Russell Wilson Interview: Opening Practice '09

Wilson Named to Preseason “Watch” list for O’Brien Award

Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson is one of just seven sophomores named to the preseason “Watch” list for the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Semifinalists from among the 33 candidates will be announced in late October and the winner will be announced on December 10. The O’Brien Selection Committee evaluates each candidate on the criteria of quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

Wilson, the first freshman ever to be named the first-team All-ACC quarterback, has thrown 249 consecutive passes without an interception - the longest active streak in the nation. He led the ACC in passing efficiency (133.9), touchdown passes (17) and total offense (213.0) last season.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (The O’Brien) honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. Founded in 1981, The O’Brien seeks to honor candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and character in both the athletic and academic arenas. Honorees are voted on by a national selection committee comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners. The O’Brien is overseen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $790,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information,
visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

2009 O’Brien Watch List:

Sam Bradford Oklahoma JR Big 12
Jarrett Brown West Virginia SR Big East
Daryll Clark Penn State SR Big Ten
Jimmy Clausen Notre Dame JR IND
Aaron Corp USC SO Pac-10
Robert Griffin Baylor SO Big 12
Matt Grothe South Florida SR Big East
Max Hall BYU SR MWC
Tim Hiller Western Michigan SR MAC
Jordan Jefferson LSU SO SEC
Colin Kaepernick Nevada JR WAC
Case Keenum Houston JR C-USA
Dan LeFevour Central Michigan SR MAC
Jake Locker Washington JR Pac-10
Ryan Mallett Arkansas SO SEC
Jeremiah Masoli Oregon JR Pac-10
Colt McCoy Texas SR Big 12
Kellen Moore Boise State SO WAC
Josh Nesbitt Georgia Tech JR ACC
Tony Pike Cincinnati SR Big East
Taylor Potts Texas Tech JR Big 12
Terrelle Pryor Ohio State SO Big Ten
Todd Reesing Kansas SR Big 12
Kevin Riley California JR Pac-10
Zac Robinson Oklahoma State SR Big 12
Riley Skinner Wake Forest SR ACC
Rusty Smith Florida Atlantic SR Sun Belt
Jevan Snead Ole Miss JR SEC
Tyrod Taylor Virginia Tech JR ACC
Tim Tebow Florida SR SEC
Adam Weber Minnesota JR Big Ten
Juice Williams Illinois SR Big Ten
Russell Wilson NC State SO ACC

Information Provided by NCSU Media Relations

Tom O'Brien Interview From Opening Practice

Notes From Interview:

-Sophomore Safety Jimmaul Simmons is no longer with the team. O'Brien stated that "he wanted to quit football and quit school."

-O'Brien said he thought Senior Running Back Toney Baker "looked a little better to me than he did in the Spring Practice. He felt better through the summer conditioning program. I think he gained a little bit of confidence. We're all rooting for him, he could be a great addition to our football team. It would be a great story.

-After a lot of conversation, the staff has decided to move Terrell Manning to the Inside Linebacker spot to compete with Dwayne Maddox. He said that "the two of them are going to have to fight it out because that is a spot that we've got to solve. Dwayne played last year and has some experience there and should have a little more confidence. But Terrell Manning was a heck of an Inside Linebacker when he came here. So we'll see how it works out."

-He said that he liked "the whole continuity of the offense and defense. It's the third year of the program, we've had some guys that have been around that are in there, and you can tell who the Freshmen are because they don't know where to go or what they are doing. There is a distinct difference in the upper class in the way that they approach practice and the way they work."

2009 Defensive Statistics

Quick Hits from the Opening Day of Fall Camp

We were on hand as the 2009 Wolfpack Football Team took the field on the opening day of Fall Camp. We will be bringing you video, photos, and stories from the first day of camp. Here are a few things you can be looking forward to.

-Practice and Interview Video (in HD)

-Donald Bowens Update and Video

- Interviews with Russell Wilson, Ray Michel, and Tom O'Brien

- Audie Cole: "Role Reversal"

- Owen Spencer: "Catching On"

- Photos, updates and recaps along with much, much more.

2009 ACC Preseason Football Team

OFFENSE

Position, Name, School, In 2008 otherwise noted

QB Russell Wilson, NC State, 2008: 1st-team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Year
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, 2008: ACC Player of the Year,2009 Preseason Player of the Year
RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Needs 921 All-purpose yards for ACC record
WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech, Had more than half of Tech's catches
WR Jacoby Ford, Clemson, 2nd among active ACC players in yds, catches
TE Greg Boone, Virginia Tech, 22 catches for 278 yards
OT Jason Fox, Miami, Graded out at 97% for the year
OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, 2008: 2nd-team All-ACC
OG Sergio Render, Virginia Tech, 2008: 2nd-team All-ACC, 39 career starts
OG Rodney Hudson, Florida State, Named to 2009 Lombardi Trophy watch list
C Matt Tennant, Boston College, On 2009 watch list for Rimington Trophy
PK Matt Bosher, Miami, Made 18-of-20 FGAs; 2008: 2nd Team All-ACC

DEFENSE

Position, Name, School, In 2008 otherwise noted

DE Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech, Recorded 18.5 tackles for loss, 2008: 2nd-team All-ACC
DE Willie Young, NC State, Credited with 65 QB pressures in his career
DT Vince Oghobaase, Duke, Lott Trophy finalist has started 36 straight games
DT Marvin Austin, North Carolina, Interception return for a TD and blocked PAT
LB Dekoda Watson, Florida State, 28 tackles in final four regular-season games
LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, Led the nation in unassisted tackles (87)
LB Alex Wujciak, Maryland, 13th nationally in total tackles (10.2 per game)
CB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia, T-11 nationally in passes defended per game (1.27)
CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina, Credited with 78 tackles
S Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech, Preseason All-American by 3 sources
S Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT
P Travis Baltz, Maryland, Led ACC in punting average (41.1)

Specialist: C.J. Spiller, Clemson

An Interview With Coach Petercuskie

After graduating from Boston College in 1974, Jerry Petercuskie has coached at 8 different schools within the college ranks, and has coached practically every position on the field. At Boston Colllege previously and NC State currently, Jerry is the Special Teams coach and the Recruiting Coordinator. Petercuskie is a Pennsylvania native who is married and the father of three children. We had the privilege of interviewing Coach Petrcuskie and we hope that you enjoy it.


WPP: Tell us a brief story of your life up until coming to NC State.

Petercuskie: My dad was a coach for 40 years. He coached in high school, college and the NFL. Both of my brothers have coached at all different levels. My whole family background has been around football. My family critiques me more than anyone else. It’s been a great ride. When I look back on all of the years of coaching, what I love the most is watching a young guy develop. In coaching Special Teams I get to work with a lot of young guys and watch them establish themselves as position players. It’s very rewarding. I began coaching at Liberty, and then I left there to work at UVA with O’Brien, and followed him to Boston College. At BC I was the Special Teams Coach and I was also the Recruiting Coordinator and I am in the same positions down here as well.

WPP: What is it like working with Coach O’Brien?

Petercuskie: Tom is a very good man to work for. He is a great coach but he is an even better person. He is an honest man, what you see is what you get. I’ve been working with Tom for 15 years now: 2 years at UVA, 10 years at BC and 3 years here. His ability to keep continuity on the staff is unheard of this day in age. With Tom there is a trust and loyalty factor that is very unique.

WPP: How has the transition from BC to Raleigh been for you?

Petercuskie: The biggest difference was the passion of the fans. I really appreciate their passion for the game of football. It’s encouraging and challenging to see people that really love the game and adamantly don’t want to see a bad product on the field.

WPP: Who are your key guys going to be this year on Special Teams

Petercuskie: Each year you try to develop a core group of players that will play on the 4 main areas of Special Teams. You need around 5 or 6 guys in that core. Bobby Floyd, Earl Wolff, Justin Byers, Audi Cole, Sterling Lucas, Terrell Manning, Dwayne Maddox and Taylor Gentry will all be big. Again, It will be critical that we find that core of 5-6 that can play numerous positions on each area of Special Teams.

WPP: What are dynamics of a quality Special Teams player?

Petercuskie: #1 is toughness. Playing on Special Teams you have to play longer than your opponent. They are the longest plays in football. You have to have some speed. Secondly, we preach that you have to put on the ‘hat’ of special teams. You might have just dropped a 3rd down catch, but now you have to wash that aside and take on a new role right away. Players have to be willing to wear the Special Teams ‘hat’ in order for us to be an effective team.

WPP: Tell us about this years ’09 class.

Petercuskie: As we looked at things we wanted to continue bringing in some good offensive linemen. We established ourselves at Corner and Defensive Line. It takes a number of years before you build a football team and then the objective becomes to recruit a complete football team every year. The ’09 class is a Defensive class.

WPP: As the Recruiting Coordinator, what are the main things that you look for in a recruit?

Petercuskie: For us, we’ve made our living on high motor kids that our self-starters. They need to be talented in the specific area that they play. You have to take into account their height, weight and speed to compete here to win championships. You look for kids that are tough, yet teachable. We don’t look at our job as motivating high five coaches…we are teachers. We want kids that our good citizens that want to get their degree. We don’t like getting players that are pigeonholed. We like them to have the capability to play numerous positions.

August 3, 2009.