The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
110 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2019 2014 Recruiting Class Players Signed In Class: 31 Players Enrolled in 2014: 28 (Punter A.J. Cole and kicker Kyle Bambard arrived in the spring of 2015) Played As True Freshmen: 15 (OL Tony Adams, K Kyle Bambard, S Shawn Boone, DE Bradley Chubb, TE Cole Cook, P A.J. Cole, DT B.J. Hill, DT Justin Jones, WR Stephen Louis, LB Airius Moore, LB Ger - maine Pratt, TE Jaylen Samuels, CB Michael Ste- vens, DE Kentavius Street and CB Troy Vincent) Players With At Least One Start In Their Ca- reers: 22 CLASS RANKINGS Rivals.com — No. 30 in the nation, No. 6 in the ACC 247Sports.com — No. 37 in the nation, No. 7 in the ACC HONORS Tony Adams — 2017: Second-team All-ACC; 2016: Second-team All-ACC by both coaches and media. Garrett Bradbury — 2018: Rimington Trophy win - ner; consensus first-team All-American; first-team All-ACC; 2017: Honorable mention All-ACC. Bradley Chubb — 2018: Bronko Nagurski Tro- phy winner; unanimous first-team All-American; ACC Defensive Player of the Year; 2017: Second- team All-ACC by the coaches and third-team by the media. A.J. Cole — 2017: Honorable mention All-ACC. B.J. Hill — 2017: Honorable mention All-ACC. Bo Hines — 2014: Honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News. Justin Jones — 2016: Honorable mention All-ACC by coaches. Tyler Jones — 2018: First-team All-ACC. Germaine Pratt — 2018: First-team All-ACC. Terronne Prescod — 2018: First-team All-Amer - ican by ESPN and Sporting News; second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated; third-team All- American by the Associated Press; honorable men- tion All-ACC. Will Richardson — 2017: Second-team All-ACC. Jaylen Samuels — 2017: Third-team All-American by Associated Press; first-team All-ACC; 2016: Third- team All-ACC by coaches and honorable mention by media; 2015: First-team All-ACC by media and second-team by coaches. Top Five Wins For 2014 Class Year-By-Year Record 2014: 8-5 overall, 3-5 ACC Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl vs. Central Florida (W, 34-27) 2015: 7-6 overall, 3-5 ACC Belk Bowl vs. Mississippi State (L, 51-28) 2016: 7-6 overall, 3-5 ACC Camping World Independence Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (W, 41-17) 2017: 9-4 overall, 6-2 ACC Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State (W, 52-31) 2018: 9-4 overall, 5-3 ACC Taxslayer Gator Bowl vs. Texas A&M (L, 52-13) 1. 27-21 at Florida State, 2017 This victory marked the first time a member of the 2014 class defeated a ranked opponent (FSU was No. 11 at the time). In addition to defensive end Bradley Chubb's dominance (three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble), defensive tackles B.J. Hill and Justin Jones each added a sack, and linebacker Airius Moore had five tackles. Offensively, Jaylen Samuels ran for a score and caught a touchdown pass. He finished with 12 receptions for 64 yards. 2. 39-25 vs. Louisville, 2017 The Cardinals, featuring Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson at quarterback, came into Raleigh for a Thursday night showdown on ESPN ranked No. 17. Chubb led a defen- sive effort to contain Jackson with six tackles, two stops for loss and a sack. Safety Shawn Boone added a sack, and Moore had eight tackles. The biggest play, though, was a 25-yard pick-six in the final minute by linebacker Germaine Pratt to seal the win. On the other side of the ball, Samuels hauled in seven receptions for 104 yards, and Stephen Louis contributed three catches for 99 yards. 3. 28-21 at North Carolina, 2016 There was a lot on the line for the Pack, who entered the regular-season finale at 5-6. With starting quarterback Ryan Finley limited, Jalan McClendon came off the sidelines to complete 2 of 5 passes for 23 yards and rush seven times for 42 yards. Louis reached the century mark through the air and grabbed a TD on a trick play pass from Samuels, who added a rushing TD himself. Hill had a sack, while Chubb and corner- back Mike Stevens assisted on one. 4. 10-3 vs. Notre Dame, 2016 While the 2016 version of the Fighting Irish proved not to be a typical Notre Dame team, it is still one of the biggest brand names in college football. The Irish made their first-ever trip to Raleigh amidst the torrential downpours and gusty winds of Hurricane Matthew. Chubb dominated Notre Dame star offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, who would go on to be a first-round NFL Draft pick, with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Fellow end KENTAVIUS STREET added 1.5 sacks, and Moore had eight stops and one tackle for a loss. But the most memorable contributions came from two unlikely places. McClendon used his legs to move the football in less-than-ideal conditions, running 10 times for 56 yards and received a game ball afterward. Safety Dexter Wright scooped up a blocked punt and ran it in for the game's lone touchdown. 5. 52-31 vs. Arizona State, 2017 Validation of the Pack's status as a top-25 team in 2017 came in the Hyundai Sun Bowl when NC State thrashed the Sun Devils despite playing without several key players, notably Chubb. Moore had 10 tackles and an interception, and Street had 1.5 sacks. Louis caught three passes for 115 yards, and Samuels used his seven receptions to be- come the school's all-time catch leader and also ran for a score. Defensive end Kentavius Street recorded 1.5 sacks to help NC State knock off Notre Dame 10-3 in 2016. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP