The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/49933
TRACKING THE PACK NC State fifth-year senior co-captain GETTING TO KNOW ■ J.R. Sweezy, Football and defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy was thrilled when he found out the Wolfpack would be playing Louisville Dec. 27 in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. Sweezy's final season has mirrored that of the 7-5 Wolfpack in some ways. He missed the first four games after having surgery on his foot in mid-August, and the squad went 2-2 during his absence. Sweezy returned for the Georgia Tech game Oct. 1, but had to play through pain. NC State ended up going 5-3 in the contests he played in. Sweezy finished with 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, 13 quarterback pressures and one forced fumble. The 6-5, 293-pound two-year-starter Quick Questions What is your game plan in spending your bowl game money at Belk? I need some new clothes. It's pretty exciting because I'm not one to go shopping. It's going to come in handy, and I'm sure my mom and girlfriend will enjoy that I get a new wardrobe. Have you ever done the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway? No, never. I've always heard about it and hear about people doing it. I even know a couple of guys that have done it, and they say it's really fun. Favorite place to eat back home? I'd have to say What-A-Burger. Anything you hold off on doing during football season? I had to rest my foot and I couldn't walk my dog, which was rough on him. What kind of dog do you have and what is his name? It's a pit bull, which is the greatest dog ever. His name is Ice. He's a real good dog. Who would you like to see in concert? Somebody that is alternative rock. Hardest person to get a Christmas gift for? Probably my mom or dad because they have about everything, and I don't have the money to buy them anything that nice. What linebacker skills still remain from your prep days? I still got them. I can still drop back into coverage. I always mess around at prac- tice with that. What was it like to get 195 tackles in just 12 games your senior at Mooresville High? It was almost 200. It was fun running around and playing with those guys. We still talk about it when I see [past teammates] every now and then. What is something that fellow starting fifth-year senior defensive tackle Markus Kuhn does to make you laugh? His dancing is bad, but sometimes he'll forget the English word for something, and he'll just saying something off the wall. It's pretty funny. We'll ask, 'What are you talking about?' He'll just explain and it's like a guessing game. 16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Sweezy compiled 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, 13 quarterback pressures and one forced fumble in eight games played this season. PHOTO BY ERIC LUSK from Mooresville, N.C., has tallied 85 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback sacks and 19 starts in 34 career games. Sweezy recently took some time to talk with The Wolfpacker and answer some questions. What are you most looking forward to in the bowl game? "Playing in front of all my family and friends. It's the last one and I want to go out with a bang." How many friends and family will be attending the bowl game? "There is going to be a bunch. My mom was freaking out about which bowl game we were going to play in, so she could start buying tickets." How many times have you watched the replay of the comeback victory over Maryland? "I've watched it a couple of times. I have to watch it all. I have to see how it all builds up." Did the second half of the Maryland game show what this year's team is capable of doing? "It was definitely frustrating [to trail by 27 points], but we just stuck in there and stuck it out. We got it done. We were up and down, but at the end of the day, we got it done." What will it be like to wear the NC State jersey for the last time? "It will be an honor. Against Maryland, that was our only guaranteed game. We knew we had to go in and win to get another one. We did that, so now I'm blessed enough to get another game. It's going to be exciting." How was it to get your sports management degree in December? "My parents always told me to always have some- thing to fall back on. That degree will go a long way and it is such a great honor to get one from a great school like NC State." What are your post-football playing plans? "I've thought about it a lot and I'd like to get into coaching. I used to think about being a football coach, but now I'd like to be a strength and conditioning coach." Have you talked much with the past NC State players who are playing in the NFL to learn what your next steps will be? "Oh yeah, definitely. They just say to get to work because it is going to be a business. You have to be on top of your game all the time to have a chance." How have you grown up while at NC State? "I've grown up a lot and have gotten more mature. A lot of the things I've been through here, I've had to grow up. It forced me to grow up. I'll look back and realize the things I were doing to cause myself to get into trouble. I've made leaps and bounds here, grow- ing up-wise. "I thought I had heard the 'You're gone,' speech, but luckily it wasn't. I was blessed enough to get another chance and have tried to make the most of it. That was another big step in the growing up process. I realized, 'Dude, if you don't straighten up, you won't be here. You'll be working in a factory the rest of your life.'" Have you appreciated your senior season a little bit more? "Yeah, definitely. I know to just stay strong. I got close to God and close to my family. They pulled me through." Who inspires you? "My dad. He is the hardest-working man. He has built everything he has ever had. He came from pretty much nothing. Now, he has a two-story house and a couple of acres, and a couple of cars. It's pretty impressive." — Jacey Zembal