Over the next couple of War Rooms we will go into the status of the football program heading into the looming offseason on a position-by-position basis. This week we begin with the offense (note: all classes mentioned are in terms of this year’s eligibility).
Coaching: Eli Drinkwitz’s name has come up with some offseason coaching chatter, first as a potential head coaching candidate at South Alabama and then as a perspective option for the open offensive coordinator job at South Carolina. The former has been filled, and with regard to the latter we think the rumors are premature, at best, at this point.
That said, it does not come as a shock that Drinkwitz has ambitions to be a head coach one day, and that could come soon if Arkansas State’s Blake Anderson gets an opportunity to move up. He has had four relatively successful seasons there. Drinkwitz coached two years there.
Thus if everyone returns, we have a hard time seeing Drinkwitz leaving this offseason. He’ll have a loaded offense that should only increase his profile even more next season.
Quarterback: The million-dollar question at the moment when it comes to looking at next year is what will redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley decide to do with his possible sixth year of college eligibility? Our guess: Finley is going to be calculated about his decision.
The quarterback class has some high-profile names potentially in it: USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, Washington State’s Luke Falk, Memphis’ Riley Ferguson and West Virginia’s Will Grier, among others.
Of those, Darnold, Rosen, Allen, Jackson and Grier are underclassmen. How many of them will stick around or go pro? That number could influence what Finley decides to do. With so much talent potentially returning around him, Finley could decide that he will wait it out in the expectation of posting big numbers as a senior and rising to the top of a thinner class in 2019.
Behind Finley will also be an interesting question. The early reviews on redshirting freshman Matt McKay have been in general very positive, and the feeling is that McKay and incoming freshman Devin Leary could find themselves battling redshirt junior Jalan McClendon.
Running back: If Finley is the million-dollar question on offense, junior running back Nyheim Hines would be the $999,000 question. The gut feeling is that he will return for his senior season, which we might not have said prior to him hurting his ankle early in the game against Notre Dame and then having to go through concussion protocol after leaving the Wake Forest contest.
A healthy Hines would have probably posted close to 1,200 rushing yards this year at a minimum and with his speed and kick returning skills emerged as a certifiable NFL Draft prospect. Like Finley, a return to NCSU, if it all came together, could help him have a huge year as a senior presuming everyone stays healthy.
Two freshmen redshirted this year. Erin Collins was one of five freshmen that was included in the summer incident that led to two players being dismissed and three others, Collins included, to be suspended. Although the police investigation led to no charges, the three remaining had to go through the Title IX process on campus and there is no word yet on if that has been completed.
The other redshirting freshman was Nakia Robinson from Miami, and it should be noted that Robinson did travel with the team later in the season.
Receiver: On paper, next season could be one of the best receiving corps NC State has seen in a long time, with redshirt junior Stephen Louis, sophomore Kelvin Harmon and redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers all expected back. With senior Jaylen Samuels leaving, do not be surprised if NCSU goes to more traditional three-receiver sets with all three wideouts in the game and Meyers lining up in the slot.
Throw in the promising signs of redshirt freshman C.J. Riley and freshman Emeka Emezie, and it’s easy to see why the Pack coaches are excited here. Walk-on freshman Thayer Thomas redshirted this year and early reports were that he shined on the scout team. He could prove to be another player to watch.
Tight end: This is going to be an interesting position as it undergoes an overhaul. The fact that NC State is seeking older talent like USC transfer Cary Angeline and JuCo prospect Darrion Jones indicates that perhaps the Pack is looking for some immediate help to fill the losses of Samuels and Cole Cook, who has been an underappreciated key cog in NC State’s offense.
We had anticipated that NC State was looking to take both players, but the latest word we have is that the final five spots for recruiting are very fluid right now and might not be sorted out until the next couple of weeks play themselves out.
Offensive line: The third player on offense that we will watch most closely in terms of turning pro early would be redshirt junior right tackle Will Richardson. The rumors that Richardson could look into his stock after the season began as early as October. If Richardson is back, then the line is very situated and could be the best NC State has had in a long, long time, with redshirt freshman Joe Sculthorpe and freshman Joshua Fedd-Jackson likely battling it out to replace guard Tony Adams as the lone departed starter on the offensive line.
As far as recruiting goes, four-star Jovaughn Gwyn might be NCSU’s top remaining priority, but the word on Gwyn continues to be very quiet. Assistant coach Eddie Faulkner’s low-key, patient style to recruiting probably works very well here because it is that type of approach needed to successfully recruit a player like Gwyn, who holds his cards so close to the vest.
In late-October, we picked up vibes NC State was in a great spot with Gwyn. Now it seems much closer to a complete toss-up between the Pack and South Carolina.
NCSU is also recruiting three-star tackle Kahric Belle from North Miami Beach (Fla.) High. What Belle, who might visit NC State on Dec. 15, decides to do could loom large on how the remaining five scholarships are used.
Coaching: Eli Drinkwitz’s name has come up with some offseason coaching chatter, first as a potential head coaching candidate at South Alabama and then as a perspective option for the open offensive coordinator job at South Carolina. The former has been filled, and with regard to the latter we think the rumors are premature, at best, at this point.
That said, it does not come as a shock that Drinkwitz has ambitions to be a head coach one day, and that could come soon if Arkansas State’s Blake Anderson gets an opportunity to move up. He has had four relatively successful seasons there. Drinkwitz coached two years there.
Thus if everyone returns, we have a hard time seeing Drinkwitz leaving this offseason. He’ll have a loaded offense that should only increase his profile even more next season.
Quarterback: The million-dollar question at the moment when it comes to looking at next year is what will redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley decide to do with his possible sixth year of college eligibility? Our guess: Finley is going to be calculated about his decision.
The quarterback class has some high-profile names potentially in it: USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, Washington State’s Luke Falk, Memphis’ Riley Ferguson and West Virginia’s Will Grier, among others.
Of those, Darnold, Rosen, Allen, Jackson and Grier are underclassmen. How many of them will stick around or go pro? That number could influence what Finley decides to do. With so much talent potentially returning around him, Finley could decide that he will wait it out in the expectation of posting big numbers as a senior and rising to the top of a thinner class in 2019.
Behind Finley will also be an interesting question. The early reviews on redshirting freshman Matt McKay have been in general very positive, and the feeling is that McKay and incoming freshman Devin Leary could find themselves battling redshirt junior Jalan McClendon.
Running back: If Finley is the million-dollar question on offense, junior running back Nyheim Hines would be the $999,000 question. The gut feeling is that he will return for his senior season, which we might not have said prior to him hurting his ankle early in the game against Notre Dame and then having to go through concussion protocol after leaving the Wake Forest contest.
A healthy Hines would have probably posted close to 1,200 rushing yards this year at a minimum and with his speed and kick returning skills emerged as a certifiable NFL Draft prospect. Like Finley, a return to NCSU, if it all came together, could help him have a huge year as a senior presuming everyone stays healthy.
Two freshmen redshirted this year. Erin Collins was one of five freshmen that was included in the summer incident that led to two players being dismissed and three others, Collins included, to be suspended. Although the police investigation led to no charges, the three remaining had to go through the Title IX process on campus and there is no word yet on if that has been completed.
The other redshirting freshman was Nakia Robinson from Miami, and it should be noted that Robinson did travel with the team later in the season.
Receiver: On paper, next season could be one of the best receiving corps NC State has seen in a long time, with redshirt junior Stephen Louis, sophomore Kelvin Harmon and redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers all expected back. With senior Jaylen Samuels leaving, do not be surprised if NCSU goes to more traditional three-receiver sets with all three wideouts in the game and Meyers lining up in the slot.
Throw in the promising signs of redshirt freshman C.J. Riley and freshman Emeka Emezie, and it’s easy to see why the Pack coaches are excited here. Walk-on freshman Thayer Thomas redshirted this year and early reports were that he shined on the scout team. He could prove to be another player to watch.
Tight end: This is going to be an interesting position as it undergoes an overhaul. The fact that NC State is seeking older talent like USC transfer Cary Angeline and JuCo prospect Darrion Jones indicates that perhaps the Pack is looking for some immediate help to fill the losses of Samuels and Cole Cook, who has been an underappreciated key cog in NC State’s offense.
We had anticipated that NC State was looking to take both players, but the latest word we have is that the final five spots for recruiting are very fluid right now and might not be sorted out until the next couple of weeks play themselves out.
Offensive line: The third player on offense that we will watch most closely in terms of turning pro early would be redshirt junior right tackle Will Richardson. The rumors that Richardson could look into his stock after the season began as early as October. If Richardson is back, then the line is very situated and could be the best NC State has had in a long, long time, with redshirt freshman Joe Sculthorpe and freshman Joshua Fedd-Jackson likely battling it out to replace guard Tony Adams as the lone departed starter on the offensive line.
As far as recruiting goes, four-star Jovaughn Gwyn might be NCSU’s top remaining priority, but the word on Gwyn continues to be very quiet. Assistant coach Eddie Faulkner’s low-key, patient style to recruiting probably works very well here because it is that type of approach needed to successfully recruit a player like Gwyn, who holds his cards so close to the vest.
In late-October, we picked up vibes NC State was in a great spot with Gwyn. Now it seems much closer to a complete toss-up between the Pack and South Carolina.
NCSU is also recruiting three-star tackle Kahric Belle from North Miami Beach (Fla.) High. What Belle, who might visit NC State on Dec. 15, decides to do could loom large on how the remaining five scholarships are used.
