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NC State’s Bishop Fitzgerald is Embracing Being a Leader in the Safety Room

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2 months ago

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Senior Bishop Fitzgerald is no longer new to NC State, heading into Year 2 as a member of the Wolfpack. What’s new heading into 2024, is Fitzgerald is stepping into a leadership role in the Safety Room.

“With Sean (Brown) going to Linebacker, and (Devan) Boykin most likely going to Nickel, I kind of have to step up as a veteran in the Safety Room,” said Fitzgerald. “That’s what I’ve been working on this Spring and this Winter. The guys…they’re rolling with me. It feels good. I feel like we aren’t going to lose a step back there.”

Eventually, Auburn Safety Transfer Donovan Kaufman will arrive in Raleigh, instantly adding age and experience to the Safety room, but he won’t have the year in the program that Fitzgerald has.

Fitzgerald, sees a lot in some of the younger players in the Safety Room like Redshirt Freshmen Zack Myers and Daemon Fagan, as well as Junior Rente Hinton

“Zack’s (Myers) stepping up huge. He kind of got thrown into it later last year with some of the injuries, and with Sean going to Linebacker, we expect a lot from Zack and he’s going to be a good player for us,” said Fitzgerald. “(Daemon) Fagan and Terrente (Hinton) are doing a great job learning and just being flexible. Position changes for Terrente, and Faegan learning from me and Boykin last year. I think he’s going to be good for a really tall DB.”

Fitzgerald’s more ready to be a leader this season in more ways than simply age. Last year, he arrived in the Summer, which didn’t give him a Winter and Spring with the team and with Coach Thunder and his Strength and Conditioning staff.

“I’m way more comfortable. I had to come in during the Summer last year, and I felt like I was playing catch up. Fall Camp went by, and then we were into the season, so everything went a little fast for me last year,” said Fitzgerald. “I’m definitely way more comfortable now. Things are slowing down. Just having a few months under Coach Thunder and the weight lifting staff has definitely changed my body. I feel way more fast and fluid. When I came in, I was kind of stiff last summer. That’s kind of what they’ve been working on. Mobility. Explosiveness. Having a full Winter under my belt really helps a lot.

Fitzgerald transferred to NC State from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, where he was ranked as the #1 Junior College Safety in the 2024 class, and a 4-Star prospect by ON3. In his Sophomore season at Cofffeyville, Fitzgerald had 6 interceptions and 8 pass breakups.

In his first season in Raleigh, Fitzgerald played every game, starting in 3, accumulating 544 snaps. He racked up 42 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 pass breakups.

 

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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

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

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17 hours 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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NC State Football

NC State Sits in the Top-20 in 247’s Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Poll

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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247’s Brad Crawford released his Post-Spring 2024 Preseason College Football Top-25 recently, and NC State moved up 1 spot to #20.

ACC Teams in the Top-25

11. FSU

14. Miami

16. Clemson

20. NC State

24. Virginia Tech

25. Louisville

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NC State Football

NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years

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4 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and NC State had two players drafted: Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd round, and Center Dylan McMahon in the 6th round.

Over the past 10 years, NC State has produced 25 NFL Draft picks, and 3 1st round picks. The 25 Draft Picks ranks 8th in the ACC, and the 3 1st Round picks is tied for 7th.

NC State produced 18 NFL Draft Picks in the first 5 Draft’s of Dave Doeren’s tenure. Only 8 Wolfpack players have been selected in the past 5 NFL Drafts.

Players selected in the NFL Draft under Dave Doeren:

2024

Payton Wilson, LB – Pittsburgh – 3rd – 98th
Dylan McMahon, C – Philadelphia – 6th – 190th

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NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

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5 days ago

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April 28, 2024

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NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.

He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.

In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.

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