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NC State Football 2020: Who’s Gone?

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A lot of change has happened within the NC State Football program over the past couple of months, whether that be the loss of coaches, or players.

Here’s a look at which players are gone:

Quarterback Matt McKay transferred to Montana State, where he will have the opportunity to play immediately because it is an FCS program, with 2 years of eligibility remaining. McKay started the first 5 games of the 2019 season, before losing the job. He was a former 4-Star recruit out of Wakefield High School in Raleigh.

Punter Morgan McKenzie Morgan transferred to Weber State, where he will have two years of eligibility, because it is a FCS program. McKenzie was expected to be the starter, but ultimately lost the starting job heading into 2019 to Trenton Gill, who earned a scholarship in the preseason. Gill went on to break NC State’s single season record for average yards per punt (47.6).

Defensive Back De’Von Graves transferred to Northern Arizona, where he will have the opportunity to play immediately (FCS), with two years of eligibility remaining (as well as an unused redshirt season). Graves logged an astronomical amount of reps, playing right under 600 snaps last year. He started the year as Jarius Morehead’s backup at Strong Safety, but still saw significant playing time. After all of the injuries at Cornerback, Graves was moved to Cornerback. He started in 4 of the 11 games, finishing with 23 tackles, 4 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble. With the graduation of Jarius Morehead at Strong Safety, Graves was seemingly set to start for the Wolfpack next season.

Linebacker Brock Miller left NC State as a Graduate Transfer, and he will spend his final year of eligibility at Boise State, where he will be allowed to play immediately. Miller started in 11 of NC State’s 12 games in 2019, logging 40 tackles and 7 tackles for loss. Even though Miller got the most reps, Redshirt Freshman Payton Wilson led the team in tackles at the same position.

Defensive End Xavier Lyas will joined Graves in transferring to Northern Arizona, where he will have two years of eligibility left, and is able to play immediately. Lyas wasn’t getting the reps he wanted, transferring after 8 games, recording 4.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.

Offensive Guard Joshua Fedd-Jackson decided to transfer for his final year of eligibility. He was hoping to graduate in the Spring, which would give him the ability to play immediately wherever he landed. With that being said, there is a possibility that Fedd-Jackson skips his final year of college to opt for the NFL Draft. Fedd-Jackson earned 1st Team All-ACC honors this past year, and ranked in the Top-10 nationally in run blocking.

Defensive End Joseph Boletepeli entered the transfer portal in January, but has yet to find a landing spot. Boletepeli has three years of eligibility remaining, though he has already used his redshirt season. He entered Week 1 as the starter, but never started a game, playing 162 snaps in 7 games as a reserve, with 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Boletepeli was a 3-star prospect out of Heritage High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Defensive End Jeffrey Gunter also entered his name into the portal in January, and has also yet to find a new home. Gunter never actually played a snap for the Wolfpack, sitting out last season after transferring from Coastal Carolina. Gunter had a lot of buzz surrounding him, earning C0-Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors, and was expected to be a difference maker for the Wolfpack in 2020.

Cornerback Nick McCloud decided to spend his final year of eligibility as a Graduate Transfer elsewhere, but he has yet to find a new home. McCloud was going to be a key veteran in the Wolfpack secondary in 2020, starting every game as a Junior, before missing most of last season due to injury.

The irony of all of this, is the NCAA is considering changing the rules, where a player can transfer one time in their collegiate career, and have the ability to play immediately. They were supposed to vote on this in April, but it could be moved back to June. If this passes, the players listed above who haven’t made a decision yet, might be the lucky ones.

Photo Credit

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

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

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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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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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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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NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

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NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.

He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.

In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.

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