NC State football: 3 reasons Ryan Finley boosted draft stock vs. Wake Forest

A big time opportunity came the way of senior Ryan Finley and NC State football against an injury-ravaged Wake Forest team in Week 11.

It’s hitting the point where No. 14 ranked NC State football can start to make a real statement that it should be taken seriously in contention for a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl in 2018. This is unfortunate that NC State football is in the same division in the ACC as the Clemson Tigers this year.

Cross-conference, the ACC is in a pitfall with a division that’s likely going to be decided between the Virginia Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Panthers. That shouldn’t pose much of a challenge to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, NC. Clemson is rolling through everyone right now, and its biggest challenger in the ACC came in the form of the Syracuse Orange.

If NC State is able to work its way into New Year’s Six Bowl contention, it will be behind the efforts of one player. Senior quarterback Ryan Finley fits among the best at his position in the nation and is drawing a lot of hype for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Despite numerous departures that were supposed to hinder NC State football this fall, Finley is guiding this team to an even higher point than it was at last season. NC State is just three games away from pulling off a two-loss regular season. And, those only two defeats would come against teams ranked inside the top 15 of the latest College Football Playoff Ranking for Week 11.

Here’s a look at three reasons why this was a huge chance for NC State Wolfpack starting quarterback Ryan Finley to boost his 2019 NFL Draft stock against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Week 11.