The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER The defense will need to work in concert, starting with a pass rush up front to create some havoc. Whether it's stripping the quarterback or forcing him into poor throws for the secondary to pick off, the defensive line is the key. Defensive ends Art Norman, a fifth-year senior, and Mike Rose, a redshirt junior, have pass-rush capabilities. Norman had 4.5 sacks last year, but provides good speed around the edge, and the rangy 6-3, 265-pound Rose added two sacks in reserve action last year. Rose was captain of the track squad at Simpsonville (S.C.) Hillcrest High, and ran on the 400 relay and the 1,600 relay. Now, admittedly, his body is drastically different from his high school days when he was listed at 6-4 and 215 pounds. He is now checking in at 271, but some of that sprinter's speed is still in him, and he'll need it to track down increasingly mobile quarterbacks. The linebackers and secondary aren't just for interceptions. Getting hard hits and timely strips is a must to turnaround a turnover margin of zero. Some of NC State's linebackers have safety backgrounds in high school. The secondary is one of the largest groups the Wolfpack has had over the years. All five projected secondary starters weigh at least 197 pounds, with redshirt freshman Josh Jones the biggest of the bunch at 6-2 and 212 pounds. 4. THE WOLFPACK WILL HAVE A 1,000-YARD RUSHER. NC State hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since T.A. McLendon achieved the feat in 2002. The running backs and offensive lineman are probably tired of hearing about it each year from the media. There is one easy way of ending that — snapping the streak. Having a history of 1,000-yard running backs also will help in recruiting the position. The 1,000-yard mystique still holds true in college football, where the schedule isn't nearly as long as the NFL. For instance, Know- shown Moreno averaged 64.9 rushing yards per game to reach 1,038 for the Denver Broncos last season. An NC State running back has to average 83.3 yards per game dur- ing the regular season to reach 1,000 yards. Playing in a bowl game lowers the number to 76.9. NC State has had 10 seasons where a running back has achieved 1,000 yards. Ted Brown did it three times (1976, '77 and '78) and Joe McIntosh twice (1981 and '83). Anthony Barbour (1992), Stan Fritts (1974), Tremayne Stephens (1997) and Willie Burden (1973) joined Brown, McIntosh and McLendon in the exclusive club. NC State junior running back Shadrach Thornton has all the mak- ings of a 1,000-yard back. Fifth-year senior running back Tony Creecy is actually ahead of Thornton on the depth chart, but Thornton has led the Wolfpack in rushing the last two years. In 2013, he rushed for 768 yards on 165 carries, but didn't carry the ball in two games and had just one carry in a third at the beginning of the year. A steady diet of Thornton during the first four games could lead to that coveted 4-0 start mentioned to in fearless prediction No. 1. 5. NC STATE WILL UPSET ONE OF THE TOP THREE TEAMS IN THE ATLANTIC DIVISION. The Wolfpack has had a history of being unpredictable at times. NCSU topped then third-ranked Florida State 17-16 at Carter-Finley Stadium in 2012. NC State trounced then No. 7-ranked Clemson 37-13 in 2011, and even with a healthy Sammy Watkins at wide receiver it probably wouldn't have mattered. NC State topped No. 16 FSU 28-24 in 2010, and the Wolfpack has featured victories over ranked teams from North Carolina (twice), West Virginia, East Carolina and Virginia since 2007. NC State hosts Florida State Sept. 27 and plays at Clemson Oct. 4. The third perceived powerhouse matchup is at Louisville Oct. 18. The Cardinals could be that squad, though it is hard to know if they will be ranked. Louisville has two stiff tests, with Miami in its season opener and at Clemson right before playing NC State. NC State cruised to a 31-24 victory over a youthful Louisville squad in the 2011 Belk Bowl. The game showed the difference between the ACC and Big East styles, which also occurred in the Wolfpack's 2010 Champs Sports Bowl win over West Virginia. ■ NC State defeated Lousiville 31-24 in the 2011 Belk Bowl, and the Wolfpack will be looking to beat the Cardinals again on Oct. 18, but this time as Atlantic Division rivals in the ACC. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN