The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State boasts a "three-headed monster" at running back this sea- son. The return of junior Shadrach Thornton, sophomore Matt Dayes and fifth-year senior Tony Creecy gives the Wolfpack the luxury of three talented op- tions in the backfield. The trio collectively compiled 270 carries for 1,145 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) while tallying nine rush- ing touchdowns and two receiving scores last season. NC State won't rotate the running backs if one of them takes on the lead role, but history has shown that depth is always needed at a position that takes a lot of pounding. "I'm cautiously saying this, but the three-headed monster … Those guys are better than they were this past spring," NCSU running backs coach and recruit- ing coordinator Des Kitchings said. "They worked hard this summer and all have a little bit of pop to themselves. It's fun to watch." NC State head coach Dave Doeren and offensive coordinator Matt Canada have often said the running back position is the strength of the offense. "They've taken the bull by the horns and are running with it every day," Kitchings said. "They are competing against each other and that makes it even better." Dayes sees subtle differences in the run- ning styles of his two older teammates, and isn't bashful about the group's goals. "Creecy is very patient and I try to mimic my game off him in terms of being patient," Dayes said. "Shad runs really hard. When I first got here, I could see that I wasn't do- ing what he did in terms of finishing runs. I've been looking at him to help me finish my runs and finish strong. "We have a really good group, and the best group on the team." NC State hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since T.A. McLendon achieved the feat in 2002. If NC State plays 12 games, a running back would have to average 83.3 yards per contest this season. If the Wolf- pack reaches a bowl game, the average is lowered to 76.9. "That would mean a lot to North Caro- lina State and would mean a lot to our success, because it would mean we are running the ball well," Kitchings said. "We have a quarterback than can throw the ball and we can be balanced as an offense." The 6-1, 206-pound Thornton led the way last season with 768 yards and four touchdowns on 165 carries, and he rushed for more than 100 yards against both Flor- ida State and Duke — which were the two programs that met for the ACC champion- ship. The Hinesville, Ga., native rushed for a memorable 173 yards and two touch- downs on 23 carries as a bright light in the Wolfpack's 49-17 loss to eventual national champion Florida State on Oct. 26, 2013. Doeren reinstated Thornton Aug. 6 after he was suspended for spring practices. He was cited for a misdemeanor last Decem- ber, but the charges were dropped. "Shad has served his suspension for six months and had a lot of things he went through to get back," Doeren said. "We feel good about what he's done. He's met every expectation on and off the field, academi- cally and everything. We're excited that that is kind of behind him and he can move forward now." Creecy might have the early-season ad- vantage due to Thornton's offseason sus- pension, but history has proven that the latter usually hits his stride by late Septem- ber. Creecy earned the first-string nod fol- lowing fall camp, with Dayes and Thornton tied for second. "Tony is a senior right now and a leader for us," Doeren said. "Skill set-wise, they're all a little different so we want use all three of them, but because of Tony's leadership, he would be in the lead right now." No matter who plays running back, it's has become crystal clear that blitz pickup will be crucial if the backs aren't in the pass pattern. Keeping redshirt junior quar- terback Jacoby Brissett healthy is a season- long theme. "One of our goals that we talked about in the offseason and carried over to practice is to have zero turnovers and zero sacks from our group," Kitchings said. Kitchings is confident the Pack's top back will be ready to go this season. He just has to "have Shad stay out of Shad's way" to put together a quality season. "Shad is just a bull in a china shop," Kitchings said. "He is a straight-line [run- ner], but he has a little change of direction to him. He is a zero to 60 kind of guy. Nothing fazes him. "Shad has historically been locked in during football season. Once he gets on the practice field, he's never been an issue. He is showing progress and has hopefully made the turn." Thornton was apologetic in his first pub- lic comments to the media Aug. 21. "I'm blessed to be here and I'm ready to do my part to help the team," Thornton said. "I'm just focusing on us as an offense and I'm just here to fill in the gaps and be where I'm supposed to be." Thornton fully understands how close he was to not having a chance to play for NC State again. He now gets the chance to write his own script over the next two years to determine how the story ends. "You don't understand how grateful I am for this opportunity," Thornton said. "I'm just ready to show how grateful I am on the field on Saturdays. "They say if you have a near-death ex- perience, it will pretty much change your life. Football is my life. Almost losing it was a near-death experience for me. I'm dying to live." The 5-9, 205-pound Dayes has dropped at least 11 pounds from last year, and hopes to showcase more speed and explosiveness this fall. Dayes will also handle kick return duties for NC State. Dayes rushed for 252 yards on 63 carries and posted four touchdowns, plus caught a score last year. "Dayes has a little bit of versatility to him," Kitchings said. "He is now a slim- down Matt Dayes. He is an elusive runner and a good pass catcher. "He has some speed and good vision as a running back. He has really come along with his self-confidence." Dayes was thrown into the fire early last season in backing up Creecy, until Thorn- ton hit his stride. Dayes can see the differ- ence in having 10 less pounds to run with. Junior Shadrach Thornton paced the Pack rushing attack in 2013, carrying the ball 165 times for 768 yards and four touchdowns. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN CARRYING THE LOAD NC State's 'Three-Headed Monster' At Running Back Is Ready To Lead The Offense