The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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Football 2013 last season, then expect a healthy passing attack out of the spread offense. No matter who the starter is, it will be important for him to set the tone and rhythm for the fast-paced, no-huddle offense that is being installed. Thus, how effectively the quarterback can manage the offensive attack will dictate how much State can expect from that side of the ball and how much the Pack may need to rely on the defense to keep the team in games. starting tandem. McGill started 10 games and played in all 13 last season. He delivered 50 tackles, 10.5 stops for loss, five sacks and seven quarterback hurries. His ability to get into the backfield and yet also hold the line will be a key part of the defense. McGill is also being credited with being one of the leaders of the defensive line. 2. CB Dontae Johnson Teal, a redshirt junior, is the other half of the starting defensive tackle tandem. He started 12 games last year and finished with 37 hits, including 9.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also had 13 quarterback hurries. At 6-1, 312 pounds, Teal is a wide load and powerful force in the middle of the line, but he also has surprising quickness for a player his size, allowing him to get into the offensive backfield. If Teal can combine with McGill to dominate the middle of the line of scrimmage, then NCSU's defense will be more effective. This is Johnson's season. The senior was the nickel back that coaches tried to get on the field as much as possible in 2011. He finished with 30 tackles, three sacks and three passes broken up. Last year, Johnson became the starting cornerback, but the spotlight was more often on his partner across the field: David Amerson. Still, Johnson led all corners with 80 stops, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack, and he added four passes broken up, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Amerson went pro after the 2012 campaign, and now Johnson is unquestionably the leader and star of the secondary. That carries more weight this year since State is looking to replace three starters in the defensive backfield. Johnson will need to play at a high level while his teammates get up to speed. 3. OT Rob Crisp Like Johnson, this is Crisp's season, but for a different reason. Whereas Johnson is finally getting his chance to be the leader and spotlight player in the secondary, the time is now for Crisp to fulfill his immense talent and potential. Crisp appeared on his way after a strong finish to his sophomore season. He played well for three and a half quarters against Tennessee in last season's opener, but a painful tailbone injury cost him the bulk of the year and limited him when he did play. In the no-huddle offense, Crisp will have the responsibility of protecting the blind side of a quarterback that needs to be in rhythm with his fellow skill players. The more Crisp can keep defensive ends off the quarterback's back, the better chance the QB will find that comfort zone. 4. DT T.Y. McGill In football, you try to play to your strengths as much as possible. On defense, there is little question what the strength of NC State is: the defensive tackles. McGill, a junior, makes up a crucial part of that 5. DT Thomas Teal strongside linebacker position at the end of spring after a brief audition at middle linebacker. 8. WR Bryan Underwood Former NFL coach Buddy Ryan once said about NFL Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter, "All he does is catch touchdowns." There was a time last year where that applied to the speedy Underwood. The redshirt junior finished 2012 with 44 catches for 620 yards and 10 scores, catching a touchdown in each of the first eight games of the year. Underwood's explosiveness can be a major weapon for NC State. He has the ability to stretch the defense vertically and provide big plays in the passing game. 6. LB M.J. Salahuddin The sophomore earned strong reviews for how well he performed during spring, and he will need to back them up this fall. Entering preseason camp, Salahuddin is listed as the starter at the crucial middle linebacker spot, the heart of the defense. Salahuddin has never played the position before. He was primarily a safety in high school and worked last year as a strongside backer and played almost exclusively on special teams. Salahuddin is noted for his strong work ethic and desire. It will also help that McGill and Teal should be able to keep blockers off of him. 7. LB D.J. Green Over the past few years, NC State has sent Nate Irving, Terrell Manning and Audie Cole from the linebacker position on to the NFL. Former linebackers coach Jon Tenuta coached them all, and he once said that Green might have more upside than all of them. This is Green's last chance to fulfill that potential. The former safety moved to linebacker in 2011 and started seven games, contributing 33 tackles, five stops behind the line of scrimmage, a sack, a pass broken up and an interception. However, Green missed last year because he was declared ineligible by the NCAA for taking an banned substance that he said came from a weight-gain supplement. Green was back at his familiar Redshirt junior Bryan Underwood hauled in a scoring grab in each of the first eight games last season, and he finished 2012 with 44 receptions for 620 yards and 10 touchdowns. photo by Ken Martin 9. WR Rashard Smith Smith seems to have caught onto the new offense quickly. He led all receivers with eight catches for 84 yards in the Kay Yow Spring Game April 20. Last season was Smith's first as a receiver. The converted corner did well, though, catching 19 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. He adds value with his punt returning skills. Smith, a fifth-year senior, averaged 9.3 yards on 32 returns last year, sixth best in the conference, and ran one back 73 yards for a score against The Citadel. July 2013 ■ 93 92-94,96-98.Top 25 Players.indd 93 7/1/13 3:45 PM