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OUR TAKE on NC State’s 37-20 takedown of Marshall

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6 years ago

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Ryan Finley was clicking on all cylinders and the Wolfpack secondary was in shut-down mode as the Pack rolled to a 37-20 win over Marshall.

Finley was elite
Ryan Finely showed why so many think he’s one of the nation’s top signal callers. He did it all in this one, throwing for a season-high 377 yards and adding a TD. This was his 13th 300-yard game at NC State. That puts him in sole possession of 2nd place in that category, only trailing Philip Rivers (19).

Finley was on-target all night. He was great in the pocket, he was accurate on the run, and CBS Sports couldn’t stop talking about his ability to throw the back-shoulder fade. He connected with Kelvin Harmon 6 times for 150 yards and with Emeka Emezie 6 times for 69 yards and a score. Here is one of those more impressive hook-ups.

Harmon keeps showing big play ability
Coming into the season, Kelvin Harmon was the WR everyone was talking about, but after week one the story was Jakobi Meyers and even after his big week 2, the story was Thayer Thomas. This week, however, it’s all about Harmon. The junior WR made big play after big play for the Pack, and while he still hasn’t gotten into the end zone this season. He’s making it clear that time is coming sooner rather than later. Harmon finished the night with 6 receptions for 150 yards.

The NC State secondary stood their ground
In last year’s meeting between these two teams, the NC State secondary got destroyed by WR Tyre Brady who went for 248 yards and a TD. Then QB Chase Litton threw for 350 yards and 2 TDs and the Pack’s corners looked helpless. Things looked a lot different this year.

NC State held Marshall QB Isaiah Green to 270 yards and a TD. They picked him off twice and forced him into a 23.1 QB rating. As for Tyre Brady? He had a quiet evening, going for 3 catches and 25 yards.

NC State can kick FGs again!!
Football is a tough game. It’s even tougher when the only way to score is to get in the end zone. Over the past 2 seasons, NC State has been downright awful in the kicking game. Those days, however, seem to be over.

Freshman kicker Christopher Dunn went 3/4 on FGs in this one, and while his long was only 34 yards, it’s nice to finally have the option of going for 3 and getting some points on the board when a drive stalls.

Emeka Emezie gets the toughness award
As good as Ryan Finley was in this one, he did hang Emezie out to dry a few times in the first half. In the span of 10 minutes Emezie caught a pass across the middle (thrown high) and was sandwiched between 2 defenders (he made the catch) and was forced to head to the sidelines holding his lower back. When he returned Finley threw to him again, high and across the middle. This one he didn’t come down with, but was hit during his jump and flipped over by the safety sending him to the sidelines once again.

Emezie, however, would have the last laugh as he put the nail in Marshall’s coffin with this TD catch.

Wolfpack running game decent, but still not where it needs to be
Reggie Gallaspy wasn’t bad in this one, and even finished with 2 TDs, but his 81 yards on 22 carries leaves room for improvement. Trent Pennix got into the mix a lot more with 9 carries, be he too only could muster 3.7 yards per carry and finished with 33 yards.

With freshman RB Ricky Person still injured, this NC State backfield needs to start coming together as stiffer competition approaches. If the Pack is going to successful, they need teams respecting the run and not just dropping back to slow down Finley.

With that said, you have to give Gallaspy credit around the goal line. The dude ran hard.

Next up, ACC play
The non-conference schedule is over and NC State finishes it out 3-0. They face Virginia next Saturday at 12:20. The Cavs will come to Raleigh 3-1, with a win over Louisville and a loss to Indiana.

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NC State Football

FAU Transfer Defensive Tackle Decarius Hawthorne is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Next Week

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6 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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FAU Defensive Tackle Transfer Decarius Hawthorne (6’2″/295) confirmed with me that he is taking an Official Visit to NC State next week, beginning on Tuesday. Arkansas is expected to host him on Sunday.

Hawthorne entered the Portal on April 26th.

This past season, Hawthorne had 18 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 12 games for the Owls. All of those numbers were career highs for Hawthorne.

ON3 ranks Hawthorne as a 3-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and the #46 Defensive Lineman in the Portal.

NC State is in desperate need for depth at Nose Tackle. They return Junior Brandon Cleveland and Redshirt Sophomore DJ Jackson, and True Freshman Justin Terrell will arrive in the Fall.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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23 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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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)

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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.

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1 day ago

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May 3, 2024

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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.

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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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2 days 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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