The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525890
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 ■ 37 more Ravens standout Patrick Queen, has stood out inside Pittsburgh's defen- sive meeting rooms. Queen, a former first-round pick out of LSU in 2020, raved about Wilson during training camp. "The guy can do everything," Queen told Steelers.com. "He's an athletic freak. Just the things he does and how well he communicates, and the [desire] to be great are rare to find in somebody that young. Just for him and the position he's in to be able to come in and dominate, he realizes that. And he takes full advantage of it." Pack Pros in 2024 There are more than two dozen for- mer Wolfpack players in the NFL this season. Here's a rundown of all the for- mer NC State stars looking to make an impact: C Garrett Bradbury (Played at NC State from 2014-18), Minnesota Vikings: Enters his sixth season in the NFL, all with the Vikings, after they took him in the first round of the 2019 draft. He is set to start another cam- paign for Minnesota in the second year of a three-year, $15.7 million contract he signed in 2023. QB Jacoby Brissett (2013-15), New England Patriots: Signed a one-year, $8 million contract this off- season to return to the Patriots, where he began his NFL career in 2016. He is in the midst of a quarterback competition with former UNC star Drake Maye. OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Miami Dolphins: The former first- round pick of the Denver Broncos en- ters his second full season with the Dol- phins. He began training camp on the physically unable to perform list while he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in Week 17 last season. If he is not acti- vated by the season opener, he will likely miss at least the first four weeks of the 2024 campaign. P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Fresh off his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, Cole is ready for another season in Las Vegas. Last year, he earned first-team All-Pro honors for the second time, averaging a career-best 50.4 yards per punt with an 83-yard long. He landed a career-high 34 kicks inside the 20-yard line last season. DT Cory Durden (2021-22), Los Angeles Rams: Enters his second NFL season with the Rams. He appeared in four games as a rookie on the practice squad, recording 3 total tackles. The former two-time All-ACC selection is looking to earn a full-time roster spot. The Athletic did not include him in its mid-August 53-man roster projection. OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Car- olina Panthers: Following a rocky second sea- son at left tackle i n wh i c h h e conceded 44 q u a r te r b a c k pressures and 11 sacks, he is l o o k i n g to grow this fall. In a recent in- terview with the Panthers' official website, Ekwonu called the 2023 season a "humbling" ex- perience. He allowed only 27 pressures and 6 sacks as a rookie, and the Panthers are hoping those numbers are more in- dicative of his pro potential. P Trenton Gill (2017-21), Denver Broncos: Signed with the Broncos after being released by the Chicago Bears this past spring. He owns a career average of 46.1 yards per punt, with 38 inside the 20-yard line through his first two seasons in the NFL. Gill has been bat- tling veteran Riley Dixon for the posi- tion, with Dixon appearing to have the edge, according to The Athletic. WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys: Harmon spent the past four NFL seasons without a team, but he impressed with the United Foot- ball League's DC Defenders this past spring (31 receptions for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns). That was enough to earn a workout with the Cowboys, who later signed him. Harmon is working to earn an active roster spot. He last appeared in a regular-season NFL game with Wash- ington in 2019. A third-round draft pick this past April, Wilson finished with a team-best 7 tackles in the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason opener against Houston. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS Russell Wilson is looking to revive his career in Pittsburgh, but he must beat out another first-year Steeler, Justin Fields, for the starting job. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS