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2 • Thursday, August 27 • RED

Wolfpack offense ready, loaded with top talent

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Junior running back Shadrach Thornton outruns the majority of the Wake Forest defense.

Thornton had 115 yards on 16 carries, accounting for a quarter of the total team yards. The Wolfpack obtained bowl eligibility by taking the win against Wake Forest 42-13 on Nov. 15.

David Kehrli Staff Writer

When the NC State football team opens its 2015 regular season, fans can expect to see an explosive Wolfpack offense powered by a group of talented weapons.

Returning players Shadrach Thornton, Matt Dayes and Jaylen Samuels are joined by a couple of highly-touted freshmen, comprising a skill position group that rivals in talent those of ACC counterparts Florida State and Clemson.

Last season’s leading rusher Thornton, a senior, returns for his final season in Wolfpack red, hoping to improve upon his 2,369 career yards — ninth most amongst running backs in NC State history, according to NC State Athletics.

Thornton spent considerable time this

offseason in the weight room, adding 15 pounds in hopes of finding more success running between the tackles.

“I’ve always been a physical runner,” Thornton said. “Now I have much more weight to back that up. It’s probably going to be a little harder to get me to the ground.”

Dayes — one of only three players nationally with more than 300 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks in 2014 — provides versatility out of the backfield for the Wolfpack offense.

In addition to averaging a very respectable 5.5 yards per carry as a running back, Dayes caught the second most passes of any State player last season. With the Pack’s lack of experience at the wide receiver position, he figures to be a substantial part of the passing game again

OFFENSE continued page 3

RED • Thursday, August 27 • 3

OFFENSE

continued from page 2

this year.

While Thornton’s physicality and hard-nosed mentality leads to broken tackles, Dayes’ agility and speed often leave defenders in the dust. The two complementary running styles pose a nightmare for opposing defenses who may be able to stop one but not the other.

Sophomore tight end/fullback Samuels will see an expanded role in this season’s offense.

At 5-foot-11, 236 pounds, Samuels brings a unique combination of size and athletic ability to the Wolfpack offense in a hybrid, do-it-all role.

I n t he Pack ’s bowl ga me against the University of Central Florida, Samuels made a beautiful catch with a defender draped on his back, scoring a pivotal touchdown on a halfback pass from Thornton.

Expect more of this from Samuels as he is officially listed as a tight end but will also see touches in the backfield.

Joining these three explosive players this season are two newcomers from the state of North Carolina, each highly sought a f ter du r i ng t he recr u it i ng process.

Nyheim Hines from nearby Garner, was recruited as an athlete with the ability to play both running back and wide receiver.

It became clear to head coach Dave Doeren during fall camp that Hines’ exceptional speed and ability to make plays could help the team immediately, both

JOIN THE

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Sophomore Runningback Matt Dayes scores a 7-yard receiving touchdown from Redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett during the final home game against Wake Forest in Carter-Finley Stadium Nov. 15. Brissett threw for 83 yards in the Wolfpack’s 42-13 defeat of the Demon Deacons.

as a kick returner and offensive player.

“Nyheim is an electric guy back there,” Doeren said. “We feel good about him.”

It appears Hines will primarily play as a slot receiver as his versatile sk illset, quick ness, athleticism and speed is a perfect match for the position.

The coaching staff may also look to use Hines on wide receiver sweeps and reverses in an effort to get him into space

where he is at his best.

“I like being in space,” Hines said. “I like having the ball in my hands.”

Freshman running back Reggie Gallaspy from High Point also looks to make an impact on the Wolfpack offense.

While not as highly rated as Hines in high school, Gallaspy, who enrolled at NC State in the spring, has been equally as impressive.

Gallaspy introduced himself

TECHNICIAN

as a potential contributor at the Kay Yow Spring Game in April, carrying the ball for 131 yards — 120 yards came in the second half — on 21 carries while grabbing one pass.

While he won’t see as many carries as Thornton and Dayes, he should get some opportunities. Should one of those two go down with an injury, Gallaspy’s role would expand significantly.

Entering his third year as the head man at NC State, Doeren’s

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offense features the most talent he has seen since his days at Northern Illinois, where he produced some of the most prolific offensive attacks in recent NCAA history.

I f t he Wol f p a c k of fe n s e can come close to the success achieved by Doeren’s Northern Illinois teams, the team could improve on last year’s win total.

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Breaking down the 2015 football schedule Drew Nantais Assistant Sports Editor

Wolfpack football season is imminent, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than highlighting the Pack’s 2015 schedule and breaking down key matchups along the way.

A huge difference from last season to this season is the expectations. There were virtually none last year with Wolfpack fans having a “there’s nowhere to go but up” mentality. After a pleasantly surprising 8-5 campaign capped off with a bowl win, the Wolfpack is ready to roll into 2015 with the schedule falling in favor of the Pack.

Much like last year, the Wolfpack begins its season with a weak slate of non-conference games: The season kicks off on Sept.

5 at home against the Troy Trojans and is followed by a Sept. 12 showdown with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.

The Trojans limped through last season, sporting a measly 3-9 (3-5 Sun Belt Conference) record, including a 17-point loss to fellow ACC member Duke. The Colonels, on the other hand, were much better, posting a 9-4 (6-2 Ohio Valley Conference) record.

The Pack then travels to Norfolk, Virginia for a rematch with the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Pack outgunned the Monarchs last season in a 46-34 victory in Raleigh last September.

In the final non-conference game, the Wolfpack trek to Mobile, Alabama to take on the South Alabama Jaguars. Posting a paltry 6-7 (5-3 SBC) record last season, the Jaguars shouldn’t pose too much of a threat and have games against Gardner-Webb, Nebraska and San Diego State before the Wolfpack comes to town.

ACC play begins on Oct. 3 when the Louisville Cardinals travel to Raleigh for the Pack’s first conference game of the 2015 season. The Cardinals edged the Pack by a score of 30-18 last season in Louisville after the Cards cut an NC State rally short.

After a matchup with the Cardinals, the Wolfpack travels to Blacksburg, Virginia for a Friday night showdown in Lane Stadium

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Redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett scrambles for a 9-yard run during the final home game against Wake Forest in Carter-Finley Stadium Nov. 15. Brissett threw for 83 yards in the Wolfpack’s 42-13 defeat of the Demon Deacons.

against the Virginia Tech Hokies. This is the Wolfpack’s first nationally televised game of the season as ESPN is carrying the contest with the Hokies. The Pack hasn’t played the Hokies since the 2010 season, falling on that day 41-30 in Carter-Finley Stadium.

A bye week and a trip down the road to Winston-Salem to visit the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest follows, but that’s just an appetizer for what’s probably the Wolfpack’s biggest game of the 2015 season.

On Oct. 31, the No. 12 Clemson Tigers will travel to Carter-Finley Stadium for the 84th meeting of the Textile Bowl. The Tigers trounced the Pack in Death Valley, South Carolina last season 41-0, but the Wolfpack

hopes to shock the country and knock off a team with aspirations of making the College Football Playoff this season.

Road games at Boston College and No. 10 Florida State follow the Halloween showdown with the Tigers. Both the Eagles and the Seminoles were victorious over the Pack last season, winning 30-14 and 56-41 in Raleigh, respectively. Following the departure of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston to the NFL and the arrival of former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson, it is yet unknown just how good the Noles will be in 2015.

The Wolfpack wraps up the 2015 regular season with a pair of home games Nov. 21

against Syracuse and a rivalry game against in-state foe UNC-Chapel Hill Nov. 28. Last season, the Pack traveled to upstate New York to take on the Orange in the Carrier Dome and walked away with a 24-17 road victory. The highlight of last season came in the 35-7 smackdown the Pack laid on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill last November.

Aside from tough road games at Virginia Tech and Florida State, the Wolfpack has a chance to improve upon last season’s dramatic turnaround and reach yet another postseason bowl game.

RED • Thursday, August 27 • 5

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6 • Thursday, August 27 • RED

ARCHIVE/BEN SALAMA

Freshman running back Reggie Gallaspy runs through a pile of players in the NC State Spring Football Game. Gallaspy, a freshman who enrolled in January, ran for a game-high 131 yards on 21 carries. The red team beat the white team 16-3 on April 11.

Strength, experience anchor defensive line Justine Turley Staff Writer

In preparation for the upcoming season, the NC State Football team’s been hard at work during training camp making last minute preparations before the Pack’s home opener on Sept. 5. This season, the team will look to the defense to lead the Pack to another successful campaign.

“The first college football game is next [weekend], so it’s here. Our guys are going

to class, we have a game plan, so what we’re doing is just focusing on the things we need to do, regardless of the opponent,” Defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen said. “Week in and week out, one week at a time, we work on what NC State needs to do … to be successful.”

Last season, NC State’s defense was ranked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference based off yards lost on sacks. The Wolfpack had 30 sacks with a total of 236 yards lost. The Pack hopes to continue to

improve from 2014 and has high expectations to become a leading defense in the ACC. “We need to get more pressure four-man rush on the quarterback. We need to make more negative yardage plays. And a big focus, as every year, is takeaways. We have to take the ball away from them,” Nielson said.

“We should play with great fundamentals with fanatical effort to the football. To be physical and tough on the line of scrimmage; those are the things I’m looking for

from our guys.”

Not only does the defensive coach expect a lot from the team, but his players agree to meet that expectation. The Pack has several very difficult games this season, including Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech, so the challenges that face this defensive lines are numerous.

Starting graduate defensive end Mike Rose also has several specific goals and un-

DEFENSE continued page 7

RED • Thursday, August 27 • 7 ARCHIVE/NICK FAULKNER

Junior wide receiver Bra’Lon Cherry rushes the ball for the red team during the Kay Yow spring football game on April 11. The game, hosted in honor of Kay Yow, raised over $16,000 for cancer research.

DEFENSE

continued from page 6

derstands what it will take to reach them. As the most experienced returning player on the team, Rose has played 1,132 career snaps and was ranked third in the ACC in tackles for loss last season, according to NC State Athletics.

“For the D-line, 140 TFLs [tackles for a loss] and 40 sacks, for the defense, to be a top 10 defense, for the team to win 10 games,” Rose said. “We just need to create more turnovers. That’s the big focus this camp, just create more turnovers and get to the quarterback. I’m most looking forward to the feeling after the first win.”

In his final year of collegiate eligibility, Mike Rose recognizes the importance of leadership and the team aspect of the sport and shares the similar philosophy of coach Nielson to lead by example.

Rose said he goes out there and sets an example, consistently playing to his ability every practice.

Rose also looks to fellow teammates, starting sophomore defensive end Bradley Chubb, starting sophomore defensive tackle Kentavius Street and sophomore linebacker Airius Moore, to help lead the team as the season approaches.

Chubb saw the majority of his time last season on special teams after making the transition from outside linebacker in high school, per NC State Athletics. He will start opposite Rose at defensive end, with redshirt sophomore Pharoah McKever looking to get some time at that spot as well.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Street went under a transition this past offseason as he switched positions from defensive end to defensive tackle. He is slated to start at defensive tackle alongside fellow sophomore tackle B.J. Hill.

Moore started four games last season and led the team in tackles in three of those games. He is set to keep his role as the quarterback of the defense this coming season.

In addition to the these strong returning players, several freshmen will help strengthen the defensive line, including defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant from North Charleston, South Carolina and defensive end Darian Roseboro.

With a mixture of both veteran and youthful talent, look for the Wolfpack’s defensive line to both anchor and lead a rejuvenated defense in the 2015 season.

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8 • Thursday, August 27 • RED

Bambard ready to take kicker’s mantle Daniel Lacy Assistant Sports Editor

Last season, kicker Niklas Sade set the all-time scoring record at NC State with 332 career points.

With Sade graduating, the NC State football team spent the offseason looking for his replacement. It found that in freshman Kyle Bambard.

The 5-foot-8, Walled Lake, Michigan native has an impressive track record as a quarterback in hig h school. He passed for more than 4,000 yards, rushed for more than 2,500 yards and combined for 68 touchdowns throughout his high school career. As the starting quarterback, he had a 29-6 career record, including a 9-2 record his senior year when he led his team to the district finals of the state playoffs, per NC State Athletics. “[He was an] All-State quarterback, great athlete,” said Dave Doeren, the NC State head coach. “He will be replacing Nik Sade who was the all-time leading scorer here. He attended a kicking camp a couple of years ago where there were 20 to 30 Division I kickers there, and he was one of the best ones. He’s more than a kicker, he’s an allaround athlete.”

He also handled punting and kicking duties for Walled Lake High School. During his senior year, he made 11-of-18 f ield goa l at tempts a nd 47-of-48 extra point attempts, per NC State Athletics. He believes that his experience playing both positions will be a big benefit for him as he enters the higher pressure collegiate level.

“I was put in a lot of high

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Head coach Dave Doeren takes the field before the homecoming football game against Georgia Tech in Carter-Finley Stadium Nov. 8. The Wolfpack’s two-season drought of home conference wins continued with a 56-23 loss to the Yellow Jackets.

pressure situations, touching the ball, getting the ball in play as the quarterback,” Bambard said. “Some situations where I would be more nervous early in my career, I have experience that will calm me down a little bit.”

W h i le Ba mba rd wa s best known for his unique athleticism as a quarterback in high school, he will solely focus on kicking duties with the Wolfpack. However, if injuries take their toll on the team, he will be ready to contribute wherever it’s needed.

“I’m fully committed to kicking right now,” Bambard said.

“I don’t anticipate the coaches throwing me in anywhere oth-

er than that. But if that does happen, I will be prepared. I’m willing to do anything for this team.”

As mentioned above, his predecessor, Sade, left a big mark on NC State as the all-time leading scorer. The four-year starter converted 55-of-79 field goal attempts and 167-of-173 extra point attempts. While it will be hard to match his production, Bambard has the confidence and ability to adequately fill the void Sade left.

“I’m 100 percent confident [in my kicking abilities],” Bambard said. “I come out here every day to get better and have shown improvement and gained the trust

of my team. There’s some big shoes to fill. I’ve talked to Nik, and he’s given me great advice over the past year or so. I don’t feel pressure to replace him; I just have to be the new kicker and perform to the best of my abilities.”

According to Doeren, Bambard has performed well lately.

In the past week, he has connected from as deep as 53 yards. In last Saturday’s scrimmage, he kicked two touchbacks. Doeren has high expectations for the young kicker going forward.

“He struggled in the spring but has been outstanding at camp.

We just need to let him progress,” Doeren said. “You have to

remind yourself constantly that he hasn’t played college football yet, but that doesn’t mean we have low expectations. He’s a really good kicker, and we are excited about his future.”

The kicker is easily one of the most undervalued positions in both collegiate and professional football. He can win or lose the game for the whole team, and a single game in a season can be the difference between attaining bowl eligibility and falling just short. Establishing Bambard as the kicker will prove to be one of the most important moves NC State made this offseason.