1. The spring game gave a peek at what the two deep might look like going into fall camp.
Between the players that played and the injured key cogs returning, the biggest battle for fall camp will come at receiver and tight end from the looks of it. I’d have included running back, but odds are good that two will split carries regardless and a third will be ready in case of fatigue or injuries.
However, the quarterback spot was clearly Brennan Armstrong’s spot, with the Virginia transfer taking every first-half snap with the Red squad, and then being the spokesperson for the offense in interviews.
Armstrong wasn’t sharp in the rain, but football also isn’t football when the quarterbacks can’t get touched for safety concerns. MJ Morris will be the backup and he can appear in four games if the goal is to somehow redshirt him. That goal seems precarious with Ben Finley electing to transfer after he clearly was the third-string quarterback.
Early enrollee Lex Thomas was held out of the game, and walk-on Ethan Rhodes is likely next in line, who had a good senior year at Maiden (N.C.) High, slinging it to UNC signee Chris Culliver. NC State might try to get a NIL walk-on type once again this spring, similar to what they did last year with Jack Chambers.
The running backs will likely be by committee with Jordan Houston, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and Michael Allen. Freshman Kendrick Raphael ran hard for the White squad, but also fumbled and dropped a pass. With the rain, it wasn’t going to be easy for the running backs to look good, but the goal for the run game is to find someone who can handle third and short or fourth and short, and all three backs can catch. NC State also got to get some carries to Micah Crowell, who probably hasn’t played a competitive game since maybe his sophomore year at Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem.
The tight ends will get a jolt of energy with freshman Javonte Vereen, and senior Trent Pennix wasn’t expected to play, but did get some snaps. The Seabrough twins, Fred and Cedd, and Christopher Toudle have potential. Who will be the best blocker out of the bunch is another key question.
NC State started freshman Kevin Concepcion, with senior senior Keyon Lesane and redshirt sophomore Julian Gray. The next wave included Porter Rooks, Terrell Timmons and Anthony Smith. It’s going to be tough to keep Timmons out of the starting lineup.
Of the third-string types, Jalen Coit has proven reliable and was solid on the White team, and he was often joined by Smith and Jakolbe Baldwin. Clemson transfer Dacori Collins, if he got on the field, wasn’t noticeable for the White team. Maybe after I review the film, it will be known if he even played. He’s the biggest of the NC State receivers. In a perfect world, getting another wide receiver in the portal would be ideal.
The offensive line was missing key guys such as center Dylan McMahon and right guard Derrick Eason. Left tackle Anthony Belton and right tackle Timothy McKay were the bookends, with right guard Anthony Carter and left guard Lyndon Cooper. Oregon transfer Dawson Jaramillo got the first half reps at center, and also played some left tackle, and he’ll clearly be the Swiss Army knife on the line, filling in wherever is needed. Eason and Carter will probably battle it out at right guard during fall camp.
The second string line included center Rylan Vann, left tackle Jacarrius Peak, left guard Sean Hill, right guard Patrick Matan and right tackle Matt McCabe. Early enrollee freshman Darion Rivers played at left tackle and redshirt sophomore Thornton Gentry was the backup right guard on the White squad.
2. The NC State defense didn’t have many questions marks going into the spring, but a few things will still get settled in the fall.
Defensive ends Savion Jackson and Davin Vann with nose tackle C.J. Clark. Both Jackson and Clark were injured in the spring. The second string line could be defensive ends Travail Price with either Cincinnati transfer Noah Potter or junior college transfer Jykeveous Hibbler, with Brandon Cleveland at nose tackle. Potter showed some nice pass-rush abilities Saturday. Cleveland’s ability to plug that hole would be huge for the two deep, as he played defensive end last year.
Defensive ends Zyun Reeves and Isaiah Shirley represented the White squad, with walk-on Blair Alexander at nose tackle, who had been on the offensive line. Alexander played for both the White and Red teams. Redshirt freshman Nick Campbell and Davin Jackson both were held out of the game.
Linebackers look deep and experienced with Payton Wilson and Jaylon Scott on the outside and Devon Betty in the middle. Caden Fordham seems to have emerged as the swing linebacker, but he could be joined on the second string by Jordan Poole and Jayland Parker. Freshman Kamal Bonner also proved that he could be a good one down the road. If Daejuan Thompson or Torren Wright played much Saturday, it wasn’t noticeable, but they could be in the mix for second string.
The secondary has some question marks to work out, but Old Dominion transfer Robert Kennedy started at nickel. That allowed safeties Devan Boykin, Sean Brown and Rakeim Ashford, to rotate at the two spots. Jakeen Harris missed the game, but Harris and Boykin could be the starters at safety, and depth has been developed, plus safety Bishop Fitzgerald arrives this summer. Aydan White missed the spring with an injury, but the All-ACC cornerback will start with Shyheim Battle.
The depth at cornerback and nose tackle were probably the two biggest concerns defensively going into the spring. Senior cornerback Teshaun Smith didn’t play in the spring game, but it allowed more snaps for junior college transfer Terrente Hinton, who started in White’s spot, and freshman Brandon Cisse also played. Jackson Vick and Darius Edmundson played cornerback for the White squad, and Nate Evans also missed the game. Isaiah Crowell logged time at nickel for the White team.
Between the players that played and the injured key cogs returning, the biggest battle for fall camp will come at receiver and tight end from the looks of it. I’d have included running back, but odds are good that two will split carries regardless and a third will be ready in case of fatigue or injuries.
However, the quarterback spot was clearly Brennan Armstrong’s spot, with the Virginia transfer taking every first-half snap with the Red squad, and then being the spokesperson for the offense in interviews.
Armstrong wasn’t sharp in the rain, but football also isn’t football when the quarterbacks can’t get touched for safety concerns. MJ Morris will be the backup and he can appear in four games if the goal is to somehow redshirt him. That goal seems precarious with Ben Finley electing to transfer after he clearly was the third-string quarterback.
Early enrollee Lex Thomas was held out of the game, and walk-on Ethan Rhodes is likely next in line, who had a good senior year at Maiden (N.C.) High, slinging it to UNC signee Chris Culliver. NC State might try to get a NIL walk-on type once again this spring, similar to what they did last year with Jack Chambers.
The running backs will likely be by committee with Jordan Houston, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and Michael Allen. Freshman Kendrick Raphael ran hard for the White squad, but also fumbled and dropped a pass. With the rain, it wasn’t going to be easy for the running backs to look good, but the goal for the run game is to find someone who can handle third and short or fourth and short, and all three backs can catch. NC State also got to get some carries to Micah Crowell, who probably hasn’t played a competitive game since maybe his sophomore year at Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem.
The tight ends will get a jolt of energy with freshman Javonte Vereen, and senior Trent Pennix wasn’t expected to play, but did get some snaps. The Seabrough twins, Fred and Cedd, and Christopher Toudle have potential. Who will be the best blocker out of the bunch is another key question.
NC State started freshman Kevin Concepcion, with senior senior Keyon Lesane and redshirt sophomore Julian Gray. The next wave included Porter Rooks, Terrell Timmons and Anthony Smith. It’s going to be tough to keep Timmons out of the starting lineup.
Of the third-string types, Jalen Coit has proven reliable and was solid on the White team, and he was often joined by Smith and Jakolbe Baldwin. Clemson transfer Dacori Collins, if he got on the field, wasn’t noticeable for the White team. Maybe after I review the film, it will be known if he even played. He’s the biggest of the NC State receivers. In a perfect world, getting another wide receiver in the portal would be ideal.
The offensive line was missing key guys such as center Dylan McMahon and right guard Derrick Eason. Left tackle Anthony Belton and right tackle Timothy McKay were the bookends, with right guard Anthony Carter and left guard Lyndon Cooper. Oregon transfer Dawson Jaramillo got the first half reps at center, and also played some left tackle, and he’ll clearly be the Swiss Army knife on the line, filling in wherever is needed. Eason and Carter will probably battle it out at right guard during fall camp.
The second string line included center Rylan Vann, left tackle Jacarrius Peak, left guard Sean Hill, right guard Patrick Matan and right tackle Matt McCabe. Early enrollee freshman Darion Rivers played at left tackle and redshirt sophomore Thornton Gentry was the backup right guard on the White squad.
2. The NC State defense didn’t have many questions marks going into the spring, but a few things will still get settled in the fall.
Defensive ends Savion Jackson and Davin Vann with nose tackle C.J. Clark. Both Jackson and Clark were injured in the spring. The second string line could be defensive ends Travail Price with either Cincinnati transfer Noah Potter or junior college transfer Jykeveous Hibbler, with Brandon Cleveland at nose tackle. Potter showed some nice pass-rush abilities Saturday. Cleveland’s ability to plug that hole would be huge for the two deep, as he played defensive end last year.
Defensive ends Zyun Reeves and Isaiah Shirley represented the White squad, with walk-on Blair Alexander at nose tackle, who had been on the offensive line. Alexander played for both the White and Red teams. Redshirt freshman Nick Campbell and Davin Jackson both were held out of the game.
Linebackers look deep and experienced with Payton Wilson and Jaylon Scott on the outside and Devon Betty in the middle. Caden Fordham seems to have emerged as the swing linebacker, but he could be joined on the second string by Jordan Poole and Jayland Parker. Freshman Kamal Bonner also proved that he could be a good one down the road. If Daejuan Thompson or Torren Wright played much Saturday, it wasn’t noticeable, but they could be in the mix for second string.
The secondary has some question marks to work out, but Old Dominion transfer Robert Kennedy started at nickel. That allowed safeties Devan Boykin, Sean Brown and Rakeim Ashford, to rotate at the two spots. Jakeen Harris missed the game, but Harris and Boykin could be the starters at safety, and depth has been developed, plus safety Bishop Fitzgerald arrives this summer. Aydan White missed the spring with an injury, but the All-ACC cornerback will start with Shyheim Battle.
The depth at cornerback and nose tackle were probably the two biggest concerns defensively going into the spring. Senior cornerback Teshaun Smith didn’t play in the spring game, but it allowed more snaps for junior college transfer Terrente Hinton, who started in White’s spot, and freshman Brandon Cisse also played. Jackson Vick and Darius Edmundson played cornerback for the White squad, and Nate Evans also missed the game. Isaiah Crowell logged time at nickel for the White team.
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