The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1466831
MAY/JUNE 2022 ■ 29 S P R I N G F O O T B A L L 2 0 2 2 starter to replace Ikem Ekwonu. Fourth-year redshirt sophomore Dylan McMahon, a first-string guard in 2021, started at center in Gibson's absence. At safety opposite super senior Tan- ner Ingle, his classmate Cyrus Fagan appears to have an early edge over play- ers like fourth-year junior Jakeen Har- ris and third-year sophomore Devan Boykin. A Couple Of Pleasant Surprises On Offense One name that was probably not on the radar for many NC State football fans was redshirt freshman tight end Fred Seabrough Jr. With fifth-year red- shirt junior Trent Pennix and fourth- year redshirt sophomore Christopher Toudle sitting out the spring game with injuries, Seabrough took advantage of the reps. He caught 3 of 4 passes thrown his way for 38 yards. Another young receiver who shined, particularly in the second half, was third-year redshirt freshman Joshua Crabtree. He broke away from the de- fense on a 44-yard catch-and-run touchdown, and he also had an 18-yard haul. First-String Defense Dominates Despite playing without super se- nior linebacker Isaiah Moore, fifth- year redshirt junior linebacker Payton Wilson, super senior corner Derrek Pitts Jr., super senior defensive line- man Cory Durden, super senior nickel Tyler Baker-Williams and fourth-year redshirt sophomore C.J. Clark, among others, the first-string defense did not allow the reserve offense much breath- ing room. The starters, represented in the red jerseys, allowed the White Team, pri- marily reserves, just 48 total yards on 37 plays. The White Team was 0 for 11 on third downs. Ingle had an interception and a sack for the Red Team. It should be noted that all of the aforementioned absent players are potential starters on the NC State defense. Specialists Kicked With Mixed Results There was a pretty stiff wind blowing in the direction of the Murphy Center during the scrimmage. With that breeze to his back, super senior kicker Chris- topher Dunn successfully booted a 53- yard field goal to end the first half and overall went 3 for 3 on field goal tries. Dunn is NC State's all-time leader in field goals made (69) and points scored (377), the latter figure tied for ninth most in ACC history. Dunn has also made all 170 of his extra points, another school record, and is seventh in program history with an 80.2 percent field goal accuracy rate. The other kicking specialist is far less established at NC State. In the competition to replace Trenton Gill at punter, Towson transfer Shane McDonough is the leader. McDonough punted a total of seven times for an av- erage of 44.3 yards in the scrimmage, most impressively booming a 62-yarder. However, against the wind he also had multiple short punts. The player many observers expected to provide competition for McDonough had been Ian Williams, signed in the 2020 class to add depth to the kick- ing unit. Williams announced after the spring game that he would be transfer- ring to Furman. ■ Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren watched his first-string Red squad take control in the spring game and post a 50-7 win against the White team. PHOTO BY MIKE JONES /NC STATE FOOTBALL