4 NC State Players in SI’s NFL Top 300

Sports Illustrated released their list of the NFL’s top 400 players, and 4 former NC State players made the cut. Here’s what SI had to say about each of them.

#252 (#10 CB) – CB David Amerson – He’s a quality puzzle piece within the context of a zone scheme, and can matchup in man against certain receivers. The concern is against deep balls; Amerson must get better there.

#247 (#15 3-4 OLB) – 3-4 OLB Willie Young – He’s proficient as a looper or penetrator on stunts, and is capable of setting the edge in run defense. The Bears edge-rushing group’with Young, Leonard Floyd and Pernell McPhee’is underappreciated.

#139 (#12 QB) – QB Russell Wilson – I didn’t think he could become a quality NFL pocket passer. And, to be clear, because of his height, there are still plays from the pocket that he simply can’t make. But to Wilson’s immense credit, and to Seattle’s, he has discovered some dropback discipline on quick-strike throws out of spread sets. The beauty is that this doesn’t come at the expense of his sandlot abilities.

#88 (#12 QB) – QB Philip Rivers – The Chargers haven’t won enough for him to be thought of this way, but most people in football consider Rivers elite, no discussion. He’s a master field-reader, both before and after the snap. His high interception total last year’league-leading 21’stemmed from an uncommon number of route-running miscues by largely inexperienced receivers.