The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1087622
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS sideline: "That last drive was on me. I had two one-on-ones; I've got to win those." Thanks in large part to Thuney, Donald was limited to one of his worst perfor- mances of the season, notching just two quarterback pressures, after becoming just the second in the PFF era (since 2006) to eclipse 100 in a season this year. "Joe Thuney helped the Patriots do the impossible in stifling Aaron Donald," PFF wrote. "… For Thuney, though, it was any- thing but a shocker. He has vastly improved his technique each year he's been in the league." Thuney is just the third former Wolf- packer to earn a pair of Super Bowl rings as a player — joining San Francisco 49ers kicker Mike Cofer and New York Giants defensive back Perry Williams — and will try to become the first ever with three. Only one other former NC State athlete — basketball's Josh Powell — has ever won two championships in the premier pro- fessional league of the three major sports (football, basketball and baseball). Even if he's not getting the deserved attention, Thuney's professional accom- plishments can already rival any other for- mer NC State athlete in history — and his career is just beginning. Dennis Smith Jr. Is Traded To Knicks The Dallas Mavericks made a block- buster deal at the end of January, sending Dennis Smith Jr. and two first-round picks as the main pieces to the New York Knicks in exchange for All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis and three other players. The 21-year-old Smith, whom the Mav- ericks picked ninth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, left Dallas on a high note, recording a 13-point, 15-assist and 10-rebound triple- double in just 28 minutes of action. His second career triple-double came during his second to last game with the club Jan. 30 at Madison Square Garden, which will be his new home with the Knicks. "Dennis Smith has had a really terrific year and a half in terms of growth," Maver- icks head coach Rick Carlisle told ESPN. "He tops it off with a triple-double. "He's a tremendous young player, and New York is such an exciting environment for a guy like him. It'll be a great situation for him." Smith battled injuries in Dallas, but still played in 101 of a possible 132 games, and averaged 14.5 points and 4.9 assists per contest. In 32 games with the team this season, he logged 28.4 minutes, 12.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Through his first nine contests with the Knicks, he was averaging 30.0 minutes, 16.1 points and 6.9 assists per outing. His best effort came when he put up a career- high 31 points Feb. 7 in his third game with the squad. He also represented his new team at All- Star weekend in Charlotte, where he was the runner-up in the NBA Dunk contest. ■ NBA Player Updates Through Feb. 25 • Dennis Smith Jr. (Played at NC State from 2016‑17), G, New York Knicks: Has seen action in 41 outings with the Mavericks and Knicks, and was averaging 28.7 min- utes, 13.6 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. • T.J. Warren, F, Phoenix Suns (2012‑14): Through the season's first 43 games, was averaging 31.6 minutes, 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. • C. J. Williams, G, Minnesota Timberwolves (2008‑12): Played in nine NBA contests so far, and was averaging 7.5 minutes and 1.7 points per appearance … Most of his action has come in the G League, where he has played in 27 games with 16 starts while averaging 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. ■ Strong Rookie Class And QB Duo Lead NC State In The 2018 NFL Season In addition to Joe Thuney joining exclusive company with a second Super Bowl ring, the Wolfpack had no shortage of NFL highlights this season. A quick rundown of some of the most notable accomplishments: • LB Bradley Chubb, Denver Broncos (Played at NC State 2014‑17): The No. 5 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft was a bright spot for the 6-10 Broncos. He finished with 60 tackles (41 solo), 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. He broke Von Miller's franchise rookie record for sacks (11.5) and tied for 14th in the league for quarterback take - downs, finishing 2.5 shy of the NFL rookie record. It was an auspicious start for the 16-game starter, who had not played linebacker since his freshman year in 2014. He put himself amongst elite company with 12 sacks as a rookie, something only 10 others have done since the statistic was first tracked in 1982. Those first 10 combined for 54 Pro Bowls, 20 seasons with a first-team All-Pro honor and 1,128.5 career sacks, with six ranking among the league's top 20 all-time sackers. Two of the 10 are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Reggie White and Charles Haley), while two more are likely shoe-ins once they become eligible (Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs). • DT B.J. Hill, New York Giants (2014‑17): Chubb's Raleigh linemate also made an instant impact. The third-round pick totaled 48 tackles (32 solo), 5.5 sacks and two passes defended in 16 games played and 12 starts for the 5-11 Giants. He had a three-sack game to become the first rookie to do so in franchise history. • RB Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts (2015‑17): The fourth-round rookie was a key depth figure for the 10-6 Colts, who reached the divisional round of the playoffs. He started four times and finished with 739 yards and four scores from scrimmage. • QB Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers (2000‑03): Led the 12-4 Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2013 and played at an MVP level. He ranked fifth in the league in passer rating (105.5), tied for sixth in touchdown passes (32) and eighth in passing yards (4,3308). The Pro Bowl selection checked in at No. 34 on Pro Football Focus' countdown of the top NFL players during the 2018 season. • QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (2007‑09): Wilson was routinely praised this year for doing a lot with a little in terms of his supporting cast with the 10-6 Seahawks, who reached the playoffs. He finished the regular season third in the league for both touchdowns throws (35) and passer rating (110.9). PFF ranked the Pro Bowler No. 42 on their countdown of the league's top players. Bradley Chubb became just the 11th rookie in NFL history to post 12 or more sacks. PHOTO COURTESY DENVER BRONCOS/GABRIEL CHRISTUS