GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP N.C. State receivers vs. East Carolina secondary. The Wolfpack has top-notch receivers who can put up big numbers in WR Kelvin Harmon and WR Jakobi Meyers. With such a duo threat it makes it difficult to keep them covered. East Carolina has been battered by big players and the secondary is often left reacting rather than dictating play. Look for the Wolfpack to try to strike big against East Carolina, and that could also open up more running lanes if the defense has to shift its priorities.
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Ryan Finley stayed for his final year of eligibility and he’s showing that he can still make progress. Finley has been solid with 21 touchdown passes through 11 games, though none in the most recent game. Among quarterbacks from schools in Power 5 conferences, only two returnees had more than Finley’s 3,518 passing yards last year. He had a completion rate of better than 65 percent last year (and 67.4 so far this season).
ROSTER REPORT
–LB Germaine Pratt missed the North Carolina game with an injury. He’s been the leading tackler on the team with 98 tackles this year.
–LB Brock Miller made his first career start in the North Carolina game. The redshirt sophomore made six tackles in the game.
–WR Jakobi Meyers notched 111 receiving yards in the North Carolina game. That accounted for more than half the 200 passing yards for the Wolfpack.
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