NC State scouting report for Louisville

NC State hosts Louisville Friday for its ACC home opener. The Wolfpack has won seven consecutive conference debuts in Carter-Finley Stadium, and the program’s last such loss was to the Cardinals in 2015.

Since then, the two programs have matched up six times, splitting the showdowns 3-3.

Through four games this season, Louisville boasts the No. 4 scoring offense (43 points per game) and defense (19 points per game) in the ACC, and most recently defeated Boston College, 56-28. The Cardinals have an explosive, balanced attack that could challenge the Pack in a variety of ways.

5 Louisville players to watch

1) Quarterback Jack Plummer

Through four games, Plummer is one of the best deep ball passers in the nation. He has connected on 12 of his 24 passes 20 yards or more down the field for 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. That registered an elite 94.4 deep passing grade on Pro Football Focus (PFF). His 1,120 passing yards rank third in the ACC.

The signal-caller throws a beautiful deep ball and, while he does force passes downfield at times, he is still super efficient in that area. Plummer can also scramble when needed, and he recorded a rushing touchdown against Boston College.

2) Running back Jawhar Jordan

Jordan leads the ACC in rushing yards at 478. He is averaging a whopping 9.6 yards per carry and also ranks tied for second in the conference with 6 rushing touchdowns. Louisville utilizes his explosive skill set in the passing game as well. Jordan hauled in 6 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown through four games.

The Cardinals’ lead back is extremely difficult to stop once he gets to the second level. NC State’s defense needs to keep its gap integrity and avoid missed tackles because Jordan is incredibly difficult to chase down.

3) Wide receiver Jamari Thrash

Thrash averages 21.05 yards per reception. He is one of the top deep threats in the ACC, and NC State’s secondary will have his hands full. At 6-foot-1, the receiver plays pretty much exclusively on the outside. His showdown with Aydan White or Shyheim Battle will be very interesting to watch.

4) Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte

Gillotte is the Cardinals’ top pass-rushing threat. He ranks tied for second in the ACC with 4 sacks. NC State will need to give quarterback Brennan Armstrong time to throw Friday, and blocking Gillotte is going to be a big part of that.

5) Safety Benjamin Perry

Perry spends most of his time in the slot, which means he could draw a matchup with Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion. The NC State freshman is off to a tremendous start this season and leads the team in receptions with 22. Perry will have a tall task in this matchup. He allowed 3 receptions on 4 targets for 38 yards against Boston College, per PFF.

3 keys to the game

1) Disrupt the Cardinals early

Jet sweeps and play action are both significant parts of Louisville’s offense, meaning its plays can take a long time to develop. Because of that, generating pressure and disrupting Plummer’s rhythm could help decide this matchup. NC State ranks No. 5 in the ACC with 11 sacks, and Louisville has allowed just 5 all season. To help out the Wolfpack secondary, the defensive line and linebackers need to limit Plummer’s time in a clean pocket.

2) Eye discipline and communication will be critical

Louisville’s offense includes a ton of pre-snap motion, which will put a strain on the Wolfpack’s eye discipline and communication. NC State needs to be firing on all fundamental cylinders Friday because the Cardinals will make it pay for any mistakes. The Pack has struggled to limit explosive plays so far this season and needs to take a significant step forward in that area this week.

3) Do not turn the ball over

Armstrong threw an interception against UVA, but the Wolfpack took care of the ball otherwise. Louisville can drive down the field in just a few plays, so NC State has to avoid giving the Cardinals any help on offense. For similar reasons, every Pack possession is going to be critical, and the team cannot afford to waste any opportunities.

3 important numbers for NC State vs. Louisville

86.7 — Plummer’s PFF grade, which ranks among the ACC’s best.

6.6 — Jordan’s average yards per carry against NC State’s 2022 defense.

42 — Louisville’s first-half point total against Boston College.

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