The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
40 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2019 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State head coach Dave Do- eren understands the percep- tion that his program could take a step back after another group of talented players have left to chase their professional dreams. The Wolfpack has won at least seven games in five of Doeren's first six seasons, and it has produced 11 NFL Draft picks over the last two years. Pundits mentioned last year that it would be difficult to replace four NFL Draft choices on the defensive line, plus three other selec- tions in running back and return man Ny- heim Hines, H-back extraordinaire Jaylen Samuels and right tackle Will Richardson. The Wolfpack still went 9-4 for the sec- ond straight year and 5-3 in the ACC. If NC State can manage to replace center Garrett Bradbury, outside linebacker Ger- maine Pratt, quarterback Ryan Finley, and wide receivers Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers, the maturation of the program has reached a new level. "We're going to end up being the team that we deserve to be," Doeren said. "That's the bottom line. Do some young guys take advantage of their opportunity? Do some veteran guys that haven't played a lot take advantage of it? Do we stay healthy? "We could have every answer figured out right now and then 10 guys get hurt. … We never look at our team like we are going to rebuild." NC State went 11-3 in 2002 and have been chasing a double-digit-win season ever since. The Wolfpack came close the last two years, creating numerous "what if" scenarios. "The No. 1 [focus] for me is, don't beat yourself, don't underachieve," Doeren said. "You are constantly looking at the past and where did those things happen? Where did you overachieve because you want to repeat that. Where did you underachieve because you don't want to repeat that, and why did that happen? "We are stressing those things to our guys." 2019 Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Aug. 31 East Carolina (ACCN) 12 p.m. Sept. 7 Western Carolina (RSN) 12:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at West Virginia (FS1) 12 p.m. Sept. 21 Ball State TBA Sept. 28 at Florida State TBA Oct. 10 Syracuse (ESPN) 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Boston College TBA Nov. 2 at Wake Forest TBA Nov. 9 Clemson TBA Nov. 16 Louisville TBA Nov. 21 at Georgia Tech (ESPN) 8 p.m. Nov. 30 North Carolina TBA RELOAD OR REBUILD? NC State Aims To Maintain And Improve Upon What Has Been Built Head coach Dave Doeren has helped produce 11 NFL Draft picks over the past two years, but his team has still been able to post back-to-back nine-win campaigns. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN