Tag: NC State

Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb inducted into NC State Athletic Hall of Fame

Bradley Chubb’s tremendous collegiate career earned him a spot in the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb was enshrined in the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony Saturday.

Among the others enshrined were former Chargers and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers and two-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Cullen Jones.

Chubb earned the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, recognizing the nation’s best defensive player, in his senior season at NC State, along with All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He finished his collegiate career with 25 sacks, 54.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles.

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In the 2018 NFL draft, Chubb was the first pass rusher off the board, taken by the Denver Broncos with the No. 5 overall pick. During his fifth season with the team, Chubb was traded to the Dolphins as part of a package that sent a 2023 first-round pick to Denver. Chubb subsequently signed a five-year, $110 million extension with Miami.

In 24 games with the Dolphins, Chubb has recorded 13.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles.

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NC State All-American LB Payton Wilson visits Texans for top 30 visit

Payton Wilson, one of the top linebacker prospects in the upcoming draft, recently visited the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Linebacker has been a position linked to the Houston Texans as a potential Day 2 option. General manager Nick Caserio might know what type of player he’s looking for up the middle.

North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson recently visited the Texans for a top 30 visit, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. Payton Wison is expected to be one of the first linebackers selected after three dominant seasons with the Wolf Pack.

Wilson dominated in his final season at NC State, earning All-American honors while winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In 13 games, Wilson totaled 138 tackles, 17.5 for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, a defensive touchdown and a forced fumble.

The fifth-year senior was more than a one-year phenom in Raleigh. In 2020, he recorded 108 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. A year later, he notched 82 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one interception.

Wilson also won the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s top overall defensive player. He also led the ACC in tackles in both 2020 and 2023.

At last month’s combine, Wilson solidified his draft stock as a top-three linebacker prospect, posting a 40-time of 4.33 seconds. He also posted a 34.5-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-11 broad jump.

The Texans addressed the starting linebacker needs with the acquisition of former Titans’ standout Azeez Al-Shaair. They also return Christian Harris following a breakout season.

Second-year coach DeMeco Ryans will implement three linebacker sets. Outside of Al-Shaair and Harris, Henry To’oTo’o is the only player with a decent rep count.

The Texans, who own nine picks in next week’s draft, also hosted former Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on a visit earlier this month.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 22, NC State LB Payton Wilson

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview is NC State linebacker Payton Wilson.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

As it stands right now the Green Bay Packers have Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson as the notable linebackers on the roster. It’s a safe bet that Brian Gutekunst will use one of those five picks in the Top 100 on a linebacker.

A potential target is Payton Wilson. The North Carolina State linebacker checks in at No. 22 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A four-star recruit, Wilson recorded 69 tackles, five tackles for loss and one interception after he redshirted in 2018. The following season, the North Carolina native recorded 108 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. Wilson played in just two games during the 2020 season after suffering a shoulder injury. 

In 2022, Wilson recorded 82 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one interception. Wilson was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after he recorded 138 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three interceptions and six pass deflections.

“He was the heartbeat of our defense and football team,” Tony Gibson, the NC State linebackers coach, said. “His leadership set the tone every day on and off the field. His practice habits and effort were as good as I have ever seen in my 30 years of coaching. He was the best linebacker in college football and in my opinion the best defensive player in the country.”

Wilson plays like his hair is on fire. He’s like the Tasmanian Devil on the gridiron. He has strong hands and a high batting average as a tackler. Once he gets his hands on the opponent he’s taking them to the ground. Over the past two seasons, Wilson was tagged with just 12 missed tackles. 

Wilson has sideline-to-sideline range and is quick to erase any running lanes.  He has exceptional closing burst and takes appropriate angles to hunt down his prey. Watching the NC State linebacker in pursuit is like watching the National Geographic Channel. 

The former four-star recruit shows good instincts and always seems to be in on the action. He explodes downhill and finished the past two seasons with 30 tackles for loss. 

“He’s a very smart player so he understands how teams tried to attack us in the run game,” Gibson said. “He is also a very physical player and loves contact. He has the mindset that if he doesn’t make the tackle the play will go for a touchdown.”

Wilson has the movement skills to hold up in coverage. He has outstanding lateral agility and shows he can flip his hips and run downfield. 

Movement skills to hold up in coverage. He has outstanding lateral agility. He gets appropriate depth in his drops. He trusts his eyes and finished the past two seasons with four interceptions and nine pass deflections.

Wilson is also a very effective blitzer. During his final two seasons at NC State, he recorded 10.5 sacks and 51 pressures.

“He will be elite in coverage because of how athletic he is,” Gibson said. “He also can run in man coverage with any tight end in the NFL. In zone coverage he has great awareness and length and can break on the ball.”

It was no surprise that Wilson put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. A former multi-sport athlete, Wilson clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash. At his Pro Day, Wilson clocked a 4.20 short shuttle and a 6.85 three-cone. 

Wilson logged 287 snaps on special teams during his time at NC State and recorded six tackles.

Fit with the Packers

If the Packers feel comfortable with Wilson’s medicals, he could prove to be a steal on Day 2 of the draft.

The NC State linebacker is an alien athlete, who plays like he was the turbo button smashed down at all times. 

“The effort that he plays with and the passion he has for football are reasons why I would draft Wilson,” Gibson said. “He makes players around him better by the way he plays.”

Wilson closed out his collegiate career with a bang. He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Butkus Award, which recognizes the best linebacker in college football.

If it weren’t for his medical history and to a certain extent his age (24), he’d be heralded by many draft pundits as a first-round talent. 

Wilson is an explosive athlete and has a well-rounded skill set that could see him develop into a four-down force. With the Packers having four Day 2 picks and a desperate need for another impact linebacker, Wilson to Green Bay makes a ton of sense. 

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey leads Purdue to Final Four win

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey leads Purdue to Final Four win.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Purdue center Zach Edey. He finished with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 40 minutes in Purdue’s 63-50 win over NC State in the Final Four on Saturday.

Edey is a polarizing figure as a draft prospect. After opting out of last year’s draft, he returned for his senior season at Purdue and put up monster numbers. In 35 games, he averaged 24.5 points on 62% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He led Purdue to a No. 1 seed.

The concern with the 7-foot-4, 300-pound big man is his mobility and slowness. If he can’t improve in those areas, he might not survive as an NBA center.

On the Thunder, Edey would add serious size to a small roster. He can play a traditional big-man role and pair with Chet Holmgren nicely. He ultimately might not fit with OKC due to his lack of playmaking.

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DJ Burns offered a definitive answer to a possible football career after he’s done at NC State

NFL scouts have been intrigued with the NC State big man.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — NC State’s surprise run to the men’s Final Four was fueled largely in part by the stellar play of big man DJ Burns. And while you’d normally think of a Final Four run as a prime showcase for NBA scouts, it was apparently NFL scouts who came away intrigued with the 6-foot-9, 275-pound senior.

Burns, though, doesn’t seem open to a football career.

Speaking to reporters in Arizona on Thursday, Burns was asked about the interest he’s created amongst NFL evaluators. And Burns made it clear that his interest remains entirely on basketball.

He said he had “zero” desire to play football after his time is done at NC State.

Now, just a couple days earlier, Burns didn’t completely rule out the possibility of football in an interview with Dan Patrick. He said to Patrick that he wasn’t a close-minded person, but would still pursue basketball opportunities first.

It’s obvious is heart is in basketball, and that’s been on display throughout March Madness.

DJ Burns reacts to NFL rumors with a savvy answer on if he would ever consider a football career

Gen-Z Bo had a perfect response to this question.

North Carolina State big man DJ Burns is one of the most exciting players participating in March Madness.

Burns, who has helped lead his team on an exciting run during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, is playing extraordinarily well on the court. He is getting amazing nicknames and delighting NBA players like Nikola Jokic.

But he is also generating some buzz as an NFL prospect.

During a recent interview while on The Dan Patrick Show, the NCAA tournament darling said that it isn’t surprising people are talking about him playing football because his team is “trending” right now.

He added that his plan is to play in the NBA when he finishes his college career at North Carolina State. However, if a football team really wanted his services, he wouldn’t say no:

“I’d probably explore some other options with basketball first before all of that. But I’m not a closed-minded person.”

That is a great answer from Burns! He  made it clear to basketball teams that he still wants to keep the main thing the main thing without fully shutting the door on football, either.

Patrick noted that Burns could obviously pursue opportunities to play professionally overseas as well if the NBA does not work out. He could try playing in the NBA’s G League, too.

Burns was also asked if he has heard from any football teams about pursuing a career in the NFL.

The big man said that he had not heard directly heard from anyone. Perhaps teams have reached out to people affiliated with him through North Carolina State or otherwise but it seems Burns is more focused on March Madness as of right now.

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Local Final Four star DJ Burns Jr. garnering attention from NFL execs

Rock Hill, S.C. native and NC State star DJ Burns Jr. is apparently catching the attention of some NFL scouts and GMs.

Could DJ Burns Jr. go from the block to the blindside?

With yet another dominant March Madness performance, the Rock Hill, S.C. native and North Carolina State University star is continuing to take the nation by storm. His 29-point Easter outing led the Wolfpack past the ACC rival Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight round, helping give the program their first Final Four appearance since 1983.

But Burns isn’t only grabbing the attention of the basketball world. According to Fox Sports senior national writer Peter Schrager, the 6-foot-9, 275-pound forward has NFL scouts and general managers thinking a little bit outside the box . . .

This wouldn’t be the first time a local college athlete made the Final Four while football came calling. Remember that kid named Julius Peppers?

While football was obviously on the forefront for the standout defensive end, Peppers was a reserve for the University of North Carolina’s Final Four squad in 1999. The Wilson, N.C. boy only went on to become a unanimous All-American, a second overall pick, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

So even though Burns would have a different road to the NFL, it seems to be an open one.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain scores 32 points in Duke’s loss to NC State

Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain scores 32 points in Duke’s loss to NC State.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke guard Jared McCain. He finished with 32 points on 8-of-20 shooting, 5-of-11 from 3, 11-of-11 from the free-throw line and six rebounds in 40 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 76-64 loss to No. 11 NC State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

McCain will likely be a one-and-done case; the freshman guard has played a vital role in Duke’s success. In 34 games, he averaged 14 points on 46.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He shot 41.5% from 3 on 5.7 attempts.

The 20-year-old is a crafty scorer who can stretch the floor. Size is an issue  at 6 feet, 3 inches and 197 pounds, but he can grow into a solid frame over time.

On the Thunder, McCain can be a crafty scorer off the bench. He can enrich their deep guard depth and can be another catch-and-shoot option for OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski struggles in Duke’s loss to NC State

Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski struggles in Duke’s loss to NC State.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke center Kyle Filipowski. He finished with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting, 5-of-5 from the free-throw line and nine rebounds in 30 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 76-64 loss to No. 11 NC State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

 

Filipowski has been the offensive hub for Duke this season. The 7-foot center can stretch the floor and pass when needed. He has an NBA-ready frame at 248 pounds, which means he should immediately contribute and not be physically overwhelmed.

In his second year at Duke, he’s averaged 17.1 points on 51% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s shot 35% from 3 on 3.2 attempts. The 20-year-old has led Duke to a 24-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

The Thunder could hope to add Filipowski to add some serious size at their center spot. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups. He’s also versatile enough to fit with OKC.

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