The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1249704
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Manziel. Now we rank guys like [2020 Ala- bama signee] Bryce Young, who was top three in the country, and [eventual Heisman Trophy winner] Kyler Murray, who was a high four star. I can tell you that size no longer factors into Rivals' quarterback evaluation. "I am not ashamed to admit we screwed that one up." Amato: "This was one day about halfway through the season, and Russell had played teams that we were going to play at Florida State. Jimbo would study the defenses. He comes into the gym one day and said, 'You were right about Wilson.' "I said, 'Jimbo, get out of here. He'd be our starting quarterback if you would have taken him. I wasn't going to come here and create problems.'" Archer: "When I came to NC State, I moved into Marc's office. He was still living here, and I went to watch the Super Bowl with him, his wife and two daughters. I've known Marc for 40 years. We coached together at Miami. "At the time, I had just got here. He said, 'There is a quarterback coming in that's special.' I asked, 'Who's that?' He said, 'Russell Wilson.'" Trestman: "You just know. I just felt re- ally strongly. When you are a quarterbacks coach, you want to be able to in the meet- ing room and know your quarterback loves football, has the football intelligence, wants to be stimulated, has a respect and genuine love for the game. There's got to be a con- nectivity. There has to be a bunch of trust and mutual appreciation for the position, and he was over the top in all that. "I was extremely, extremely disappointed that we didn't get a chance to have one more year, and I did not get a chance to coach him. You want to be excited going to work every day. I knew I'd be excited to be around him and teach him and coach him." Avent: "I remember sitting down and having coffee with Marc Trestman … he Wilson once told his father he wanted to have his jersey honored at NC State like legendary Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers. That became a reality during the 2014 spring game, and any player wearing No. 16 from that point forward would don a commemorative patch with Wilson's name on it. PHOTOS BY KEN MARTIN " Dad, I want to have my jersey one day retired like Philip [Rivers]. That's where I would love to go." " It's pretty cool just thinking about that out of high school, having that vision."