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What Clemson’s Dabo Swinney had to say about NC State at his Weekly Press Conference

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Clemson Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney met with the media today for his weekly press conference. You can watch it above, or see what he had to say about the 10th ranked Wolfpack.

  • This is what a top-10 game should look like.
  • Very experienced team that we are getting to play in NC State.
  • Very well-coached. Dave Doeren has done an amazing job putting this group together.
  • Have a bunch of guys that have played a lot of ball, some of them seem like they’ve been there forever.
  • Got Linebacker Payton Wilson back on defense, he is one of the best players in the country. Think he’s outstanding.
  • Their offensive line has played a lot of football.
  • One of the best quarterbacks in the country. Devin Leary is special. He is a pro.
    • This league this year is unbelievable when it comes to quarterbacks and seems like we play every one of them.
    • Fans of the ACC need to enjoy watching these guys because a lot of them will be playing Sunday, and Leary is one of them. He really understands the game.
  • They have 2 hard-nosed backs that can flat-out tote the rock in
    • No. 0 (Demi Sumo-Karngbaye) and No. 3 (Jordan Houston).
    • No. 0 probably leads them explosive plays.
      • He made a couple plays against East Carolina where I think all 11 players hit him and somehow he kept going.
    • Physical in the run game. Will run a lot of counter, a lot of stretch, and then they’re going to take a million shots and will push the ball downfield.
  • Excellent receivers in Nos. 88 (Devin Carter), 5 (Thayer Thomas), 15 (Keyon Lesane), and 11 (Darryl Jones).
    • No. 5 is their guy as far as a guy they will script into all their touches, whether screens, handing it to him, and he’s even thrown it. He’s very savvy. Big RPO guy.
      • He’s tough. He is a true football player. Does a lot of things. Great returner. Great with the ball in his hands. Makes tough, competitive, contested catches over the middle. A lot of RPO stuff.
      • They’ll run him in behind the ‘backers, a lot of slants and things. Makes catches downfield. There’s really not anything he can’t do. He’s a reverse guy, a screen guy, he does it all.
      • One of the better players in this league.
  • Defensively, they’re complete. Very confident in their scheme. Very physical.
    • These three linebackers are outstanding…Nos. 32 (Drake Thomas ) and 1 (Isaiah Moore ) are all-conference guys, and now you throw No. 11 (Wilson ) back out there and unfortunately he couldn’t play in this game last year.
    • Very aggressive in how they fit the ‘backers in their scheme…always have 4 or 5 guys coming from somewhere.
    • Very disciplined in the back end.
    • Stingy group, just like last year. Not giving up many points.
    • A lot of zone. You have to be very patient (throwing the ball).
    • They will pressure you, and the biggest thing is identifying the pressure because with the way they play their front and their Nickel player in the middle, you have to be on the same page communication-wise and make sure you know where they’re coming from.
      • A lot of zone pressures where they’ve got guys dropping, drop ends, drop d-tackles, so understanding your throwing windows.
    • It’s not always as clean as when you play a bunch of man. This is a team that is a little bit more multiple in what they do coverage-wise.
      • They’ll give up some things underneath, but you have to be disciplined enough to put the drives together.
      • And first of all, you have be physical enough up front to hold up.
    • It’s a very physical group.

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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