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Pack in the Pros

The Diamondbacks Claim Former All-ACC NC State Catcher Andrew Knizner

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1 month ago

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The Diamondbacks claimed former NC State All-ACC Catcher Andrew Knizner off waivers on Thursday.

After spending his first 5 seasons in the Majors with St. Louis, where he played 255 games, Knizner signed a 1-year deal with the Rangers worth $1.825 million.

He played 35 games for Texas this season, but unfortunately, Knizner’s production at the plate was the worst of his career. In 93 plate appearances, Knizner is batting .167.

Knizner is now playing for the D-Back’s Triple-A squad in Reno, where he got off to a good start last night.

Hopefully Arizona can be a good reset for Knizner. He’s already off to a good start, hitting a Home Run in his 1st game.

When Knizner originally arrived at NC State, he was a 3rd baseman, earning Freshman All-American honors at the position. As a Freshman, he earned All-ACC Third Team honors. His 47 RBI’s in his first year are the 7th most by a Freshman in school history.

As a Sophomore, he moved to Catcher, and earned All-ACC 2nd Team honors. As a Junior, Knizner batted .292, and threw out 16 of 37 base runners. After his Junior season, Knizner opted to enter the Draft.

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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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Pack in the Pros

Rams Sign Former NC State C Dylan McMahon Off Eagles Practice Squad

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3 days ago

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September 10, 2024

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The Los Angeles Rams have signed former NC State Center Dylan McMahon off of the Eagles Practice Squad.

McMahon was drafted by Philadelphia in the 6th round of the 2024 NFL Draft back in April, but was cut when NFL teams trimmed their roster to 53. After cutting McMahon, the Eagles signed McMahon to their Practice Squad.

The Rams now have 4 former NC State players in their organization. He joins Defensive Tackle Larrell Murchison on the roster, and Safety Tanner Ingle and Defensive Tackle Cory Durden are on the Practice Squad.

NC State now has 21 players on NFL rosters.

Quarterback Russell Wilson – Steelers

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett – Patriots

Running Back Nyheim Hines – Browns (Non-Football Injury List)

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers – Raiders

Offensive Tackle Ikem Ekwonu – Panthers

Offensive Guard Chandler Zavala – Panthers

Offensvie Guard Joe Thuney – Chiefs

Center Garrett Bradbury – Vikings

Defensive Lineman James Smith-Williams – Falcons

Defensive Lineman Kentavius Street – Falcons

Defensive Tackle Larrell Murchison – Rams (Injured Reserve/Designated for Return)

Defensive Tackle Alim McNeill – Lions

Defensive Tackle BJ Hill – Bengals

Defensive Tackle Justin Jones – Cardinals

Linebacker Payton Wilson – Steelers

Linebacker Drake Thomas – Seahawks

Linebacker Germaine Pratt – Bengals

Linebacker Bradley Chubb – Dolphins

Punter AJ Cole – Raiders

Place Kicker Brayden Narveson – Packers

Center Dylan McMahon – Rams

Former NC State players on NFL Practice Squads

Defensive Tackle TY McGill – 49ers

Wide Receiver Thayer Thomas – Vikings

Safety Tanner Ingle – Rams

Defensive Tackle Cory Durden – Rams

Linebacker Vi Jones – Buccaneers

Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon – Cowboys

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Pack in the Pros

NFL Week 1 Pack Pros Report

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4 days ago

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September 10, 2024

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The 2024 NFL season got underway this past weekend, and 15 former NC State football players were in action.

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers had 3 receptions for a team high 61 yards in the Raiders’ 10-22 loss to the Chargers. He caught every pass that was thrown his way. Meyers started, and played 52 of 60 snaps, with a PFF grade of 66.2.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett led the Patriots to a 16-10 victory over the Bengals, when New England entered the game as a 7.5-point underdog. He was 15 of 24 for 121 yards, and he rushed for 32 yards on 7 carries. His PFF grade was 62.8.

Linebacker Germaine Pratt had 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass breakup in Cincinnati’s 10-16 loss to New England. He started, and played in 62 of 64 snaps, with a PFF grade of 55.7.

Linebacker James Smith-Williams had 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in the Falcons 10-18 loss to the Steelers. He played 32 out of 69 snaps, and his PFF grade was 59.5.

In his first NFL game, Linebacker Payton Wilson had 3 tackles in the Steelers’ 18-10 win over the Falcons. He played in 24 of 56 snaps, and his PFF grade was 57.2. Wilson played 1 more snap than starter Elandon Roberts.

Place Kicker Brayden Narveson was 3 of 4 on field goal attempts in Green Bay’s 29-34 loss to Philadelphia. He made them from 31 yards, 26yards, and 23 yards. Narveson missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.

Defensive Tackle BJ Hill had 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in the Bengals’ 10-16 loss to the Pats. He started, and played in 52 of 64 snaps, with a PFF grade of 46.8.

Defensive End Kentavius Street had 3 tackles in Atlanta’s 10-18 loss to Pittsburgh. He played 20 of the 69 snaps, and his PFF grade was 53.5.

Offensive Guard Joe Thuney started and played every snap for the Kansas City Chiefs in their 27-20 win over the Ravens. His PFF Grade was 73.5, which was the 5th highest grade on the Chiefs offense.

Defensive End Justin Jones had 2 tackles and a fumble recover in Arizona’s 28-34 loss to Buffalo. He started and played in 43 of 61 snaps, and his PFF grade was 43.3.

Defensive Tackle Alim Mcneill had 1 tackle in the Lions’ 26-20 win over the Rams. He started and played

Linebacker Drake Thomas played 10 Special Teams snaps, and recorded one tackle in Seattle’s 26-20 win over Denver.

Offensive Tackle Ikem Ekwonu started and played every snap in the Panthers’ 10-47 loss to the Saints. His PFF grade was 59.0.

Center Garrett Bradbury started and played every snap in the Vikings’ 28-6 win over the Giants. His PFF grade was 44.8.

Punter AJ Cole averaged 53 yards per punt on 5 punts in Las Vegas’ 10-22 loss to the Bolts.

Injury

Linebacker Bradley Chubb – Dolphins

Quarterback Russell Wilson – Steelers

Running Back Nyheim HInes – Browns

Defensive Tackle Larrell Murchison – Rams

DNP

Offensive Guard Chandler Zavala – Panthers

 

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Pack in the Pros

NC State’s Best NFL Quarterbacks

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1 week ago

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September 6, 2024

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The 2024 NFL season got underway last night with the Chiefs defeating the Ravens 27-20. With the NFL on the mind, lets breakdown the Wolfpack Quarterbacks that went on to be the most successful professionally.

Philip Rivers

Rivers was drafted by the New York Giants with the 4th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, but was then quickly traded to San Diego. He went on to play 16 years with the Chargers, becoming the starter in year 3. Rivers played his final NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

Rivers was an 8-time Pro Bowler, which is the 2nd most by a former NC State football player, trailing only Russell Wilson (9). He led the NFL in Passing Yards in 2010, Completion Percentage in 2013 and in Touchdowns and Passer Rating in 2008.

In 2013, Rivers was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Rivers ranks 7th in NFL history in Completions (5,277), 6th in Passing Yards (63,440) and 6th in Passing Touchdowns (421).

Russell Wilson

Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 2012 NFL Draft, with the 75th overall pick. He played his first 10 years with the Seahawks, the last two seasons in Denver, and is about to kickoff his first year with the Steelers this weekend.

Wilson is a 9-time Pro Bowler, which is most by any former NC State football players. He earned 2nd Team All-Pro honors in 2019. Wilson led the NFL in Passer Rating in 2015, and led the league in Passing Touchdowns in 2017.

In year 2 (2013), Wilson led Seattle to their first Super Bowl appearance, and ultimately led the Seahawks to be Super Bowl Champions. In 2014, Wilson led the back to the Super Bowl, but they didn’t walk away with the Lombardi trophy.

Currently, Wilson ranks 19th in NFL history in Completed Passes (3,668), 19th in Passing Yards (43,653), 13th in Touchdown Passes (334), 4th in QB Rating (100.0) and 4th in Rushing Yards by a QB (5,307)

Roman Gabriel

Gabriel was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the 2nd overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft. He went on to play 11 seasons with the Rams, and finished his career in Philadelphia for his final 5 seasons.

Gabriel was a 4-time Pro Bowler. He earned 1st Team All-Pro honors in 1969, and 2nd Team All-Pro honors in 1967 & 1968.

In 1969, Gabriel was the NFL MVP, making him the only former Wolfpack player to earn the prestigious honor. In 1973, he earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Gabriel led the NFL in Passing Yards in 1973, and led the league in Touchdown Passes in 1969 & 1973.

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Pack in the Pros

Where Do Current PackPros Rank Compared to Past PackPros?: DEFENSE & SPECIAL TEAMS

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1 week ago

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September 4, 2024

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The 2024 NFL season gets underway tomorrow night, but before the Chiefs and the Ravens kickoff, here’s a look at where the current former NC State players in the NFL rank historically against past Wolfpack NFL players.  This piece will breakdown the Defensive & Special Teams players. Check here to check out the Offensive Player breakdown.

Tackles

Tackles for Loss

Sacks

Interceptions

Pass Deflections 

Forced Fumbles

Linebacker Germaine Pratt is entering his 6th season in the NFL, and he currently ranks 6th in tackles by a former NC State player, 9th in tackles for loss, 12th in interceptions, 10th in pass deflections and 10th in forced fumbles. I expect Pratt to move into 5th by seasons end.

Linebacker Bradley Chubb is entering his 7th season in the NFL, and he currently ranks 14th in tackles, 5th in tackles for loss, 3rd in sacks and 3rd in forced fumbles. By the end of the year, I expect Chubb will move up 1 or 2 spots in tackles, possibly move into 4th in tackles for loss, move into 2nd in sacks and possibly move into 1st in forced fumbles.

Defensive Tackle BJ Hill is entering his 7th season, and he currently ranks 12th in tackles, 11th in tackles for loss, and 11th in sacks. By seasons end, I expect Hill to crack the Top-10 in tackles for loss and sacks.

Defensive Tackle Justin Jones is entering his 7th season, and he currently ranks 17th in tackles, 8th in tackles for loss and 14th in sacks. By seasons end, I expect him to move up to 6th place in tackles for loss, and move up a spot or two in tackles and sacks.

Defensive End Kentavius Street is entering his 6th season in the NFL, and he currently ranks 12th in tackles for loss and 19th in sacks. I expect him to move up a spot in each category.

Defensive Tackle Alim McNeil is entering his 4th season, and he currently ranks 15th in tackles for loss and 18th in sacks. If he matches last years total of 6 tackles for loss and 5 sacks, he should move up quite a few spots in each category.

Linebacker James Smith-Williams is entering his 5th season, and he currently ranks 17th in tackles for loss and 20th in sacks. He should move up a spot or two in each category.

Punt Return Yards

Kickoff Return Yards

Running Back Nyheim Hines is entering his 7th year (6th season) in the NFL, and he currently has the 2nd most punt return yards and 6th most kickoff return yards of any former Wolfpack football player.

(ProRef)

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