GAME PREVIEW: Pack Ready to Rumble in Opener Against Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks vs. NC State Wolfpack
Kickoff: 7:03pm (Thursday, 9/3/09)
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh NC
Television: ESPN

College football season has arrived, and arrived in grand fashion, as the Wolfpack face off against out-of-state foe, South Carolina. As if the stage of hosting a nationally recognized team in the home opener wasn't big enough, ESPN will be on hand to give the nation a first hand look at the new and improved NC State Wolfpack in their Thursday night game of the week.

Last year things didn't go quite as Tom O'Brien had planned when the Pack faced off against the Gamecocks of South Carolina. After keeping the game close for three quarters, the Gamecocks ran away with it in the fourth. 369 total yards and 4 touchdowns later, with starting quarterback Russell Wilson forced to exit early after suffering a serious concussion, it was South Carolina:34 and the Wolfpack:0.

However, a lot has changed since that dreadful August night. Russell Wilson has solidified himself as a (if not "thee") top quarterback in the ACC, star runningback Toney Baker is healthy again, the Wolfpack receivers have matured and after a late season surge, Tom O'Brien has this team truly believing in itself.

"Our team as a whole is going to surprise a lot of people. They'll see come September 3rd, they'll see." said runningback Jamelle Eugene.

Neither team had the success last year that they were hoping for. Spurrier's Gamecocks ended up 7-6 overall, after being a popular dark horse pick in the SEC. The Wolfpack finished 6-7 after a late season push, orchestrated by Russell Wilson, that saved the program from an embarrassing start. This season, both teams are looking forward, but neither are without questions:

-QUARTERBACK-

Russell Wilson (NC State) - Wilson was a surprise starter last season as many Pack fans expected the reigns to be handed to true freshman Mike Glennon. After getting over an early season concussion, Wilson showed Wolfpack Nation why he in fact was named the starter as he took the ACC by storm, completing 55% of his attempts for 17 touchdowns, while only being picked off once all year. These astonishing numbers earned Russell "ACC Rookie of the Year" and "ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year." Wilson is the center piece and the engine that makes the Wolfpack go. Although only playing about half of the season last year, due to injuries, many analysts believe Wilson is the top quarter back in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Stephen Garcia (USC) - Garcia is Spurrier's starting quarterback by default. In four years, Spurrier, known for his offensive prowess, has yet to find a QB that can efficiently run his high powered offense. Last season, Garcia and the rest of quarterbacks that tried their hand, averaged a total of 222 yards per game in a pass first offense. That is a number that Spurrier needs to see increase if the Gamecocks are going to live up to their 3rd place preseason ranking in the SEC. Another number Spurrier needs to see change is interceptions. Garcia, along with others, led the entire nation in interceptions last season with 27. However, this may be thanks to very weak offensive line that allowed the 4th most sacks in all Division I. Spurrier isn't convinced just yet that Garcia is ready for the limelight as he told a group of reporters "We've got a quarterback that hasn't proven he can play yet - he's got to go do that."

-RUNNINGBACK-

Toney Baker / Jamelle Eugene (NC State) - NC State's very own version of "Thunder and Lightning" will be on display this Thursday at Carter-Finley, in a game that will bring the career of Senior back Toney Baker full circle. Baker came to the Wolfpack as one of the most highly touted runningbacks they've ever had. However, injuries and bad luck have plagued the career of Baker, who went through multiple knee surgeries to get back to where he is today. An off-season of intense training fueled by his love of the game, Baker has taken back the starting job that he left vacant three years ago.

"When you're away (from football) that long, you really find out how much you love the game. Really, the main thing for me was setting small goals and after reaching those goals it gets you motivated to keep on going, getting back into playing shape... I feel fantastic. I feel like Toney Baker, which is great. I'm running with a lot of power and i just feel great...I think that I'm 100% and I think Coach O'Brien would tell you the same thing."

Brian Maddox (USC) - Maddox spent his freshman year behind 2 veterans, his sophomore year as the back up tailback, and last year, could not break the starting rotation yet again. In his senior season, Maddox is hoping to change that. He's averaged a slightly better than pedestrian 3.6 yards per carry and will be asked to shoulder the load of the Gamecock's running attack. At 5'11, 230lbs, and possessing above average speed, Maddox has all the attributes to become a big time player for South Carolina, but he has yet to show that promise on the field. Something he will have to do in order for South Carolina to walk away with the victory on Thursday.

-WIDE RECEIVER-

Owen Spencer / Jarvis Williams (NC State)-
For the second straight year NC State is without their top receiver Donald Bowens. However, sleeping on the Wolfpack receiving corps will do nothing but leave your secondary burnt, thanks to the emergence of, what may very well be the ACC's top wideout tandem, Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams. Spencer's blazing speed was unmatched last year, as he became Russell Wilson's favorite down-field target. Spencer scooped up almost 700 yards and 5 TD's in his first year playing a major role with the Pack. Although many question his hands, which let him down on numerous occasions last season, Spencer has taken the off-season to sure them up.

"(He took) a lot of repetitions. He spent a lot of time, catching a lot of ball through Spring practice and in the summer off the Juggs machine that we have. Again, it's a matter of confidence. Last year it was his first chance to really play...he was untested, unproven but got better as the year went and on and should be better this year." Said Coach O'Brien.

Along side Spencer will be the big, physical Jarvis Williams. Williams is a talented receiver who is hard to miss on the field, but is still waiting to truly break out, thinks this may be his year. The 6'4, 205lbs Junior, is coming off his best season, in which he pulled down 26 catches for 432yds and 4 touchdowns. Williams will be looking to build on that, and will have to, if the NC State passing game is going to take it to the next level.

Tori Gurley / Jason Barnes / Moe Brown (USC)- Gurley, Brown and Barnes head up a very thin receiving corps for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. With Dion LeCorn sidelined with a broken leg, and freshman DeMario Bennett likely on the shelf with a sore shoulder, South Carolina is relying on two underclassmen and a Senior to pick up the passing game. Gurley is a redshirt freshman, whom the USC coaches are looking for big things out of. Standing at 6'6 and sporting an amazing 40 inch vertical, Gurley is looking to make a name for himself, and could very easily end up being Garcia's #1 target by seasons' end.

Jason Barnes, a sophomore who started to catch the coaches attention late in the season last year, is hoping to hold down the #2 slot and build on his progress. Last season Barnes scooped up 346 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Moe Brown is the most experienced one of the crew. A senior, Brown is the go to guy in the vertical passing game, and the leading returning receiver. Moe hauled in 30 balls last season for 391 yards and a touchdown.


-DEFENSE-

NC State Defense- Sporting a big, strong, and experienced front line anchored by Senior Willie Young, the Wolfpack should be able to give the USC backfield a serious fit. Young, who decided to stay in school rather than move on to the NFL, is coming into his final season with the Pack in the best shape of his life.

"Like I said last year, (Willie) was our best recruit when he decided to come back. He's an important leader on our defense. He's prepared better, this camp, than he has the previous two camps that I've been here." said Coach Tom O'Brien.

However, it's not the defensive line that the coaches are worrying about. The question is what lies behind the defensive line. The linebacker corps does not jump out at you on paper, but many think the trio of Audie Cole, Ray Michel, and Dwayne Maddox will surprise a lot of people this season. Though they might, there is little chance they will be as good as they could have been, had Junior superstar Nate Irving not been ruled out for the season with numerous injuries suffered in a car crash this off-season.

Where the question marks really begin to appear is in the Wolfpack secondary, where redshirt freshman CJ Wilson makes the start over redshirt Junior DeAndre Morgan, who started 11 games for the Pack last season. Many speculate that this is simply because of injury, however, Coach Tom O'Brien tells a different story.

"(DeAndre Morgan) got beat out pre-season. It's pretty simple. As I said before, he got beat out so he's going to be sitting and watching."

A true performance based organization if there ever was one, Tom O'Brien's Wolfpack also starts a former walk-on. Opposite CJ Wilson at corner is Koyal George, who is now a senior and looking to finally see his hard work and loyalty pay off.

South Carolina Defense- The Gamecock defense was already pretty good last season, ranking 2nd overall in the nation in pass defense and 13th in overall defense. Although that was a year ago, they are returning six starters from that unit. One of those starters is Eric Norwood. Norwood, a 6'1 senior, is a legitimate All-American candidate and has been named All-SEC for the past two years. He has already set a school record for "tackles for loss" with 43 and is third all-time at USC for most career sacks (22).


-SMALL NAME, BIG IMPACT-

CJ Wilson (NC State)- Wilson is one of the two inexperienced corners that will surely be tested on Thursday. CJ was not talked about much this off-season as it was assumed DeAndre Morgan, last years starter, would get the nod. However, after beating out Morgan, all eyes will be on Wilson as Spurrier is sure to go at the freshman, and go at him hard early in the ball game. If Wilson can play shut down corner and neutralize USC's passing attack, the Pack will have a much easier time walking away with a victory. However, if he allows his inexperience to be exposed, it could mean some pretty impressive numbers for Garcia and USC.

Stephon Gilmore (USC) - Another freshman on this list, although Gilmore is of the true variety. He comes in as the #2 ranked safety out of high school and steps right onto the field as a starting cornerback. However, this do-it-all athlete may be seen on the other side of the ball as well. Gilmore is an electric athlete who doubles as USC's punt return specialist, and triples as one of their backup quarterbacks. Don't be surprised if Gilmore gets a few reps at quarterback this Thursday night, because rumor has it, South Carolina has some tricks up their sleeve. The Gamecocks have been lining Gilmore up at quarterback and running variations of the "Wildcat" offense...ahem, excuse me, the "Wildcocks" offense, as the South Carolina staff has dubbed it. Gilmore was a big time quarterback with a big time arm in high school, so when he lines up in the backfield, he's just as likely to throw as he is to run.

-KEYS TO THE GAME-

NC State- Pressure and discipline is the name of the game for the Wolfpack. With a front line big enough and strong enough to stop the USC running game, Willie Young and company will need to keep the heat on Garcia. Getting in the back field and pushing Garcia out of the pocket will take a lot of heat off the inexperienced secondary. If the D-line can live up to expectations and the defense can stay disciplined enough to negate the "Wildcock" trickery, the Wolfpack should certainly be in the position to win this game.

South Carolina- Stop Russell Wilson. I think this is going to be the key to the game for a lot of opposing defenses, but it is certainly the key to grinding the Wolfpack offense to a halt. The USC defense will not only need to pressure Wilson, but also contain him since he's been known to break a team's back with his ability to create with his legs.


Article by WolfpackPigskin
Picture by Peyton Williams.