The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1306549
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 ■ 19 TRACKING THE PACK Wolfpack Football Plagued By Season-Ending Injuries Even before the 2020 campaign started, NC State learned it would have to go with- out one of its most veteran and valuable players this fall. In the week leading up to the Pack's season opener against Wake Forest Sept. 19, senior linebacker Louis Acceus' career ended early due to issues with head injuries. After suffering a concussion in fall camp, doctors told him it was time to retire. Ac- ceus had 50 tackles in 2019, the fourth most on the team, and led the Pack in take- downs in three contests. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary was able to start three 2020 games, including the 30-29 road win over Pittsburgh in which he was named the ACC Quarter- back of the Week, but suffered a broken fibula in the 31-20 win over Duke in game five. He had a successful surgery the following day, Oct. 18, and it was announced he would be out for the next 4-8 weeks. However, NC State coach Dave Doeren said later that week that he did not anticipate his starting quarterback to return for the re- mainder of the regular season. The Wolfpack's secondary has been hit the hardest by injuries. In the first two games, NC State lost three reserves for the season: redshirt sophomore nickel Taiyon Palmer, sophomore safety Rakeim Ashford and redshirt freshman safety Khalid Mar- tin. Additionally, senior corner Chris Ingram and redshirt freshman nickel Jalen Fra- zier have yet to play this fall due to injuries, while junior corner Teshaun Smith and freshman safety Nehki Meredith have only been able to play in one contest. Junior safety and team captain Tanner Ingle has missed two games in 2020 but has been a major contributor when healthy. Winter Athletes To Receive An Additional Year Of Eligibility The NCAA Division I Council voted in October to extend an additional season of com- petition to winter student-athletes. After spring seasons were canceled due to COVID-19, spring athletes became the first to receive an additional year of eligibility. Because of the serious impacts the pandemic has had on fall sports, fall athletes also received an extra season of competition. "The pandemic will continue to impact winter sport seasons in ways we can't predict. Council members opted to provide for winter sport student-athletes the same flexibility given spring and fall sports previously," said Council chair and Pennsylvania athletics di- rector M. Grace Calhoun in a release. "The actions today ensure the continuation of local decision-making in the best interest of each institution and its student-athletes." Schedules for NC State's winter sports — men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's indoor track and field, wrestling and gymnas- tics — have not been released as of Nov. 2. — Justin H. Williams Former NC State Quarterback Russell Wilson In Contention For NFL MVP Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is on the shortlist of early season contenders for the NFL MVP Award through eight weeks of play. He has helped the Seahawks to a 6-1 start with the NFL's No. 1 offense. He leads the league with a 120.8 quarterback rating and 26 touchdowns passes through Nov. 2 — five more than anybody else, despite playing in just seven games while others have played eight. His 22 passing scores in a team's first six games are tied with Peyton Manning for the NFL record, while the 26 in seven are one shy of Tom Brady's NFL standard. He also ranks second in passing yards per game (307.3) and third in completion percentage (71.5), and has added 260 rush- ing yards, fifth among NFL quarterbacks and 42nd overall through week eight. Wilson was No. 1 in ESPN's MVP vot- ing, released Oct. 21, a unanimous choice according to their panel of eight voters, ahead of Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK C.B. Lee & Company Accountants, Consultants & Tax Advisors 4617 Western Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27606 919-851-2640 Fax 919-851-4577 Accounting & Tax Preparation Accounting & Business Managment Services Taxes Individual - Corporate - Partnership - Trusts - LLC's Proud supporter of "The Wolfpack" for over 30 years Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary broke his fibula in the 31-20 win over Duke Oct. 17. PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN, THE NEWS & OBSERVER/COURTESY ACC MEDIA