The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/49933
Most Memorable Moment: Maddox totaled nine tackles in just 38 snaps in NC State's 38-31 win over Maryland in 2009. Quote: "He's an experienced player, and he's played a lot of football for us. When you tell him something, you hope that he goes out and executes it, which he did." — NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer on Maddox's ability to fill in where needed ■ OL Mikel Overgaard Summary: Overgaard started his career as a walk- on tight end at Washington State in 2007. The 6-6, 289-pounder from Weiser, Idaho, transferred to Snow Junior College in Utah fol- lowing his redshirt season in Pullman, Wash. He bulked up to play left tackle in junior college and caught the eye of the NC State coaches. in 2010, his first season in Raleigh, Overgaard started a pair of games at right tackle, while R.J. Mattes re- habbed from his October 2009 knee injury. Overgaard ended up succumbing to injury himself as soon as Mattes returned, missing three games with an elbow ailment. He ended up playing six games in 2010. Mattes made the move to left tackle this fall, leaving the right tackle spot open for a competition between Overgaard and sophomore Robert Crisp. Overgaard held off the former Rivals.com five-star prospect and started all 12 games this season. He would often fill in at left guard or even left tackle if called upon, allowing Crisp to earn valuable playing time at right tackle, which will pay off next year for NC State. Career Highlights: Overgaard could fill in wherever the team needed, and truly was the backup at the other four line positions if needed this season. He started at right tackle in 11 games and earned the starting nod at left tackle in the 14-10 loss at Boston College Nov. 12. Most Memorable Moment: Overgaard started against North Carolina at right tackle this season, but filled in at left tackle when Mattes went down with an injury during NC State's 13-0 win over the Tar Heels. Quote: "Gary Gregory did it for us last year. Since we've been here, it's happened. I never experienced it until I came here, moving guys around like that." — NC State coach Tom O'Brien on playing Overgaard at three dif- ferent line positions in a season ■ DE Jeff Rieskamp Summary: Rieskamp experienced a hard-luck ca- reer at NC State. He was a valuable reserve as a red- shirt freshman in 2008 and a full-time starter in 2010. In between, he missed the 2009 season with a sports hernia that was difficult to diagnose. Rieskamp, an undersized defensive end at 6-3, 245 pounds, started the 2011 season opener against Lib- erty and had three tackles and two quarterback hur- ries. In practice the following week, he injured his shoul- der and did not return. Although he could be a strong candidate for a sixth year, Tom O'Brien does not expect 30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Rieskamp to pursue it. Rieskamp will graduate Dec. 17. Career Highlights: Against the triple option of Georgia Tech in 2010, Rieskamp came up big. He had a career-high eight tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a strong game at Clemson that year, picking up three tackles, including a sack, pressuring the quarterback three times and recovering a fumble. Most Memorable Moment: After Graham's punt return gave State a 24-19 lead over North Carolina in 2010, Rieskamp helped make it stand by sacking UNC quarterback T.J. Yates on third-and-four on the Heels' following possession, forcing a three-and-out. Quote: "I think he played 50 plays this year. Thinking you are coming back as a redshirt senior and having a great year and be cut short like that, that's tough for him." — Head coach Tom O'Brien ■ WR Jay Smith Summary: Smith came to NC State as the most highly regarded and probably most heavily recruited prospect in the 2007 class. He was the lone prep four- star player in that transition group between the depart- ing Chuck Amato and the newly hired O'Brien. It took Smith a while, though, to live up to expec- tations, partly because he found himself behind a trio of receivers a class ahead of him in Darrell Davis, Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams. Once they graduated, Smith became more fea- tured in the offense. He set career-highs across the board this season, catching 36 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Career Highlights: Smith caught his first career touchdown when he hauled in a 16-yard reception against Cincinnati in 2010. He saved his best for last, recording the best game of his career against Maryland Nov. 26. Smith caught six passes for 63 yards and a score in that game. Most Memorable Moment: Smith had a knack for catching slant passes in the end zone. His seven-yard haul against Clemson this season started the rout that was to come. His score gave the Pack a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Quote: "It's been a long road for Jay Smith. I feel like I've come from a long way." — Smith ■ DT J.R. Sweezy Summary: This fall, Sweezy developed into NC State's top interior defensive tackle after going through multiple positions in his career. The 6-5, 293-pounder from Mooresville, N.C., saw action at linebacker in high school and was first tried at defensive end with the Wolfpack. He then had a trial run at middle line- backer during 2008 spring practices. He moved back to defensive end in 2008 and then eventually found a home at defensive tackle. Sweezy enjoyed a break- out redshirt junior campaign in 2010 and earned honor- able mention All-ACC recognition. He had five of his six sacks over the last four games of the regular season. Sweezy and fifth-year senior tight end George Bryan were named co-captains this season, and Sweezy was poised for another great campaign. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury this August and underwent surgery. He missed the first four games, but came back at defen- sive end against Georgia Tech Oct. 1, and then eventually to defensive tackle, and helped lead the Wolfpack on the charge to become bowl eligible. Career Highlights: Sweezy was able to return to the field this season and get sacks against both Georgia Tech and Florida State, and he also caused a fumble against Maryland in the regular-season finale. Sweezy also put together a strong game chasing around Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor in 2009, finishing with six tackles and a sack in what was prob- ably his breakout performance. Sweezy had a pair of multiple-sack games in his Wolfpack career, including four tackles and two sacks in the 29-25 win at North Carolina in 2010. Most Memorable Moment: Sweezy had perhaps the best game of his NC State career against Clemson last year. He tallied a career-high 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one caused fumble in the 14-13 loss at Clemson. Quote: "Having him practice helps him get into game shape. When you haven't been hit for six or seven weeks, your body isn't used to it, and then he had a broken foot on top of it. The fact that he's practicing, he is getting better." — NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer on Sweezy improving as the year went on ■ RB Curtis Underwood Jr. Summary: Underwood had an unusual career at NC State. Due to injuries, he had to fill in as the third running back his true freshman year, but he was able to redshirt in 2009. He entered 2010 expected to be one of the contenders for a feature back role. Instead he slid down the depth chart and barely played, prompting an an- nouncement that he would be leaving the team after the season. Then when projected starter Mustafa Greene, a sophomore, broke his foot in the spring, Underwood was asked to rejoin the team. He saw his most extensive playing time yet before injuring his foot after four games and then losing his spot in the rotation to redshirt freshman Tony Creecy. Career Highlights: Underwood recorded his first and lone career 100-yard rushing game in the 2011 season opener, a 14-carry, 114-yard effort versus Liberty Sept. 3. Underwood was State's leading rusher in three of the first four games this year. Most Memorable Moment: Just after Liberty had cut State's lead to 23-14 in the third quarter, the Pack, set up with good field position at the Liberty 33, gave the ball to Underwood. He brought the crowd to its feet by running 67 yards for a touchdown on the play. Quote: "I was real close to leaving; I was about to commit to another school, North Alabama. I got a phone call after I came back from my visit, and Coach O'Brien asked me if I wanted to come back. He didn't rush me and pressure me into a decision, but before he could finish, I told him, 'Yeah, I'll come back.'" — Underwood ■