The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/976701
42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER out he finished college with more career receptions than Torry Holt (No. 6 pick out of NC State), as many touchdown grabs as Kelvin Benjamin (No. 28, Florida State), more rushing scores than Giovani Ber- nard (No. 37, North Carolina) and a higher yards-per-carry average than C.J. Spiller (No. 9, Clemson) — each of whom went on to productive NFL careers. "To me, he's a roster saver," NFL Net- work expert Daniel Jeremiah noted. "He saves you a roster spot because he can at least get you out of the game at so many different positions. "That's the kind of value you want when you get to this portion of the draft." Though he finished his career at South Florida, Valdes-Scantling rounded out the group of players who signed with NC State to be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, go- ing to the Green Bay Packers with the final selection of the fifth round. The packed NFL Draft proved that de- spite how little fanfare the former players came into NC State with, they wouldn't experience the same lack of national buzz as they entered the NFL. ■ NC State Draft Superlatives It's Not Fair Award: It goes to AFC West quarterbacks who probably screamed at the television when the Cleveland Browns surprisingly took Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the fourth pick, dropping NC State's Bradley Chubb to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos already had one of the most fearsome pass rushers in the NFL in Von Miller, and now will bookend him with Chubb. "Think about their edge rush ability with Chubb, Von Miller, former first-round pick Shane Ray … the three of them getting after quarterbacks in the sub package, Wow!" NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. Happy Reunion Award: Three years ago, when Nyheim Hines was a freshman playing mainly receiver, he caught 20 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Hines also took 48 handoffs from him for 243 yards and a score. Three years later they are back together. Whether they will play in the same backfield is likely to be dictated by the health of quarterback Andrew Luck's shoulder, but Hines figures to jump right into the mix at running back. The Colts lost starter Frank Gore in free agency. Perfect Fit Award: The Pittsburgh Steelers offense had toyed in the past with using running back Le'Veon Bell in an all -pur - pose role before deciding his value was too great at running back to move around. Now the Steelers can use Jaylen Samuels as the ultimate jack-of-all trades. "He can be a running back running a 32 dive, he can be a slot receiver running a diversion, he can be a slot receiver running a true route, he can be a tight end, he can be an H-back," Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting noted. "That's the value — just because he's on the field, just be- cause where he's aligned, no longer do teams know what's going to happen." Most Likely To Impress The Boss Award: New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who just conducted his first draft for the team, professes an affinity for defensive linemen, or as he calls them "hog mollies." Thus NC State defensive tackle B.J. Hill probably could not have gone to a management that will have a better appreciation for his position. Drafted Higher Than Expected Award: A torn ACL suffered during a private pre-draft workout with the New York Giants had been expected to cause defensive end Kentavius Street to slip towards the back end of the draft. Instead, he went in the fourth round to the San Francisco 49ers. Fills A Need Award: The Los Angeles Chargers had the second worst rushing defense in the NFL last season based on yards al - lowed per game. As ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. noted, the Chargers were "soft in the belly." NC State defensive tackle Justin Jones helped lead a front that finished eighth in the country in 2016 at the Football Bowl Subdivision level in rushing yards allowed per game and 26th this past season. Overcoming Adversity Award: Offensive tackle Will Richardson made some self-inflicted mistakes at NC State that resulted in a pair of suspensions in his three seasons. However, he was able to convince the Jacksonville Jaguars that those issues are in the past, and the Jags drafted him in the fourth round. Many had suspected that Richardson would go in the last few rounds of the draft. Biggest Snub Award: Mayock said during the NFL Network broadcast of the draft that he believed NC State interior offensive lineman Tony Adams could be a starting center in the NFL. Adams went undrafted, but he signed with a team in the Jackson - ville Jaguars who have team needs along the interior of its line. — Matt Carter Fourth-round pick Nyheim Hines (pictured) combined with 2017 seventh-rounder Matt Dayes to give the Pack back-to-back running back draftees for the first time since 1997-98. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN