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2015 <strong>NC</strong> <strong>STATE</strong> <strong>FOOTBALL</strong> <strong>BOWL</strong> <strong>GUIDE</strong> / SEASON NOTES<br />
SENSATIONAL SOPHS<br />
For the second straight season, 70% of the Wolfpack squad is made up of<br />
freshmen and sophomores. Those young players, particularly the sophomores,<br />
are making a big impact on the Wolfpack defense.<br />
Four of <strong>NC</strong> State’s top five tacklers this season are all sophomores: WLB<br />
Airius Moore is first with 70, DE Bradley Chubb is second with 62, SS Josh<br />
Jones is fourth with 54, and DT B.J. Hill is fifth with 48.<br />
EARLY ACTION<br />
MAN ON A MISSION<br />
The Wolfpack’s success at sending quarterbacks into the NFL has been well<br />
documented. <strong>NC</strong> State was the only school with three alums starting in the<br />
NFL last season and Wolfpack alums hold two of the top four highest guaranteed<br />
salaries in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if the legend of QBU grows a<br />
bit after the 2015 season.<br />
Senior Jacoby Brissett is the latest in that storied line of great quarterbacks<br />
to wear the red and white. Just 25 games into his <strong>NC</strong> State career, he<br />
already ranks fifth in school history in career passing TDs (42), 7th in yards<br />
(5,054), 5th in completions (446), 7th in attempts (737). Also ranks sixth in<br />
touchdown responsibility with 50.<br />
Brissett’s head coach has called him a “man on a mission.” He put himself<br />
through two-a-day workouts all summer, working individually on techique<br />
and footwork in the mornings and then with the team in the afternoons. A<br />
true leader, Brissett wrote each member of the offense notes prior to each<br />
game last season and he bakes for his offensive linemen each week.<br />
YOUNG DEFENSIVE LINE<br />
One of the deepest units on the squad in 2015 is the defensive line. And it<br />
better be! Line coach Ryan Nielsen uses frequent substitutions along the<br />
front, looking for quality reps rather than quantity. In <strong>2014</strong>, all 11 defensive<br />
linemen who saw action played over 100 snaps for the season.<br />
Twelve defensive linemen have seen action in the season - four freshmen, six<br />
sophomores, 1 junior and 1 senior.<br />
REAL WORLD WEDNESDAYS<br />
One of the goals of the Wolfpack coaching staff is to help its student-athletes<br />
succeed not only on the football field, but in life after football. To help<br />
his team achieve this goal, head coach Dave Doeren instituted “Real World<br />
Wednesdays” last winter.<br />
Reggie Gallaspy II<br />
<strong>NC</strong> State has played the seventh-highest number freshmen of any school in<br />
the FBS in 2015, as a total of 26 rookies (16 true and 10 redshirt) have seen<br />
action. During Doeren’s tenure with the Wolfpack, 34 true freshmen have<br />
played, and that action hasn’t just been as role players or on special teams.<br />
In 2013, 11 true freshmen combined to start 18 games. In <strong>2014</strong>, 13 true<br />
freshmen combined to make 32 starts. This season, five true freshmen (WR<br />
Nyheim Hines, punter A.J. Cole, PK Kyle Bambard, RB Reggie Gallaspy II<br />
and LB Riley Nicholson) have gotten the nod. That 83 total starts by true<br />
freshmen in the last 36 games!<br />
Rk School Total True Redshirt<br />
1. Rice 31 10 21<br />
2. TCU 30 15 15<br />
3. BYU 29 16 13<br />
4. Clemson 28 14 14<br />
Florida Atlantic 28 16 12<br />
Boston College 28 14 14<br />
7. <strong>NC</strong> State 26 16 10<br />
USC 26 15 11<br />
Texas 26 17 9<br />
Wyoming 26 16 10<br />
Boston College 26 16 10<br />
Wyoming 26 16 10<br />
During Wednesday team meetings throughout the offseason, speakers came<br />
in to present a variety of topics, including domestic violence, dealing with<br />
police, drug abuse, dining etiquette, proper dress attire (how to tie a tie!),<br />
“What is masculinity?” and basic finances.<br />
FE<strong>NC</strong>E ‘EM IN<br />
On the day he was introduced as <strong>NC</strong> State’s head coach in December of<br />
2012, head coach Dave Doeren said it was “upsetting” to see “all the great<br />
players from the state of North Carolina” starring for other programs.<br />
The 2015 Wolfpack in the<br />
Single-Season Team Record Book<br />
Category Mark Rk.<br />
Rushing Yards 2,737 3rd<br />
Pass Completions 234 t11th<br />
Completion Pct. .608 7th<br />
Total Plays 874 9th<br />
Yards/Play 5.7 t5th<br />
Total Yards 4,943 6th<br />
Yards/Game 411.9 5th<br />
Points 404 5th<br />
Points/Game 33.7 3rd<br />
Punt Return Avg. 13.0 7th<br />
Kickoff Return Avg. 26.6 2nd<br />
1st Downs 259 7th<br />
Turnovers 11 1st<br />
Opp. Rushing Att. 409 t5th<br />
10