The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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116 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 What They Are Saying About The Pack "He wants to be a great quarterback, so everything he's reading, the reason why he's trying to be gluten free, the reason why he's invested in leadership books, the reason why he's getting more sleep, wearing his glasses [that block out blue light from cell- phones] is so he's better at playing quarterback. There's no doubt in my mind he wants to be the best quarterback that he can be and maybe the best that ever played. That's his goal. And he knows that this doesn't just happen." — NC State offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz on sixth-year quarterback Ryan Finley (USA Today) "NC State got a preview of life without [defensive end Bradley] Chubb in the Sun Bowl. The offense did the heavy lifting behind Finley and the receivers and put up 52 points in a win over Ari- zona State. With so many personnel changes on defense, the same formula will have to work in 2018 for the Wolfpack to avoid a step back after their first top-25 finish under [NCSU head coach Dave] Doeren and only third in the past 20 years." — AthlonS- ports.com on expectations for NC State in 2018 "This is a super-rough estimate, but let's say [junior wide re- ceiver Kelvin] Harmon collects 130 targets; at a catch rate of 60 percent, that would equate to another 78 receptions. This would, hypothetically, knock his career total up to 174, which would be good for fourth all time in program history — behind only [Jaylen] Samuels, Jerricho Cotchery and Torry Holt." — ACCSports.com on what junior wide receiver Kelvin Harmon could achieve this season "We are on an exciting upward trajectory in football under the leadership of Coach Doeren. He has assembled a terrifically talented coaching staff, as well, and that continuity and stability has been important to our current student-athletes and recruits." — NC State director of athletics Debbie Yow on signing head football coach Dave Doeren to a five-year contract extension Quick Look At NC State's 2018 Schedule Returning Athlon Sports' Phil Steele's Date Team 2017 Record Starters* National Rank Power Poll — NC State 9-4 (6-2 ACC) 11 33 43 Sept. 1 James Madison 14-1 (8-0 CAA) 11 2 (in FCS) — The Dukes feature some ACC flavor with Pittsburgh quarterback transfer Ben DiNucci, who started against NC State last year, and former Georgia Tech running back Marcus Marshall of Raleigh. The latter rushed 143 times for 874 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sept. 8 Georgia State 7-5 (5-3 Sun Belt) 13 113 119 The Panthers will be breaking in a new starter at quarterback, but return one of the top wide receivers in the Sun Belt in redshirt junior Penny Hart. The 5-8, 180-pounder caught 74 passes for 1,121 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Sept. 15 West Virginia 7-6 (5-4 Big 12) 14 22 32 The Mountaineers return eight offensive starters and add Alabama wide receiver transfer T.J. Simmons, so expectations are high in Morgantown, W.Va. Junior linebacker David Long paces the defense with 76 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Sept. 22 at Marshall 8-5 (4-4 CUSA) 17 75 50 The Thundering Herd enjoyed a bounce-back season last year, but then quarterback Chase Litton surpris - ingly left school a year early and went undrafted. Wagner graduate transfer Alex Thomson, who is 6-5 and 225 pounds, is expected to replace Litton. Sept. 29 Virginia 6-7 (3-5 ACC) 12 81 90 The Cavaliers relied on ECU transfer Kurt Benkert at quarterback last year, and now are turning to junior college transfer Bryce Perkins at the position. The speedy 6-3, 215-pound Perkins passed for 1,311 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for 353 yards and four scores at Arizona Western Community College last year. Oct. 6 Boston College 7-6 (4-4 ACC) 13 39 19 The Eagles underwent a youth movement of sorts offensively last year, and it paid off handsomely. Running back AJ Dillon, quarterback Anthony Brown and wide receiver Kobay White are all sophomores, and four offen - sive linemen return. Dillon is the catalyst after rushing 268 times for 1,432 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. Oct. 20 at Clemson 12-2 (7-1 ACC) 17 2 2 The Tigers return six members of their talented front seven, both running backs and senior quarterback Kelly Bryant. Clemson will need to have some young receivers to emerge and the secondary has some question marks. Running backs Tavien Feaster and Travis Etienne combined for 1,403 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last year. Oct. 27 at Syracuse 4-8 (2-6 ACC) 15 66 82 Senior Eric Dungey is one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, but staying healthy has always been a concern. He passed for 2,495 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 595 yards and nine scores, despite missing three full games. The Orange allowed at least 30 points in six contests, including a staggering 162 over the final three games. Nov. 3 Florida State 7-6 (3-5 ACC) 11 13 18 Former head coach Jimbo Fisher left for Texas A&M, and he was replaced by Oregon head coach Willie Tag - gart, who previously was at South Florida and Western Kentucky. Taggart will need to overhaul the Seminoles' defense, but can rely on sophomore running back Cam Akers until the quarterback position settles down. Nov. 8 Wake Forest 8-5 (4-4 ACC) 16 37 46 Head coach Dave Clawson is a proven program builder and last year was further evidence. Junior quar- terback Kendall Hinton is suspended for the first three games, and the fourth contest is versus Notre Dame Sept. 22. Sophomore Jamie Newman and freshman Sam Hartman will compete in his absence. Nov. 17 at Louisville 8-5 (4-4 ACC) 13 40 31 Superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson entered the NFL Draft a year early and was selected in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens. Sophomore Jawon Pass was a touted Rivals.com recruit coming out of high school, getting ranked as the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2016. Nov. 24 at North Carolina 3-9 (1-7 ACC) 11 69 45 The Tar Heels never found a suitable replacement for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who entered the NFL Draft a year early, and had a dizzying array of injuries. Opponents averaged 31.2 points per game, and both linebackers will need to be replaced. * Maximum of two specialists • "It's going to be a process for him, but he's been outstanding this spring. The best thing about Chris is that he is the same guy every day. He is just a routine guy." — NC State head coach Dave Doeren on freshman kicker Christopher Dunn Passing: QB Ryan Finley (3,518 yards) Rushing: RB Reggie Gallaspy (505 yards, 7 TD) Receiving: WR Kelvin Harmon (1,017 yards, 4 TD) Returning Leaders For NC State Tackles: S Jarius Morehead (80) Sacks: DE Darian Roseboro (2.5) Interceptions: LB Germaine Pratt (2) PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN