The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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56 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL 2014 ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters *** Junior Shadrach Thornton's 768 rushing yards are the fifth highest among returning backs in the ACC, and he ran for more yards against national champion Florida State (173) than anyone last year. Thornton has established himself as one of the better backs in the league. Experience *** Fifth-year senior Tony Creecy and Thornton have a combined 25 career starts, 598 carries and 2,470 rushing yards, and sophomore Matt Dayes played 11 games as a true freshman. Depth *** Running backs coach Des Kitchings is very comfortable with all three of his top op - tions, and he left spring confident that each had an increased comfort level in the offense. "Spring practice was even better for them in understanding things," Kitchings noted. "The guys have some versatility, and being able to utilize them in different roles in the offense was good for us in the spring. Hopefully we can build on that." Overall grade *** Kitchings believes that his unit can be and needs to be the best unit on the team. It's flush with both experience and depth, especially if redshirt freshman Dakwa Nichols can stay healthy or incoming freshman Jaylen Samuels can contribute in the backfield. The competi - tion at running back will be a healthy one. "Tony, Matt, Shad, Dakwa — whether they are going down to the weight room or to the practice field for conditioning — they are competing trying to be the first guy, and that's really good," Kitchings noted. Tailbacks Roster STARTER No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 26 Tony Creecy 5th-Sr. 5-11 215 Durham, N.C. Has 279 career carries for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. The former high school receiver has also caught 73 passes for 424 yards and five scores. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 21 Matt Dayes So. 5-9 202 Weston, Fla. As a true freshman, carried 62 times for 252 yards and four scores in 11 games. He also caught 10 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. 10 Shadrach Thornton Jr. 6-1 207 Hinesville, Ga. May be the favorite to start when the season begins, but was third on the depth chart at the conclusion of the spring. Has 319 career carries for 1,462 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 46 receptions for 371 yards and a score. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 34 Ben Grazen R-Fr. 5-10 181 Cary, N.C. A preferred walk-on from nearby Cardinal Gibbons High School. 27 Dakwa Nichols R-Fr. 5-10 191 Rockingham, N.C. A quick and fast tailback that has the potential to carve out a role for himself in the fall. 28 Jaylen Samuels Fr. 6-0 225 Charlotte Listed as a running back on the roster, but has the versatility to play a variety of positions and roles at NC State. Rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 fullback nationally in the 2014 class. Getting To Know: Jaylen Samuels Incoming freshman Jaylen Samuels should not be in awe the first time he takes the field in an NC State uniform at Carter-Finley Stadium. He already has experience in the home of the Wolfpack, and NCSU fans would be ecstatic if he can repeat what he did for Charlotte's Mallard Creek High in the 4-AA state title game that day. In the first quarter, Samuels scored the game's first points with a 19-yard touchdown run. By the end of the night, he had rushed seven times for 99 yards and three scores, plus caught five passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. That's five total touchdowns on just 12 touches. "He's been doing that all year," Mallard Creek head coach Mike Palmieri would say in what can only be described as an understatement. Samuels finished his senior season in high school with 108 carries for 1,406 yards (13.0 yards per attempt) and 39 touchdowns. He also hauled in 49 receptions for 932 yards (19.0 yards per catch) and 16 scores. The 55 total touchdowns set a Mecklenburg County record for a single season. "He's the best football player in the state, and when you have the best football player in the state you give him the ball or you're not doing your job as a coach," Palmieri said. "It's real simple." The 6-0, 225-pound Samuels was the MVP of Mallard Creek's 59-21 state title game triumph over Wake Forest High that capped an undefeated 17-0 season. He earned that honor with a style consistent with not only how he played all year, but also how he could be used at NC State. "They told me they're going to play me the same way, that's why I thought that was the perfect fit for me," Samuels said. "I knew I would be able to do the same things that I do right now — play receiver, slot and even running back." Carving out a role for Samuels is a good problem for NC State to face. He may be listed at running back on the roster, but he could also find himself at fullback, wide receiver and even tight end at times. Samuels' versatility is aided by his blend of size and speed. He was clocked at 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash at NCSU's summer camp. "To have a guy that is 225-230 pounds that can run the rock and catch it and block for you is a tremendous asset and something we're looking forward to having," Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said. Samuels' senior season saw his stock rise tremendously. He was a two-star prospect according to Rivals.com prior to the year. He gained a third star after the season and was ranked as the No. 2 fullback in the country and the No. 20 player in the state's 2014 class. Wake Forest and UNC pursued him, but it was too late. He rewarded NCSU for the Pack's faith when they offered him at their summer camp at a time when his best offer was arguably from Ball State. Wolfpack Nation hopes that the gifts keep coming from Samuels in the form of many more touchdowns at Carter-Finley Stadium. — Matt Carter Samuels, the nation's No. 2 fullback in the class of 2014 accord- ing to Rivals.com, racked up 2,336 yards from scrimmage (14.8 yards per touch) and 55 touchdowns as a senior at Charlotte Mallard Creek. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 54-56.TBs.indd 56 6/27/14 11:51 AM