The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/759726
10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER I am so excited for the opportunity to play in Louisiana at the Camping World Independence Bowl. The game allows our team to face a great opponent from another Power Five conference, and we look forward to the great matchup a g a i n s t Va n d e r b i l t from the Southeastern Conference. A bowl game is a great reward for our p l a y e r s w h o h ave w o r k e d ex t r e m e l y hard this year. It's also a very important time in the development of our program, as the extra practices we are allowed to conduct not only prepare us for the game, but they help us develop our younger players for next sea- son. We dedicated our first five practices to our younger guys — starting from the be- ginning and covering the basics for both our redshirts and guys who didn't play much this season. It has been great to see how much these young men have improved since their arrival this summer. I am very proud of the work they have put in, both in the weight room and on the field, and I am very excited for their progression. On Dec. 11, we held our annual awards ceremony where we recognized the team's top performers. We have a lot to cel- ebrate this year, and our players deserve to be recognized for their great efforts and performances. This is a busy time for us. We'll finish up December recruit- ing and then begin to game plan for Vander- bilt. Right now, re- cruiting is the most important thing to our program. We have a few months left until we can sign this class, and we still have a few more holes to fill. I have a great staff that loves to recruit, and I am confident that we will finish strong. I cannot wait to get back on the field and start working with the team to beat Vander- bilt and bring home another win for our fans. It will be a great opportunity for us and I am excited to finish the season strong. 1Pack1Goal, Coach Doeren ■ From Head Football Coach Dave Doeren 2016 NC State Football Award Winners Governor's Award — Team Most Valuable Player — Matthew Dayes Torry Holt Award — Offensive Most Valuable Player — Matthew Dayes Mario Williams Award — Defensive Most Valuable Player — Bradley Chubb Special Teams Most Valuable Player — Dravious Wright Ted Brown Award — Offensive Back of the Year — Matthew Dayes Gary Rowe Award — Receiver of the Year — Stephen Louis Jim Ritcher Award — Offensive Lineman of the Year — Joe Scelfo Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year — Brock Miller Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year — Will Eason Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year — Johnathan Alston Dewayne Washington Award — Defensive Back of the Year — Josh Jones Bill Cowher Award — Linebacker of the Year — Airius Moore Carey Brewbaker Award — Defensive Lineman of the Year — Bradley Chubb Philip Rivers Award — Freshman of the Year — Kelvin Harmon Alpha Rising Award — Most Improved Player — Terronne "Big T" Prescod Michael J. Hardy Award — Winning Attitude — Josh Sessoms Bo Rein Award — Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role — B.J. Hill and Jalan McClendon Bob Warren Award — Exemplifies Integrity & Sportsmanship — Nicholas Lacy and Jack Tocho Al Michaels Award — Team Before Self — Cole Cook Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award — Returning from Injury — Matthew Dayes and Stephen Louis Earle Edwards Award — Highest Scholastic Average — Garrett Bradbury Community Service Award — A.J. Cole Wolfpack Spirit Award — Special Supporter of the Program — Wayne "Smoke" Hubert