NC State Football
Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Syracuse
NC State and Syracuse will kickoff tonight at 8pm on ESPN, but before they do, here’s a preview of the Orange.
Team Stats
Schedule
Rundown
Syracuse was projected to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division, even picking up 2 first place votes. Thus far, they have not met expectations, getting crushed by Maryland and Clemson, and are underdogs against the Wolfpack tonight.
The Orange are struggling on both sides of the ball, ranking 11th in Total Offense (385.8), and 12th in Total Defense (438.2).
Two strengths will be up against one another tonight. Syracuse ranks 1st in the ACC in turnovers forced (12), and NC State has turned the ball over only 4 times, which is the lowest in the conference. The Orange have forced a turnover in 19 straight games, which is the 2nd longest streak in the FBS.
When Syracuse has scored in 2019, it’s been explosive. Eleven of their fifteen scores in the past two games have been drives of two minutes or less.
Player Rundown
It was questionable whether or not Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Tommy DeVito, would play tonight, but he looks to be set to play. His 11 touchdown passes rank 3rd in the ACC, and ranks 4th in passing yards per game (246.8).
DeVito’s main target is Redshirt Junior Trishton Jackson, leading the team in receptions (24), receiving yards (393) and touchdown receptions (5). Jackson is averaging an impressive 16.4 yards per carry. His 5 touchdowns ranks 3rd in the ACC.
Even though they haven’t had the success this year that Jackson has had, Senior Sean Riley and Sophomore Taj Harris lit the Wolfpack up last year. In the Dome in 2018, Harris had 10 receptions for 164 yards, and Harris had 6 receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
While he doesn’t have the stats that the receivers do, Tight End Aaron Hackett has 3 touchdown receptions in the past two games.
Senior Moe Neal leads the Orange’s rushing attack, averaging 63.4 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry, with 3 trips to the end zone. He is a receiving threat as well, ranking 10th among running backs in the FBS in receptions (14).
On the defensive side of the ball, Senior Middle Linebacker Lakiem Williams is averaging 7.8 tackles per game, which ranks 9th in the ACC. He also has 3.5 sacks.
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Chris Fredrick has 6 passes defended, which ranks 3rd in the ACC.
The Orange have two very dangerous Senior Defensive Ends in Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman. They are the top returning sack tandem in the ACC, combining for 20 in 2018. They are off to a little bit of a slower start (Robinson 2.5/Coleman 2), but can bring the pain on a good day.
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
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