(Photo Credit: David Rosenblum/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB/KR Zonovan Knight, RB Ricky Person, WR Devin Carter, WR Emeka Emezie, WR/PR Thayer Thomas, OC Grant Gibson, OG Bryson Speas, OT Ikem Ekwonu, DE Terrell Dawkins, DE Daniel Joseph, NT C.J. Clark, LB Vi Jones, LB Isaiah Moore, LB Drake Thomas, LB Payton Wilson, CB Shyheim Battle, CB Cecil Powell, NB Tyler Baker-Williams, SS Jakeen Harris, PK Christopher Dunn, and PT Trenton Gill.
Key Players Departing:
QB Bailey Hockman, TE Cary Angeline, OG Joe Sculthorpe, NT Alim McNeill, and CB Malik Dunlap.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Micah Crowell (Kernersville, North Carolina), LB Jordan Poole (Oakboro, North Carolina), and QB Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Georgia).
3 Star Recruits: DE Travali Price (Lincolnton, North Carolina), S Chase Hattley (Cary, North Carolina), LB Caden Fordham (Jacksonville, Florida), WR Julian Gray (Huntersville, North Carolina), DE Zyun Reeves (Kernersville, North Carolina), TE Fredrick Seabrough (Swainsboro, Georgia), and TE Cedric Seabrough (Swainsboro, Georgia).
2020 Results:
G01 WAKE FOREST W 45-42
G02 at #20 Virginia Tech L 24-45
G03 at #24 Pittsburgh W 30-29
G04 at Virginia W 38-21
G05 DUKE W 31-20
G06 at #14 North Carolina L 21-48
G07 #11 MIAMI (FL) L 41-44
G08 FLORIDA STATE W 38-22
G09 #21 LIBERTY W 15-14
G10 at Syracuse W 36-29
G11 GEORGIA TECH W 23-13
G12 vs. Kentucky L 21-23
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 8-4 (5th in ACC)
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 7-3
Non-AAC: 1-1
Head Coach: Dave Doeren
NC State: 55-46
Career: 78-50
Bowls: 4-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Devin Leary (66-110, 890 yards, 60.0%, 8.1 avg., 8 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Zonovan Knight (143 car., 788 yards, 5.5 avg., 10 TD)
Receiving: Emeka Emezie (47 rec., 738 yards, 15.7 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Zonovan Knight (11)
Sacks: Daniel Joseph (6.5)
Tackles: Payton Wilson (108)
Tackles For Loss: Payton Wilson (11.5)
Interceptions: Payton Wilson (2)
Pass Deflections: Shyheim Battle (10)Forced Fumbles: Terrell Dawkins (2)
Kick Returns: Zonovan Knight (14 ret., 373 yards, 26.6 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Thayer Thomas (10 ret., 100 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Christohpher Dunn (12-17 fg/fga., 71%, 43-43 xp/xpa., 79 pts.)
Punting: Trenton Gill (52 punts, 2334 yards, 44.9 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 13 Devin Leary (RS SO)
RB: 7 Zonovan Knight (SO)
WR: 88 Devin Carter (RS SO)
WR: 86 Emeka Emezie (SR)
WR: 5 Thayer Thomas (RS JR)
TE: 28 Dylan Parham (RS SR)
LT: 79 Ikem Ekwonu (SO)
LG: 54 Dylan McMahon (RS FR)
OC: 50 Grant Gibson (RS JR)
RG: 64 Chandler Zavala (GR/TR)
RT: 52 Timothy McKay (RS FR)
KR: 7 Zonovan Knight (SO)
PK: 32 Christohper Dunn (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 99 Daniel Joseph (GR/TR)
NT: 5 C.J. Clark (RS FR)
DE: 90 Savion Jackson (SO)
LB: 32 Drake Thomas (SO)
LB: 1 Isaiah Moore (RS JR)
LB: 11 Payton Wilson (RS SO)
NB: 13 Tyler Baker-Williams (JR)
CB: 25 Shyheim Battle (RS FR)
CB: 24 Derrek Pitts (RS JR/TR)
FS: 10 Tanner Ingle (JR)
SS: 6 Jakeen Harris (SO)
PR: 5 Thayer Thomas (RS JR)
PT: 99 Trenton Gill (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/02 USF BULLS | NC State leads the series 2-1. The Wolfpack won (49-17) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
09/11 at Mississippi State Bulldogs | The series is tied 3-3. The Wolfpack lost (28-51) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/18 FURMAN PALADINS | NC State trails the series 5-8-4. The Wolfpack won (49-16) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/25 CLEMSON TIGERS | NC State trails the series 28-59-1. The Wolfpack are 1-8 since 2011, and their last series win (37-13) was in 2011.
10/02 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | NC State won (40-14) the only prior meeting between schools in 2013.
10/16 at Boston College Eagles | NC State trails the series 7-10. The Wolfpack are 4-5 since 2019, and their lasts series win (28-23) was in 2018.
10/23 at Miami (FL) Hurricanes | NC State trails the series 5-10-1. The Wolfpack lost (41-44) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (38-28) was in 2008.
10/30 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | NC State trails the series 3-7. The Wolfpack are 3-4 since 2011, and their last series win (52-10) was in 2018.
11/06 at Florida State Seminoles | NC State trails the series 14-27. The Wolfpack are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-31) was in 2019.
11/13 at Wake Forest Demon Deacons | NC State leads the series 67-41-6. The Wolfpack are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (10-44) was in 2019.
11/20 SYRACUSE ORANGE | NC State leads the series 12-2. The Wolfpack are 6-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (41-51) was in 2018.
11/26 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | NC State trails the series 36-68-6. The Wolfpack are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (34-28 OT) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 7-0
Road: 5-0
Neutral: 2-1
ACC: 8-0
Non-ACC: 5-0
Overall: 14-1 (ACC Champions – Eliminated by Alabama in National Championship)
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