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Dave Doeren’s Postgame Thoughts After NC State’s 24-14 Season Opening Win Over UCONN

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8 months ago

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NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren met with the media after the Wolfpack’s season opening 24-14 victory over UCONN tonight. Here’s what he had to say.

“I’m proud of our guys. Road win. Good football team we played. They’ve gotten a lot better. He’s done a nice job with his program. I thought our players adjusted well throughout the game. They did a great job in their opening drive and showed new things, and we didn’t adjust well in that first drive. Offense did a good job responding. I thought throughout the game, anytime momentum went the other way, we took it back.”

“Julian Gray had a couple of nice kickoff returns too.”

“I thought Brennan really showed his I.D. I’ve been waiting to see that [Brennan Armstrong run the ball]. We don’t hit the QB in practice. They blow the whistle, and he winks at me, like ‘Coach, you’ll see.” I did. I saw. That guys tough. He is a tough dude. Our guys will feed off of that. Excited for him and the way he played, and the way he led. He loves contact. He’s a Linebacker playing Quarterback. You love that about him.”

“You have two sixth year players making plays to win a game. Wilson and Brennan. That’s what a 6th year player should look like, right? They were the keys guys at the end of the game, and throughout the game.”

“It was good to see some of our young guys get in there. I thought KC [Kevin Concepcion] in his first game caught the ball well. Michael Allen ran the ball well. So that was good to see.”

“We got two nice sacks by two of our Defensive Ends.”

“There’s a ton we need to fix before we play Notre Dame, but it was a good win.”

“It was great to see him [Payton Wilson] make that play to finish the game. The guy is an incredible leader on the defense. He made a lot of plays. To have the season you want to have, your best players have to make plays at key moments.”

“Pretty clean game. Only one penalty in our opening game. That says a lot about the discipline of the team. The execution in a lot of ways was good.”

“So far everything I’ve heard about Rakeim Ashford is positive, but they are going to keep him overnight. Every test they’ve done so far has been ok.”

“Usually the better teams I’ve been on, the Seniors play like they are running out of time. They feel that sand running out. They play with a different sense of urgency.”

“Kevin Concepcion and Keyon Lesane are two guys that you’re not going to squeeze down, you’re going to have to tackle them. They’re stronger than people think. People might not give them credit because of their size, but they’re really hard to tackle. They can get to top speed in a hurry. They fight. They’re guys with grit. Julian Gray is that way too. They are stocky, strong and quick. If they get the ball in space, it’s going to be a challenge to get them down.”

“Being in a dog fight like this, I think is good. It pressed us. Our guys were challenged. That defensive front was a good front. Big and strong. Our O-Linemen got a lot out of that film tonight. As happy as they were about rushing for 200, they weren’t happy about a couple of 3rd and shorts that they didn’t get.”

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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

The Athletic Includes NC State in Their Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Top-25

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2 days ago

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May 9, 2024

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The Athletic released their 2024 Post-Spring Preseason Top-25, and NC State landed at #21. Here’s what they had to say about the Wolfpack.

21. NC State

The Wolfpack made a huge acquisition at quarterback in landing Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall. They also added former Ohio State wide receiver Noah Rogers, a North Carolina native and one-time top-50 national prospect. It’ll be hard to overcome the loss of linebacker Payton Wilson, one of the best defensive players in the country a year ago, and there are plenty of personnel questions in the secondary. But Dave Doeren always has this team ready to go. (The Athletic)

ACC in the Top 25

10. Miami

12. FSU

18. Clemson

21. NC State

22. Louisville

Tennessee, who the Wolfpack will play in Week 2 in Bank of America Stadium, is sitting at #15.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown

Published

3 days ago

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May 8, 2024

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Here’s a look at NC State’s current Football scholarship breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback 
Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall
Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas
4-Star Freshman Cedrick Bailey

Transferred Out: MJ Morris
Transferred In: Grayson McCall

Running Back
Redshirt Senior Jordan Waters
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones
Redshirt Junior Jordan Poole
Sophomore Kendrick Raphael
Redshirt Freshman Daylan Smothers
3-Star Freshman Jayden Scott
3-Star Freshman Isiah Jones

Transferred Out: Jordan Houston, Michael Allen, & Delbert Mimms III
Transferred In: Jordan Waters & Daylan Smothers

Wide Receiver
Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit
Redshirt Junior Jakolbe Baldwin
Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins
Junior Wesley Grimes
Sophomore Kevin Concepcion
Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers
4-Star Freshman Jonathan Paylor
4-Star Freshman Terrell Anderson
4-Star Freshman Keenan Jackson
4-Star Wide Receiver Jimmar Boston
3-Star Freshman Christian Zachary

Transferred Out – Porter Rooks, Anthony Smith, Terrell Timmons, Josh Crabtree, Christopher Scott & Julian Gray
Transferred In – Wesley Grimes

Tight End
Junior Justin Joly
Junior Dante Daniels (JUCO Addition)
Sophomore Juice Vereen

Transferred Out – Christopher Toudle, Cedd Seabrough & Fred Seabrough
Transferred In – Justin Joly

Offensive Line
Redshirt Senior Dawson Jaramillo
Redshirt Senior Timothy McKay
Redshirt Senior Anthony Belton
Redshirt Senior Zeke Correll
Redshirt Junior Sean Hill
Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr.
Redshirt Junior Matt McCabe
Redshirt Junior Patrick Matan
Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann
Redshirt Sophomore Jacarrius Peak
Redshirt Sophomore Valen Erickson
Redshirt Freshman Obadiah Obasayui
Redshirt Freshman Kamen Smith
Redshirt Freshman Darion Rivers
Redshirt Freshman Rico Jackson
4-Star Freshman Tyler West
3-Star Freshman Robby Martin
3-Star Freshman Trent Mitchell

Transferred out: Lyndon Cooper & Jaleel Davis
Transferred In: Zeke Correll & Valen Erickson

Defense

Defensive Line
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann
Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Chase Bond
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Justin Terrell
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Joshua Alexander-Felton

Transferred Out: Nose Tackles C.J. Clark & Nick Campbell
Transferred In: Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace

Linebackers

Redshirt Senior Devon Betty
Redshirt Junior Sean Brown
Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham
Redshirt Junior Jayland Parker
Junior Wyatt Wright (JUCO Addition)
Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride
Redshirt Freshman Kamal Bonner
4-Star Freshman Elijah Davis
3-Star Freshman Cannon Lewis
3-Star Freshman Zane Williams
3-Star Freshman Joshua Ofor

Transferred Out: LB’s Daejuan Thompson & Torren Wright

Defensive Backs

Redshirt Senior Safety Kerry Martin Jr.
Senior Cornerback Aydan White
Senior Defensive Back Corey Coley Jr.
Senior Safety Devan Boykin
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald
Senior Safety Donovan Kaufman
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall
Junior Cornerback Rente Hinton
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Crowell
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Tamarcus Cooley
Redshirt Freshman Safety Zack Myers
Redshirt Freshman Safety Daemon Fagan
4-Star Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III
4-Star Freshman Cornerback Asaad Brown
3-Star Freshman Cornerback Jivan Baly
3-Star Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt

Transferred Out: Safety Jakeen Harris, Defensive Back Nate Evans, Defensive Back Darius Edmundson, Nickel Cecil Powell
Transferred In: Tamarcus Cooley, Corey Coley Jr., Devon Marshall, Donovan Kaufman & Kerry Martin Jr.

Specialist

Redshirt Junior Caden Noonkester

That’s 83 players on scholarship, with 2 available.

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NC State Football

Colorado NT Chazz Wallace Commits to NC State!

Published

3 days ago

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May 8, 2024

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Colorado Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace (6’2″/295) was on an Official Visit to NC State today, and he just announced his commitment to run with the Wolfpack.

Wallace played in 10 games for Coach Prime this past season at Colorado, starting in 4. He finished with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 56.4.

Prior to Colorado, Wallace spent his first three years at Old Dominion.

NC State was in desperate need to add a Nose Tackle out of the Portal, and they met that need with Wallace.

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NC State Football

PI EXCLUSIVE: Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. Breaks Down His Commitment to NC State

Published

3 days ago

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May 8, 2024

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Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. committed to NC State earlier today after wrapping up an Official Visit. I caught up with Martin Jr. to get his reasons for deciding to run with the Wolfpack.

Why did you decide to spend your final year of eligibility at NC State?

It was a no brainer. Along with the relationships that are already instilled, I see that I have an opportunity to come in and uphold the standard that has been set. I also have the shot to be able to continue to pursue the next level and where is a better place to be than with those who know your capabilities as an athlete, and will continue to mold me as a man using their experiences in life.

How much did your prior connection to Coach Gibson play into your decision?

The connection between us was the factor. Unfortunately, I was not able to learn from his by initially signing to WVU out of high school. You can say that life has its way of making things come full circle. Much gratitude for the situation I’m coming into, especially with open arms amongst the staff and players.

Did you talk to your cousin Derrek about his time in Raleigh?

I have not discussed it in depth with him yet, but I will soon. I’d imagine it would only exceed my expectations because of his relationships I hear about with his former teammates here.

With one year left, what’s your goals for next season?

My goal is to solely do what it takes to win, add more value to the team and compete to get to the next venture we all dream about.

What type of player is NC State getting in Kerry Martin Jr.?

The type of player NC State is getting out of me is a blue collar worker. Appreciative for everything that has come to me, and that will come. A humble person that you can talk to, so if you see me and recognize me, don’t hesitate to stop for a conversation as I enjoy learning about others.

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