The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/699450
JULY 2016 ■ 35 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 "I realized that at an early stage. That re- ally turned things around." Almost An Early Pro Dayes ran for 573 yards and six touch- downs while also catching 32 passes for 321 yards and five scores as a sophomore. He had 384 yards in kickoff returns, making him just one of three players in college football that year to have at least 300 yards rushing, receiving and returning. He then exploded last fall, rushing 134 times for 865 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven full games plus half of an eighth. He ran nine times for 72 yards in the first half against No. 1 Clemson before a season- ending injury. Most State fans assumed Dayes got hurt when he caught a swing pass from Brissett and lost yards. The truth is it was the play before that when he was blocking. He imme- Prior to suffering a season-ending injury in the eighth game versus No. 1 Clemson, Dayes was on pace for 1,473 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns — both of which would have been single- season school records. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN