The Wolfpacker

July 2018

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 115 of 171

114 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 Three Key Games Vs. WEST VIRGINIA, Sept. 15 The Mountaineers (7-6 in 2017) feature a dynamic passing game, led by a quarter- back NC State coaches are familiar with. Senior quarterback Will Grier of Davidson (N.C.) Day passed for more than 300 yards in nine out of 10 games he played in and finished. Grier completed 250 of 388 passes for 3,490 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2017, despite missing two full games and most of a third. The Mountaineers defense allowed at least 30 points in seven games last year. At CLEMSON, Oct. 20 The Tigers finished 12-2 last year and won the ACC title, before falling 24-6 to Alabama in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Clemson surprisingly returns all four defensive linemen — tackles Christian Wilkins, a senior, and Dexter Lawrence, a junior, and ends Clelin Ferrell, a junior, and Austin Bry- ant, a senior — and all four are expected to be high NFL Draft picks in the future. Senior quarterback Kelly Bryant returns after passing for 2,678 yards and 13 scores, while also rushing for 646 yards and 11 touchdowns. He'll have to hold off true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who Rivals.com ranked No. 1 overall in the country in the class of 2018. Vs. WAKE FOREST, Nov. 8 Last year, WFU topped NC State 30-24 in Winston- Salem, N.C., and the Wolfpack will be looking for revenge. Redshirt junior quarter- back Kendall Hinton of Durham picked Wake Forest over NC State in a heated recruitment, and this appears to be his year. How- ever, he'll miss the first three games due to suspension. Star wide receiver Greg Dortch caught 53 passes for 722 yards and nine touchdowns in just eight games. QUICK GUIDE The Names, Games And Numbers To Know Heading Into The 2018 Season BY JACEY ZEMBAL ■ BY THE NUMBERS 4 . 5 Yards per carry averaged in his career by NC State senior running back Reggie Gallaspy, who has rushed 232 times for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns. 8 Wins for NC State against North Carolina in the last 11 games, including four of the last five in Chapel Hill. 1 1 Players in the ACC last year recorded at least 90 targets, according to Football Study Hall. Three played for the Wolfpack — junior Kelvin Harmon (fourth, 117), former star Jaylen Samuels (eighth, 98) and redshirt junior Jakobi Meyers (10th, 95). Three of the top four catch rates on the list came from NC State players — Samuels finished first (77.6 percent), Harmon second (69.0) and Meyers finished fourth (66.3), 0.1 percentage points out of third. 14 Pressures allowed last year by NC State fifth- year senior left tackle TYLER JONES per Pro Football Focus College, which is tied for fewest among returning ACC offensive tackles. 1 7 NC State's rank on the list of the nation's toughest schedules, according to Phil Steele's 2018 College Football Preview. 1 9 . 9 Percentage points above the NCAA average for NC State sixth-year se- nior quarterback Ryan Finley on "out routes" last year per Pro Football Focus College. He had a 92.5 passer rating on out throws. 2 2 Players nationally were honored by Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which includes NC State senior punter A.J. Cole. 3 , 6 2 5 All-purpose yards were racked up by freshman run- ning back Ricky Person Jr. during his prep ca- reer. He played at Franklinton (N.C.) High for two years, and Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage his last two years. Junior receiver Kelvin Harmon and the Pack will take on Clemson Oct. 20. It is the biggest game in the ACC that weekend according to Lindy's. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN PHOTO BY GREG FORWERCK FOR NC STATE ATHLETICS

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolfpacker - July 2018