The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK "The Wolfpack finally has an answer at quarterback, and that's more than enough reason for optimism. The defense needs to improve, too, if the Wolfpack will challenge in the incredibly tough Atlantic Divi- sion, but NC State should eclipse last season's win total by week four with an abundantly easy stretch to open the season [Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, USF and Presbyterian] before playing FSU, Clemson and Louisville in three of its next four. If the Wolfpack can weather that brutal midseason stretch, eight wins is a possibility. A division title on the other hand? That'd be a real surprise." — ESPN blogger David M. Hale speculating on whether NC State football will surprise in the ACC this season (ESPN.com) "For the running game to be improved from a year ago, the offen- sive line has to stay healthy for the entire season because there is no depth. Staying healthy is not something this line has been able to do over the last several years. [Junior running back] Shadrach Thornton is back, but depth still has to be developed behind him. Also, look for [redshirt junior] quarterback Jacoby Brissett to take carries and yards now that he is the starter. Shaky offensive line, mobile quarterback and running back questions do not equal a 1,000-yard back." — ESPN blogger Andrea Adelson on NC State trying to end its 1,000-yard rusher drought of 11 years (ESPN.com) "Baseball is a tough sport. It's a game of failure, so you fail more than you succeed. I had some tough breaks this season, but that's baseball. I'll still get to play some more games this year, so we'll see how that goes. It could be a little nerve-wracking, but that comes with the talent. The expectations come with all that when you're a good player. You have to expect it. All eyes are watching and you get criticized every little thing you do wrong. That's part of it, you have to love it and hate it." — NC State pitcher Carlos Rodon on dealing with the expectations of being picked No. 3 overall in the MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox (MLB.com) "He just makes baskets, and he's bigger than people think. He's thick. He's strong. He reminds me of Cedric Ceballos. Crafty and good around the hoop. Very impressed with what he did off the court in the summer to change his body. I think that speaks volumes about him as a person. From 15 feet and in, the best scorer in the draft." — NBA scout giving Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis an anonymous scout- ing report on former NC State star small forward T.J. Warren (SI.com) Alexa Allen, Women's Soccer Allen scored three goals to help the Jamaican Women's National Team win a qualification tour- nament in the Dominican Republic for the 2014 Women's Caribbean Cup. The top three finishers in the Caribbean Cup advance to the 2014 CON- CACAF, the final qualifying round for the Women's World Cup to be held in 2015 in Canada. Allen is a redshirt sophomore striker who lists her hometown as Buford, Ga. She transferred into NCSU this offseason from Auburn, where she scored three goals as a freshman in 2012. Andrew Colley, Men's Track & Field The native of Williamsburg, Va., closed out his illustrious long distance running career with an 11th-place finish in the men's 5,000-meter run to earn All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 13 in Eugene, Ore. That was Colley's fifth All-America accolade at NC State. He also was similarly awarded last year when he finished 12th in the outdoor 5,000-meter run, making him the second runner alongside five-time All-American Bob Henes to garner multiple All-America honors in that race. Maggie Hawkins, Softball The junior first baseman from Easton, Md., is transferring into NC State from Hofstra and should provide an immediate impact in the Pack's lineup. As a sophomore, she hit .348 with nine home runs and 48 RBI on her way to first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors. Hawkins helped Hof - stra reach the NCAA Tournament both years she was there and had a home run this year when they played Louisiana- Lafayette, which was the No. 6 national seed in the 2014 tournament. Joelle Kissell, Women's Tennis Arguably one of the greatest women's tennis play - ers in NC State history added one more feather for her cap before departing Raleigh. She was named to the All-ACC Academic Women's Tennis Team for the third straight year, becoming the first player in program history to do that. She already set a school record for most career singles wins with 60 and be - came the first three-time All-ACC honoree at NCSU. Kissell additionally ranks fourth with 45 dual meet doubles victories at NC State. Brittany Marchand, Women's Golf The native of Orangeville, Ontario — who was a three-time All-ACC selection and two-time All-American during her four years on the golf course — was named the 2014 ACC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Marchand was honored alongside classmate Ana Menendez, who was named to the Women's Golf Academic All-ACC Team. It was a tribute that NCSU head coach Page Marsh called a "great op- portunity to cap Britt's and Ana's careers." SeQuoia Watkins, Women's Track & Field Part of a strong throwing roster in women's track, Watkins is a rising redshirt junior from Asheville, N.C., who made Wolfpack history at the NCAA Championships June 12 in Eugene, Ore. Watkins, who earlier in the season had set a school record for the women's discus, finished 10th in the event to garner All-America honors. That is the highest ever finish for a women's student-athlete in the discus at NC State and the first time the school had an All-American in the event. ■ PACK PEOPLE "It's become a hard position to find a guy you really, out of the draft, believe is a true shortstop. I think that was attractive to us. He's had a good track record with the bat. We do like the swing. We like that he doesn't swing and miss much." Former San Diego Padres general manager Josh Byrnes on drafting former NC State shortstop Trea Turner at No. 13 overall in the first round (The San Diego Union-Tribune) QUOTING THE PACK PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP 14-16,18,20,22,24-25.TTP.indd 18 6/27/14 2:39 PM