The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1306549
16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK BY THE NUMBERS Sponsored by Colony Tire & Service www.colonytire.com He's a throwback. He's definitely that old school linebacker that's just a vicious player. He plays extremely hard. I think he learned how much he loves football by losing football with his injuries and actually plays that way. "He's going to give it everything because he knows how precious it is to him. I just think there's few guys out there that play as hard as he physically plays the game. He's relentless." — NC State head football coach Dave Doeren on redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson 10.6 Tackles per game averaged by redshirt sophomore linebacker PAYTON WILSON entering the Pack's game with Miami Nov. 6. After eight weeks of ACC play, Wilson held the conference lead and was tied for 13th among FBS players in the statistic (as of Nov. 3). The 6-4, 240-pounder led the Wolfpack with 19 tackles in the 31-20 win over Duke on Oct. 17. He was the first NC State player to have 19 tackles in a game since Earl Wolff did so against Clemson in 2012. Wilson also had two intercep - tions against the Blue Devils and became the first Pack linebacker to have two picks in a single game since Jerod Fernandez against Florida State in 2014. PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN, THE NEWS & OBSERVER/ COURTESY ACC MEDIA "Deeply entrenched confidants in Raleigh have relayed word that NC State freshman CAM HAYES is a potential starter at point guard. Has legit size at 6-3. Top-100 recruit." — CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein in an Oct. 28 tweet 85.3 Is the Pro Football Focus (PFF) defensive grade (out of 100) through six games for junior nose tackle ALIM MCNEILL. As of Nov. 3, his mark ranked first nationally among Power Five inte- rior defensive linemen with at least 30 snaps played (McNeill has logged 287). The 6-2, 320-pounder had 13 tackles, includ- ing four for loss and one sack, in six starts. He also notched one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception that he returned for an 18-yard touchdown in the 38-20 road win over Virginia. PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON, THE DAILY PROGRESS/ COURTESY ACC MEDIA PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS