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2015 <strong>NC</strong> <strong>STATE</strong> <strong>FOOTBALL</strong> <strong>BOWL</strong> <strong>GUIDE</strong> / SEASON NOTES<br />
Rush Defense 144.0 7th 168.4 10th -45.3<br />
Pass Defense 188.5 5th 204.7 7th -15.3<br />
Total Defense 332.5 5th 373.1 10th -60.6<br />
3rd Down Conv. Def. 33.3 3rd 45.8 3rd -14.7<br />
1st Downs Defense 17.5 5th 20.7 10th -3.9<br />
Sacks 2.58 5th 2.31 6th +0.51<br />
OPPOR-THUNEY-TY<br />
During his Wolfpack career, graduate student Joe Thuney has played every<br />
position on the offensive line and has started at four different spots. Although<br />
his true position is probably at guard (where he’s started 10 career<br />
games), he’s started 23 times at tackle, including all 12 games at left tackle<br />
this season.<br />
Thuney has taken advantage of the opportunity, earning first-team<br />
All-America honors from USA Today this season and earning a first-team<br />
All-ACC nod.<br />
3. 414 2010<br />
4. 409 1972<br />
5. 404 2015<br />
2015 GAME CAPTAINS<br />
Troy: ........................... Jacoby Brissett, Hakim Jones, Mike Rose, Quinton Schooley<br />
Eastern Kentucky:...Benson Browne, Juston Burris, Mike Rose, Joe Thuney<br />
@ Old Dominion......Jacoby Brissett, Cole Cook, B.J. Hill, M.J. Salahuddin<br />
@ S. Alabama...........Hakim Jones, Mike Rose, Quinton Schooley, Joe Thuney<br />
Louisville.....................Jacoby Brissett, Benson Brown, B.J. Hill, Jack Tocho<br />
@ Virginia Tech........Alex Bar, Hakim Jones, Mike Rose, Joe Thuney<br />
@ Wake Forest.........Jacoby Brissett, Matt Dayes, B.J. Hill, M.J. Salahuddin<br />
Clemson......................Juston Burris, Cole Cook, Mike Rose, Joe Thuney<br />
@ Boston College....Alex Barr, B.J. Hill, Mike Rose, Quenton Schooley<br />
@ Florida State........Jacoby Brissett, Juston Burris, B.J. Hill, Joe Thuney<br />
Syracuse.....................Brady Bodine, Airius Moore, M.J. Salahuddin, Quinton Schooley<br />
U<strong>NC</strong>-Chapel Hill........... Jacoby Brissett, Hakim Jones, Mike Rose, Joe Thuney<br />
TAKEAWAYS<br />
Early in the season, the Wolfpack was not very effective in forcing turnovers.<br />
In fact, in the first eight games of 2015, the defense forced just seven<br />
opponent miscues.<br />
However, the tide definitely turned in the last four games of the regular<br />
season. During that time span the Pack D forced 14 turnovers.<br />
The Wolfpack ranks second in the ACC, 14th in the FBS, in turnover margin<br />
with a +10 mark.<br />
FAST STARTS<br />
In eight of the Pack’s 12 games this year, the offense has converted its first<br />
possession into points. <strong>NC</strong> State has six touchdowns and two field goals on<br />
its opening series this season.<br />
The Wolfpack has scored first in nine games this year, including six of the<br />
last seven.<br />
Thuney is the first <strong>NC</strong> State offensive lineman to earn first-team All-America<br />
honors since Outland Trophy winner Jim Ritcher in 1979.<br />
The Centerville, Ohio finished ACC play with no sacks allowed this season<br />
and was consistently the Wolfpack offensive line’s high grader. He played<br />
every single snap versus ACC competition this season (except for a take-aknee<br />
snap at the end of the Wake Forest contest).<br />
FINISHING WITH A FLOURISH<br />
In each of the final two games of the regular season, <strong>NC</strong> State posted over<br />
500 yards of total offense: 511 vs. Syracuse and 514 against U<strong>NC</strong>. That<br />
marked the first time the Pack had posted 500+ yards in back-to-back<br />
games since early in the 2012 season (The Citadel and Miami).<br />
A bulk of those yards were gained on the ground. The Wolfpack ran the ball<br />
a total of 99 times for 584 yards in the last two games, a 5.9 yards per carry<br />
average.<br />
PUTTING UP POINTS<br />
The Wolfpack has scored 404 points, an average of 33.7 per game, in 2015.<br />
With one contest left to play, that scoring mark is already the highest point<br />
total under Dave Doeren and ranks fifth in school history.<br />
The scoring average currently ranks third on the all-time list and is the best<br />
mark since 2003 (37.6).<br />
Rank Season Points<br />
1. 489 2003<br />
2. 460 2002<br />
PROTECTING THE ROCK<br />
The Wolfpack could set a school record for fewest turnovers this season.<br />
Entering the bowl game, <strong>NC</strong> State has turned the ball over just 11 times in<br />
12 games (4 interceptions and 7 fumbles). That mark ranks second to FSU<br />
in the ACC standings and fifth in the FBS. The lowest mark in the school<br />
history was 13 turnovers in 2001.<br />
State leads the league and ranks third in the FBS in fewest interceptions<br />
with four. The school record for fewest INTs in a a season was five in 1962 (a<br />
10-game season).<br />
REESTABLISHING THE RUN<br />
Despite losing the top two running back on the depth chart (including one<br />
that was close to 1,000 yards for the season), <strong>NC</strong> State has averaged over<br />
200 rushing yards per game this season. The 201.4 mark for the season<br />
second only to last years 204.5 yard average in the past 22 years.<br />
In the last two games of the regular season, the Wolfpack averaged 292<br />
rushing yards, including 308 yards versus North Carolina.<br />
JAYSAM’S THE MAN<br />
It’s a running back! It’s a tight end! It’s JAYLEN SAMUELS!<br />
It’s been hard to know where the Wolfpack’s first-team All-ACC tight end<br />
might line up from one play to another in 2015. Samuels finished the regular<br />
season as the Wolfpack’s leading receiver with 64 catches (5.3 per game<br />
ranks fourth in the ACC) - the most catches for a tight end nationally. He<br />
ranks as the Wolfpack’s third-leading rusher with 315 yards (just one yard<br />
from ranking in second place).<br />
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