Wolfpack football scouting report: Week 7 at Notre Dame

By Noah Fleischman

After winning the first two meetings of the series, NC State is looking to get back in the win column against No. 16 Notre Dame this Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m., Peacock) in South Bend, Ind. The Wolfpack has lost its most recent pair of bouts with the Irish, including a 45-24 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium in 2023. 

Before the two sides square off for the fifth time in program history, let’s take a look at what this year’s Notre Dame squad brings to the table in this week’s scouting report.

5 Notre Dame players to watch

1. RBs Jeremiyah Love & Jadarian Price

This backfield duo deserves to be on the list together. Love is the bell cow with 82 carries for 444 yards and six touchdowns through the Irish’s first five games, but he isn’t to be outdone by Price, who has 48 attempts for 356 yards and seven scores this fall. Both tailbacks are elite at what they do, finding ways to make life difficult for nearly every opposing defense they see. While the duo is elite on the ground, Love can catch the ball, too, with 14 receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns through the air. It’s imperative that the Wolfpack defense tackles well against both backs and that it fits every gap in its run-stopping effort.

2. CB Leonard Moore

Despite playing in just three games this season as he’s battled an ankle injury, Moore already has three interceptions. The sophomore is among the top cornerbacks in the nation, which he proved last week against Boise State with two interceptions in the 28-7 win alone. He has allowed nine receptions for 84 yards, including 47 after the catch, on 17 targets, according to Pro Football Focus this season. Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey will need to know where No. 15 is on the field as he likely needs to make smart throws when going his direction throughout the game. 

3. QB CJ Carr

After winning a fall camp position battle, Carr has been one of the top signal-callers in all of college football. The redshirt freshman has thrown for 1,280 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions on a 67.7 percent completion rate through his first five starts of his career. Although he’s young, the signal-caller has proven to be an elite player with his smart decision-making and elite ball placement. Carr isn’t a dual threat, but he has the capability of running when given the chance, including a season-long 28-yard rush against Boise State. He has posted at least a 10-yard gain in three of the Irish’s first five games this fall.  

4. WR Jordan Faison

A standout lacrosse player, Faison is also a threat in the slot within the Irish’s pass game. He is the team’s leading receiver with 25 receptions for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Faison has posted at least five receptions and 83 yards in each of the last three games, all wins for Notre Dame. In the team’s two losses, he was limited to 33 yards or less. Faison will test NC State’s thin nickels room, likely held down by redshirt freshmen Asaad Brown Jr. and Jivan Baly. 

5. DL Boubacar Traore

Notre Dame has an intimidating defensive front, and it’s led by standout pass rusher Traore. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman has posted 20 total tackles, including 11 solo stops, with a career-best 3.5 sacks so far this season. He has logged at least four tackles in four of the five games he has played this season. In addition to his ability to help in run support, Traore is elite when he gets pressure. He has turned nine total quarterback pressures into his 3.5 sacks with three hurries and two hits this fall. Traore will test the Wolfpack’s tackles all afternoon.

3 keys to the game

1. Win the rushing attack battle

This game might come down to both teams’ rushing attacks. Notre Dame’s duo averages 178.6 yards per game, while its defense gives up 117.2. NC State will need to find a way to slow Love and Price, something most teams have struggled with, while the Wolfpack will look to get redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers going. The Pack’s ball carrier is the ACC’s leading rusher with 693 yards, the second-most in FBS, as he has posted four 100-yard rushing games this fall. If NC State wants to leave South Bend with a win, edging Notre Dame on the ground will be a critical reason why.

2. Play sound pass defense

As noted above, Carr is a dangerous passer. He’s going to look to test NC State’s banged up secondary, which is missing five players due to injury. Redshirt freshman safety Brody Barnhardt was the latest departure from the lineup as he left the Virginia Tech loss early with an injury and did not play against Campbell. Instead, Carr will likely pick on the pair of redshirt freshmen nickels, Baly and Brown, in the slot against Faison. If the Wolfpack can’t slow the running backs down, leading to a loaded box, the defensive backs will need to play sound defense against Carr’s deep shots downfield.

3. Pressure the QB

Notre Dame has a standout offensive line, which will be tough to crack, but NC State’s defensive line will try its best to do so. Why? Carr hasn’t done well against pressure this season. Of his 1,280 passing yards this season, only 256 have come under pressure. Carr is just 16-of-32 passing in those situations, considerably lower than his 70.7 percent completion rate when he has been kept clean this season. It will likely be up to graduate pass rushers Cian Slone and Sabastian Harsh, the Wolfpack’s top options to get after the quarterback with 31 combined pressures between the two, to make Carr uncomfortable this weekend.

1 NC State player that can alter the outcome

CB Devon Marshall

Marshall has been one of NC State’s most consistent defensive backs this season. He’s likely to be busy against Carr looking to stretch the field, but so far, the former Villanova transfer has held his own in his second season with the Wolfpack. Marshall has allowed 14 catches on 26 targets (53.8 percent) for 152 yards, according to PFF. But of those, he has given up just 38 yards after the catch. Marshall could be a busy player, and NC State needs an interception — or two — at Notre Dame if it wants to have a chance to leave South Bend with a win.