North Carolina State Football: Wolfpack Season Preview

The former Marine was once the head coach for Boston College, going 75-45 in 10 successful years, but he is currently 25-25 through five years in Raleigh with the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack is coming off of a 9-4 season, including a 23-7 bowl whipping over West Virginia. However, there is not much optimism returning to the field because NC State is without their star quarterback, Russell Wilson, who was undecided about whether to play baseball or college football.

O’Brien was not going to be caught in limbo, so he named his starting junior quarterback to be 6’6”, 225-pound Mike Glennon, whereas Wilson went to Madison to play for the Badgers.

With Glennon starting there is not a ton of depth, which means Glennon is the clear-cut guy to carry this team to the promised land. The offense only returns five starters, led by stud sophomore back Mustafa Greene (597 yards, four TD).

Glennon does not have the two top wideouts back in Owen Spencer or Jarvis Williams. The ‘Pack do return T.J. Graham (6’0”, 180-pound senior), who hauled in four TDs last year, as well as two-time first team All-ACC tight end George Bryan (6’5”, 265-pounds). Bryan has had a ton of success in his career thus far and is expecting to duplicate his numbers from a year ago: 35 catches for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

The line has three back, but none are All-ACC caliber; the line has had its fair share of troubles recently. The rushing offense has been abysmal, ranking 92nd and 95th in the last two years. This line has failed to average 4.0 yards per carry since 1998!

The NCST offense has failed to finish in the top 40 since 2003, when Philip Rivers was the all-world signal caller. The only way that stat is going to change is if the line can stay healthy, improve their production and get a huge season from Mustafa Greene and Mike Glennon. 

The defense returns eight players from the 2010 squad and despite losing their top tackler in middle linebacker Nate Irving (97 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 14 TFL), nearly the rest of the core is back.

J.R. Sweezy is anchoring the front four, but is out for six weeks due to a broken foot. The pass rush is the big question mark though, because outside of the future All-ACC performer, they lack the premier talent.

The linebacker corps have their two top defenders in Audie Cole (97 tackles) and Terrell Manning (76 tackles). Manning is just a junior, but has a ton of potential with his 6’3”, 224-pound frame.

These two studs should both make at least honorable mention for All-ACC honors as they are two of the tops in the league. By far the best unit on the team is this linebackers unit.

The secondary was just 72nd in the nation, allowing 225 yards per game, which is not awful, but there could be some improvements made.

Earl Wolff is a solid safety for ACC standards and with the entire secondary returning from a year ago, there is only hope that the group will be one of the elites in the conference.  

The schedule starts out like cupcake city with Liberty, Wake Forest and South Alabama in the first three games. Cincinnati, Georgia Tech and Central Michigan follow, which means a 5-1 start is very possible.

The final six games will determine how far they will go in the ACC and if they will finish the season ranked or not. Virginia, Florida State and Boston College are three tough road games that will cost the ‘Pack’s chances of contending for the Atlantic crown yet again.  

Predicted Finish: 8-5, 3-5

Predicted Bowl: Music City Bowl 

Predicted order of finish in ACC: Fourth in Atlantic, Eighth Overall