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True Freshman Kyle Bambard has big shoes to fill this season as the place kicker at NC State, but the shoes are his to fill.  The shoes were worn the past four years by Niklas Sade, who had the responsibility of taking on the role as the teams place kicker as a true freshman as well.  Sade went on to become NC State’s all-time career leader in field goals made (55), PAT’s (167), and total points scored (332).

After Saturday’s scrimmage, Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said that Bambard had established himself as the starter in that role.

“You kind of expect some hiccups along the way, because he’s young.  In the Spring he struggled, and I told our staff not to be concerned about it yet.  I told them to give him the summer to get used to kicking in the conditions that he will be in during the Fall, and then evaluate how he’s doing in the Fall,” said Doeren. “He’s been outstanding in camp.  We’ve just got to let him progress, and remind ourselves constantly that he hasn’t played college football yet.  That doesn’t mean that we have low expectations.  He’s a really good kicker.  We’re excited about his future.”

Bambard was the #9 kicker nationally coming out of high school according to Chris Kohl, and ESPN ranked him 12th, but he is far from a cookie cutter place kicker.  He was also an All-State quarterback in Michigan at Walled Lake Western High School.  As a Senior, Bambard completed 112-of 188 passes (60%) for 1,721 yards with 21 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions.  He also rushed for 1,458 yards (9.7 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns.  The fact that Bambard was more than a kicker was very attractive to Doeren and his staff.

“We saw him at a national kicking camp a couple of years ago.  There were 20-30 Division-1 type kickers there.  He was one of the best ones that day, and we just liked his demeanor,” said Doeren. “You could tell with him being a quarterback that he was pretty savvy.  Sometimes kickers can get caught up in the pressure.  The fact that was more than a kicker, and an all-around athlete was appealing.  He runs around a 4.65 40-yard dash.  He’s a really good athlete.  He’s an extremely strong kid in the weight room.  We had to back him off on the weights, because he loves lifting.”

Bambard signed his letter of intent back in 2014, but enrolled in classes this past January.  He took this route because NC State signed him as a “grayshirt.”  Basically a “grayshirt” is when an athlete delays his enrollment at his future college so that his eligibility/scholarship clock will not start ticking until he arrives on campus during the second semester of the year.  Technically, Bambard picked up his scholarship in 2015, and actually counts to the 2015 recruiting class number.

In NC State’s two scrimmages the past two Saturdays, Bambard connected on two 53-yard field goals, a 46-yarder, and a 43-yarder.  The Wolfpack are depending on Bambard to fill some awfully big shoes, but his head coach has shown confidence in him early.

Dave Doeren Talks to Media After Last Scrimmage

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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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19 mins 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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NC State Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers Select NC State’s Payton Wilson with the 98th Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

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11 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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NC State Football

Details of Dave Doeren’s New Contract at NC State

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19 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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NC State Football

Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray Commits to Liberty

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20 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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