Senior Spotlight: Dexter Wright

RALEIGH, N.C. - Fans of every sports team can remember iconic moments that resulted in victory for their team.

There are plenty of those in NC State football's storied history for both the die hard Wolfpack fan and the casual observer. Senior safety Dexter Wright is one Wolfpack player who can claim to have made a play that Wolfpack nation will remember for years to come.

As NC State was celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Carter-Finley Stadium by hosting Notre Dame during the 2016 season, the steady rain surrounding Hurricane Matthew made the playing conditions 'interesting'.

Both teams were unable to move the ball with so much standing water, so the play of the game came on special teams.

With the Irish punting from their own 25-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter, NC State got the critical blocked punt for the game's only touchdown.

Wright was the fortunate recipient of the bounce, or on that day, the ball dropping straight into a puddle. He scooped it up and ran it back 16 yards for the winning score.

"You are never going to get another game like that. The environment, the conditions, the opponent … it all led to such a memorable game," said the redshirt-senior from Wilson.

"I have to thank Pharoah (McKever) for making that punt block and putting me in position to make such a huge play. That was a great highlight, but I look forward to making some more this final season."

Since that sophomore season, Wright has made plenty of plays, although maybe not any as memorable as that one in 2016. Now Wright is one of the leaders of the defense, manning one of the safety positions going into his final campaign.

"It still feels like yesterday I was out there playing my first game on special teams," said Wright. "Now I'm about to start my senior season. It puts everything in perspective, I know I have to do everything I can to help this team."

Going into the season opener against James Madison, NC State must replace eight starters on defense – six of who took part in NFL training camps.

The one group that is back in full is the Pack's safeties, as the top four on the depth chart combined for 25 of a possible 26 starts in 2018.

"We as the older guys on that side of the ball just have to come out and show everybody the ropes," said Wright. "We have a lot of new starters, but at the same time a lot of these guys have had playing time, and lots of it.

"I want to be a bigger leader, vocally for everybody."

While there is a whole season in front of him, and who knows about his playing days beyond NC State, Wright has already found his calling in what he wants to do once he earns his undergrad degree in social work.

"I would love to go into work in some form in foster care," said Wright. "It has been a passion of mine because I was adopted as well at a very young age. I did an internship this past summer (at the Blair Foundation), and that only wanted me to become more involved with foster care."

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