A Week 2 Deep Dive: NC State
By Clayton Kilgore
We’ll start this and every future weekly installment of the highly-anticipated “Deep Dive” with my quick recap of the week before.
Instead of documenting my raw emotions following a game, good or bad, I’ll treat my takes like a brisket. I’ll let my takes simmer and marinate, low and slow. Then I’ll pull them when they’re nice and juicy, ready for consumption.
I’ve Had Time To Think About It.
It was good, folks!
The win over Chattanooga was violent and precise.
It was exactly what I’d hoped it would be.
Similarly, Nico was surgical and crisp, merciless in his short time on the field. Dylan Sampson ran fast and physical, getting to 10.3 yards per carry and scoring 3 touchdowns. The receivers, all of them, were sure-handed and the passing game looked elite. The entire offense clicked and looked like a high-level group.
As Jon Reed said, it was just UTC. I refuse to get out over my skis this early. Besides, I believe it was me that was preaching just last week that it’s important to take it one game at a time.
With that said…
Here’s some facts that I took away:
Fact #1: We won the game we were supposed to win the way we were supposed to win it. Chattanooga got a million dollars or whatever it was for them to come play at Neyland and everyone moves on injury-free.
Fact #2: We have a legitimate star quarterback, our first potential Heisman candidate at the position since Peyton Manning, flanked by a deep and talented receivers room. Big things are in store.
Fact #3: We have the best edge rusher on planet Earth and he didn’t record a single stat in this win. He didn’t have to lift a finger and there were others on defense that stepped up and made their presence known. Most notably Tyre West who had two monstrous licks, one on a cutback running play that forced fumble and another when he damn near beheaded Chase Artopoeus for a sack.
Credit: 247 Sports
At the end of the day, records were set by Nico and 3 points were given up on defense in an encouraging team effort across the board.
Now we set our eyes on the next one.
Next up is NC State at a neutral site.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION & HISTORY:
NC State was in the SoCon before 1953 when the ACC became a thing and they joined in on that. They are 638-599-55 all-time.
2023 Record: 9-4 with a win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl - one of the funnier bowl names.
Honorable mention: The “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Sponsored by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop”.
Ridiculously long name, masterful product placement for their canned booze.
Head Coach: Dave Doeren (2013-present)
Heading into his 12th season as head coach, he’s 82-58 overall. He’s gotten beaten up a bit in conference matchups, sitting at just 44-46.
Was kind of a huge baby about UCLA bailing on their bowl game in 2021, so he claims it as a victory by default (the NCAA and ACC do not agree).
For anyone that was around during the Vols Coaching Search Szn of old, you might’ve heard Doeren’s name thrown around quite a bit as a potential candidate. He might just be a master of the “leak your name so you can get a pay bump” tactic.
Notable Alumni:
Zach Galafianakis - Late 80’s
Alan from the Hangover, GOATed character.
Spud Webb - 1983-1985
Short king (5’6”)
NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner in 1986.
Charlotte Flair - 2007-2008
WWE Wrestler
Ric Flair’s daughter
Philip Rivers - 2000-2003
Retired professional football player
Active professional sex-haver (10 kids)
All-Time Record vs. Tennessee: 1-2
The last time these two teams met was in 2012 and Tennessee won 35-21. Remember this?
Credit: Yahoo Sports
What an idiot.
LOGO:
Although I hope we flat-out embarrass them in Charlotte this weekend and force them to consider dismantling their football program altogether, I will admit that NC State has some of the stronger logos in college football.
Their cheeky wolf mascot, “Tuffy” has been featured in some iconic iterations throughout history.
“Strutting Tuffy” with the beefy sweater pecs (below left) is probably the most recognizable and served admirably as their primary logo from 1972-1999.
Credit: SportsLogoHistory
The old-timey looney tunes “big bad wolf” (above right) was an alternate logo from 2000-2005 before its untimely demise due to what can only be described as excessive horniness with the lip-licking.
Here’s their box letter logo that was replaced around 2014:
Credit: SportsLogoHistory.com
They must’ve thought Strutting Tuffy was a bit too thicc so they took out his body and just use his face now. The happy medium is their present primary logo, which is XXXL jumbo-sized on their helmets for 2024, seen below:
Credit: SportsLogoHistory.com
I love a good live mascot and I love dogs.
NC State’s live mascot, presumably a domesticated wolf breed, appears to be a good boy, but looks can be deceiving. If my knowledge of wolves is accurate, then he can’t be trusted and his predatory instincts could take over at any time. Don’t be surprised if you see Tuffy mauling his handlers on Saturday, mistaking them for a piece of raw meat in the wild. As for me? I like a good, docile hunting dog.
If you’re anything like me, optics are important and I’m a bit of a uniform skank. I choose which 2-star team I’m going to turn into a juggernaut on NCAA Football 2025 based on which uniforms are the coolest. Below is the full NC State kit.
Credit: @PackUniforms on X
UNIFORM FINAL GRADE: 6.7/10
Overall, this is a strong enough usage of the colorway, but I could do without the enormous lettering down the outside of the pants. Everyone knows who you are thanks to Tuffy’s ginormous face plastered on 90% of the surface area of your helmets, you can scrap the “Wolfpack” on the pants.
OFFENSE:
Returning Starters/Transfers: QB Grayson McCall, WR Noah Rogers, WR Wesley Grimes, WR KC Concepcion, OL Zeke Correll
We got a glimpse of NC State’s offensive game plan last week in their 38-21 win over Western Carolina. It gets logged in the “W” column, but I would assume it was mighty uncomfortable for Wolfpack fans going into halftime tied at 14… with an FCS opponent… at home.
It took a 21-point 4th quarter surge to pull away and this performance leaves a bit to be desired, but a win’s a win. It’s also possible that this was a bit of a “look-ahead” game and they had their minds on Week 2.
The good news is that Grayson McCall looked serviceable in his first action with new-to-him offensive coordinator Robert Anae. The Coastal Carolina transplant was 26-for-40 for 318 yards, 3 TDs and an interception.
The interior offensive line got a shot of life this year in Notre Dame transfer Zeke Correll, and the running game was effective (RB Jordan Waters had 20 carries for 136 yards and 2 scores), but the real eye-opener was sophomore receiver KC Concepcion.
The passing game appears to go through Concepcion. He commanded the bulk of the targets, catching 9 passes for 121 yards and all 3 receiving touchdowns. He is the unequivocal offensive X-factor for this week’s game against the Vols.
DEFENSE:
Returning Starters/Transfers: S Donovan Kaufman, LB Caden Fordham, DL Davin Vann, LB Sean Brown, S Devan Boykin, EDGE Red Hibbler
Again, it may not have been the prettiest opener for NC State, but they’re 1-0. More specifically, their defense struggled early, giving up 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. Thank goodness for KC Concepcion or they might’ve been truly #exposed.
Adjustments were made as they tend to be, they tightened up, and only gave up 7 points the rest of the contest. They had three players with 7 total tackles and forced just one turnover as a unit, but there were a few bright spots.
Veteran defensive lineman Davin Vann was disruptive, logging 1.5 TFLs and ½ a sack. Meanwhile, defensive end Isaiah Shirley accounted for the lone turnover with a forced fumble to go with a sack and a TFL.
The person who recovered the fumble is named Donovan Kaufman. After three years at Auburn he landed at NC State and led the team with 7 total tackles last week in addition to the fumble recovery. He’s my defensive X-factor for this week and he seemed to be flying around the field.
SUMMARY:
The key to this game is simple: Put the clamps on KC Concepcion.
He accounted for 60% of their touchdowns last week and more or less bailed out an otherwise lackluster offensive performance. Getting the ball to their playmaker will be paramount for the Wolfpack, so expect lots of scheming in his favor, but if he’s kept under wraps then I believe that offense will only go as he goes.
Tennessee starters were yanked at halftime, so they should be rested and ready to go. It’s a Top-25 matchup, so it can’t be taken lightly - just take care of business and everything will be fine.
Let us show our neighbors in the state of North Carolina which canine is superior.
Smokey > Tuffy forever and ever, amen.
