at the NFL Combine.

Yet, he was the 7th Linebacker taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Absurd.

With that being said, I can’t think of a more fitting place for Wilson to play. He was born to play in the Black and Gold. The Steelers are a blue collar club, who carry a long history of defensive greatness. Wilson plays with reckless abandon, and with his hair on fire, and that’s exactly what you expect out of a Pittsburgh Linebacker.

Maybe I’m showing my cards here…I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan…and I can’t believe Payton Wilson will be wearing the Black and Gold this Fall.

Congrats Payton!

 

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NC State Football

Details of Dave Doeren’s New Contract at NC State

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20 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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NC State has signed Dave Doeren to a 2-year extension, but the extension comes with a raise. Doeren’s base salary in 2023 was $5.02 million.

According to Brian Murphy of WRALSports Fan, Doeren’s salary in 2024 will be $5.5 million, and it will increase by $125,000 each year of the contract. He can earn $1.325 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses on an annual basis.

Below is a breakdown of the bonus structure.

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The bonus structure is the same as it was in his previous contract (see above), but the section entitled “Playoff” has been updated as follows:

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NC State Football

Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray Commits to Liberty

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21 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray has committed to play for Liberty next year.

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This past season, Gray had career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (170). He ranked 4th on the team in receptions, and 7th on the team in receiving yards.

Gray has served as NC State’s primary Kickoff Returner the past two seasons, averaging 24.9 yards per return. This past year, he averaged 26.0 yards per carry, which ranked 3rd in the ACC, and 11th nationally. It stands as the 5th best single-season average in school history.

Back in 2021, ON3 ranked Gray as a 4-star prospect, the #197 overall player nationally, and the #13 player in the state of North Carolina.

Gray has 2 more years of eligibility remaining.

NC State has had 23 players enter the Transfer Portal

DT Nick Campbell
WR Julian Gray – Liberty
RB Delbert Mimms III – Eastern Michigan
TE Fred Seabrough
Nickel Cecil Powell – Troy
WR Christopher Scott – Austin Peay
OL Jaleel Davis – Florida International
WR Josh Crabtree – Murray St. 
OL Lyndon Cooper – Pitt
WR Terrell Timmons – Colorado
LB Torren Wright – Temple
NT C.J. Clark – Miami
QB MJ Morris – Maryland
S Jakeen Harris – UNC
TE Cedd Seabrough – West Georgia
WR Porter Rooks – Eastern Michigan
DB Nate Evans – Delaware
LB Daejuan Thompson
RB Jordan Houston – Marshall
RB Michael Allen – UNLV
DB Darius Edmundson – UNC-Pembroke
WR Anthony Smith – East Carolina
TE Christopher Toudle – Western Michigan 

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