The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
110 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH KELVIN HARMON, JR., WR NC State junior wideout Kelvin Harmon never backed away from being a 1,000-yard receiver for the Wolfpack, but the expectation was that he wouldn't do it so soon. Harmon became NC State's first 1,000-yard receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2003. The physical 6-3, 213-pounder caught 69 passes for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns for the 9-4 Wolfpack. He eclipsed 100 receiving yards in six games, including a monster effort when he had eight receptions for 155 yards and a score in the 38-31 home loss versus Clemson. "I was very excited to see the work pay off, with my whole teammates and coaches behind me," Harmon said. "It was a good milestone to reach." Now, Harmon wants to post bigger numbers after last year's breakout season. "I want more, 1,200 yards or whatever I can get and just get the team right that day," he said. Harmon noted the returning players have set new goals and left last year in the past. He wants to work on his explosiveness, yards after catch and being more consistent. "I want to finish better — catches, runs and blocks," Harmon said. The trio of Harmon, redshirt junior Jakobi Meyers and fifth-year senior Stephen Louis should be among the best in the ACC and nationally. Having sixth-year quarterback Ryan Finley return for his final season bolstered what could be an explosive offense. "It's a great thing being in the third year with him," Harmon said. "Steph, Jakobi and I, we have a lot of vets. Everything is going to run smoothly. We have a veteran offense. We can call a lot with plays on the fly because we know each other. We have great chemistry." Harmon half-jokingly said he wants some of the touch- downs and yards that have departed with H-back Jaylen Samuels and running back Nyheim Hines. The latter entered the NFL Draft a year early. "There are a lot of touchdowns that have walked out of here as far as J-Sam and Nyheim," Harmon said. "We know that it is going to be a lot more weight on our shoulders and that we need to come through for the team." Harmon recorded six 100-yard games in 2017, including an outstanding eight-catch, 155-yard and one-touchdown effort against Clemson. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN