The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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48 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 starting for Boise State and leading them to wins. "That is probably the biggest contribution he brings. He's a good leader and an accurate thrower. He is quicker than you probably an- ticipate." Freshman Dylan Parham was a Rivals.com three-star prospect in the class of 2016, and he enrolled early this past spring. Senior Josh Taylor and redshirt sophomore Woody Cornwell fill out the depth chart. It remains to be seen who opens up as the starting quarterback against William & Mary, but the standard at NC State has been set high thanks to having four current NFL quar- terbacks with Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers), Russell Wilson (Se- attle Seahawks), Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Brissett. "There are no promises either way, and everybody knows that, whether it's Jalan, Jakobi or Ryan," Drinkwitz said. "They know it is an open competition and the best players will play. "That is where we are at, and that is what we are doing." ■ NC State redshirt freshman quarterback Jakobi Meyers is excited just to be on the field again. Meyers had an uneven redshirt season, spraining his knee twice last fall and missing all but about seven weeks of action. Meyers was able to practice last August and during bowl preparations last December, but the injuries took their toll in between. "I missed a lot," Meyers said. "It set me back a lot. I lost weight and then put it back on, getting faster and stronger." Meyers said he arrived at NC State at 6-2 and 174 pounds and eventually gained 20 pounds. He lost 12 of them after the injuries and was around 188 during the spring. His knee is 100 percent after offseason conditioning. "I've gotten bigger and smarter," Meyers said. "In high school, I just played and did what was natural. Now, I'm learning the little keys to the game to become a better quarterback." Meyers is also wearing the famed No. 16 jersey, which was past star quarterback Russell Wilson's number. "Those are some big shoes to fill," Meyers said. "I was ready for it, but in my mind, you have to bring it because you don't have a choice. They are expecting big things out of you." Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalan McClendon, Boise State graduate transfer and redshirt junior Ryan Finley, and Meyers are atop the quarter - back depth chart. McClendon may be the favorite to take over the job this August, but Meyers knows he needs to push the rifle-armed quarterback from Charlotte. "It's a lot of chances out there for a lot of people," Meyers said. "Jalan and I are fighting hard every day. I just like to be part of that competition. "That is my boy [Jalan]. Every day we text each other when we wake up to make sure we are here on time." Meyers was excited when coach Dave Doeren said the quarterback competition was open this spring. "It motivates you to first make Jalan better because if he is going to be our quarterback, somebody has to push him to be the best quarterback for the team," Meyers said. "Second, it makes me want to be better than him." Meyers said his leadership skills are perhaps his best trait. "I'm good with people," he said. "I'm good at making friends and bringing them along. I'm just good at playing and just balling out." Both Meyers and McClendon have gotten to know new NCSU offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz, who Meyers dubbed a "ball of energy." "It's a new system now, and we are all learning," he continued. "I know enough to make it through day one. "He has different names for different plays. He has tried to make it work for us. We know it, but he has added a couple of plays and told us his words for it and terminology for it." Drinkwitz coached at Boise State last year, so Meyers has been watching a lot of their 2015 games. "He has shown everything on them, and he had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and receiver," he said. "We are trying to do something with our own and make history out here." Meyers originally committed to Kent State, but after NC State quarterback commit Austin King switched to Indiana, Meyers' career went on a new path. Following his original pledge, the former Rivals.com two-star prospect earned offers from NCSU, Florida and Wake Forest. "[Recruiting] made me respect every moment," Meyers said. "You have to live and enjoy it because anything can happen at any moment. I appreciate NC State coming to get me because I know I didn't want to be up there in that cold [at Kent State]. I'm just happy to be here." The former baseball standout at Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Moun - tain High figured playing shortstop would be his ticket to college. He still might return to that sport one day in the future. Meyers also played basketball but was a late bloomer in football. He went out for the first time his junior year in high school. Meyers connected on 105 of 192 passes for 1,562 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 481 yards and two scores in eight games his senior year. — Jacey Zembal Year-By-Year Passing Stats Year Yards TD INT 2015 2,740 20 6 2014 2,652 24 6 2013 2,890 14 15 2012 4,031 31 17 2011 3,120 32 12 2010 3,655 28 14 2009 3,275 32 13 2008 2,678 20 14 2007 2,948 14 23 2006 2,188 10 16 Getting To Know: Jakobi Meyers Quick Facts Position Coach: Eli Drinkwitz (first season) Returning Starter: None Starter Lost: Jacoby Brissett (29 career starts) FYI: Athlon Sports' 2016 Preview ranked redshirt sophomore Jalan McClendon as the No. 77 quarterback in the country out of 128 Division I programs … Athlon also had NC State listed No. 13 in the ACC at the quarterback position … Mc- Clendon represented North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and also played in the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas, following his final prep season … Redshirt freshman Jakobi Meyers didn't start playing football until his sophomore season at Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain High; he starred in baseball (hitting .500 in 50 at-bats as a junior while stealing 13 bases) and also played basketball for three years … Meyers played for former NC State quarterback Jatavis Sanders, who was the quarterbacks coach at Arabia Mountain … Finley was a Rivals.com three-star prospect, and committed to Boise State before waiting for his second scholarship offer … Finley thrived at Phoenix Paradise Valley High, where he was the No. 10 overall player in the state of Arizona in the class of 2013; he was 270-of-424 pass- ing for 3,442 yards with 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions his senior year, and rushed for 282 yards and four scores … Rivals.com ranked Dylan Parham as a three-star recruit and the No. 47 player in North Carolina in the class of 2016. The Southeast Raleigh standout earned a spot in the prestigious Carolinas Shrine Bowl, where he passed for six yards and rushed for 12 in limited playing time … Parham committed to NC State over Old Dominion his junior year, and his father was a NCSU graduate. Meyers, a redshirt freshman, is probably the most mobile signal-caller on the roster, and he was 12-of-20 passing for 117 yards with a score in the Kay Yow Spring Game. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN