The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1266731
JULY/AUGUST 2020 ■ 39 TIGHT ENDS Getting Healthy BY MATT CARTER L ast season was tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goeb- bel's first at NC State. The optimism of a new job was probably challenged by the hard luck he endured. Along with cornerbacks, where four of the top five players were injured and lost for most of the season, the tight end group was most emblematic of the difficulties the Wolfpack had with staying healthy last fall. Fifth-year senior Cary Angeline did man- age to play every game, but for the final five contests of last year he was the only healthy, non-redshirting scholarship tight end available. Classmates Dylan Autenrieth and Dylan Parham were out with injuries. Autenrieth, a team captain, missed the last nine games, while Parham sat out the final five. That left Goebbel to turn to former walk-on Thomas Ruocchio, another fifth- year senior who was put on scholarship in the preseason. Angeline was productive, catching 25 passes for 379 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. The former Southern Cal transfer was named honorable mention All- ACC, and the hope is that he will have more help this fall. Autenrieth, who started the first three games last year and had three receptions for 40 yards, has a reputation for being the Wolfpack's best blocking tight end. Parham, an athletic converted quarterback, can pro- vide more depth. NC State will also welcome a pair of former Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All- Star Game participants in redshirt freshman Kameron Walker and class of 2020 signee Ezemdi Udoh, which should give Goeb- bel more options if the injury bug bites again. BY THE NUMBERS 6 Years that fifth-year senior tight end Dylan Autenrieth could be at NC State. He has been granted a sixth season of eligibility due to injuries and can come back in 2021. 10 National ranking among tight ends in the 2017 recruiting class for fifth-year senior Cary Angeline according to 247Sports composite. 3,776 Passing yards in two seasons at Southeast Raleigh High for former Wolfpack quarterback Dylan Parham, who converted to tight end after redshirting in 2017. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR CARY ANGELINE Angeline was considered a blue-chip prospect coming out of Downingtown East High and Chester Springs, Pa. He could have gone to Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, etc. Instead, he picked Southern Cal. After two years at USC, Angeline transferred to NC State, and last year he showed flashes of why he was considered a must-have tight end. His five touchdown receptions led the Wolfpack. The only tight end in program history to catch more scores in a single season was the unique Jaylen Samu - els, who had seven touchdowns in a year twice. Angeline proved to be a sure-handed target, dropping just one of his 42 targets according to Pro Football Focus. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★ The technical starter for NC State often times de- pends on which formation they line up in to begin a game. In three of 12 contests a year ago, NC State started without a tight end. Fifth-year seniors Cary Angeline (four), Dylan Autenrieth (three) and Dylan Parham (two) all started depending on the formation. However, this grade presumes the primary tight end will end up being Angeline, who has garnered some preseason All-ACC consideration after a strong 2019 campaign. DEPTH ★★½ Position coach Todd Goebbel knows that he has a solid foundation to work with in the top trio of fifth-year seniors, but last year proved that he needed more options in case of a rash of injuries. The question is, can redshirt freshman Kameron Walker and true freshman Ezemdi Udoh provide that? EXPERIENCE ★★½ Angeline now has a full year as a primary tight end under his belt, and Autenrieth has played in 27 career games with 11 starts. Parham has seen the field in 20 contests and made his first two career starts last year. Even former walk-on Thomas Ruoc - chio saw 46 offensive snaps last year when pressed into duty. All four are fifth-year seniors. Thus, experience is not an issue. OVERALL ★★½ Angeline proved himself as a reliable receiving option, especially in the red zone, last season. With a healthy Autenrieth and Parham, Goebbel should have a well-rounded position group. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 6 Cary Angeline 5th-Sr. 6-7 250 Chester Springs, Pa. RESERVES 42 Dylan Autenrieth 5th-Sr. 6-4 240 Dallas, Ga. 28 Dylan Parham 5th-Sr. 6-5 243 Raleigh WAITING IN THE WINGS 89 Thomas Ruocchio* 5th-Sr. 6-4 255 Raleigh — Ezemdi Udoh Fr. 6-5 240 Fayetteville, N.C. 48 Kameron Walker R-Fr. 6-5 242 Canton, N.C. * Former walk-on