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

By Andrew Miller

RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Finley #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack drops back to pass against the Virginia Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State won 35-21. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Finley #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack drops back to pass against the Virginia Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State won 35-21. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 27: Trey Smith #12 of the Louisville Cardinals runs for a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on October 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 27: Trey Smith #12 of the Louisville Cardinals runs for a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on October 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Wake Forest secondary allowed him to go off

NC State couldn’t have gotten a much better matchup for the passing game to explode in Week 11. Wake Forest does present a promising true freshman at quarterback in Sam Hartman. But, Hartman is now out for the season and the Demon Deacons had little chance to keep up with this talented NC State football offense led by a veteran signal caller in Finley — until the final minute.

Wake Forest turned to a quarterback that has just 19 career passing attempts in sophomore Jamie Newman to start against NC State. Despite the injury to Hartman, the Demon Deacons were able to put up some points still.

This Wake Forest secondary is only turning the ball over about once per game and allowing more than 250 passing yards per game. The defense has also given up at least 35 points in six of the last seven games. Two early season wins over the FCS Towson Tigers and Tulane Green Wave inflate the season stats for the defense a bit.

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Finley had a huge shot to draw closer to the 3,000 passing yard mark this fall and get his 20th passing touchdown of the season — though he fell short — in the Wake Forest game. He’s also red-hot of late with more than 700 passing yards and six touchdowns in his last two outings.

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