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#22 NC State 30 #21 Wake Forest 21: Quick Hits

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1 year ago

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#22 NC State took care of business tonight against in-state rival, #21 Wake Forest, defeating the Demon Deacons 30-21 on Homecoming in Carter-Finley Stadium. Here are a few Quick Hits from the game.

MJ Morris became the first True Freshman to start at Quarterback for NC State since 2000, when Philip Rivers made his first snap. Morris was 18 of 28 for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns, with a Passing Efficiency Rating of 162.6.

Morris became the 3rd Wolfpack QB since 2000 to throw at least 3 touchdowns in their first career start, joining Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett.

He also got the job done with his legs, especially at the end of the 4th, icing the game with his ability to run. If you don’t count the 22 yards loss due to sacks, he rushed the ball for 65 yards.

Senior Receiver Thayer Thomas was Mr. Dependable as usual, snagging 8 receptions for 79 yards.

Junior Receiver Keyon Lesane was clutch in the 1st half. You could argue that it was the deep ball for 44 yards that got MJ Morris’ confidence clicking after overthrowing his receivers on the first drive or two. Later on that same drive in the 2nd Quarter, Lesane caught a 12-yard touchdown across the middle. He finished the game with 3 receptions for 71 yards.

Senior Receiver Darryl Jones had 3 receptions for 24 yards, but 2 of them were in the end zone.

Both Junior Jordan Houston and True Freshman Michael Allen were effective rushing the ball. Houston rushed for 53 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, and Allen averaged 7.2 yards on 5 carries.

On the Defensive side of the ball, Senior Isaiah Moore was a machine, racking up 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup and 1 QBH. Junior Drake Thomas splashed the Box Score as well, collecting 9 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and 4 QBH.

The Wolfpack secondary intercepted veteran Wake Forest Quarterback Sam Hartman 3 times with Sophomore Aydan White, Senior Cyrus Fagan and Junior Jakeen Harris each grabbing one apiece.

As a Defensive unit, the Wolfpack had 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.

Wake Forest had more Total Yards (414/325), but NC State won the Time of Possession (33:22/26:38) and the Turnover Battle, turning over the Demon Deacons 3 times, while the Wolfpack offense didn’t turn it over.

I can’t forget to give Senior Place Kicker Chris Dunn his kudos. He remains perfect on the year, connecting on all 3 field goal attempts (33, 51, 25).

The Wolfpack have now won 16 straight games at home in Carter-Finley Stadium, tying the school record done under Lou Holtz back in 1972-75. NC State will look to break that tie, and set a new school record next week at home against Boston College at 3:30pm next Saturday.

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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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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22 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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