The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW snap keys are to indicate who is blitzing, and he knows his assignments," Kitchings said. "That gives him a step up from the start. He's done well in that category." The 6-0, 210-pound Creecy emerged dur- ing the fourth game of the season last year against Georgia Tech, rushing for a season- high 77 yards on 12 carries against the Yel- low Jackets. Creecy finished with 382 yards on 103 carries and a touchdown, and added 25 receptions for 157 yards and three scores. The former prep wide receiver caught eight passes for 52 yards and two touch- downs, plus rushed for 49 yards on 14 carries during the comeback win against Maryland in the regular-season finale that clinched bowl eligibility for the Pack. The win against the Terrapins was the first time he topped 100 yards of total offense in a game in his college career. Creecy showcased his talents on and off the field during the spring. "One thing that impressed me was that Tony Creecy was consistent on a daily basis in his attitude," Kitchings said. "The young man has some leadership abilities, which we'll see coming from him." Barnes earned praise during various parts of the spring and will be far removed from the dislocated ankle injury he suffered in April 2010. The 6-0, 209-pounder was a Rivals.com four-star prospect coming out of Bunn (N.C.) High, but has played in five games and rushed for 89 yards and a touch- down on 28 carries during his Wolfpack career. He tallied 10 yards on three carries and played nine snaps against Georgia Tech in his lone appearance at running back last year. "Brandon Barnes showed me some flashes of a guy that could be productive," Kitchings said. "Being realistic here, that running back position is a volatile position. Guys get nicked and guys get hurt. It's com- forting with the four backs that we have." Kitchings predicts multiple backs will play, but if one of them gets into a good groove, he won't disrupt his rhythm. "It depends on the makeup of our group of backs," Kitchings said. "Is there one guy that separates from it and can get 30 carries a game? I would say no. I would say we have a committee of guys that can be pro- ductive and efficient for us. That will tend to have a rotational situation for us. "It's a physical game, and they are in- volved in every aspect of the game. There is going to be some fatigue that takes place." Winkles and Purvis filled in at fullback last year when starter Taylor Gentry went down with a season-ending injury against Georgia Tech in the fifth game. Purvis went on to have four catches for 33 yards and two scores against the Yellow Jackets. The 6-3, 44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER In an effort to win the starting fullback job, Winkles has been working on his receiving skills heading into his redshirt sophomore year. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL Redshirt sophomore fullback Logan Winkles has the potential to be one of the most popular players in a NC State uniform among Wolfpack fans. The country boy from a small town of Culloden, Ga. — population: 238 — with the long blonde hair likes to GETTING TO KNOW: Logan Winkles play with a reckless, hard-hitting style on the field. Winkles hails from a region known for its dirt roads and a deep Southern flavor. He played tight end in an old- school triple-option attack at Upson-Lee High in nearby Thomaston, Ga. "The only thing that I used to know is run as hard as you can and hit them as hard as you can," Winkles admitted. Winkles has had to battle injuries throughout his career. He tore his ACL once at Upson-Lee, and then while redshirting at NC State his freshman season tore it again during practices for the Champs Sports Bowl. "It's not fun at all," Winkles noted. "It's not an experience I like. I had to go through the same thing in high school. It's not fun in high school, and it's dadgum sure not fun in the college world. Hopefully I'll never experience that again." Winkles had to rehab his latest knee injury in a far different environment that his hometown. Off the field Winkles admitted that life in the considerably bigger city of Raleigh took some getting used to. "Living in it is a completely different experience," he added. Through hard work, an acclimated Winkles was able to come back from his injury "a little early" he noted. He still struggled to get over the mental hump until the last few games of the season, but after this past spring now finds himself competing with junior Tyler Purvis to replace the popular Taylor Gentry at fullback. "It's always going to be a competition day to day," Winkles stated. "Tyler Purvis and I are fighting for it. The op- portunity is there. I have an opportunity, and I just have to grab hold to it and take advantage of it. "I've had to break down my technique, get it under control, and I've adapted a lot more as a player. Coach [Des] Kitchings and Coach [Everette] Sands last year, helped me break it down. I consider myself — I'd like to consider myself — a hard-hitter. I get after somebody." One area that Winkles has been working particularly hard on is his receiving skills. Although he caught a few passes in high school, he admitted that his hands needed improvement, especially since NCSU is unafraid to use its fullback in the passing game. "My freshman year, I didn't have good hands," Winkles acknowledged. "Now I have been working with the jugs and Coach Kitchings. I'd like to say they are pretty solid, not Tyler Purvis solid, but solid." Odds are, though, if Winkles does improve his hands enough to get playing time next fall, fans may not recognize him. The long hair flowing out of his helmet may be gone if he follows through on plans to cut it once it reaches a length long enough to go down his back. He plans to donate the hair to the charity "Locks for Love" which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. — Matt Carter