The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/535299
JULY 2015 ■ 109 WOLFPACK FOOTBALL Fernandez, a redshirt freshman, played in 12 games and started 10 times, and he ranked second on the team with 78 tackles and two interceptions. Moore, a true freshman that did not ar- rive on campus until the opening day of fall camp, learned quickly. He earned the backup job to Fernandez by the start of the season and appeared in every contest, but earned more significant playing time as the year wore on. When Fernandez was suspended for the Louisville game midway through the cam- paign, the 6-0, 232-pound Moore stepped in and paced the squad with eight tackles, including two for loss and one sack. He ac- tually logged more snaps than Fernandez in the next three contests as the starter and led the team in tackles two more times before returning to a reserve role in the season finale and bowl game. NC State head coach Dave Doeren de- cided to move Moore to the weakside this spring, and now the duo can play together rather than battle each other. Moore hopes to be a capable replacement for graduated starter Rodman Noel, who ranked second on the team with 12 tackles for loss and third with 76 total stops last year. "It has been a good move for us," Doeren said. "Those guys have really good chem- istry, and they're playing well together. For Jerod and Airius, they've always kind of supported each other, now they're out there together. I think they're having fun playing together at the same time." "It's a little bit of an adjustment, but I'm trying to learn the whole defense, so I think I'm prepared for it," Moore added. "It's a little different, but I consider myself a vet- eran now because I played a good amount last year." Moore, who finished last season tied for 11th on the team with 37 tackles, noted the biggest difference is that he's working with NC State Football Roster By Position And Class For 2015 Position Seniors Juniors Sophomores Redshirt Freshmen Freshmen QUARTERBACK Jacoby Brissett# Josh Taylor* Woody Cornwell*^ Jakobi Meyers Jalan McClendon^ TAILBACK Shadrach Thornton Matt Dayes Dakwa Nichols^ Brady Bodine*^ Johnny Frasier Reggie Gallaspy II Nyheim Hines FULLBACK Jaylen Samuels Max Stoffer*^ WIDE RECEIVER NaQuan Brown#* Johnathan Alston Jordan Dawson*^ Elliott Davis^ Chandler Belk* Maurice Morgan# Bra'Lon Cherry Ben Grazen*^ Stephen Morrison*^ Vernon Grier Jumichael Ramos Gavin Locklear*^ Maurice Trowell^ Brian Sessoms Josh Sessoms^ Stephen Louis Freddie Simmons TIGHT END Benson Browne# David J. Grinnage^ Cole Cook Micah Till^ OFFENSIVE TACKLE Alex Barr# Daris Workman Peter Daniel*^ Tyler Jones^ Emanuel McGirt Jr. Zak Kuder*^ Philip Walton Will Richardson^ Aaron Wiltz OFFENSIVE GUARD Joe Thuney# Bryce Kennedy^ Tony Adams Evan Pritt*^ Terronne Prescod^ CENTER Quinton Schooley John Tu'uta^ DEFENSIVE END Mike Rose# Davion Allred*^ Hampton Billups^ Emmanuel Olenga Bradley Chubb Deonte Holden^ Tyrone Riley Pharoah McKever^ Darian Roseboro DEFENSIVE TACKLE Clark Eyers*^ Grant Bowman* Garrett Bradbury^ Eurndraus Bryant Monty Nelson Kenton Gibbs^ Coult Culler^ Quentez Johnson Ben Pierce* B.J. Hill Deshaywn Middleton^ Justin Jones Kentavius Street LINEBACKER Ernie Robinson III*^ Jerod Fernandez^ Riley Nicholson M.J. Salahuddin^ Ford Howell*^ Cole Nigro* Airius Moore James Smith-Williams Artemis Robinson^ Bryan Smith*^ CORNERBACK Juston Burris# Niles Clark^ Nicholas Lacy*^ Jack Tocho Malcolm Means^ Sean Paul^ Mike Stevens Troy Vincent Jr. SAFETY Hakim Jones# Cole Boroughs*^ Shawn Boone Kalen McCain^ Jarius Morehead Josh Jones^ Dexter Wright^ Germaine Pratt NICKEL BACK Charlie Twitty*^ Trace Batten^ Freddie Phillips Jr. Dravious Wright LONG SNAPPER Ben Garnett*^ Tyler Griffiths Duncan Musselwhite* PLACEKICKER Jackson Maples*^ Kyle Bambard PUNTER Will Stephenson*^ A.J. Cole III Bold indicates returning starter; # fifth-year senior; * walk-on; ^ redshirted and is eligible for a fifth year