No. 20 NC State is 5-0 on the season and riding high after last week‘s 28-23 win over Boston College. This week, the Wolfpack has a bye and is likely spending most of the time preparing for next week‘s huge Atlantic Division showdown with No. 4 Clemson.
With that in mind, it seems like a good time to hand out some honors based on the team‘s play up-to-date as well as look at some areas where this team has excelled and must improve going forward.
Offensive MVP: Quarterback Ryan Finley
Rated by everyone as the top quarterback in the ACC, Finley has more than met the expectations he faced entering the year. He currently leads the ACC in passing yards, completion percentage, quarterback rating, and has the highest QB grade in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
For NC State, he is the difference maker each week. His ability to put the offense in the best plays at the line of scrimmage and effectively maneuver the unit down the field is the reason why the Wolfpack has been one of the most efficient offenses in the country, not just the ACC.
He‘s well on his way to earning first-team All-ACC honors.
Defensive MVP: Linebacker Germaine Pratt
NC State needed a productive playmaker to emerge on this side of the ball and the redshirt senior has done just that. He had a dynamic performance against Boston College, totaling 13 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the win, earning ACC Linebacker of the Week honors.
Pratt currently leads the ACC in tackles per game (9.80) and is clearly the leader of the defense.
Breakout Player, Offense: Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon
Harmon really broke out last year, but don‘t blame me for wanting to get him into this comment. He has earned some ink.
The Wolfpack‘s talented wideout leads the ACC and ranks No. 8 nationally in receiving yards per game (106.8 ypg). Physically he‘s a matchup nightmare for opposing cornerbacks, and he has developed outstanding chemistry with Finley.
He is the top wide receiver in the ACC and this is likely the junior‘s last year in Raleigh.
Breakout Player, Defense: Cornerback Nick McCloud
Nick McCloud hasn‘t posted gaudy stats, but his versatility at cornerback has been huge for the Wolfpack defense. He‘s able to play both corner spots and kick inside to defend slot receivers, which allows him to often shadow the opposition‘s best wide receiver.
McCloud‘s signature performance came at Marshall when he held Tyre Brady, who torched the Wolfpack in 2017 for 248 receiving yards, to just three catches for 25 yards.
Top Newcomer, Offense: Tailback Ricky Person
Ricky Person missed two of the first three games with a hamstring injury, but when conference play began he became a huge factor for NC State.
All the true freshman did was average 100 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry in the home wins over Virginia and Boston College.
NC State had been struggling to establish a ground game, but Person has energized the rushing attack with his quickness and vision.
Top Newcomer, Defense: Linebacker Isaiah Moore
The redshirt freshman has started four of five games and been extremely reliable at middle linebacker, one of the most important positions on the defense. Moore is terrific against the run but has held up in pass coverage as well, and he is tied for 8th in the ACC in tackles (7.0).
How has NC State‘s defense been better than last year? Well, young players like Moore have stepped up and performed at a level higher than expected.
The offense has been terrific …on third down,
NC State has been unreal on third down this year, which is considered the most important down in college football.
The Wolfpack is converting 60.9% of the time on third down, which ranks No. 1 in the country. State is blowing away the ACC in the statistic, as the next closest team is Clemson at 50.7%.
Ryan Finley has been locked in on third down and offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz is putting his unit in convertible situations. If this conversion rate continues it‘s going to be extremely hard to beat NC State.
The defense has been terrific … in the red zone.
NC State leads the ACC in red zone defense with opponents scoring on just 10-of-15 red zone chances (66.7%) against the Wolfpack. State has yielded just five red zone touchdowns, the fewest in the league and a TD conversion rate of just 33.3%, also the lowest in the ACC.
The Wolfpack defense is at its best when the opposition is in the scoring zone.
Where does the offense need to improve?
Red zone offense remains a major concern for NC State, as the Wolfpack ranks No. 9 in the ACC in red zone score percentage and No. 12 in red zone TD percentage.
Against better teams (see Clemson) State must turn red zone trips into touchdowns, not turnovers or missed field goals.
What about the defense? Pass defense
Part of it is scheme, but NC State is yielding 234 passing yards per game which ranks No. 10 in the ACC.
Clemson is going to test State‘s pass defense and that group has to hold up if they are going to have a chance to pull off the upset in Death Valley.
Biggest game left on the schedule: Clemson
Some NC State fans are going to say rival North Carolina, but the real answer is Clemson. In 2016 and 2017 the Tigers escaped defeat against the Wolfpack, and this year‘s team is the best version of NC State they will have faced in the three matchups.
The winner of State-Clemson will seize control of the Atlantic Division, and if it‘s NC State the Wolfpack could be on its way to program‘s first Atlantic Division title.