Defense is absolutely mediocre.

Two games don’t lie.

Any tips on new traffic patterns?

I’m reading social media that we got a QB commit from a kid from West Virginia nmed Robert Shockey. Kid is also a wrestler. I’m assuming this is a walk on for next year. Anyone know anything?

One of the story lines this week is that Tennessee star defensive end James Pearce and NC State star wide receiver Kevin Concepcion and running back Daylan Smothers are playing each other in their hometown of Charlotte, N.C. The three were teammates at Charlotte Chambers High, winning a state title during the COVID spring of 2021, and finishing second during a thunderstorm loss against Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in Dec. 2021.

I'll get to the elephant in the room. NC State didn't recruit Pearce, who was ranked No. 160 overall in the class of 2022 by Rivals.com. At the time he was tall and lanky at about 6-5 and maybe 215 pounds. He was a gifted pass-rusher, that wasn't in doubt. Maybe he fell into the same hole that others have like Tyler Thompson, Jaybron Harvey, Rodney Dunham, etc. where Pearce was a tweener for NC State's 3-3-5 scheme.

I was able to talk to him after the Cardinal Gibbons loss because Pearce at that time didn't do interviews. He liked Tennessee, Missouri, Louisville, South Carolina and a little of Georgia. No in-state colleges at all. He was going to wait and sign in February, and then just changed his mind a few days later and picked Tennessee. I'm not sure he had officially visited there at the time.

Now after a breakout sophomore year, he's in a lot of mock drafts for the first round. It's pretty remarkable how fast this has happened.

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I didn't have meticulously going through NC State and Western Carolina on my bingo card, but I took copious notes on the bigger plays, which always makes the "The review" easy to write.

I also watched Tennessee and Tennessee-Chattanooga as a contrast. My take-away is that if WCU makes a simple field goal, it's a one-score game with a little over four minutes left. Some areas can be corrected, mostly on offense. The defense had some issues, but I'll need to see them play with Caden Fordham at middle linebacker and Ja'Had Carter at nickel. The pass rush was disappointing when you see two sacks and four tackles for loss and one of them was on the last play of the game, but I'll play along and see if the more exotic blitzes are being saved for Tennessee.

The review: NC State learns what to work on​

Senior point guard Kaden Magwood went to see NC State and then Ole Miss this past six days or so.

Kaden Magwood impressed with first trip to NC State​

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NC State coach Dave Doeren said safety Devan Boykin will be out until at least October, but nickel Ja'Had Carter will play against Tennessee. Boykin had injured his ACL last December leading up to the bowl game.

The official tallies will come out Monday, but here is what Pro Football Focus had after the Western Carolina at NC State game.

Quarterback
Grayson McCall 75

Running backs
Jordan Waters 45
Kendrick Raphael 19
Damarcus Jones 11
Daylan Smothers 10

Wide receivers
Kevin Concepcion 48
Dacari Collins 38
Wesley Grimes 31
Noah Rogers 26
Keenan Jackson 14
Terrell Anderson 10
Jalen Coit 9
Jakolbe Baldwin 6
Jonathan Paylor 2

Tight ends
Justin Joly 46
Matt McCabe 32
Javonte Vereen 14
Dante Daniels 3
Reid Mitchell 2
Isaiah Shirley 1

Offensive linemen
Zeke Correll 75
Jacarrius Peak 75
Anthony Carter 75
Timothy McKay 74
Anthony Belton 74
Valen Erickson 1

Defensive linemen
Davin Vann 43
Travali Price 33
Brandon Cleveland 32
Davin Jackson 32
Jy’Kevious Hibbler 30
Noah Potter 20
Isaiah Shirley 13

Linebackers
Sean Brown 63
Jayland Parker 48
Devon Betty 46
Kelvon McBride 11
Caden Fordham 5

Safeties/nickel
Bishop Fitzgerald 64
Donovan Kaufman 62
Corey Coley 49
Tamarcus Cooley 45
Terrente Hinton 2

Cornerbacks
Aydan White 59
Brandon Cisse 55

Special teams only:
Aidan Airas
Kamal Bonner
Isaiah Crowell
Darius Johnson
Jake Mann
Devon Marshall
Patrick Matan
Caden Noonkester
Jordan Poole
Collin Smith
Kamen Smith
Jackson Vick
Kanoah Vinesett