Two of the best players in school history played for N.C. State during the 2010s.
Only one perfectly represents what has become the modern Wolfpack experience.
On end of the spectrum, there’s defensive end Bradley Chubb, who went from overlooked and unheralded recruit to the best defensive player in the ACC in his four years (2014-17) at N.C. State.
On the other is Russell Wilson, who went from overlooked and unheralded recruit to the best quarterback in the ACC. There were good moments during the quarterback’s tenure, which was mostly during the previous decade but ended with the 2010 season.
Wilson’s career was also complicated and ultimately ended in frustration. Basically just like N.C. State football, as a whole, from 2010 through the ‘19.
Wilson led the Wolfpack to a 9-4 record and top-25 finish in 2010 and then, after a split with former coach Tom O’Brien, played his final college season at Wisconsin.
He led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl in 2011, became a third-round pick and an NFL superstar with the Seattle Seahawks.
O’Brien was fired after the 2012 season and Dave Doeren was able to match that 9-win campaign with two of his own (in 2017 and ‘18). Doeren’s 7-year tenure is bookended by a winless ACC season (the school’s first since 1959) in 2013 and a 1-7 league mark in 2019.
In all, the Wolfpack finished the decade with a 71-57 overall record and 34-46 mark in ACC play (seventh-best). Of the teams to start and end the decade in the ACC, N.C. State is the only one that hasn’t played in the ACC title game.
Wilson had the best shot at that but lost in the regular-season finale at Maryland, who followed Wilson’s lead and left for the Big Ten three years later.
N.C. State’s All-Decade team:
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, 2007-10
It’s only one year but he was a magician in cleats. Wilson threw for 28 touchdowns and ran for nine more. His “2-yard Hail Mary” in a 29-25 win at UNC will live on as long as the two teams play.
NCSU’s Russell Wilson, running against Virginia Tech in October, has been the Pack’s leader for three seasons. Ethan Hyman - ehyman@newsobserver.com Ethan Hyman ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserve
Running backs
Matt Dayes, 2013-16
N.C. State went 13 years without a 1,000-yard rusher until Dayes broke that drought in 2016 when he had eight 100-yard games and 1,166 yards.
N.C. State running back Matt Dayes (21) beats North Carolina safety Donnie Miles (15) on a 18-yard touchdown run during the first half of the Wolfpack’s game against UNC at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Nyheim Hines, 2015-17
A true home-run hitter, the Garner product had five touchdown runs longer than 25 yards and finished the season with 1,113 yards and 12 scores.
Receivers/tight ends
Jaylen Samuels, 2014-17
Nobody caught more passes (202) in school history than “JaySam” who was so versatile, the conference created a utility spot on the All-ACC team for him.
N.C. State’s Jaylen Samuels (1) runs the ball upfield during the second half of N.C. State’s 33-21 victory over UNC at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Kelvin Harmon, 2016-18
Torry Holt and Jerricho Cotchery are the only other receivers in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, which Harmon accomplished in ‘17 and ‘18. That’s great company.
Jakobi Meyers, 2015-18
A converted quarterback out of high school, Meyers set the single-season school record for catches in ‘18 with 92.
Offensive line
Garrett Bradbury, 2014-18
Started his career as a tight end, ended it as an All-American center and the Rimington Trophy winner in 2018.
N.C. State center Garrett Bradbury (65) blocks Texas A&M defensive lineman Jayden Peevy (92) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Texas A&M in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Joe Thuney, 2011-15
A three-year starter at three different spots on the line and was an All-ACC tackle as a senior.
Tony Adams, 2014-17
Definitely an All-Reliable pick. The Boston native started all four years.
Rob Crisp, 2010-14
N.C. State’s only five-star recruit of the decade fought through a variety of injuries to become a standout run-blocker.
Cam Wentz, 2009-12
A three-year starter and the definition of a leader.
Defensive line
Bradley Chubb, 2014-17
Was the best defensive player in college football in 2017 with 25 tackles for loss.
N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb (9) pressures North Carolina quarterback Nathan Elliott (11) as North Carolina’s Bentley Spain (75) tries to stop Chubb during the first half of N.C. State’s game against UNC at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
B.J. Hill, 2014-17
Not flashy but somebody had to take on blockers while Chubb got all of those sacks.
T.Y. McGill, 2011-14
Sneaky athletic for his size, McGill had 23.5 tackles for loss during his final three seasons.
Mike Rose, 2012-15
Overlooked because of Chubb’s ascension, Rose had 14 TFLs in 2014 and 15 more in ‘15.
Linebackers
Nate Irving, 2007-10
Irving only played one year in the decade but it was a doozy in 2010 with 21.5 of his 92 tackles going for a loss.
N.C. State linebackers Nate Irving (56) and Terrell Manning (35) share a laugh during N.C. State’s 38-3 victory over Wake Forest in 2010. Greg Mintel
Audie Cole, 2008-11
Jon Tenuta knew how to find and coach linebackers. Cole, a high school quarterback, ended his college career with 108 tackles in a standout 2011 season.
Terrell Manning, 2009-11
Practically an Irving clone, Manning was a terror in his final two years (2010 and ‘11).
Defensive backs
David Amerson, 2010-12
The Greensboro product was an All-American as a sophomore in 2011 with a school-record 13 interceptions.
N.C. State cornerback David Amerson (1) beats Boston College center Andy Gallik (59) as he takes an interception in for a touchdown during the first half Saturday, November 24, 2012, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Juston Burris, 2012-15
Amerson got more attention but the Broughton product was the more consistent cover man.
Josh Jones, 2014-16
Pound-for-pound, arguably the best athlete to go through the program during the decade.
Earl Wolff, 2009-12
“The Wolf” started for four years and was an All-ACC pick as a senior in 2012, when he recorded 119 tackles.
Special teams
Niklas Sade, 2011-14
The school’s all-time leading scorer with 332 points, he made 19 of his 23 field-goal attempts in ‘13.
N.C. State’s head coach Dave Doeren celebrates with kicker Niklas Sade (32) after N.C. State’s 23-21 victory over Richmond Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
A.J. Cole, 2015-18
Steady, consistent four-year starter and then made the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent.
T.J. Graham, 2008-11
The Wakefield product holds the school’s career-record for kickoff return yards (3,153) and had a huge punt return for a touchdown in the 2010 win at UNC.
In the team picture
You can easily make the argument for Ryan Finley (2016-18) at quarterback. He started for three years and threw for 10,505 yards. And the program obviously missed him in 2019.
And Mike Glennon (2009-12) and Jacoby Brissett (2013-15) would be the choice at quarterback for most other ACC schools.
Defensive tackle Justin Jones (2014-17) also had a big hand in Chubb’s success. J.R. Sweezy (2008-11) is also notable on the defensive front, even though he found success in the NFL as an offensive lineman.
Kicker Chris Dunn, who will be a junior in 2020, will almost certainly be on 2020s All-Decade team. His first two years have been impressive but not enough to push him past Sade’s four-year marks.
N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley (15) passes during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Texas A&M in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
Joe Giglio has worked at The N&O since 1995 and has regularly reported on the ACC since 2005. He grew up in Ringwood, N.J. and graduated from N.C. State.Support my work with a digital subscription
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