Know the Foe: NC State

Memphis returns to action for one final game Friday afternoon in Tampa against NC State in the Gasparilla Bowl. It’s the 12th straight bowl appearance for the Tigers and the third straight bowl matchup against a power conference opponent.

The Wolfpack enters bowl season with a 7-5 record, but they closed the season winners of three of their last four games. While bowl games have become the time for players to opt-out, it doesn’t seem like NC State will miss many, if any, players due to opt-outs. 

Head coach Dave Doeren spoke to the media earlier this week and didn’t mince words on his opinion on players opting out around the country.

“I don’t understand opt-outs, period,” Doeren said. “Football is about finishing. I look at football as a gladiator sport, and, to me, that’s throwing in the towel. That’s just not how I’m built.”

The Gasparilla Bowl is one of the earliest bowl games this year, and that, combined with the transfer portal being moved to the start of January, likely helped keep many players on both teams on the field instead of skipping the game.

Starting quarterback CJ Bailey would be a player that at most programs would be taking a pass on the bowl game. Bailey threw for 2,884 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he added 215 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. 

A lot of people believe that the sophomore will enter the transfer portal, but he has made it clear that he will play in Friday’s bowl game.

NC State averaged 30.2 points per game during the regular season, and they averaged 396.8 yards per game. Sophomore receiver Terrell Anderson leads the team with 637 yards and five touchdowns on 38 receptions, while tight end Justin Joey has 468 yards and seven touchdowns on 47 receptions.

Sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers is another player to keep an eye on this offseason. Smothers is one of the more exciting backs in the country, and he recorded 939 yards and six touchdowns on 160 carries during the regular season.

Defensively, the Wolfpack allows 28.8 points per game, and opposing teams average 421 yards per game, which ranks No. 15 in the ACC.

Linebacker Caden Fordham leads the team with 130 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and a forced fumble. The secondary recorded eight interceptions this year, and corner Devon Marshall led the group with two interceptions and 14 passes deflected.