The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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INTELLIGENCE GATHERING Five Things We Learned In Training Camp is a confident one. Several players have openly talked about their goals for an ACC championship, and the entire squad seems to be on the same page. Information is always tight, but here are N five things we've gathered from the Wolf- pack's fall camp. With Mustafa Greene's Return Last season, starting running back James The Pack Is Loaded At Running Back Washington, a senior, and top reserve Tony Creecy, a redshirt sophomore, combined for 1,751 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. After some off-the-field issues were resolved, fellow ball carrier Mustafa Greene, a redshirt sophomore, rejoined the team in early August, and he gives the Pack a formidable three-headed monster in the backfield for this fall. Greene, who redshirted last year after breaking his foot in spring practice, led the 2010 team in rushing with 597 yards on the ground, and added 272 yards in receptions with six total touchdowns. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a true freshman, but will have to knock off the rust following more than a year and a half away from the field. One thing is certain, the Pack won't be hurting for competition in the hunt for touches in the backfield. "The competition was good, even when I first got here in the spring," running backs coach Des Kitchings said. "With Moose coming back to practice, that's brought in another talent. All of the guys feed off each other, and they know they need to push each other. The next guy is just as eager as the first to get in there and play, so it's healthy." Corey Edmond Has Transformed The Team It's a subjective view, but this NC State New Strength And Conditioning Coach squad looks to be in the best shape of all O'Brien's Wolfpack teams to date. The Pack held its inaugural Lift for Life charity event on July 18, when the players par- ticipated in a grueling workout under Ed- mond's watch with the heat index exceed- ing 105 degrees, but the team showed no ill effects from the steamy weather. Those are both good signs, but one thing Mustafa Greene, a redshirt sophomore, led the team in rushing in 2010 with 597 yards, but he sat out last season after breaking his foot in spring practice. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER that nobody can deny is how much players bring up Edmond's impact unprompted in interviews. The athletes seem eager to bring up how much better they feel, how much stronger they've gotten and how con- fident they are in their new coach, who played at NC State from 1987-90. That's BY RYAN TICE C State's preseason wrapped up Aug. 15 with the team's fourth scrimmage, and head coach Tom O'Brien's sixth squad at NC State