The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK FOOTBALL Fernandez and junior linebacker Airius Moore are roommates and close friends. They have a combined 34 starts over the last two years. "I worked a lot this offseason with Airius, and it really worked out," Fernandez said. "We feed off each other really good and have great chemistry. "We work a lot at home and in the play- book. I feel we have a great combination." Fernandez is now one of the "old guys" after experiencing his fourth opening day of fall camp. "I remember not knowing what to expect and now it is our defense," he said. Fernandez said allowing 96 points over the last two games in losses to North Caro- lina and Mississippi State, with the latter in the Belk Bowl, gave the defense all the mo- tivation it needed this offseason. He expects the Wolfpack to have one of the top defenses in the ACC this season. "This defense could be great, not good," Fernandez said. "I strongly believe that, if we all do our job and do what we have to do. "We just have to put our mind to it and study our opponent. We could be a top-10 defense in the nation." Fernandez himself has picked up on his film study, watching each game this offsea- son. The last two games are sore points. "We watched our good and our bad plays this offseason," Fernandez said. "I probably watch film 10 times more than I did two years ago. "Those last two games are about fin- ishing. We have to start strong and finish strong." One game he hasn't watched in a while but might have to dust off is when he got two of his four career interceptions against future No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston of Florida State in 2014. He earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors for that per- formance. "You get a turnover and give the offense the ball, you change the momentum of the game," Fernandez said. "I like to say I have the best hands on the defense. Those [in- terceptions] against Florida State are the highlight of my life. "That was the first time I was on the field going against the school that I grew up lov- ing. Getting a pick against Jameis Winston is a once in a lifetime type thing." — Jacey Zembal Graduate Transfer Joe Scelfo Settling In First-year NC State offensive coordina- tor and quarterbacks coach Eli Drinkwitz had plenty on his mind when the Wolfpack started preseason camp Aug. 1. ■ Projected 2016 NC State Depth Chart OFFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. QB 2 Jalan McClendon 6-5 220 R-So. or 15 Ryan Finley 6-4 200 R-Jr. RB 21 Matthew Dayes 5-9 205 Sr. 25 Reggie Gallaspy II 5-11 225 So. 22 Johnny Frasier 5-10 224 R-Fr. FB 28 Jaylen Samuels 5-11 225 Jr. 86 Thaddeus Moss 6-4 240 Fr. WR 13 Bra'Lon Cherry 5-11 191 Sr. 30 Gavin Locklear 5-10 190 R-Jr. WR 12 Stephen Louis 6-2 215 R-So. 3 Kelvin Harmon 6-3 205 Fr. WR 7 Nyheim Hines 5-9 197 So. 8 Maurice Trowell 5-11 191 R-So. TE 48 Cole Cook 6-6 250 Jr. 88 Pharoah McKever 6-6 250 R-Jr. LT 53 Tyler Jones 6-3 300 R-So. 74 Emanuel McGirt Jr. 6-6 300 R-Fr. LG 65 Garrett Bradbury 6-3 297 R-So. 56 Bryce Kennedy 6-3 313 5th-Sr. C 66 Joe Scelfo 6-1 300 5th-Sr. 70 Terronne Prescod 6-5 332 R-So. RG 50 Tony Adams 6-2 315 Jr. 71 Joe Sculthorpe 6-2 310 Fr. RT 54 Will Richardson 6-6 315 R-So. 64 Peter Daniel 6-6 294 R-Jr. DEFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 9 Bradley Chubb 6-4 273 Jr. 95 Tyrone Riley 6-6 285 R-Fr. DT 27 Justin Jones 6-2 314 Jr. 91 Eurndraus Bryant 6-1 328 So. DT 98 B.J. Hill 6-4 315 Jr. 94 Monty Nelson 6-2 315 Sr. DE 35 Kentavius Street 6-2 276 Jr. 45 Darian Roseboro 6-4 285 So. WLB 58 Airius Moore 6-0 237 Jr. 32 Riley Nicholson 6-0 235 So. MLB 4 Jerod Fernandez 6-0 224 R-Jr. 44 Ford Howell 6-1 240 R-Jr. NB 8 Dravious Wright 5-10 208 Sr. 6 Niles Clark 5-11 186 5th-Sr. CB 29 Jack Tocho 6-0 200 Sr. 15 Johnathan Alston 6-0 205 Sr. CB 2 Mike Stevens 5-11 190 Jr. 25 Sean Paul 5-11 195 R-Jr. SS 24 Shawn Boone 5-10 201 Jr. 31 Jarius Morehead 6-1 213 R-Fr. FS 11 Josh Jones 6-2 210 R-Jr. 14 Dexter Wright 6-2 226 R-So. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. K 92 Kyle Bambard 5-8 190 So. or 96 Connor Haskins 5-8 176 5th-Sr. P 90 A.J. Cole III 6-4 220 So. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. LS 57 Tyler Griffiths 6-2 230 So. 55 Jackson Quiqqle 6-0 185 Fr. SPECIAL TEAMS Fernandez worked hard over the summer to reshape his body, trimming three percentage points off his body fat. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN