The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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106 ■ THE WOLFPACKER SPECIAL TEAMS senior wide receiver Stephen Louis could be used prominently, and fifth-year senior cornerback Maurice Trowell has some past experience. "I've been big-time spoiled [with Hines]," Faulkner said. "We're trying to work through it. There's a lot of factors that come into it. "We could have multiple guys that could do it." Incoming freshman nickel Tanner Ingle was a gifted return man at Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips and could be a wild card during fall camp. "Tanner Ingle, I believe, had six touchdowns [on returns in high school]," Faulkner said. "He's definitely capable." NC State won't have any questions about senior long snapper Tyler Griffiths, who will be a four-year starter for the Wolfpack. "You don't notice a snapper because he's good," Faulkner said. "If you do notice him it is because it isn't going well. "We haven't noticed him. He's done a good job." Dunn and senior kicker Kyle Bambard will likely battle for kick- off duties. Bambard recorded 22 touchbacks on 79 kickoffs and had zero go out of bound last year. Potentially good health and an influx of freshmen and redshirt freshmen could also bolster the coverage units. Opposing punt returners averaged 13.2 yards on 18 attempts with a touchdown, while kick returners averaged 20.1 yards on 54 tries with a score against NCSU last season. ■ Getting To Know: Christopher Dunn Dave Doeren's 2018 recruiting class was one of his best yet at NC State. Rivals. com ranked it No. 34 nationally and the group included five four-star players. The headliners were a stud quarterback in Devin Leary from Timber Creek High in Sicklerville, N.J.; a star running back who was one of the best players in the country during the postseason all-star games in Ricky Person from Heritage High in Wake Forest, N.C.; an ultra-athletic defensive lineman with arguably the best offer list in the state from local Sanderson High in Raleigh in Alim McNeill; and an outstanding linebacker in Payton Wilson from Orange High in Hillsborough, N.C., that was one of the prized recruits for UNC until switching to NC State. The class closed by adding two spring signees that were coveted by the who's who of college football. Notre Dame and Miami aggressively pushed for longtime NC State commit Derrick Eason, a defensive end from Norview High in Norfolk, Va., that elected not to sign in December. Cornerback Taiyon Palmer, a former Duke pledge from Archer High in Lawrenceville, Ga., was heavily pursued by Clemson and took official visits to Tennessee and Nebraska in January before picking NC State. It was a star-studded recruiting class for Doeren and the Wolfpack, and yet the name that was probably the most anticipated by NC State fans — a fact even the head coach acknowledged during his December signing period press confer - ence — is kicker Christopher Dunn from North Davidson High in Lexington, N.C. That comes with the territory given NC State's struggle to replace all-time leading scorer Niklas Sade. The Pack has tried three different kickers over the past three seasons. Dunn is the latest to step into the role following a successful spring after he enrolled early. "I was really pleased with Chris Dunn as an early grad ... [he] was very consis - tent every day," Doeren said. "He has great work ethic and detail and has a nice routine he feels comfortable with. The pressure kicks that he had in front of the team and with the rush — he did a tremendous job. "Our snapper and holder have done a nice job helping him kind of adapt and not having a lot of things to worry about. So he will be our starting kicker." It has been a long time coming for Dunn. He verbally committed to the Wolf- pack in June 2016, before his junior season of prep football. The longtime NC State fan wasted little time accepting an offer from his dream school. "Since day one I've fallen in love with NC State," Dunn said at the time of his pledge. Dunn is a former soccer player who once turned on a game and saw former Florida State and current Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano make a 46-yard field goal. Not long after that, Dunn made a makeshift field goal at his house, located out in the country. "I went and made my own field goal and started kicking field goals," Dunn remembered. "My dad said, 'You are not half bad at this.' "So I kept kicking and kept getting better and better. Now I am love with it." Dunn's powerful leg produced a 57-yarder during his senior campaign at North Davidson. With any similar type of success at NC State, fans will long remember the day he became an official member of the Wolfpack. — Matt Carter Quick Facts Position Coach: Eddie Faulkner (sixth season) Returning Starters: K Kyle Bambard, P A.J. Cole and LS Tyler Griffiths Starter Lost: KR/PR Nyheim Hines FYI: Lindy's projects Cole as second-team All-ACC … Prized freshman kicker Christo - pher Dunn earned a spot in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in New Orleans, and he also played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game … Dunn set North Carolina a state record for career touchbacks (89), while his 30 career field goals are tied for fifth in state history and his long of 57 is tied for the sixth-longest make … Dunn also posted a 42.3-yard punting average in his prep career … Incoming freshman nickel Tan - ner Ingle racked up six career touchdowns and averaged 35.2 yards per kickoff return and 19.7 yards on punt returns at Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips. Dunn enrolled early and emerged as the top option at kicker during the spring. He converted a 27-yard field goal and all three extra points in rain- soaked conditions at the Kay Yow Spring Game. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN