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OUR TAKE: NC State’s 2019 Kay Yow Spring Game Rundown

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5 years ago

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There was no Ryan Finley in Red or White today in the 2019 Kay Yow Spring Game, but there were 3 quarterbacks battling to be the one that fills his shoes come the Fall.

Redshirt Sophomore Matt McKay, Redshirt Freshman Devin Leary, and Redshirt Sophomore Bailey Hockman all got their reps.

To the shock of no one, McKay got the nod out of the gate. He has been with the program longer than anyone else, and enters this QB competition with an edge due to his experience. While he started off a little choppy, McKay finished strong. He completed 14 of his 24 pass attempts for 182 yards and a touchdown (14-yarder to Cary Angeline), and rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown. McKay was the most consistent and the most composed.

Leary flashed his potential today. He has a canon for an arm. Leary was 12 of 23 for 104 yards, with a touchdown (3-yarder to Thayer Thomas) and an interception (Brock Miller).

Hockman also flashed his ability make plays, and showed he could be effective throwing on the run. He finished the game completing 12 of 23 for 134 yards and a touchdown (61-yarder to Max Fisher).

Even though the biggest question surrounding this team is who the signal caller will be, the pressure on the QB room was lowered a little bit today with the explosion of Freshman Zonovan “BAM” Knight.

Knight was the MVP of the Spring Game, and it wasn’t even close. Gallaspy and Person were a good duo last year, but neither of them possessed the breakaway speed of Nyheim Hines. Knight does. He finished the game with 17 rushes for 139 yards and a touchdown (73-yarder), and also picked up 3 receptions for 26 yards.

There is 0% chance Knight redshirts in the Fall. He will feature prominently in the Wolfpack rush attack.

Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver CJ Riley had sure hands this afternoon, and showed his explosive play ability. Riley finished the game with 6 receptions for 113 yards, with two of his catches going for 35 and 40 yards.

Redshirt Freshman Devin Carter was 2nd on the team with 6 receptions for 60 yards. He looked like Kelvin Harmon on a deep ball, and is a brute for defenders to get to the ground.

Redshirt Sophomore Thayer Thomas didn’t make the trip to Boston College with his baseball teammates to play the Eagles. He had a Spring Game to play in. Thomas finished with 5 receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, and almost had his hands on a couple of deep balls.

Freshman Keyon Lesane showed that the future is bright at slot receiver, showing off his quick and elusive ability with 4 receptions for 44 yards. With Thomas returning, and Tabari Hines transferring in, I don’t know how much Lesane will be featured in the Fall, but I think the coaches found something special in Lesane.

On the defensive side of the ball, Freshman Defensive Tackle Joshua Harris might have flashed the most in my eyes. He is going to be an extremely successful run stuffer in Raleigh. Harris finished with 7 tackles, which was tied for the team lead.

Sophomore Nickel Tyler Baker Williams had 3 pass breakups.

Sophomore Place Kicker Chris Dunn continues to be one of the Wolfpack fans favorite players on the roster. Not only can he make field goals…he can make them from long distance, splitting the uprights on a 53-yarder this afternoon.

AJ Cole was an excellent punter at NC State, but Redshirt Sophomore Mackenzie Morgan looks like he’s more than capable of filling his shoes. Dude has a boot. Quite a few of Morgan’s punts sailed well over 50 yards, and he was successful on numerous occasions pinning the ball down within the 10-yard line.

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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

Colorado DT Transfer Chazz Wallace is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Tomorrow

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4 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State has offered Colorado Defensive Tackle Transfer Chazz Wallace (6’2″/295), and he confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to Raleigh tomorrow.

Wallace played in 10 games for Coach Prime this past season, starting in 4. He finished with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 56.4.

Prior to Colorado, Wallace spent his first three years at Old Dominion.

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NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

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14 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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3 days 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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4 days 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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