NC State left tackle Jacarrius Peak knows what’s coming when the Wolfpack travel to face Notre Dame this weekend. The Irish are known for their physicality up front, but Peak says the Pack will be ready for that fight.
“They like to fight. They like to play ball,” Peak said. “So do we. So we just got to go out there and give it our best.”
Peak has emerged as one of NC State’s most consistent performers this season, grading among the top offensive linemen nationally in overall efficiency. His improvement, he says, is rooted in faith, mentorship, and the brotherhood within the locker room.
“For one, it’s God. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at,” Peak said. “For two, just having my resources — A.B., Icky — talking to big bros, learning different levels of the game. And then having my brothers around, like C.J. and my O-line teammates. Knowing they’re with me, I play as good as I can for my brothers.”
That bond up front has helped NC State’s offense find rhythm over the first half of the season. Running back “Hollywood” Smothers has emerged as one of the ACC’s most dynamic playmakers, something Peak says he saw coming long before it showed up on the stat sheet.
“I’ve been knowing that he can do that,” Peak said. “He was just trying to see when it was going to happen, and now y’all see when it’s going to happen, so it’s normal.”
When Smothers breaks through the second level, Peak takes pride in knowing the line’s work set it up.
“Our blocking just pays off,” he said. “That’s what we block for — us five up front block for the other six on the field so they can do their job and make plays.”
This week’s matchup brings back memories of Notre Dame’s previous visit to Raleigh, a loss that still lingers for those who were around. Peak, one of the few holdovers from that roster, says the team hasn’t forgotten.
“You’re going to see them get back when Saturday comes,” he said with a grin. “That’s all I got to say.”
As for the challenge of facing a tradition-rich program like Notre Dame, Peak doesn’t put much stock in the aura surrounding the Irish.
“You put on your pants one leg at a time like me,” he said. “I have no worries about you. You’re a man how I am, you bleed how I bleed, so let’s play ball.”
Peak expects a battle in the trenches, and that’s exactly what he welcomes.
“Everybody we play wants to fight. They want to play hard,” he said. “But so do we, and we’re going to see who wants it more in the fourth quarter.”
As the Wolfpack prepare for one of their biggest tests of the season, Peak’s steady leadership up front will be crucial — and his confidence suggests NC State won’t back down from the moment.
