The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1364233
8 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JUSTIN H. WILLIAMS AND MATT CARTER A year after getting only five spring practices before the COVID-19 pan- demic canceled the remainder, NC State was able to get all of its workouts in uninterrupted this spring. The Wolfpack concluded with the return of its annual spring game before an esti- mated crowd of more than 10,000 fans at Carter-Finley Stadium on April 10. The Red team, composed of first-string players and key reserves, defeated the White team, which were reserves and freshmen, 37-17. "Your goal is to get everybody in, to play as clean as you can and not have inju- ries," Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said. "I thought we came out strong on all three of those." Starting redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary took snaps for the Red team throughout the first half before sitting out the second. The 6-1, 212-pounder was sharp for the most part in his first public performance at Carter-Finley Stadium since suffering a season-ending leg break in the Pack's home win over Duke last October. Leary completed 12 of 23 throws for 175 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and also rushed for 13 yards on three attempts. "Outside of the interception and his first pass, where he had a guy pretty open and rushed it, I thought he played well," Doeren said. "The thing I like about how Devin's playing, he's just comfortable right now. "He knows the system, his eyes are in good places, he's communicating well, he's making quick decisions and he's doing what [offensive coordinator] Coach [Tim] Beck wants him to do. It's fun to watch him in his progression from last year to this year." Backup quarterback Ben Finley, a sec- ond-year freshman, played three quarters, two of which were with the White team in the first half and the last with the Red team in the third quarter. After an injury scare on a bobbled snap during his first drive, Finley responded with a strong performance, connecting on 10 of 20 passes for 160 yards. He also ran in a four-yard touchdown in a second- quarter goal-line situation. Sophomore running back Jordan Hous- ton led all rushers with 89 yards on 10 at- tempts, including one touchdown. All of his production came in the first half before he was taken to the locker room with an apparent foot or ankle injury he suffered late in the second quarter. Doeren said that X-rays were negative. On his last play, Houston picked up 16 yards and a first down before he was tack- led from behind by early enrollee freshman linebacker Jordan Poole, who forced a fumble on the play. Redshirt freshman running back Delbert Mimms III was the second-leading rusher, gaining 52 yards on nine attempts. "They've been impressive all spring," Doeren said. "They're tough, they under- stand the offense, they're good in protec- tion. They're playing within themselves. They're not trying to do too much. "They're physical backs, they're not go- ing to dance a whole lot, they're going to get extra yards and run behind their pads." Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Devin Carter led the receivers with five receptions for 73 yards, including a touchdown that he caught from fellow wideout and redshirt junior Thayer Thomas on a trick play. In addition to the scoring toss, Thomas had three catches for 39 yards and his own touchdown reception. Freshman wide re- ceiver Porter Rooks added a 58-yard catch- and-run score. A trio of defenders led the team with six tackles: redshirt sophomore linebacker Seth Williams, who added a hit for a loss and one pass broken up; early enrollee linebacker Caden Fordham, who addition- ally had a pick-six; and sophomore safety Jakeen Harris. Several key players sat out the spring game while rehabbing injuries. They in- cluded the top two returning rushers in sophomore Zonovan Knight and junior Ricky Person Jr., the leading receiver in senior Emeka Emezie, first-team All-ACC and redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson, and returning starter and sopho- more linebacker Drake Thomas. Nevertheless, Doeren is pleased where his veteran squad is heading into the summer. "Being a young football team a couple of years ago, these guys are now reaping the benefits of reps," Doeren noted. "As a program, we are as well. There's com- petitive depth at a lot of positions, there's experience in the first and second strings, there are positive things that they've done in games, which breeds confidence. There's been learning moments from losses and negative things, which brings opportunity to grow through adversity. "These kids have been through a lot to- gether, they've overcome a lot together. To have all of that back, it's just a matter now of getting them healthy and having a really good summer." ■ T R A C K I N G THE PACK NC State Has Successful Spring Practice Redshirt sophomore Devin Carter led all re- ceivers in the spring game with five receptions for 73 yards, including a TD pass from fellow wideout Thayer Thomas on a trick play. PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN, THE NEWS & OBSERVER/COURTESY ACC MEDIA