(Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Jordan Houston, OC Dylan McMahon, OG Derrick Eason, OT Timothy McKay, DE Davin Vann, NT CJ Clark, LB Payton Wilson, CB Shyheim Battle, CB Aydan White, FS Jakeen Harris, KR Julian Gray and PT Caden Noonkester.
Key Players Departing:
QB Devin Leary, WR Devin Carter, WR/PR Thayer Thomas, OG Chandler Zavala, OT Bryson Speas, LB Isaiah Moore, LB Drake Thomas, CB Derek Pitts, FS Tanner Ingle, SS Cyrus Fagan, PK Christopher Dunn and PT Shane McDonough.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: QB Brennan Armstrong (Virginia transfer), ATH Zack Myers (Arden, North Carolina) and DS Daemon Fagan (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida).
3 Star Recruits: CB Brandon Cisse (Sumter, South Carolina), DL Isaiah Shirley (Boone, North Carolina), TE Javonte Vereen (Havelock, North Carolina), WR Dacari Collins (Clemson transfer), WR Kevin Concepcion (Charlotte, North Carolina), DS Robert Kennedy (East Carolina transfer) and OT Dawson Jaramillo (Oregon transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 @ East Carolina W 21-20
G02 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN W 55-3
G03 TEXAS TECH W 27-14
G04 UCONN W 41-10
G05 @ #6 Clemson L 20-30
G06 FSU W 19-17
G07 @ #16 Syracuse L 9-24
G08 VIRGINIA TECH W 22-21
G09 @ #21 Wake Forest W 30-21
G10 BOSTON COLLEGE L 20-21
G11 @ Louisville L 10-25
G12 @ #17 North Carolina W 30-27
BOWL vs. Maryland L 12-16
Misc. Team Information:
2022 Record: 8-5 (5th in ACC Atlantic)
Home: 6-1
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 4-4
Non-AAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Dave Doeren
NC State: 72-54
Career: 95-58
Bowls: 4-4
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Ben Finley (65-123, 741 yards, 52.8%, 6.0 avg., 3 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Jordan Houston (136 car., 544 yards, 4.0 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving: Keyon Lesane (31 rec., 342 yards, 11.3 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Demie Sumo (4)
Sacks: Davin Vann/Payton Wilson (4.5)
Tackles: Payton Wilson (82)
Tackles For Loss: Payton Wilson (12.5)
Interceptions: Aydan White (4)
Pass Deflections: Aydan White (9)Forced Fumbles: 5 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Julian Gray (16 ret., 380 yards, 23.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jalen Coit (1 ret., 12 yards, 12.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Collin Smith (1-2 fg/fga., 50%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 4 pts.)
Punting: Caden Noonkester (29 punts, 1247 yards, 43.0 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 5 Brennan Armstrong (GR/TR)
RB: 3 Jordan Houston (SR)
WR: 8 Julian Gray (RS SO)
WR: 15 Keyon Lesane (SR)
WR: 4 Porter Rooks (JR)
TE: 29 Cristopher Toudle (RS JR)
LT: 74 Anthony Belton (RS JR/TR)
LG: 75 Anthony Carter Jr. (RS SO)
OC: 54 Dylan McMahon (RS JR)
RG: 53 Derrick Eason (GR)
RT: 52 Timothy McKay (RS JR)
KR: 8 Julian Gray (RS SO)
PK: 44 Brayden Narveson (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 45 Davin Vann (JR)
NT: 5 CJ Clark (RS JR)
DE: 9 Savion Jackson (SR)
LB: 11 Payton Wilson (RS SR)
LB: 26 Devon Betty (JR)
LB: 2 Jaylon Scott (SR)
NB: 8 Robert Kennedy (GR/TR)
CB: 7 Shyheim Battle (JR)
CB: 3 Aydan White (JR)
FS: 6 Jakeen Harris (SR)
SS: 12 Devan Boykin (JR)
PR: 21 Jalen Coit (RS SO)
PT: 98 Caden Noonkester (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ UCONN HUSKIES | NC State leads the series 3-0. Last season’s (41-10) win was the first meeting between schools since 2012.
09/09 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH | NC State leads the series 2-1. The Wolfpack’s only series loss (14-35) was at the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/16 VMI KEYDETS | NC State trails the series 5-8-1. The Wolfpack won (49-7) the last meeting between schools in 1946.
09/22 @ Virginia Cavaliers | NC State leads the series 36-22-1. The Wolfpack won (38-21) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
09/29 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | NC State trails the series 4-8. The Wolfpack are 3-5 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (28-13) was in 2021.
10/07 MARSHALL THUNDRING HERD | NC State leads the series 5-0. The Wolfpack won (37-20) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/14 @ Duke Blue Devils | NC State trails the series 37-41-5. The Wolfpack won (31-20) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
10/28 CLEMSON TIGERS | NC State trails the series 29-60-1. The Wolfpack are 1-8 since 2013 and their last series win (27-21 OT) was in 2021.
11/04 MIAMI (FL) HURRICANES | NC State trails the series 5-11-1. The Wolfpack lost (30-31) the last meeting between schools in 2021 and their last series win (38-38) dates back to 2008.
11/11 @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | NC State leads the series 68-42-6. The Wolfpack are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (42-45) was in 2021.
11/18 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | NC State trails the series 19-28-4. Last season’s 22-21 win was the first meeting between schools since 2020 and their last series loss (24-45) was in 2020.
11/25 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | NC State trails the series 38-68-6. The Wolfpack are 6-4 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-48) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 3-4
Road: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (9th in ACC)
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