The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
138 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS postseason batting average ranked 13th among all players while his pair of stolen bases tied for third and five runs tied for eighth. On Sept. 30, Turner was named a final- ist for the National League Rookie of the Year honor, although he was unlikely to win it because of the late call-up. Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who played in 157 games and logged 627 at-bats, is considered the favorite for the award. Still, that doesn't take anything away from what the rookie did in his short time with the Nationals. "Turner has stunned baseball," The Wash- ington Post's Thomas Bowell noted Oct. 4. "His speed was known; he's one of the two fastest men in the game, with Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton. What wasn't expected: Turner was a complete player who crushed the ball, hit a 451-foot home run, rarely stooped to bunt and lashed line drives to all fields. His instincts were so true that he switched, in weeks, from a minor league shortstop to a quickly improving center fielder because that suited the Nationals' needs." Teammate Jayson Werth told Boswell that Turner "is one of the best players in baseball and one of the most revered play- ers in this clubhouse." Fellow National Clint Robinson added: "If he keeps playing like he has since he came up this year, he'll be one of the best you've ever seen. It won't be, 'Who is he like?' People will be compared to him." That is already guaranteed to happen in Raleigh for many years to come. The base- ball world may be surprised, but nobody who watched much NC State baseball from 2012-14 is in shock about Turner's rookie performance — they may be about what position he is doing it at, but he's just doing the same things that made him such a fan favorite at NCSU on a bigger stage now. NFL Player Updates Through Oct. 24 • David Amerson (Played at NC State from 2010‑12), CB, Oakland Raiders: Has started for the 5-2 Oakland Raiders and notched 33 tackles with 11 passes broken up and two interceptions … His 13 passes defended ranked second in the NFL. • Jacoby Brissett (2014‑15), QB, New Eng‑ land Patriots: Played in three games for the 6-1 Patriots when starter Tom Brady began the season with a four-game suspension, starting twice … Became the first African-American quarterback to start for the club, and was also the franchise's first rookie to start under center since 1993 … Completed 34 of 55 passes for 400 yards and rushed 16 times for 83 yards and a score before landing on injured reserve due to a thumb injury. • Juston Burris (2012‑15), CB, New York Jets: Has appeared in seven games off the bench for the 2-5 Jets, totaling 10 tackles and one pass broken up. • Audie Cole (2008‑11), LB, Minnesota Vikings: Notched three stops in the first six games for the 5-1 Vikings. • Mike Glennon (2011‑12), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Has not played this year for the 3-3 Buccaneers. • Steven Hauschka (2007), K, Seattle Se ‑ ahawks: Converted 12 of 14 field goals and 9 of 11 extra points for 4-1-1 Seattle … Had a long of 53 yards and was tied for 14th in the league with an average of 7.5 points per game. • Dontae Johnson (2010‑13), CB, San Fran‑ cisco 49ers: Saw action in all seven games for the 1-6 49ers … Notched five stops and one pass broken up. • Ted Larsen (2006‑09), OL, Chicago Bears: Has appeared in all seven games off the bench for the 1-6 Bears. • T.Y. McGill (2011‑14), DT, Indianapolis Colts: Played in four games for the 3-4 Colts with two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble … Helped clinch a week seven win by beating a double-team and causing a fumble on his sack of the Titans' Marcus Mariota, which was returned for a touchdown with less than two minutes left in a 34-26 win. • Philip Rivers (2000‑03), QB, San Diego Chargers: In seven starts for the 3-4 Chargers, was 162-of-245 passing (66.1 percent) for 2,018 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions … Registered a passer rating of 102.4, which ranked sixth in the NFL … Also ranked fifth in passing yards, sixth in passing touchdowns and 12th in completion percentage. • J.R. Sweezy (2009‑11), OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Started the season on the physically unable to perform list and has not played yet after an offseason surgery for a herniated disk. • Joe Thuney (2012‑15), OG, New England Patriots: Has started every game at left guard for the 6-1 Pats … Was named the best rookie guard in the league after week five by Pro Football Focus. • Stephen Tulloch (2003‑05), LB, Philadel ‑ phia Eagles: Has appeared in six contests for the 4-2 Eagles, logging five tackles. • Mario Williams (2003‑05), DE, Miami Dolphins: Has started five games and played all seven for the 3-4 Dolphins … Notched 10 tackles, one sack and a pass deflection. • Russell Wilson (2008‑10), QB, Seattle Seahawks: Through six starts for the 4-1-1 Se - ahawks, has completed 136 of 207 throws (65.7 per- cent) for 1,559 yards with five touchdowns and just one pick … Has a passer rating of 94.3, which ranked 15th in the league, and also has rushed 22 times for 33 yards. • Willie Young (2006‑09), DE/LB, Chicago Bears: Has started three times and played in every contest for the 1-6 Bears … Was tied for sixth in the league with 6.0 sacks … Has totaled 20 tackles, a forced fumble and a pass deflection. ■ ■ They Said It • "The Patriots' third-round draft choice out of NC State [78th overall] has played every snap this season and has been one of the team's more consistent performers. … He was inserted as the top left guard from day one of spring practices and hasn't been moved off the spot." — ESPN.com's Mike Reiss on former Wolfpacker Joe Thuney • "[After the Seahawks' win Oct. 16], it was abundantly clear that the world's best quarterback under the age of 30 is a 5-foot-10 5/8-inch wizard with a preternaturally low pulse rate impervious to pressure. … Wilson is the master of his domain, well on his way to becoming the No. 1 performer at the sports world's most demanding position … "If I'm starting a franchise and get to take any player, as is … I'll take the 27-year-old Wilson, whose maturity and worth ethic are the stuff of legend, and take my chances." — NFL.com columnist Michael Silver on Russell Wilson ■ BY THE NUMBERS 1 Former Wolfpack players that made an NBA ros- ter at the open of the regular season — third-year forward T.J. Warren, who is expected to start for the Phoenix Suns. 7 Strikeouts in a row were posted by Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon to open his Sept. 30 start against the Twins, which tied a 30-year-old American League record. He finished the season 9-10 with 168 strikeouts in 165 innings, but was much better in the second half of the sea - son after getting healthy. 14 Is where New England Patriots rookie left guard Joe Thuney checked in on NFL.com's Rookie Rank- ings of the top 25 first-year players Oct. 5. 36 Passes defended by Oakland Raiders cornerback DAVID AMERSON since the start of the 2015 season through Oct. 24, 2016 — nobody in the NFL had more during that time period. PHOTO COURTESY OAKLAND RAIDERS