The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/535299
JULY 2015 ■ 59 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State fifth-year senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett entered last year with high expectations, and he more than lived up to the advanced billing. The 6-4, 235-pounder settled the Wolfpack's quarterback position and helped turn the program around from a 3-9 mark in 2013 to an 8-5 finish last season. Brissett guided NC State to wins in four of its last five games, highlighted by defeating Central Florida 34-27 in the Bit- coin St. Petersburg Bowl. He passed for 262 yards and a touchdown against the Golden Knights. Brissett completed 221 of 370 passes for 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions for the season. He also added 529 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 124 carries, and saved some of his best running for later in the season, particularly a game on the road in Chapel Hill. Brissett rushed 14 times for 167 yards and a score, and passed for 66 yards and three touchdowns, in the 35-7 blowout win at North Carolina Nov. 29. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada was most impressed with Bris- sett's decision making. "For a first-year starter, Jacoby played very well," Canada said. "His best statistic is the touchdown-to-interception ratio. We take a lot of pride in that. "We had one interception that bounced off one of our guys, and another on a screen that was kind of a fluky deal. We had another late in the game where we threw it up. Out of his five interceptions, two were decision-based on him, and that's pretty good." Brissett's best game arguably came in a defeat. He became a na- tional figure when he went 32-of-48 passing for 359 yards with three touchdowns in the 56-41 loss against Florida State Sept. 27. Brissett proved he was equally comfortable whether he threw 48 times against the Seminoles or 11 passes at the Tar Heels. "We didn't run him a lot early," Canada said. "We tried to be smart about that. Jacoby likes to run. There were certain games where they weren't designed runs. He'd just tuck it and go. Over time, he evolved. The last two, three games, we put the quarterback run stuff in. He obviously ran it well." Brissett entered college with a glittering résumé. Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2011, and he eventually picked Florida over Wisconsin and Miami, among others. QUARTERBACKS IN A GOOD POSITION Fifth-Year Senior Jacoby Brissett Returns After A Strong Season, And Redshirt Freshman Jalan McClendon Is Ready To Contribute Quarterbacks Roster STARTER No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 12 Jacoby Brissett 5th-Sr. 6-4 235 West Palm Beach, Fla. The Florida transfer became a national name after throwing for 359 yards and three touchdowns in the 56-41 loss to No. 1-ranked Florida State last September. Brissett hit a rough patch against some quality defenses — especially in the 41-0 road loss to Clemson Oct. 4 — but rebounded to help the Wolfpack win four of its last five games, including a 34-27 victory over Central Florida in the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. RESERVE No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 2 Jalan McClendon R-Fr. 6-5 212 Charlotte, N.C. NC State went into each game hoping McClendon wouldn't be forced to play due to injury to starter Jacoby Brissett. Mission accomplished, and the Wolfpack will benefit greatly when the Charlotte native is a fifth-year senior down the road. Rivals.com ranked McClendon as the No. 15 player in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2014. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 14 Woody Cornwell R-Fr. 6-2 210 Lake Junaluska, N.C. Cornwell, a walk-on from Tuscola High, redshirted last year. 16 Jakobi Meyers Fr. 6-2 181 Lithonia, Ga. The Rivals.com two-star prospect was a late bloomer at Arabia Mountain High. He originally committed to Kent State in June 2014, before switching to NC State on Jan. 18, 2015. He completed 105 of 192 passes for 1,562 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and rushed 69 times for 481 yards and two scores in eight games his senior season. 5 Josh Taylor Jr. 5-11 189 New Bern, N.C. Taylor has played a little bit since arriving to NC State as a preferred walk-on. He has rushed six times for 24 yards, and has one incomplete pass while playing the last two years. He helped lead New Bern High to a 2013 4A state title, going 155-of-246 passing for 2,665 yards with 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,159 yards and 17 scores. Quick Facts Position Coach: Matt Canada (3rd season) Returning Starter: Jacoby Brissett (16 career starts) Starter Lost: None FYI: Athlon ranked the NC State quarterback unit No. 5 in the ACC and No. 21 in the country … Lindy's projected Brissett as the No. 22 signal-caller in the nation … Brissett was a decorated football and basketball player at West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer High. Rivals.com ranked him the No. 75 overall player in the country, the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the nation and the No. 18 prospect in Florida fol - lowing his senior season … Brissett earned at least 21 scholarship offers, and took official visits to LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Washington and Wisconsin, and eventually picked Florida. He transferred to NC State after losing the quarterback competi- tion in Gainesville, and picked the Wolfpack over West Virginia during his second recruitment, due in part to his pre-existing relationship with head coach Dave Do- eren. Brissett considered Wisconsin when Doeren was the defensive coordinator … Charlotte West Mecklenburg quarterback Jalan McClendon represented North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and also played in the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas. He passed for around 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions his senior year for 9-3 West Mecklenburg. He then went 16-of-24 passing for 164 yards in the Shrine Bowl … McClendon earned offers from NC State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Miami, Florida State, Wake For- est and Virginia … Freshman Jakobi Meyers didn't start playing football until his sophomore season at Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain High, and eventually became a starter his senior year … Meyers committed to Kent State in June, but then earned offers from Wake Forest and NC State in January. After committing to the Wolfpack, Florida and its new coaching staff made a run at him, but he elected not to visit the Gators the weekend before National Signing Day … Brissett connected on 13 of 32 passes for 164 yards with a touchdown for the White team, and McClendon was 16-of-35 passing for 144 yards while playing for both the White team and Red in the 2015 Kay Yow Spring Game April 11. ■ By The Numbers 6 Difference in passing yards between fifth-year quarterback Jacoby Brissett (359 yards) and future No. 1 NFL Draft pick Jameis Winston (365 yards) of Florida State, during the Seminoles' 56-41 win at NC State Sept. 27. 9 Games in which Brissett completed at least 56.3 percent of his passes, to finish the season at 59.7 percent. 39 Passing touchdowns by redshirt freshman quarterback Jalan McClendon during his last two seasons at Charlotte West Mecklenburg High.