The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 diately sensed something was wrong because he could not feel his big toe when he went to plant his foot on the ground. He tried to force it, and all he got was tremendous pain. His toe was just sticking up and would not go back down. He could barely walk, and surgery would be needed. Dayes was on pace for 1,473 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, counting a bowl game, before getting hurt in game eight. Both totals would have been single-season school records, with the former surpassing Ted Brown's 1978 mark of 1,350 rushing yards. Those numbers most likely would have put Dayes on NFL teams' radar. "I really don't know what I would have done," Dayes said. Once again when it seemed like Dayes may be close to having one foot out the door, he finds himself back in Raleigh — and he is okay with that. "God has a plan for me, and I know He has big plans for me this year, so I am not worried about anything at all," Dayes said. "I know my abilities are going to show this year, big time." He knows with that comes the spotlight, something Dayes has a genuine aversion to. At times, he envies former pro run- ning back Marshawn Lynch's infamous ducking of report- ers. For Dayes, his comfort zone is on a football field, not in front of camera lights. "That's kind of how I always been since high school," Dayes said. "I didn't gravitate towards atten- tion. I just like being in my own little bubble before the game and getting myself ready. "Let me put on a helmet and play football. That's all I want to do." Dayes was first spot- ted playing football in the neighborhood and then mid- dle school flag football. His school coaches were then able to persuade his re- luctant mother, Rema, into letting him play competitively. He immediately showed in- stincts for the game. Kitchings is just glad that Dayes also had the instincts to call him before announcing a future that did not include NC State. "Everything happens for a reason," Kitch- ings said. "Good thing he reached me first. … There are some kids that won't call you. Matt is a good guy, so I wouldn't expect anything less from him." ■ Matthew Dayes enters his senior season 15th in career rushing yards at NC State with 1,690. With a full, healthy year, he could bolster a case to become one of the best running backs ever at NC State. Here are our choices for the five best running backs ever to play for the Red and White. 1. Ted Brown, 1975-78: His No. 23 is retired after he ran for 4,602 yards at NCSU, an ACC record that still stands nearly 40 years later. Brown was a first- round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings and played eight seasons with the team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. 2. Dick Christy, 1955-57: The numbers are modest compared to others: 348 career carries for 1,817 yards, but the late Christy was recognized as one of the best college football players of his time. He was a first-team All-American in 1957 and selected as both the ACC Player of the Year in football and the ACC Athlete of the Year in all sports. He scored all 29 points in the Wolfpack's ACC title- clinching win over South Carolina (29-26) that season. His No. 40 is retired, and he was an all-star with the AFL's New York Titans in 1962. 3. Joe McIntosh, 1981-84: McIntosh ranks second all time in rushing yards with 3,642 and 100-yard rush - ing games with 20. He joins Brown as the only running backs at NC State with multiple 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. McIntosh was ACC Rookie of the Year in 1981 and a two-time first-team All-ACC choice. 4. Willie Burden, 1971-73: Burden's numbers were partially suppressed because he was part of a three- headed monster at running back that included Stan Fritts and Charley Young, both of whom ranked in the top 15 in career rushing yards at NCSU until Dayes surpassed Young last fall. Burden was the 1973 ACC Player of the Year after he ran for 1,074 yards and also was a two-time first-team All-ACC pick. He passed away last fall. 5. Stan Fritts, 1972-74: After Burden and Young graduated in 1973, Fritts broke out with 1,169 rushing yards in 1974, earning him second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press. His 2,542 career yards ranks sixth on State's all-time list, and like Burden he was a two-time first-team All-ACC choice. Honorable mentions: Treymayne Stephens piled up impressive numbers between 1994-97, running for 3,553 yards for third most all time at State. He was first-team All-ACC in 1997 when he rushed for 1,142 yards, and his 19 100-yard rushing games are the third most in school history. Anthony Barbour ran for 1,204 yards as a senior in 1992, the most yards in a season by a back not named Ted Brown and third high- est overall. Barbour was first-team All-ACC that year, and his 2,575 career yards ranks fifth all time at State. — Matt Carter Dayes enters his senior campaign with 1,690 career rushing yards, which ranks him 15th among all NC State ball carriers. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN Five Best Running Backs In School History "God has a plan for me, and I know He has big plans for me this year, so I am not worried about anything at all. I know my abilities are going to show this year, big time." Dayes