The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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and adding four touchdowns. He was named second- team All-ACC following the season. Surprisingly, Spencer went undrafted, but he signed a yards and 15 touchdowns. He is tied for seventh with classmate Bryan on the all-time receptions list at NC State. Spencer is third all-time at NCSU in receiving yards and tied for sixth in touchdown catches. His 19.4 yards-per-catch average is a full yard more than Elijah Marshall for the highest figure among NC State wideouts with a minimum of 35 catches. Highlight: Spencer proved repeatedly during his four- free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was released during training camp and picked up by the Seattle Seahawks for their practice squad. He would eventually also spend time on the Vikings, Lions and Browns practice squads last year. Career Stats: Spencer caught 126 passes for 2,441 year career that he could get open deep (he caught seven passes of at least 50 yards in his career). Twice against archrival UNC at Carter-Finley Stadium in the 2009 season finale Spencer burned the Carolina second- ary on a vertical pass play. The first was for a 56-yard summer camp in 2006, Sweezy had offers from East Carolina and James Madison. The Pack coaches liked what they saw ,and NC State joined that list. Sweezy committed to NCSU later that summer. The biggest question about Sweezy was where to Career Summary: Before showing up at NC State's play him. He played linebacker in high school, but was recruited to play defensive end. He was named the Scout Team Player of the Year on defense while redshirting at that position in 2007. In the spring of 2008, State tried to see if Sweezy could an injury, his fractured foot during the 2011 preseason. That injury slowed Sweezy throughout the year and prevented him from repeating his dominating junior campaign. Nevertheless, he is another two star in this class that made a significant impact at NC State and was later drafted. stand up and play linebacker. By the fall though he was back at defensive end, where he played sparingly as a re- serve. A switch to defensive tackle the following season found Sweezy a permanent home. He got into the rotation in 2009 and made 17 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks. In 2010, he started all 10 games he played and made 46 tackles, including 13 for loss and six sacks, and added six quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He was named honorable mention All-ACC. Sweezy was expected to be one of the top defensive NC State, Bryan ended his career as a three-time all-conference honoree. 3. Audie Cole — The former high school quarterback and was a staple in NC State's offense for three years. Spencer was one of the best deep threats in school history and finished his career as a well-rounded wideout. 5. Jake Vermiglio — He protected the blind side of the boxer developed into a force and potential future pro at line- backer. Cole led the Pack in tackles for three straight seasons. 4. Owen Spencer — The Wilson-to-Spencer vertical pass NC State wideout with a minimum of 35 catches. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN touchdown that trimmed the Heels' lead to 24-21 in the third quarter. The second was a 38-yard scoring haul that proved the final score in a 28-27 NC State upset over No. 24 UNC, providing a sweet ending to what had been a difficult season for the Wolfpack. Final Analysis: While Smith may have been a recruit that was overrated by recruiting services and college scouts, Spencer was clearly underrated. NC State and Virginia Tech were his only offers, and he was listed as a two-star recruit. Four years later, he was an all-confer- ence performer who earned an invite to participate in the NFL Draft Combine. ville, N.C. Rivals.com Ranking: Two stars NC State Recruiter: Former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Steve Dunlap J.R. SWEEZY Defensive Tackle High School/Hometown: Mooresville High/Moores- 112 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Owen Spencer caught 126 passes for 2,441 yards and 15 scores, ranking in the top 10 in school his- tory in all three categories, and his average of 19.4 yards per catch is a full yard more than any other linemen in the ACC in 2011, but a preseason broken foot set him back. He ended up making seven starts and playing nine games, piling up 22 tackles, including four for loss and a pair of sacks. Sweezy was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 20 starts. He had 86 tackles, including 65 solo hits, 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He also had 35 quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Highlight: Sweezy played the game of his life at Clem- seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and the Seahawks are going to try Sweezy on the offensive line. Career Stats: Sweezy played in 35 games, making earn first-team All-ACC honors at quarterback, and he ended his career on the list of greatest quarterbacks in Wolfpack history. 2. George Bryan — The most productive tight end ever at 1. Russell Wilson — First-ever freshman in ACC history to Top Five Players CURTIS UNDERWOOD Running Back High School/Hometown: Lackawanna High/Lacka- wanna, N.Y. Rivals.com Ranking: Three stars NC State Recruiter: Former running backs coach Jason Swepson Career Summary: Like Kuhn, Underwood did a rare redshirt during what would have been his junior season, and like Ruiz, Underwood returned to NC State after exploring transfer options. Underwood was a late addition to the 2007 class after the new staff decided they needed another running back on the roster. He played in six games as a true freshman, rushing 19 times for 84 yards and catching an eight-yard pass. He added 32 carries for 116 yards and a score and four receptions for 28 yards in 2008. Both years he was the third running back in the rotation. While he sat out in 2009, Underwood was the Scout Team Player of the Year for the offense. He was expected to compete for a starting job in 2010, but instead he saw the most limited playing time of his career, rush- ing just 15 times for 62 yards and catching a 12-yard touchdown pass. He announced his intentions to transfer following the season, but when Mustafa Greene, who emerged as a po- tential feature back with a promising freshman campaign in 2010, broke his foot in the spring of 2011, and Dean Haynes, a top reserve in 2010, moved to the secondary, Underwood asked if he could return. He would play nine games last fall, rushing 51 times for quarterback for the bulk of three years after getting playing time as a true freshman, and did a good job. never started. He ran 117 times for 516 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 91 yards and two scores. Highlight: In the season opener of the 2011 season, Underwood notched his first and only career 100-yard rushing game, running 14 times for 114 yards and a touchdown in the win over Liberty. Final Analysis: Underwood never developed into a 254 yards and a touchdown. He also caught five passes for 43 yards and another score, but his playing time de- creased as the season progressed and redshirt freshman Tony Creecy began to emerge in the halfback rotation. Career Stats: Underwood played in 38 games but feature back, but he was signed to provide depth to the running back position. At a minimum Underwood was able to provide that. Berlin, N.Y./Rochester, Mich. Rivals.com Ranking: Three stars NC State Recruiter: Former tight ends coach Don JAKE VERMIGLIO Offensive Tackle Prep School/Hometown: Milford Academy in New son in 2010. He notched 10 tackles, seven of them solo, with four for loss and two for sacks. He also forced a fumble and added two quarterback hurries. He was named the Co-Defensive Lineman Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Awards. Final Analysis: Sweezy was another success story, who could have been even better had it not been for Western Michigan in 2006 but decided to prep at Milford Academy that fall instead and try to increase his recruit- ing profile. The move worked when the new staff arrived at NC State and began looking for offensive linemen. Vermiglio was the first offensive lineman to commit to O'Brien, who has been noted for his strong offensive lines throughout his coaching career, especially at Boston Horton Career Summary: Vermiglio verbally committed to