The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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Leaders Of The Pack The Top 25 Players From The 2012 Regular Season P By Matt Carter rior to the beginning of the season, The Wolfpacker predicted the top 25 most important players for NC State in 2012. Now that the regular season is complete, we release a final top 25, highlighted by a record-setting quarterback. 1. Quarterback Mike Glennon The fifth-year senior completed 295 of 511 passes for 3,648 yards with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for two scores. Glennon's passing yards and attempts are the second most for one season in NCSU history. He needs just 14 completions to move into second in that category, and he is four touchdowns away from matching Philip Rivers' 34 in 2003 for the most ever in one year for a Wolfpack quarterback. 2. Safety Earl Wolff The heart and soul of NC State's defense, the fifth-year senior led the Pack with 136 tackles, 2.5 of which came behind the line of scrimmage. He also intercepted two passes, broke up four more, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and registered a quarterback hurry. Wolff was the lone NC State player to be named first-team AllACC. He was honored as such by both the writers and coaches. 3. Offensive guard R.J. Mattes Mattes, another fifth-year senior, was selected second-team All-ACC by both the ACC writers and coaches. He started 10 games at left guard and two at left tackle. Mattes closed his career with starting experience at every offensive line position except center. 4. Center Camden Wentz The three-year starter and senior capped his career by being named honorable menIn the regular season, fifth-year senior Mike Glennon completed 295 of 511 passes for 3,648 yards with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and he also ran for two scores. Photo by Ken Martin tion All-ACC by the league's writers and coaches. He has started the last 38 games at center for NCSU. Wentz was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Wake Forest Nov. 10. 5. Cornerback David Amerson After some early-season struggles, Amerson played well late in the campaign and was named second-team All-ACC by the writers and coaches. Amerson, a junior, had 53 tackles, five interceptions and six passes broken up. He returned one pick for a score and increased his career interception total to 18, which is a school record. 6. Running back Shadrach Thornton Thornton had expected to redshirt this season, but injuries and disciplinary issues shortened the depth chart at running back. The freshman responded to the challenge and led NC State in rushing with 142 carries for 655 yards and three scores. He also caught 25 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. He finished the year with three straight 100-yard rushing efforts. 7. Safety Brandan Bishop The senior may not have as many tackles as Wolff or interceptions as Amerson, but he closed his steady Wolfpack career by making 107 hits and three picks this season. He also forced a team-high two fumbles, recovered a fumble and broke up a pair of passes. Bishop was selected secondteam All-ACC by the league's coaches. 8. Wide receiver Bryan Underwood For the first eight games of the year, Underwood was the master of the red zone for NC State. He caught a touchdown pass in each of those contests, including the game winner with 16 seconds left against No. 3 Florida State in Carter-Finley Stadium Oct. 6. Underwood, a redshirt sophomore, caught 43 passes for 815 yards and 10 touchdowns during the season, tied for the fifth-most scoring catches in a season in NCSU history. 9. Cornerback Dontae Johnson The junior transitioned nicely from a safety/nickel back to a full-time starter at cornerback. He led the corners in tackles with 75, including 4.5 for loss. Johnson was credited with holding Wake Forest star wideout Michael Campanaro to just 14 receiving yards. He was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week for that performance. 10. Wide receiver Tobais Palmer Palmer may be best remembered for setting the ACC record for all-purpose yards in a game with 496 yards at Clemson Nov. 17. Palmer, a fifth-year senior, was also second on the team in receiving with 46 catches for 670 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 25.2 yards per kickoff return and ran one back for a score against Wake Forest. 11. Linebacker Rickey Dowdy Someone had to step up at linebacker this fall for NC State, and the most consistent performer was Dowdy. The redshirt junior closed the regular season with 96 tackles, including a team-high 13.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He added 12 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. 12. Defensive end Darryl Cato-Bishop The redshirt junior was named honorable mention All-ACC by the league's writers after notching 37 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and a co-team-high 5.5 sacks. He also had 16 quarterback hurries, a pass broken up and one forced fumble. 13. Wide receiver Quintin Payton Payton, a redshirt junior, was the breakout performer of the year on offense. He ended up leading the Pack in receiving with 48 catches for 761 yards and two touchdowns. 14. Linebacker Sterling Lucas Lucas, a fifth-year senior and the captain of the defense, started all 12 games in the middle and made 84 tackles, including five for loss and a pair of sacks. He added five quarterback hurries, two passes broken up and a fumble recovery, making a successful return after sitting out last season with a knee injury. 15. Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill McGill, a sophomore, showed why the future looks bright along the interior of the defensive line. He started nine of 12 games and led all defensive linemen with 43 tackles, including nine for loss and four sacks. He also had eight quarterback hurries. He was named the ACC Defensive Lineman January 2013 ■ 31 30-32.Top 25 FB Players.indd 31 12/11/12 2:29 PM