Tom O’Brien’s group experienced a lackluster season in 2009, in which the Wolfpack amassed a 5-7 record with some mysterious losses on the schedule. However, with their star quarterback returning from his minor league baseball stint, State fans have at least some hope of this being a successful year.
NC State only returns four starters on defense and seven on offense, so expect this to be a bit of a rebuilding year on the defensive side of the ball. The Pack will also have to find a new running back since Toney Baker decided not to pursue a granted extra year of eligibility. However, with Nate Irving returning at middle linebacker for the Pack, it may help the defense recover from losing most of its front seven.
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The good news is that the boys down in Raleigh have some talent to work with this upcoming season. Wilson should be even better this fall with almost all of his wide receivers returning for the 2010 season. The defense will need some work but with Irving returning, the middle of the defense should be solid.
Also, I’ve changed up the format of this article to help include some more statistics and more intriguing information so I hope you enjoy it.
Best Player
For NC State, this one is an easy one to answer. Russell Wilson was a two-star out of high school but he is a player that proves recruiting rankings aren’t always perfect. The 757 product threw for 31 touchdowns last season, which led the ACC and allowed him to obtain the top spot on the 1st team All-ACC list. With his top two targets in Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams returning this fall, I would expect Wilson to once again be an All-ACC caliber player here in 2010.
Biggest Strength
For a team who as averaged about five wins since Coach O’Brien took over in 2007, the depth and skill at the wide receiver position has been amazing. Williams, George Bryan, and Spencer are Wilson’s three favorite targets in the passing game. Last season, Williams led all receivers with 45 receptions for 547 yards and 11 touchdowns. Spencer led the team with 765 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns while Bryan was a steady 40 catches for 422 yards performer. Throw in a former four-star recruit in Jay Smith and a total of five seniors and you have yourself some serious depth at the wide receiver position.
Biggest Loss from 2009
With no proven replacement at running back, Baker leaving with one year of eligibility left may cost the Wolfpack a game or two this fall. Baker combined for over 1000 total yards last season and was one of the more steady running backs in the conference. Having him back this fall would have possibly put NC State a little higher on this list. Curtis Underwood redshirted last year (as a junior) and will likely take over the starting role this fall.
Biggest Weakness
When you lose all four starters on the defensive line, the following year will not be pleasant. However, NC State does have some players capable of stepping up and honestly, I don’t think you’ll notice a huge dropoff once this unit gains some chemistry and experience. Michael Lemon will be the team’s new pass rushing defensive end, taking over for Willie Young who led the team in sacks last season with eight. State gained a huge transfer when David Akinniyi transferred there from Northeastern University. He is expect to start opposite of Lemon. State does have some issues at tackle as they’ll likely have to play junior Markus Kuhn and sophomore Brian Slay, both of whom are not likely to dominate against any level of competition this fall.
Best Incoming Freshman
Robert Crisp surprised most college football pundits when he committed to NC State last summer. Crisp is a five star tackle that had offers from almost every school in the country but decide to stay and play for his hometown team. It’s clear that O’Brien sold him on early playing time so expect the young frosh out of Raleigh to see the field early and often this fall.
2010 Schedule
The Wolfpack don’t have an overly tough schedule but they did get screwed by having to play the toughest teams in the Coastal division this year. They do avoid Miami but they also avoided Duke and UVA in favor of Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and UNC.
NC State finished the month of September 3-1 last year, with a huge win over Pittsburgh. They’ll have to hope for the same burst out of the gate this fall with a road trip to UCF and Georgia Tech with a home game against Cincinnati in between. The opening week game against Western Carolina should be a blowout.
The Pack went 0-4 last October and if they want to go to a bowl, O’Brien might want o hope for at least 2 wins in a very tough month. State do get Virginia Tech, Boston College, and Florida State at home, if they can win just one of those then beat an unknown ECU team on the road, they’ll be on the right path for a December bowl bid.
The final month is a little less challenging but then again three of these four games are away from home. A trip to Clemson will be tough but they get a rebuilding Wake Forest team at home followed by two away games with UNC and then Maryland.
2010 Prediction
I see seven wins on this schedule but 2005 was the last time this team won seven games in a season. I’m going to be safe and say 6-6 is probably a good bet at this point. When you have a talented quarterback, you have the possibility at pulling off some upsets and that’s exactly what the Wolfpack are going to have to do if they want to toss their hat into the Atlantic division race this fall.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
what ya think curtis underwood going to do? i think he gonna be a big part of the running game and he gonna show how good of running back he is. He bring alot to the running back position. He capable to break tackles, kick on the booster and he has a deadly stiff arm..
I think he’ll be a serviceable replacement and a good every down back. I haven’t really seen any film on him so I can’t say much more than that. Somebody needs to help Wilson shoulder the load on the offense so hopefully it will be Underwood or at least one of the running backs.