NC State football scouting report: Week 4 at Duke Blue Devils

By Noah Fleischman

NC State opened ACC play with a comeback win at Wake Forest. Now, it’s set to square off with another in-state foe on the road as the Wolfpack visits Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m., ESPN2).

Although the all-time series dates back to 1924, the two teams have met just four times since Dave Doeren arrived in Raleigh ahead of the 2013 meeting, and the Blue Devils have gotten the better of the Wolfpack with three wins in those matchups since. Doeren’s lone victory was a 31-20 win during the 2020 season at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

Now, Duke and NC State will play each other every season through 2030 under the ACC’s new scheduling model. Let’s take a look at this year’s Blue Devils squad ahead of the showdown in Durham.

5 Duke players to know

1. QB Darian Mensah

One of the highest-paid quarterbacks in all of college football this season — $4 million for 2025, according to On3’s Pete Nakos — Darian Mensah arrived at Duke with the reputation of being a top-tier signal-caller after a breakout freshman year at Tulane. So far this season, he has thrown for 1,036 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions on a 67.2 percent completion rate. Mensah is a mobile quarterback that likes to throw on the run — he has 40 dropbacks that ended in a throw outside the pocket through the first three games, according to Sports Info Solutions — which will be a tough trait for the Wolfpack defense to defend this weekend.

2. WR Cooper Barkate

A Harvard transfer, wide receiver Cooper Barkate has established himself as a big-play presence on the outside for Duke’s offense this fall. He has caught 14 passes for 272 yards, averaging 19.4 yards per catch. Barkate has logged a 40-plus-yard catch in two of the Blue Devils’ first three games, while his average depth of target is 16.6 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. The wideout has picked up first downs on 12 of his receptions, while he is dynamic after the catch with 118 yards in that department. Barkate will put pressure on the Wolfpack’s secondary as a deep threat with Mensah at the controls of the Blue Devils’ offense.

3. CB Chandler Rivers

There’s a reason why Chandler Rivers is viewed as the best cornerback in all of college football this fall. He’s an electric defender who can keep up with seemingly any wide receiver that lines up across from him each week. So far this season, Rivers has lived up to that billing with 10 tackles and 2 passes defended. Of the three games he’s played, two of them resulted in opposing wideouts matched up against Rivers have gone for zero or negative yards. Illinois, however, was able to pick on him a little bit with 2 receptions for 48 yards. Other than that, Rivers has been a lockdown defensive back for Duke.

4. OL Brian Parker II

A perennial All-ACC pick, Duke right tackle Brian Parker II is among the top offensive linemen in the nation. At 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, Parker moves well and is a calming force for the Blue Devils’ offensive line. So far this season, he has played 142 offensive snaps and has only allowed two quarterback pressures — both of which resulted in hurries and came in the team’s loss to Illinois. He did not allow a single pressure against Elon or at Tulane this season, as he has played exceedingly well to this point. 

5. DE Vincent Anthony Jr.

After racking up 16.0 tackles for a loss with 7.5 sacks through his first 36 collegiate games, defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr. has taken his game to a new level as a senior this fall. The Durham native has compiled 6 tackles for a loss with 5 sacks this season, recording at least one sack in each of the three games. Anthony’s breakout effort came against Illinois as he posted a trio of sacks in the first half before the Illini changed how they blocked him after halftime. Anthony is a force on the edge, and he has impressively gotten home on 62.5 percent of his eight total quarterback pressures this year.

3 keys to the game

1. Establish the run

One way to avoid Anthony from wrecking the game is to get the Wolfpack’s rushing attack rolling. Duke owns the third-worst rushing defense in the ACC, allowing 147.3 yards per game on the ground this season. NC State, meanwhile, boasts the fourth-best rushing offense in the league with 175.3 yards per game. It’s imperative for redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers, who has rushed for 140-plus yards in each of the last two games, and redshirt freshman Duke Scott to wear down the Duke defense to allow sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey to operate in a clean pocket throughout the afternoon. 

2. Get off to a fast start defensively

NC State’s defense hasn’t been sharp in the first halves of its last two games, resulting in a pair of double-digit comeback efforts. The Wolfpack is undefeated since the defense has locked in in the second half, limiting Virginia and Wake Forest to a combined 7 points after halftime. If the Pack can start with an effective defense that doesn’t allow Duke to march up and down the field, then NC State could be well positioned to earn its fourth straight victory. The Wolfpack defense has allowed 19-of-30 third-down conversions in the first half this fall, while it has limited opponents to just 6-of-21 in the second half.

3. Continue to take care of the ball

So far, NC State hasn’t dealt with any turnover issues on offense. The Wolfpack only has one turnover this season, an interception by Bailey in the second quarter of the season-opening win over East Carolina. The sophomore seemed not to see a defensive back behind an official, which led to the error. Other than that, the Wolfpack offense has played clean. NC State has now gone 10 straight quarters without a turnover, a key statistic in winning close games. Duke, meanwhile, has 7 total turnovers this season (5 fumbles and 2 interceptions), 5 of which came in its loss to Illinois. If the Pack can win the takeaway battle, it should bode well for the visitors from Raleigh.

1 NC State player who could make an impact

DE Chase Bond

NC State will be without standout pass rusher Sabastian Harsh, who already has 3.5 tackles for loss this season, for the first half due to his targeting ejection at Wake Forest. His absence will open the door for lesser-used defensive ends to make an impact this weekend, and redshirt freshman Chase Bond could be the player to take advantage of that. The Massillon, Ohio, native has 5 total tackles, including 2 for a loss, in just 48 total defensive snaps this fall. NC State will need someone to step up in Harsh’s shoes, and although the sample size is small, Bond appears to be ready for the opportunity.