State’s hope for a big surprise in 2007 just took a big hit.
It was announced today that All-ACC and NFL-caliber tight end, Anthony Hill will miss the 2007 football season with a knee injury
We talked about this on Monday when rumors started surfacing on the topic but “the administration” wasn’t allowing Pack Pride and The Wolfpacker weren’t allowed to talk about the topic.
(How does that make all of you ‘premium’ subscribers who are spending $99 a year feel about your purchase? Similarly ‘interesting is the sudden deletion of topics and comments from moderators and posters on Monday proclaiming that Hill was fine).
So, where will the Wolfpack turn for help at tight end? The N&O proposes the following:
Without Hill, a 6-6 senior who has 61 career receptions, State might have to start former quarterback Marcus Stone at tight end.
Stone started the final six games of the 2005 season and first three games of N.C. State’s 3-9 season in 2006 at quarterback. He switched to tight end, under former coach Chuck Amato, after Daniel Evans succeeded him at quarterback. Stone caught four passes for 68 yards in 2006.
Sophomore Matt Kushner (6-4, 256 pounds), who is listed third on the preseason depth chart, played in all 12 games in 2006. Kushner started, with Hill, against Akron and Clemson, but did not have a catch.
I don’t have problem with Kushner not catching the ball a lot as long as he can block. I am confident that the Matt Jones-like Marcus Stone has the potential to provide the Wolfpack with a serviceable pass-catching option. But, can Stone take up enough space and block adequately to support what is expected to be a ground-based offensive plan?
Other names that may surface in competition for playing time at tight end could include: (R-Fr) Rashad Phillips, (R-Jr) Frank Fields and incoming freshman George Bryan.
Of course, it would be nice to be able to redshirt the talented Bryan. Perhaps if Hill comes back for the 2008 season, then Bryan could actually take a redshirt in his second year to provide us more depth and scholarship spacing at the position.
