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Former NC State Fullback Taylor Gentry was one of the most physical players to wear the Wolfpack Red-and-White in quite some time.  After graduating from Leesville Road High School (Raleigh, NC), Gentry walked-on at NC State, the alma mater of both of his parents.  As a Freshman, Gentry caught 7 passes for 72 yards, and earned a scholarship in the offseason.  Gentry finished his career at NC State with 38 catches for 313 yards and 5 touchdowns, but he ultimately left his mark as one of the most ferocious special teams players in recent memory.  His physicality led the Kansas City Chiefs to sign him to a free agent deal after going undrafted in 2012, but ultimately didn’t make the final roster.  Shortly after, Gentry found himself working a corporate job in Greensboro, but before long he would find himself on a field again, but this time without a helmet.
“Three years ago when I got out of football, I began working a corporate job for a mechanic contracting company in Charlotte.  I moved to the Greensboro area to work that territory.  One night I was back visiting Raleigh shortly after I moved there, and my brother and I were hanging out in our basement with some former football players, as well as other friends,” said Gentry. “One of those football players was Scott Thompson, and his brother Eric Thompson was with us.  He was visiting from California to watch Scott play that weekend.  It turned out that Eric played rugby and I’ll never forget when he looked at me and said “Taylor you should play rugby man, you will kill it.”  Eric plays out on the West Coast and is very good.  He was an All-American from what I understand.  That night we talked about the odds of making it to the professional level if I did well and the odds of going overseas.  In my mind that night, I was thinking the odds of that ever happening were slim to none.”
Gentry can now look back and see that he beat the odds.  On July 29th, Gentry signed a deal with the Sharks, a professional Rugby team out of South Africa.
“Now looking back as I sit here in South Africa, it’s very surreal.  So after talking to Eric Thompson, and thinking to myself that I’m not ready to buy knickerbockers and play golf on Sunday afternoons…that night I got in contact with Greensboro’s local rugby team the Triad Dogs, began learning, playing, and now I have a profound love for the sport,” said Gentry. “Fast forward 3 years, after many other steps and contacts with other parties such as the NRFL…here I am in Durban, South Africa.”
It hasn’t taken long for Gentry to gain legendary status down in South Africa.  When you are given the nickname of the leader of the Transfomers, you know you are doing something right.
“From a rugby point of view the experience has been great.  From the initial arrival to the airport, getting escorted by the police and skipping customs, I was known as the “American” who has come to play rugby,” said Gentry. “Now after several matches competing for what is known here as the “Murray Cup” my nickname has changed to “Optimus Prime” by the players I have played with.  When the roster gets sent out, you won’t find Taylor anywhere on the list.  All you see is “Optimus.”   So far the best moments of the rugby matches I have played in have been the big hits I have laid on opponents and the boys in the crowd yelling USA, USA, USA on repeat for a solid two minutes.”
Gentry believes that his time at NC State prepared him well to take his athletic skills to the Rugby field.
“NC State football helped prepare me to play at a big level on a big stage, and being used to it.  Being at NC State and being an athlete in a regimented and specific routine is also something that prepared me.  It is very similar to what we are doing here with professional rugby and the schedules and training regimens we have,” said Gentry.  “It also helped me become used to the speed and intensity of a game being played by the best athletes in the country.  As far as physically, being at NC State, I learned how to prepare and train myself as a top tier athlete which transitioned to training for my short NFL stent and now rugby.”

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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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Pack in the Pros

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

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6 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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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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Pack in the Pros

Payton Wilson will Wear #41 for the Pittsburgh Steelers

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6 days ago

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April 28, 2024

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Former NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in 3rd round on Friday night, will wear the #41 for the Steelers.

Wilson spent his entire collegiate career at NC State wearing the #11. He wore the #11 at Orange High School.

It will take some getting used to recognize him in the #41 jersey. Currently, Steelers Wide Receiver Van Jefferson is wearing the #11.

Here’s a look at other Pittsburgh players who have worn the #41.

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NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

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7 days ago

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April 28, 2024

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NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.

He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.

In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.

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NC State Football

NC State PK Brayden Narveson Signs Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Titans

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1 week ago

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April 27, 2024

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NC State Place Kicker Brayden Narveson has signed an Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Tennessee Titans.

In his one season in Raleigh, Narveson made 18 of his 23 Field Goal attempts for the Wolfpack, and made all 38 Extra Point attempts. Narveson made some history in his one season at NC State, kicking a 57-yard Field Goal against Duke, breaking the school record for the longest Field Goal.

Narveson ranked 4th in the ACC in Field Goals attempted (23), and 5th in Field Goals made (18) this season. He ranked 9th in conference in scoring (7.1 points per game).

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