Fansided

15 college football teams losing the most talent in 2018

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to snap the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to snap the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 15
Next
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 25: North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end Bradley Chubb (9) rushes to North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams (17) on a trick pass play during the game between the North Carolina Tarheels and the NC State Wolfpack on November 25, 2017 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 25: North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end Bradley Chubb (9) rushes to North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams (17) on a trick pass play during the game between the North Carolina Tarheels and the NC State Wolfpack on November 25, 2017 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
  • Early NFL Draft Entrants: 2 (OL Will Richardson, RB Nyheim Hines)
  • Starters Lost: 14 (5 Offense, 9 Defense)
  • Two-Deep Lost: 16 (7 Offense, 9 Defense)
  • Passing Yards Returning: 3,535 (99.5 percent)
  • Rushing Yards Returning: 823 (33.9 percent)
  • Receiving Yards Returning: 2,727 (76.17 percent)
  • Tackles Returning:5 (41.1 percent)

After being upset by South Carolina in the season opener, N.C. State won six games in a row. The hot streak, which included upset wins over Florida State and Louisville, pushed the Wolfpack into the Top 25 into the ACC title hunt before losing three of four and eventually finishing 9-4. Overall, it was a successful campaign for the program. However, it will be difficult to carry the momentum over into 2018 given how much production must be replaced.

Defensive end Bradley Chubb earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, and also took home the Bronko Nagurski and Ted Hendricks Awards after racking up 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior. And though Chubb is the headliner and most talented player on the roster, the Wolfpack must replace eight other defensive starters as well – including the three that started with Chubb along the defensive line.

Leading tackler Jerod Fernandez is out of eligibility, as is fellow linebacker Airius Moore and three-fifths of the starting secondary. Overall, N.C. State lost nearly 60 percent of the defensive production from last year’s squad.

Offensively, Ryan Finley returns for his senior season, but leading rusher Nyheim Hines and starting tackle Will Richardson chose to leave school early for the NFL. The pair joins second-leading receiver Jaylen Samuels, tight end Cole Cook and starting guard Tony Adams, who graduated.

Home/College Football