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ACC Teams Keep Dropping Out with COVID…Can NC State Go?

Published

2 years ago

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These last two weeks have been long ones for WPN. We thought that other sports could hold us over until the Holiday Bowl.

But it hasn’t been pretty.

WBB got upset by Georgia, MBB upset everyone off the court and Wrestling got screwed by a no-pin call. Now Covid is wrecking teams from the NHL, to NFL, to college.

 

ACC can’t get on the field

The first domino was Texas A&M dipped out of their Gator Bowl matchup with Wake Forest. Rutgers (who is 5-7 and should be handled, you’re welcome WF) is filling in. Boston College and UVA both dropped out, and thus, their bowls were canceled. Miami is a no go in the Sun Bowl, but that Bowl committee is trying to find a backup plan in time.

All this to say, the ACC has a 11-game bowl losing streak, and mind as well make it 14 with the latest mess.

You can blame the Omicron variant being so easily spreadable. You can blame the ACC and NCAA for sitting back for the last 18-months, not doing a damn thing about COVID protocols. There is probably other avenues for anger, in general, but we’ll leave those alone for now.

 

UCLA struggles of late

So far – and cannot emphasize enough how badly of a non-jinx this is meant to be – UCLA has been the one losing players.

Qwuantrezz Knight is by a mile their biggest.

The Bruins’ DB is team leader in tackles and tackles for loss. Add in Otito Ogbonnia, who previously declared for the NFL draft and will skip the Holiday Bowl, UCLA is down 13.5 TFL players. There have been a handful of other players that will be inactive for UCLA because of COVID. While most are purely backups, having any positives cases at this point makes you worry about others. Guard Mafi, DL Manoa and running back Fernea are all out.

UCLA coach Chip Kelly said the team plans to test one more time Monday evening. Fingers crossed.

 

Huge Game for this State Program

We’ve talked about it before and will mention it again over the next 24-hours; This game for State football program is HUGE.

Kelly mention it’s UCLA’s Super Bowl…the same could be said for State.

The second double-digit win total in school history. An absolute momentum push for this program into next year, with a whole lotta players coming back. Further proof, State is ready to make the next step.

In the past, you could flip flop back and forth on the importance of any one Bowl. This year is important, without question.

Now it’s a matter of whether they can go or have a last minute, Omahaian exit.

 

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NC State Football

Payton Wilson is the 7th Highest Drafted Linebacker in NC State History

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2 hours ago

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April 27, 2024

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Last night NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 98th overall pick.

Wilson is the 16th Wolfpack Linebacker to be selected in the NFL Draft, and the 7th highest drafted.

Levar Fisher – 2nd round – 49th overall (2002)
Nate Irving – 3rd round – 67th overall (2011)
Germaine Pratt – 3rd round – 72nd overall (2019)
Bobby Houston – 3rd round – 75th overall (1990)
Robert Abraham – 3rd round – 77th overall (1982)
Damien Covington – 3rd round – 96th overall (1995)
Payton Wilson – 3rd round – 98th overall (2024)
Stephen Tulloch – 4th round – 116th overall (2006)
Frank Bush – 5th round – 133rd overall (1985)
Terrell Manning – 5th round – 163rd overall (2012)
David Merritt – 7th round – 191st overall (1993)
Pat Thomas – 6th round – 194th overall (2005)
Audie Cole – 7th round – 210th overall (2012)
Bill Gentry – 12th round – 293rd overall (1967)
Scott Adell – 12th round – 330th overall (1992)
Henry Hipps – 16th round – 411th (1969)

Honestly, in looking at the list above, the best NFL Linebacker of the bunch wasn’t in the Top-5 highest drafted. The man right behind Wilson, Stephen Tulloch, easily had the best career of any Wolfpack Linebacker to be drafted, and he was taken in the 4th round.

It’s not where you start, but where you finish.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers Select NC State’s Payton Wilson with the 98th Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

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12 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 98th overall pick.

How on earth Wilson was the 98th player drafted is beyond me. Winner of the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Winner of the Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in College Football. Winner of the Bednarik Award, given to the best Defensive player in College football. Unanimous All-American. 3rd best PFF Grade by a Linebacker in 2023. Fastest 40-time by a LB at the NFL Combine.

Yet, he was the 7th Linebacker taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Absurd.

With that being said, I can’t think of a more fitting place for Wilson to play. He was born to play in the Black and Gold. The Steelers are a blue collar club, who carry a long history of defensive greatness. Wilson plays with reckless abandon, and with his hair on fire, and that’s exactly what you expect out of a Pittsburgh Linebacker.

Maybe I’m showing my cards here…I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan…and I can’t believe Payton Wilson will be wearing the Black and Gold this Fall.

Congrats Payton!

 

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Details of Dave Doeren’s New Contract at NC State

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21 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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NC State has signed Dave Doeren to a 2-year extension, but the extension comes with a raise. Doeren’s base salary in 2023 was $5.02 million.

According to Brian Murphy of WRALSports Fan, Doeren’s salary in 2024 will be $5.5 million, and it will increase by $125,000 each year of the contract. He can earn $1.325 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses on an annual basis.

Below is a breakdown of the bonus structure.

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The bonus structure is the same as it was in his previous contract (see above), but the section entitled “Playoff” has been updated as follows:

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Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray Commits to Liberty

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21 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray has committed to play for Liberty next year.

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This past season, Gray had career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (170). He ranked 4th on the team in receptions, and 7th on the team in receiving yards.

Gray has served as NC State’s primary Kickoff Returner the past two seasons, averaging 24.9 yards per return. This past year, he averaged 26.0 yards per carry, which ranked 3rd in the ACC, and 11th nationally. It stands as the 5th best single-season average in school history.

Back in 2021, ON3 ranked Gray as a 4-star prospect, the #197 overall player nationally, and the #13 player in the state of North Carolina.

Gray has 2 more years of eligibility remaining.

NC State has had 23 players enter the Transfer Portal

DT Nick Campbell
WR Julian Gray – Liberty
RB Delbert Mimms III – Eastern Michigan
TE Fred Seabrough
Nickel Cecil Powell – Troy
WR Christopher Scott – Austin Peay
OL Jaleel Davis – Florida International
WR Josh Crabtree – Murray St. 
OL Lyndon Cooper – Pitt
WR Terrell Timmons – Colorado
LB Torren Wright – Temple
NT C.J. Clark – Miami
QB MJ Morris – Maryland
S Jakeen Harris – UNC
TE Cedd Seabrough – West Georgia
WR Porter Rooks – Eastern Michigan
DB Nate Evans – Delaware
LB Daejuan Thompson
RB Jordan Houston – Marshall
RB Michael Allen – UNLV
DB Darius Edmundson – UNC-Pembroke
WR Anthony Smith – East Carolina
TE Christopher Toudle – Western Michigan 

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