The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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64 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 RUNNING BACKS com, has 550 rushing yards and six scores in his career. He in par- ticular seems to enjoy playing against archrival UNC, running 24 times for 139 yards in two games. "He's got the skill set to wear people out," Kitchings said. "He's 225 [pounds], roughly around that range, runs pretty well, catches it pretty well, smart guy, conscientious guy in pass protection. He should be a good player for us." The speedy Nichols has rushed for 365 yards and two touch- downs in three seasons, but has battled injuries throughout his tenure. "I love the kid to death," Kitchings said. "Hopefully, going into his senior year, he's gotten over this string of injuries — ankles, hamstrings, whatever the case may be — so he can have a full, complete season to helping this team." A pair of true freshmen join the mix in Erin Collins from Plant City (Fla.) Armwood High and Nakia Robinson Jr. from Miami Jackson High. Both impressed Kitchings when they showed up for summer school at NC State thicker in their upper bodies. "Those are two kids that will fit right in with the room: very humble, hard-working kids with talent," the coach added. Time will ultimately decide which of the group will step forward as the primary ball carriers. At the outset, at least, Kitchings expects a committee approach. "Until it settles itself with the combination of Samuels, Gallaspy, Hines and Nichols," Kitchings said. "We'll see if those freshmen warrant playing time early on, but we like those four going into games, seeing how it sorts itself out from there." ■ Last season, junior Nyheim Hines was NC State's most prolific wide receiver. It's unlikely, though, he will get a chance to reclaim that distinction again this upcoming fall. That's because Hines will be pulled in another direction: running back. He acknowledged he has probably been worked at the tailback position more this spring than in the past. It would make sense to try him at the position. He was a Rivals.com four-star running back at Garner (N.C.) High, rushing for a school-record 6,242 career yards. "It's natural," Hines admitted. "I think instincts take over. Pass protection is prob - ably the only hard part about it. Running the ball and reading keys is pretty easy. I've been playing running back my entire life." And then there is a need at the position. Matthew Dayes is off to try to make it in the NFL after rushing 249 times for 1,166 yards and 10 touchdowns during his All-ACC senior season. With Dayes gone, more than half of NC State's rushing production from last season must be replaced. Yet Hines is not taking it for granted that he will be a full-time running back moving forward. "Last year, I played almost all running back just like this spring and I moved back to receiver [in the fall]," he noted. "I'm just trying to learn all sides of the offense I can and hopefully build off this in fall camp." Hines finished 2016 with 43 receptions for 525 yards, 13 rushes for 44 yards and a kickoff return average of 24.4 yards per attempt that was boosted by a 100-yard runback for a touchdown against Vanderbilt in the Camping World Independence Bowl. That was Hines' second kickoff return for a TD. He also ran one back against Clemson as a freshman. Wearing many hats on the football field is exactly what Hines was hoping for when he was a recruit at Garner. "It was definitely what I wanted," he confirmed. "I went to this school because I thought I could do both and also be in the return game. I think I've been able to do what I thought I could do." After the Kay Yow Spring Game April 1, Hines switched to another field of competition: outdoor track and field. He humbly stated that he is just average in track, but he helped the 4x100 relay team win an ACC title and was third in the 100-meter sprint with a personal-best time of 10.34 seconds. "I just like to compete," Hines said. "I like going out and beating the man next to me. It could be chess, a board game, tennis, something I don't even play, but I want to beat the guy next to me." That's the type of competitive edge NC State could be looking for in its next primary running back. — Matt Carter Getting To Know: Nyheim Hines Quick Facts Position Coach: Des Kitchings (sixth season) Returning Starter: None Starter Lost: Matthew Dayes (25 career starts) FYI: Athlon listed the running backs corps ninth best in the ACC … Junior Nyheim Hines was picked third-team All-ACC by Phil Steele's College Football Preview … Hines set a Wake County record by rushing for 3,140 yards as a ju - nior at Garner High … Junior Reggie Gallaspy II led the state of North Carolina in rushing as a senior at Southern Guilford High in 2014 with 3,318 yards … Gal- laspy and Hines were both rated as four-star recruits by Rivals.com in the 2015 class … Hines also was ranked as the No. 94 player regardless of position in the country and played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … Hines' twin sis - ter, Nyah, is a hurdler on the NC State track and field team … Walk-on redshirt sophomore transfer Damontay Rhem rushed for 5,326 career yards at East Wake High in Wendell, N.C., before signing with UNC Pembroke … Freshman Erin Collins was one of three players from Plant City, Fla., to sign with NC State in February and played little league football with receiver Antoine Thompson … Collins' older brother Eric plays receiver at Mississippi Valley State … Freshman Nakia Robinson Jr. was a three-time regional finalist in track in the hurdles. Hines is expected to play primarily running back after being mainly a receiver his first two seasons. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN