The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/535299
68 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 Getting To Know: Elliott Davis After a practice this spring, redshirt freshman Elliott Davis came off the field still wearing his old red practice pants from last fall with the number "21" written on them. Last year, Davis wore No. 21 while working on the defensive scout team during his redshirt year. Davis spent Saturdays, as he described it, doing his best to support his teammates, and then he worked on his game during the week. "Every day I was in practice I was going to work on getting better myself so I could be on the field next year and my team - mates would support me just like I supported them," Davis said. Little did Davis figure, though, that he would be in a different position, or wearing his new No. 80 jersey, in practices come this spring. Before spring practice started, Wolfpack head coach Dave Do- eren approached Davis with the possibility of moving from cornerback to receiver. "It basically was just a matter of depth," Davis noted. "They needed more depth at the position, obviously, with the loss of the transfers, and Coach Doeren knew I had the ability to play the position because I did in high school." Davis had an open mind about the potential switch. "I love defense, I love hitting, I like getting interceptions, but I guess I could see wide receiver could be more natural because I have played it more my whole life," Davis noted. Coming out of Quince Orchard High in North Potomac, Md., Davis had offers to play receiver in college. He caught 19 passes for 459 yards and seven scores on offense as a senior. Davis estimated that his offers — which included Maryland, Rutgers and Wake Forest, among others — were evenly split between receiver, defensive back and athlete. Shortly before spring practice started, Doeren approached Davis during a weight- lifting session to let Davis know the move to receiver was on, and Doeren later texted Davis that he was switching numbers from 21 to 80. "I thought it was a cool number," Davis said. "Obviously the last guy who wore it [Bryan Underwood] was good, so that's cool." The move to receiver has been one of adjustments. He is working with first-year receivers coach George McDonald, and Davis also joked that he spends almost as much time trying to learn the offense and its playbook as he does hitting his school books. "It's been refreshing to get back to catching the ball," Davis said. "Everyone wants the ball in their hands, and I'm happy to be back on the offensive side of the ball. With Coach McDonald, he's really been working with me, really tough on me and I love it. I think it shows he believes in me, and I'm just trying to do everything I can to put myself in a position to help the team." "I need to work on consistency, and that will come with more repetition and obviously get used to it more, the physicality, being physical off the line and being physical with the DBs," Davis continued. "Once I get those things I think I'll be okay at the position because I believe I have the speed and I think I've got the quickness and got the good footwork." Davis also credited some of the older receivers for helping him adjust, pointing out juniors Jumichael Ramos and Johnathan Alston and walk-on Gavin Locklear as specific examples. Those wideouts welcomed Davis with open arms, despite just a few months prior Davis doing everything he could in practice to prevent them from catching passes. "Everything that happened last year, that was the past, so I'm here now and let's work," Davis said with a smile. — Matt Carter Davis, who worked with the defen- sive scout team while redshirting his freshman year, made the switch to wide receiver in the spring. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN Wide Receivers Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 15 Johnathan Alston Jr. 6-0 203 Bunn, N.C. Ranked sixth on the team with 21 receptions and hauled in a pair of touchdowns — which came against No. 1 Florida State and in the bowl game. 13 Bra'Lon Cherry Jr. 5-11 191 New Bern, N.C. Ranks second among returners with 354 receiving yards; totaled five touchdowns last year with three coming through the air. 85 Jumichael Ramos Jr. 6-2 200 Lovejoy, Ga. Came on strong at the end of his freshman year and finished with 24 receptions and three touchdowns, but tallied just one catch last fall. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 3 NaQuan Brown 5th-Sr. 6-1 203 Charlotte, N.C. Walk-on from West Mecklenburg High who was granted a fifth year this spring. 80 Elliott Davis R-Fr. 6-1 185 Gaithersburg, Md. Moved from defensive back in the spring, and drew rave reviews from coaches for his performances in practices and scrimmages. 30 Gavin Locklear R-So. 5-10 186 Apex, N.C. Walk-on from Apex High who impressed last year before a season-ending injury suffered in the preseason. 88 Stephen Louis So. 6-2 210 West Palm Beach, Fla. Physically imposing receiver who started twice and appeared in 12 games; he recorded seven catches for 72 yards and a score. 19 Maurice Morgan 5th-Sr. 6-3 245 LaGrange, N.C. Another wideout with all the physical tools, although he is still looking for his first career catch. 87 Maurice Trowell R-Fr. 5-11 191 Durham, N.C. Received great reviews from the coaching staff while working on the scout team, but has battled injuries. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 24 Chandler Belk Fr. 5-11 165 Winston-Salem, N.C. Walk-on posted big numbers as a senior at Reagan — 1,251 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. 13 Jordan Dawson R-So. 6-0 192 Cary, N.C. Walk-on transfer from NC A&T is the son of former NCSU tight end Lin Dawson. 34 Ben Grazen R-So. 5-9 190 Cary, N.C. Walk-on from Cardinal Gibbons High played running back last fall; led all players with five catches for 41 yards in the spring game. 83 Vernon Grier Fr. 5-10 180 Charlotte, N.C. Speedy late addition to the recruiting class from prep powerhouse Mallard Creek, where he posted 1,158 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. 32 Stephen Morrison R-Fr. 5-11 196 Weddington, N.C. Walk-on from Weddington High, who tied Grazen for game-best five catches in spring game. 82 Brian Sessoms Fr. 5-8 170 Winston-Salem, N.C. Speedster who won multiple state titles in track and made plays as a receiver and returner at Carver. 37 Josh Sessoms R-Jr. 6-2 198 Wilson, N.C. Moved from defensive back to wide receiver; has experience on special teams. 84 Freddie Simmons Fr. 6-3 176 Bethlehem, Pa. Three-sport star on prep level provides a towering presence to bring something different than his classmates out wide. "We need guys who want to come in and compete because they're either going to beat guys out or make guys better." ■ McDonald