As we wind down another year of football with the Super Bowl sneaking up this Sunday, we start a new chapter of college football this coming Wednesday as National Signing Day takes center stage.
The first page of the 2015 season will be turned when recruits go from star-ranked high school standouts to college freshmen in waiting.
North Carolina State is coming off a tremendous end to a feisty sophomore campaign from Coach Dave Doeren.
His new class has a lot to look forward to, whether they make an immediate impact, red shirt, or simply grow into their new life as college athletes.
Recruit Rankings
The new kids have moved up in rankings as well. In my previous update, the Wolfpack were ranked number 40 overall in team recruiting ranks on Rivals. As of now, they have moved up five spots to number 35.
247Sports jumped the Pack up to 29 from 36, while Scout has them at 38 (43 previously).
This jump includes a new commitment from 5’9” 229 pound running back Johnny Frasier. He is a four-star recruit, and Scout’s number four running.
Looking Ahead
With NC State’s 2015 schedule now released, the squad knows what to expect this coming fall. The incoming class now knows the who and when for their first season in the Wolfpack.
For now I’m looking at the home games NC State has coming up next season. The home atmosphere is what the kids signed up for. Out of all the options these recruits have, the schools they pick could attract them academically, geographically, or provide them a window to the NFL.
The kids who’ve chosen to come to Raleigh will get their first regular season going Labor Day weekend.
The Wolfpack have six teams coming to town this coming season:
Troy
Eastern Kentucky
Louisville
Clemson
Syracuse
North Carolina
Saturday September 5th, the Wolfpack’s season opens at home in Raleigh against the Troy Trojans from the Sun Belt Conference. Troy is coming off a 3-win season, having won two of those in their final three. The Trojans aren’t the most enticing of Labor Day weekend opponents, but fans will be ready for football. The Pack faithful will be glad to have something on the field to watch.
A week later, State welcomes FCS foe Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels are out of the Ohio Valley Conference. Neither of the first two games will pack a punch in terms of crowd or coverage. Troy may make its way onto the ACC Network and ESPN3. The Wolfpack and Colonels will be seen by live eyes, and those who choose to watch the feed on ESPN3.
NC State continues the trend of knocking out four non-conference games to start the year, then finishing strong with eight ACC games in a row. There’s no shortage of quality games on the slate this coming year, and the four home tilts are nice matchups.
ACC Home Games
If the first two home games against non-Power Five opponents don’t tickle one’s fancy, the first ACC home game should satiate the competitive appetite.
After finishing non-conference in September with two road games, the Pack is back in Raleigh October 3rd against Louisville. Although the last time we saw the Cardinals’ defense they were getting lit up by Nick Chubb, they should continue to be a formidable unit. Louisville brings a legit challenge for the Pack, so they better tune the band well out of conference.
Two road games and a bye follow the Cardinals, then Clemson on Halloween. It may be a spooky night in more ways than one if Clemson comes into Raleigh and continues their play from 2014. The Tigers annihilated two FBS opponents last year: NC State and Oklahoma (41-0 and 40-6, respectively).
The Wolfpack gets the return match at home, and they’ll need the advantage. Clemson found their defensive footing last year in between quarterback injuries, so if they bring that same formula, the Pack have their work cut out for them.
NC State will end the regular season with back-to-back home games against Syracuse and North Carolina November 21st and 28th. State beat them both last year, and made their biggest statement of the year in a 35-7 clubbing of Chapel Hill. If UNC doesn’t fix their defense in 2015, State should be able to close the home season on a high note.
With the quality of players returning, and a solid class coming in for 2015, NC State has to start thinking about competing for a division title. With the defense stepping up its game late last season, there is nothing but optimism in Raleigh now.
The Atlantic Division looks to be a two-team race again with Florida State and Clemson leading the way. NC State, Louisville, and Boston College need to build on solid 2014’s and compete with the big boys up top.
After the three game winning streak to close the year, it’s tough to imagine that a few months ago Dave Doeren had no ACC wins, and had given up 56 and 41 to FSU and Clemson in back-to-back games.
With the high note the season ended on, those losses are a distant memory, and National Signing Day signals a new beginning and a new season to look forward to.
Wolfpack fans have to feel a move to the upper half of the conference is coming, especially getting three of their big time hurdles at home.
It’s never too soon to look at the entire schedule, so I’m saving the whole early, early 2015 preview for another day. It’s almost baseball time, which gives me a chance to miss football. Doesn’t mean we can’t keep the pigskin in the back of our minds though.
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