The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
66 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TIGHT ENDS HARD WORKERS An Older Unit Looks To Break Out This Fall BY MATT CARTER L ast year was a transition for the tight end position. For years, former position coach Eddie Faulkner could count on the reliable duo of Jaylen Samuels and Cole Cook to give NC State complete play there. Samuels has taken his versatile talent to the NFL, where he is a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cook had an NFL tryout himself with the Atlanta Falcons before landing a graduate assistant job at Appalachian State. In the first post-Samuels/Cook year at tight end, injuries struck early. Then Cary Angeline, a transfer from Southern Cal, did not win a waiver to be able to play right away. Angeline originally was going to have to sit out three games, but the cancellation of the West Virginia contest at Carter-Finley Stadium got him on the field after two contests. It also took a while for continuity to develop at the position. This offseason, the Wolf- pack had to hire a new coach for tight ends. Faulkner, who had been with head coach Dave Do- eren since he arrived at NC State prior to the 2013 season, has now joined Samuels as the Steelers running backs coach. Replacing Faulkner is Todd Goebbel, who spent the past four seasons at Marshall. From day one, Goebbel told his players he could promise them three things. "I guaranteed them I'd take care of them as people first, players second," Goebbel said. "And I was going to put everything in their tool belt for them to go succeed." Then Goebbel turned to his expectations. "I needed tremendous effort and work ethic … and then on top of that extreme toughness," he told his players. "From there I need them to be good at everything, and then we got to find greatness. That's what I need to do as a coach and that's what they need to do as a player. "I think they are a tremendous group of men. They are improving each day. I think they un- derstand their strengths and, more importantly, they are very honest about their weaknesses. Each and every one of them individually has attacked those through the spring and summer. "As long as you are very honest with your- self about who you are and what you want to become and have a great work ethic and mind- set about it, great things can be accomplished." Angeline and redshirt junior Dylan Auten- rieth have the most experience of the group. Autenrieth started eight of the 11 games he played in last season and caught a pair of passes for 37 yards, while Angeline started four contests out of his 11 appearances and hauled in nine receptions for 169 yards and a score. Redshirt junior Dylan Parham was limited to one game by inju- ries last year, but he caught two passes for 11 yards in that contest. ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven Starter ★★ The combination of redshirt juniors Cary Angeline and Dylan Autenrieth has the potential to be a big piece of the Wolfpack offense if they effectively use last season as a building block. Experience ★★★ Autenrieth has played in 24 games in his first two seasons, while Angeline saw action in 11 games last year after he became eligible. Redshirt junior Dylan Parham played in 12 games in his first year at tight end in 2017. Redshirt junior Thomas Ruocchio has also seen extensive action, notably on special teams. Experience is not lacking for the Pack. Depth ★★★ New tight ends coach Todd Goebbel has options. The key is those tight ends translating their experience and reaching their full potential. Overall grade ★★ There is a chance that this grade undersells the tight end position. The offensive coaches felt good about the unit and its potential exiting the spring, but the proof will come in the fall. Before transferring to NC State, redshirt junior Cary Angeline was a four-star signing for South- ern Cal according to ESPN and 247Sports. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN YEAR-BY-YEAR LEADING RECEIVER AT TIGHT END Year Name Catches Yards 2018 Cary Angeline 9 169 2017 Jaylen Samuels 76 597 2016 Jaylen Samuels 55 565 2015 Jaylen Samuels 65 597 2014 David J. Grinnage 27 358 2013 David J. Grinnage 15 150 2012 Mario Carter 34 367 2011 George Bryan 33 331 2010 George Bryan 35 369 2009 George Bryan 40 422