The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW with offensive line) Returning Starters: LT R.J. Mattes (30 career ||||||| QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Jim Bridge (6th season, 2nd starts), RG Zach Allen (26), C Camden Wentz (26) and LG Duran Christophe (13) Starter Lost: RT Mikel Overgaard (15) Projected Starters: LT Mattes, LG Andrew season, and then played through pain down the stretch last year. The 6-6, 313-pounder allowed four sacks Wallace (14), C Wentz, RG Allen and RT Robert Crisp (3) Top Reserve: Christophe Waiting Their Turn: OT Tyson Chandler, OG No. 2 in the ACC … Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview ranked the offensive line unit No. 4 in the ACC and No. 20 in the nation … Phil Steele's ranked senior Camden Wentz as the No. 21 center in the country, and selected him to third-team All-ACC … Fifth-year senior R.J. Mattes was listed as the No. 15 tackle in the land and third-team All-ACC by Phil Steele's, while junior Robert Crisp was tabbed as the No. 43 tackle in the nation … Lindy's selected Mattes and fifth-year senior Zach Allen second-team All-ACC, and Wentz was picked third-team all-league … Athlon named Wentz and Mattes second-team All- ACC on the offensive line … Redshirt sophomore Cameron Fordham transferred from LSU to NC State, and the NCAA granted a waiver a few games into the season … Fordham, a center from Duluth (Ga.) Northview High, played 27 snaps in two games last season, including 22 against Louisville in the Belk Bowl … Rivals.com ranked Fordham as a three-star prospect, the No. 37 tight end in the class of 2010 and the No. 66 player in Georgia … Alex Barr and Joe Thuney, both Rivals.com three-star recruits coming out of high school, redshirted last year … Barr origi- nally committed to Vanderbilt before switching to NC State following the Commodores' coaching transition … Thuney helped lead Archbishop Alter High in Cen- treville, Ohio, to two D4 state titles, and they went 11-3 and reached the semifinals his senior year … Freshmen Eddie Gordon, Bryce Kennedy and Quincy McKinney were all Rivals.com three-star prospects, and John Tu'uta was a two-star recruit … Rivals.com ranked Gordon, who picked NC State over East Carolina, as the No. 25 player in South Carolina in the class of 2012 … Kennedy, who enrolled early at NC State for the second semester, originally picked North Carolina but switched to NC State in late December … Rivals.com ranked Kennedy, a Shrine Bowl selec- tion, as the No. 23 player in North Carolina and the No. 26 guard in the country … McKinney was slated to attend South Carolina, but needed a post-graduate year at Fork Union (Va.) Military Year to become academically qualified … Rivals.com listed McKinney as the No. 13 prep school player in the nation, after he was ranked as the No. 62 prospect in Georgia and the No. 61 offensive tackle in the country in the class of 2011 … Tu'uta was on the Fork Union prep team and picked NC State over Akron. ated) FYI: Athlon projected the Pack offensive line group 60 ■ THE WOLFPACKER nedy, OG Quincy McKinney and OL John Tu'uta Moved In: None Moved Out: None Other Departures: C Wayne Crawford (gradu- in 823 plays while protecting Glennon's blind side in 2011. Mattes' background at play- ing multiple positions on the line could pay off in helping him extend his playing career professionally. "R.J. is an extremely talented, physical Cameron Fordham, OT Andy Jomantas, OT Alex Barr and C Joe Thuney Newcomers: OL Eddie Gordon, C Bryce Ken- ball player," Bridge said. "R.J.'s versatility is one of his biggest strengths. That left tackle position is a dance partner with a really good defensive end. R.J.'s approach is that his play is from a violent standpoint. He is so physical, so tough and so nasty, and yet he is so smart. He can dance and fight at the same time." Mattes' competitive drive helps fuel his teammates and the offense. His father, Ron Mattes, played defensive tackle at Virginia when O'Brien was coaching the offensive line for the Cavaliers. Ron Mattes then switched to playing the offensive line, and did so in the NFL. "There are very few with R.J.'s single-mindedness on what his goals, dreams and vision are," Bridge said. "That stems from his fam- ily with his father playing offensive line in the Na- tional Football League. R.J. worked with his father from a young age on. R.J.'s goals and visions are definitely attainable." Mattes' advanced back- "Here is a guy in the bowl game last year with an ankle the size of a pumpkin standing on the sideline cheering on his teammates," Bridge said. "It absolutely crushed him to not be in there, but he wasn't going to leave the sideline. He stood next to me watching what was going on." Wentz's football knowledge also pays off for the Wolfpack offense. "We ask Cam to get us all on the same sheet of music," Bridge said. "He really has a tremendous understanding of what we need and who we need to block every play. He gets all five guys going in the right direction. He could play all five positions mentally on the offensive line." The 6-3, 328-pound Allen has started the last two years and has earned raves from his teammates for his desire to play physical in the trenches and get the offense fired up. "Zach is like the quiet as- sassin," Allen said. "He is probably our most violent guy. Zach is one of those guys that loves to play the game. I've seen very few players play with a smile as much as I've seen Zach smile when he plays. He seems to really enjoy the game, especially on Satur- days." Allen allowed two sacks After seeing action at right guard and right tackle, fifth-year senior R.J. Mattes moved to left tackle and protected quarterback Mike Glennon's blind side in 2011. PHOTO BY ERIC LUSK ground helped him secure a spot early in his career, and he'll be a four-year starter for the Wolfpack. "R.J. knew a lot of the solutions to the problems before he arrived," Bridge said. "He was 'home-schooled' in a way." The 6-3, 301-pound Wentz has started the last two years and handles the line calls for the group. He didn't allow a sack last year and has surrendered just one in 1,930 career plays, spanning 31 games. "You always like tough, athletic, big smart guys to play the offensive line, and Cam is certainly that," Bridge said. "To be able to do what we do from a mental standpoint as a true freshman at the center position is incred- ible. He did it without letting the thinking paralyze him. Cam leads by his play and his toughness." Wentz scored points with his teammates and coaches during the Belk Bowl win over Louisville by his actions on the sideline after he got injured. Wayne Crawford and LSU transfer Cameron Fordham filled in for him. in 916 plays last year, and just six in 2,092 career snaps. Bridge believes Al- len is the strongest offensive lineman on the team. "His physical component is exceptional," Bridge said. The 6-7, 312-pound Crisp rotated with Mikel Overgaard at right tackle last year, and he managed a pair of starts when Mattes was slowed by injury against Boston Col- lege, and then in the Belk Bowl when Over- gaard moved to guard to replace an injured Christophe. Rivals.com ranked Crisp as a five-star re- cruit, the No. 2 tackle in the class of 2010 and the No. 13 overall prospect in the country. He has allowed one sack in 535 career plays over 26 games played at NC State. "Rob, in the last eight months, has really figured out who he is as a football player," Bridge said. "His growth from the second half of the season through the bowl game was through the roof. He's physical and athletic, and he's starting to play with a chip on his shoulder." Crisp was an accomplished basketball player at Chapel Hill (N.C.) High before giv- ing up the sport and eventually transferring to Raleigh Athens Drive High. His footwork