The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
50 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 BY JACEY ZEMBAL T here is something to be said about having a wide receiver that the quarterback knows can beat his guy. In its simplest terms, it can be dubbed: "My guy is better than your guy." NC State sophomore wide receiver Kel‑ vin Harmon flashed that kind of poten‑ tial with redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley in 2016. Harmon's size — a listed 6‑3, 213 pounds — and speed helped cre‑ ate serious matchup issues against ACC cornerbacks. He started four of 13 games played dur‑ ing his rookie campaign, caught 27 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns — the latter a school record for freshmen — and won NC State's Philip Rivers Award, which is given to the program's rookie of the year. Harmon had four catches for a sea‑ son‑high 101 yards, including a 68‑yard touchdown grab, in the win over Syracuse and also snagged the first two touchdown catches of his young career in the win over Wake Forest. He points back to the Demon Deacons game as to when teammates or coaches really believed in him. "I felt like last year I was just getting my feet wet and acclimated to [college football]," he said. "Now this year, I want to do as much as I can for us to win games. I want to be that guy who you can throw to when you need that catch." Harmon takes pleasure in beating the defensive back that is trying to cover him. He loves to go up in the air and come down with the ball. "I just take pride in it," he said. "I love the 'go ball,' the money ball. I feel that is my strongest aspect of the game. If the ball is in the air, and they aren't holding my hands down, I am catching it. I will find a way." Offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz credits Harmon's desire and preparation for being able to make plays all over the field. There is more to him than just having size and speed. "I think he makes the play because he puts in the work when nobody else is watching," Drinkwitz said. "That guy works his butt off. He is here all the time. He is watching tape. We talk about as a group, 'The separation is in the prepara‑ tion.' He prepares every day. "Our quarterbacks have a lot of con‑ fidence in him because they know he is prepared for the moment. They have a ton of confidence in him because they have worked all summer making that throw." The next step in the evolution of Har‑ mon's playmaking ability is to become more consistent. If the Palymra, N.J., na‑ tive can do that, the chance to break a long draught for the school could be in play. Former NCSU star Jerricho Cotchery was the last wide receiver to reach the 1,000‑ yard plateau, catching 86 passes for 1,369 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2003. "Dang, that has been a while," Harmon said. "I feel like 1,000 yards is a milestone or accomplishment. That is the ultimate and makes you feel like you had a great season. I definitely feel that is achievable." Now that Harmon feels he is settled in at NC State should also pay off for the Wolfpack. He graduated high school dur‑ ing the spring of 2016, and by August he had moved to Raleigh and was fighting for playing time. When he snagged two passes for 53 yards in the season opener against William & Mary, that was his way of an‑ nouncing that the Wolfpack could have another playmaker. "That first game, I had a crazy one," Harmon said. "[Quarterback] Jalan [Mc‑ Clendon] threw me one and the guy was all over me, but I still caught it. I was like, 'Man this is going to be a good year.'" Harmon has gained at least 17 pounds and became more flexible during his first year at NC State under the tutelage of strength and conditioning coach Dantonio Burnette. "I feel like I've definitely changed a lot for the better over the last year," said Har‑ mon, who increased his leg strength. "I have more resources now, and it's easier for me to get better any time I want. Last season made me prepare better. "I now work smarter, know exactly what to expect and what I shouldn't do, and what I need to do more." Harmon has also learned how to take care of his body, even if he might not be in‑ jured. Little things like that kept him fresh throughout his rookie season. "Being in the trainer's room a lot, even though I wasn't injured, I would still be there to learn ways to care for my legs," he said. NC State reshuffled its receiving corps last year. Harmon was in high school in 2015, current redshirt junior Stephen Louis was sitting out with an injury that year and redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers was playing quarterback. The position group underwent a major overhaul over the next 12 months, and Harmon credits Louis for becoming a sage leader for him. "We expect big things," Harmon said. "We feel like we are the best receiving group in the ACC. We understand the of‑ fense way better now and the chemistry is there. I've known Stephen for the longest. "He was my host on my official visit, so we built a relationship early." Louis and Harmon share a common background with their family situations. Harmon was born in Liberia in Africa and moved to New Jersey at 4 years old, and Louis' family has strong ties to Haiti. "He is just like me — a hard worker and straight‑forward guy," Harmon said. "Even though we are from different parts of the world, our stories are very similar with how our parents raised us and how people back home are going through stuff." McDonald might not have known how his unit would turn out going into last sea‑ son, but after watching Harmon develop as the season went on, he's excited about the future. "Kelvin and Steph push each other ex‑ tremely hard," McDonald said. "Kelvin is just so mature. That is what set him apart as a freshman. He was mature enough to handle college life, freedom and still under‑ stand the work he has to put in to improve game to game, like he did last season." Meshing with Finley and McClendon was another part of the process. Finley's knowl‑ edge of the offense and knowing which player does what proved to be helpful for an incoming wide receiver like Harmon. "They are different and are two different quarterbacks," Harmon said. "We work with both of them and it should be good competition again. They always bring the best out of each other." Finley likes to pass to the hot guy on the route and Harmon tried to show him in practice that he can be a trusted target. "Nine times out of 10, we are usually AIMING HIGH Sophomore Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon's Work Ethic Sets Him Apart Harmon hauled in 27 receptions for 462 yards and a Wolfpack freshman-record five touch- downs during his debut campaign. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN