The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 Reggie Gallaspy II and Nyheim Hines ended the season running well, though the latter also split time at wide receiver. Hines brings a unique skill set due to his ability to play both running back and slot receiver, and he is a gifted kick returner that returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Clemson. State also returns versatile junior Jaylen Samuels and junior tight end Cole Cook. The 5-11, 223-pound Samuels is a unique threat; built like a running back, but he earned first- team All-ACC honors at tight end. He led NC State with 65 catches for 597 yards and seven touchdowns. Cook brings a non-flashy style, but is integral in the Wolfpack offense thanks to his blocking ability. Having playmakers like Dayes, Samuels and Hines gives NC State plenty of options and chess pieces to move around on offense for Drinkwitz. "We have to get our best players and play- makers the ball, and get them on the field and move them around," Doeren said. "I've always felt like you use your strengths and hide your weaknesses." Seniors receivers Jumichael Ramos and Bra'Lon Cherry both return, and redshirt soph- omore Maurice Trowell (seven) and Hines (three) combined for 10 starts at wideout. NC State is also excited about redshirt sophomore wide receiver Stephen Louis, who missed last year due to injuries. The 6-2, 215-pound Louis is expected to help spark the passing game. "Bra'Lon Cherry at receiver was probably the most consistent returner, but the most im- pressive was probably Steph Louis," Doeren said. "I thought he had a great spring." Adams, Jones and Richardson could be part of an offensive line nucleus that also includes redshirt sophomore guard Garrett Bradbury, fifth-year senior guard Bryce Kennedy, South Alabama graduate transfer and fifth-year se- nior center Joseph Scelfo, and redshirt fresh- man left tackle Emanuel McGirt Jr. The Wolfpack will stick to the mantra of starting the five best offensive linemen, but the addition of Scelfo could solidify the group. The versatility of Jones is also an added bonus. "Tyler Jones is one of the more improved guys on the offensive line," Doeren said. The Defense The defense will have plenty of experience in the front seven and three key returning defensive backs. However, allowing 97 com- bined points in the last two games against North Carolina and Mississippi State provided plenty of offseason motivation. NC State has three experienced defensive ends returning, and four rotational tackles are also back. Junior defensive end Bradley Chubb was second on the team with 69 tack- les, and added 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. Kentavius Street, a junior, and Darian Roseboro, a sophomore, are both former Ri- vals.com four-star prospects and poised to live up to that hype. Street has split time at both defensive tackle and defensive end, and he had 31 tackles in 2015, while Roseboro added 18 tackles and four sacks in a reserve role. Junior tackles B.J. Hill and Justin Jones will help anchor the defense. Senior Monty Nelson and sophomore Eurndraus Bryant both played in every game last year as re- serves. Redshirt junior Jerod Fernandez and junior Airius Moore have a combined 35 starts at linebacker, and are poised for breakout cam- paigns. Senior nickel backs Dravious Wright and Niles Clark split time last year, and com- plement each other well. The physical Wright had 43 tackles and two sacks, and Clark, a former cornerback, added 24 tackles and two interceptions. NC State cornerbacks Jack Tocho, a senior, and Mike Stevens, a junior, competed against each other last year to start opposite New York Jets draft pick Juston Burris. Now, the duo will try and anchor the secondary together this season. Tocho started only three games last year, but has 23 in his career. He had 20 tackles, three passes broken up and an interception last season. Stevens started 10 of 13 games in 2015, and he had 21 tackles, five passes broken up and an interception. Redshirt junior free safety Josh Jones and junior strong safety Shawn Boone are being counted upon to come through this season. The confidence in Jones and Boone, plus their backups, led to junior Germaine Pratt getting moved to outside linebacker. "Shawn Boone is a guy we missed a lot last year when he got hurt halfway through the year at strong safety," Doeren said. "Having him out there every day helps a lot." Special Teams NC State is full of weapons on special teams, but will need to settle upon a kicker during fall camp. Sophomore Kyle Bambard went 7 of 14 on field goals with a long of 37, and he went 54 of 56 on extra points. However, he missed the spring due to injury. UNC Pembroke gradu- ate transfer Connor Haskins will challenge Bambard. Haskins drained a 42-yard field goal against a stiff wind during the Kay Yow Spring Game. "He had a good spring," Doeren said. "All the pressure kicks we put him into, he made. He is an experienced guy and has played in a lot of games. He has made game-winners at his previous school. He's very confident." Redshirt sophomore Jackson Maples had 39 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs, and sophomore long snapper Tyler Griffiths is back. Sophomore punter A.J. Cole averaged 41.7 yards on 66 punts, and he landed 28 inside the 20-yard line. He'll have a chance to challenge for All-ACC honors. The return game features Hines and Cherry, both are among the best at what they do in the ACC. Hines averaged 26.3 yards on 35 kick- off returns, including the touchdown against Clemson. Cherry checked in at 13.3 yards on 27 punt returns, and had a 52-yard touchdown against Wake Forest. ■ Junior end Bradley Chubb, who was second on the team with 69 tackles last year, is part of a deep and experienced defensive front. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN Despite missing the final five games of the 2015 campaign, senior running back Matthew Dayes led the Wolfpack with 865 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN