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Today I continue our series called “Losing Their Shirt” where I will look at the Redshirt Freshmen on the NC State football roster.  Fans can be so focused on the stars they have returning, who they lost on their roster, and the incoming freshman recruiting class, that they forget entirely about the class of redshirt freshmen.  Allow me to help introduce you to the NC State redshirt freshmen.  The third player featured in “Losing Their Shirt” is Offensive Tackle Will Richardson.

Will Richardson originally committed to play football for the Virginia Cavaliers back in May of 2013.  With the 2014 National Signing Day only a couple of weeks a way, Richardson took an Official Visit to UVA on January 17th, 2014.  In a strange turn of events, Richardson came back from Virginia and committed to play for NC State three days later on January 20th, and signed his letter of intent to play for the Wolfpack on February 5th, 2014.

Richardson played high school football at Hugh M Cummings in Burlington, North Carolina.  ESPN rated him as a 4-star prospect, and the 290th overall prospect in the 2014 recruiting class.  Scout, Rivals, and 247 gave him 3-stars.  Rivals ranked him as the #23 player in the state of North Carolina, and ESPN ranked him 13th.  The Burlington standout played in the Shrine Bowl.

Richardson chose to run with the Wolfpack over offers from UVA, FSU, UNC, Indiana, Duke, ECU, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Ohio.

Senior Highlights

NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren spoke highly of Richardson at his Media Day Press Conference:

“He (Richardson) had a great summer in the weight room. He got a lot stronger. He’s been hurt. He’s had nicks that have bumped him out of the training cycle. He have a sprained ankle, or a sprained knee, or mono, or pinkeye. It was crazy. You need an eight week window to maximize your growth,” said Doeren. “He never really got one of those until this summer. I think he matured a lot and the redshirt year helped him. Will has a great passion and energy for the game of football. I think that’s something our offensive line needed. It’s contagious. And he finishes. He worked really hard this first week to get himself in the conversation.” (PI)

Doeren spoke to the media after the Scrimmage this past Saturday, and he was asked if any of the offensive linemen were entrenched in certain positions.  His response would lead you to believe that Richardson is fighting hard and in the mix to be a starter at one of them.

“Quinton Schooley is our starting Center.  Tony Adams is our starting Guard.  Whether Joe Thuney is starting at Left Tackle or Left Guard still remains to be seen.  Will Richardson, Tyler Jones and Alex Barr are all a part of that equation.” (PI)

Losing Their Shirt: Elliott Davis

Losing Their Shirt: Coult Culler

Related Topics:

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

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

Published

8 hours ago

on

May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

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15 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

Published

2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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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

Published

2 days ago

on

May 1, 2024

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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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