Do you anticipate any losses from our current basketball roster and 2020 recruiting class.
Who do you expect to transfer or go pro?
Matt — Last year was maybe the first time in a while where I was not surprised by someone leaving (Wyatt Walker) and in fact was more surprised some didn’t leave (for instance I figured Blake Harris would probably transfer, which he did just in the fall). Thus I always anticipate losses from the roster, and given that there are at least three transfers that NC State has reached out to about playing for the Pack, I think it’s probably a given at this point. Worth noting that there were questions earlier about the severity of A.J. Taylor’s knee issues.
The big question is do redshirt juniors DJ Funderburk and Devon Daniels, who have put in four years of college, pull a Brandon Costner/Trevor Lacey and decide to move on? I don’t know the answer to that but haven’t heard anything to suggest they would.
As for the class, I think odds are decent they all show up but I am not 100 percent convinced that Josh Hall will bypass the NBA for college.
Jacey — Rumors always seem to float around with different players, even ones that would surprise people, but the most obvious decision will be if incoming signee Josh Hall shows up on campus or not. The coronavirus could affect his chances of working out for teams, and that will play some role in the process. Some powerful people in the “basketball industry” have reached out to Hall and his family, so this isn’t going to be some simple decision. Usually, it comes down to whether a player is OK signing a two-way contract, or second round money or if there is a chance at a late first-round selection.
Who's the most important recruit for the staff to secure in the 2021 class and why? If you were handicapping the odds of it happening, what type of chance would you give NC State?
Matt — I never have called a football recruit a must-have and I think those that do are getting too much into hyperbole. Football requires more than one stud. However, there are recruits out there who if you can get them would make life a lot easier. And obviously, NC State has a golden opportunity given the connections with Will Shipley, the four-star running back from Weddington High in Matthews, N.C.
Thus he would be the most important recruit followed closely by four-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin from Denmark High in Alpharetta, Ga. That said, I don’t currently like the odds with Shipley but do like the chances with McLaughlin.
Given what you know thus far, which quarterback do you see emerging as the starting qb?
Matt — I’d be pretty surprised if redshirt sophomore Devin Leary is not the opening game starter. The abbreviated spring might even boost Leary’s odds that much more.
Are we expecting staff turnover in basketball other than Siddle?
Matt — I cannot disregard that there have been rumors of some changes, but then again there were rumors last year and it did not happen.
Do you anticipate the football season to be played as scheduled ?
Will the NCAA give spring sport athletes. an extra season of eligibility ? If so how would roster and scholarship numbers be handled ?
If the NCAA votes to extend eligibility, will the scholarship restriction be relaxed for a year?
Matt — I tend to be a glass half-full person, but I think truthfully football season may be in science’s hands. If they find some effective treatments between now and the end of the summer, then I think it’s a full year. If not, then I think contingency plans better be ready.
I don’t see any reason why spring athletes should not get an extra year, but it’s tricky with finances because there are going to be budget shortfalls across the country. I’m not sure everyone will take the extra year either.
I can’t see a logistical way to make it happen for the winter athletes.
Jacey — They’d have to be scholarship adjustments, and then is there the money to do it. Some players, regardless of sport, will want to move on, but they’d have to come up with a plan that is worst-case scenario on how many players could be on a team.
Given the uncertainty surrounding social distancing and how long it will take for most places to reasonably move beyond a severe infection risk, is there a chance/probability that the NCAA will shelve the early signing period for football? If they don't, is your expectation that a lot of recruits will not sign in the early period so that they can still take visits, etc. to aid them in making a decision on where they will commit?
Matt — Great question that I have not thought about, but my hunch is that no, they will not shelve it and I don’t think it will have a great impact. You’d be surprised at how few colleges many of the prospect actually visit before picking a school. It might boost the importance of fall home games for unofficial visits. NC State strongly prefers not to host official visits on those weekends because it’s a bit of challenge to plan/dedicate time for.
NCSU students are being told that the whole fall semester may be on line only. Are there plans that football season may be cancelled? How will summer camp be addressed if football is not cancelled? If football is not cancelled how soon can we get recruits/committed freshmen/current players back on campus? Are grad assistants able to help with strength and conditioning? I know some schools are doing this to get around the system.
Matt — These are million dollar questions that are impossible to answer at this point. I think plans need to be made for adjusting the football season. Most colleges own the venues they play in so not sure it would be that hard to move a season back if needed, but I don’t know.
I’d be surprised if football camps for high schoolers happened this summer, but I think realistically best hope is that they get the all-clear for a mini-spring practice in the summer and then get into fall camp.
As for recruits, I think the soonest they can get back on campus for visits is when you see all the states in agreement with regards to no more shelter in place type rules. I’d be surprised if the NCAA got ahead of states and health officials on that.
When/where did Tim Beck call plays? Seems like he was always at a place where the HC called a lot of offensive plays but would love to have a better idea to look at numbers and see his offense when it was him in “full” control
Matt — I spoke with Anwar Richardson at Texas Rivals a while back about Beck’s time there, and he led me to believe that Beck did not call plays for long there. He said that Beck was stripped of play-calling during his second season during the season opener against Maryland. Anwar also said that Beck was tagged for being “predictable” in his one season, but Anwar also praised him for his development of the quarterbacks and noted that Beck was not working with a full hand/much talent in year one.
I believe that Beck also handled play-calling at Nebraska.
If this pandemic begins to clear up do you think they will add days to fall camp to make up for loosing spring? Are coaches allowed to have contact with recruits during this shut down and what contact is allowed? Will there be a summer S&C program or will they still be at home and required to work out on their own? In basketball, will they allow scholarship exceptions if seniors want to return and be allowed a 6th year or 5th year if they did not redshirt? Same question for the other spring sports?
Matt — I believe coaches are pushing for a mini spring practice during the summer. There will definitely be a scaled down S&C program if any at all, and a lot of the players will have to step up and take ownership of their personal workouts. Coaches can contact recruits they just cannot visit/host visits. Person-to-person contact is outlawed right now.
My understanding is it would be very surprising if winter seniors got an extra year when they vote on March 30, however the spring sports are highly likely to get the year in eligibility back.
Any update on the open asst coach position?
Matt — There were strong rumors last week that Kareem Richardson was going to be hired. There were sources who also implied that was likely to be the case. However, a high-level source at NC State said that those rumors were false and shot down any notion that an announcement was imminent. It’s important to note that source did not deny that Richardson would be the ultimate hire, but more so denied anything was final.
Jacey — Every indication thus far is that NC State head coach Kevin Keatts will continue with his past plans of going the “friends and family” route. The question is will he reshuffle the staff to the point where two assistant coaches could be hired? In terms of timeline, due to the coronavirus, he really can wait until July, which he’s done in the past without a virus.
Who do you expect to transfer or go pro?
Matt — Last year was maybe the first time in a while where I was not surprised by someone leaving (Wyatt Walker) and in fact was more surprised some didn’t leave (for instance I figured Blake Harris would probably transfer, which he did just in the fall). Thus I always anticipate losses from the roster, and given that there are at least three transfers that NC State has reached out to about playing for the Pack, I think it’s probably a given at this point. Worth noting that there were questions earlier about the severity of A.J. Taylor’s knee issues.
The big question is do redshirt juniors DJ Funderburk and Devon Daniels, who have put in four years of college, pull a Brandon Costner/Trevor Lacey and decide to move on? I don’t know the answer to that but haven’t heard anything to suggest they would.
As for the class, I think odds are decent they all show up but I am not 100 percent convinced that Josh Hall will bypass the NBA for college.
Jacey — Rumors always seem to float around with different players, even ones that would surprise people, but the most obvious decision will be if incoming signee Josh Hall shows up on campus or not. The coronavirus could affect his chances of working out for teams, and that will play some role in the process. Some powerful people in the “basketball industry” have reached out to Hall and his family, so this isn’t going to be some simple decision. Usually, it comes down to whether a player is OK signing a two-way contract, or second round money or if there is a chance at a late first-round selection.
Who's the most important recruit for the staff to secure in the 2021 class and why? If you were handicapping the odds of it happening, what type of chance would you give NC State?
Matt — I never have called a football recruit a must-have and I think those that do are getting too much into hyperbole. Football requires more than one stud. However, there are recruits out there who if you can get them would make life a lot easier. And obviously, NC State has a golden opportunity given the connections with Will Shipley, the four-star running back from Weddington High in Matthews, N.C.
Thus he would be the most important recruit followed closely by four-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin from Denmark High in Alpharetta, Ga. That said, I don’t currently like the odds with Shipley but do like the chances with McLaughlin.
Given what you know thus far, which quarterback do you see emerging as the starting qb?
Matt — I’d be pretty surprised if redshirt sophomore Devin Leary is not the opening game starter. The abbreviated spring might even boost Leary’s odds that much more.
Are we expecting staff turnover in basketball other than Siddle?
Matt — I cannot disregard that there have been rumors of some changes, but then again there were rumors last year and it did not happen.
Do you anticipate the football season to be played as scheduled ?
Will the NCAA give spring sport athletes. an extra season of eligibility ? If so how would roster and scholarship numbers be handled ?
If the NCAA votes to extend eligibility, will the scholarship restriction be relaxed for a year?
Matt — I tend to be a glass half-full person, but I think truthfully football season may be in science’s hands. If they find some effective treatments between now and the end of the summer, then I think it’s a full year. If not, then I think contingency plans better be ready.
I don’t see any reason why spring athletes should not get an extra year, but it’s tricky with finances because there are going to be budget shortfalls across the country. I’m not sure everyone will take the extra year either.
I can’t see a logistical way to make it happen for the winter athletes.
Jacey — They’d have to be scholarship adjustments, and then is there the money to do it. Some players, regardless of sport, will want to move on, but they’d have to come up with a plan that is worst-case scenario on how many players could be on a team.
Given the uncertainty surrounding social distancing and how long it will take for most places to reasonably move beyond a severe infection risk, is there a chance/probability that the NCAA will shelve the early signing period for football? If they don't, is your expectation that a lot of recruits will not sign in the early period so that they can still take visits, etc. to aid them in making a decision on where they will commit?
Matt — Great question that I have not thought about, but my hunch is that no, they will not shelve it and I don’t think it will have a great impact. You’d be surprised at how few colleges many of the prospect actually visit before picking a school. It might boost the importance of fall home games for unofficial visits. NC State strongly prefers not to host official visits on those weekends because it’s a bit of challenge to plan/dedicate time for.
NCSU students are being told that the whole fall semester may be on line only. Are there plans that football season may be cancelled? How will summer camp be addressed if football is not cancelled? If football is not cancelled how soon can we get recruits/committed freshmen/current players back on campus? Are grad assistants able to help with strength and conditioning? I know some schools are doing this to get around the system.
Matt — These are million dollar questions that are impossible to answer at this point. I think plans need to be made for adjusting the football season. Most colleges own the venues they play in so not sure it would be that hard to move a season back if needed, but I don’t know.
I’d be surprised if football camps for high schoolers happened this summer, but I think realistically best hope is that they get the all-clear for a mini-spring practice in the summer and then get into fall camp.
As for recruits, I think the soonest they can get back on campus for visits is when you see all the states in agreement with regards to no more shelter in place type rules. I’d be surprised if the NCAA got ahead of states and health officials on that.
When/where did Tim Beck call plays? Seems like he was always at a place where the HC called a lot of offensive plays but would love to have a better idea to look at numbers and see his offense when it was him in “full” control
Matt — I spoke with Anwar Richardson at Texas Rivals a while back about Beck’s time there, and he led me to believe that Beck did not call plays for long there. He said that Beck was stripped of play-calling during his second season during the season opener against Maryland. Anwar also said that Beck was tagged for being “predictable” in his one season, but Anwar also praised him for his development of the quarterbacks and noted that Beck was not working with a full hand/much talent in year one.
I believe that Beck also handled play-calling at Nebraska.
If this pandemic begins to clear up do you think they will add days to fall camp to make up for loosing spring? Are coaches allowed to have contact with recruits during this shut down and what contact is allowed? Will there be a summer S&C program or will they still be at home and required to work out on their own? In basketball, will they allow scholarship exceptions if seniors want to return and be allowed a 6th year or 5th year if they did not redshirt? Same question for the other spring sports?
Matt — I believe coaches are pushing for a mini spring practice during the summer. There will definitely be a scaled down S&C program if any at all, and a lot of the players will have to step up and take ownership of their personal workouts. Coaches can contact recruits they just cannot visit/host visits. Person-to-person contact is outlawed right now.
My understanding is it would be very surprising if winter seniors got an extra year when they vote on March 30, however the spring sports are highly likely to get the year in eligibility back.
Any update on the open asst coach position?
Matt — There were strong rumors last week that Kareem Richardson was going to be hired. There were sources who also implied that was likely to be the case. However, a high-level source at NC State said that those rumors were false and shot down any notion that an announcement was imminent. It’s important to note that source did not deny that Richardson would be the ultimate hire, but more so denied anything was final.
Jacey — Every indication thus far is that NC State head coach Kevin Keatts will continue with his past plans of going the “friends and family” route. The question is will he reshuffle the staff to the point where two assistant coaches could be hired? In terms of timeline, due to the coronavirus, he really can wait until July, which he’s done in the past without a virus.
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