The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1502339
JULY/AUGUST 2023 ■ 33 Embracing A New System BY ETHAN MCDOWELL T he NC State tight ends room is extremely versatile, which lends itself well to the Wolfpack's new system. The staff recruited Trent Pennix as a running back, while Christopher Toudle started out as a wide receiver and true freshman Juice Vereen spent most of his senior year of high school playing outside receiver. Those players, plus twin broth- ers Fred and Cedd Seabrough, give offensive coordinator Robert Anae plenty of talent to work with in his inside receivers room. Pennix, now a sixth-year graduate student, is excited about the Wolfpack's new air raid system and believes he can reach lofty goals playing for Anae. "He was saying, 'I can really make you an All-American if you just let me work with you,'" Pennix said in a March press conference. When he spoke with the media during spring practice, Pennix noted that Anae's offensive approach is more streamlined than that of former offensive coordinator Tim Beck, who left in December to be- come head coach at Coastal Carolina. "It's just so much simpler in the way that we can move so much faster and not really think as much compared to Coach Beck's offense," Pennix said. "No offense to Coach Beck's offense. It was helpful as well, but I feel like, with Coach Anae's offense, he really utilizes all his players' ability. "He could probably have me in motion in the backfield, probably taking a snap for all I know. He's so creative with his schemes. It's just unbelievable what he can do." Pennix has caught 40 passes in 42 games with NC State. He battled through injuries during the 2022 season and now is ready to play a significant role. Toudle, a redshirt junior, and the Seabrough twins, both redshirt sophomores, join Pennix and are ready to seize poten- tially expanded responsibilities. Playing in 10 games last year, Toudle hauled in 11 passes for 130 yards and 1 touchdown. Cedd Seabrough saw the first game action of his career as a redshirt freshman, totaling 9 receptions, including a touchdown catch against Clemson. Fred Seabrough Jr. played a large role on spe- cial teams and also caught 1 pass. Vereen, who has the skills to play inside receiver, outside re- ceiver or H-back, introduces even more versatility to the posi- tion group. TIGHT ENDS ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★ Trent Pennix is one of the most explosive tight ends in the ACC when healthy, and he showed that last season, turning 2 of his 8 receptions into touchdowns. He averaged 13.9 yards per catch in 5 games. EXPERIENCE ★★ Over his five previous seasons suiting up with the Pack, Pennix played both running back and tight end, and recorded 695 total yards and 8 touchdowns. Christopher Toudle emerged as a member of the tight end rotation in 2021 and now has two years of consistent playing time un- der his belt. The Seabrough twins are preparing for their third year in the program. DEPTH ★★ Not only has Toudle recorded 5 career touch- downs and 320 receiving yards, Cedd Seabrough showed promising development last fall, and his twin brother, Fred, caught a 21-yard pass dur- ing this year's spring game. Juice Vereen is the X-factor here. If he can establish a role as a true freshman, this is a very deep group. OVERALL GRADE ★★½ When healthy, NC State's tight end contingent is very talented and holds the versatile skill set that will lend itself well to Robert Anae's system. If anyone below Pennix on the depth chart takes a major step forward, this group could be one of the strengths of the offense. Vereen is the only athlete to be listed on The Wolfpacker's depth chart as both a tight end and a wide receiver. The extremely versatile pass catcher can do everything from blocking as a traditional tight end to lining up as an outside receiver. He hauled in 72 receptions for 1,098 yards as a senior for Havelock (N.C.) High and averaged 91.5 yards per game. Vereen signed with NC State as a four-star recruit, and it looks like he could make an instant impact in Raleigh. Head coach Dave Doeren complimented the true freshman's playmaking ability in an interview with The Wolfpacker. "I think Juice is a matchup problem because he can line up as a receiver, and he can be in the box," Doeren said. "This will be a big summer for him body-wise, just to be a more physical player." PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 6 Trent Pennix Gr. 6-3 235 Raleigh BACKUPS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 29 Christopher Toudle R-Jr. 6-4 235 Wilmington, N.C. 14 Cedd Seabrough R-So. 6-4 245 Swainsboro, Ga. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 48 Fred Seabrough Jr. R-So. 6-4 230 Swainsboro, Ga. 11 Juice Vereen Fr. 6-4 210 Havelock, N.C. BY THE NUMBERS 41 Juice Vereen's career touchdowns at Havelock (N.C.) High. 42 Career games in which sixth-year graduate student Trent Pennix has played at NC State. 97 Pennix's career high for receiving yards during a dominant performance in a 2021 win over Florida State. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER FRESHMAN JUICE VEREEN CHRISTOPHER TOUDLE PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP