The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/125393
■ pack pros Three Wolfpackers Selected In The NFL Draft By Ryan Tice hree former NC State stars were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, held in New York City from April 25-27. Cornerback David Amerson, quarterback Mike Glennon and safety Earl Wolff all heard their names called by the end of the fifth round. T The Head Of State Amerson led the way when he came off the board in the second round. The former All-American and Jack Tatum Award winner, which is annually given to the nation's top defensive back, was tabbed by the Washington Redskins with the 51st overall pick. He stands as the Wolfpack's highest drafted product since they produced a school-record three first-round selections in 2006. This also marked the first year that two former players were taken in the first three rounds since that draft seven years ago. The cornerback was the first pick of the draft for Washington, which traded away this year's first-rounder in order to select quarterback Robert Griffin III last year. Amerson, who was selected with the 19th pick of the second round, set an ACC record with 13 interceptions in 2011 and wrapped up his career with a school-record 18 picks, which stand as the third-most in ACC history. Although he will admit that his final campaign in Raleigh was a down year, he still earned second-team All-ACC laurels and nabbed five interceptions, which tied for the conference lead and placed 11th nationally. "It was just a dream come true," he said of hearing his named called. "Ever since I started playing sports, being a professional is what I've wanted to do. To accomplish that dream is a relief. "They're bringing me in and they expect me to be on the field, wherever that may be. I definitely have to earn it — nothing is going to be given. I have to compete to earn my way on the field." Amerson is looking forward to rebounding from his final collegiate campaign, and he has one goal in mind as his professional career begins. "I expect myself to be one of the best corners in the league," he stated. "That's my goal and that's what I'm working towards. That's my motivation at this moment; I want to be the best. Cornerback David Amerson, who was grabbed by the Washington Redskins in the second round with the 51st overall pick, is NC State's highest selection in the NFL Draft since 2006. photo by ken martin "It was a lot of fun at NC State, and I love NC State. Now, I take my challenge to a whole new level in the NFL, and I'm going to give the Redskins everything I've got." The Bucs' New Cannon Glennon came off the board later in day two, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him with the 11th pick of the third round (73rd overall). Four-year veteran Josh Freeman is the Bucs' starter under center, but he has been very inconsistent during his 56 career starts. Freeman, who has 78 touchdown passes against 63 interceptions, is heading into the last year of his rookie deal, and it has been reported that Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano is not sold on Freeman as his long-term starter. However, the coach told the Bucs' official website after the draft that the team has no set goals in terms of a timetable for Glennon to develop into a starter. "I think that's hard with any rookie quarterback," he said. "It's going to be a matter of how fast he grasps our system. And the fact of the matter is, we have a starting quarterback." That's fine with Glennon, who is just hoping to go in and challenge Freeman. "I want to go in and compete, whatever the situation is," he told the website. "But I'm going to do what's best for the team." General manager Mark Dominik said that taking Glennon where the team did represented the right fit at the right time. "We had him as the highest-ranked player on our board, and it filled a need for our football team that we thought was important," he said. "We talked about it in regard to everything we do — we want to increase the competition for everybody and bring out the best in everybody." Glennon started the last two years of his NC State career and finished with 4,031 passing yards as a fifth-year senior, the second-most in program annals, despite more than 45 drops from his receivers. His 63 career touchdown throws, amassed in just 26 starts, stand as the third-highest total in school history, and he is the only player in Wolfpack history to throw for at least 30 scores in two different seasons. "Competition and quality depth across our roster is critical for us to be a championship team," Schiano told the team's web- 74 ■ the wolfpacker 74,76.Pack Pros.indd 74 4/30/13 2:05 PM