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Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Louisville

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5 years ago

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Louisville has not been NC State’s friend over the years, beating the Wolfpack 6 times in 8 opportunities (3-1 as ACC foes).

Louisville, Kentucky, has not been kind to NC State. The Wolfpack have never won a game on the road against the Cardinals (0-4).

Last year’s 39-25 victory on a Thursday night marked NC State’s 1st victory over Louisville as ACC opponents, snapping a 3-game losing streak. The Wolfpack will look to start a streak of their own today.

This Louisville team is a far cry from the teams led by Lamar Jackson.

The Cardinals have been in a life-without-Lamar hangover all year, entering today’s game on a 7-game losing streak, and a 2-8 overall record.

During the 7-game losing streak, Louisville’s opponents are averaging 48.7 points, 322.2 rushing yards, 501.2 total yards per game, and their turnover margin has been -8.

Louisville practically ranks in the 100’s in every statistical category on the year.

Despite the horrific stats, especially on defense, the Louisville offense has proven capable sporadically in 2018, producing over 400 yards of total offense in 4 of their ACC games:

Florida State – 421 yards
Georgia Tech – 483 yards
Wake Forest – 532 yards
Syracuse – 413 yards

The Cardinals deploy 2 quarterbacks on a weekly basis: Sophomore Jawon Pass and Freshman Malik Cunningham. Pass serves as Louisville’s primary passer (no pun intended), and Cunningham primarily comes in to run the ball. In fact, Cunningham leads the Cardinals in carries (60), rushing yards (308), and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Pass has only completed 54.3% of his attempts for 1,893 yards and 8 touchdowns (11 interceptions).

Senior Jaylen Smith, Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, is still around, but he’s missing his former quarterback tremendously. After earning 1st Team All-ACC honors in 2017, Smith only has 31 receptions (team lead) for 463 yards and (team lead) a touchdown.

Junior Trey Smith is the starter at Running Back, and has been successful when given the chance, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but his touches have been limited with the Cardinals having to chase points nearly every game.

Pretty much the only respectable aspect of Louisville football right now is their pass defense, which ranks 22nd nationally. I would be remiss not to mention the fact that Sophomore Rodjay Burns is an extremely dangerous punt returner, averaging 16.4 yards per return. He ranks 2nd in the ACC and 10th nationally.

Life without Lamar Jackson has been bleak, but what will life without former head coach Bobby Petrino be like? Can interim head coach Lorenzo Ward wake up this Cardinals squad to protect their house, and finish the year strong?

On paper, NC State should make easy work of Louisville, but as we learned last week, there’s a reason you play the game. Wake Forest took that paper, balled it up, and chucked it in the trash.

If Louisville is going to treat this like their bowl game, then so should NC State. If they do, they will win.

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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

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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5 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

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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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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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