The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
JULY/AUGUST 2022 ■ 33 Big-Play Threats BY MATT CARTER A pair of position changes before the 2021 season have already paid dividends, and they could provide the NC State passing attack with a potent weapon this fall. Fifth-year redshirt junior Trent Pennix signed with the Wolfpack to be a running back. For three sea- sons, Pennix played there to modest success. He had 36 carries for 125 yards and did most of his damage in the passing game, hauling in 15 passes for 165 yards and 3 scores. Fourth-year redshirt sophomore Christopher Toudle was signed to be a receiver. He redshirted in 2019 and then played just 39 total snaps in eight games in 2020. Trapped behind more-experienced play- ers at their respective positions, the 6-3, 230-pound Pennix and 6-4, 240-pound Toudle received tryouts at tight end in 2021. The success proved dramatic. Toudle hauled in 19 receptions for 190 yards and 4 scores. Pennix made 17 catches for 246 yards and 3 touch- downs, highlighted by a 45-yard catch- and-run TD at Florida State. For NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck, the next step is more consistency and all-around play to complement their receiving skills. Beck noted that the two players "were still kind of like one foot in, and one foot out," when it came to the position change in 2021. "They need to develop now that they have embraced that position [and learn] all of it," Beck said. "They are cer- tainly a weapon for us, which makes [opponents] have to be concerned how to defend." NC State did lose veteran Dylan Parham, whom Beck noted was a strong blocker. "We have to replace that physicality," he said. TIGHT ENDS ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★ Whether it is fifth-year redshirt junior Trent Pennix or fourth-year redshirt sophomore Christopher Toudle, NC State is going to have a strong weapon in the passing game provided they are healthy. Each offers a potential athletic mismatch to opposing defenses. EXPERIENCE ★★1/2 While Pennix and Toudle both played extensively last season, they are also still new to the position. Pennix was formerly a running back and Toudle a receiver. The experiment paid off for each, but they have not been full-time tight ends for long. Beyond those two, there is very limited experience. DEPTH ★★1/2 While Pennix and Toudle make a nice one-two combi- nation, they are primarily used at NC State's H-tight end position. At the Y-tight end, which is more of a fullback/ in-line position, the Wolfpack must find a successor to Dylan Parham, who handled most of the snaps there in 2021. Redshirt sophomore Kameron Walker and a trio of redshirt freshmen are candidates. OVERALL GRADE ★★1/2 From a passing game standpoint, NC State is in excel- lent shape with Pennix and Toudle. However, the tight end is also an important blocker for the Wolfpack in the running game, and that remains a question mark enter- ing the 2022 season. BY THE NUMBERS 1 Set of twins on the Wolfpack roster — redshirt freshmen Ced and Fred Seabrough Jr. They are identical twins. 3 Combined snaps outside of special teams action taken last season by returning tight ends not named Trent Pennix and Christopher Toudle. All of them were from fourth-year redshirt sophomore Kameron Walker. 7 Combined touchdown catches for Pennix and Toudle last season. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 6 Trent Pennix R-Jr. 6-3 230 Raleigh RESERVE No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 29 Christopher Toudle R-So. 6-4 240 Wilmington, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 47 Ced Seabrough R-Fr. 6-4 245 Swainsboro, Ga. 48 Fred Seabrough Jr. R-Fr. 6-4 250 Swainsboro, Ga. 85 Ezemdi Udoh R-Fr. 6-5 247 Fayetteville, N.C. 87 Kameron Walker R-So. 6-5 250 Canton, N.C. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER REDSHIRT JUNIOR TRENT PENNIX NC State was facing third-and-1 from the Florida State 45-yard line, leading 14-7 just over five minutes into the second half in Tallahassee. Wolfpack offensive coordinator Tim Beck dialed up a play-action, bootleg-style pass to Trent Pennix. Pennix had lined up behind the left tackle in a fullback position, but upon the snap sneaked out of the backfield across the line around the right side. He made the catch for a short gain and turned upfield before reaching the sideline. Thanks to a nice block from receiver Devin Carter, Pennix only had to get by FSU defensive back Akeem Dent in the open field, but Pennix, as he would later admit, knew he had Dent beat. "I'm a quick-twitch guy, and I like to go really fast," Pennix noted. "I just learned to slow down, and ev - erything is going to fall in place. It just happened to work perfectly on that play." That type of athleticism and playmaking ability is what makes Pennix a weapon for NC State, which is why the Wolfpack moved him from running back to tight end. "We felt like that was going to be a good call and move for us," Beck explained. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN TRENT PENNIX