NC State Football
Cole Cubelic Includes NC State in Final Preseason CFP Prediction
Cole Cubelic of the SEC Network was trending in Raleigh a month ago on Twitter when he put out his early College Football Playoff predictions, and included NC State in the group. As audacious as Cubelic’s prediction might seem, he had his reasons. He watched a ton of film on the Wolfpack preparing to be one of the color commentators for the Independence Bowl, where NC State walloped Vanderbilt, an SEC team, 41-17. NC State kicks off their season in 2017 against South Carolina, another SEC opponent, and Cubelic has been watching more film of the Wolfpack throughout the offseason, and has been sharing video clips on his Twitter account supporting his reasoning for his belief in the possibility of NC State shocking the nation this season. He broke down these reasons extensively in an excellent podcast with Ryan Tice a few weeks back.
Cubelic’s projections frighten NC State fans more than exciting them, due to our continual failure over the years to live up to expectations. This is what the N&O’s Joe Giglio often refers to as the “Law of the Wolf.” With that being said, I’ll say this again…Cubelic is a film junkie and has his reasons.
After the onslaught of Twitter replies he received a month ago, doubting his sanity, Cubelic posted his Final prediction of the preseason for the College Football Playoff, and once again, NC State made the cut.
And once again, he gave his reasons.
Cubelic isn’t alone. Earlier in the year, the legendary Phil Steele also thought that NC State could be a team that could threaten to break into the College Football Playoff.
According to the Law of the Wolf, Cubelic is damning the NC State 2017 campaign. Something inside me as a NC State fan cringes. With that being said, one day as a lifelong fan I would like to see the Law of the Wolf change. Maybe Cubelic is off, and this year the Law remains the same, but here’s to hoping that an amendment to the Law of the Wolf isn’t too far in the future.
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
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