The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
TRACKING THE PACK SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ■ 19 QUOTING THE PACK 20 Home runs for former Wolfpack and current Los Angeles Dodgers star Trea Turner, after a third-inning bomb Aug. 27, allowing him to become the third player in the majors this year to reach the 20-20 club for hom- ers and stolen bases. It's the first time in Turner's career he has recorded 20 round-trippers, breaking his previous high of 19 set in 2018 and 2019. Through Aug. 29, he was hitting .319 with 82 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples, 56 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 115 games. He was tied for first in MLB with 148 hits and ranked second in batting average, third in stolen bases, 14th in runs scored and 22nd in slug- ging percentage (.515). 25th Was where sophomore offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu ranked on Pro Football Focus' countdown of the top 100 NFL Draft prospects, which was re- leased Aug. 25. He was fifth among offensive line- men, and fourth among tackles, and is the second- highest-ranked player from the ACC. "Ekwonu notched the highest positively graded run-block percentage of any returning offensive lineman in the country. He boasts jaw-dropping play strength but still needs to improve upon the 25 pressures he allowed in 2020," Michael Renner wrote. Sophomore running back Zonovan "Bam" Knight checked in at No. 90. "All Knight needs is the workload. He's yet to have more than 18 carries in any game in his ca - reer for some reason," Renner noted. "When he gets the touches, Knight produces. He broke 48 tackles on only 143 carries last season for one of the highest rates in the nation." 33rd Was where redshirt junior center GRANT GIBSON ranked among Pro Football Focus' listing of the top 50 players in college football going into the 2021 season. He checked in second-best among centers, and fifth among offensive linemen, and is the fourth-highest- rated player from the ACC. PFF noted that last year he recorded grades of 80-plus as a run and pass blocker, something only five other Power Five centers have done the last five years. "FOR SUCH A YOUNG GROUP, IN THEIR FIRST GAME, TO GET A POINT AWAY AGAINST THE NINTH-RANKED TEAM IN THE NATION IS A CREDIT TO OUR PLAYERS. GEORGETOWN IS AN OLDER TEAM WITH COLLEGE CUP EXPERIENCE, AND WE PLAYED THEM GREAT AT TIMES. THERE'S PLENTY TO IMPROVE, BUT TODAY WAS A GOOD START." — Women's soccer head coach Tim Santoro on his squad, which took the nationally ranked Hoyas to a 2-2 draw in the season opener despite playing on the road and seeing five freshmen making their first official collegiate start; junior defender JENNA BUTLER was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week after netting the tying goal in that game and chipping in another marker in a 2-1 win over Old Dominion three days later "HE'S A LINEBACKER THAT IS VERY PHYSICAL AND EXTREMELY FAST. HE HIT 22.3 MILES PER HOUR [TIED FOR THE FASTEST ON THE TEAM] DURING SPEED TESTING THIS SUMMER WHEN WE WERE TRAIN- ING, AND HE OUTRAN A LOT OF OUR DBS. I THINK WHEN HIS OPPORTUNITY COMES TO GO TO THE NFL COMBINE AND PRO DAY, HE'LL DEFINITELY RUN 4.5 [IN THE 40-YARD DASH]. "HE'S GOING TO BE A GUY THAT LIGHTS UP THE SCOREBOARD ON THE TIMES THAT HE PUTS DOWN. HE IS THAT GIFTED AND THAT ATHLETIC." — NC State strength and conditioning coordinator Dantonio "Thunder" Burnette on redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN/NEWS & OBSERVER PHOTO BY JAYLYNN NASH