The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/141892
Football 2013 The 6-7, 360-pound Chandler, who is slimmer than his listed weight, was tried at both guard and tackle this spring to see what the five best linemen combination would be. Chandler has settled in at right tackle, which he played the last nine games of the 4 ■ By The Numbers Starting right guards last year, due to injuries — Zach Allen, Cameron Fordham, Duran Christophe and Andrew Wallace. Allen and Wallace have graduated. Rushing yards per carry by Northern Illinois last year, which led the Mid-American Conference. Seasons since former NC State offensive lineman Jim Ritcher won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman in 1979. 5.4 33 2012 season. He started 12 out of 13 games and was the first beneficiary of Crisp getting injured. He allowed six sacks in 935 plays. "Tyson has a ton of potential," Uremovich said. "He probably came the farthest out of any of our guys this spring. Some of that was due to weight loss. Tackle is where he'll play for us." The 6-7, 326-pound Barr has actually lost a good chunk of weight the last two years, and was listed first-string on the spring depth chart. Barr ran 23 plays at tackle in four games last year, and appeared in eight contests overall. A pair of redshirt juniors could challenge Barr — LSU transfer Cameron Fordham and Andy Jomantas. The 6-7, 295-pound Jomantas played both guard and tackle in the spring, Offensive Line Roster Starters No.Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 71 Alex Barr R-So. 6-7 326 Fayetteville, Ga. Barr played in four games on offense and eight when including special teams last season. He can play both guard and tackle. 74 Tyson Chandler R-Jr. 6-7 360 North Plainfield, N.J. Chandler started 12 of 13 games in 2012, seeing action at both tackle spots. He settled down at right tackle for the last nine games, and allowed six sacks in 935 plays. 62 Duran Christophe 5th-Sr. 6-5 300 New Orleans Christophe battled a concussion last year, but started five out of nine games played. He saw action at both guard spots, but the majority of his 18 career starts have been at left guard. 78 Rob Crisp Sr. 6-7 298 Raleigh The former Rivals.com five-star recruit has started 11 of 34 games played and allowed six sacks in 1,141 plays. He missed five games last year due to injury. 54 Joe Thuney R-So. 6-5 276 Centreville, Ohio Thuney exited the spring first-string at center. He has played in eight games, including extensive action at Miami (38 snaps) and versus FSU (49) last year. Reserves No.Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 52 Cole Blankenship Fr. 6-2 290 Mocksville, N.C. The Rivals.com three-star prospect played in the Carolinas Shrine Bowl, enrolled early and participated spring practices. 50 Cameron Fordham R-Jr. 6-2 284 Duluth, Ga. The former LSU transfer has played right guard and center for the Wolfpack. He started in the win over FSU last year and took part in eight games. 73 Andy Jomantas R-Jr. 6-7 295 Dayton, Ohio Jomantas is expected to push for a starting job this season. He played on the line in seven contests last year, and appeared in 11 games for 64 plays. 59 John Tu'uta R-Fr. 6-2 311 Fredericksburg,Va. The former prep school standout redshirted last year and settled in at center. 61 Ali Kassem Jr. 6-7 350 Cincinnati Rivals.com ranked the massive Kassem as a two-star prospect. He attended Western Michigan and then transferred to junior college. Waiting In The Wings No.Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 65 Joey Buccola R-Jr. 6-1 303 Raleigh Buccola is a walk-on for the Wolfpack. R-So. 6-2 329 Lenoir, N.C. 68 Evan Bumgarner Bumgarner is a walk-on for the Wolfpack. 53 Taylor Griswold So. 6-0 345 Zebulon, N.C. Griswold is a walk-on center for the Wolfpack. 56 Bryce Kennedy R-Fr. 6-3 302 Southern Pines, N.C. Kennedy redshirted last year, but was named the offensive scout team player of the week prior to the Virginia game. 64 Tylar Reagan Fr. 6-5 290 Jacksonville, Fla. Reagan was ranked the No. 96 overall player in Florida and No. 28 guard in the country by Rivals.com, which gave him three stars. 72 Patrick Roane Fr. 6-7 310 Hope Mills, N.C. The Rivals.com three-star prospect earned a spot in the Carolinas Shrine Bowl. 66 Isaac Swindell 5th-Sr. 6-5 302 High Point, N.C. Swindell is making the switch from the defensive line and is a walk-on. and the 6-2, 284-pound Fordham can play guard and center. Junior college transfer Ali Kassem will also be thrown into the mix during fall camp. The 6-7, 350-pounder started off at Western Michigan and will need to show he can handle the pace of the offense. "I don't know who the starting five will be, and that isn't a politically correct answer," Uremovich said. "We have to get into camp and see. The best five guys will be out there by the first game." ■ Getting To Know: Joe Thuney NC State redshirt sophomore Joe Thuney is looking forward to showing what he has learned the last two years. Thuney watched and took mental notes from former Wolfpack center Camden Wentz, an effort he hopes has prepared him to take over this upcoming season. "The biggest thing Camden taught me was to have a good work ethic," Thuney said. "At the collegiate level, nothing is given to you, and you have to work at everything. You have to come in every day prepared to work." The 6-5, 276-pounder from Centerville, Ohio, managed to log significant snaps against both Miami and Florida State last year, when the line got reshuffled due to injuries. He has played 169 snaps in eight contests. Thuney hopes his progression will lead to starting against Louisiana Tech in the season and home opener Aug. 31 at Carter-Finley Stadium. "It would mean a whole lot after working two and a half years for this," Thuney said. "I've put in the time, but it's whatever is best for the team." Thuney got a crash course on the Wolfpack's new offense under offensive coordinator Matt Canada and offensive line coach Mike Uremovich. "We just wanted to improve as a unit and be an efficient offensive line," Thuney said. "We just want to be dominant." Thuney pointed toward senior left tackle Rob Crisp as one of the leaders of the line. "He works real hard in the weight room and makes sure to drive us during practice, so we get the most out of practice," Thuney said. Thuney, a former class president at Archbishop Alter High, will be handling the line calls for the Wolfpack, but will get some help. "We will work together to make calls because sometimes the center doesn't have the best angle to make calls," Thuney said."The guards will help me out and sometimes the tackles will make some calls. All five of us are talking on the line to make sure we know what we are doing." Thuney will also continue to do his fair share of shotgun snapping. "It does require some focus, and a lot of guys just think it is second nature," said Thuney, who is majoring in accounting and is on track to graduate in spring 2014. "You have to work at it because our offense is up-tempo, and the snap has to be right where the quarterback needs it every time." — Jacey Zembal 74 ■ the wolfpacker 72-74.OLs.indd 74 7/1/13 9:36 AM