Stumble Out The Gate

This episode shows the highs of the female athletics performances (Volleyball, Soccer), the struggles of the men from the start (Football, the other football), and looking at final roster cuts from the 2026 NFL Draft Class.

In The Den is a podcast produced by WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2, student-run radio from NC State University. Like what you hear? Consider supporting it with a gift to the WKNC Enhancement Fund. Visit our podcast page to hear more and follow us on all social media platforms @WKNC881. Thanks for listening.

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Creators and Guests

Host

Logan Brumley

What is In The Den?

"In The Den" with host Logan Brumley covers everything from the NC State Wolfpack's NCAA, intramural and club sports. "In The Den" is a podcast from WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 at NC State University.

StumbleOutTheGate.mp3
Meeting created at: 1st Sep, 2026 - 10:16 AM

00:00
Logan Brumley
Welcome today's episode of WKNC's official sports podcast in the Den. Today we're going to be talking about Saturday's football matchup against Virginia. How that went. They have like a miniature bye week. Also going to be talking about men's soccer, ACC opener against Virginia Tech, and we'll finish up with the Summit Hospitality Tournament that is the opening round at home for NC State Women's volleyball. So get your headphones on. Let's get straight to it. I'd like to start off with congratulating the women's soccer school squad starting off their season 6 0. They did have a lot of easy out of conference opponents, but they've been blown out, every one of them so far.

01:03
Logan Brumley
It's one of their best starts in 2013 and although I will be holding off coverage until next week when they open up the ACC schedule against Florida State, figure the shout out is in order, which is how astronomical this start has been to this season. Jade Bordelo she leads the ACC in goals with eight. Mananataka has three assists. Kyle Montgomery has a 33% shoot in on six shots. Erica Roberts second and goal is the three. There's a lot of good players and the goalies have been really productive to split in time with both being above 80% in save rate and only giving up four goals in six games and holding opponents to 17% shooting. Now there's some so the defense has been really good, at least on the goalie side, and I don't think they've really given up too many shots on goal either.

02:12
Logan Brumley
And the offense has been really elite. We see how they look heading into the ACC schedule, whether they find their way into the top 25. But either way I feel really optimistic about this women's squad this year and I figured I could probably transition over to talking about the less successful men's squad over the weekend. They lost, I believe it was 2:1 against FAU, no FIU on Thursday and then Sunday they lost 3:3 against FAU where they didn't lose, they tied. So now they are 11 and 2 on the season. They're likely going to fall out the top 25. Headed to there home ACC opener against Virginia Tech See, I mean it seems like NC State just nothing seems to be clicking yet. They have the advantage with like fouls, possession time, shots on goals, being able to get there.

03:22
Logan Brumley
But it's just like it's offensively nothing seems to be going in for them yet and it's just been really sad to see there hasn't been a dominant. Obviously we cannot get a player who is dominant offensively as Donovan Phillips was, but at least something that is like a quarter of that we haven't really seen yet. Russell Berko now leads the team in goals, however with two. So that's good. We'll see what else we can get out of him. Maybe he becomes the number one guy. Right now it seems like it's just offensive player number one by committee because we haven't really found a guy who's the guy yet. And that's kind of the same with all the positions. Defensively they gave up three goals.

04:19
Logan Brumley
They give up four goals over the weekend, both run Romrens and Terranova had starting bids, but neither of them were good enough to get the win. Opponents have 6 out of 17 shot goal rate. It's like whenever they are able to get an accurate shot, it has always been able to go in for opponents of NC State. And NC State's defense has been pretty lenient in allowing shots to happen. I mean, I think it's been a little bit more aggressive getting close to the goal line, but still enough for them to be able to plan out offensive plays and for them to be able to generate goals, which is egregious.

05:01
Logan Brumley
It is just a complete 180 to what we saw last year where Herb had a very small workload, but now we're having to deal with a massive workload and two goalies who have not proved that they're capable of handling. Handling it yet. I mean, I will say this, I'll give him this. I mean this could all be just part of the expectations. There was a lot of turnover, a lot of players going into the draft. A lot of them graduated. And I don't. I can only really remember like one or two starters from last year who are on this year starting rotation. But I mean it's. It feels like things should be clicking sooner than later just to make this not be a lost season. And I'm hoping that they can pull something together when they head off against Virginia Tech.

05:59
Logan Brumley
Right now, Virginia Tech does have a two in one record, which isn't like the best in the conference, but they have been the best offense in the conference by a long shot. They averaged 3.33 goals in their three games, including games against Kentucky and Ohio State, which I believe Ohio State is ranked 22 as of record. And while Kentucky wasn't ranked, they were able to appear in the NCAA tournament last season. So obviously you gotta put at least a little bit of stock into that. Three players on the squad with three goals just shown that they haven't really been carried. They have no preseason first team all conference player Giannis Awatrasch with a 50% shot rate. They have a Rwandan national team player, Noe Uimana. Alex Perez, a midfielder, has three assists which leads the team. And they have a decent, really good defense.

07:25
Logan Brumley
They've only given up 12 shots on games in these past three matchups and I've only really given up one. Gold Temple transfer Diego Dajere from, you know, he's our goalkeeper and he has a 91.78%. And they have Jaden Chantak, freshman who has been scoring goals as a defender pretty good so far. I mean this defense is looking really strong. I think this offense is going to be their strength. It worries me a little bit just because of how well this Hokies offense has been able to generate against power four conference teams. And I'm also worried about how this defense has been able to shut. I mean Kentucky, Ohio State, they haven't really had like world bust in offenses this year and NC State's not at that level. But maybe, I mean the coaching staff is still here.

08:31
Logan Brumley
Maybe they could, you know, pull something out of the hat and generate a winning offense. But I think now is the time for them to just get as aggressive as they can offensively. I think like a 43 win would be something that is really good for them just because, you know, defensively they have all these veteran guys. They have a couple players who've been playing together for a little bit. Same thing in the midfielder front. It's just getting rough. I think Virginia Tech has the advantage all across the board, but NC State has a home advantage. So of course make sure to go watch them play if you can because they're certainly going to need it. Berco could show up, DeFrancesco could show up, Tolentino could show up. Offensively, we'll see.

09:23
Logan Brumley
I mean the I don't think the sky's the limit anymore, but I think getting above the treetops is still an opportunity for them. I'll go over to volleyball, weave the football stuff for the end of the episode. As expected, NC State volleyball. They beat Robert Morris and Stony Brook resoundedly but got swept by UCF to close out the tournament. They'll have their regular season opening tournament with George Washington University, Wofford University or college I think, and UNC Charlotte. Some of the better players on the roster. Freshman Brittany Silver, outside hitter. She has been starting their day one and it's just she has taken that position for herself. She has 4.28 points per set, 25% kill rate. Rebecca Ring I think has stepped up and she's been able to play number two pretty well at 3.11 points per set.

10:28
Logan Brumley
Brittany Silver I also mentioned that she does have 3.33 digs per set but their rotational libero studios Macy Shuicz is still the leading digs producer even coming off the bench. Eva Long their set of freshmen. She is top of the ACC at assists with about 10.65% and Talia Francombe at the middle back leads the team at blocks with 19. I'm concerned that you know a lot of the servers have more server errors than server aces and their offense has been in the like upper middle tier with about like 18 kills per set, 26.7% shooting accuracy. It's a solid offense so far from what I've seen. I think having Britney Silver haven't ever long Rebecca Ring stepping up. I don't know who their opposite hitter is off the top of my head but it has all been really good so far.

11:39
Logan Brumley
However defensively it could take a little work. I mean that UCF game was definitely rougher and to say on the defensive front they have an opponent 16 kill percent rate but 11 kills per set. I mean they're top 10 ACC defense but kind of pushing it a little bit. I think that they haven't really shown anything phenomenal yet against decent offensive squads. However, there is at least one offensive squad that's coming up that is going to be one to really take an eye on. I think there's going to be two more wins to kind of fluff up their out of conference schedule and soon enough they're going to have their own ACC opener with unc. But who do they play? Well they have. George Washington University. I think they're the revolutionaries now.

12:53
Logan Brumley
They are 0 and 3 this season with losses in North Florida, Georgia and Furman but were second to conference stand ins last year. So there's a good team within them. They're top offenders at roughly 2.8 per set each. Kayla Coogan and Alexis Rodriguez they do have a decent offensive duo but not strong enough for NT State to get overwhelmed. I think that's kind of the same on the defense they don't have any big blocks producers and their best digs producer doesn't really get like has about the same amount as Brittany Silver does as like Top 3 Diggs producer Lydia Shank so George Washington that's going to probably be the puff piece matchup. They haven't been starting good all year. This is sort of a titan for lower conference A10 team. The next one is someone I'm kind of worried about with Wofford.

13:53
Logan Brumley
If you don't really know their story of the 2000s. They have three consecutive SoCon conference championships. They're currently sitting 2 0. However they would they're playing Presbyterian as this is being recorded. They're winning. We'll see how it goes. And they have three preseason all conference players and Bradley Brown blocked per set 3.5 points per set as their junior middleback. Khloe Smith is their junior outside hitter with five points per set and five service aces in seven sets. Lainey Killa Ser Wibero she has 5.43 digs per set and all these players have been together for a while. I think they probably believe that they can beat NC State. They have the winning experience. They play together for years like this.

14:53
Logan Brumley
Core has been together for pretty much every NCAA Tournament appearance and the chances of NC State foil in this matchup is the highest of any of their other opponents just because of that offensive firepower defense utility experience is a lot of what NC State does not have yet. But I do think having a convincing win can build some optimism within the fan base. The last opponent that they have coming up is UNC Charlotte. They finished 17:12 last year 2 of 1 now beating Wingate NC and at Boys in App State their best offensive producer are Clara Briley at 3 points per set but 60 16% kill rate or Sophia Lakotia at 2.38 point percept but a 33% kill rate. I mean I'm just kind of throwing names on the board but again this is a matchup I'm not super impressed with.

16:05
Logan Brumley
You know middle and Conference USA team should be losing to a middle tier ACC team which I think is what NC State women's volleyball has become as of now. But I would still like the win. I think the win is very possible. They could definitely go three zero again. Two and one is on the horizon. I think that is very likely but I think that Wofford is the most legitimate matchup here and having a good win maybe not to the same tier as like when Wofford has played Kentucky twice in the NCAA tournament and got swept twice but don't let it get to five and they should and don't lose obviously and they should be good and I think that's enough. That is a resume building win and that's important. Obviously. Not wanting to waste too much of Yalls time.

17:16
Logan Brumley
I'll get into the last segments. Ish. There's football versus Virginia. It was a rough game. I'm sure you all saw it. One at 3, 34, 8. It's a very big momentum killer. It's that rough loss of the year for Dorin. And while there was a possibility of a step up, I don't think that's on the agenda anymore. It almost feels like let's just get to the bowl game. Their offense hasn't really clicked yet. On 12 drives, they have three turnovers, 10 first downs, the whole game. 181 Yards a point play. This offense line did not do a good job of keeping pressure off C.J. Bailey. I think there's a lot of blame too. Bailey. I'll kind of get to that in a minute. But there was a lot of scrambling that he had to do. They gave up two sacks.

18:20
Logan Brumley
I mean, and it just resulted in Bailey being terrible. You know, he had 52% accuracy and interception, only threw 84 yards, which I think is the lowest of any quarterback outside of Jacksonville State. We're in that tier right now. Tight ends. Preston Douglas, he's been good for the team. He led the team in receptions with Batu. Vanderplug has the lead in reception yards with about 25. A lot of these receivers, so they were able to kind of get their big first down catch and then just kind of dwindled with like a winner two yards.

18:59
Logan Brumley
It's just like someone to shorten the outside where it's like really rely on the yak, which is frustrating because we do have a quarterback with a good arm, but it's like it's either you're forcing your receivers to do these crazy plays to keep throwing it to the sidelines and just there's. It's kind of like this weird balance where it's damned if you don't if you're an NC State receiver. Because there's a lot of opportunities where they could have gotten open and they didn't. And that forced more scrambling. I remember there was this one play where it felt like it took like a whole 10 seconds of CJ Bailey running around escaping a pocket before he just kind of gave up and ran for two yards on like, I think it was the second or third down. And there's been times where it's like C.J.

19:53
Logan Brumley
Bailey, I mean, he's not baking like regular hospital throws, but it's like there's some throws that requires the receiver to have to do a lot more work than you'd want your receivers to do. I think the only receiver who is really, I guess act accurate with catching is. I think I gave the nod to Davion Duer with two catches on three targets and Will Wilson, I mean I, I kind of bring him up later because he kind of has his own little thing. Seven passes broken up to like 23 pass attempts. I. It's bad, it's real bad Offensively the run a game they did have more. They have equal Russian and passing attempts but the Russian I think was worse with 76 net yards. Duke Scott. It's still a work in progress of him as the number one guy.

20:58
Logan Brumley
I guess maybe it's our fault on that one for expecting him to be this elite running back day one because you know he was just the backup guy to Smothers and that was the rotation we're used to a while he only popped off later in the season. Maybe it's gonna take a little bit longer than we thought for it to really get going. He only had three yards per rush. The bright spot I guess in the running game would be the dual threat. The run in quarter. Will Wilson notched 21 rushing yards and got the team's only touchdown in that game. But the team average had 3.2 yards per rush. It's just no real optimism for me at that level either because I know that passing was definitely going to be a strength in the offense.

21:50
Logan Brumley
But we don't even have a running game to lean back on which is frustrating. The defense was really bad too obviously. He gave up fourth down conversions. He gave up 34 points, 400 yards of total offense. Bo Prabula has been really good for Virginia in this game. Ran for 110 yards through for roughly the same, got two touchdowns on 11 passing attempts. He is averaging double digit yards getting two touchdowns on 11 pass attempts. Only one of those was a good defensive play by NT State where actually kind of showed on a box score. Ronnie Royal III getting a breakup. Sacks by Dyson and Lekorian Hodge. Linebackers didn't really produce a lot of tackles. Lets you count 14 assistant tackles by Popo Aguirre. And while the safeties gave up completions, they made the tackles. I feel like the linebackers did not really make.

23:05
Logan Brumley
It's just ugly. It's just an ugly defense. I think that NC State just did not do anything against this pass game. I know the sample size wasn't the biggest. With 11 passes and attempts. But two touchdowns on 11 passes. Usually if you have two on like 20 passes, that's a really good game. I'd even argue that's the same point at like 30 passing, the two attempts for two touchdowns, that's not a bad game. Nine passing attempts to get two touchdowns. I'm still kind of hooked on that. But it's just like. It's crazy that they didn't even have to rely on this passing game, but they were still able to at moments use it to just wallop NC State. Defensively, the running back by committee that Virginia had was really good too. Middlebrooks has been the number one guy at running back.

24:10
Logan Brumley
I believe they have a couple solid backups with Xavier Brown, Noah Vaughn. Bo Prabula obviously is a really good running quarterback. So barely any pressure by the defensive line. I think he had all day in the pockets and a lot of the running was by choice. I mean, I know that Virginia was trying to get Prabola into a hospital, but NT State was not going to be the one to take him there. But where is this team now? It's just ugly. This Richmond game has just become 10 times as consequential because now it's about, okay, we need to get our together as soon as possible. This because they have Vanderbilt looming around the corner. They really need to maybe not win, but show a strong case. Just be like, okay, this first game was a fluke.

25:05
Logan Brumley
No one believes that this first game is a fluke. No one does. And I'd also argue I'm. They're gonna beat Richmond. They might be Appalachian State if. But I, I don't know what we're doing anymore. I don't. C.J. Bailey, he's obviously, I think, out the door. I know it's just one game into the season. I don't expect him to just quit on the team after one game. But at the same time were talking about him going to Miami and then they went with. I don't think it was like they went for C.J. Bailey, then they said settled on Mensa. I think that C.J. Bailey was definitely in the discussion though, and he definitely could have transferred to a good school that was offering him to play. He could be.

26:08
Logan Brumley
Imagine, imagine his running abilities with like Georgia Tech and what they did with Haynes, King, you know, and I just think that his draft stock is to plummet and he needs to get out. He probably will. I know he's not the most important player, but, you know, we all hung our hats on him. He's about to be gone. It's frustrating. Some bright spots. I put eight passing yards for Will Wilson, 75% completion rate. They did do better on third down than Virginia did. They complete about 30% of their first downs. Virginia 21%. So third down defense is not terrible. I'll give him that at least. Jackson Waller, he's been a really good punter. Three punts of 50 plus yards and all of those inside the 20 yard line.

27:04
Logan Brumley
So while Virginia was able to run all over us, Waller was really good at making him have to run more than they probably would if we did not have as good of a good punter and also put penalties to the Virginius five. Next week is the Richmond preview and may God have mercy on our souls. All right, so I have a last segment. There's gonna be something new I'm kind of introducing, gonna see if it's fun. I'm gonna call it I guess Pro Tip Basically it's just pro sports news related to NC State alumni whether here or abroad. Just to know where your favorite NC State players have Head up to this, I think Sunday was final roster cuts and a lot of players stayed. A lot of players didn't.

28:12
Logan Brumley
Some players that managed to five and make it to the 53 man roster, let's give a big shout outs to Brandon Cleveland of the Raiders. He was their seventh round pick. He manages to stay off the roster. Sebastian Harsh, who is an undrafted free agent to the Houston Texans. He has a sack five tackles in the preseason and Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead in tackler in the preseason. Linebacker Kaden Fordham, who is an undrafted free agent as well has made the final roster. He was a player that Todd Bowles was really clamoring over. Two players who were also notable got cut pretty early on and haven't been really signed yet. Sean Brown got cut by the Titans after the first preseason game to bring in UFL alumni.

29:08
Logan Brumley
Corey Mayfield Jr. Devin Marshall was also cut on injury reserve to bring in a practice claw defensive tackle. An undisclosed injury cut Marshall's campaign short, but he has reached an injury settlement and if he is signable with his health status he could be signed as soon as this year. Now these three players did not survive their final rosters but either were or were not retained on waivers. These were players that were cut Sunday. Cody Hardy, Tight end of the Saints. He has not been picked up by anyone else. He has 7 yards receptions or 7 yards total. Wesley Grimes, Wide receiver, undrafted free agent to the 49ers. He also had seven reception yards but was put on the 49ers practice squad. And the biggest surprise after his major, what's it called, Touchdown catch over last preseason weekend.

30:20
Logan Brumley
Justin Jolly, tight end of the Denver Broncos. He was drafted in the fifth round. He got cut. I mean, Broncos had a lot of tight end depth, but was claimed off of waivers by the Miami Dolphins. So is he listed on their roster or is he practice squad? Let me see. He's listed on their at the roster right now, so we'll see. But that's all I have for you today. Have a good day and go pack.

Transcribed by https://fireflies.ai/