Can ECU’s revamped offensive line hold up against NC State’s retooled defensive front?
Much of the pregame chatter ahead of Thursday night’s season opener in Raleigh has centered on the quarterbacks. But the real deciding factor may come down to the trenches—ECU’s rebuilt offensive line against NC State’s reshaped defensive line.
The Wolfpack will be shorthanded early, with Brandon Cleveland suspended for the first half. Still, under first-year defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, NC State’s front must prove more capable of stopping the run and generating pressure than it did in last year’s bowl matchup with the Pirates.
ECU, meanwhile, enters with a line in transition. Emmanuel Poku is the only starter returning to his previous spot, holding down right guard for the eighth straight game dating back to 2024. Jimarion McCrimon shifts from right tackle to left tackle, while Darius Bell moves from left guard to center. Maryland transfer Kyle Long steps in at left guard, and Division II transfer Cooper Trnavsky (Newberry College) takes over at right tackle.
That’s major turnover. How quickly this unit can gel—and how well it handles Eliot’s schemes—could swing the game.
Will NC State match ECU’s intensity?
In last year’s Military Bowl, ECU wasn’t the more talented roster, but it was the more motivated one. The Pirates played with an edge that NC State never fully matched, and it carried them to a win. Both sides have emphasized preparation and focus this week, but when the ball is kicked, ECU will no doubt bring the same energy.
If NC State again struggles to equal that emotion, the Pirates’ fire could fuel another upset bid. On paper, the Wolfpack should be ready. But until they prove it, the question lingers.
Will Doeren cut loose on offense?
One defining trait of Blake Harrell’s interim run last season—and a big reason he earned the full-time job—was his willingness to take risks. He coached with boldness, particularly on offense, and leaned into the idea that football is a game to be enjoyed.
That’s a stark contrast with Dave Doeren’s typically conservative style. While his steady approach may be enough to secure a win Thursday, the Wolfpack enter 2025 with new coordinators, a fan base still cooling from a 6–7 season, and an opportunity to reset their identity. Some of NC State’s most memorable performances under Doeren came when he loosened the reins and let the offense play free. Doing so more consistently could inject new life into this team.
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