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NC State Football

Clemson Exposes NC State Isn’t Ready for the Limelight

Published

6 years ago

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There’s still a lot of season left for NC State, but yesterday’s 41-7 loss to #3 Clemson was an embarrassment.

A loss can be swallowed. Covering the 17-point spread would have been acceptable.

After playing the Tigers close the past three years, to be throttled like that down in Death Valley is a significant step back for NC State.

Ryan Finley had one of the worst games of his career, posting a passing efficiency rating of 88.54. He couldn’t get in sync with his receivers. Finley has been able to be a little late on his throws against prior teams, and his receivers have bailed him out, but the Clemson secondary was too quick.

When Kelvin Harmon is targeted 6 times, and finishes the game with 2 receptions for 13 yards, it’s bound to be a blowout, and it was. Harmon didn’t thrive in the limelight, dropping what could have been a explosive play resulting in a touchdown, but he let it bobble off of his fingers and his face.

Honestly, the Wolfpack’s running back tandem of Reggie Gallaspy and Ricky Person was one of the only bright spots of the day. Gallaspy averaged 6.6 yards per carry, and Person averaged 4.5. On the other side of the ball, despite the fact that the Wolfpack defense gave up 41 points, they held Clemson running back Travis Etienne to 39 yards on 15 carries (2.6 yards per carry).

What looked effortless was Trevor Lawrence’s performance. He picked apart NC State’s secondary that seemed so fearful of giving up the big play, that they always had a 10-yard cushion between them and the receiver. Lawrence was 26 of 39 for 308 yards and 1 touchdown.

NC State posted a -2 turnover margin (NC State – 3/Clemson – 1), with two of those being Ryan Finley interceptions.

The Wolfpack converted only 15.4% of their third down opportunities, entering the game as the national leader in third down conversion. Clemson converted 53.3% of theirs.

Clemson had 471 yards of total offense. That’s not shocking in my opinion, or unexpected. They had 415 yards of total offense last year, and 495 in 2016. The difference was the anemic Wolfpack offense. NC State averaged 453 yards of total offense against Clemson the past two years, but settled for a measly 297 yesterday in Death Valley.

There are still 6 regular season games left, and all of them are winnable. NC State still has the chance to finish with the most regular season wins in school history. It still has the makings of a very special season, but this loss left a very sour taste in the mouths of Wolfpack fans.

NC State was unprepared to play the game on so many levels, and that is unacceptable, and Dave Doeren took the blame after the game, as well he should have.

 

 

 

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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

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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1 hour 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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8 hours 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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1 day 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

Published

2 days 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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