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NC State 24 UCONN 14: Initial Thoughts and Observations

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8 months ago

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NC State started their football season 1-0 tonight, defeating UCONN 24-14. Here are some of my initial observations.

  • Honestly, I expected the ball to be in the air a lot more than it was. A lot more. I thought Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae was bringing in the Air Raid. Tonight couldn’t have been more of an inverse of that. NC State ran the ball 46 times, and threw the ball 26 times.
  • Brennan Armstrong led NC State in rushing attempts (19), rushing yards (96) and he picked up 2 rushing touchdowns. I’m honestly not shocked that Armstrong led the Wolfpack in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. I wouldn’t be shocked if he leads NC State in rushing touchdowns by seasons end.
  • Armstrong wasn’t impressive in the passing game. His accuracy wasn’t anything to write home about. Neither was the zip on his ball. Yes, he completed 65% of his balls, but most of them were thrown underneath.
  • I mean no disrespect to Jordan Houston. His numbers were adequate. Houston rushed the ball 13 times for 57 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. My question is this: Why did Michael Allen not touch the ball more? Allen rushed the ball 4 times for 30 yards (7.5 yards per carry), and caught 3 passes for 27 yards. He ranked 3rd on the team in receptions and receiving yards, which tells me Anae wants to get the ball in his hands, but I want to see him used more in the rushing game. He is more electric than Houston, and you can’t rush your QB close to 20 times a game.
  • I didn’t expect Delbert Mimms to get 8 carries in the season opener. Not one bit. Yes, he scored a touchdown, but he averaged 2.5 yards per carry on the night.
  • True Freshman Kevin Concepcion led the Wolfpack in receptions (5), receiving yards (36) and targets (5). I wouldn’t be shocked if he led the Wolfpack in all three categories at the end of the year.
  • Defensively, I’m not upset with NC State giving up 14 points or 273 total yards of offense. I’m not a fan of the Wolfpack giving up an average of 6.2 yards per carry.
  • In epic fashion, Linebacker Payton Wilson sealed the deal with an interception with the game coming to a close. He finished the game with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1 interception.
  • Safety Sean Brown had 2 pass breakups, and one of those should have been an interception, ending with the turnover bone in his hand.
  • The Wolfpack, who are known to blitz incessantly under Tony Gibson, seemed to settle for a three-man push.
  • Julian Gray averaged 29 yards per kickoff return (3 returns).
  • Punter Caden Noonkester averaged 45.3 yards per punt (3 punts).
  • Starting Defensive End Savion Jackson didn’t play in the game. His absence was noticeable, with some of UCONN’s success running to the outside.

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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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Afterglow
Afterglow
8 months ago

I think it might take a few games for our offense to really start to click. It’s a new offense, the players are getting used to Armstrong, and Armstrong is getting used to the players. Not thrilled by last night’s game but consider it good on many fronts, a win on the road, a first win of the season and a W in the win column. I would have hated to loose a game like this, but somehow only feel lukewarm about how we won. But again, a lot of new, so I’m cautiously optimistic.

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NC State Football

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class Ranks 7th Nationally After 2 Commitments this Week

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13 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class ranks 7th nationally according to ON3 after two commitments this week from Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. and Colorado Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace.

(ON3)

247Sports ranks the 14-man class 18th, and Rivals ranks it 28th.

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class

Akron S Kerry Martin Jr. 
Colorado NT Chazz Wallace
Auburn S Donovan Kaufman
Oklahoma RB Daylan Smothers
Villanova CB Devon Marshall
Ohio State WR Noah Rogers
Duke RB Jordan Waters
Maryland DB Tamarcus Cooley
Maryland CB Corey Coley Jr.
UCONN TE Justin Joly
Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall
Wake Forest WR Wesley Grimes
Notre Dame C Zeke Correll
Missouri OL Valen Erickson

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NC State Football

NC State’s Grayson McCall Ranks 4th Amongst Active QB’s in Career Passing Yards Heading into ’24

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14 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s Grayson McCall ranks 4th amongst Active Quarterbacks heading into the 2024 College Football season. McCall leads all Active ACC Quarterbacks in Career Passing Yards.

Image

McCall was at Coastal Carolina for his first 5 years, throwing for 10,005 yards, which is 6 more than the infographic from PFF above.

McCall transferred to NC State for his final year of eligibility, and he has the weapons in place to throw for 3,000 yards for the first time in his career. If he did, he would be the first Wolfpack Quarterback to do so since Devin Leary threw 3,433 yards in 2021.

Here’s a look at McCall’s highlights from NC State’s 2024 Spring Game.

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NC State Football

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

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3 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

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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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