The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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52 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 on the same page," Harmon said. "Now, everybody is like that with the playbook. We are on point with that." Harmon was a crucial recruit for the Wolf- pack and helped start a New Jersey pipeline that included a pair of 2017 pledges and al- ready three 2018 commits from the Garden State. With McDon- ald leading the way, Harmon quickly be- came prioritized. He narrowed it down to NC State and South Carolina, but elected to pick the Game- cocks on Oct. 1, 2015. NC State re-entered the picture when Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier retired during the season. The four-star prospect, who was rated the No. 7 player in New Jersey and the No. 54 wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com, earned more than two dozen scholarship offers and NC State also had to hold off a late visit to Miami (Fla.) to secure his services. Harmon recalled the exciting 56-41 loss against Florida State on Sept. 28, 2014, as the first time he watched NC State play. "He [McDonald] stuck through and re- cruited me throughout," Harmon said. "He has definitely helped me out with the pro- cess. I really like the players here and that is important to me, too." Harmon admittedly doesn't know many of the South Carolina players, but as fate would have it, he and the Wolfpack open the season against the Gamecocks. "It really isn't an emotion, but it's game one on the schedule," Harmon said. "That is how I look at it. I don't let my emotions tie into my game. "I play for everybody that missed out on me. I just try to dominate and however they take it, they take it." Defensive backs might try to get under the skin of Harmon, but it usually is a los- ing proposition. Har- mon might be active on social media, but on the football field, he lets his play do the talking. "I feel like my swagger is in my play and I don't talk trash on the field," he said. "It would be hard for me to talk trash. I just put my head down and not worry about the distractions. "I'm trying to get the ball, trying to score and that is it." ■ Five Notable First-Year Wide Receiver Campaigns 1. Koren Robinson, 1999 He had 48 catches for 853 yards and two touch- downs, 13 rushing attempts for 15 yards, and 14 punt returns for 94 yards and a score as a rookie. Robinson played one more year at NC State (he redshirted in 1998) before becoming the ninth overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He finished his NCSU career with 110 catches for 1,914 yards and 15 touchdowns. 2. Bo Hines, 2014 As a freshman, Hines had 45 catches for 616 yards and one touchdown, and one carry for three yards. The 2014 season proved to be his only year at NC State. He transferred to Yale and caught 11 passes for 134 yards in 2015, with injuries limiting him to four games. He sat out the 2016 season due to injury. 3. Kelvin Harmon, 2016 Harmon posted 27 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns during his true freshman campaign. He has potentially three years of eligibility left and could become one of the most accomplished wide receivers in NC State history. 4. JuMichael Ramos, 2013 Ramos pulled down 24 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. He fell off during his sophomore season, catching just one pass, but then bounced back to snag 34 receptions for 457 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. He redshirted last year due to injury. 5. Bryan Peterson, 1999 As a rookie, Peterson recorded 21 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He went on to finish with 139 career receptions for 1,884 yards and 13 touch downs, including a career- high six scores during his senior season in 2002. — Jacey Zembal "I think he makes the play because he puts in the work when nobody else is watching. That guy works his butt off. He is here all the time. He is watching tape. … He prepares every day. Our quarterbacks have a lot of confidence in him because they know he is prepared for the moment." ■ Offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz on Harmon One of Harmon's personal goals this is season is to become NC State's first 1,000-yard receiver since Jerricho Cotchery (86 catches for 1,369 yards and 10 touchdowns) in 2003. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN