The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
TRACKING THE PACK 18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY THE NUMBERS Sponsored by Colony Tire & Service www.colonytire.com 2 Former NC State players made the NFL Network's annual Top 100 countdown of the league's best players, as voted on by the players. Seattle Seahawks quarterback RUSSELL WILSON led the way, checking in at No. 12. Since making his debut on the list at No. 51 in 2013 — fol- lowing his rookie campaign — he has made the top 25 in eight straight seasons. "Wilson had a career-high 40 touchdown passes in 2020 and was seven yards short of doing the same in passing yards (4,212)," NFL.com noted. "A poster child for consistent success, Wilson has never missed a game during a nine-year career that's seen the playoffs eight times, and he has yet to allow the Seahawks to have a los- ing season during his tenure. With an uncanny ability to calmly evade chaos in the pocket and the knack for completing impossible throws, Wilson's play in crunch time is a credit to the wild Seahawks victories that come perennially." Linebacker BRADLEY CHUBB also made his second appearance in the top 100, checking in at No. 40, after missing 12 games during the 2019 season with a torn ACL and therefore missing the cut. He ranked No. 82 on the countdown two years ago after his rookie season. "Opposing O-lines and QBs were quickly reminded why the Broncos edge rusher is still a player to be excited about," NFL.com wrote. "The first-time Pro Bowler led the Broncos with 7.5 sacks and 45 pressures while facing a steady dose of double teams all season." "It's awesome to see his improvement from the injury that he had, and then to come back and have the breakout year that he had is pretty phenomenal," teammate and All-Pro of- fensive tackle Garett Bolles said. "It just speaks for what type of man he is, what type of player he is. … The sky is the limit for that kid. He's going to be special, a top-10 pass rusher in the league for many years to come." 49-0 Was the final score of Philip Rivers' first game as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala. The eight-time Pro Bowler made his coaching debut Aug. 26, and his Cardinals went up 27-0 in the first quarter. Last year in six games, and with Rivers still playing in the NFL, the team scored just 111 points in six games. "ICKEY EKWONU ISN'T THE ONLY FREAK ON THE WOLFPACK O-LINE. MCMAHON, ONE OF THE BETTER YOUNG LINEMEN IN THE ACC, HELPS ANCHOR A PROMISING FRONT THAT ALSO INCLUDES STANDOUT CENTER GRANT GIBSON, WHO COULD MERIT A SPOT HERE AS A 440-POUND BENCHER AND 610-POUND SQUATTER. WE'LL GO WITH THE 300-POUND MCMAHON, THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF FORMER FSU STALWART RYAN MCMAHON, A FOUR-YEAR STARTER FOR THE NOLES AT CENTER. THE YOUNGER MCMAHON VERTICAL JUMPED 31.5 INCHES AND POWER CLEANED 385. HE ALSO BENCHED 385 AND SQUATTED 570." — The Athletic's Bruce Feldman on naming redshirt freshman DYLAN MCMAHON among college football's biggest "Freaks"; he also dubbed Ekwonu "the most dominant O-lineman in college football" PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN/NEWS & OBSERVER PHOTO BY GABRIEL CHRISTUS/ COURTESY DENVER BRONCOS PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS