Wolfpack hopes pair of running backs make some noise

RALEIGH -- The nickname teammate Audi Augustin created for Curtis Underwood Jr. and James Washington hints at what the two running backs are hoping to add to the N.C. State offense this fall.

Augustin dubbed them "Sonic Boom." Washington is "Sonic," and Underwood is "Boom."

"I'm the fastest of the bunch," Washington said, "and Curt, he's the more solid back. He's [about] 220 [pounds], so he can take the pounding."

Underwood and Washington are the leading candidates to carry the load for a new generation of running backs at N.C. State.

Former coach Chuck Amato's 2005 recruiting class landed N.C. State an excellent trio of backs who would anchor the Wolfpack running game for five years. Andre Brown rushed for 2,539 yards, the seventh-highest total in school history, from 2005 to 2008.

Toney Baker, who missed the 2008 season with a knee injury, rushed for 2,045 yards, 11th-best in school history. And after redshirting in 2005, Jamelle Eugene ran for 1,477 yards in his career.

The NCAA granted Baker a sixth season of eligibility for 2010 because his injury caused him to miss almost two full seasons. But he chose to turn pro instead, thrusting Underwood and Washington to the forefront.

"I don't think we're far off from those guys," Underwood said. "They had a lot of attention coming in. I guess all of them were [high school] All-Americans. We just need to work hard and study the playbook and give the extra effort, and everything will work out."

When he saw that Baker and Eugene were going to be ahead of him on the depth chart last season, Underwood decided to redshirt in order to have a chance at possibly starting as a junior and senior with the Wolfpack.

Underwood is the only player on N.C. State's roster from New York state; he's from Lackawanna, N.Y., near Buffalo. He was scheduled to take an official visit to Boston College in late 2006 when coach Tom O'Brien decided to take the N.C. State job.

After being invited to visit N.C. State instead, Underwood accepted and fell in love with the school. He carried 51 times for 200 yards over the first two years of his career before sitting out last season, and at 5 feet 11 and 216 pounds said he is ready to handle the tough running between the tackles.

Washington, who's 5-11 and 180 pounds, enrolled early in 2009 to go through spring practice and quickly made an impression on N.C. State fans last season. With Eugene battling an injury late in the opener against South Carolina, Washington got into the lineup as the third-team halfback.

He scooted free for a 12-yard run, finishing the game with 16 yards on three carries.

Over the next two games, blowouts against Murray State and Gardner-Webb, Washington totaled 18 carries for 60 yards. He ran for two touchdowns and caught a pass for another against Murray State, but was relegated to special teams duty in the next three games as Eugene's health improved.

Then, at Boston College, Washington suffered a season-ending knee injury. He said he is at 100 percent now, though, as he competes with Underwood for a starting job.

Walk-on Travis Leggett and freshmen Mustafa Greene and Anthony Creecy also are competing for playing time as sophomore Brandon Barnes is out with an ankle injury.

"It would be great if somebody separated themselves," O'Brien said. "But that's all part of the camp process and seeing how it shakes out. That would be great. If it doesn't happen, we'll have multiple guys. We're always going to have two guys play and a third guy is held in reserve, ready to go."

The backs are N.C. State's only question mark at the skill positions on offense. Quarterback Russell Wilson led the ACC in touchdown passes last season, and Jarvis Williams and Owen Spencer lead an experienced group of receivers.

In order to make the Wolfpack offense balanced and spark the running game, Underwood and Washington need to live up to their nickname.

"It's up to Curtis and me to carry the load," Washington said. "We've got the best wide receivers in the ACC and the best quarterback, so it's up to us to carry the load for the offense."