The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/141892
Football 2013 ■ Five Freshmen To Watch Here are five true freshmen that, given the depth chart and their talents, have a chance to make the field this fall for the Wolfpack. 1. Running back Matt Dayes Running for 1,864 yards in a single season at the 8-A level in Florida is no small accomplishment. Dayes also could help provide depth at a position that needs some. Although walk-on Milton Hall looked good in the spring game, redshirt junior Tony Creecy and sophomore Shadrach Thornton are the only returning scholarship tailbacks on the roster. It's likely that at least one and probably two of the running backs in the 2013 class will see the field this year. 2. Safety Josh Jones Safeties coach Clayton White admitted that it's still wide open who will back up likely starters Jarvis Byrd, a fifth-year senior, and Hakim Jones, a sophomore. Jones is a touted prospect, ranked as the No. 9 player in the state of Michigan's 2013 class by Rivals.com. He was a playmaker on both sides of the ball for Walled Lake (Mich.) Western High, making five interceptions on defense and scoring 23 times on offense. 3. Wide receiver Bra'Lon Cherry NCSU signed a good amount of receivers in 2013: five high school prospects and a major college transfer in West Virginia's Travares Copeland. However, Cherry has the advantage of enrolling early, and thus gaining some familiarity with both the new offensive system and college life. In the spring game, Cherry caught four passes for 42 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown. 4. Cornerback Sean Paul Like safety, the backup corners are unproven and there will be a chance for Paul to get on the field early. Paul made 43 tackles and broke up four passes as a senior at Vero Beach (Fla.) High, and he spurned a late offer from Miami to sign with NC State. Paul also proved in high school he could be an effective special teams player, which is another ticket for freshmen to play early. 5. Running back Josh Mercer Mercer is a speedster who once finished third in the 100-meter dash in the Georgia Class AAAA state finals and has a personal-best time in the distance of 10.66 seconds. As a senior, Mercer rushed for 1,479 yards and 27 touchdowns for Guyton (Ga.) South Effingham High and was named the region's Player of the Year. — Matt Carter Early enrollee Bra'Lon Cherry had four catches for 42 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown, in the Kay Yow Spring Game April 20. Photo by Ken Martin 94 ■ the wolfpacker 92-94,96-98.Top 25 Players.indd 94 7/1/13 3:45 PM