The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/699450
114 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FIVE BEST PLAYERS 1. JOE THUNEY, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: When the all-time NC State football team gets debated, Thuney will receive mention for the offensive line. Among fellow offensive linemen: he was NC State's first All-American since Jim Ritcher in 1979, became the first blocker selected within the first three rounds of the NFL Draft since Chris Colmer in 2005 and was the first lineman to be an All-ACC selection since Sean Locklear in 2003. Thuney, a versatile lineman who started at four different positions on the line and played all five during his career, was just the fourth All-American on the offensive line in school history since the inception of the ACC in 1953. 2. JUSTON BURRIS, CORNERBACK: Burris could make the case for being the most consistent performer in the 2011 class, especially among the non-specialists. He started five games as a true freshman and all 38 contests after that. He finished with five interceptions, including at least one every year, and 16 passes broken up. He was a fourth-round draft choice by the New York Jets in 2016, marking the third time in four years a Pack corner had been picked in the top four rounds. 3. MIKE ROSE, DEFENSIVE END: Rose's 2016 season would have only been rivaled by Thuney's campaign last fall for the best of any player in the 2011 class. Rose had 10.5 sacks, third all-time in school history for a single season. He was named second-team All-ACC by both the league's sportswriters and coaches, and earned an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants. 4. NIKLAS SADE, KICKER: Legendary running back Ted Brown's school record of 312 career points stood for 36 years until Sade broke it during his senior season. He finished with 332 career points to set a standard that is a safe bet to last a while. The next nearest Wolfpacker on the list behind Brown is former kicker Josh Czajkowski, who had 257. Sade also made more field goals (55) and extra points (167) than any previous Wolfpacker. 5. WIL BAUMANN, PUNTER: Baumann made a strong case to be ranked among the greatest punters in school history. He averaged 45.4 yards a punt as a senior, second only to Johnny Evans' 46.1 yards in 1975 for the high - est ever single-season average in school history (Evans had 13 less punts than Baumann). Baumann was selected first-team All-ACC in 2014, the first kicker, punter or placekicker, to be named all-conference since Marc Primanti in 1996. The Final Grade: B In last year's evaluation of the 2010 class, the group received a B. Considering how the 2011 class had a lot of similarities in terms of starters, honors and NFL players, another B seems appropriate. Taking into account the initial grades from National Signing Day, that makes this class a success. Although the class had shortcomings that in - cluded missing on its quarterback recruit and skill players on offense, as a whole if NC State signed groups that turned out like the 2011 collection did on a yearly basis, the program would be on solid ground. Cornerback Juston Burris started more games (43) than any position player in the 2011 class, including all 38 contests from 2013-15. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN