Now that the 2016 NC State football season has come to a close, Wolfpack fans will have to say goodbye to a few key contributors as they look to take their careers to the next level. Here are the biggest losses the team faces going into the 2017 season.
Matt Dayes
In addition to being a valued team captain, Dayes was an absolute workhorse for the Pack, becoming the first Wolfpack player to rush for over 1,000 yards since T.A. McClendon in 2002, totaling 1,166 yards and 10 touchdowns. Additionally, he only had two games with less than 75 yards from scrimmage and only four with less than 100.
NC State’s biggest offseason task will be to find a way to cover Dayes’ production. Rising junior Reggie Gallaspy II served as his backup for the majority of the season and appears to be the current frontrunner. The team also has solid options in redshirt senior Dakwa Nichols and redshirt sophomore Johnny Frasier. CBS Sports projects Dayes to be drafted in the fifth round.
Josh Jones
The redshirt junior safety decided to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2017 NFL Draft after putting together his best season in a Wolfpack uniform. Jones stuffed the stat sheet with a team-leading 109 tackles and three interceptions to go along with eight pass breakups and four tackles for a loss.
Jones greatly improved in pass coverage his junior year to go along with his stellar run support skills, which ultimately helped him boost his draft stock and declare early. He is currently projected to be a fourth or fifth round pick by CBS Sports. The Pack’s top replacements for him will likely be redshirt sophomore Jarius Morehead or redshirt junior Dexter Wright, with senior Shawn Boone likely reassuming his spot at strong safety.
Joe Scelfo
Scelfo played only one season with NC State, coming in as a graduate transfer from South Alabama. He immediately came in and solidified an inexperienced offensive line, having lost three starters from the 2015 season to graduation. He not only brought a veteran presence, but he was a key cog in protecting quarterback Ryan Finley and opening up running lanes for Dayes.
Additionally, Scelfo’s presence allowed senior guard Tony Adams, the next-most-veteran starter on the O-line, to play his preferred position of right guard rather than having to slide over to center. However, barring another graduate transfer, Adams might have to play center his senior year in Scelfo’s departure.
Jack Tocho
The starting cornerback and team captain endured an injury-riddled junior year but bounced back in his senior year with a team-high nine pass breakups to go with 37 tackles and two interceptions. He is currently projected to be a seventh round draft pick by CBS Sports.
Tocho played well in filling the void left by Juston Burris the year before, but finding his replacement could be tough. Senior Mike Stevens returns after starting 12 games, and sophomore Nick McCloud earned some playing time his rookie year. A dark horse candidate could be senior Johnathan Alston, who redshirted last season to give him time to learn a new position after playing three years at wide receiver.
Bra’Lon Cherry
Cherry was the veteran player among yet another young position group, and he finished the season fifth on the team with 30 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns. He also earned 107 punt return yards and 50 kick return yards, and achieved All-ACC honorable mention honors as a punt returner in 2015.
While Cherry’s loss will sting, the Wolfpack has a lot of depth at receiver. Senior Jumichael Ramos, the No. 1 wide receiver in 2015, returns after redshirting last season with an injury. The team also has redshirt junior Stephen Louis, junior Nyheim Hines and sophomore Kelvin Harmon, who all have a lot of upside and each tallied more receiving yards than Cherry in 2016. Hines will also likely take Cherry’s spot at punt returner since he is arguably the most dynamic player on the roster and has handled kick return duties the last two years.
Senior wide receiver Bra'Lon Cherry goes up for a reception. Cherry had three receptions for 105 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown pass. The Wolfpack fell flat during the homecoming game walking away with a 21-14 loss to Boston College on Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium.
