The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
bers along State's defensive line, and his versatility made him a valuable reserve at both end and tackle in 2007. He finished the season playing in nine games and ac- cumulating 20 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks. He became a part-time starter his senior season, Holmes was a necessary recruit because of low num- starting seven of 13 games, and lined up exclusively at defensive tackle. He finished the year with 33 tackles, including seven for loss and a pair of sacks. Holmes had the second-highest tackle for loss total among defensive linemen on the 2008 squad. He was also third on the team with 15 quarterback hurries. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minne- flashy, but he provided State with what was needed in his two years, an immediate rotational player along the defensive line. home loss to Boston College in 2009. He matched his career high with five tackles, including one for a sack. Final Analysis: Holmes may not have been overly seven. He was credited with 53 tackles, including 38 solo hits, 11 hits for loss and five sacks. He added 19 quar- terback hurries, a pass breakup and one blocked kick. Highlight: Holmes' best game may have come in a sota Vikings, but was released on the final cut. Holmes then was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, where he worked for three months before being released and picked up on the Washington Red- skins' practice squad. He was released the following summer. Career Stats: Holmes played 22 games and started MARKUS KUHN Defensive Lineman High School/Hometown: Weinheim High/Weinheim, Germany Rivals.com Ranking: Three stars NC State Recruiter: Former tight ends coach Curt Cignetti Career Summary: Kuhn's story was quite unusual. He was a rare high school football player in Germany looking for a college in the United States. He had quietly committed to NC State under Amato and then reaf- firmed his pledge when O'Brien's staff was able to see him in person on a late official visit in January 2007. He was also a great unknown. No one knew how well his tutelage in Germany would translate into the United State, but Kuhn found his way onto the field as a true freshman and played in 11 games, making 33 tackles, including five for loss and a sack. He started three games at defensive end in 2008 and posted 23 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a pair of sacks, and had eight quarterback hurries. Following that campaign however, Kuhn took the rare step of redshirt- ing in the middle of his career. The time off allowed Kuhn to bulk up into a 300-pounder and move inside. He spent 2010 adjust- ing to playing defensive tackle and had just 14 tackles, including two for loss, but blossomed in 2011 as a full- time starter. Kuhn finished last year with 50 tackles, including nine STEVEN HOWARD Wide Receiver High School/Hometown: Olympic High/Charlotte, Dick Portee Career Summary: Howard was an early commitment N.C. Rivals.com Ranking: Three stars NC State Recruiter: Former running backs coach to NC State, and in high school he was noted as a pos- session receiver with good size (6-2, 200 pounds) and soft hands. Howard would carve out a role at NC State, using those physical traits to be a solid reserve receiv- ing option. He redshirted in 2007 and then played in every game in 2008, catching a pair of passes for 45 yards. For the next three years he would total double-digit receptions. Howard caught 11 passes for 112 yards in 2009 de- a thing of beauty. He hauled in a tricky 21-yard pass in the back of the end zone at Georgia Tech in 2010. Initially the pass was ruled incomplete, but the official review proved that Howard deftly dragged his toes before step- ping out of the end zone. Final Analysis: Howard never developed into a go-to twice in his senior year, and had 41 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran once for two yards. Highlight: Howard's first career touchdown catch was receiver or even a primary receiving option, but he did provide useful depth and a solid target for the Pack's quarterbacks. JULY 2012 ■ 109 spite missing two games with a knee injury. He added 12 receptions for 105 yards and his first career score in 2010, and then as a fifth-year senior Howard set personal bests with 16 catches for 121 yards and one more touchdown. Howard also graduated in four years and is working on his master's. Career Stats: Howard played in 49 games, starting for loss and 4.5 sacks. He led NC State's defensive line- men in hits, and he also added 13 quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups. Kuhn, who graduated from NC State in four years, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Originally from Germany, defensive lineman Markus Kuhn graduated from NC State in four years and was picked in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. PHOTO BY ERIC LUSK