The NC State football team had a roller coaster year, but it ended with the same regular season record as in 2014 and went on to lose its bowl game. Here are the top performers of the season.
Matt Dayes
Despite missing the final month of the season due to a season-ending foot injury Oct. 31 against Clemson, the junior running back totaled 2.5 times more rushing yards than anyone else on the team. He finished the year with 134 carries for 865 yards and 12 touchdowns. Additionally, he was an All-ACC honorable mention. His 12 touchdowns were tied for fourth in the ACC and tied for seventh in school history, while his 6.5 yards per carry average is fourth in school history.
When Shadrach Thornton was dismissed from the team, there were questions on whether Dayes could take on the expanded workload. After a shaky first couple of games, he bounced back with a 205-yard, two-touchdown performance against Wake Forest, including a career-long 85-yard touchdown run. Despite Clemson’s stout defense, he ran for 72 yards on just nine carries in the first half before getting injured. His 24 receptions ranked fourth on the team.
Mike Rose
The graduate defensive end has certainly made a case to get drafted in April. On the year, he notched a team-high 10.5 sacks, good for second in the ACC and tied for third in school history, the most since Wolfpack legend and No. 1 overall draft pick Mario Williams had 14.5 in 2005. His three sacks against Wake Forest tied his career-high for sacks in one game that he set against Syracuse in 2014. Rose earned second team All-ACC honors for his efforts this season.
In addition to being a sack artist, he was a key cog in run support, tallying 51 tackles (tied for fifth-best on the team) and a team-high 15 tackles for a loss, matching the career-high he set last season. Rose’s high level of play and leadership will be missed by the defense as a whole, but fortunately for the Wolfpack, it is loaded with young defensive line talent that is preparing to fill the void.
Jaylen Samuels
I’ve said this more than once, and I’ll say it again: Samuels exemplifies the true definition of an offensive juggernaut. He led the team with 65 catches for 597 yards and seven touchdowns and was third on the team with 368 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 56 carries. His 65 catches rank fifth in school history for receptions in one season, his 16 combined touchdowns is tied for third in school history and his 6.6 yards per carry average ranks third in school history.
Samuels was also one of two NC State players to receive first-team All-ACC honors this year. He is slotted as a tight end, although he has played basically every skill position on the offense this season.
Joe Thuney
The graduate offensive lineman earned both first-team All-American and All-ACC honors as the Pack’s starting left tackle. Throughout his career, he has showcased his versatility, playing every position along the offensive line, but spent most of his time at left tackle and left guard. Like Rose, he has made a strong case to get drafted with a stellar senior season.
B.J. Hill
The sophomore defensive tackle has been a disruptive force along the defensive line this season. Despite often occupying a double-team by the opposing offense, he tallied 51 tackles (tied for fifth-best on the team), 11 TFLs (third), 3.5 sacks (fourth), three pass breakups (T-third), five quarterback hurries (second) and a blocked kick.
However, even though Hill had more sacks and TFLs than both Carlos Watkins and Luther Maddy, who were the two defensive tackles named first-team All-ACC, he was left off of the list entirely, which is a snub that should not go unnoticed. Hill played like a top-five defensive tackle, if not top three, in the conference, and with two years of eligibility left, he is a force to be reckoned with as he progresses into a potential superstar.
Honorable mentions:
Graduate cornerback Juston Burris, senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett, sophomore defensive end Bradley Chubb, sophomore linebacker Airius Moore and freshman wide receiver Nyheim Hines.
