The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TEAM OVERVIEW FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State has a window of op- portunity for a special season thanks to an unusually large group of seniors. The Wolfpack will feature 14 recruited scholarship seniors, including four fifth-year players, which have helped the program reach three straight bowl games. Many of them were thrown into the fire as freshmen and have been hardened by the battles over the last three years. There is a general sense from many of the senior leaders that "this is it." NC State's class of 2014 was ranked No. 30 nationally by Rivals.com and was the first full group fifth-year head coach Dave Doeren had signed. Twenty-two of the 31 signees remain with the Pack, 10 of whom are seniors. Four members from the class of 2013 also remain, and two gradu- ate transfers add to the experience level — incumbent quarterback Ryan Finley and new potential kicker Carson Wise, who are both redshirt juniors. The early recruiting success has always pointed toward the 2017 season as being a breakthrough year, with the only remain- ing question mark being the quarterback position. Finley helped alleviate that con- cern last year, when he became the starter under center. He edged out classmate Jalan McClendon and went on to complete 60.4 percent of his passes for 3,059 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Mc- Clendon often played in short-yardage situ- ations to provide a running threat, and con- tributed 145 rushing yards and two scores. With the quarterback situation solidified, the optimism has continued to climb this spring. The feeling around the program is that another 7-6 campaign and bowl berth isn't enough for this hungry group of seniors. "It's a lot different, and not to take away from other teams, but when you have 22 seniors, [including walk-ons] and a bunch of them are starters and have a lot of valu- able game experience, it's just different," Doeren said. "You can't plug that in. There are a lot invested in those guys." New coaches always need that founda- tion class that can be counted up to help turn around a program. Sometimes it is the first full recruiting class, partly because of the old saying: "It is easier to recruit when you haven't lost a game." That was proven true for previous head coach Tom O'Brien, who had his signature class in 2008, which was built around four- star quarterback Mike Glennon plus a cadre of linebackers and offensive linemen. Doeren's 2014 class could provide this year's squad with 15 starters, plus punter A.J. Cole and some other valuable reserves. "You are always asked what do you think of your recruiting class and you really can't answer it until they get on the field for a while," Doeren said. "I would say that is a very good class. You look at the seniors, [they] have grown up and developed, and not just physically, but the maturity they have in the way they practice." Senior H-back Jaylen Samuels has proven to be one of the standouts from that class of 2014. Rivals.com ranked him as a three- star prospect and he rejected overtures from North Carolina to remain committed to the Wolfpack. Samuels has lived through the ups and downs the last three years, and he feels the team has learned from past mistakes. "It is time to make a change," Samuels said. "This is the last year and the last time UNFINISHED BUSINESS NC State's Seniors Are Striving To Have A Breakout Season Dave Doeren's squad boasts 11 returning senior starters — the most at NCSU in at least 25 years. The head coach had 16 such players in his first four years. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 2017 NC State Football Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Sept. 2 vs. South Carolina* (ESPN) 3 p.m. Sept. 9 Marshall (ACCN Extra) 6 p.m. Sept. 16 Furman (ACCN) 12:20 p.m. Sept. 23 at Florida State TBA Sept. 30 Syracuse TBA Oct. 5 Louisville (ESPN) 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Pittsburgh TBA Oct. 28 at Notre Dame (NBC) TBA Nov. 4 Clemson TBA Nov. 11 at Boston College TBA Nov. 18 at Wake Forest TBA Nov. 25 North Carolina TBA * at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte