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Joe Thuney & AJ Cole Pick Up More Postseason NFL Honors

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Two former NC State football standouts, Offensive Lineman Joe Thuney and Punter AJ Cole have picked up more postseason accolades. Both Thuney and Cole were recently named to the Pro Bowl.

PFF recently named Thuney to their 2023 All-Pro Team.

Offense

QB: LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Second Team: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
RB: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second Team: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
FB: MICHAEL BURTON, DENVER BRONCOS
Second Team: Hunter Luepke, Dallas Cowboys
WR: TYREEK HILL, MIAMI DOLPHINS; CEEDEE LAMB, DALLAS COWBOYS; BRANDON AIYUK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second Team: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions; A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles; DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
TE: GEORGE KITTLE, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second Team: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
LT: TRENT WILLIAMS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second Team: Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia Eagles
LG: JOE THUNEY, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Second Team: Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
C: FRANK RAGNOW, DETROIT LIONS
Second Team: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
RG: CHRIS LINDSTROM, ATLANTA FALCONS
Second Team: Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams
RT: PENEI SEWELL, DETROIT LIONS
Second Team: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

Defense

EDGE: MYLES GARRETT, CLEVELAND BROWNS; MICAH PARSONS, DALLAS COWBOYS
Second Team: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
DI: DEXTER LAWRENCE, NEW YORK GIANTS; AARON DONALD, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Second Team: Quinnen Williams, New York Jets; Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
LB: FRED WARNER, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS; DEMARIO DAVIS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Second Team: Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens; C.J. Mosley, New York Jets
CB: JAYLON JOHNSON, CHICAGO BEARS; DARON BLAND, DALLAS COWBOYS; SAUCE GARDNER, NEW YORK JETS
Second Team: Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks; Kendall Fuller, Washington Commanders; Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
S: ANTOINE WINFIELD JR., TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS; JESSIE BATES III, ATLANTA FALCONS
Second Team: Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins; Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
K: CHASE MCLAUGHLIN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Second Team: Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
P: BRADLEY PINION, ATLANTA FALCONS
Second Team: Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys
KR/PR: KAVONTAE TURPIN, DALLAS COWBOYS
Second Team: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Carolina Panthers
LS: ROSS MATISCIK, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Second Team: Mitchell Fraboni, Denver Broncos
ST: MATTHEW ADAMS, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Second Team: J.T. Gray, New Orleans Saints

(PFF)

Here’s what PFF had to say about Thuney:

While he didn’t dominate as a run blocker in 2023, Thuney offset that with his work as a pass blocker. His 83.4 PFF pass-blocking grade was the best among all guards after he let up 33 quarterback pressures from 740 pass-blocking snaps. (PFF)

The NFL Players Association released their 2023 All-Pro Team for the 2nd year. Every NFL player is eligible to cast one vote. The NFL players believe that AJ Cole was the best punter in the NFL this season.

THE 2023-24 PLAYERS’ ALL-PRO FIRST TEAM

Quarterback: Lamar Jackson (Baltimore)
Running back: Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco)
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco)
Wide Receiver (2): CeeDee Lamb (Dallas), Tyreek Hill (Miami)
Tight End: Travis Kelce (Kansas City)
Left Tackle: Trent Williams (San Francisco)
Left Guard (tie): Joel Bitonio (Cleveland), Tyler Smith (Dallas)
Center: Jason Kelce (Philadelphia)
Right Guard: Zack Martin (Dallas)
Right Tackle: Lane Johnson (Philadelphia)

Edge Rusher (2): Myles Garrett (Cleveland), Max Crosby (Las Vegas)
Nose Tackle: Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants)
Interior Defensive Lineman (2): Chris Jones (Kansas City), Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams)
Off-Ball Linebacker (2): Roquan Smith (Baltimore), Fred Warner (San Francisco)
Cornerback (2): DaRon Bland (Dallas), Pat Surtain II (Denver)
Free Safety:  Jessie Bates III (Atlanta)
Strong Safety: Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore)

Kick Returner: Keisean Nixon (Green Bay)
Punt Returner: Derius Davis (Los Angeles Chargers)
Core Teamer (2): Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Detroit), Brenden Schooler (New England)
Kicker: Brandon Aubrey (Dallas)
Punter: AJ Cole (Las Vegas)
Long snapper: Ross Matiscik (Jacksonville)

(NFLPA)

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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Pack in the Pros

Former NC State Punter Trenton Gill Signs with Denver

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Former NC State Punter Trenton Gill has signed with the Denver Broncos after he was released by the Bears this offseason.

Gill was drafted by Chicago in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and has averaged 46.1 yards per punt through his first two NFL seasons.

Heading into the 2024 season, Gill will compete with Riley Dixon for the starting Punter job. Dixon was the Broncos’ starter in 2023, averaging 46.3 yards per punt.

Gill’s career average of 45.8 yards per punt in college is the best in NC State history. In 2019, Gill averaged 47.6 yards per punt, which led the ACC, and earned him a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. In 2021, he was on the All-ACC 1st Team. All 3 of his seasons as NC State’s Punter rank in the Top-6 in school history for best punting average in a single season.

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Former NC State G Lorenzo Brown Named to All-EuroLeague 2nd Team

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Former NC State Guard Lorenzo Brown was named to the All-EuroLeague 2nd Team.

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Lorenzo Brown, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

After injuries sapped Lorenzo Brown of his best form during the regular season, the Maccabi playmaker snapped back to health just in time and, as one of the stars of the postseason, has been recognized by the voters his second consecutive All-EuroLeague Team selection. Brown was the MVP of the Play-In Showdown after he erupted for 29 points on 7-for-8 three-point shooting – both Maccabi postseason records – plus 5 assists against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to send Maccabi to the playoffs. He then led the Israeli champs with 17.2 points and 5.8 assists for a PIR of 19.2 in the five-game series against Panathinaikos. Brown ranked third in scoring for the playoffs, with 17.2 points per game, and was third for the full season in assists with 6.1. (Link)

This is the 2nd time that Brown has earned All-EuroLeague status, earning 1st Team honors in 2022-23.

Brown plays for Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv in Israel, and this was his 2nd season with the squad.

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NC State is Tied for the 2nd Most Defensive Tackles in the NFL

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ProFootballFocus released this infographic this week, revealing which College Football Teams had the most Defensive Tackles on NFL rosters, and NC State was tied for 2nd with 7.

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Defensive Tackles on NFL Rosters who Played at NC State

B.J. Hill – Bengals (2018-23) – Career Stats: 285 Tackles, 22 TFL’s and 20.5 Sacks
Justin Jones – Cardinals (2018-23) – Career Stats: 219 Tackles, 34 TFL’s and 12 Sacks
Alim McNeil – Lions (2021-23) – Career Stats: 112 Tackles, 15 TFL’s and 8 Sacks
Kentavius Street – Falcons (2019-23) – Career Stats: 89 Tackles, 17 TFL’s and 7.5 Sacks
T.Y. McGill – 49ers (2015-23) – Career Stats: 45 Tackles, 10 TFL’s and 5.5 Sacks
Larrell Murchison – Rams (2020-23) – Career Stats: 37 Tackles, 5 TFL’s and 2 Sacks
Cory Durden – Rams (2023) – Career Stats: 3 Tackles

All 7 of the above players played regular season games for an NFL team in 2023. We will have to see how many of the 7 make 53-man rosters this Fall.

Junior Wolfpack Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland tweeted with confidence that he will be #8 sometime soon.

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Mike Tomlin’s Thoughts on the Steelers Drafting NC State’s Payton Wilson

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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was ecstatic that NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was available for Pittsburgh to pick up with the 98th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

“We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

“Man, we’re really excited about Peyton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the type of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skillset. He’s a fluid mover. He can run. Had an opportunity to lay some real up close eyes on him down there in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, we’re thankful we had an opportunity to get him. He’s got all the hardware that comes with some of those things that I described being a Butkus Award winner and so forth. We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed Our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

“I think you could characterize it as surprised. I mean, he is an award-winning linebacker, Butkus Award winner. Had an opportunity to get really familiar with him down in Mobile as well. But the linebackers themselves weren’t coming off the board at that juncture. So sometimes they make runs on positions at different times and it hadn’t been a lot of linebackers to that point. I think what he was number five or so.” (Link)

“We’re really excited about Payton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the types of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skill set. He’s a fluid mover. We had to get comfortable with his medical, and we were. We brought him in on a pre-draft visit to allow our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort, and so from that perspective, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

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