Nate Irving Gets BroncoTalk “Game Ball”

As a Bronco fan that’s jubilant that the Tebow circus has left town (even for a fragile star replacement, hopefully Manning does better in blue and orange than a glue factory ready Tony Dorsett once did), I am eagerly looking forward to Fall Sundays in addition to Saturdays. Amid that excitement, I had almost forgotten the last time the Broncos made me jump for joy…by drafting Nate Irving in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Sadly, Irving had almost no impact on the field, and I imagined that the team had likely written him off as a draft bust.

Then, as I clicked through the blogosphere, I came across this surprising tidbit:

However, I really liked what I saw from Nate Irving who saw time on pretty much every team (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and did well at all levels. Twice he stuffed a runner behind the line of scrimmage; he looked like the middle linebacker that Denver was hoping for him to be when they drafted him last season.

Having waited most of my adult life for a confluence of professional and collegiate allegiances…this is almost too good to be true. Nate does have the kind of motor that seems perfect for new DC Jack Del Rio’s attacking style. And it’s hard to imagine a Wolfpack alum that the fanbase would be happier to see succeed at the next level.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

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12 Responses to Nate Irving Gets BroncoTalk “Game Ball”

  1. JEOH2 08/11/2012 at 12:24 PM #

    My NFL life absolutely sucks…

    I am a Raiders fan…so for me I want them to make the playoffs every year (they haven’t in almost a decade)…BUT with Nate at Denver and Phil in San Diego, I want to see success from those guys too…(I especially want PR to win a SuperBowl to help cement his legacy)

    So in Raiders games, I want Phil to throw for 450 yards and 5 TDs…but lose…I want Nate to get 15 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 TFL, and 1 FF…but lose…its a tough life

  2. BJD95 08/11/2012 at 1:29 PM #

    Having Norv Turner in San Diego ensures many years of continued PR production that produces a 9-7 record. At least there’s that. Plus, you have to have hope now that Al Davis is dead.

    I can feel for ya, as much as that’s possible for a Raider fan. The Broncos/Raiders rivalry is one of my favorite in terms of “respect through mutual blood hatred.”

  3. Wulfpack 08/11/2012 at 3:06 PM #

    Great days ahead for the Broncs. KC could be pretty stout this year, too.

  4. choppack1 08/11/2012 at 3:13 PM #

    2nd year in a row that I’ll be pulling for broncos. Hopefully, nate will have a good NFL.career, but its worth noting that the 2 of the best state linebackers I’ve seen- levar fisher and thunder Dan didn’t do much in the pros

  5. tjfoose1 08/11/2012 at 3:42 PM #

    ^ Fisher was hampered by injuries once he got to the NFL. Thunder Dan over achieved in college.

    Tulloch is doing very well. Manny Lawson ain’t doing too bad either.

  6. choppack1 08/11/2012 at 4:31 PM #

    Tulloch is doing awesome. To me, Manny really dominated when moved to de…and probably because they played on a d loaded with stars, they didn’t stand out as much.

  7. highstick 08/11/2012 at 7:45 PM #

    Raiders? Jeez, does Ben Davidson still play there?

  8. tjfoose1 08/11/2012 at 7:59 PM #

    Manny is back to playing LB now, I think, for the Bengals.

  9. Wolfy__79 08/11/2012 at 8:15 PM #

    Nate Irving is one of my all time favorite NC STATE alumn! he set a good example for everyone around him!! hope he has a hall of fame career.

    i love all our alumni, i hate it for rivers though. i think norv turner must go… i really don’t think that he will ever lead that team to win a superbowl. i think phillip needs to land in dallas or somewhere where a real team can be put around him. i just don’t see it happening in san diego.

    my vote is for RW to win rookie of the year!

  10. TheCOWDOG 08/11/2012 at 10:07 PM #

    Oh, so sad fellas of Wolfcrackerless NFL teams.

    Roland Hooks
    Tommy Higgins
    Jim Ritcher
    Damien Covington
    now
    Mario and TJ

    McCargo never got a healthy chance

  11. GotNCState 08/12/2012 at 7:23 AM #

    FYI- Join espn’s fantasy football league “Fire UNCs Holden Thorpe”. motto- unc-ch where academics do not matter. Draft this am @ 10:15am……..

  12. WolfInVolCountry 08/13/2012 at 10:35 AM #

    Born and raised CO boy here, BJD. I can still remember Floyd Little and Steve Tensi. I am pumped for this Bronco season and am glad to see Nate getting some props. I hope he continues to get a chance to thrive there. Oh and the Raiders are to the Broncos as UNC-Cheat is to the PACK.

    Go Pack… Go Broncos.
    Go to hell Carolina and the Raiders.

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