The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/612996
24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 6. Juston Burris 5th-Sr. CB Burris' modest numbers are a reflection of how well he covered this season. He posted 33 tackles, including three for loss, and had an interception. He also tied for the team lead with five passes broken up. 7. Airius Moore So. LB Moore finished the season as NCSU's leading tackler, piling up 70 hits, including 7.5 for loss, while starting at both weakside and middle linebacker throughout the year. 8. B.J. Hill So. DT Hill was a surprising omission from the All-ACC teams despite posting impressive numbers at the un- glamorous nose tackle position. Hill was fifth on the team in tackles with 48, including 11 for loss (third highest on Pack's defense) and 3.5 sacks. Hill's three passes broken up tied for the most among the team's defensive linemen. 9. Bradley Chubb So. DE In his first season as a starting defensive end, the former linebacker was a revelation. He was second on the team with 62 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks — both second most on the team behind Rose. Chubb's seven quarterback hurries tied Rose for the most on the squad. 10. Quinton Schooley Sr. C Schooley capped an unlikely rags-to-riches story. The former high school linebacker was a reserve offensive tackle for Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., for one season before arriving at NC State. He turned into a three-year starting center for the Pack and was honorable mention All-ACC this past season. 2015 NC State Top Five Rookies Rk. Player Year Pos. 1. Nyheim Hines Fr. WR Hines did it all in his true freshman season, catching 20 passes for 256 yards and a score, rushing 35 times for 173 yards and a touchdown, and returning 29 kickoffs for an average of 27.3 yards, including one for a TD. Hines led State in all-purpose yards (1,220) and was named honorable mention All-ACC. 2. A.J. Cole Fr. P Cole had large shoes to fill, replacing first-team All- ACC punter Wil Baumann. He proved up to the task, averaging 42.1 yards on 61 punts — the 13th highest single-season average ever at NC State. His season-long punt of 72 yards is the ninth longest in school history. 3. Darian Roseboro Fr. DE The one-time Michigan commitment showed why powerhouse programs recruited him hard last year as a senior at Lincolnton (N.C.) High. Roseboro had 18 tack- les, including 5.5 for loss and four sacks (which ranked third on the team). He tied for most passes broken up among defensive linemen with three, and he had a pick- six against Syracuse. 4. Maurice Trowell R-Fr. WR Trowell proved to be a big-play threat for NC State. He caught 12 passes for 210 yards and averaged a team-high 17.5 yards per reception. He caught two touchdown passes, including an 83-yarder against Bos- ton College that tied for the ninth-longest pass play in school history. 5. Riley Nicholson Fr. LB Nicholson started four of the last five games of the season and led NC State with eight tackles in the 42-29 win over Syracuse Nov. 21. He finished the season with 30 tackles, including three for loss. ■ Five Breakout Candidates For Next Year Rk. Name Year Pos. 1. Jalan McClendon R-Fr. QB As Brissett's backup, McClendon completed 8 of 14 passes for 69 yards in spot duty this fall. The strong-armed, 6-5, 212-pounder could have first shot at replacing Brissett next year, although he will have to battle freshman Jakobi Meyers, who redshirted this season. 2. Stephen Louis So. WR Louis redshirted after offseason shoulder surgery. The 6-2, 210-pounder earned rave reviews this fall for his work during the rehab process. Louis caught seven passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in 12 games as a true freshman, including a pair of starts. 3. Shawn Boone So. S Inconsistent safety play this season opened the door for Boone to get a pair of starts at strong safety after the midseason bye week. However, injuries kept Boone from grabbing the job. He still finished with 12 tackles, including a sack, in nine games and will have a chance to compete for a big- ger role in the spring. 4. Johnny Frasier Fr. RB Frasier, a one-time Florida State commitment, was one of the most hyped recruits to sign in the 2015 class coming out of Princeton (N.C.) High. He spent the fall redshirting while getting into better shape and learning the playbook. Late in the season, head coach Dave Doeren lauded Frasier's work on the scout team. 5. Niles Clark R-Jr. Nickel A midseason switch from corner to nickel paid off for Clark. In the first six games, Clark had six tackles. In the final six after the switch, he had 11 tackles and his first career interception. Freshman wide receiver Nyheim Hines led the Pack with 1,220 all-purpose yards and was named All-ACC honorable mention at kick returner. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN