While this year’s Wolfpack football team had several ups and downs, typically one behind the other, it ended with a miraculous 27-point comeback that meant coach Tom O’Brien and co. will have one game left on the season.
Following speculations after a tumultuous 2-3 start, with both wins being over FCS schools, it seemed as though O’Brien’s job was on the line. But great defensive performances against UNC-Chapel Hill and Clemson would lead to the Pack winning five of its last seven games and bowl eligibility for the third time in the last four seasons with a 7-5 record and 4-4 in the ACC.
The headline story this season, on the defensive side of the ball, was the play of sophomore corner back David Amerson and junior linebacker Terrell Manning. Amerson finished the season with a conference record-tying 11 interceptions while Manning led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to earn them All-ACC First and Second team honors, respectively.
On the offensive side of the ball, redshirt junior quarterback Mike Glennon stepped up in a big way to fill the shoes of the beloved Russell Wilson. While Glennon finished the season with 2,790 yards and 28 touchdowns, his counterpart in the backfield, junior running back James Washington, carried most of the load for the Pack with 852 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on the season.
Two seniors went out with a bang this season, as senior wide receiver T.J. Graham and senior tight end George Bryan both finished the season as All-ACC First and Second Team honors. Graham capped his season off during the Clemson showdown when he set the ACC record for kick return yards and Bryan scored the final offensive touchdown of the season in the comeback over the Terps .