The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Slay stepped into his place. When injuries shortened the depth at defensive end, Slay moved outside and manned one spot. He started all 12 games he played last year and has been a mainstay in the de- fensive line rotation since his sophomore season. 14. OG Zach Allen He may not protect Glennon's blindside like Mattes or handle the important snap- ping duties like Wentz, but Allen, a fifth- year senior, played more snaps than anyone on NC State's roster in 2011. He is about to enter his third season as a starter and has started the last 26 games in a row. He gave up just two sacks, both against Cincinnati, last year. 15. CB C.J. Wilson The fifth-year senior has established himself as a playmaker on defense. He has three career interceptions, and impressively Wilson has returned all three for touch- downs. With Amerson set at one corner, Wilson heads into preseason camp leading the battle to start at the other corner, a po- tentially busy spot on the defense. He has 29 career starts to his credit. 16. DT Thomas Teal In his first career game, the redshirt Fifth-year senior right guard Zach Allen has started 26 consecutive games, and he played more snaps than anyone on NC State's roster last season. PHOTO BY ERIC LUSK Five Newcomers To Watch inevitably be newcomers making impressive debuts this fall like redshirt sophomore defensive end Art Norman did last season. Here are five names that may be new to Wolfpack fans, but that have the potential to be on the postseason top 25. 1. Defensive end Forrest West The Colorado transfer sat out last season per NCAA rules. Defensive line coach Keith Willis said that the redshirt junior had the most impact of any defensive end during spring practices. West posted 5.5 sacks as a sophomore at Colorado. 2. Defensive tackle Carlos Gray Coaches have raved about Gray's potential, with Willis calling the redshirt freshman a "man-child." The depth It's always tough to predict the top 25 players on the football team in the preseason, especially since there will sophomore played 15 snaps against Lib- erty. In that limited playing time he had a quarterback pressure and a sack and quickly showed why coaches are excited about his future. Unfortunately, he broke his foot that game and missed the next six contests. Teal came back for the final five games of the year and posted 10 tackles, includ- ing 1.5 for loss, and a forced fumble. He is expected to start this season and plug up the middle with his 6-2, 315-pound frame. 17. DT T.Y. McGill When redshirt junior tight end Asa Wat- chart is stacked with young talent at defensive tackle, but Gray may be able to find his way onto the field quickly. 3. Wide receiver Hakeem Flowers NC State offensive coordinator Dana Bible strongly hinted that both Flowers and his fellow redshirt freshman Maurice Morgan will play this fall at receiver. Fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Glennon also said that Flowers may have the most potential of any receiver on the roster. 4. Linebacker Robert Caldwell The junior college transfer with three years to play two at State missed spring drills, which would have given him a better chance of playing right away. Still, with the question marks at linebacker, Caldwell has a chance to make a contribution. 5. Defensive tackle Deylan Buntyn Buntyn, like Caldwell a junior college transfer with three years to play two, quickly found his way onto the two- — Matt Carter son had a highlight-worthy 74-yard catch and run in the Kay Yow Spring Game, somewhat lost in that play was another impressive effort. That was the 298-pound McGill running down Watson from behind to make the tackle at the 1-yard line. McGill, a sophomore, was an early rev- elation from the 2011 recruiting class. As a true freshman last year he had 19 tackles, including one for loss, while playing all 13 games. McGill is expected to move into a full-time starting role this fall. deep during spring drills. He may be the strongest defensive tackle on the roster, and Willis noted that with a little bit of a meaner attitude Buntyn could find himself in the rotation at the position this fall. 94 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 18. LB Rodman Noel Among the candidates to fill in at line- backer, Noel may be the most intriguing.