Football news – Depth chart released; Pack picked last; etc…

'08 Football General51

Not much time today for commentary, but here are several links to stories that came out of the ACC’s annual football kickoff in Greensboro, Ga. this past weekend. If you find other good stories out there, then please link them in your comments so they can be added later in this section.

NC State picked 6th in the Atlantic Division.

Depth Chart:

-Daniel Evans listed as the starter with Russell Wilson as his backup.

Why Evans as the starter? See here.

“I feel good. I’m 100 percent,” Evans said after a recent workout at the Murphy Center. “I’m doing all the lifting, all the throwing, doing everything,

“I feel better than I have in two years. I’m excited.”

With 17 career starts, Evans is the Pack’s most experienced quarterback. Entering his fifth season, the former Broughton star has thrown for 3,873 yards — seventh-best in school history — and 17 touchdowns, and is called the “incumbent” at his position by State coach Tom O’Brien.

Pack duo sets pace in football:

It was 5:22 a.m., with a full moon still aglow in the southern sky Friday when N.C. State tight end Anthony Hill wheeled his car into the Murphy Center parking lot.
It was time to meet tailback Jamelle Eugene. Time to lift weights, sweat, work, run.

Time to be leaders.

“They’re the first ones here every morning,” said Todd Rice, the Wolfpack’s director of strength and conditioning. “And when your best players are your hardest workers, everything else kind of falls into place.”

Elder Glennon Tutors Brother:

Sean Glennon, a quarterback who helped lead Virginia Tech to an ACC championship last season, said he supported highly recruited younger brother Mike’s decision to attend N.C. State.

“He has the chance to play right away,” Sean said Sunday at the ACC football media kickoff. “He’s in a good system for his strengths, and he’s in an up-and-coming program.”

Quotes/Video Audio from NC State player interviews from www.packpride.com :

Anthony Hill

Jeremy Gray

WRAL video/audio from Anthony Hill and Jeremy Gray

“I believe that we got to see the Wolfpack offense… now I just feel like with everybody healthy you’ll be able to see an improved Wolfpack offense.”

“Now that it’s two years into the program, the players know what they have to do and their assignm

Caulton Tudor on the Coastal Division vs. the Atlantic Division:

Wake, as much as anything else, has contributed to the divisional disconnect. When the league went to 11 teams in 2004 — adding Miami and Virginia Tech — the Deacons were still the same inviting scheduling slot they essentially had been since 1953. Jim Grobe’s team went 5-7 and 3-5 in 2003 and then 4-7 and 1-7 (losing to Miami, 52-7) in 2004.

The backstory thinking was easy to figure out. Put Duke in one division, Wake in the other, and there’ll never be a shortage of doormats or automatic wins.

That all changed in 2006, when the Deacons turned downright unruly and started beating almost everyone they played.

“I don’t think anyone really saw that coming,” Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford said. “That beating they gave us in 2006 [at Tallahassee, 30-0] is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

'08 Football General

51 Responses to Football news – Depth chart released; Pack picked last; etc…

  1. statemech 07/21/2008 at 10:44 AM #

    from the N&O article about Glennon:

    “UNC sophomore Deunta Williams has another idea.

    ‘I feel like we’ll win the ACC this year,’ said Williams, a safety. ‘I’m not trying to disrespect anybody, but that’s what I feel like is going to happen.'”

    he should have a talk with Gavin Grant, we’ll see where they are by the end of the season.

  2. Noah 07/21/2008 at 12:06 PM #

    Honestly, don’t you expect the players to think they’re going to win every game?

    I remember Bryant Feggins telling me they were going to win national championships. I remember Anthony Grundy saying that he expected to go to at least two final fours.

    Of course you do. Which is why we shouldn’t really ask you what your expectations are.

    Regarding Glennon, he isn’t going to play this year unless the sky falls on us and several people get hurt. But it would not surprise me to see him playing NEXT year.

    I asked someone this weekend to name every single true freshman (who didn’t have the benefit of spring practice) to ever amount to anything at quarterback. The only name we could come up with Riley Skinner.

  3. Girlfriend in a Coma 07/21/2008 at 12:28 PM #

    I think Terry Harvey played as a true Freshman against Duke in that crazy come-from behind game when everyone else got hurt. (?) He amounted to something. Also, was Bender a true or RS freshman when he came in against UNC-CH in 1991 after Terry Jordan got his arm broken? I don’t know for sure on either guy. I’m just throwing those names out there. But I’m pretty sure that Harvey did not redshirt as a freshman. (?)

    I have no idea if either or both went through spring practice.

  4. wufpaxno1 07/21/2008 at 12:39 PM #

    Anthony Hill seems to have matured a good bit in his time off and since he shoved the G.T. player well after a play had ended in ’06. We will need his leadership and he needs to set a positive example for his team mates. We have not played our first down of the season yet, but if this is any indication, O’Brien’s ways may be taking hold and if so, the future is very bright indeed.

    As far as Deunta Williams comments, I agree with Noah, I hope that all of our young men have this level of confidence, but sometimes a quiet confidence may be well served. Ant Hill said in one of the clips that the team’s short term goal was to beat USC, and that the long term goal was to win the ACC. This should be every player’s goal; he just put it in better terms then did Deunta Williams.

  5. MatSci94 07/21/2008 at 12:45 PM #

    “I asked someone this weekend to name every single true freshman (who didn’t have the benefit of spring practice) to ever amount to anything at quarterback.”

    How many teams could you list that have had as little production from the QB spot as we have had in the past few years? I’m not saying I think he will or should play, just that the bar has not been placed that high.

  6. StateFans 07/21/2008 at 12:55 PM #

    Harvey didn’t replace Bender until late Oct / early Nov that year (I think 1991).

    So, it wasn’t like he really was leading the team through the season…and, he obviously had the benefit of three months of development and practice.

  7. packbackr04 07/21/2008 at 1:19 PM #

    So i assume Russel Wilson is the de-facto starter at this poin then?

  8. wolf2003 07/21/2008 at 1:22 PM #

    ESPN has a ranking of the top 300 most prestigious programs since 1984-85. (basketball)

    State is ranked 52nd
    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3481014

  9. Noah 07/21/2008 at 1:24 PM #

    Harvey only started two games as a frosh. He came in against UVa in mop-up duty. He played against Dook and Maryland (hardly the titans of the league) and we nearly lost both games. As I recall, Anthony Barbour was a very large part of our offense in those two games.

    To give credit where credit is due, we were down in the Dook game and Harvey brought us back. Everyone who saw it will always remember that pass he made to Eddie Goines (and the one-handed catch…still one of the all-time greats).

    Bender was a redshirt freshman that year.

    As far as true freshmen who’ve played, I can think of the following high school all-americans who saw action as true freshmen: Jimmah Clausen at Notre Dame, Peyton Manning at Tennessee, Vince Young at Texas, Drew Bledsoe at Wash. State, Chuckie Burnette at UNC, Mitch Mustain at Arkansas, Mike Thomas at UNC (briefly, before he hurt his hand), and Rob Johnson at Southern Cal.

    They were all pretty horrible. Obviously, most of them didn’t stay horrible. They might have had moments here and there where you could see the talent that was coming, but I don’t remember any of those guys sustaining it.

    Getting back to our situation…the coaches like Wilson. They’ve been getting him ready since the moment the Maryland game was over. The players like him. He has an arm that is capable of making every throw and he has legs to get out of trouble (which is handy when those same coaches view the OL as a work in progress).

    We know that Daniel Evans is not an ACC-caliber quarterback. We know that Harrison Burke has the skills, but is probably too turnover-prone (it’s been his downfall at two programs now) to be a reliable starter.

    That leaves Glennon and Wilson. If Glennon beats him out, fine, play him. I just think it’s an unreasonable expectation this year.

  10. RickJ 07/21/2008 at 2:11 PM #

    In 1972, the first year freshman were eligible, Dave Buckey had a tremendous year for us as a true freshman. He essentially alternated with Bruce Shaw who I think was a senior and Buckey started the next three years.

    Riley Skinner did not play as a true freshman. He was a redshirt freshman in 2006 when he had great success.

  11. b 07/21/2008 at 2:27 PM #

    Jamelle Holloway won a National Championship in ’86 after replacing (and ultimately forcing the transfer) of Troy Aikman, albeit he was a triple option QB. Chad Henne was fairly impressive as a true frosh as well. These are certainly exceptions to the rule and I couldn’t find any info if Holloway was in for Spring ball.

    Having said that, I agree with others here that for the health of the program it would be better to RS Glennon until the OL is fully developed.

  12. WW 07/21/2008 at 2:28 PM #

    State picked last in Atlantic Division “according to the media covering Operation Football.” (via WRAL)

    http://www.wral.com/sports/asset_gallery/3238799/

  13. Girlfriend in a Coma 07/21/2008 at 2:52 PM #

    Chris Sims also saw action as a true freshman and was horrible. IIRC he was considered the #1 QB (if not player, period) coming out of high school that year.

    I was just saying that Harvey played as a true freshman. I wasn’t disagreeing with the overall point. Glennon should RS without any question or discussion.

    I’ve talked with Harvey about that Duke game. He says he had absolutely no idea what he was doing and was amazed at how well he did. He just called whatever play he was told and went back to see who was open.

  14. Noah 07/21/2008 at 3:04 PM #

    Was Henne a true freshman? I could have sworn he redshirted.

    BTW, when I said “amount to anything,” I meant “amounted to anything as a true freshman.” Obviously, plenty of those guys eventually became very good players.

  15. wufpup76 07/21/2008 at 3:05 PM #

    I <3 J. Eugene! 🙂

    “It was time to meet tailback Jamelle Eugene. Time to lift weights, sweat, work, run.

    Time to be leaders.”

    Hopefully we have a couple of SENIORS on the bball team taking this type of leadership approach upon themselves as well …

  16. ChiefJoJo 07/21/2008 at 3:58 PM #

    It was great to read about Hill and Eugene. Sounds like we have some good leadership this year.

    Anyone checked out the depth chart? Scary. We are excellent at RB. Solid at WR, TE, DL. Shakey/unproven at QB, DB. Thin at OL, LB, FB.

    Robbie Leonard/Audie Cole at SLB? We have some good talent in spots (RBs, Bowens, Hill, Irving), but major gaps elsewhere. While all accounts are that team chemistry is better than it’s been in years and the program is looking up, I think we might take a few beatings. Hard to see more than 5 wins.

  17. howlie 07/21/2008 at 4:10 PM #

    QB
    LB
    OL
    Kicking Game

    Get ‘surprising improvement’ in 2 of the 4 areas, and we’re bowling.
    Get ‘status quo,’ and we’re quacked.

  18. McPete 07/21/2008 at 4:16 PM #

    and don’t forget Meares Green starting at right tackle, and Bedics and Larson starting at LG and C, respectively. i hope this works. i wonder what’s going on with McCuller and Vermiglio – i expected those guys would start.

    oh and RS Freshman J Byers as starting free safety, backed up by RS Freshman J. Simmons. you hate for your safeties to be so inexperienced, since, well, they need to prevent the home run. we’ll see.

  19. inhoc... 07/21/2008 at 4:35 PM #

    ok other than above, i have not been able to confirm that evans is the starter and wilson is the back up. eventhough that is what i fully expect to happen, knowing that by now beck is probably going to be a dud, i still havnt seen anythig other than TOB is going to keep it under wraps until days before the game…

  20. packpigskinfan23 07/21/2008 at 5:08 PM #

    I still think Tony Baker is our best back.

  21. Dr. BadgerPack 07/21/2008 at 5:13 PM #

    I don’t know about spring practice… but true freshmen off the top of my head to have a modicum of success–

    Chad Henne (mentioned)
    Mitch Mustain (before the whole debacle that ensued… my kid doesn’t pass enough! still, 8-0 record)
    Peyton Manning (I think)
    and just to go nuts- Kevin Kolb at Houston

    I think the Stafford kid at Georgia was a true frosh as well.

  22. Dr. BadgerPack 07/21/2008 at 5:18 PM #

    I don’t know if that scrub Tebow had the benefit of spring practice either. But now if you’ll excuse me, the Fonz is talking to Peter Griffin at the moment…

  23. LRM 07/21/2008 at 5:30 PM #

    Ah, Chris Simms. The Golden Boy that was anything but.

    Speaking of true freshmen quarterbacks, Major Applewhite was mightily effective as a true freshman and was even the 1998 Big XII freshman of the year (later the 1999 Big XII co-offensive player of the year). If not for Applewhite, Simms’ “legacy” would be even more dreadful — Applewhite came in and saved him with miracle comebacks a few too many times during that “quarterback controversy.” Anyone else remember that 2001 Big XII Championship when Simms got hurt after four first half turnovers and then Applewhite came in and rallied them just short of victory? No idea if he was in spring practice, but I know Alabama fans regretted not giving him a scholarship.

    And Badger, Peyton was decent, but not stellar, as a freshman, and he didn’t take over until midway through the season. He was behind Helton and Colquitt and didn’t take over the starting job until after both of them went down to injuries.

  24. JimValvano 07/21/2008 at 6:41 PM #

    Three recruits failed to qualify…who were they?

  25. john of sparta 07/21/2008 at 6:53 PM #

    True Freshman:
    how far back do we go
    in the WayBack Machine?
    NCAA stats are stats.

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