NC State heads into its matchup with Louisville looking for a chance to climb back above .500, and after four games, the Wolfpack’s top contributors are starting to separate themselves from the pack in the ACC race.
The team doesn’t have anyone leading the conference in a major individual category, but several players are sitting firmly inside the league’s top 10 as Game 5 approaches. A few of those names have already become central to how NC State is producing on both sides of the ball.
Running back Duke Scott has been one of the most productive backs in the conference so far. He’s piled up 346 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
That puts him tied for seventh in rushing yards, tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns, and eighth in yards per carry. Scott is also coming off his strongest outing of the season, going for 148 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 25 carries against Appalachian State.
Wide receiver Keenan Jackson has also made a strong early case for being the Wolfpack’s top target. Through four games, he has 19 catches for 295 yards and four touchdowns. That touchdown total is the eye-catching number, with only one player in the ACC entering the weekend with more receiving scores.
NC State’s quarterback room has shown up in different ways, too. Backup Will Wilson has been especially dangerous as a runner, scoring five rushing touchdowns to tie for third in the ACC.
Meanwhile, CJ Bailey has landed in the top 10 in a few passing categories despite an uneven start. He ranks eighth in completion percentage at 67.3%, is tied for ninth in touchdown passes with six, and sits ninth in passing efficiency at 148.0.
The flip side is the turnover number: his three interceptions are tied for sixth-most in the conference. Bailey now gets a shot to shift the tone of his season against Louisville.
On defense, linebacker Popo Aguirre has been NC State’s most active tackler. His 37 tackles rank third in the ACC, and he’s coming off a 10-tackle game against Appalachian State, his second double-digit tackle effort of the year. In the secondary, nickel Jackson Vick has added three passes defended, which is tied for fourth-most in the league.
Special teams has given the Wolfpack a few more names near the top of the conference chart as well. Punter Jackson Waller is averaging 42.6 yards per punt, good for ninth in the ACC.
Victor Snow has been busy as a punt returner, with an ACC-high 11 returns for 107 yards. That puts him first in punt returns, fourth in punt return yards, and seventh in yards per return at 9.7.
He still hasn’t taken one to the house, but he has consistently given NC State useful field position.
Kanoah Vinesett has been steady on field goals, going 4-for-4 through four games. His four makes are tied for eighth in the ACC.
In Other News...
NC State Faces A New Protection Concern Ahead Of Louisville
NC States offensive line is headed into another week with some moving parts, and the timing is hardly ideal with Louisville on deck. Starting center Spike Sowells Jr. is out because of injury, which already forces the Wolfpack to reshuffle the middle of the line, and the staff has been working through different combinations to keep the protection plan intact. Teague Andersen and Rico Jackson have been among the players shifting roles as the group adjusts.
Jimarion McCrimon adds another layer of uncertainty after being listed as questionable at left tackle. If he cannot go, NC State could be looking at even more reconfiguration up front, the kind of change that can affect both pass protection and how the offense settles in early. For a unit already dealing with one absence in the interior, the next availability update may matter as much as anything else this week. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Heads Into Louisville Test With Plenty For Fans To Debate
As NC State gets ready for a tricky trip to Louisville, there is plenty around the program to keep fans talking beyond just the matchup itself. The Cardinals have had the upper hand in the series, winning the last two meetings and holding a 9-4 edge overall, while the Wolfpack continues to enjoy one of the programs most visible points of pride with a 30-game sellout streak at Carter-Finley Stadium, the longest in school history.
The on-field conversation, though, is just as busy. Spike Sowells injury status remains part of the buildup, Popo Aguirre has been the teams leading tackler, and the offense has shown encouraging work on third downs. Against a Louisville team that has recently had NC States number, those details help shape the stakes, even if a few answers are still waiting to be sorted out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]