The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
56 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYERS FROM 2010-19 [ ] T E A M OF THE DECADE FOOTBALL'S BY JACEY ZEMBAL RUNNING BACK MATTHEW DAYES (2013-16) The former Rivals.com three-star pros- pect from Weston (Fla.) Cypress Bay com- mitted to Tom O'Brien and NC State, then the Wolfpack held off Vanderbilt during a coaching transition. Dayes snapped a lengthy 1,000-yard rushing drought at the school, dating back to T.A. McLendon in 2002, when he rushed 249 times for 1,166 yards and 10 scores his senior year. Dayes finished his NCSU career with 550 carries for 2,856 yards and 34 touch- downs, plus he recorded 98 catches for 973 yards and six scores. Dayes also had 28 kickoff returns for 509 yards his first two years. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the seventh round of 2017 NFL Draft. WIDE RECEIVER KELVIN HARMON (2016-18) The physical, 6-3, 213-pounder was a Rivals.com four-star prospect out of Palmyra, N.J., who origi- nally committed to South Carolina. After coach Steve Spurrier retired, he flipped to NC State. Harmon went on to become the Wolfpack's first 1,000-yard receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2003, and then did it for a second straight season. Harmon fin- ished his three-year career with 177 catches for 2,665 yards and 16 touchdowns. He earned second-team All-ACC hon- ors in 2017 and was named first-team all- league in 2018, and entered the NFL Draft a year early. Washington selected him with the No. 206 overall pick in the sixth round of last spring's NFL Draft. WIDE RECEIVER JAKOBI MEYERS (2016-18) NC State lost a quarterback verbal com- mit in the class of 2015 to Indiana and found Meyers, who at the time was slated to go to Kent State. The 6-2, 203-pound Li- thonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain multi-sport standout started his NCSU career under center, but made the move to wide receiver during his redshirt freshman season. The switch proved very successful, and Meyers broke out in 2018 with a single- season school-record 92 catches, which gained 1,047 yards and four touchdowns, to earn first-team All-ACC honors. He fin- ished his three-year NCSU career with 168 receptions for 1,932 yards and nine scores. Meyers entered the NFL Draft early, but went undrafted last spring. He still earned a spot with the New England Patriots. TIGHT END GEORGE BRYAN (2008-11) The 6-5, 265-pounder from Wilmington, N.C., played half his career in the last decade. The former Rivals.com three-star prospect went on to become a first-team All-ACC performer in 2009 and 2010, and a second-team selection in 2011. Bryan caught a combined 68 passes for 700 yards and seven touchdowns in those two seasons. He finished his NCSU career with 126 receptions for 1,323 yards and 17 scores. QUARTERBACK RYAN FINLEY (2016-18) The 6-4, 210-pounder spent his first three years at Boise State (redshirt one then played two), where he earned his college degree. He then transferred to NC State, reuniting with offen- sive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz, who coached him in the same position with the Broncos. The Phoenix product emerged as the starter and improved each of his three seasons on the field. He completed 880 of 1,364 passes (64.5 percent) for 10,501 yards, 60 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 39 NCSU games. Finley was named third-team All-ACC in 2017 and was first-team all-league his senior year. The Cincinnati Bengals took him with the No. 104 overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last spring. He broke into the lineup in week 10, but re- turned to reserve duty after three starts. H-BACK JAYLEN SAMUELS (2014-17) The jack of all trades for NC State was a Rivals.com three-star prospect coming out of Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek. The 5-11, 228-pounder lined up at numerous positions and became a force in the red zone. Samuels was named first-team all- conference at tight end in 2015 and third-team at the position in 2016. As a senior, he was the first-team All-ACC all-purpose back and was a third-team All-America pick at tight end by the Associated Press. He finished his storied NCSU career with a school-record 201 catches for 1,851 yards and 19 touchdowns, and 182 rushing attempts for 1,107 yards and 28 scores. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the No. 165 overall pick. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN