NC State Football
Five Biggest Holiday Bowl Storylines for NC State
It’s well established, but this Holiday Bowl is the biggest bowl game that State has played since 2003.
And it’s not even debatable.
As we look forward to the ballpark atmosphere in gorgeous San Diego, here are the five biggest storylines that could come out from this game.
1. Leary’s ACC POY Campaign Begins
While we’d love to sit in a dream world, where Leary is in the Heisman spotlight, we also understand what that would take. State would need to go undefeated next year and Leary would have to play out of his mind for a chance to even be considered. ACC has had only two Heisman’s in 20+ years. In the SEC and B12 (well, maybe that will be changing), it’s all about airing it out.
Thus, we think that with a solid showing in San Diego, Leary would become frontrunner for ACC POY. Pickett ran away with it this year, with 42 TDs to 7 INTs. Leary’s playbook didn’t seem to open up as much, and yet he went for 35-5. The margin is slim for Leary to make the move.
QB’s get a whole lotta love and with the potential for less competition in that category, Leary could make a huge jump.
2. State’s Best ACC Championship Odds in Forever
If you have a top ACC player, you have a top ACC team. State’s preseason ranking and odds for ACCC would probably never be higher.
If UNC can be top-10 to start the season, then surely (especially with some last minute returns from Thayer Thomas and Bam) State would be in that range. A win against UCLA, however, is a must.
If State wins, they sky is the limit. If State crushes UCLA? (Probably won’t happen – did someone order a heart attack?) Then not only is the sky the limit, but they’ll get the biggest boost of all, votes.
10-wins, big bowl win and everyone in the conference is searching for an identity next year. State is in the driver seat.
3. New Baseline for Program Success
This is already in motion. State can no longer be floating around 6-7 wins. They’ve built, over the last four season in particular, a new baseline for success.
Getting to double-digit wins, would mean the world to this program. It would bolster recruiting, while also being the most inviting of landing spots for transfers.
Also keep this in mind, over the last 12 years, an average of two ACC team per year hit double-digit wins. That’s it. Eight wins is great, nine is amazing. But anything over that it superb and ranks in the top percentile in the nation.
4. Developer U
Here’s something exciting. With a win, State becomes known as a primer developer of talent. Congrats UNC and Miami for getting stud recruits. You know where they grow and play best though? Raleigh, NC.
We got a good laugh as 5-stars went elsewhere a few weeks ago. But maybe you heard of our boy Ickey? Might go top-5 in the NFL draft? Oh, and he was nowhere close to being considered this good out of high school. App State, Charlotte or State?
State could have the best LB crew in the nation. WR talent is there. Potential top-3 round QB. Each and every position on this team has overdelivered. Each guy knows, State made them a better player.
QBU? Lineman U? Doesn’t matter. A win in primetime spotlights what State has been doing overall in player development.
5. WPN About to go WILD
This will be a major storyline with a win. Because if State pulls out a victory? All gas, no brakes for WPN.
This here fanbase is rabid, loyal and outspoken. The usual, “State Sh*t” could be on it’s deathbed.
Women’s Basketball should make a run in March. Baseball, Swim, Track, all doing their thing. But the pride and crown jewel of any college sports program is football. If this team ends up on top? Watch out.
If State wins, get ready for 24/7 365 talk until Fall. Which frankly, could be a good or bad thing.
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
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