The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/947448
MARCH 2018 ■ 49 WOLFPACK FOOTBALL always thought that the NC State people always showed up and were always vocal. I respected and admired that." Heading into his first spring proactive with the Wolfpack, Roof discussed his approach. "I think I'm demanding, but I hope my guys know that I'll care about more them than just being somebody that can catch the deep ball or tackle," he said. "Everybody's got a fresh start. It's one thing to watch guys walk around in shorts and t-shirts. It's another thing when you go out in helmets and shoulder pads and hit because it's a collision game. Our guys do that full speed. "I'm really excited about getting that started, excited about being here at NC State and thankful for the opportunity." Spring Practices Begin NC State started its 2018 spring prac- tices Feb. 25 in preparation for its annual Kay Yow Spring Game April 7. One noticeable jersey change: a new No. 1. It has been a tradition under head coach Dave Doeren to make wearing the number an honor on the team. Jaylen Sam- uels had worn it the past two seasons. Fifth- year senior wide receiver Stephen Louis will don it this season. Louis caught 37 passes for 583 yards and a pair of scores last season for the Wolf- pack. The year before, he had 35 receptions for 678 yards and two touchdowns. Several players will be sitting out spring practices with injuries, including freshman linebacker Payton Wilson (knee), redshirt junior nickel Freddie Phillips Jr. (Achilles), redshirt sophomore cornerback Markel Johnson (knee) and fifth-year senior kicker Carson Wise (undisclosed). Among position changes, fifth-year se- nior and former wide receiver Maurice Trowell is getting a look at cornerback, and redshirt junior Tyrone Riley has moved from defensive end to offensive tackle. Some familiar faces are also gone from the team after choosing to transfer in the offseason. Fifth-year senior reserve quar- terback Jalan McClendon has elected to take the graduate transfer route. Redshirt sophomore corner Bryce Banks and red- shirt sophomore linebacker Matt Stevens, a former preferred walk-on, both announced they were transferring as well. Stevens is the younger brother of former NC State starting cornerback Mike Stevens. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Aaron Wiltz has also left the team under a medical hardship. He remains enrolled at NC State and under scholarship, but will no longer count towards the team's 85-scholarship limit. ■ Fifth-year senior wide receiver Stephen Louis, who hauled in 37 receptions for 583 yards and two touchdowns in 2017, will replace Jaylen Samuels in wearing No. 1 for NC State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN NC State's 2018 Football Schedule Released The 2018 season will kick off Sept. 1 against James Madison, which reached the national title game at the Football Championship Subdi- vision level last season. That will start a stretch of four straight non- conference games before NC State begins its eight-game league slate. Among the ACC games, NC State will play Virginia for the first time since 2012 and will host Wake Forest for a Thursday night game Nov. 8. NCSU is 4-4 over the past 10 years in Thursday night games. Eight of the teams on the slate played in bowl games. Among the way-too-early preseason top 25 polls by various media outlets, Clem - son is listed No. 1 or No. 2 by Sporting News, USA Today, Athlon's, CBS Sports and ESPN.com. Florida State was listed in the top 20 in all five outlets. West Virginia, who NC State will host, was ranked No. 13 by ESPN and No. 21 by Athlon's. One team not on the schedule: Duke. The nearby Blue Devils have not played the Wolfpack since 2013 and will not do so again until 2020. Schedule Notes • The opener against James Madison will be Wolfpack Club Day and Georgia State is Ag Day. • The contest against West Virginia will coincide with the NC State Athletics Hall of Fame weekend. • Homecoming is the Nov. 3 contest versus Florida State. • In addition to being Senior Day, the regular-season home finale against Wake Forest is also slated to be Military Appreciation Day. • Times and networks have yet to be announced. 2018 Schedule Date Opponent Sept. 1 James Madison Sept. 8 Georgia State Sept. 15 West Virginia Sept. 22 at Marshall Sept. 29 Virginia Oct. 6 Boston College Oct. 20 at Clemson Oct. 27 at Syracuse Nov. 3 Florida State Nov. 8 Wake Forest Nov. 17 at Louisville Nov. 24 at North Carolina