2014 NC STATE FOOTBALL BOWL GUIDE / XXXX 1

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