The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ated) D.J. Green (7, suspended) and Terrell Manning (26) Projected Starters: Rickey Dowdy, Sterling Lucas (2) and Rodman Noel Top Reserves: Robert Caldwell, Ryan Cheek, Michael Peek and Brandon Pittman Waiting His Turn: Zach Gentry Newcomers: Caldwell, Drew Davis and M.J. Salahuddin Moved In: Rodman Noel from S Moved Out: Hakim Jones to S Other Departures: Dwayne Maddox (gradu- ||||||| QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Jon Tenuta (3rd season) Returning Starters: None Starters Lost: Audie Cole (38 career starts), Athlon Sports College Football tabbed the Pack as the No. 12 unit in the conference … Lindy's College Foot- ball named junior college transfer Robert Caldwell, a junior, NC State's "top newcomer" … Fifth-year senior Sterling Lucas' 14 tackles against Virginia Tech in 2009 marked the most for any Wolfpack de- fender for a single game that season … Sophomore Rodman Noel's older brother Jim is a defensive back at Boston College, and his younger brother Nerlens signed to play basketball this year for Ken- tucky … Redshirt junior Ryan Cheek's high school coach at Lancaster was Rob Carpenter, father of 2006 first-round NFL Draft choice and former Ohio State All-American Bobby Carpenter … Se- nior Zach Gentry's younger sister Caroline Gentry will continue the family tradition of playing sports at NC State, having signed to play soccer for the Pack next season … Freshman Drew Davis was a three-time all-conference selection and made more than 150 tackles as a senior en route to his league's co-Defensive Player of the Year honors … Fresh- man M.J. Salahuddin was listed by Rivals.com as the No. 29 player from the state of North Carolina in the 2012 class after recording 110 tackles, three sacks, a safety, eight passes broken up, two picks (one of which he returned for a score) and a forced fumble as a senior … Salahuddin also played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game and was named first-team all-state by NCPreps.com. FYI: Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview and 93 tackles, including 19.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also had two passes broken up, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Super- Prep listed Caldwell as the No. 42 junior college prospect in the country. "He's a guy that has played college foot- ball at a different level, so obviously he probably knows a little bit more than an incoming freshman — but since he didn't go through spring ball, when he comes here how fast can he get himself to 100 percent of what we do defensively? And then once we get out there in camp, the speed of the game and what's going to happen," Tenuta said. "You've got to be excited about a guy that's had some PT at another level, but how fast he can transition to what we're doing?" Also signing on to play for NC State were Drew Davis, a 6-3, 230-pounder from 76 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Sophomore Rodman Noel, a converted safety, was limited to special teams duty in 2011, but he flashed his potential during spring practices. Raleigh Broughton High, and M.J. Sala- huddin, a 6-2, 192-pounder from Jack Britt High in Fayetteville, N.C. Salahuddin, who was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game, was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. Davis, a one-time Minnesota commitment, was pegged as a two-star prospect. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN group and see what's up, that's how fast they'll grow." All three, however, will have to catch up to those that went through spring practice. "There are some things guys do well, [some things] guys don't do well," Tenuta stated. "We've got to get that together, and then we've got to take the three new guys He's gone. Now it's Audie Cole and Terrell Manning. They're gone. We've got to take what we have and build them." ■ Linebackers coach Jon Tenuta "You lose a guy like Nate Irving, you can't change it. "Anytime you come in as a true fresh- man, it's how fast can you keep up with the guys that have already been here and the speed of the game," Tenuta said. "You just make sure, physically can they handle the pounding and mentally is it too much for them? Those guys, once they fit in the and see are they better than the ones that we have here. That's how I look at it." A confident Tenuta is optimistic he and his unit will be up for the challenge. "I'm always comfortable," Tenuta said. "I enjoy coaching and watching kids grow. We'll see what we got." ■