2010 NC State Commit: D.J. Green

Position: S
School: Westside High School (Macon, GA)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210
Class: 2010
Stars: Scout and Rivals 3-Stars
Status: Commit
Offers: NC State, Marshall, Troy, UAB

Biography:

Last year D.J. Green earned All-Region and All-State honors in the state of Georgia. He helped lead his Westside High Seminoles to a 12-1 record in '08, with the one loss coming in their final game in the third round of the playoffs against Tucker. Green led a defense that caused disastrous problems for offenses all year long. They only allowed 6 points per contest, and also tallied 5 shut-outs. The Seminoles finished ranked #17 in the state of Georgia.

Green is a Safety that has the height and size to lay a pretty nice hit. While he will more than likely play Safety at NC State, the coaching staff has already told him that they might flirt with playing him a little bit at linebacker. This is something that he is semi-used to doing, seeing as his high school currently uses him at linebacker in goal line sets.

This consensus 3-Star Safety also runs 40-time that is in the low 4.5 range. It should be noted that Green moved from 2-Stars to 3-Stars in Scout and Rivals latest updates.

Last season Green had 85 tackles and 4 interceptions for Westside.

D.J. committed to NC State on June 25th, 2009.

Russell Wilson: ''The Epitome of a Leader"

Last season Russell Wilson took the ACC by storm. As a redshirt freshmen Wilson led the ACC in Passing Efficiency and led the nation in touchdown to interception ratio with 17 touchdowns and only 1 interception. He also became the first freshmen in ACC history to earn 1st Team All-ACC honors. Many young men would let the glory go to their head, but not Wilson, who just might be one of the most driven and disciplined players the NCAA has to offer. Although only a sophomore, there is no doubting the fact that Wilson is the leader of the NC State offense. He understands the simple principle that leadership is more than just opening your mouth. It's living a life that backs up the words that come out of your mouth. Wilson gets that. He understands that the small things in life matter.

"I think a lot of it starts with off the field stuff," Wilson said when asked about his leadership. "Doing well in school, trying to stay as organized as possible. Making sure your on time to meetings. All that little stuff really does matter when it comes to winning games and playing hard on the practice field. I always push others and I always push myself. The first thing you always have to do is push yourself first, if your going to push other people. I always try to be the best I can be."

A leader is also someone who sees the bigger picture. They see more than a box score and accolades. A leader takes his eyes off of himself and puts the success of the team ahead of personal goals. At the end of the day, a true leader sees wins and losses, not touchdowns and passing yards.

"The main goal for me is to win every time I step on the field," Wilson said. "As a quarterback that's what you want to do. It's all that matters to be honest with you."

You assume when you ask a player what their favorite highlight was from the previous season, that they are going to talk about some remarkable play they made. You would expect a quarterback to talk about a perfect fade thrown to the corner of the end zone or making the whole linebacker corps miss on a quarterback scramble. That would be normal. Russell Wilson is not normal. When he was asked the same question, he responded with team highlight rather than an individual highlight.

"Throwing my first touchdown against ECU, that was definitely exciting. But at the same time, coming back from where we were at one point during the season, when we weren't winning games. We were so close. You know that feeling where your so close, but you lose? That's a tough feeling to have. Especially when you know you have a good team and the rest of the guys are working hard," Wilson said. "But then coming over that hump, coming over that adversity, with Coach O'Brien helping us, pushing us and continuing to believe in us. That's probably the most exciting thing for me, not specifically one moment, or one game, but I guess just a period of time where we overcame obstacles."

Russell Wilson is the epitome of a leader. He possesses a selfless nature and exudes character and integrity. He puts his players ahead of himself. It is this type of individual that people will follow. NC State fans can look forward to watching the Wolfpack offense follow this young man up and down the field all season long.

By: Wolfpack Pigskin Staff

Sharing The Wealth: ACC Preseason Unit Rankings

A few weeks back, Rivals released their ACC preseason unit rankings. Here is a breakdown of where the Pack ranked in each category:

Offensive Backfield:

3. NC State: Russell Wilson undoubtedly is the ACC's top quarterback, but the injury concerns surrounding RBs Jamelle Eugene and Toney Baker keep the Wolfpack from ranking higher.

Receivers:

1. N.C. State: Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams give the Wolfpack two returning starters. Spencer is a big-play threat who came on strong late last season. The Pack will also welcome back Donald Bowens at some oint, who caught 41 passes two years ago before a back injury sidelined him last season.

Offensive Line:

9. N.C. State: The Wolfpack have returning starters at center and at both tackle spots, but they need to do a better job of protecting QB Russell Wilson.

Defensive Line:

4. N.C. State: Willie Young struggles with consistency, but he's one of the nation's elite pass rushers when he's on his game. Young, Alan-Michael Cash, Shea McKeen and Leroy Burgess give the Wolfpack four senior starters on the line, though depth is a concern.

Linebackers:

8. N.C. State: Ray Michel returns after recording a team-high 102 tackles. Michel and Nate Irving would have formed arguably the top linebacker tandem in the ACC if Irving hadn't been involved in a car wreck this summer that jeopardized his status for the season.

Secondary:

11. N.C. State: The Wolfpack ranked 11th in the ACC in pass efficiency defense last season. They could improve if injury-riddled safeties Clem Johnson and Javon Walker can stay healthy.

Special Teams:

2. N.C. State: Josh Czajkowski returns as the Wolfpack's kicker after going 16-of-19 on field-goal attempts last season. T.J. Graham ranked fifth in the ACC in kickoff-return average last year. Chris Ward and Jeff Ruiz are competing for the punting job.

Coaching Staff:

6. N.C. State: The Wolfpack's late-season surges the past two seasons have shown that Tom O'Brien's guys never stop playing for him. Now he just needs them to start playing better early in the season.


What are your thoughts on these preseason unit rankings?

Tulloch Back In Action

After missing the Tennessee Titans first three preseason games, former NC State linebacker Stephen Tulloch got back in the action last night, starting at middle linebacker versus the Cleveland Browns. Tulloch collected 2 tackles in limited playing time and let Brown's running back Jamal Lewis know that he was back in town, unloading what was arguably the hit of the night on Lewis in the 2nd quarter. I'm sure that Tennessee was excited to have their starting middle linebacker back on the field. Tulloch was definitely excited when he told The Tennessean:

“It felt good to be out there running around," Tulloch said. “I wish I could’ve played more, but coaches wouldn’t let me play any more."

The Titans still have one more preseason game next Thursday, September 3rd, against the Green Bay Packers.

David Glenn Chats With Anthony Hill

David Glenn of the ACC Sports Journal got the chance to catch up with former NC State Tight End Anthony Hill this past Thursday on his radio show on 850 The Buzz. Here is a small taste of their conversation:


Hill on what’s similar between being a college freshman and an NFL rookie:

“Actually everything about it. It’s just kind of like you’ve got to start over from scratch. You have to perform in front of the entire team. You have to come up with some kind of entertainment. If the vets approved then they clapped and if they didn’t they’d boo you off the stage. … It’s kind of like an initation to a new family.”

Hill on the biggest change in going from college to the NFL:

“Everything is a lot more technical. Everyone’s fast, everyone’s physical and everyone’s big. So it’s like ‘What are you going to do to be better?’ I believe that comes with your techniques. We harp on being very, very technically sound.”

Hill on his chances of making the Texans’ final roster:

“I feel like I kind of have a place, just off of our preseason games and just the snaps I’m getting in practice and everything … I feel like I do have a role on this team.”


Click here to listen to their whole conversation for free.

Friday Night Recap

Tony Creecy's Southern Durham squad improved to 2-0 on the season last night, defeating Middle Creek 28-21. Creecy had 5 receptions for 12 yards and he ran the ball once for 5 yards.

Torian Box's North Clayton team won their season opener over Riverdale 26-7.

Logan Winkles and Upson-Lee routed Berkmar 39-7.

Westside, with captain D.J. Green leading the defense, trounced Central 34-0.

Thomas Teal's Marlboro County crew defeated Cheraw 41-26.

The only loss of the night among NC State commits was a tight game between Pete Singer and Robert Crisp's Athens Drive and Enloe. Athens Drive lost 28-30, and they are now 1-1 on the year.


If any of you managed to make it out to any of these games, we would love a report.

O'Brien Talks South Carolina

**UPDATE** Video Posted At The Bottom
Today at 1pm, NC State coach Tom O'Brien met with the media at Backyard Bistro in Raleigh for his first official weekly press conference of the 2009 season. With less than a week left before the Pack takes the field against the Gamecocks, Coach O'Brien fielded questions about the depth chart, which was released today and the looming game against South Carolina. Oh and in case you were not aware, the South Carolina game will be kicking off at 7:03pm on Thursday, not 7:30pm as it appears on both schedules.

Quarterback- Russell Wilson
Obviously, Russell Wilson was listed as the starting Quarterback for the home opener this Thursday. O'Brien talked about Russel's psyché and what Russell will have to focus on to pick up where he left off a year ago. "Russell is hyper. Sometimes we just need to calm him down." said O'Brien. Who mentioned that when Russell is calm, he gets in a rhythm, but when the competitive juices kick in, he can go into overdrive. "We need Russell to relax and play at normal speed, not Russell speed." O'Brien added. Last year, while playing at Russell speed, Wilson was injured after taking a vicious hit to the head and leaving him with a concussion, something the coaching staff does not want to see happen again. "(Wilson) worked on his sliding this year during baseball." joked O'Brien, but added "We don't want to discourage him from doing the things he does well." The staff worked with Russell on situations, explaining when to go for the extra yard and when it's smarter to simply use the sideline.

Quarterback- Mike Glennon
With two more than capable quarterbacks on the roster, the question had to be asked about the type of action Glennon can expect to see in the opener. "Mike will get in sometime in the second quarter in a meaningful situation." O'Brien told reporters on Friday.

Runningback- Tony Baker
Surprise, surprise. After questions were asked all off-season about Tony Baker's health, the question has finally been answered. Baker showed up #1 on the depth chart ahead of last years starter Jamelle Eugene. This was a shock to many and most felt that Baker would not truly be 100% to start the season (knee surgery). However, O'Brien was quick to mention that just because Baker is number one on the chart does not mean he is being dubbed "the starter" and Eugene "the back-up." "How we start might not be how we finish." he said, before mentioning that they will certainly share time. Baker's job was won "through spring practice and summer camp. That's what we have to go on.." said O'Brien.

Corner - DeAndre Morgan
Another surprise to many was the fact that Junior cornerback, Morgan, was listed 2nd on the depth chart to redshirt freshman, CJ Wilson. When asked if this was because of injury, O'Brien simply said "He's on the two deep." When pushed again about whether it was an injury, he simply stated that today is Friday and the injury report doesn't come out until Tuesday. Hmmm, definitely an interesting response, and definitely worth checking out on Tuesday, when those reports become public.

On the kicking game...
Jeff Ruiz was named the starting punter today, something Coach touched on briefly. "Jeff was much more consistant and earned the right to start. It was a competition and the #1 won the job."

On being on national TV for the home opener...
"It's a great opportunity to be (on ESPN) for the opener...It's taken the Wolfpack Nation to a new level." said O'Brien who mentioned that the players are pumped up even more, knowing that it will be the first game and everyone will be watching.

On South Carolina Quarterback, Stephen Garcia...
Coach O'Brien said that the coaching staff is well aware of what Garcia can do since O'Brien recruited him. He said they are aware that he possesses a "strong arm" and the ability to "pull it down and run." Coach also mentioned the possibility that South Carolina tries to run "wildcat sets" at times on Thursday.

On, much talked about, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews being on the sidelines on game night....
"I didn't even know she was coming."


VIDEO (part 1):


Video (part 2)

Depth Chart For South Carolina Game

QB - Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon
RB - Toney Baker, Jamelle Eugene
FB - Taylor Gentry, Harrison Rithcer
WR - Jarvis Williams, Darrell Davis
WR - Owen Spencer, T.J. Graham
TE - George Bryan, Matt Kushner
LT - Jake Vermiglio, Zach Allen
LG - Julian Williams, Andrew Wallace
C - Ted Larsen, Wayne Crawford
RG - R.J. Mattes, Andy Barbee
RT - Jeraill McCuller, Gary Gregory

K - Josh Czajkowski, Carl Ojala
P - Jeff Ruiz, Chris Ward
LS - Corey Tedder, Michael Maurer
H - Jeff Ruiz
KR - T.J. Graham, Rashard Smith
PR - T.J. Graham, Rashard Smith

DE - Shea McKeen, Michael Lemon
DT - Leroy Burgess, Natanu Mageo
DT - Alan Michael-Cash, J.R. Sweezy
DE - Willie Young, Audi Augstin
SLB - Audie Cole, Asante' Cureton
MLB - Ray Michel, Sterling Lucas
WLB - Dwayne Maddox, Terrell Manning
CB - C.J. Wilson, DeAndre Morgan
S - Justin Byers, Bobby Floyd
S - Clem Johnson, Earl Wolff
CB - Koyal George, Gary Grant

NC State Commits In Action Tonight (8/28/09)

All of the NC State '10 football commits will be in action tonight, except for Tobais Palmer and Roy Mangram, who will be playing tomorrow night. This is the opening night for a majority of the commits, with the exception of Crisp, Singer and Creecy, who got their season started last night. If any of you can make it out to the games tonight, it would be awesome to hear a report from as many games as possible. I know that the Wolfpack Nation is spread out all over the south, so this is definitely possible.

Robert Crisp and Pete Singer - Athens Drive @ Enloe (Raleigh, NC) - 7:30 pm

Logan Winkles - Upson-Lee @ Berkmar (Lilburn, GA)

D.J. Green - Central @ Westside (Macon, GA)

Thomas Teal - Cheraw @ Marlboro County (Bennettsville, SC)

Tony Creecy - Middle Creek @ Southern Durham (Durham, NC)

Torian Box - Riverdale @ North Clayton (College Park, GA)

Raynard Randolph - Chatham High School @ Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, VA) (Scrimmage)

Meet The Pack Day

NC State fans will be able to meet and receive autographs from players from the 2009 football squad on Saturday, August 29 (tomorrow) at the annual "Meet the Pack Day" at Carter-Finley Stadium. The event will run from 2-4 pm and admission is free.

Once again, NC State is partnering with Communities in Schools of Wake County to collect school supplies for area at-risk students. Wolfpack fans are asked to bring donations to Meet The Pack Day. For a complete list of needed supplies, check out information on "Meet the Pack Day" on Gopack.com.

The team will be signing autographs on the concourse and a limited number of team posters and schedule cards will be available. In order to get as many people through the lines as possible, please limit autographs to one item per fans.

The first 2,000 fans will receive a 2009 NC State Autograph Book to have the players and coaches sign. Books will be given away at the East and West Entrances.

Fans will be able to enter Carter-Finley from Gates 2-4 (Vaughn Towers) and 8/9 (East Side). All Carter-Finley Stadium lots will be available for free public parking.

2009 NC State football media guides will be on sale at the event for $20. Cash or check only (make checks payable to NC State Athletics).


Information provided by NC State Media Relations.
Picture taken by Tim Peeler.

Ritcher Named Recipient of Ford Legends Award‏

Former NC State football player Jim Ritcher, who was the first center in college football history to win the prestigious Outland Trophy, has been named the 2009 recipient of the President Gerald R. Ford Legends Award.

The award will be presented during the 10th Annual Rimington Trophy Presentation on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb.

“I am blessed and truly honored to be the 2010 recipient of the Gerald R. Ford Legends Center Award. Being named in association with President Ford, the former recipients and the members of the Rimington Trophy-Boomer Esiason Foundation is significant because of their reputation for integrity,” Ritcher said.

To be considered for the President Gerald R. Ford Legends Center Award candidates must have either played the Center position at the collegiate or professional level; made extraordinary contributions to his team during his football career; or have proven to be an exemplary citizen, philanthropist or leader in the business or football community.

“We are thrilled to award Jim with this prestigious honor. Before the Rimington Trophy, he was one of only three centers in history to win a major college football award. Having made a successful 16-year career in the National Football League, Jim has established himself as one of the most outstanding centers of all time. I extend my sincere congratulations to Jim and his family,” BEF president Dave Rimington said.

A two-time All-America center at North Carolina State University, Ritcher provided a steady hand throughout the 1976-79 seasons. Twice he was awarded the Jacobs Trophy as the best blocker at the center position in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

During the 1979 season, Ritcher cleared the way as the Wolfpack captured the ACC title for the seventh time school history. At season’s end, he became the first center in history to win the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman.

Ritcher later enjoyed a 16-year career in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons, appearing in four Super Bowls.

On February 8, 1987, Ritcher’s jersey number 51 was officially retired in a ceremony at Carter-Finley Stadium. In 1998, Ritcher became the third player from NC State to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He currently serves as a flight instructor and pilot for American Airlines. Two of his sons have also played for the Wolfpack: John was a tight end from 2002-05, while Harrison is a fullback on the current team.

For more on the President Gerald R. Ford Legends Award, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com


Information and Picture provided by NC State Media Relations.

Jeraill McCuller: "I've Bought Into The Program"

Family is a big deal for NC State Captain Jeraill McCuller, and it always has been. In fact, it was his desire to be close to family that ultimately brought the stud Offensive Tackle to Raleigh. Jeraill played his high school ball up at Atlantic Shores Christian School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After earning 1st Team All-State honors his senior year, this dual sport athlete (McCuller also lettered 4 years in basketball) began to attract the attention of quite a few high-major out-of-state schools. McCuller received offers from Michigan St., Maryland, West Virginia, South Carolina, East Carolina, and NC State. It was his desire to be close to his mother and his younger siblings that was at the forefront of McCuller's decision to commit to NC State.

"Growing up I moved around a lot and I wasn't really that close to my mom," McCuller said. "When I got the opportunity to go to NC State I knew I would be closer to my mom and my younger brothers and sisters. I just really wanted to be around here and be a part of their lives."

Family is also a big deal to McCuller these days for another reason. His two year old son is his pride and joy these days. When asked who he was outside of the game of football, his love for his son and his desire to be an example to him was paramount.

"Most importantly I'm a father. I have a two-year old son and he's the center of my life," McCuller said. "I just try to make sure that all of the decisions that I make throughout the day would make him proud of his daddy. That's what Jerraill is, he's a father."

McCuller has been a big member of another family, that is the NC State football team, over the past 5 years. His role really began to increase with the Pack near the end of his Redshirt Sophomore season in 2007. McCuller started in the final four games of the season and only allowed 2 sacks in 336 snaps. Last season Jeraill took his game to a whole new level. He took more snaps than any other player on the offensive side of the ball with 795, only allowing 2 sacks across the entirety of the whole season. Doing just a little bit of simple math, over the past two seasons, Jeraill McCuller has only given up 4 sacks in 1,131 snaps. He is honored to have been nominated as one of the Wolfpack's 3 captains this season, and attributes the way that he carries himself and the way that he has bought into the program as reasons for his election by his peers.

"I tell everyone it's just a blessing from God. I'm truly humbled to be elected a team captain. And I'm in good company with Jamelle Eugene and Willie Young, two outstanding players and outstanding people. I'm just excited to be a part of this," McCuller said. "I kind of feel that that was one of the reasons that I was elected captain, because of the way that I carry myself. As soon as coach called me into his office to give me the news, he told me that the best way to uphold this honor is to go out there and work hard and lead by example. Hopefully people will buy into the program in the same way that I've bought into the program."

Season Tickets Sell Out for Ninth Straight Year‏

RALEIGH, N.C. - A limited number of single-game NC State football tickets - those returned from visiting teams' for various games - are now available for public sale through the GoPack.com Ticket Center.

Tickets for the Murray State ($35), Gardner-Webb and Duke ($45) games are available, as well as a few remaining Rivalry Packages for $93 each, which includes one ticket to the Oct. 10 game against Duke and the Nov. 28 game against North Carolina. All tickets and packages can be purchased on-line or by calling the NC State Ticket Office at (919) 865-1510.

For the ninth year in a row, the school has sold out all of its season-ticket inventory, according to Brian Kelly, the school's assistant athletics director for ticket operations.

"Even in a difficult economic climate, our fans continue to show how devoted they are to Wolfpack football and how excited they are about the coming season," said NC State athletics director Lee Fowler. "I know it means a lot to Coach [Tom] O'Brien and his team that they will again be playing in a packed Carter-Finley Stadium.

"I think the improvement shown during Coach O'Brien's first two seasons and the game-day atmosphere that has been created here over the last few years continue to attract the NC State and Triangle communities to our home games."

The Wolfpack opens the 2009 season next Thursday against South Carolina, a game for which no tickets remain. It follows with home games against Murray State (Sept. 12), Gardner-Webb (Sept. 19) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 26).

For more information or questions about tickets, call the ticket office at (919) 865-1510 or visit the GoPack.com ticket center.


Information provided by NC State media relations.
Picture taken by Peyton Williams.

Calling All Pack Fans: Red Out/ White Out

So, a lot of people have been asking about the "Red Out/White Out" logo we've created on the right side of the page, so we'd like to take this time to explain.

In case you haven't heard, The Student Wolfpack Club is putting on a White Out/Red Out for the home opener against South Carolina on Thursday, September 3rd. The game is being televised on ESPN, so this is a great chance to show the nation what type of fans we have here in Raleigh. Here is how it's all going to work.

Students (White)
Students are asked to come out in your white NC State t-shirts. What? Don't have a white NC State T-shirt? Well you soon will. The Student Wolfpack Club is passing out "Beat Carolina" T-shirts (courtesy of Time Warner Cable)to all students in attendance. The shirts will be white, with red letters on them. Students will also be given a red "howl towel" to wave (which should look cool contrasting with the white shirts)

All Other Fans (Red)
All other fans are to follow the normal "Red Out" procedures. Wear your red Wolfpack shirts and hats to the game on Thursday. We were also told that fans will get white "howl towels" to contrast with their red shirts.

Wilson Meets The Press (Part II) - August 25, 2009

Top Quotes From the Interview:

"Every game you play there is something new that happens. Every time I step on that field, whether it's Carter-Finley or somewhere else, I feel a new excitement, a new jolt through my body, and that's a positive thing."

"No matter what you do, whether your doing good or bad, there are always going to be critics, and people who think you are better than you are. I have to really recognize how good I am and how bad I am."

"I'm never afraid. I'm never afraid of doing certain things or trying to play to best ability that I can. I'm going to be smart. If I need to get down, I'm going to get down."

"The game is really slowing down for me. I think that from the beginning of the season last year to the end of the season last year, even though I got hurt, the game really slowed down for me."

Wilson Meets the Press (Part 1): 8/25/09

Top Quotes From the Interview:

"I want to be the best quarterback I can, I want to be the best quarterback in the ACC, and I want to be the best quarterback in the nation, every time I step on the field."

"I think it's exciting playing South Carolina (for the first game of the season), they're a good team with a good coach...They want to win, we want to win, it's going to be on national TV. That's the exciting part. It's not about last year, to be honest with you. It's about this year, about starting a new season, about starting all over and progressing..."

"I think everyone has grown. From the offensive line, to the wide recievers, to the defensive guys. I think everyone is understand what Coach O'Brien wants....and that helps us take it to another level."

Mario Carter Out for the Season

NC State Coach Tom O'Brien announced last night on his radio show that Redshirt Freshmen Mario Carter will miss the entirety of the '09 football season. Carter had surgery on his knee last week, and originally the prognosis wasn't detrimental, but it turns out that the injury was more severe than originally thought. This is tremendously dissapointing for both Carter and the Pack.

Carter redshirted last season after sitting out a majority of his Senior season at Charlotte Independence High School due to a knee injury. Back in the Spring, Carter was one of the standout players in the Red/White game. Carter added a great 1-2 punch at the Tight End position alongside of starter George Bryan.

The importance of Redshirt Senior Matt Kushner stepping up this year has become much more vital. Kushner sat out a majority of last season due a knee injury that he suffered in the William & Mary game, a game in which he started.

O'Brien To Be Keynote Speaker

According to numerous reports, NC State football coach Tom O'Brien will be the keynote speaker at the Bronko Nagurski Awards banquet on December 7, 2009, in Charlotte. The Nagurski Award is given the the NCAA's top defensive player every year. Also, NC State's Willie Young is one of 62 players on the 2009 Bronko Preseason Nagurski Watch List.

Rivers Inks Lucrative 6-Year Deal

If you bought yourself or your children a Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers jersey, and were worried that he might change teams, you can rest your mind now. Rivers and the Chargers have just agreed to a 6-year contract that is worth $92 million, with $38-39 million guaranteed, that will keep him in San Diego at least through 2015. Philip had a monster season last year, establishing himself as one of the NFL's elite Quarterbacks. He led the league in Quarterback Rating (105.5), Touchdown passes (34) and ranked 4th in Passing Yards (4,009). This is tremendous for Rivers and the Chargers.

Chargers President Dean Spanos had this to say to The Sports Network concerning the signing of Rivers:

"This is a good day for the Chargers and Chargers fans," said team president Dean Spanos. "Philip has proven he has all of the necessary qualities to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. He's a proven winner and an unquestioned leader for this football team."

Antonio Gates was also excited for Rivers. Gates, who has been Rivers' primary target ever since he took the reins, spoke with ESPN and had this to say about his Quarterback:

"He's a good dude, man, and I'm happy for him and I'm happy that he's here long term. At the end of the day I know what it means for him to go out here and play football and know the passion he has for us to win," Gates said. "I think that's the biggest thing about him. The thing I'm going to remember when I'm done playing ain't going to be the big contracts, it ain't going to be the money, it ain't going to be the cars. It's going to be the person I had the chance to sit next to."

If your wondering if the money is going to get to Rivers' head, don't expect him to go out and purchase a Hummer anytime soon. Rivers told the Miami Herald that he would stick with his minivan.

"It's the most efficient for the kids," he said. "They can get in an out. It's hard to buckle them in the car seats if you've got to climb back there in all the SUVs."

N&O Ranks The Pack #24 In Preseason Poll

J.P. Giglio of the N&O, who happens to be one of the 60 voters that make up the AP Top-25 poll, came out with his own Top-25 poll this morning. NC State ranked #24 in the poll and this is what he had to say about the Pack:

24. N.C. State
2008 record: 6-7
Key games: South Carolina (Sept. 3), @ FSU (Oct. 31), UNC (Nov. 28)

Bottom line: The Wolfpack was the only ACC team to win its final four conference games in '08. With the best quarterback in the conference (Russell Wilson, 17 TDs-1 INT), a favorable home schedule and a coach (Tom O'Brien) whose teams always improve as the season gets longer, State has a legitimate chance to win the Atlantic Division and play for its first ACC title in 30 years.

Other teams in the Top-25 of relevance:

8) Virginia Tech
16) Georgia Tech
21) East Carolina
22) Pittsburgh

Didn't make the cut:

27) Florida State
29) North Carolina

Checking In With NC State Commit D.J. Green

Recently we had the chance to catch up with NC State commit D.J. Green. Last year Green helped lead Westside High School (Macon, GA) to a 12-1 record. The Seminoles finished the season ranked #17 in the state of Georgia. D.J. is a consensus 3-Star Safety and who committed to NC State this past June. Here is how our conversation with D.J. went down:

WPP: Why did you choose NC State?

Green: Most of all it was the coaching staff. I really liked their personalities,The personaties, they were really down to earth. When it was time for business it was time for business. They weren’t just talking to be talking.

WPP: What have the NC State coaches told you they are planning to do with you?

Green: I talk with Coach Reed for the most part. He sees me play multiple positions, safety and linebacker. Right now I’m just a safety and that’s my primary position, but when we get in the red zone they put me at linebacker because I have the size and ability.

WPP: What are your goals for your Senior seson?

Green: As long as the other team is making a decent amount of passes, I would like to get an interception each game. I was voted to be a Captain by my teammates and it meant a lot. I know they look up to me and I really want to step up and be a leader. It's my goal to not take any plays off and to step up when I'm needed.

WPP: Are there any players that you look up to? Try to pattern your game after?

Green: I used to love watching Sean Taylor. He was a Safety with a lot of size like me. I really watched how he tackled. He really drove with his legs and wrapped up and that has helped me in my tackling.

WPP: What have you been working on this off-season?

Green: Last year I was running around a 4.7 40-time, so I've really been working on my speed. Now I’m down to a low 4.5. I've been up early in the morning running the stairs, pulling the sled, jumping over hurdles, running in the quick sand and running 100’s with a parachute.

WPP: What is your current height and weight?

Green: 6’4" and 210lbs

WPP: What do you enjoy outside of football?

Green: I like school, it is fun because my friends and all my teachers like me. But I guess most of all I like to make my mom smile.

O'Brien Talks With David Glenn

This past Friday Coach O'Brien chatted with David Glenn of the ACC Sports Journal. Here is a small excerpt from their conversation:

O’Brien on Year Three at N.C. State:

“I think certainly we’ll be a much more competitive football team than we were our first two years here. The only caveat to that is the injury bug, which we faced here for our first two years. If we can minimize that and come up with a normal year, then as I said we’ll be competitive. I don’t see that we’re going to ever be out of any football game, and I think we’re certainly going to have a chance to win them all.”

O’Brien on his biggest worry this season:

“I think my greatest concern comes back to injuries. If we can keep the guys we have and lose no one else for the season … I know we’re going to lose a guy here or there for a week or two. I mean those things happen throughout the season. But we can’t lose 10 guys for the year lke we did a year ago.”

O’Brien on a Wolfpack player to watch this season:

“The guy who’s made the biggest strides still is Toney Baker. … He’s not back to where he was in August of 2007, but he certainly has shown he can be a functional and capable back for us. With him and Jamelle Eugene, it gives us a pretty good 1-2 punch, like we had last year with Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene.”

Click here to listen to the rest of the conversation.

3 Pack Recruits Victorious In Season Opener

Last night Athens Drive (Robert Crisp and Pete Singer) and Southern Durham (Tony Creecy) were victorious in their season opener's on the road.

Southern Durham packed up in the buses and headed down to Greenville, North Carolina to face off against Rose. I guess you could say that last nights game was worth driving the distance for Southern, considering the fact that they destroyed Rose 47-17. The game didn't always look this one-sided, Rose led at halftime 17-14. The story of the game would be the third quarter when Southern put 33 points on the scoreboard and held Rose to a goose egg (Rose didn't score at all in the 2nd half). NC State commit Tony Creecy helped get the party started in the second half, catching a 44 yard touchdown to give Southern a 21-17 lead, and I guess you could say that was the beginning of a scoring rampage by Southern. Tony Creecy is a 4-star recruit, and he lived up to the hype last night, leading all receivers with 121 yards receiving accompanied by one TD.

Athens Drive must have been excited to suit up to NC State commits last night in the Orange and Blue. Robert Crisp (OL) and Pete Singer (DB) are both NC State commits that just transferred to Athens a couple of weeks ago. The two of them helped lead Athens Drive to a 21-14 over Sanderson on the road last night in their season opener. I guess Crisp's presence didn't hurt Athen's running game last night, as the Jaguar running backs tallied 266 yards on the ground, averaging 6.3 a carry. Athens running back KyRee Green dashed for a 7 yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left in the game to seal the deal.

2010 NC State Commit: Thomas Teal

Position: DT
School: Marlboro County (Bennetsville, SC)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 330
Class: 2010
Stars: Scout and Rivals 3-Stars
Status: Commit
Offers: NC State, Baylor, ECU, Duke, South Carolina State and Illinois

Biography:

Thomas Teal's Marlboro County Bulldogs have been a dominating force down in South Carolina. Going into last season the they had won three straight regional championships. Last season the Bulldogs were 10-4 last season and finished 2nd in their region (3-2) behind Crestwood, who went 5-0 in region play. NC State commit Thomas Teal tallied 70 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles, and helped lead the Bulldogs to a #21 ranking within the state of South Carolina.

Teal is a consensus 3-Star player who hauls a lot of weight at a pretty good pace (5.5 40-Time). This '10 sleeper impresses most scouting analysts with his speed and agility for a young man who is carrying 330lbs. ESPN (#39 DT) and Rivals (#41 DT) see something special in Teal that Scout (#75 DT) apparently isn't seeing. Teal shows a good ability to get in the backfield and running backs and quarterbacks might want to watch out, because 330lbs packs a pretty mean punch.

ESPN has a free video video of Teal that you can watch. Click here.

Josh Milinichik: The Unsung Senior

Coming into the 2009 season, fans and media alike have been paying close attention to the Seniors, and for good reason. You can tell a lot about a team by watching the way it's Seniors carry themselves. They are the ones that the underclassmen look to for examples and insight, they have the ability to set the tone for an entire season. This year, Toney Baker, Willie Young, Alan Michael Cash and Jeraill McCuller are the ones getting a lot of the attention, but there are other Seniors that need to be recognized for the work they do and the impact they make. One of those Seniors is walk-on Josh Milinichik.

Milinichik grew up loving the game of football. He also grew up loving The NC State Wolfpack, in part because of his father, Joe Milinichik. Joe was a standout offensive lineman for the Pack in the early eighties, and later went on to be drafted in the 3rd round by the Detroit Lions in 1986. After a stint with the Lions, he went on the play for the Rams, and then the San Diego Chargers who made it to Super Bowl XXIX.

Growing up just down the road from NC State, Josh starred at Apex High School and was starting to make some waves in the recruiting circuit. James Madison University came at him the hardest, but NC State was also in the mix, recruiting Josh as a walk-on. With James Madison offering to pay for his school, he chose to leave for Virginia. However, after two-seasons, Josh began to rethink his decision to attend James Madison, and decided it was time to make a move.

"Throughout my transition there I kind of started to grow away from the coaches, so I decided to to come back home to NC State" said Milinichik

Since transferring to NC State as a walk-on, Milinichik hasn't been given the opportunity to show what he's capable of on Saturday's, yet he's never stopped going at it 100%. In fact, when waiting for interviews after practice, many media members were already walking back to their cars when Josh finally walked off the field. He had stayed behind to help push the others who were getting in some extra reps before hitting the showers. He explained to us how he stays motivated as a walk-on in a high profile football program.

"I love the game, and as a walk-on you really have to love the game. You can't be in this for the glamor, because if you are then you'll become bitter and uncomfortable and you'll fall away from it. You can't fall into the traps of quitting or become a negative aspect of the team, because then they'll just get rid of you anyway. You really just do it because you love the game."

While it's easy to tell the feel good story of a walk-on turned starter, we think that it's also important to tell the story of the walk-on that never quit. The guy that comes out everyday and goes 100%, pushing the starters to become better and never complaining when his number is not called on Saturdays. So remember that behind every good team, there is a group of guys like Josh Milinichik that give it all they've got. Not for the glamor and the glory, but for the love of the game.

That love for the game has Josh interested in coaching at the college level when he's finished at NC State this year. He plans to complete his degree in Sociology, marry his long-time girlfriend, coach football and enjoy hunting and fishing in the off-season.

ACC Time Capsule: NC State's 1957 ACC Championship

NC State's 7 ACC Championships rank 4th in ACC history. The Wolfpack's first title came back in 1957 with Running Back Dick Christy leading the charge. NC State finished the season with a 7-1-2 (5-0-1) record and they ended the season ranked 15th in the AP poll. The Pack's only loss of the season came at the hands of William and Mary and they tied both Miami (0-0) and Duke (14-14). Unfortunately NC State was not allowed to play in a bowl game, due to a recruiting infraction in basketball with Louisiana high school star Jackie Moreland. 1957 was the first year of a 4-year probation that prevented the Pack from participating in post-season play. Jim Oddo (Center) and Dick Christy (Running Back) both earned First Team All-ACC honors and Darrell Dess (Tackle), Bill Rearick (Guard) and Dick Hunter (Running Back) were placed on the 2nd Team.

The Pack's offense completely revolved around Running Back Dick Christy. He led the team in rushing with 629 yards (4.3 avg), receiving with 211 yards (21.1 avg), kickoff returns 318 yards (45.4 avg). They barely put the ball in the air, averaging 187 yards on the ground and only 50 yards in the air. While Christy might have been a one-man wrecking crew, it was NC State's defense that led them to the promised land. This squad only gave up 236.4 yards per game, which was an NC State record until the '04 squad came along and trumped it with an average of 221.4 yards. They only gave up 6.7 points a game and produced 5 shutouts in half of the games they played.

Christy helped seal the deal in the final game of the season against South Carolina by scoring all of NC State's 29 points. He even kicked a field goal (47 yards) for the first time in his career on the last play of the game to lead NC State to a 29-26 victory over South Carolina, securing the school's first ACC championship. Christy went on to be the ACC Player of the Year in '57 and was a consensus 1st Team All-American.

Christy might have been the star, but it was Earle Edwards who was calling the shots. Edwards was honored with the ACC Coach of the Year award in this historical year for NC State. Edwards would go on to produce the 4th most ACC wins in the history of the conference.


Schedule

W 7-0 @UNC
W 48-13 @ Maryland
W 13-7 @ Clemson
W 7-0 @ Florida State
T 0-0 @ Miami
T 14-14 Duke
W 19-0 Wake Forest
L 6-7 William & Mary
W 12-0 Virginia Tech
W 29-26 @ South Carolina

Sharing The Wealth: Q&A with Dick Sheridan

Ken Tysiac of the N&O got the chance to sit down with former NC State Coach Dick Sheridan on Tuesday night. Here is a small excerpt from the Q&A, but make sure to read it in its entirety:

Q: Coach, how much fun is it for you and how much pride do you have being around the red and white and on the sidelines?

A: It's very enjoyable to me. I have a lot of respect for Coach (Tom) O'Brien and his staff. I like watching them work and the pace and tempo of practice and the teaching that's going on. They're doing a fantastic job in my opinion and I have a lot of respect for them.

Q: Obviously you have some special pride, though, being back around the program a little bit?

A: Oh yeah. Hopefully I'll always feel a part of it. I feel like I'm in another place with these facilities. It's beautiful what they've done with these facilities, and I just think there's a lot of good things ahead for N.C. State.

Q: Do you plan to come back and speak to the team at some point?

A: Well, they don't know who I am and they don't care (laughing). It would be an honor to come back and do that. . . .I've been invited to toss the coin before the North Carolina game. I guess they felt like we had some good luck against the Tar Heels. Maybe I can bring a little luck.

DeAndre Morgan: Game Over

DeAndre Morgan has been a starter at Cornerback since his Redshirt Freshmen season, and the experience is paying off. Even though Morgan is a rising Junior, he still has taken the second most snaps (1,323) of any player on the NC State roster besides Willie Young. His experience has produced a bonafide leader not only for the secondary, but for the whole team. When we showed up after practice to interview Morgan, he was one of the last players to leave the field because he had pulled a couple of Freshmen aside to work on technique after practice.

"The big thing is confidence. We're all athletic, we have that gift. The key is confidence and knowing what your doing, perfecting it every snap. I want to help get that installed in these young guys," Morgan said. "I've told these guys that I'm here each and every day after practice if they want to work on stance and technique. I'm not just here to make myself better. I try to let them know some of the things I did as an incoming Freshmen.

Standing at 5'10", DeAndre isn't a giant at the Corner position, but in his heart and mind he is at least 6'4". DeAndre has had to learn to play bigger than he is, and he's developed a good sized chip on his shoulder over the years.

"I have a chip on my shoulder every year. I always feel like I have something to prove. I've been so small my whole life and everybody has always underestimated me. So I just have to show them every single game," Morgan said. "I've got to go out and compete to the best of my ability because 9 times out of 10 I'm going to be faced by a bigger receiver. I'm an undersized Cornerback, and I like that. A lot of people come at me because I'm small and I like that, because I want you to come at me."

The athleticism has always been there for DeAndre. Coming out of high school he was already running a 4.4 40-time, so speed isn't an issue. But this off-season Morgan was looking to add some bulk.

"The biggest thing I've been working on this off-season is getting bigger and stronger. I feel like the speed is there," Morgan said. "I just want to get bigger and more physical with the bigger receivers. That was probably one of my downfalls last season and it was something I needed to improve on."

Morgan's older brother DuJuan's presence at NC State definitely was a factor in DeAndre's decision to go come to NC State. They had the chance to play together in the secondary his Freshmen season, which is something most brothers don't ever get the chance to do at the college level. But DuJuan wasn't the only thing that drew DeAndre to Raleigh.

"It was because of their defense. They were very aggressive and they played a lot of man-to-man. The coaches, the facilities, the school...everything was great. But the biggest thing was the fans," Morgan said. "I wanted to go to a Florida school, but the fans down in Florida, they aren't as dedicated as the fans at NC State. Down here we can play a team like Appalachian State or Gardner Webb and the game will be sold out, but if Miami or FSU plays a school like FAMU they will get like 10,000 people there. The dedication of the fans down in Florida didn't compare to the fans in Raleigh."

After being recruited to play at NC State by former NC State coach Chuck Amato, Morgan and the rest of the boys had to make a transition when Coach O'Brien took over the reins.

"It's been great playing for Coach O'Brien," Morgan said. "It was a big transition for me and the rest of the team at first, but once we got on board and started doing things his way we all noticed a big difference. He's a great coach."

Before every season Coach O'Brien has each player fill out a goal sheet. Each player we talk we try to ask what they wrote down on their sheet.

"I have to more physical and stronger. I want to be 1st Team All-ACC Cornerback. I was selected to a preseason 2nd Team All-ACC (Phil Steele's College Football Preview) and thats just another reason why I have a chip on my shoulder," Morgan said. "I don't want to just be the best in the conference, but the best in the country as well. I've just got to come out here and work hard every day, listen to Coach Reed and develop my technique."

It is our belief that so much focus is put on these players football abilities that we can forget that they are people like everyone else. When DeAndre was asked what is one of his passions outside of football, it was clear that his competitive nature translates into other areas of life as well.

"I'm the best video game player in the country. It doesn't matter what year of Madden or NCAA Football. I've got the belt in my room. Whoever is reading this, you can come play me. I live in College Inn," Morgan said. "When you come I'll record our game and then cook you some popcorn so that you can try to enjoy watching how I just destroyed you. I can also bowl pretty good. If you wanna bowl, we can do that to."

DeAndre's experience and "Game-Over" mentality will be a vital part of the Wolfpack's success this season. Oh yeah, and if your bold enough, the challenge has been issued. The belt really does reside in Morgan's room. Whether it's on the football field, playing video games or bowling, he's always looking for a challenge.

Preseason Notes From Pack Alum In The League

Former NC State Linebacker Stephen Tulloch has been held out of both of the Titans preseason games thus far due to a knee injury. It is unclear how severe the injury is, but there has been no indication that it is severe and seems to be a day-to-day situation. Tulloch is coming off a breakout season where he was second on the team in tackles (84) behind Keith Bulluck. He took over the starting job at middle linebacker last season when Ryan Fowler went down with a season ending injury. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher stated back in June that the starting job was still Tulloch's, despite Fowler's return to health. Tulloch left a big impression on the opposition last season down the home stretch, when he led or tied for the team high in tackles over the final five games of the season. It has been reported that Tulloch has been seen running on the sidelines in practice this week, and Fisher won't rule out starting Tulloch in the next preseason game. This is the last year of Tulloch's rookie contract, and the Titans can only hope that he returns to full strength as soon as possible, because they are expecting him to shine even more this year following the exit of Albert Haynesworth.

Pat Thomas, another former Pack Linebacker, has found a new home in Buffalo, after starting 9 games last season at middle linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is trying to prove his worth to the Bills this preseason. Thus far he has been flip flopping between second and third string at middle linebacker. Thomas is battling Marcus Buggs for the back-up role behind Paul Posluszny. Unfortunately he has been able to play as of late, sitting out in last weeks preseason game against the Bears and it has already been reported that he will have to sit out again this weekend versus the Packers.

Tank Tyler is making some noise this preseason. With the Kansas City Chiefs switching to a 3-4 defense, Tyler will truly have to be a "Tank" in the middle. Even though Tank could possibly start second on the depth chart behind veteran Ron Edwards, expect him to be a prominent figure in the middle of the Chiefs defense. He has been seen running with the 1st team already this preseason.

NC State Ranks #4 In ESPN's Latest ACC Power Rankings

Last week (August 10) Heather Dinich of ESPN put out an updated version of the Power Rankings for the ACC. The Pack came in ranked #4 and here is what she had to say:

"4. NC State -- The Pack is already better than it was a year ago because of its quarterback situation, but this year it needs to start strong instead of making a desperate push at the end. The absence of Irving and the transfer of safety Jimmaul Simmons leaves question marks for the defense."

Here is the breakdown of the rest of the Power Rankings:



1) Virginia Tech
2) Georgia Tech
3) Florida State
4) NC State
5) North Carolina
6) Miami
7) Clemson
8) Wake Forest
9) Maryland
10) Boston College
11) Duke
12) Virginia

Coach O'Brien's Thoughts After 3rd Scrimmage

2010 NC State Commit: Logan Winkles

Position: FB, LB
School: Upson-Lee (Thomaston, GA)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 245
Class: 2010
Stars: Rivals 3-Stars and Scout 2-Stars
Status: Commit
Offers: NC State and Navy

Biography:

Last season Winkles was one of the few bright spots for the Upson Lee Knights. Despite going 3-7, Winkles still tallied 83 tackles, 5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. He earned 1st Team All-State honors and he was also an All-Region selection on both sides of the football (fullback and linebacker).

Winkles spent a majority of his high school career playing Tight End and Middle Linebacker. At this point, most recruiting analysts see Winkles landing at the Fullback position at the next level, even though ESPN still lists him primarily as a Linebacker. Scout has Logan ranked as the #10 Fullback in the '09 class.

This athletic young man runs a 4.7 40-time and has a 31 inch vertical leap. What stands out the most about Winkles is his strength. He squats 480lbs, bench presses 330lbs and cleans 310lbs.

Quick Hits From Third Scrimmage

-Rushing Stats - 22 rushes for 76 yards

- Passing Stats - 20-40 for 242 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT

- Defensive Stats -
Cole - 9 tackles, 1 for loss and 1 sack
Lucas - 8 tackles, 1 for loss
Wolff - 6 tackles
Young - 5 tackles, 2 for loss

-Byers had 2 interceptions and Morgan had one.

-Manning blocked a punt and returned it for a TD

-Augustin also blocked a FG

-RS Mario Carter is having surgery this week on his knee. We are not sure how long he will be out, but he will definitely miss the South Carolina.

-Freshmen Denzelle Good injured his shoulder and had surgery on it. He will unfortunately miss the season.

2010 NC State Commit: Robert Crisp

Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Athens Drive (Raleigh, NC)
Height: 6'8
Weight: 305
Class: 2010
Stars: Scout 5-Stars and Rivals 4-Stars
Status: Commit
Offers: NC State, Clemson, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, UNC, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, ECU, Boston College, Miami

Biography:

Last season Robert Crisp helped lead Chapel Hill to a 7-4 record. The Tigers made it to the State Playoffs and lost in a close one in the 1st round to Westover (Fayettville, NC) by the score of 13-16.

Robert is the #3 Offensive Tackle in the '09 class according to Rivals and #5 according to Scout. Rivals ranks him as the #32 player overall and Scout ranks him #49.

He runs a 5.31 40-Time and has a 25-inch vertical leap. Both of these numbers ranked Crisp in the Top-10 in each category at the 2009 U.S. Army National Combine in January, ranking 8th in the 40 and 6th in the vertical among Offensive Linemen.

Crisp will be playing his Senior season at Athens Drive in Raleigh, NC.

The FayObserver also just named Crisp the top player in North Carolina in '09. Crisp is only the second Offensive Linemen to receive the prestigious status in the FayObserver's 15 years of doing a Top-50.

Terrell Manning: Media Day 2009

2010 NC State Commit: Anthony Creecy

Position: Wide Receiver, Running Back
School: Southern Durham (Durham, NC)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs
Class: 2010
Stars: Scout and Rivals 4-Stars
Status: Commit
Offers: NC State, Clemson, Duke, LSU, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, South Carolina, Stanford, ECU, FSU, Maryland, Ole Miss

Biography:

Last season Tony Creecy tallied up 48 receptions for 863 yards and 5 touchdowns. Creecy helped lead his Southern Durham team to a 9-4 record last year, creating a three-way tie for first place in the conference. The Spartans ended up losing in the 2nd round of the 4-A State Playoffs to cross-town rival Hillside 0-7.

Creecy is the #27 Wide Receiver in the '09 class according to Scout and #23 according to Rivals.

It has been reported that Creecy runs a 4.45 40-time.

Former NC State Football Player Dies In Crash

Former NC State Linebacker Edrick Smith was killed yesterday in a tragic hit-and-run car crash in Charlotte, North Carolina. Smith had one of the most brilliant starts to a career in NC State history back in 1998 when he set the school record for tackles by a Freshmen with 98 tackles. After his phenomenal Freshmen campaign Smith was a candidate for the Butkus Award in '99, but he never got to meet his full potential due to knee and shoulder injuries. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Smith's wife, Karisa, and their three children. Please let the family know that you are doing the same.

Mike Glennon: "Time To Shine"

After Mike Glennon took home the Burger King Skills Challenge on ESPN two years ago, NC State fans were already dubbing him "the future of the Wolfpack." With his pedigree, his premiere arm strength, and his size, many believed he would be behind center from day one, mirroring the career of former NC State superstar Philip Rivers.

Enter Russel Wilson.

Wilson, a freshman carrying barely any hype, emerged as a star for the Wolfpack in fall practice and wrestled the job away from Glennon and Junior, Harrison Beck. With the starting quarterback position handed to Wilson, NC State coach Tom O'Brien decided to give Mike Glennon a year to learn and grow, as he was red shirted along with most of the other incoming frosh. However, after a mid-season injury to Wilson, it was believed that Glennon would be take off the red shirt and step onto the field. Tom O'Brien was not going to deviate from his plan, and left Glennon on the sidelines while giving the reigns to Junior, Harrison Beck. A decision that Glennon says was the "right one."

"I told them when I was being recruited and when I got here, that I want them to do what is best for the team and best for me. I think Coach O'Brien did that and Russel ended up having great success, so I think it was the best thing for the team. And for me just to have a year under my belt now, I'm just a lot more confident in my game and I think with 4 years left, rather than 3, I'm just a lot better off." Glennon said, during Media Day.

With a year of watching and learning from the sidelines, the red shirt freshman feels completely ready, something he couldn't say last year at this point.

"That's the thing. Last year I had an idea of the offense but I didn't have a real good grasp of it. I was thinking more then I should have been, when now it's more instinct about where I should go and where I should throw. Going through a full season last year and camp this year, I think it was very beneficial to me (to sit out last season)."

With an All-ACC caliber quarterback in Russell Wilson, and one of the top ranked young quarterbacks in the league, The Wolfpack offensive coordinator, Dana Bible, must be foaming at the mouth, ready to throw the book at opposing defenses. Glennon, being more of a Pro-style, prototypical pocket passer, and Wilson with the dual threat attack, should be able to give defensive coordinators fits all season long. Although, there is two sides to this sword, and while having two great quarterbacks gives a team lots of flexibility, it also is an opportunity for controversy. Lucky for Tom O'Brien, that shouldn't be much of a problem, as Glennon certainly has taken on a team first approach to the situation.

"Me and Russell are both competitors, we are always competing in everything we do, but I also know my role on this team. I know that Russell is a very good quarterback and i need to be patient and wait for Coach to call my number. We are both very competitive and we're both working very hard in practice."

With a positive attitude and tons of talent, Mike Glennon knows that success is just around the corner. He realizes that with hard work, and patience, his time will come. The only thing he is worried about is being ready, and being capable when he steps on the field on Saturdays.

"You come to college to play, you don't come to college to sit. When I get in there, I just have to make the most of my opportunities."

Something Pack fans are certainly eager to witness.

**written by Wolfack Pigskin**

Sterling Lucas: Media Day 2009

Giants Lose Brown For '09

We are very sad to report that former NC State running back Andre Brown ruptured his left Achilles tendon jumping for a pass from David Carr in the back of the end zone today. Brown is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday, and will miss the entirety of the '09 season. This comes as a huge blow to Andre, who just signed a 4-year contract this week. We at WPP wish Andre a quick and healthy recovery.

New York Giants

Russell Wilson: Media Day 2009

Manny Lawson Compared To Wilt Chamberain?

It's not everyday that an Outside Linebacker gets compared to one of the greatest Centers to ever play the game of basketball. Last week in the Mercury News, 49ers Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky compared former NC State Defensive End to the great Wilt Chamberlain. His reason in doing so is due to the fact that Lawson's 6'5 frame and tremendous wingspan have caused havoc this preseason for 49er Quarterbacks. He has been knocking down passes like Wilt blocked shots. What the 49ers need out of Lawson more than anything is for him to become a premier pass rusher this year. Manusky has reported on numerous occasions this preseason that he will have the same role in base defense as he has had in the past, but in the sub defense he'd be primarily a pass rusher.

Lawson has definitely put on the needed size to be an elite pass rusher.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle Lawson is hovering around 250lbs right now.

"If I put more on, I'll welcome it," he told the Chronicle. "I don't feel slovenly or sloppy. I feel just as quick."

Lawson has his three squares and supplements with a protein shake in the morning and one at night. He also sneaks in a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich with a class of milk before bed. He said the days of forcing himself to eat are over.

"It doesn't benefit you, because the more you eat, the more you speed up your metabolism," he said."

He also told the Chronicle that he isn't having a problem keeping on the 10 pounds of muscle that he added this offseason. While he might lose 3 or 4 pounds every day in practice, he expects to be around 250 when the season begins.

Lawson made a habit of being in the backfield during his tenure at NC State. He ranks in the Top-5 in the schools history in both sacks and tackles for loss. Manny already has a radio show entitled "The Manny Lawson Show" and he is looking to put on a self-titled show in the backfield on Sunday's this upcoming season.

"Of course I want to be a high-sack guy, especially now that I've got the opportunity to be showcased," Lawson told the Mercury News. "I get an opportunity to rush, and that's what I want to do. My expectations are to be one of the best outside linebackers, to be remembered and really to do whatever it takes for our team to bring that ring back to San Francisco."

No one has ever doubted Lawson's potential. Neither has Manny.

“I want to be that type of person that when opposing teams look at you, they really have to point me out and say you really have to account for this guy, you really have to get a hand on him when he rushes,” Lawson told SFI. “You really have to block him whenever we’re running away from and to him. And then when you’re (in coverage), you really have to get of his block.”

Lawson looks to unleash some of his freak athletic ability coming off the corner this season. His defensive coordinator believes in the former track star (high jump, triple-jump and hurdles).

“He’s progressing quite well but he needs to keep it going,” Manusky told SFI. “He’s going to be coming off the edge in our sub-package. He’s an explosive player who’s got those long arms and a long reach and he takes a sight line and he goes.”

Lawson also has something intangible that can't be taught. He has a hunger to be great.

“I think the expectations I hold myself to are higher than what other people hold me to,” Lawson told SFI. “But this team has shown a lot of trust in me. So my expectations are to be one of the best outside linebackers, to be remembered, and to really do whatever it takes for our team to bring that ring back to San Francisco.”

The 49er fans have high hopes for this season, and rightfully so. Last season they finished the year with a 5-2 record in their last seven games (7-9 on the year) and finished with the best defensive numbers they have seen since '97 (13th ranked defense). With Lawson promising to be at full strength, there is reason to expect the win total and the defensive ranking rise in '09.