The Wolfpacker

May 2013 Wolfpacker

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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4909 Western Boulevard, Suite 200 Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Telephone: (919) 851-4696 Fax: (919) 859-5598 Offering a wide variety of services: Personal Accounting/Bookkeeping Non-Profit Organizations Partnerships Payroll Services Corporations Small Business Trusts Estate & Financial Planning Tax Planning Serving the community since 1966 www.jalucas.com The Triangle's Fastest Growing Caterer! Our flame-wrapped vehicles travel the Backyard Bistro… Proudly Serving our N.C. State Friends Triangle area • NC State Alumni Association and beyond. • Varsity Club Home of the Big Rig. • Wake County Coaches Caravan Feeding the masses • Black Alumni Association from 10 to 10,000. • Wear Red Get Fed…and many more Dear Lance and Joe: Home of the Tom O'Brien & Mark Gottfried Shows " You covered every detail and served the best food we have ever had for a cookout at our house." Curtis and Jackie Dail www.backyardbistro.com • 919.851.6203 Across from the RBC Center Junior tackle T.Y. McGill — who recorded 50 total stops, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2012 — is one of three returning starters on the defensive line. Photo by Ken Martin The ensuing surgery and rehab meant the earliest he could return would be midway into the 2010 season, so Byrd redshirted that campaign. He came back strong in the 2011 spring and worked his way back in the starting lineup. But during the summer, Byrd suffered a second torn ACL during workouts. That forced him to miss a second straight season. By that point, corners such as Amerson and Johnson were emerging as top players at the position. Byrd played four games as a reserve last season before a thigh injury hampered him the rest of the year. "Once I got the feel of the game again, the coaches last year played me a little, but not as much as I wanted," Byrd admitted. "I don't fault them for that because I knew the situation — I was coming off two ACL surgeries and that's serious. Last year was a learning lesson, getting my feel back and strengthening my body." With the opening at safety, Byrd was approached about moving there. By the end of spring, he was first string at free safety. "I'm catching on quick," Byrd said. "I don't have a lot of experience there, but I'm getting a good feel for it. "I know if I can stay healthy, I can perform on the field because football is what I do best. I believe that's what I was born to do. If I can stay healthy, I should be pretty good." "He has done a nice job," Huxtable acknowledged. "He is a great kid and has accepted that role. He went in there and had a tremendous scrimmage [April 13]. He had some clinic tackles and is a smart kid. He has really taken charge back there at the safety position for us." The leading candidate to start at strong safety and alongside Byrd is redshirt soph- 50  ■  the wolfpacker 48-51.Spring FB Defense.indd 50 4/30/13 2:50 PM

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