The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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22 ■ THE WOLFPACKER High in Sicklerville, N.J. He threw for 1,219 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games, including five starts, and was intercepted five times. However, Leary will look to improve on his 48.1 percent accuracy mark and over- all game management. If he takes a significant step forward in his development in 2020, the Pack should have a nice bounce-back campaign. 12. Isaiah Moore, R-Jr., LB Based on social media and public state- ments, the 6-2, 242-pound Moore has emerged as an unquestioned leader of the Wolfpack this offseason. In 2018, he was voted the team's Fresh- man of the Year after starting all but one game at middle linebacker and finishing third in tackles with 69. He was once again third on the squad in hits in 2019 (53), but is look- ing for more consistency this fall. Phil Steele tabbed Moore as a preseason third-team All-ACC choice. 14. Louis Acceus, Sr., LB Prior to missing the last four games with an injury, Acceus was a leading contender to pace NC State in tackles. He finished the year with 50 hits, six tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. His standout performance was a monster effort against Syracuse when he had 14 hits, including three sacks. That game earned Ac- ceus ACC Linebacker of the Week honors and showcased what he is capable of doing when healthy. A game later, Acceus had 10 more tackles at Boston College. The 5-11, 230-pounder is noted for being an athletic linebacker. 15. Trenton Gill, R-Jr., P Last year at this time many were betting that scholarship punter Mackenzie Morgan would be replacing A.J. Cole, who is now in the NFL, as NC State's starter. Instead it was Gill, the former walk-on, who got the nod. Gill proved the coaches right. He was named third-team All-ACC after setting a Wolfpack record with a single-sea- son average of 47.6 yards per punt. Walter Camp named him a second-team preseason All-American, and the 6-4, 209-pounder is on the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award given to college football's best punter. 16. Jordan Houston, So., RB The 5-10, 190-pounder is a former Mary- land commit that was one of the last play- ers to join the 2019 recruiting class, but he quickly showed he was a worthy addition. Houston led the Pack in rushing in five games last season and finished with 101 car- ries for 526 yards — an impressive 5.2 yards per carry — and two scores. He also caught 15 passes for 112 yards. Houston helps NC State have a potentially loaded backfield to ease some of the pressure on Leary and the passing game. 17. Chris Ingram, Sr., CB If there were no questions about Ingram's health, he likely would have been much higher on this list. Last season, Ingram won ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors when he had nine tackles and an intercep- tion against Ball State. He totaled two picks through the first five games of the year, and then in week six he suffered a season-ending knee injury in a win over Syracuse. The 6-0, 186-pounder has started 18 of the last 19 games he has played, and when fully healthy he is probably the Pack's best cover corner. 18. Ricky Person Jr., Jr, RB Like Ingram, Person probably would have been higher on this list had he not labored through an injury-riddled 2019 campaign. Person appears healthy this preseason, and the 6-1, 215-pounder has been praised by Doeren for his leadership. The key for Person is staying on the field. He is a former prized recruit who was rated the No. 91 prospect nationally in the 2018 class coming out of Heritage High in Wake Forest, N.C. In his first ACC game, Person ran 14 times for 108 yards against Virginia. A week later, he had 17 rushes for 92 yards versus Boston College. But he sat four games as a freshman and five more in 2019 with injuries. In two seasons, Person has 173 rushes for 700 yards and five scores, plus he hauled in seven receptions for 79 yards and two touch- downs. The athletically gifted rusher could be a huge spark to the offense if he stays on the field. 13. Cary Angeline, 5th-Sr., TE The former Southern Cal transfer had his breakout season in 2019, emerging as one of NC State's most reliable tar- gets, especially in the red zone. He had 25 receptions for 369 yards and five scores last fall, leading the team in TD receptions. He was selected as the Gary Rowe Award winner for the team's top receiver and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors. This preseason, the 6-7, 250-pounder was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award given to college football's best tight end. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS