The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
142 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS He is fifth in passing yards (6,439) as well. Manning is the only other quarterback in the top five in all of these categories." Russell Wilson Although the Seattle Seahawks have opened their Super Bowl title defense just 4‑3, life is still good for the starting quarterback. After a preseason of countless magazine covers and new commercials, Wilson has authored two jaw‑dropping performances — first, he became just the fourth player in NFL history to throw for 200 yards and two touch‑ downs, while rushing for another 100 and a score when he led his team to a 27‑17 win over the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football. His 122 rushing yards were the most for a quarterback in the 45‑year his‑ tory of MNF. He followed that by becoming the first in league annals to throw for 300 yards and eclipse the century mark on the ground in the same game. Although it was a losing effort in week seven, he threw for 313 yards and two scores and rushed for another 106 with a touchdown. On the year, he was ranked 10th in the NFL in passer rating (98.1) and tied for 11th in completion percentage (65.2). He also led all passers in ground production and ranks 20th overall with 362 rushing yards. As the tread on the tires of star running back Marshawn Lynch wears thinner, Wil‑ son's importance to the team only grows. He has always been a pivotal locker room figure, but has now successfully shed the game man‑ ager tag with his record‑setting performances and is about to cash in. Wilson has not been able to renegotiate his rookie contract yet due to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, but CBSSports.com's Joel Corry wrote: "Wilson is expected to sign a blockbuster deal with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 that conceivably could make him the NFL's highest‑paid player by surpassing Aaron Rodgers' five‑year extension average of $22 million per year even though the of‑ fense doesn't revolve around him." The third‑year QB has certainly shown his value off the field, as well. The model citizen recently regained his title as the NFL's top selling player in retail merchandise. Cleveland Browns rookie Johnny Manziel briefly took the crown from Wilson, but the Seattle super‑ star surged back ahead from June 1‑Aug. 31 and also ranks as the league's top seller in jersey and officially licensed T‑shirts. "I'd put him in the top five and climbing [of NFL players' endorsement deals]," sports marketing expert Bob Dorfman told USA To- day. "I don't think anyone is climbing as fast as he is." ■ ■ NFL Player Updates Through Oct. 27 • David Amerson (Played at NC State from 2010-12), CB, Washington Redskins: Started all eight games for the 3-5 Redskins … Posted 32 tackles, with one for loss, and two passes defended. • Audie Cole (2008-11), LB, Minnesota Vikings: Appeared in every contest for the 3-5 Vikings and logged three stops. • Jerricho Cotchery (2000-03), WR, Carolina Panthers: Started all seven games he has appeared in … Notched 26 catches for 316 yards … Ranks third on the 3-4-1 Panthers in receptions. • Mike Glennon (2011-12), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Started four times and played in five games for the 1-6 Bucs … Completed 58.8 percent of his throws (100 of 170) for 1,157 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions … Has a passer rating of 85.3 on the year and leads the team in all passing categories. • T.J. Graham (2008-11), WR, New York Jets: Has played in four games for the 1-7 Jets … Has one catch for 11 yards. • Steven Hauschka (2007), K, Seattle Seahawks: Converted 13 of 14 field goal attempts (92.9 percent), with a long of 58 yards, and 17 of 17 extra point tries for the 4-3 Seahawks … Was tied for seventh in the NFL in scoring average (8.0 points per game), tied for 10th in field goal percentage, 14th in field goals made and tied for 16th in scoring (56 points). • Nate Irving (2007-11), LB, Denver Broncos: Started every game at middle linebacker for the 6-1 Broncos … Registered 42 tackles with six tackles for loss and one sack, and recorded a safety. • Dontae Johnson (2010-13), CB, San Francisco 49ers: Logged time in every contest for the 4-3 49ers … Made six tackles and defended three passes, including an interception he returned 20 yards for a touchdown. • Markus Kuhn (2007-11), DT, New York Giants: Has played in five straight games for the 3-4 Giants and notched eight stops. • Ted Larsen (2006-09), OL, Arizona Cardinals: Has started every game at left guard for the 6-1 Cardinals. • Manny Lawson (2002-05), DE, Buffalo Bills: Has seen action in each game for the 5-3 Bills … Posted 14 tackles, including four for loss and one sack, and broke up a pair of passes. • Terrell Manning (2009-11), LB, Chicago Bears: Currently a member of the 3-5 Bears' practice squad … Played in a trio of contests, but did not record any statistics. • Philip Rivers (2000-03), QB, San Diego Chargers: Led the Chargers to a 5-3 mark by completing 68.3 percent of his throws (185 of 271) for 2,213 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions … Owns a passer rating of 109.9, which is third best in the league … Also ranked third in touchdown throws, fifth in completion percentage and sixth in passing yards. • J.R. Sweezy (2009-11), OG, Seattle Seahawks: Has started at right guard in every game for the 4-3 Seahawks. • Stephen Tulloch (2003-05), LB, Detroit Lions: Tore his ACL in week three and is out for the season … Finished the year with 20 tackles and two sacks in three starts. • Mario Williams (2003-05), DE, Buffalo Bills: Started every game and compiled 21 total stops, nine tackles for loss, six sacks, one pass deflection and one forced fumble … Tied for 10th in the league in sacks. • C.J. Wilson (2009-12), CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Currently a member of the 1-6 Buccaneers' practice squad. • Russell Wilson (2008-10), QB, Seattle Seahawks: Completed 65.2 percent of his passes (135 of 207) for 1,490 yards with 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions while helping the Seahawks to a 4-3 mark … Has a passer rating of 98.1 and led all quarterbacks with 362 yards on the ground … Also has rushed for three scores … Ranks 10th in the NFL in passer rating, tied for 11th in completion percentage and 20th in rushing yards. • Earl Wolff (2009-12), S, Philadelphia Eagles: Has appeared in six games for the 5-2 Eagles … Recorded two tackles and one pass defended. • Willie Young (2006-09), DE, Chicago Bears: Saw action in every game and started once for the 3-4 Bears … Compiled 32 tackles, nine stops behind the line of scrimmage, seven sacks, one forced fumble and a blocked field goal … Tied for fourth in the NFL in quarterback takedowns. ■ By The Numbers 2 Former NC State football players were listed among the 2015 nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame — legendary St. Louis Rams wideout TORRY HOLT and longtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, who has been on the ballot since 2011. Twenty-five semifinalists will be announced in late November. 7 Sacks for the Chicago Bears' Willie Young, which was tied for fourth in the league through eight weeks. The Buffalo Bills' Mario Williams also ranked among the NFL's top 10 with six sacks. 20 Yards on San Francisco 49ers rookie corner- back Dontae Johnson's first interception return, which went for a touchdown and sealed his team's 31-17 win over the St. Louis Rams in week six. Quotable • "[J.R. Sweezy is] as good as anybody in football at what he's doing right now. … [He is] just domi- nant. I mean, knocking people down and playing in the open field in the screen [pass] game. He's downfield in the run game, pass protection. I mean, he's dominant. He's as good as there is. "He's grown so much, we all know that, from where he started to where he's come. And he just gets better." — Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable (Seahawks.com) • "When Willie fully figures out how to use his body, he's going to be dangerous. The dude has crazy length. And when that light bulb goes on, when it clicks fully, look out." — Chicago Bears de - fensive end Jared Allen, who ranks 12th in NFL annals with 130 sacks, on teammate Willie Young (Chicago- Tribune.com)