The 2015 football season is here, and to kick off its regular season, the NC State football team hosts its home opener on Saturday against the Troy Trojans.
“I’m excited for our home opener,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “Getting out students, fans, everybody back in the stadium with our team is always fun.”
The Wolfpack (0-0, 0-0 ACC) hosts the Trojans (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) who limped through most of the 2014 season, finishing 8th in the Sun Belt Conference. After a 0-5 start, the Trojans struggled through most of their conference play.
Senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett looks to take last season’s 5-win turnaround to the next level. With several key components coming back and a veteran-laden defense, the Wolfpack looks ready for an impressive 2015 season.
Despite the two-game suspension of senior running back Shadrach Thornton, the Wolfpack shouldn’t miss a beat on offense as junior running back Matt Dayes will carry the bulk of the ground game in Thornton’s absence. Dayes and Thornton each posted stellar numbers last season. Dayes had 104 carries for 573 yards and eight touchdowns, while Thornton added on 164 carries for 907 yards and nine touchdowns.
Along with 2,606 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and five picks, Brissett shined with his solid ground game, scoring three touchdowns on 124 rushes for 529 yards.
Even with the numerous departures at the wide receiver position for the Pack, a young and athletic group of receivers is ready to step up and not miss a beat. Juniors Jonathan Alston, Jumichael Ramos and Bra’Lon Cherry will help provide leadership to a young receiving corps for the Pack.
With a late-season defensive renaissance under defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable, an experienced Wolfpack defense is ready to prove last season’s resurgence wasn’t a fluke.
Led by senior defensive lineman Mike Rose, the Pack defensive line is loaded with the likes of other returning players such as sophomore Kentavius Street, sophomore Pharoah McKever and sophomore B.J. Hill.
The Wolfpack secondary, much like the defensive line, is also an experienced, veteran-heavy squad. Junior Jack Tocho, senior Hakim Jones, sophomore Josh Jones and senior Justin Burris all return to a Wolfpack secondary that played well at the tail end of last season.
“I’m excited for our players,” Doeren said. “Just to see how some of them react, like the true and redshirt freshmen. It’s always fun to see those guys play their first college game.”
Through their first nine games of the season, the Trojans lost eight of them, including losses to Georgia, Duke and Appalachian State. They did seem to turn it around at the end of the season, as the Trojans won two of their last three games to finish of a 3-9 campaign, including a 3-5 record in conference play.
As quarterback Brandon Silvers enters his sophomore season, he looks to build off that late success the team encountered last season. Silvers posted solid numbers his freshman season, as he completed 70.5 percent of his throws for 1,836 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.
However, the strength of the Trojans on offense came in the form of their run game. Senior and junior running backs Brandon Burks and Jordan Chunn each ran for more than 500 yards last season with Burks adding on three touchdowns, while Chunn had six.
Senior wide receiver Bryan Holmes was also an integral part to the Trojan offense catching 34 passes for 474 yards and fives scores.
“Troy’s an athletic team,” Doeren said. “They’re returning nine starters on offense. They’ve got two talented backs and experienced receivers.”
Many football pundits and experts have said this may be the Wolfpack’s year to return to relevancy as this team looks to make some noise in the ACC. Only time will tell, for now, the Pack looks ready and eager for Saturday’s opener in Carter-Finley Stadium.
