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2015 <strong>NC</strong> <strong>STATE</strong> <strong>FOOTBALL</strong> <strong>BOWL</strong> <strong>GUIDE</strong> / SEASON NOTES<br />
“We will fight for every kid who we think belongs here,” Doeren said then. “If<br />
we don’t get one, it’s not going to be for a lack of effort.”<br />
A look at his first two full signing classes (<strong>2014</strong> & 2015) shows that Doeren<br />
has kept that promise, as the Wolfpack has signed some of the top players in<br />
North Carolina each year.<br />
In February, The Pack signed 12 players from North Carolina, including four<br />
of the top eight rated players in the state (all four of whom were ranked in<br />
the top-300 nationally). Those 12 signees were also ranked in the top-five of<br />
their position group in the state, including eight in the top-three.<br />
His Wolfpack teammate, Morocco Brown, who played linebacker from 1994-<br />
97, was recently named Vice President of Player Personnel for the Cleveland<br />
Browns after spending six seasons as Director of Pro Personnel for the<br />
Washington Redskins.<br />
When Brown left for the Browns, another former State player, Alex Santos<br />
(1996-99) took over as the Director of Pro Personnel at Washington after<br />
working in the personnel department for seven years.<br />
Another former ‘Pack linebacker is in charge of the Pro Personnel department<br />
in Chicago, as Kevin Turks (1995-98) holds that position with the Bears.<br />
In <strong>2014</strong>, Doeren and his staff signed 16 North Carolina players. Five of those<br />
young men were ranked as the top player at their position in the state, while<br />
seven overall were ranked among <strong>NC</strong>’s top-25 players.<br />
Year <strong>NC</strong> Signees <strong>NC</strong> Top 10 Top 3 at position<br />
2013 9 1 2<br />
<strong>2014</strong> 16 2 11<br />
2015 12 4 8<br />
WONDERFUL WALK-ONS<br />
<strong>NC</strong> State has boasted a strong walk-on program during Dave Doeren’s short<br />
tenure. Eleven (current or former) walk-ons saw game action in <strong>2014</strong> and 10<br />
played during his first season at <strong>NC</strong> State.<br />
In just 38 months, Doeren has awarded scholarships to 10 different walk-ons,<br />
including five players on the current squad: Ben Grazen, Nick Lacy, Gavin<br />
Locklear, Ernie Robinson and Charlie Twitty.<br />
GIVING BACK<br />
When Dave Doeren was named head coach in December of 2012, one of<br />
his first items of business was to ramp up the football squad’s community<br />
service efforts. Since January of 2013, members of his team have donated<br />
almost 4,000 hours to good causes around the area - from read-a-thons,<br />
to Dance Marathons, to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. For its<br />
Former Wolfpack guard Steve Keim, an All-ACC performer in 1995, is the GM of the Arizona Cardinals.<br />
Several former players are also working as NFL scouts, including John<br />
Ritcher (2002-05) with the Cardinals, Harrison Ritcher (2007-09) with the<br />
Browns, Darrell Moody (1968-70) with the Bills, and Ray Agnew (1986-89)<br />
with the St. Louis Rams.<br />
QBU<br />
Over the last three NFL seasons, no other school has enjoyed as much<br />
success at the quarterback position in the NFL than former <strong>NC</strong> State QBs.<br />
Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson have both started every game the last three<br />
seasons in the NFL, while Mike Glennon of the Tampa Bay Bucs registered 18<br />
total starts in his first three NFL campaigns.<br />
#PACKPROS<br />
(Pack alums on 2015 NFL rosters)<br />
efforts, Wolfpack Football was the recipient the athletic department’s “Community<br />
Service” award in the spring of 2015.<br />
PACK IN THE FRONT OFFICE<br />
Not only does <strong>NC</strong> State boast an impressive number of former players on<br />
NFL rosters, but the Pack also is becoming a pipeline to the league’s front<br />
offices.<br />
All-ACC guard Steve Keim (1992-95) has been the General Manager of the<br />
Arizona Cardinals since January of 2013 after previously serving as Vice<br />
President of Player Personnel, Director of College Scouting and as a regional<br />
scout.<br />
David Amerson Oakland Raiders<br />
Tyson Chandler Buffalo Bills<br />
Audie Cole Minnesota Vikings<br />
Jerricho Cotchery Carolina Panthers<br />
Rob Crisp Arizona Cardinals<br />
Mike Glennon Tampa Bay Bucs<br />
T.J. Graham New Orleans Saints<br />
Steven Hauschka Seattle Seahawks<br />
Nate Irving Indianapolis Colts<br />
Dontae Johnson San Francisco 49ers<br />
Markus Kuhn New York Giants<br />
Ted Larsen Arizona Cardinals<br />
Manny Lawson Buffalo Bills<br />
T.Y. McGill<br />
Phillip Rivers<br />
J.R. Sweezy<br />
Stephen Tulloch<br />
Mario Williams<br />
Russell Wilson<br />
Willie Young<br />
Indianapolis Colts<br />
San Diego Chargers<br />
Seattle Seahawks<br />
Detroit Lions<br />
Buffalo Bills<br />
Seattle Seahawks<br />
Chicago Bears<br />
11
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