The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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72 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 Those numbers are not far off from Samuels' impressive senior season at Mallard Creek High, when he had 14.9 yards per touch while amassing 2,338 total yards and a score for every 2.9 touches (55 touchdowns on a total of 157 combined carries and receptions). "He's got a gift," Faulkner said. "He touches the ball and it's go- ing to be a 10-yard gain. He's sneaky big, 230 to 240 pounds, can run, has got an unbelievable stiff arm. It's not like he's overly fast, but he does have some good speed. It's not like he's overly elusive, but he can make guys miss and run through tackles. "He's special. He can catch the ball, has good hands, can block, do everything. For us that creates matchup problems because he can play just about anywhere. He can come out of the huddle and line up anywhere. I haven't put a finger on it other than the fact that he's strong and can do those types of things." Backing up Samuels will likely be converted line- backer and walk-on Max Stoffer, a redshirt freshman. "I think that is really a natural position for him," Faulkner explained. "He really has good hands. He had surprisingly good hands this spring, which was re- ally exciting for us to see. "He'll be able to help us." ■ Getting To Know: Jaylen Samuels To say that sophomore fullback/tight end Jaylen Samuels has already emerged as a fan favorite at NC State would be an understatement. That's what happens when you follow up an ultra-productive senior year at Mallard Creek High in Charlotte with some impressive numbers during your rookie season in college. Samuels scored 59 touchdowns as a senior for Mallard Creek in 2013, lead - ing the school to a 4-AA state title. He ran 108 times for 1,406 yards (13.0 yards per carry) and 39 touchdowns, and caught 49 passes for 932 yards (19.0 yards per reception) and 16 scores. He amazingly scored a touchdown once every 2.9 times he touched the football. Thus, although his touches were somewhat limited, it was not surprising that Samuels led the Pack in yards per rush in 2014 after carrying 15 times for 143 yards (9.5 yards a run) and a score and was third in yards per reception after hauling in six passes for 96 yards (16.0 yards per catch), including a highlight- worthy touchdown catch in the St. Petersburg Bowl win over Central Florida. Not bad for someone whose only major offer coming out of high school was NC State. "I was always confident going into my freshman year," Samuels admitted. "I knew I wanted to see the field early. I didn't want to be a redshirt guy. I just went to camp hard, and I was lucky to get on the field early. "When I was in high school I really didn't worry about the stars and all that. I just felt whoever plays on the field is the best player. I just waited my turn, got recruited by NC State and that was the best choice I made." The 5-11, 236-pound Samuels feels he is in an even better spot after this spring than he was last fall. He said that he finds the practice routine "way easier than when I was doing it back in fall camp," but he is striving to improve his physicality to go with his skills. "The main thing I need to work on is blocking," he acknowledged. "Other than that, I need to get into the rotation more and make some plays and help our team get a 10-win season next year. "Coach [Matt] Canada is putting me in the right spots to make plays, so whenever I get in there I've just got to make plays and do what he says." Canada, NCSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will need Samuels to step up. Last fall, Samuels shared time with Tyler Purvis, who caught 10 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Purvis has graduated, a void Samuels wants to fill. "I know with Tyler being gone I have to fill his role and what he did in cer - tain personnel," Samuels said. "I am just doing what I've got to do when I get in there: getting into the passing game a little more, spreading out as a wide receiver and maybe even some running back, line up everywhere." Seeing Samuels lining up everywhere is probably exactly what NCSU fans are looking forward to this fall. — Matt Carter ■ By The Numbers 5 Touchdown receptions in 2014 by red- shirt junior David J. Grinnage, all of which came in ACC games, tying for the team lead. 6-5½ Average listed height of NC State's four tight ends. 11.5 Yards per touch last season by sophomore fullback Jaylen Samuels. Samuels scored twice and averaged 11.4 yards per touch as a true freshman while seeing playing time at both tight end and fullback. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN Quick Facts Position Coach: Eddie Faulkner (3rd season) Returning Starters: TE David J. Grinnage (18 career starts) Starter Lost: None FYI: College football analyst Phil Steele has Grinnage on his preseason third- team All-ACC squad … Grinnage was one of two prospects to sign with NCSU from Newark (Del.) High in 2012, but receiver Xavier Griffin did not qualify and ended up at North Carolina A&T instead … Fifth-year senior Benson Browne grad - uated from NC State in the spring of 2014 and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2011 … Sophomore Cole Cook's younger brother Case Cook is ex- pected to be a top offensive tackle prospect in the 2017 class and already has offers from Kentucky, Miami, NC State and Penn State … Redshirt freshman Micah Till's older brother Titus began his college football career at Maryland before transferring to James Madison … Sophomore Jaylen Samuels was ranked as the second-best fullback in the country's 2014 class by Rivals.com coming out of Charlotte Mallard Creek High … Redshirt freshman walk-on Max Stoffer was an all-state linebacker as a senior for Father Ryan in Nashville, Tenn.