The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 punch with junior Matt Dayes. The latter proved adept whether running the ball, log- ging 104 carries for 573 yards and eight touchdowns, or in the passing game, where he caught 32 passes for 321 yards and five scores. Normally the combination of both Thorn- ton and Dayes would be enough in the backfield, but the Wolfpack added freshman running backs Reggie Gallaspy and Johnny Frasier — plus do-it-all Nyheim Hines, who could help replace some of the production lost at wide receiver. Hines could line up at running back, slot receiver, punt returner and kick returner this season. NC State rushed for 2,659 yards and passed for 2,652 yards in 2014, making it one of the most balanced offenses in the coun- try. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said whatever style is needed, he wants his players able to execute. "It was a testament to what we want to be," Canada said. "We want to be able to do both. We certainly want to run the football. That is something we believe in. There are teams and times where they say, 'You aren't going to run it.' They put nine, 10 guys in the box, and you have to be good enough to throw it." Redshirt junior tight end David J. Grin- nage is another player who could be making a big surge forward this season. The former prep receiver has grown to 6-5, 265 pounds, and he caught 27 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns last year. Fifth-year senior Benson Browne and sophomore Cole Cook didn't catch any passes in 2014, but they played extensively and are also large targets. Samuels also proved to be a unique threat, whether out of the backfield or in the slot. The 5-11, 236-pound Samuels was a star running back at Charlotte Mallard Creek, and showed his knack for churning out first downs translated well in college. He is listed as a tight end/fullback, due to his ability to both run the football well and catch the ball. He took advantage of jet sweep play calls to the tune of 143 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and he caught six passes for 96 yards and a score. Samuels' name could be called more often this season due to knowing the offense more thoroughly as a sophomore. Juniors Bra'Lon Cherry and Johnathan Alston are the top two targets back for Bris- sett at wide receiver. The 5-11, 191-pound Cherry had 27 catches for 354 yards and three touchdowns, and also proved to be a factor on reverses. Alston is a little bigger at 6-0, 203 pounds, and he had 21 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line will be the key to ev- erything again, and has three starters back. Fifth-year senior left guard Joe Thuney, se- nior center Quinton Schooley and sophomore right guard Tony Adams form a strong inte- rior. Fifth-year senior Alex Barr started eight games at the guard position last year — four on the left side and four on the right — but will man right tackle this fall. Redshirt fresh- man Tyler Jones emerged as the first-string performer at left tackle during the spring and will protect Brissett's blind side. Canada is counting on strong competition during fall camp in August. "I don't know if I feel comfortable about any position on the team," Canada said. "There is a quote out there: 'Nothing great is ever accomplished in your comfort zone.' I don't know if I feel comfortable ever." ■ The Defense Last year, NC State made the successful switch to a 4-2-5 defense with a nickel back playing instead of a third linebacker. The Wolfpack dialed up the blitz packages and finished with 30 sacks. Opponents averaged 27.0 points, 168.4 rushing yards and 204.7 passing yards per game, but the Pack left room for improve- ment. Six opponents scored at least 30 points. NC State loses three key cogs from the defensive line in defensive tackles T.Y. Mc- Gill and Thomas Teal, and defensive end Art Norman. The strength of the defense switches from the defensive line to what was considered the biggest concern going into last year — the secondary. "Last year, there were three new starters in the secondary, so there were a lot of new things happening," Doeren said. "There were new starters at other positions, too. We have a lot of guys back that have taken valuable game reps, it's just a lot more fluid. "We're also building off of what we did last year. I think we finished the season bring- ing a lot of different pressures and it helped our kids. We've built on that in the offseason." Fifth-year seniors Juston Burris and Hakim Jones return at cornerback and free safety, respectively. Junior cornerback Jack Tocho, junior nickel back Dravious Wright and red- shirt sophomore strong safety Josh Jones are also returning starters. Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Jerod Fernandez was second on the team with 78 tackles, two shy of Hakim Jones. Sophomore outside linebacker Airius Moore can play both linebacker spots, and he started four games last year. Fifth-year senior defensive end Mike Rose is the top returning player with five sacks, and added 46 tackles and a team-high 14 tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive tackle B.J. Hill started five games and added 40 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss, and will be the new anchor in the middle. The other two spots are up for grabs. "We have a lot of players back with expe- rience," Doeren said. "We counted the other day there are nine different guys in our sec- ondary, if you include our nickels, that played for us last year, and three linebackers and five or six defensive linemen. "We're excited. Even though we're young, we're experienced. We have experienced sophomore and junior classes." ■ The Special Teams NC State starts anew on special teams with three freshman scholarship players ex- pected to take over key roles — kicker Kyle Bambard, punter A.J. Cole III and long snap- per Tyler Griffiths. Both Bambard and Cole signed with NC State in the class of 2014, but elected to take the grayshirt option and enrolled this past January and experienced spring practices for the first time. Dayes and redshirt sophomore running back Dakwa Nichols handled the kick return duties last year. Dayes averaged 18.3 yards on 21 kick returns with a long of 50 yards, and Nichols was slightly better at 19.7 yards on 11 returns with a long of 29. Cherry started the year at punt returner be- fore Bo Hines took over. Cherry averaged 5.8 yards on six punt returns with a long of 18. Nyheim Hines, freshman wide receiver Brian Sessoms and redshirt freshman wide receiver Maurice Trowell could challenge for the return roles. "Probably the biggest question mark go- ing into the fall would be the production at the kicker and punter position because we lost such veteran players there, two four-year starters," Doeren said. "The kids competed hard this spring and I was impressed with them, but it's going to be about game day for that position." ■ Junior Johnathan Alston, who notched 21 re- ceptions for 224 yards and two scores last sea- son, will have an opportunity to earn a promi- nent role in NC State's aerial attack this fall. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN