The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476803
26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER away from a lot of them last year, so just being able to get back out there and com- pete with those guys, I really can't wait." Thomas has played all three linebacker positions during his career at NC State, and his skill set and knowledge of the game have allowed him to do so at an ex- tremely high level. He received first-team all-conference honors last season after leading the Wolfpack with 100 tackles and finishing first on the team in interceptions with 3. Thomas was ready for his breakout year in part because of some in- struction he received from Moore. "He definitely prepared me for the moment," Thomas said. "Just putting on display what a good leader [should do], how they're supposed to go about their everyday business, defi- nitely prepared me to step up into that role. I can't thank him enough for every- thing that he helped me with through that process." Now that the three are going through drills, lifting and preparing to run onto the field at Carter-Finley Stadium together again, they are holding each other to high standards as they take the next step in their collegiate careers. "There's a competition between us three every time we step into the building every single day, whether it's workouts, practice or a game," Thomas said. "It's a race to the ball. We're trying to make plays. We push each other to get better. "We want the best for each other every single day in everything that we do, but it's also a competition. That makes me so much better as a person and a player." A Seamless Transition Wilson's shoulder injury fully healed around the end of the spring. Last year was his second time losing a collegiate season, after recovering from a knee in- jury in 2018. Following another rehab process, Wil- son said he is not worried about injuries going forward. He led the ACC in tack- les in 2020, proving himself as one of the nation's best linebackers. While that is a lofty bar to surpass in 2022, opposing of- fenses should be worried. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has only gotten better in his time away from competition. "I'm as big as I've ever been, I weigh the most and I think I'm as fast as I've ever been as well," Wilson said. "But, more so, " There's a competition between us three every time we step into the building every single day, whether it's workouts, practice or a game. It's a race to the ball. We're trying to make plays. We push each other to get better. We want the best for each other every single day in every- thing that we do, but it's also a competition. That makes me so much better as a person and a player. " Drake Thomas Fourth-year junior Drake Thomas is coming off a 2021 season in which he led the Wolfpack with 100 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN