The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916614
JANUARY 2018 ■ 9 It's been a busy month since the season ended. The staff has been on the road recruit- ing, our players had final exams and of course we were all getting ready to head to El Paso for the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Finishing the season with a win over UNC gave us great momentum on the recruiting trail and for when we began our bowl prep. We're very excited about the opportunity. The Sun Bowl is the nation's second-longest run- ning bowl, and they are second to none when it comes to tradition and the hospitality for visiting teams. We set out west on Christmas Day and face a strong Arizona State team four days later. The week after the regular season ended, we held our annual awards banquet. The team votes on our award winners each year, and the awards are more meaningful because they are a vote of confidence from their peers. ■ From Head Football Coach Dave Doeren Happy Holidays, Wolfpack Nation! I spent the better part of a week traveling with Bradley Chubb to various award cel- ebrations. We were in Charlotte for the ACC Legends Dinner, where he was honored as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, the second in school history. The only other, linebacker Levar Fisher in 2000, was honored at the event as this year's Wolfpack legend. A few days later, we were back in Charlotte for the Black Tie Bronko Nagurski Trophy presentation, where Bradley beat out four other players for National Defensive Player of the Year. After that, we flew to Atlanta for the ESPN Home Depot Awards Show, where he was a finalist for the Bednarik Award. Our coaches have been relentless on the recruiting trail since the season ended while gearing up for the early signing day, Dec. 20. This is the first time we've had the early sign- ing day, and I'm excited about the members of #Pack18 announced that day. It's like an early Christmas present for Wolfpack football! Our team is determined to send our 20 se- niors out with a win in their last game. This senior class has now qualified for four straight bowl games. We've been stressing the impor- tance of FINISHING with the team leading into the Sun Bowl. I hope your holidays are filled with family and joy. Thank you for everything you do for us! 1Pack1Goal, Coach Doeren 2017 NC State Football Award Winners Governors Award — Team Most Valuable Player: Bradley Chubb Torry Holt Award — Offensive Most Valuable Players: Jaylen Samuels and Ryan Finley Mario Williams Award — Defensive Most Valuable Player: Bradley Chubb Special Teams Most Valuable Player: A.J. Cole III Ted Brown Award — Offensive Back of the Year: Nyheim Hines Gary Rowe Award — Receiver of the Year: Kelvin Harmon Jim Ritcher Award — Offensive Lineman of the Year: Will Richardson Dewayne Washington Award — Defensive Back of the Year: Shawn Boone Bill Cowher Award — Linebacker of the Year: Jerod Fernandez Carey Brewbaker Award — Defensive Lineman of the Year: Bradley Chubb Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Grant Gibson Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Matt McKay Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Damontay Rhem Philip Rivers Award — Freshman of the Year: Emeka Emezie Alpha Rising Award — Most Improved Player: Jakobi Meyers Michael J. Hardy Award — Winning Attitude: Jalan McClendon Bo Rein Award — Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role: BJ Hill and Garrett Bradbury Bob Warren Award — Exemplifies Integrity & Sportsmanship: Airius Moore and Tony Adams Al Michaels Awards — Team Before Self: Cole Cook Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award — Returning from Injury: JuMichael Ramos and Germaine Pratt Earle Edwards Award — Scholastic Excellence: A.J. Cole III Community Service Award: Nicholas Lacy and Brady Bodine Wolfpack Spirit Award — Special Supporter of the Program: DD Hoggard and Dr. Ira Rubin