The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/141892
Football 2013 21. TE Asa Watson Watson is a fifth-year senior who got a taste of success last year, making 24 catches for 282 yards and a touchdown, and now is his time to take over the tight end position. The tight end roster is short on depth this fall because of the late decommitment of Chris Burton from the 2013 recruiting class and the surprising transfer of Anthony Talbert in May. Talbert had been expected to be Watson's top backup. That leaves just two other scholarship tight ends on the roster: redshirt freshman in David J. Grinnage and redshirt sophomore in Benson Browne, who did not catch a pass last year. 22. S Hakim Jones The redshirt sophomore is expected to join Byrd in trying to replace the two departed starters at safety. When you had a pair of seniors like Bishop and Wolff, backups are only going to get limited reps. Such was the case for Jones in 2012. However, when Jones did play he flashed his potential, making 10 tackles, breaking up a pass and intercepting one. 23. Reserve QB Safety Hakim Jones, a redshirt sophomore, made 10 tackles and one interception last year, and this season he is looking to move into a starting role. photo by ken martin man in 2009 and appeared to have a bright future. Two torn ACLs and the development of defensive backs like Amerson and Johnson, though, sidelined Byrd since then. Byrd, always noted for being a physical defensive back, moved to safety this spring and appears poised to lock down one of the starting spots. He will have big shoes to fill as State replaces four-year starters Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff. 18. OG Duran Christophe In terms of experience, the fifth-year senior has the most of any returning offensive lineman. He has started 18 games over the previous three years and logged 1,403 snaps. That should help the line that lost four seniors — three started the Music City Bowl against Vanderbilt and the fourth, Zach Allen, was a three-year starter that lost much of his senior year to a broken ankle. Christophe is expected to start at left guard. 19. LB Brandon Pittman Pittman, a junior, showed flashes in 2012 during his first year of extensive action. He started two games last year, highlighted by the Music City Bowl during which he piled up a career-high eight tackles, including assisting on one for a loss. If Pittman can build off that performance, he has the athleticism to help NCSU field a speedy group of linebackers. Pittman is the leading contender to start at weakside linebacker. 20. OT Tyson Chandler Injuries pushed Chandler into the lineup last year. He ended up starting 12 games after Crisp's injury in the season opener, including three at left tackle and nine at right tackle. The mammoth redshirt junior (6-7, 360 pounds) will be counted on to lock down the right tackle position in the fall. Whoever wins the quarterback job will obviously have the first chance to take control of the offense, but in a wide-open battle, whoever emerges as the secondstring signal-caller will have to be ready on a moment's notice. 24. K Niklas Sade There is no doubt that Sade, a junior, has a big leg. He has booted seven field goals of 40 yards or longer in his two years at NC State. This fall he will be aiming to be more accurate after going just 13 of 23 (56.5 percent) on field goal tries last season. If so, he can be a big asset to the offense, putting State in a position to feel confident about scoring when reaching the 35-yard line. Sade is also effective on kickoffs, booting 38 of his 70 for touchbacks last year. 25. P Wil Baumann As a true freshman in 2011, Baumann averaged 37.5 yards a punt. That increased to 38.9 yards this past season. If he can make a similar jump in 2013, Baumann will give State its first punter to average at least 40 yards a kick since John Deraney did it in 2004. ■ 98 ■ the wolfpacker 92-94,96-98.Top 25 Players.indd 98 7/1/13 3:46 PM