North Carolina State University Athletics
18 Former Wolfpack Players on Opening NFL Rosters
9/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 4, 2014
Raleigh, N.C. – The 2014 NFL season opens up Thursday night, and 18 former NC State players find themselves on NFL squads.
David Amerson, CB, Washington Redskins – Amerson moves into the starting role this year at right corner opposite of Pro Bowler DeAngelo Hall. In his rookie season last year, Amerson accumulated 48 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 45-yard touchdown.
Audie Cole, LB, Minnesota Vikings – Cole, now in his third year with the Vikings, is listed as the second string middle linebacker. Cole started in 5 games last season at the middle linebacker for Minnesota. Over his three year career, he has accounted for 45 tackles and one sack.
Jericho Cotchery, WR, Carolina Panthers – Now in his 11th season in the NFL, the seasoned veteran returns to the state of North Carolina as one of the starting wide receivers for the Carolina Panthers. The fourth-round pick of the 2004 NFL draft has now caught 437 receptions for over 5,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, including a career-best 10 last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Glennon started at quarterback 13 games last year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of three Wolfpack grads to start in the NFL last season at a quarterback. Glennon completed close to 60% of his passes for over 2,600 yards and 19 touchdowns. He enters 2014 as the back-up to Josh McCown to start the season.
T.J. Graham, WR, Tennessee Titans – The Titans picked Graham up off of waivers this week, and have him listed as a third string receiver and he is also expected to help out on special teams. He was the No. 3 receiver for the Buffalo Bills the past two seasons, and has 54 receptions, over 600 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns for his career.
Steve Hauschka, PK, Seattle Seahawks – A member of the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, Hauschka was 33 of 35 on field goals during the regular season and was a perfect 8 for 8 during the Seahawks playoff run last season. Hauschka has scored 455 total points in his NFL career.
Nate Irving, LB, Denver Broncos – Irving started 4 games last season for the AFC Champion Denver Broncos, including in the Super Bowl, and is slated as the starting middle linebacker for the upcoming season.
Dontae Johnson, DB, San Francisco 49ers – Johnson, the fourth-round pick (no. 129 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft, is slated as the second string cornerback for the 49ers and is also expected to help out on special teams.
Markus Kuhn, DT, New York Giants – After rehabbing a torn ACL for the past year, Kuhn comes into the 2014 season healthy and ready to play. Kuhn is listed as the second string defensive tackle, and is expected to see playing time as a rotational defensive lineman.
Ted Larson, OL, Arizona Cardinals – Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Larsen is a back-up center for the Arizona Cardinals. Larsen is with his third NFL team, having previously played for the Patriots, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
Manny Lawson, DE, Buffalo Bills – Lawson now entering his ninth NFL season is playing defensive end behind his Wolfpack teammate Mario Williams. The former first-round pick has a career total of 404 tackles, 22 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers – Now in his 11th season with the Chargers, Rivers has some pretty impressive statistics. Rivers has over 2,600 completions, completed 64% of his passes, and has thrown for 221 touchdowns.
J.R. Sweezy, OL, Seattle Seahawks – Sweezy, a defensive tackle in college, made a rare yet successful transition into an offensive guard for the Seahawks. Now entering his third season with the Seattle Seahawks, and second starting at offensive line, Sweezy is set to be the starter again this year. Last season Sweezy started every game on the O-Line for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Stephen Tulloch, LB, Detroit Lions – Tulloch is now entering his ninth NFL season and has become one of the most important pieces to the Detroit Lions over the four years that he has been on the team. Tulloch has totaled 815 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries and five interceptions over his nine year NFL career with the Lions and Titans.
Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills – Williams the only ACC player to ever be selected number 1 overall, is entering his ninth season in the NFL. He was selected to the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl after accounting for 38 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 13 sacks last season. In his career, he has a total of 325 tackles, 76.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks – The Super Bowl winning QB, Wilson is entering his third season with the Seattle Seahawks and hopes to repeat last year’s Super Bowl success. Wilson has completed over 500 passes, has a 63% completion percentage, over 6,400 yards passing, over 1,000 yards rushing, and has scored 57 touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons.
Earl Wolff, S, Philadelphia Eagles – Wolff now in his second season with the Eagles hopes to get a bigger role in the defense. Last year, Wolff saw sometime at free safety, but made most of his plays on special teams. He accounted for 45 tackles and one interception in his rookie season.
Willie Young, DE, Chicago Bears – Young joins the Bears defense this year after spending the previous four years in Detroit. Young has made 72 tackles, 6 sacks, and recovered 2 fumbles thus far in his NFL career.
Raleigh, N.C. – The 2014 NFL season opens up Thursday night, and 18 former NC State players find themselves on NFL squads.
David Amerson, CB, Washington Redskins – Amerson moves into the starting role this year at right corner opposite of Pro Bowler DeAngelo Hall. In his rookie season last year, Amerson accumulated 48 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 45-yard touchdown.
Audie Cole, LB, Minnesota Vikings – Cole, now in his third year with the Vikings, is listed as the second string middle linebacker. Cole started in 5 games last season at the middle linebacker for Minnesota. Over his three year career, he has accounted for 45 tackles and one sack.
Jericho Cotchery, WR, Carolina Panthers – Now in his 11th season in the NFL, the seasoned veteran returns to the state of North Carolina as one of the starting wide receivers for the Carolina Panthers. The fourth-round pick of the 2004 NFL draft has now caught 437 receptions for over 5,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, including a career-best 10 last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Glennon started at quarterback 13 games last year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of three Wolfpack grads to start in the NFL last season at a quarterback. Glennon completed close to 60% of his passes for over 2,600 yards and 19 touchdowns. He enters 2014 as the back-up to Josh McCown to start the season.
T.J. Graham, WR, Tennessee Titans – The Titans picked Graham up off of waivers this week, and have him listed as a third string receiver and he is also expected to help out on special teams. He was the No. 3 receiver for the Buffalo Bills the past two seasons, and has 54 receptions, over 600 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns for his career.
Steve Hauschka, PK, Seattle Seahawks – A member of the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, Hauschka was 33 of 35 on field goals during the regular season and was a perfect 8 for 8 during the Seahawks playoff run last season. Hauschka has scored 455 total points in his NFL career.
Nate Irving, LB, Denver Broncos – Irving started 4 games last season for the AFC Champion Denver Broncos, including in the Super Bowl, and is slated as the starting middle linebacker for the upcoming season.
Dontae Johnson, DB, San Francisco 49ers – Johnson, the fourth-round pick (no. 129 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft, is slated as the second string cornerback for the 49ers and is also expected to help out on special teams.
Markus Kuhn, DT, New York Giants – After rehabbing a torn ACL for the past year, Kuhn comes into the 2014 season healthy and ready to play. Kuhn is listed as the second string defensive tackle, and is expected to see playing time as a rotational defensive lineman.
Ted Larson, OL, Arizona Cardinals – Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Larsen is a back-up center for the Arizona Cardinals. Larsen is with his third NFL team, having previously played for the Patriots, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
Manny Lawson, DE, Buffalo Bills – Lawson now entering his ninth NFL season is playing defensive end behind his Wolfpack teammate Mario Williams. The former first-round pick has a career total of 404 tackles, 22 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers – Now in his 11th season with the Chargers, Rivers has some pretty impressive statistics. Rivers has over 2,600 completions, completed 64% of his passes, and has thrown for 221 touchdowns.
J.R. Sweezy, OL, Seattle Seahawks – Sweezy, a defensive tackle in college, made a rare yet successful transition into an offensive guard for the Seahawks. Now entering his third season with the Seattle Seahawks, and second starting at offensive line, Sweezy is set to be the starter again this year. Last season Sweezy started every game on the O-Line for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Stephen Tulloch, LB, Detroit Lions – Tulloch is now entering his ninth NFL season and has become one of the most important pieces to the Detroit Lions over the four years that he has been on the team. Tulloch has totaled 815 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries and five interceptions over his nine year NFL career with the Lions and Titans.
Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills – Williams the only ACC player to ever be selected number 1 overall, is entering his ninth season in the NFL. He was selected to the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl after accounting for 38 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 13 sacks last season. In his career, he has a total of 325 tackles, 76.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks – The Super Bowl winning QB, Wilson is entering his third season with the Seattle Seahawks and hopes to repeat last year’s Super Bowl success. Wilson has completed over 500 passes, has a 63% completion percentage, over 6,400 yards passing, over 1,000 yards rushing, and has scored 57 touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons.
Earl Wolff, S, Philadelphia Eagles – Wolff now in his second season with the Eagles hopes to get a bigger role in the defense. Last year, Wolff saw sometime at free safety, but made most of his plays on special teams. He accounted for 45 tackles and one interception in his rookie season.
Willie Young, DE, Chicago Bears – Young joins the Bears defense this year after spending the previous four years in Detroit. Young has made 72 tackles, 6 sacks, and recovered 2 fumbles thus far in his NFL career.
Players Mentioned
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