Pack Pride Podcast

The NC State football season is so close you can almost taste it -- and I'm not just talking about tailgating. With the Wolfpack kicking off against South Florida on Thursday night, Will Turner of Bulls247 joins the Pregame Podcast to discuss the season opener. What should Pack fans expect against former UNC QB Cade Fortin? Who are the biggest playmakers for the Bulls on offense? How experienced is the linebacker corps? Finally, what is Will's prediction for Thursday night?

On this week's Pack Pride Weekly Podcast, James and Cory are joined by former NC State DB Dewayne Washington. The 12-year NFL veteran discusses the gift him and his wife, Adama, gave to NC State, watching his former Heritage players succeed with the Pack and his thoughts on the program this fall. Cory and James also give their "over/under" predictions for several topics including offensive, defensive and overall wins for the 2021 campaign.

The Pack Pride Weekly Podcast is back! James and Cory finally head back to Amedeo's for the first time in weeks and they're joined by former NC State coach Chuck Amato to discuss several topics including Bobby Bowden's passing and Bill Cowher being inducted into the Hall of Fame. We also take a look at the latest storylines from fall camp, an early preview of USF's starting quarterback and Chuck looks back on the first fall camp for Philip Rivers.

The final State of the Position podcast takes a look at the loaded special teams unit for the Wolfpack heading into the 2021 season. Michael and Cory break down everything from the experience at punter and kicker to the returning returners (that's a mouthful) for NC State. What does it mean for the Pack to have a record-setting punter and kicker back for this fall? Will Thayer Thomas and Zonovan Knight continue to be dynamic on the return units? What has Todd Goebbel brought to the special teams?

There are only two cornerback spots on the field, but NC State has a ton of returning and incoming experience competing for the top of the depth chart. Michael and Cory break down the final position group with an in-depth look at a group that hopes to show vast improvement this fall. What does transfer Derrek Pitts bring to the Pack's secondary? Will Shyheim Battle retain his role after starting all 12 games last year? How will Chris Ingram's return impact the unit? Who are some of the potential breakout stars?

NC State's season is just over two weeks away, and the talent in the secondary might be the best it's been in years. With returning starters at safety and nickel, Michael and Cory discuss why keeping all of the parts on the field will be critical, but the depth is the best it's been under Dave Doeren. Can Jakeen Harris and Tyler Baker-Williams take the next step this fall? What should Pack fans expect from Tanner Ingle after an up-and-down season? How much will players like Cyrus Fagan, Rakeim Ashford and Joshua Pierre-Louis push the starters?

There is talent returning all over the roster for NC State heading into the 2021 campaign, but no position is more loaded than the linebacker corps. With all three returning starters back, along with two of the top reserves and incoming four-star freshmen, this position is stacked. Michael and Cory take a look at the preseason All-ACC linebacker Payton Wilson, why Isaiah Moore is primed for an even better season, Drake Thomas' progress, Levi Jones' versatility and go down the list of the next linebackers up!

NC State enters the 2021 football season with depth at nearly every position, but the defensive line is loaded with some unproven, but talented players. Despite the loss of Alim McNeill, the Pack returns its sacks leader in Daniel Joseph, proven linemen in Savion Jackson and C.J. Clark along with a slew of emerging names that will make an impact this year. Can this defensive line be even better than the 2020 season? How important was the return of Joseph for the Wolfpack? Will the nose tackle spot remain a strength for the defense? Who are the players primed to make a huge jump this fall?

The Wolfpack has several key faces across the entire football team, but two of the biggest leaders and talents are along the offensive line. NC State returns Grant Gibson and Ikem Ekwonu at center and tackle, respectively, but have battles at every other spot heading into the 2021 season. Just how important are Gibson and Ekwonu to the success of the program? What makes Ekwonu one of the top talents for the 2022 NFL Draft? Who are the frontrunners for the other three spots heading into fall camp? Which players have breakout potential in the trenches?

NC State opened camp with a massive roster with players staying after the COVID year, but no position has more players than the receiver room. With 20-plus wideouts and tight ends on the roster, Cory and Michael take a look at the skill groups heading into fall camp. What is the impact of Emeka Emezie returning and when might he return to practice? Just how loaded is the slot receiver position? Will this be Devin Carter's breakout campaign? Who are the tight ends to know? What role will Trent Pennix have as an H-back?

NC State opened up the 2021 fall camp with a ton of energy, experience and lofty expectations. Cory and Michael were on hand for the first half of practice, and share their thoughts on what they witnessed on the practice fields. How did Devin Leary look under center early on with his weapons back? Who were the standouts on the defensive side of the ball? Which new faces made an early impact? We break it all down with less than one month before the start of the season.

There is talent all over the field for NC State heading into the 2021 season, but the running backs on the roster might be the most dynamic playmakers for the Wolfpack. With Zonovan Knight, Ricky Person, Jordan Houston and Trent Pennix all returning along with several other talented backs, this position is loaded once again. Cory and Michael break down the position from top to bottom, including areas for improvement at the position. What does Bam Knight need to do to become an every down back? How will Person follow up on his career year this fall? Will Houston and Pennix be a bigger part of the passing game for the Pack?

We're less than one month away from NC State's 2021 football season kicking off on Sept. 2. With the Wolfpack recently kicking off fall camp this week, Michael and Cory will take a look at every position leading up to the matchup with South Florida. What should be expected from Devin Leary after returning from injury? What needs to happen for Devin Leary to take the next step? Who are the contenders for the backup QB spot? How critical is it to have nearly all the weapons back around Leary?

With ACC Media Days officially underway, the 2021 football season is inching closer every single day. One star player that didn't make the trip to Charlotte was stud RB Zonovan Knight, but he joined Cory Smith on the Pack Pride Podcast prior to the season kicking off. Bam discusses the preseason hype building around him, his own expectations for this fall, the chemistry and talent among the running backs for the Pack, his dream NIL deal and much more with Pack Pride!

With the season just 45 days away, linebacker Payton Wilson joins Cory Smith to discuss his return to NC State. The All-ACC First Teamer breaks down his reasoning for coming back to Raleigh, what he plans to improve this year and more. Wilson gives his thoughts on his recovery from shoulder surgery, why the linebacker corps can be one of the best in the country, his relationship with Devin Leary and development under Coach Thunder.

Heading into the 2021 season, there's been a lot of focus placed on the 18 returning starters on offense and defense for NC State. But returning a record-breaking kicker like Christopher Dunn is another reason to be optimistic about the Pack in 2021. Dunn joins the Pack Pride Podcast with Cory Smith to discuss the records he's already broken, how he's improved this offseason, recovering from a late-season injury, his expectations for the program and much more!

One of the lone question marks heading into 2021 for NC State football is: Who will step up after Alim McNeill headed to the NFL? C.J. Clark has been the answer for the Wolfpack this offseason, showing out in camp, the spring game and workouts to earn his role. Clark joined Cory Smith on the Pack Pride Podcast to discuss what he's learned the last two years, why he feels he's ready to be a starter, how the 2019 recruiting class has shaped the defense, his number change and much more!

With the 2021 college football season less than two months away, NC State QB Devin Leary joins the Pack Pride Podcast with Cory Smith to discuss his return from a broken left fibula, confidence of the team and much more. Leary explains how his mindset has changed after recovering from the season-ending injury, how prepared he is to take over Tim Beck's offense again and the ceiling for NC State heading into this fall.

With the NC State season wrapping up, James and Cory are joined by Lauren Brownlow of WRAL Sports Fan to discuss the end of the year, her upcoming episode of "NC State Stuff" and much more! Cory and James also hand out their awards for Player of the Year, Team of the Year, Best Game and much more in the second segment in the final podcast of the season.

By now, everyone knows NC State's season ended in abrupt fashion with an exit from Omaha due to COVID-19 protocols. Andrew and Alec look back on a rollercoaster season for the Pack9 that finished with a massive run to the College World Series semifinals. The guys take one final look back on the run to Omaha, how things ended for the Pack, the awards season haul for the players, hand out their own awards and preview what comes next and who could be back for the 2022 season.