2013 NCSU Student Media
Graduate student quarterback Mike Glennon goes to pass the ball as junior offensive tackle holds back a defender during the homecoming football game in Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. The Cavaliers routed the Wolfpack 33-6. Photo by John Joyner.
The NFL draft starts tonight at 8 p.m. with the Kansas City Chiefs picking the first of 254 total selections over three days. All 32 teams will be choosing from a highly talented crop of college prospects.
Colleges from around the nation have some of the most highly touted prospects in the draft class, such as Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, Alabama defensive back Dee Milliner and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.
N.C. State is no exception.
The Wolfpack has three players that consistently appear in many draft analysts’ mock drafts: quarterback Mike Glennon, cornerback David Amerson and safety Earl Wolff.
Mike Glennon
The 6-foot-7 quarterback inherited the starting job in 2011 after Russell Wilson transferred to Wisconsin, and responded by scoring over 60 touchdowns in the two seasons he was behind center.
His arm strength, a major asset of his game, helped him excel in tough situations such as his 259-yard, two-touchdown performance in the 17-16 upset over the then No. 3 Florida State Seminoles and when he exploded for 493 yards and five scores in Clemson against the No. 9 Tigers in a 62-48 losing effort.
However, his pocket-passer tendencies made him a sitting duck behind the line as he was sacked 36 times in the 2012 season.
There are two possible scenarios for Glennon following his selection — being drafted by a team that doesn’t have a solidified starter, and compete for a starting job in training camp, or sit behind an entrenched starter, like Green Bay Packers’ all-pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who backed up future hall of famer, Brett Farve. Rodgers was drafted No. 25 overall in 2005 and took over after Farve’s retirement in 2008.
Just last season, former N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson, who was drafted in the late rounds of last season’s draft, beat out Seattle Seahawk free agent signee Matt Flynn in training camp and led the ‘Hawks to an incredible rookie playoff run.
David Amerson
After exploding with 13 interceptions in 2011, Amerson had his numbers slashed and was beaten by many receivers in 2012, only picking off five passes. The 6-foot-1 cornerback makes up for what he lacks in speed with his size and his physicality.
Amerson will likely switch to safety to counteract his lesser agility, but he is still one of the more highly coveted defensive backs. Defensive backs are like wide receivers — one can never have too many.
Josh Norris, a draft analyst for NFL.com, has Amerson drafted 85th overall in the third round to the Washington Redskins, whose only benefactor in the secondary is 10-year veteran DeAngelo Hall.
Earl Wolff
Wolff was not on many teams’ radars when the 2012 season ended, but his stellar combine performance raised his draft stock exponentially.
His 4.44 timed 40-yard time was second out of the safeties, but his 11-foot-2 broad jump tied him with LSU free safety Eric Reid for third amongst all draft prospects.
WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell has Wolff slated to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints 75th overall, in the third round, in his latest mock draft. Norris, however, has picked Wolff to depart for Philadelphia at 101. Both teams need secondary help.