NC State has only allowed 17 sacks all year, and they'll have to keep Leary clean. Syracuse also has a capable pass rush, and that's really where NC State's offensive line will need to show up. No one told me that Paul Johnson took another job! I kid because I love. Syracuse has a combined 110 yards through the air in the last two games. That means it could come down to a battle of quarterbacks, and no offense to Garrett Shrader, but I don't love that for him as Syracuse is 121st nationally in passing yards per game. But Syracuse isn't too bad against the run either, and NC State hasn't really been able to run the football lately.
This is also the best rushing offense NC State has seen, but the list of teams ahead of Syracuse is short as the Orange are fifth nationally in rushing. The Orange's stellar rushing attack will have to contend with an NC State defense that is the best against the run that Syracuse has seen all year. Carolina hasn't been in many games that would warrant a backup quarterback appearance, but Criswell has completed both of his pass attempts for 54 yards and a touchdown and he ran the ball twice for two yards.Īnyway, Syracuse's previous friskiness might be somewhat muted this time around as it's. Maye hasn't played yet this year, although he was impressive at times in the spring game. Criswell is the more experienced quarterback of the two, while Maye has more star power on his side. Even if Howell can go, he's not likely to play for long.
Mack Brown has said this week that he's going to rotate the two quarterbacks assuming Howell doesn't play (and I mean, why would he?). Howell will be going through Senior Day festivities, and barring something insane, he'll move on to the NFL after the season ends. I'm not sure what, if anything, it means that he hadn't supplanted Criswell as the year has gone along, but this will be a peek into Carolina's future at quarterback. It's been Jacolby Criswell all year, but there's been plenty of buzz about Drake Maye. Guess we'll all just have to wait when things get really good around here next Friday night.Įven though I'm not going to break down players to watch here, with Sam Howell's status in doubt, it'll be interesting to see what the QB2 battle looks like. But considering he's a little dinged up, we're not likely to see much of him. Sam Howell, whether he plays or not, will be on the field with his team in some capacity for Senior Day festivities and on the field at Kenan Stadium as a member of the team for the last time, almost certainly. Meanwhile in Chapel Hill, a week before UNC's season-ending matchup with the Wolfpack, they are hosting FCS Wofford, a team that is not even one of the good ones at the FCS level. And it starts with a Syracuse team that is capable of making you sweat a little, or at least it used to be. All NC State has to do to give itself a chance is win its remaining two games.
Wake has two road games at Clemson and Boston College while NC State gets to host Syracuse and North Carolina. Wake's remaining schedule is much tougher than NC State's. NC State lost the opportunity to control the Atlantic Division race with the heartbreaking loss at Wake Forest last week, but all is not lost. By Lauren Brownlow, WRALSportsFan columnist/reporter
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