Thursday Football Notebook

Game Day Central | Game Notes
Night Game Magic at Carter-Finley Stadium

Game 9: NC State (4-4, 1-3 ACC) vs. #19 Florida State (5-3, 2-3 ACC)
November 5, 2016 • 7 p.m. • ESPNU/ACC Network Extra
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (58,200)

NC STATE VS. FLORIDA STATE
Carter-Finley Stadium has not always been a friendly place for the Florida State Seminoles. In fact, two of the last three times FSU has come to Raleigh, and three of the last five, NC State has won the game.

In 2014, NC State came out of the blocks firing, taking a 24-7 lead in the 1st quarter over the top-ranked 'Noles, but eventually losing 41-56. The Pack, led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett (New England Patriots) scored more points against FSU that year than any team except for Oregon in the national title game (59).

In 2012, the Wolfpack defeated the third-ranked Seminoles in a 17-16 thriller behind QB Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay Bucs) and in 2010, Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) orchestrated a 28-24 win over the No. 16 visitors from FSU.

TOUGH STRETCH
NC State will face its third ranked opponent in its last four outings when No. 19 FSU comes to Carter-Finley. It marks the first time since 1997 that the Wolfpack has faced as many ranked teams in such a short period (that year, the Pack played No. 25 Georgia Tech, No. 4 UNC and No. 3 FSU in consecutive weeks).

RECEIVERS ROLL
In 2015, wide receivers accounted for just 46% of the Wolfpack's total receptions (114/246). This season, the Wolfpack's young wideouts are playing a bigger role in the passing game.

Heading into Game 9, 57% of the team's receptions have had wide receivers as the target. Although the team is still led in receiving by TE/FB Jaylen Samuels (34-325) and RB Matt Dayes (22-181), wide receivers have caught 93 of 162 passes for the season.

Almost half of the Wolfpack's 114 receptions by wide receivers last season (53) were caught by players who are not seeing action in 2016. Senior Jumichael Ramos was the second-leading receiver on the team last year (leading all WRs) with 34 grabs. He underwent knee surgery this summer and will redshirt this year.

Johnathan Alston had 18 receptions last season before moving to cornerback during spring drills.

JONES LEADS PACK
Free safety Josh Jones is having one of the best years of any defender in the ACC. The junior, who moved from strong safety prior to this season, leads the team in tackles with 78 and his 9.8 stops per game is the third-best mark in the ACC. He ranks second in the league in solo tackles with 5.6 per game - the 18th-best mark in the FBS.

Jones has also picked off two passes this season, and caused and recovered a fumble. His 15 tackles against Boston College was the most for a Pack player since 2012.

GOING DEEP
When you look at the "long" column in the NC State receiving stats, you see some pretty big numbers. Stephen Louis - long of 80 yards. Bra'Lon Cherry - long of 79 yards. Maurice Trowell - long of 70 yards.

For the first time in school history, the Wolfpack has three different receivers with catches of 70+ yards in the same season. No other ACC school has more than 2 receivers with catches of 70+ yards in 2016.

KNOCK ON WOOD
NC State has been virtually injury free in 2016, with only two starters missing a total of two games due to injury in the first seven games. RT Will Richardson missed the Louisville contest after being ill, while wide receiver Nyheim Hines missed the Old Dominion game with an injury earlier this year.

THE WRIGHT STUFF
Throughout his career, nickel Dravious Wright has been a disruptive force on defense and special teams. The senior enters game 9 of his senior season ranked third in the FBS (2nd in the ACC) in forced fumbles, with four this season. He had a pair of FF in the overtime loss at No. 3 Clemson.

Wright has recovered two opponent miscues in 2016, tied (with two of his teammates) for the ACC lead and the 9th-best mark in the FBS. He's also broken up four passes.

For his career, Wright has forced 7 fumbles - tied as the sixth-best mark in school history.

Head coach Dave Doeren calls Wright the best 'gunner' he's ever coached on special teams.

HINES ON THE RETURN
Just 20 games into his Wolfpack career, sophomore wide receiver/returner Nyheim Hines is already listed in the NC State career record books. The Garner native already ranks fifth in school history with 1,368 career kickoff return yards and his 25.3 KOR average ranks 7th in the Wolfpack career record books.

In the Oct. 22 loss at No. 7 Louisville, Hines tallied eight returns for 189 yards - the third-highest single-game tally in school history. He also holds the No. 6 single-game mark, as he had 169 yards last year against the Cardinals.

Hines was an honorable mention All-ACC performer as a specialist in 2015 after posting the fourth-best single season KOR yardage mark in school history (920). He also earned freshman All-America honors and was an outdoor track All-American in the 4x100m relay.

HINES ON THE CATCH
Nyheim Hines has also been a factor at his offensive position during his career. Last week versus Boston College, he caught a career-high six passes for 62 yards. He now ranks fourth on the team in catches with 20, but is just 1 catch from third place and 2 catches from 2nd place.

HARMON(Y)
True freshman wide receiver Kelvin Harmon has only caught 17 balls this season, but his catches have been memorable ones.

A quarter of his total catches (4-17) have been for touchdowns and he has more TD receptions than any Wolfpack wideout (TE/FB Jaylen Samuels, the team's leading receiver, also has four TD catches).

The Palmyra, N.J., native has started two games in 2016, more than any other true or redshirt freshman. True freshman Thaddeus Moss (TE/FB) has one start, while RS-freshman Jarius Morehead (SS) started one contest as well.

Players Mentioned

Johnathan Alston

Jacoby Brissett

Bra'Lon Cherry

Kelvin Harmon

Nyheim Hines

Josh Jones

Stephen Louis

Jarius Morehead

Thaddeus Moss

JuMichael Ramos

Will Richardson

Jaylen Samuels

Maurice Trowell

Dravious Wright