The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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118 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 Returning Leaders For NC State Passing: QB Ryan Finley (3,059 yards) Rushing: RB Reggie Gallaspy II (234 yards, 2 TD) Receiving: WR Stephen Louis (678 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: LB Jerod Fernandez (88) Sacks: DE Bradley Chubb (10.5) Interceptions: LB Jerod Fernandez, S Jarius Morehead, NIC Trae Meadows, CB Mike Stevens (1) Quick Look At NC State's 2017 Schedule Returning Athlon Sports' Phil Steele's Date Team 2016 Record Starters* National Rank Power Poll — NC State 7-6 (3-5 ACC) 18 27 21 Sept. 2 South Carolina# 6-7 (3-5 SEC) 16 40 47 The Gamecocks took advantage of a soft five-game stretch coming off a bye from Oct. 22 to Nov. 19 that included non-conference tilts against Massachusetts and Western Carolina to win four times and reach bowl eligibility last year. With five sophomores and three freshmen starting on offense, they suffered a 46-39 overtime loss to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl. Sept. 9 Marshall 3-9 (2-6 CUSA) 14 107 84 Marshall head coach Doc Holliday, who was NC State's wide receivers coach from 2000-04 under Chuck Amato, had been cruising along with the Thundering Herd until last year. He had three straight 10-win seasons before 2016's 3-9 collapse. Junior quarterback Chase Litton has thrown for 5,217 yards and 47 touchdowns the last two seasons. Sept. 16 Furman 3-8 (3-5 SoCon) 10 — — New head coach Clay Hendrix, who spent a decade as an assistant coach at Air Force, played for former Paladins coach Dick Sheridan and then was part of Sheridan's staff at NC State in 1986 and 1987. The FCS member threw a scare into Michigan State last year before falling 28-13. Sept. 23 at Florida State 10-3 (5-3 ACC) 16 3 2 Redshirt sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois passed for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2016, but the loss of star running back Dalvin Cook means the offense is fully in his hands now. The return of injured sophomore safety Derwin James could spark the defense. Sept. 30 Syracuse 4-8 (2-6 ACC) 21 63 67 Junior quarterback Eric Dungey has been effective when healthy, and passed for 2,679 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. The Orange defense struggled mightily in 2016 and allowed a staggering 38.6 points per game, with the lowlight being the 76-61 loss at Pittsburgh in the season finale. Oct. 5 Louisville 9-4 (7-1 ACC) 13 18 15 Quarterback Lamar Jackson had one of the most statistically dominant campaigns in college football history and returns for his junior year. The Cardinals ended the year on a down note, however, losing three straight to Houston on the road, Kentucky at home and LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Oct. 14 at Pittsburgh 8-5 (5-3 ACC) 11 31 45 The Panthers registered a pair of big wins in 2016, defeating Penn State 42-39 and Clemson 43-42. Junior free safety Jordan Whitehead, junior wide receiver Quadree Henderson and junior power back Qadree Ollison lead the new-look squad, which could have USC graduate transfer Max Browne at quarterback. Oct. 28 at Notre Dame 4-8 17 20 16 The Fighting Irish had a disappointing season, leading head coach Brian Kelly to hire new coordina - tors for offense, defense and special teams. New starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush, a junior who redshirted last year, will get plenty of help from junior wideout Equanimeous St. Brown (58 receptions for 961 yards and nine touchdowns) and junior running back Josh Adams (933 rushing yards and five scores). Nov. 4 Clemson 14-1 (7-1 ACC) 13 7 6 The defending national champs will look decidedly different on offense, but do have some nice receivers such as juniors Hunter Renfrow, Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud. The Tigers' strength is on the defensive line where sophomore tackle Dexter Lawrence and junior tackle Christian Wilkins are projected NFL first- round picks. Nov. 11 at Boston College 7-6 (2-6 ACC) 17 70 55 Senior defensive end Harold Landry of Spring Lake, N.C., will attempt to build on last year's 16.5-sack performance. The Eagles have had a revolving door at quarterback since Chase Rettig departed in 2013, and turn to relatively untested redshirt junior Darius Wade. Nov. 18 at Wake Forest 7-6 (3-5 ACC) 16 52 60 The Demon Deacons took advantage of a favorable non-conference schedule to become bowl eligible, and then beat Temple, 34-26, in the Military Bowl. The youth movement is starting to pay off, but Wake Forest will have to figure out if senior John Wolford or junior Kendall Hinton is the answer at quarterback. Senior defensive end Duke Ejiofor, who had 10.5 sacks last year, leads the defense. Nov. 25 North Carolina 8-5 (5-3 ACC) 13 42 46 UNC will be starting over offensively after losing quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who gave up his last year of eligibility and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Tar Heels also lost two running backs and three key wide receivers. Senior cornerback M.J. Stewart is among the top returning defensive players in the ACC. * Maximum of two specialists, # Played in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium What They Are Saying About The Pack "Hines makes his second appearance on our list of the game's fastest players, returning to the Wolfpack this fall as a key member of the receiving corps. He ran his best 100-meter dash time of 10.49 in April at the Virginia Challenge meet, and clocked a 6.71 60 at the ACC Indoor Championships in February. His speed translates to special teams, as well. Hines' 24.4-yard kickoff return average ranked fourth in the league, and he broke one 100 yards for a score in the Independence Bowl against Vanderbilt." NFL.com projecting NC State junior running back Nyheim Hines as the fourth-fastest football player in college football • "I think this season is absolutely critical. The momentum has all been built for this point. They are really good all over the place and present a lot of unique challenges to opposing coaches. It's hard to predict that NC State will win that division because it is a really good division and NC State hasn't done it before. It's a really good roster, it's a manageable schedule and it is a team playing with confidence." — ESPN.com ACC writer David Hale on the Wolfpack's hopes for 2017 • "The guys in the 2014 class have been playing for a while. I think there is an 'about time' feeling. We've been through it all. We have come close and can play with guys. It is time to beat them. We are tired of hearing, 'Oh, we came close to them.' It is time to finish it off now. I feel like I'm on the same page with them." — NC State sophomore wide receiver Kelvin Harmon on helping the seniors go out as winners • "The North Carolina State Wolfpack play in the same division as three powers: Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. Penn State set the precedent last year for a team like NC State to get it done. ... I love strong defenses and they have one of the best defenisve lines in the country. I told coach Dave Doeren before I talked to him this spring that I had his team picked highly and after talking to him, I did not change my mind." — Phil Steele on having NC State's No. 12 on his list of top 13 surprise teams in the country • "Chubb has two excellent years of film at NC State and his 85.6 overall grade ranks third among returning edge defenders. He's stout against the run and he's picked up 18 sacks, 16 QB hits and 54 hurries on his 677 rushes over the last two years, and he's poised to take yet another step forward in 2017." — Pro Football Focus on projecting senior defensive end Bradley Chubb to go No. 14 to New Orleans in the 2018 NFL Draft PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN