The NC State football team put forth some of the greatest football the program has seen in quite some time.
Finishing the season ranked, winning the Sun Bowl against Arizona State and being one of four Power Five schools to have a 3,000 yard passer, 1,000 yard rusher and 1,000 yard receiver all were postseason highlights for the 2017 season of Wolfpack football.
Here is a look at how the position groups looked throughout the year:
Quarterback: A
Having one of the greatest passing seasons in NC State history with 20 total touchdowns, redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley proved to be an accurate thrower who took care of the football. Ranked 19th in the nation with 3,518 passing yards on the year, Finley had a breakout start to the 2017 campaign with 415 yards through the air and three total scores in the season-opening loss against South Carolina.
Although there were games, such as the turnovers thrown versus Notre Dame and Clemson, that Finley did not play as well, Finley had one of the highest completion percentages in the nation, .651, and was an effective leader in crucial moments in tight games. The Wolfpack is very excited to see Finley return for one last season in 2018.
Running Backs: A-
After a sluggish start to the season, 3.43 yards per run in the first two games, the running game was able to rebound with junior running back Nyheim Hines leading the way. Hines recorded seven games of over 90 yards and finished the season with 1,112 yards on the ground, good for 40th in the nation.
Hines and senior all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with 12 apiece including a three-score outing for each. Junior running back Reggie Gallaspy also provided a boost to the ground attack with power running to contrast Hines’ speed with 506 yards and seven touchdowns.
Receivers: A
Perhaps the most consistent unit for the Wolfpack this season was the receiving corps. Sophomore wide receiver Kelvin Harmon led the team as he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season thanks to six games where he passed the century mark in yards. Fellow redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jakobi Meyers led the group with five touchdown grabs, while redshirt junior wide receiver Stephen Louis stretched the field as he lead the team with an average of 15.8 yards per reception.
Arguably the biggest highlight for the offense in the season occurred when Samuels became NC State’s all-time receptions leader, hauling in 76 catches to bring his career total to 202. Besides a blunder in a tight matchup against Wake Forest, the receivers provided much needed boosts and big plays throughout the year.
Offensive Line: A
The heroes of the offense this year were the offensive line. Redshirt junior tackle Will Richardson, senior guard Tony Adams and redshirt junior guard Terronne Prescod were three of the five top graded NC State players by Pro Football Focus. Great pass protection and powerful run blocking by the men in the trenches allowed the Wolfpack offense to be ranked 13th in offensive efficiency this year.
Defensive Line: A-
The dominance of senior defensive end, Bradley Chubb, elevated the entire defense this season. With 10 sacks on the season and becoming the Wolfpack’s all-time leader in the category, Chubb cemented his legacy as an NC State great with brilliant pass rush performances with the double digit sacks, 26 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles in his last season sporting the red and white.
Fellow seniors defensive tackle B.J. Hill and defensive end Kentavius Street also made their presence known up front for the defense with three and 3.5 sacks, respectively. Being ranked as the country’s 28th best rushing defense, the D-line held opposing rushers to minimal gain for the most part and pressured the quarterback in attempt to help the struggling secondary.
Linebackers: B+
In the middle of the defense, the linebackers were able to keep the defense steady by smart pass coverages and finishing their tackles. Senior linebacker Jerod Fernandez led the team in tackles with 98. Senior linebacker Arius Moore recorded three interceptions to pair with his 67 tackles while junior linebacker Germaine Pratt had 69 tackles and two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick-six against Louisville.
Secondary: B-
The season-long weak-link to the defense was preventing the pass. Opposing wide receivers often torched the Pack’s cornerbacks for multiple 200-yard performances, and pass-interference calls proved costly in big games. The play of senior safety Shawn Boone was a bright spot as he notched three sacks and three interceptions for the season, in addition to a return for a touchdown against Furman, and 63 total tackles. Fellow senior safety Jarius Morehead was second on the team with 80 tackles and he recorded an interception in the Sun Bowl.
Special Teams D:
There were few positives to pull from the Wolfpack special teamers, which ranked 116th out of 130 teams in special teams efficiency. Whether it was senior Carson Wise or junior Kyle Bambard, the kickers both made only half of their field goals on the season. The missed opportunities never directly cost the Wolfpack to lose a game, but they were frustrating for coaches and fans alike.
Junior punter A.J. Cole was consistent as usual, recording a career-high in punting yards average and dialing in 23 of his 54 punts land inside the 20. The return game on kickoffs and punts, which featured mostly Hines, put up consistent yardage but rarely any momentum-swinging plays.
