The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/896287
138 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS It doesn't look like the Pack is done producing pros under center, either. Al- though some of the talk may have quieted with a subpar performance at Notre Dame Oct. 28, fifth-year junior Ryan Finley is starting to earn some NFL buzz from a few notable media outlets. One CBSSports.com writer listed him as the No. 7 overall pick in his 2018 NFL mock draft released Oct. 25, while ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Finley the No. 6 draft-eligible quarterback in the country in late October and noted on Twit- ter he "could rise to the first-round discus- sion by next April." Pro Football Focus and NFL.com also had articles detailing the nation's top draft- able quarterbacks ahead of the Notre Dame contest that mentioned Finley. The 2017 season has proven that NC State is the undisputed "Quarterback U" and won't be giving up that title any time soon. Even if Rivers is nearing the twilight of his NFL career, Finley appears poised to carry on the torch — whether he leaves for the 2018 or 2019 NFL Draft. NFL Player Updates Through Nov. 1 • David Amerson (Played at NC State from 2010‑12), CB, Oakland Raiders: Started all six games he's played in for the 3-5 Raiders, but has missed time with injuries … Posted 18 tackles and four passes defended in his time on the field. • Jacoby Brissett (2014‑15), QB, Indianapolis Colts: Was traded to the 2-6 Colts prior to the start of the regular season and has opened the last seven contests, appearing in all eight, for 2-6 Indianapolis … Has com - pleted 145 of 240 passes (60.4 percent) for 1,642 yards with five touchdowns and four picks for a passer rating of 80.9 … Does not get much help from his offensive line, with the 29 times he has been sacked representing the most in the league … Also has rushed 32 times for 135 yards (4.2-yard average) and three scores. • Juston Burris (2012‑15), CB, New York Jets: Ap - peared in seven games off the bench for the 3-5 Jets … Totaled eight tackles and two passes defended, including an interception that he returned 48 yards. • Matt Dayes (2013‑16), RB, Cleveland Browns: The rookie has played in every contest for the 0-8 Browns … Has rushed four times for nine yards, caught three passes for 24 yards, notched four special teams tackles and returned four kickoffs for 135 yards with a long of 71. • Mike Glennon (2009‑12), QB, Chicago Bears: Started the first four games of the season for the 3-5 Bears … Completed 93 of 140 passes (66.4 percent) for 833 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 76.9. • David Grinnage (2013‑15), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Spent the first eight weeks of the campaign on the 4-3 Jaguars' practice squad. • Stephen Hauschka (2007), K, Buffalo Bills: Is 16 of 18 (88.9 percent) on field goals this year for the 5-2 Bills … Has made all five tries from 50 or more yards, and has not missed a kick from that distance since the 2014 season, making a NFL record-tying 12 in a row (he is one of five to do so) … Hit the game-winner from 30 yards out in a 30-27 victory against Tampa Bay Oct. 22 … Became the 65th player in league history to make 200 or more career field goals with a successful kick versus Cincinnati Oct. 8 … Was the first NFL kicker ever to have back-to-back games with multiple field goals made of 53 yards or more in weeks three and four … Also one of six ever to hit multiple kicks from 55 yards or more in the same game, he did so in week four to earn his second straight AFC Special Teams Player of the Week laurel … His career field goal percentage now sits at 87.3 percent, which ranks fourth in NFL history; none of the three players ahead of him started their pro careers before 2011 (Hauschka's first year was 2008). • Dontae Johnson (2010‑13), CB, San Francisco 49ers: Started each of the first eight games for 0-8 San Fran - cisco … Has logged 38 tackles and broken up four passes. • Josh Jones (2014‑16), S, Green Bay Packers: The second-round pick has played in seven games for the 4-3 Packers, including one start … Posted 28 tackles (26 solo), two sacks and one pass broken up. • Ted Larsen (2006‑09), OL, Miami Dolphins: The vet- eran began the year on injured reserve due to a torn bi- ceps, but was designated to return for the 4-3 Dolphins. • T.Y. McGill (2011‑14), DT, Cleveland Browns: Has appeared in a pair of games and posted one stop for the 0-8 Browns. • Philip Rivers (2000‑03), QB, Los Angeles Chargers: Has started all eight contests for the 3-5 Chargers and connected on 173 of 286 passes (60.5 percent) for 2,028 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions for a passer rating of 88.4 … Ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards and was tied for seventh in touchdown throws. • J.R. Sweezy (2008‑11), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After missing all of last year with a back injury, has returned to open every game at right guard for the 2-5 Buccaneers. • Joe Thuney (2012‑15), OL, New England Patriots: The left guard has started all eight games for the 6-2 defending Super Bowl champions. • Jack Tocho (2013‑16), DB, Minnesota Vikings: Listed as a safety, the rookie is on the 6-2 Vikings' practice squad. • Russell Wilson (2007‑09), QB, Seattle Seahawks: Has started all seven games for 5-2 Seattle … Completed 164 of 258 passes (63.6 percent) for 2,008 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions for a passer rating of 100.4 … Has also rushed 36 times for 194 yards (5.4- yard average) and one score … Boasted the eighth-best quarterback rating among passers with at least 100 attempts … Was fifth in touchdown throws and ranked sixth in passing yards. • Willie Young (2006‑09), LB, Chicago Bears: The eighth-year veteran was placed on season-ending in - jured reserve with a torn triceps suffered in week four … Started twice and appeared in all four games en route to totaling seven tackles with two sacks for the 3-5 Bears. NBA Player Updates Through Nov. 1 • Dennis Smith Jr. (Played at NC State in 2017), G, Dallas Mavericks: Started all seven games he's appeared in, missing two with swelling in his left knee … Averaging 28.1 minutes, 12.3 points, 5.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game for the 1-7 Mavericks, while shooting 39.8 percent from the floor. • T.J. Warren, F, Phoenix Suns (2013‑14): Started the first eight contests for the 4-4 Suns … Averaging 28.4 minutes, 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 seals per game, while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor … Already has posted four games with at least 20 points, including two straight double- doubles from Oct. 31-Nov. 1 that included a combined 60 points and 21 boards … Set a career high with 40 points Nov. 1 in a 122-116 win over the Wizards. Final 2017 MLB Player Updates • Nate Karns (Played at NC State in 2007), RHP, Kan‑ sas City Royals: The righty who finished his college career at Texas Tech was shut down for the year after a mid-July surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome … Finished his fifth year in the bigs with a 2-2 record and 4.17 ERA in nine appearances. • Carlos Rodon (2012‑14), LHP, Chicago White Sox: Battled injuries, but finished the year with a 2-5 record and 4.15 ERA in 12 major-league starts … Struck out 76 in 69 1 ⁄3 innings of work … In his six starts in August and September, he was 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA. • Trea Turner (2012‑14), SS, Washington Nationals: A key cog of the National League East champion Nation- als, who won 97 games (the second most in franchise history) and reached the National League Division Series before losing to the Cubs … Despite missing 61 games due to injury, he still finished the season third in MLB with 46 steals, trailing only Miami's Dee Gordon (60) and Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton (59); Gordon played in 60 more games than Turner, while Hamilton saw time in 41 more … Finished the season with 98 games played, a .284 batting average, 75 runs scored, 45 RBI, 24 doubles, six triples and 11 home runs. ■ Despite missing 61 games due to injury, Trea Turner still finished third in MLB with 46 sto- len bases while also hitting .284 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP