The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/337646
104 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL 2014 Quick Guide The Names, Games And Numbers To Know Heading Into The 2014 Campaign BY RYAN TICE By The Numbers 4 Positions played in games during his Wolfpack career by redshirt junior Joe Thuney, who lined up at right tackle, right guard and left tackle last year, and played center in 2012. 7 Players on the Pack roster who were regarded by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit or higher — OL Tyson Chandler, RB Tony Creecy, LB Rodman Noel, DL Justin Jones, S Germaine Pratt and DE Kentavius Street were all four-star prospects, while OT Rob Crisp was a five-star player. 13 Career receiving touchdowns by fifth-year senior Bryan Underwood, which is tied for 10th in school history. He also ranks in the program's top 20 in receptions (tied for 19th, 92) and is just outside the top 17 in receiving yards with 1,228. 36 Sacks allowed last season by NC State, which ranked 106th nationally. 40.5 Tackles for loss recorded by the Pack's returning defensive linemen. Thomas Teal, Monty Nelson, Art Norman, T.Y. McGill, Drew Davis and Mike Rose also combined for 165 tackles, 12 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles in 2013. 53 True and redshirt freshmen on NC State's ex- pected 2014 roster. 60.3 Percent of the team's lettermen return, which ranks 118th nationally according to Phil Steele's 2014 College Football Preview. 71.3 Is NC State's 2014 average national ranking, ac- cording to Athlon, Lindy's and USA Today. 78.9 Rushing yards per conference game averaged by junior Shadrach Thornton, which ranked third in the ACC. 114 Phil Steele's ranks NC State as the 114th most experienced team in the country, according to his combined experience formula. 1,488 Yards from scrimmage recorded by NC State running backs last year. Thornton, Matt Dayes and Tony Creecy combined to rush for 1,145 yards, averaged 4.2 yards per carry and totaled 11 touch- downs; they also caught 38 passes. What They Are Saying About The Pack • "I can just picture NC State coach Dave Doeren sending a love note to the ACC office for handing him this doozy of a schedule. Seriously, guys? A 3-9 team from a year ago must face the top three teams from its division in a four-week span? … NC State gets the 'toughest stretch' title out of the Atlantic." — Andrea Adelson, ESPN.com • "[Shadrach] Thornton has pro potential; he showed that much with 173 yards against Florida State last season, but he has to stay out of legal trouble and Doeren's doghouse for fumbling. [Bryan] Underwood, who missed the final five games with a broken collarbone, is also capable of making big plays — on the ground and in the passing game." — Lindy's College Football Preview • "There's no doubt Doeren's first season in Raleigh was a disappointment. But the future looks bright for this program, as the second- year coach seems to have NC State trend - ing in the right direction. When rebuilding a program, it may be necessary to take a step back before going forward. The Wolfpack [is] following a similar pat- tern and could be in the mix for a bowl in 2014." — Steven Lassan, Ath- lonSports.com • "The quality of play in Septem- ber, combined with quality ex- perience and decent long-term numbers and top-40 recruiting, makes the Wolfpack a pretty decent bounce-back candidate, but State is still just a couple of bad breaks away from once again having a lineup too thin and young to succeed. But the good news is that, whatever this team becomes in 2014, it should become something even better with further experience in 2015. That's encour- aging, even if we don't have a clue what will happen this fall." — Bill Connelly, SBNation.com Senior defensive tackle T.Y. McGill and the Wolfpack defensive front will look to do a better job stopping the run this year, after allowing 180.2 yards per contest (81st nationally) in 2013. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 104,106.Quick Guide to FB Season.indd 104 6/27/14 11:46 AM