Key to the Season
Keep defenses out of the backfield.
It was a big deal when the Pack allowed 87 tackles for loss and gave up 6.69 per game. The pass protection couldn’t seem to stop teams from getting behind the line constantly. NC State offensive line gave up a whopping 92 tackles for loss – only 13 teams gave up more than 7.08 tackles for loss per game.
Key Player
Jacarrius Peak, OT Jr.
Anthony Belton was picked in the second round by Green Bay in this past NFL Draft. Ikem Ekwonu was the sixth overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
NC State has had some success at left tackle over the last few years, and needs Peak to go from good at right tackle to great on the left side, He’s 6-4, 298, and can move, but the line needs an anchor to build around.
Top Transfers
Top Transfer In: Brian Nelson II, CB Soph.
The Wolfpack have good options at corner, but if Nelson at North Texas made 53 tackles with four picks and three tackles for loss. He will make an immediate impact on this defense.
Top Transfer Out: KC Concepcion, WR Jr.
A dangerous playmaker no matter how he gets the ball in his hands, he caught 124 passes with 16 touchdowns, and ran for 356 yards and two scores, over the last two years for NC State. Texas A&M will be the beneficiary of his talent in 2025.
Key Game
at Duke, Sept. 20
Duke has won four of the last five in the series, winning last year 29-19 and 24-3 in 2023.
Top 10 Players
1. Sean Brown, LB Sr.
2. Justin Joly, TE Sr.
3. Caden Fordham, LB Sr.
4. CJ Bailey, QB Soph.
5. Noah Rogers, WR Soph.
6. JJ Johnson, S Sr.
7. Hollywood Smothers, RB Soph.
8. Anthony Carter, OG Sr.
9. Brandon Cleveland, DT Sr.
10. Kanoah Vinesett, PK Jr.
2024 Fun Stats
– Penalties: Opponents 80 for 717 yards, NC State 66 for 621 yards
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 109, NC State 51
– Passing Yards: Opponents 3,040, NC State 3,024
2025 Season Prediction and Final Thoughts
NC State‘s schedule is definitely manageable but they need to win the winnable games more consistently in 2025. The Wolfpack lost at home to a not good Wake Forest team and shouldn’t have dropped the Military Bowl against ECU. .
The good news there is no Clemson to deal with, and missing Louisville and SMU helps too.
There’s a trip to Miami, and going to Pitt will be fun. The Pack goes to Notre Dame, Pitt, and Miami in a run of three away games in four weeks. More good news 9 of the 12 games are at home or within a half-hour drive.
Miami on the road will be tough, but basically everything else in ACC play is winnable.
NC State should start, at worst, 4-2, but 5-1 is possible. The back half of the schedule will be tough at Notre Dame, at Pitt, Georgia Tech, at Miami, Florida State, North Carolina.
Podcasts/Media
ACC Football
NFL/Carolina Panthers
