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ESPN’s Andrea Adelson recently interviewed Dave Doeren to talk about the Quarterback position and how the competition is shaping up. In all it is a great piece that focuses on both Jakobi Meyers and Jalan McClendon, and what both could bring to the table for the Wolfpack. Doeren seems really optimistic about both guys, but something tells me that Jakobi may just shock a lot of people coming out of Spring practices. The 6-1 195 lbs red-shirt freshman has similar escape skills as Russell Wilson, except more top end speed. Don’t mix my words, I am not saying he is the second coming of Russell Wilson. Doeren goes on talk about how your gut would say you go with the older guy (Jalan) but with neither guy having any playing time and a new system he felt like a competition would be good for both players.

Here are some excerpts from Adelson’s article:

What is your take on the quarterback competition between Jalan McClendon and Jakobi Meyers this spring?

Dave Doeren: The natural inclination would be the older guy wins, and Jalan may win. But with this being a new system and both these kids not having a game as a starter, we feel having a little competition in the spring is a good thing, so we’ll see where it takes us. ESPN

What are their strengths?

DD: Jalan can throw the ball as good as any quarterback I’ve ever seen. Can he make the decisions a starting quarterback has to make? That’s what this spring has to be about for him. He’s not a 4.5 (40-yard dash) guy, but he does run pretty good, probably a 4.7 guy. Jakobi Meyers is 6-1, about 195 and he can run like a receiver. He’s really fast. Was a high school baseball player until his junior year. A little green, only playing two years of high school football. Big developmental year for him. He was one of our scout-teams guys that really showed up and gave us fits on defense every day. ESPN

What does new offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz bring to the table that is different?

DD: Our quarterbacks are being coached by an extremely positive, fun guy right now, and I think that’s great for them. They need to be around football a lot right now. They’re young guys. They’re going into their biggest year as a player, so with a coach like him that I think really inspires them not from just a football standpoint but the way he walks and talks, he’s got great bounce to him. He comes from a background of learning from coach (Gus) Malzahn, coach (Bryan) Harsin and Mike Sanford Jr. Those three offenses blended together are pretty fun. They’re physical, but there’s great down-the-field play-action. They use tempo, they change formations and challenge defensive systems, and they’re creative. For us to have a chance with Florida State and Clemson, we’re going to have to be unique, and the system gives us a chance to be a little more change-of-pace with some things. ESPN

How about defensively — where are you looking for improvement this spring?

DD: We gave up too many big plays. We played 75 to 80 percent of the game really well. Some plays we were in position and didn’t make the plays. That happened more in the second half of the season. What we’ve done is studied the reasons why it happened. … We had some injuries that hurt us, but I feel good about the changes we made and some of the things we’re asking guys to do, and there’s going to be a little more competition. Statistically we have gotten better on defense; what happened was we gave up too many big plays and that’s what people remember. We’ve got to do a better job there. ESPN

It should be fun keeping tabs on the QB competition and seeing both guys in the Red&White game in the coming weeks. If you want to read Andrea’s entire article you can find it in the link here.

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NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

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9 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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3 days ago

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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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3 days 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

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4 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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