NC State football starts spring practice this week. Here are four things to watch for
Dave Doeren recently received a big payday ($5 million a year) and an extension. He’ll also enter spring practice this week with all of his assistants back and 10 starters returning on defense.
N.C. State football will face higher than normal expectations ahead of the 2022 season. Coming off a 9-3 season, N.C. State will be one of the favorites to win the Atlantic Division. The buzz around the team has already started.
The Wolfpack, which starts spring practice on March 2, will use the next few weeks to fine tune some things in order to meet those expectations in the fall. Its spring game will be April 9 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
“We all have one goal and that’s to win,” center Grant Gibson told The News & Observer. “We don’t feed into the hype right now. We have to go out there and earn everything. We all understand what’s said online doesn’t indicate what’s going to happen next year. We have to put in the work right now. Our team is anxious to get back on the field, we’re ready to get back to work.”
Last year was the first time since 1986 that the team went undefeated at home. It was also the first time since 2002 that N.C. State defeated Clemson and Florida State in the same season. At lot was accomplished, but the players want to make it clear that there’s plenty more out there.
“I think this spring you’re going to see a team working hard to get what we want,” linebacker Isaiah Moore said. “This team is hungry, we’re not satisfied with anything that we’ve done in the past. We’re ready to take this team, take this university to new heights and we can’t wait to do it.”
Here are four things to look for this spring:
Who takes over at running back?
Ricky Person, Jr. and Zonovan Knight are both gone to the NFL. Person started every game at running back in 2020, Knight was the starter each game in 2021.
Of the 372 rushing attempts a year ago, Person and Knight combined for 275 of them. They combined for 1,389 rushing yards.
The most experienced returning back is Jordan Houston. The junior has started four games in his career, but only had 20 carries a year ago. Houston has shown enough flashes to prove he has the talent to be the main guy. Chances are he’ll have to fight off freshman Demo Sumo-Karngbaye for the starting spot. The freshman from Willingboro, N.J. only played on special teams last season, but there were whispers around the program that he’s the back of the future.
Sophomores Delbert Mimms and Demarcus Jones combined for seven carries last season, but could be in the mix as well. Freshman Michael Allen enrolled in January and will get a chance to show if he’s talented enough to get some carries in the fall. Allen rushed for 1,173 yards as a senior at J.H. Rose in Greenville.
Who emerges at left tackle?
Ikem Ekwonu protected Devin Leary’s blindside all of 2021. Ekwonu will be a first-round pick in April’s NFL draft. Who steps up and takes his place?
The clubhouse leaders now would be Tim McKay, Anthony Belton and Anthony Carter, Jr.
McKay is the only one of the three with significant playing experience. The Wakefield native played in 12 games a year ago. Belton played in two games while Carter did not see any game action.
Bryson Speas has played all over the offensive line during his career, including starting every game at right tackle last season. Chances are he’ll stay on the right side, but if there needs to be some shuffling done, Spears could possibly move to the left side.
Who’s healthy?
Up to seven starters on defense were out with injuries a year ago. Most of the starters who were out for the year participated in winter workouts. It’s yet to be seen which players will be a full go in the spring, who will be limited and who will be ruled out completely.
Because the players who went down with injuries have so much experience, Doeren might play it safe this spring and sit them out, also using it as an opportunity to develop younger players.
Who will replace Emeka Emezie?
N.C. State’s all-time receptions leader is gone. The wide receiver room was one of the deepest on the roster last year, so there are plenty of options to step up.
Thayer Thomas and Devin Carter are back and will take up two of the three receiver spots. Spring practices would be an ideal time for Porter Rooks and Keyon Lesane to try and fill that void. Rooks was the top recruit in the class of 2020 and could have a breakout season. Last year he caught 23 passes for 298 yards. Lesane caught eight passes for 66 yards.
Rooks (6-1, 195) and Lesane (5-11, 190) aren’t as big as Emezie, but are solid options on the boundaries. Either player could move inside to the slot and let Carter (6-3, 215) become the physical presence Emezie was when it comes to moving the chains.
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 5:10 AM.
