Rafael Zingle
2019 Football Predictions
It’s finally NC State football season, and that means Technician sports will yet again attempt to predict the outcome of the upcoming season that features a lot of new faces in key roles. Joined this year by the sports editors is football beat writer and video editor Jaylan Harrington.
Record
Camden: 7-5 – This is a very young NC State team, and the schedule just isn’t that intimidating, but a couple of tough road games will be too much for the Pack. Traveling to Florida State, Boston College and Wake Forest, added to Clemson and Syracuse at home will be a problem.
Jake: 8-4 – I have the Pack going 8-4 and even that may seem generous. The offense has nine new starters and getting Clemson and Syracuse at home doesn’t offset a handful of tough road games (West Virginia, Florida State, Boston College, Wake Forest). Expect the Pack to drop a few close games to good teams and lose a game it should win.
Nicholas: 8-4 – The team lost a lot of talent from last season with players like Ryan Finley, Reggie Gallaspy Jr., Germaine Pratt, Kelvin Harmon and a lot of other players all leaving. The Wolfpack went 9-3 in the regular season, and I cannot see them matching that given the big question marks over key positions.
Jaylan: 8-4 – The defensive will be a bright spot for NC State, but offensive line troubles prevent the Wolfpack from being a great team.
Offensive MVP
Camden: Emeka Emezie – He finished third in receptions and yards last year along with five touchdowns, good for second on the team so he has the talent to be the main guy this year.
Jake: Matt McKay – McKay is going to have the ball in his hands on every play, and his dynamic mix of arm strength, accuracy and foot speed is going to make him a problem for defenses. If the Wolfpack has a successful season, it’ll be on McKay’s back.
Nicholas: Emeka Emezie – Given the gap left behind by Harmon and Jakobi Myers, the wide receiver position is wide open for Emezie to step up and make a big difference. He showed his talent last season when called upon and has a chance to step up and make his name this season.
Jaylan: Zonovan Knight – Zonovan Knight’s going to bring the lightning to Ricky Person Jr.’s thunder. He’s already getting preseason awards buzz, and there’s no other player on the team that’s as explosive as him.
Defensive MVP
Camden: Jarius Morehead – Morehead had three interceptions last season and is the top returning tackler, finishing second behind Germaine Pratt. Now in his redshirt senior season, look for Morehead to grab five picks this year.
Jake: James Smith-Williams – A newly named captain, the graduate defensive end is ready to wreak havoc on opposing backfields. Smith-Williams is leaner and stronger than he’s ever been, and he’s ready to pick up the torch that former star Bradley Chubb left in 2017.
Nicholas: Jarius Morehead – The Wolfpack secondary was the weakest part of the team last year and has been for a while. Morehead was one of the bright spots in the secondary last season, and he can do the same this year.
Jaylan: Larrell Murchison – A great defensive tackle can singlehandedly wreck the opposing offense. While Murch won’t do that, he had a good year last year and is ready to take a step forward and really lead this defense
Best Win
Camden: Syracuse – Clemson at home on homecoming is enticing, but I just don’t see it with the lineup the Tigers have. Syracuse at home on a Thursday night in October will be the best win.
Jake: Syracuse – The Orange is more hyped up than it’s been in recent memory and is a deep, talented team, but Carter-Finley is a tough place to play, and on a Thursday night, the Wolfpack faithful will have the stadium going crazy. Expect the Pack to feed off the crowd’s energy and turn in an exciting win.
Nicholas: Florida State – The Seminoles struggled last season, but they look to be on the up. With the game being on the road as well, it could be a tough test for the Wolfpack in its ACC opener. While it will be a tougher game than FSU’s record from last season would indicate, the Wolfpack should still be able to come away from Tallahassee with a win.
Jaylan: Clemson – I’m nothing if not a man with hot takes. Clemson’s now turned their attention to Syracuse as their rival in the Atlantic, so it’s a perfect time to pick the Wolfpack to knock the Tigers off.
Breakout Player
Camden: Tabari Hines – As the Pack’s second-string slot receiver, Hines will have the chance to show his skill behind Thayer Thomas. With the ability to play inside and outside as the Pack’s fourth-best receiver, he will see plenty of time on the field.
Jake: Zonovan Knight – The true freshman running back is slotted behind redshirt sophomore Ricky Person Jr. on the depth chart, but at 6-foot, 197 pounds, he’s small and quick enough to catch passes out of the backfield and big and strong enough to bruise between the tackles. Knight’s role will increase as the season goes along, and it won’t be long before he shows how good he is.
Nicholas: Matt McKay – Filling the shoes left behind by Finley will be a tough task for the redshirt sophomore, but he looks like he could be up for the task. He impressed in incredibly limited minutes last season, completing seven of his eight attempted passes. He will not be on the same level as some of the Wolfpack’s former quarterbacks, but he has an opportunity to step up and show his talent.
Jaylan: Isaiah Moore – Moore didn’t blow anyone away last year, but he’s a good, fundamental player that doesn’t make many mistakes. This is his linebacking corps now, and I think he’s ready to step up and be the man.