New Wolfpack Captains no Strangers to Leadership; Moore to wear honored No. 1
NC State's four football co-captains for the 2020 season are no strangers to leadership.
Two of them, junior linebacker Isaiah Moore and junior center Grant Gibson, are members of the athletic department's Student-Athlete Advisory Council and have been out front in the #PackUnited movement organizing their fellow athletes to fight the good fight in the name of social justice.
Another, graduate tight end Dylan Autenreith, was also a captain last year who continued to lead even after suffering a season-ending knee injury in just the third game.
Senior safety Tanner Ingle, meanwhile, has started in each of his three previous seasons at State.
The four were selected by a vote of their teammates.
Congrats to our 2020 team captains!
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) September 13, 2020
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In addition to his selection as captain, Moore was also given the honor of wearing jersey No. 1 this season.
Moore is only the second underclassmen to so recognized by coach Dave Doeren, who has awarded No. 1 since 2014 to a member of the team for his work ethic, character, leadership and athletic accomplishments.
Jaylen Samuels was also given the honor as a junior and senior in 2016-17.
“Isaiah has led our team both athletically and socially,” said Doeren. “He is a great person, player and teammate. He has overcome many obstacles and continues to shine in the face of adversity as a leader who brings strength to the Pack."
Last season, defensive end James Smith-Williams wore No. 1. In 2018, wide receiver Stephen Louis, who had undergone two shoulder surgeries, wore the honored jersey. Two-time All-ACC all-purpose Jaylen Samuels wore No. 1 in 2016 and 2017, while senior Hakim Jones was honored in 2015. Safety Jarvis Byrd, who had come back from three torn ACLs to play his senior campaign, wore No. 1 for the 2014 season.
Moore was the third leading tackler on the Wolfpack last season with 53, including five for losses, with a pair of sacks, four quarterback pressures and a forced fumble.
Among the other captains, Ingle was one of the most consistent players on the team in 2019. He ranked second in tackles with 68 while also adding four pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and a forced fumble.
Gibson is a converted defensive lineman who moved over to offense and was the only member of that unit to start every game last season. His 895 snaps were by far the most on the team. Because of his work anchoring the line and his leadership ability, he earned the Mike Hardy Award as the Wolfpack player that best exhibited a winning attitide.
Authenreith was off to a career-best start with three catches for 40 yards while providing a reliable edge blocker before his season was cut short by a knee injury at West Virginia. Even after he went down, he continued to be a visible figure on the sideline encouraging his teammates and contributing any way he could.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2018, he was the co-recipient of the Bo rein Award as the team member who provides a vital contribution in an unsung role.
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