Senior Spotlight: DE Mike Rose

RALEIGH, N.C. - For defensive end Mike Rose, the sky is the limit for a strong final campaign as a member of the NC State football team.

After being a major contributor on the field throughout the 2014 season while playing with a torn labrum, Rose only sees the upcoming season for him with a positive outlook.

"After we finished up the season last year, I had surgery on my labrum, followed by a two month recovery. I missed the spring practices because of the surgery, but came back in the summer and fall with a lot of speed and felt much faster," Rose said.

"Since I was hurt all last year I feel like I left some plays on the field, but now I feel like this year I'm much more explosive and much stronger."

Looking back on his injury, the Fountain Inn, S.C., native put his team before himself. Listed as the most experienced returnee on the defensive line, he finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in tackles for loss with 15 on the 2014 season.

"It was a struggle to push through last year but I knew that the team needed me. I played and started pretty much the whole season," Rose stated. "We have a great medical staff that played a big part in helping me to recover."

From a team mentality, Rose holds a positive perspective with the Pack's strong conference schedule and several upperclassman starters from last year returning to the field.

"I think NC State is in a perfect place right now. We're in a place that we were in 2010 where we were one game away from the ACC Championship," Rose said. "It's the same type of situation going on now where if we win a couple of unexpected games we could be in the championship game."

Looking further at his teammates that are slated to make big contributions in the 2015 campaign, Rose sees the camaraderie they share as well as the talents they possess as the perfect combination for a strong season.

"I think we have a great team chemistry and a great quarterback. We probably have one of the best running back tandems in college football right now and our defense is returning eight starters, so I think we're set up to have a really strong year."

Rose became interested in football when he was in middle school, but didn't take the game seriously until his football coach at Hillcrest High School reached out to recruit him to play.
"I started playing football when I was 12 years old, but played in high school because the coach asked me to," Rose explained. "I was getting into a lot of trouble, and he told me he would keep me out of trouble if I played for him."

Rose explained high school football in his hometown as an event that brings people together and is something that can be bonded over.

"High school football is a big 'shut down the town' type of event. If I could compare football in South Carolina it is like how soccer is in Europe."

When looking at where he wanted to play collegiate football, NC State was the only school he took into consideration.

"NC State was my first scholarship offer, and I immediately accepted it. I didn't take a visit beforehand, and didn't really even know where NC State was other than that it was in North Carolina," Rose said.

"After their offer I didn't want to consider anywhere else. I figured if they were the first to want to offer me a scholarship they really wanted me to be a part of the Wolfpack."

Rose is happy with the decision he made, as he has enjoyed the journey at NC State as well as the changes he has seen over the past four years.

"It's been a great experience; I really have enjoyed my time at NC State. I'm glad the new coaches came because it worked out for the best for everybody," Rose said. "NC State got the coach they wanted."

Looking ahead to after he finishes the 2015 season, Rose hopes he and his fellow senior classmates can leave the program and university in good standing.

"Hopefully, after being here for so long, we will leave NC State better than we came in. Hopefully we left the people better than when we came in as well."

As a class, Rose says that he and his fellow senior classmates try to serve as good examples of student-athletes for the rest of the team so the team as a whole can be successful on the field and in the classroom.

"We force them to get the school stuff right. Football will work itself out because obviously if they signed to come play football that isn't the hard part. We force them to go to class and pay attention, and once they adjust to the school aspect they're fine."

Rose graduated in May 2014 with a degree in program management. Dependent on how the the NFL draft goes this spring, he hopes to remain in the area of athletics no matter which path he takes after collegiate football.

"My plans after this fall are to do whatever I'm supposed to do, depending on how the season goes. If the NFL calls I'll go with the NFL, if not I want to use my degree and plan big events in the sports world like Super Bowls and the Olympics."

On top of the other excitement ahead for Rose, he was recently put on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award. The award has been presented to the nation's best defensive player annually since 1995.

"It feels great to be recognized for the hard work I have put in," Rose said. "For me to do that in a situation where I was hurt all the time it made me feel like if I wasn't hurt the sky is the limit for me this year."

"I appreciate anyone who enjoys watching my game."

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