The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1318516
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 ■ 27 BY MATT CARTER C State football, for strong and valid reasons, likes to stake a claim as "Quar- terback U," but it can also make a case for being among the best college foot- ball programs in producing defensive linemen over the past couple of decades. Four former Wolfpackers have been drafted in the first round — Bradley Chubb (2018), Manny Lawson (2005), John McCargo (2005) and Mario Williams (2005), the first-ever ACC player to be picked with the first overall selection. Others like Justin Jones (third round), B.J. Hill (third), DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler (third), Kentavius Street (fourth), Larrell Murchi- son (fifth), DeMario Pressley (fifth), Markus Kuhn (seventh), James Smith-Williams (sev- enth) and Willie Young (seventh) have been drafted since 2000. However, the excellent defensive lines at NC State extend further back than recent his- tory. Between 1990-92, a defensive lineman was selected in the draft every year, and the headliner of that group was Ray Agnew Jr. In 1990, Agnew became — at that time — just the third Wolfpack player to be drafted among the NFL's top 10. Fate almost had him matching fellow defensive lineman Dennis Byrd in 1968 for being the highest-picked defensive player ever out of NC State (to that point), at No. 6 overall. The Chicago Bears owned that pick, and in an unusual move — which from Agnew's recollection was the first time it had ever been done — chose three possible players for the pick: Agnew, USC defensive back Mark Carrier and Baylor linebacker James Francis. The Bears approached all three with the same deal. The person who accepted would be their selection. "Obviously, I didn't take it," Agnew con- fessed. "James didn't take it. Mark Carrier agreed to it. He had a great career. "I knew I was going to go in the first round; I just didn't know where. I visited a lot of teams, and then finally New England took me with the 10th pick, which is not shabby either." The truth is there is nothing shabby about Agnew's career in football or his passion for the sport, which began at a young age and continues to the present, well after his play- ing days have ended. "It isn't for everybody, but it is for me," Agnew said of football. "I love it. I can watch 6-year-olds play football. I still love going to watch high school ball. "I just love the game." Love At First Sight When Agnew was 6 years old, he awoke on Christmas morning to find presents under the tree. The first gift he unwrapped: his first football. "I didn't even open anything else up," Agnew remembered. That was the introduction for Agnew to the sport that has occupied his life. At 8 years old, he began his playing career. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native was too big to participate in Pop Warner, so he had to sign up for a local YMCA league. The first time he touched a football, Agnew scored on a touchdown run. When he was playing at Carver High School, the reality of Agnew's talent became more apparent. Letters from colleges started arriving in the mailbox, but in an era that pre- dates highlight tapes, it was the sight of col- lege coaches on the sidelines for his games that hit home. "When the college coaches started to come watch us play, you started realizing, 'Hey man, I got a chance to get my college paid for,'" he recalled. Agnew modestly states he was not as highly recruited as others, but the reality is his final two choices ended up being Auburn and NC State. After taking visits to both schools, Agnew chose the Wolfpack, com- mitting to then-head coach Tom Reed. Then the twist came. Reed was fired and replaced by the head coach from Furman, Dick Sheridan. "It was confusing," Agnew admitted. "I had a good relationship with the other staff with a guy named Tom Landsittel. He was the coach that recruited me. At the time, Bobby Purcell was the recruiting coordina- tor. I got to know him well, and then Coach Landsittel, and next thing they were gone. "When Coach Sheridan and his staff took over, I'm a southern boy myself, but they were that deep southern boys. I'll never for- get my first coach call, Coach Jeff Snipes. He called me, and I just thought the guy sounded like Gomer Pyle." Ultimately, Agnew decided to stick with his original decision, and he's thankful he did. He became particularly close to defen- sive line coach Steve Robinson and defensive coordinator Joe Pate. Agnew still talks with Pate on a regular basis. Over time, he also gained an appreciation for what he learned from Sheridan. "There were so many rules. He was so strict, and certain things you couldn't do," Agnew remembered. "I understand those things now. I didn't when I was an 18-year- old kid. "I learned a lot from him. He was a dis- ciplinarian, but he was always fair. I think I grew as a person playing for him." Like most former NC State football play- ers, beating UNC stands out to him, but one of his favorite games was during his fresh- FOR LOVE OF THE GAME Former Pack Star Ray Agnew Jr. Continues To Shine In Football When Agnew was selected 10th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, he became just the third former Wolfpack player to be drafted by the NFL in the top 10. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS RAY AGNEW JR. Football (1986-89) Age: 53 Living: Los Angeles Occupation: Director of pro personnel for the Los Angeles Rams Did You Know? Agnew's 11-year career in the NFL is tied with Mario Williams for the longest pro stint by a former NC State defensive lineman. N