NC State Football
Believe it or Not, NC State’s 2023 Defense is Superior to the 2022 Defense
NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson is a wizard.
After losing 6 of the 11 starters from the 2022 Wolfpack defense (7 if you count Tyler Baker-Williams, who was injured at the end of the season), Gibson somehow has the Wolfpack back as dominant as they were last year, if not more so.
Here’s a look at where NC State currently ranks in the Top-5 in the ACC and in the Top-25 in the nation in specific defensive team stats.
For comparison, in 2022, NC State ranked 10th in Rush Defense (100.7), 18th in Total Defense (326.9), 11th in Scoring Defense (19.2), 19th in Third Down Conversion Defense (.328), 3rd in Interceptions (19), 24th in Turnovers Gained (22), 12th in Passing Efficiency Defense (113.35), 14th in 1st Down Defense (16.5 per game), and 63rd in Sacks per game (2.15).
The 2022 defense was ranked higher than the 2023 defense in 5 of the 10 stats listed above, but if you look at the stats, and not the rankings, the 2023 defense is currently superior to the 2022 defense in 9 out of the 10 categories.
The only stat that the 2022 defense was superior in: Scoring Defense.
The 2022 defense allowed 19.2 points per game, and the 2023 team is allowing 19.4. That’s 2 tenths of a point.
The work that Gibson and his Defensive Staff put in to keep the Wolfpack defense at this level consistently is outstanding.
Like I said…Gibson’s a wizard.
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)
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.
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.
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.
AGTG Blessed to receive an offer from NC State 🤘🏾❤️ #PackPride pic.twitter.com/mIws42lE7L
— Kerry “KJ” Martin Jr. (@_thekerrymartin) May 1, 2024
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.
In Game film… pic.twitter.com/vunpDgPsBC
— Kerry “KJ” Martin Jr. (@_thekerrymartin) January 16, 2024
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