The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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defense with two recent additions, as well. Noel, a 6-3, 206-pound sophomore, was moved from safety in the spring, and junior college transfer Robert Caldwell joined the team midway through fall camp. The prod- uct of College of the Desert got a late jump on his teammates and couldn't start with the team on the first day of practice, but was cleared on Aug. 8 and already looks the part, checking in at 6-3 and more than 235 pounds. "When [former linebacker Terrell] Man- ning left, we certainly looked for someone with experience, someone a little older with a little more maturity, to come in and help us," O'Brien explained. "He's a big body and seems to move good. He's really got to learn. That's the thing I think is the tough- est right now for him — all the learning he has to do." Meanwhile, Noel is making the transi- tion that Green successfully made last sea- son en route to starting seven of the team's first eight games, before a foot injury ended his campaign. Noel did appear in 11 games last year, and all of his snaps came on spe- cial teams, but he thinks that game experi- ence is a plus going forward. "It's going well," he said. "I just have to get in the playbook and get better every day. All of the linebackers are helping me, and we help each other. I think [last year] will help me because I know what to ex- pect in a game, I know how a game can be towards the end and experience will never hurt. "I'm open to anything that will help this team win. I'm going to do it if it helps." The linebacker corps is rounded out Junior college transfer Robert Caldwell did not join the Wolfpack until midway through fall camp, but he could still be thrust into a prominent role this fall due to the uncertainty at the position. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN really going to pay off this year. It helped me 100 percent on the field, I feel like a to- tally different player out there. Everything is faster now, I can make calls and I can help the guys behind me, the guys in front of me and the guys beside me." Dowdy has just one snap from scrim- mage under his belt — a play that came against Western Carolina in the 2010 sea- son opener. Since he is one of the older guys, he is trying to help provide leadership behind Lucas, and the 6-2, 240-pounder is confident based on what he saw at pre- season camp. "We've come out here every day, gotten better and competed during practice," he said. "Once the season gets here, we know 36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER what we need to do to take care of business. We're working together as a unit. When we see each other mess up, we give encourage- ment and tell each other what's right and what's wrong. "I'm feeling good about the upcoming season. We've worked hard and prepared for the season, so we're ready." According to O'Brien, Dowdy is one of the players that he is expecting to step up in 2012. "He's been around in the program and he had a really good spring," the coach noted. "I think he has improved himself in camp, and we certainly need him to come through for us this fall." The Pack has bolstered the middle of its with redshirt junior Ryan Cheek (6-1, 231 pounds), redshirt junior Zach Gentry (6-0, 227 pounds) and sophomore Bran- don Pittman (6-3, 216 pounds). State also added a pair of true freshmen at the posi- tion in Drew Davis, a 6-3, 230-pounder from Raleigh, and M.J. Salahuddin, a 6-2, 192-pounder from Fayetteville. If the rookies are viewed as contributors by the coaches, they'll see the field, just like Peek, Noel and Pittman did last year. In addition to a veteran group of coaches, O'Brien is hoping that the defensive line can help the linebackers give the Pack a formidable front seven. "The guys up front have to be better," O'Brien noted. "There's experience there, and I think there's enough depth there that we can get through and help [the line- backers] out a lot, especially in the pass- ing game — getting after the quarterback without blitzing linebackers. "Certainly there are some kids that have to step up and make plays, but that's what happens in college football." ■