The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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58 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 78 Offensive lineman Steve Warren (1965-67) Warren was Dennis Byrd's fellow Lincolnton, N.C., native on the 1967 team that was ranked as high as No. 3 in the national poll. He later had a successful professional ca - reer and served seven years on NC State's Board of Trustees. 79 Offensive lineman R.J. Mattes (2009-12) A rare four-year starter on the offensive line, Mattes achieved the even rarer accomplishment of start- ing at every position on the line except center. He was named second-team All-ACC in 2012. 80 Tight end Lin Dawson (1977-80) The four-year starter at NC State helped the 1979 team win the ACC Championship, and he then had a successful nine-year career in the NFL with the New England Patriots. 82 Receiver Jerricho Cotchery (2000-03) Cotchery was his fellow Alabama native quarterback Philip Rivers' favorite target at NC State. Cotchery holds the school record for most career recep - tions (200), which is second most in ACC history, and is second to Torry Holt in receiving yards (3,119) and touchdowns (21). The two-time All-ACC choice played 12 years in the NFL, catching 524 passes for 6,623 yards and 34 scores. 83 Tight end Anthony Hill (2005-08) Hill had the makings of a future star when he caught 45 passes for 478 yards as a sophomore in 2006 and was named second-team All-ACC. A torn ACL sidelined him a year later, but he returned to catch four touchdowns as a senior and then was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. 84 Tight end George Bryan (2008-11) Bryan was named first-team All-ACC in 2009 and 2010, and second-team in 2011, becoming one of just five NC State football players to have three separate all-conference selections. He ended his career with 126 receptions, the most for a tight end in school history, and 17 scoring receptions, tied for fourth most among all positions at NCSU. 85 Defensive end Carl Reeves (1991-94) Reeves burst onto the scene as a sophomore when he tallied 10.5 sacks, which at the time was the most in a season at NC State (it is now tied for third). He finished his career with 22.5, the fourth-highest total for a Wolfpacker. The two-time second-team All- ACC choice played four seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. 86 Tight end David J. Grinnage (2013-15) In three seasons in Raleigh, Grinnage caught 67 passes for 798 yards and nine touchdowns. He left af- ter his junior campaign to turn pro, but was not drafted. 87 Tight end Pat Hovance (1972-75) Hovance was a consistent receiving target for four seasons, finishing his career with 49 receptions for 714 yards and four scores. He was named first-team All-ACC in 1975. 88 Defensive end Pete Sokalsky (1963-65) Sokalsky was part of three NC State teams that at least shared an ACC title, and he was named first- team All-ACC as a senior. 89 Quarterback Norm Sloan (1947-50) Many may be surprised to know that Sloan, the future 1974 national-title-winning head basketball coach for the Wolfpack, was also a quarterback — al - beit as a reserve — when he was a student at NCSU. He even quit basketball before his senior season and focused on the gridiron. He was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 as a basketball coach. 90 Defensive tackle Simon Gupton (1976-79) Gupton emerged on the scene when he had 16 tackles for loss in 1977, which is tied for 10th most in school history, and then he was named first-team All- ACC the next two seasons. 91 Defensive end Manny Lawson (2002-05) After beginning his career at linebacker, the athletic Lawson — who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds and registered a 39.5-inch vertical leap at the NFL Combine while checking in at 6-5, 241 pounds — moved to defensive end in 2004 and became an instant success. He was named second-team All-ACC that year and landed on the first team a year later. Lawson is tied for the fifth-most sacks (21) and fourth-most tackles for loss (41) at NC State. The first-round draft choice played 10 seasons in the NFL. 92 Defensive tackle DeMario Pressley (2004-07) Pressley, rated five stars and No. 11 nationally in the 2004 class by Rivals.com, was the highest-ranked player to sign with NCSU in the Rivals era (2000-cur - rent). He started on arguably the greatest defensive line in school history and was honorable mention All-ACC as a senior. 93 Defensive tackle Ray Agnew (1986-89) The ACC Rookie of the Year in 1986 is tied for seventh in school history with 17 career sacks. He was named first-team All-ACC in 1989. The 10th overall pick of the 1990 draft played 11 seasons in the NFL. 94 Defensive lineman Kyle Blalock (1994-97) As a senior, Blalock had seven sacks, tied for 15th most in a season at NC State. 95 Defensive end Art Norman (2011-14) Norman tied the school record for sacks by a freshman (seven) and finished his career with 23.5 quarterback takedowns, third most in school history. 96 Defensive tackle Kent Winstead (1984-87) Winstead was named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior, and he is currently the sheriff in Franklin County. 97 Defensive end Willie Young (2005-09) Young was named second-team All-ACC in 2009 after picking up eight sacks that year, tied for the ninth most in a single season at NCSU. His career totals of 20.5 sacks (seventh) and 45.5 tackles for loss (second) are among the best at NC State. He is going into his eighth season in the NFL and had 30 sacks in his first seven campaigns. 98 Defensive tackle John Adleta (1985-88) Adleta was a contributor in the middle of the line and helped Dick Sheridan lay down the foundation for his tenure. He had an interception in a key early-season win over No. 13 Maryland in Sheridan's surprise first season. 99 Defensive tackle Mike Jones (1987-90) Jones was second-team All-ACC as a senior when he had 10 sacks, becoming the first Wolfpacker to officially record a double-digit sack season. His 21 career sacks are tied for fifth in school history. Jones played nine seasons in the NFL. ■ 81 Nearly two decades after his Wolfpack playing career has ended, Holt is still considered the greatest receiver to play for NC State. After catching 88 passes for 1,604 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, Holt was named the ACC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. He even received two first- place votes for the Heisman Trophy. He remains NC State's all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,379, which is sixth all-time in the ACC, and is second in receptions at 191. His 11.9 yards per punt return is also ranked sixth all time in school history. After NC State, Holt embarked on a stel- lar NFL career and was a semifinalist for the NFL Hall of Fame in 2017. He earned seven Pro Bowl nods and twice led the NFL in receiving yards (2000 and 2003) and was named to the league's 2000s All-Decade Team. He finished his 11-year pro- fessional career with 920 receptions (20th all time) for 13,382 yards (16th) and 74 touchdowns (tied for 34th). His No. 81 is retired at NC State and he was inducted into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. Receiver Torry Holt (1995-98) PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS