Niklas Sade is on the Lou Groza Watch List (GoPack.com).
Patrick Stevens previews 2014 NC State football (Syracuse.com):
Three preseason questions
1. Is there any star power here? It was only slightly harder to beat Florida State last year than it was to name 10 N.C. State players. The Wolfpack was the ACC’s most anonymous team, and unsurprisingly it wasn’t very good at much. The most high-profile returnee is probably tailback Shadrach Thornton, but the truth is the most likely guys to emerge as notable names are in the freshman and sophomore classes. Speaking of which …
2. How quickly can Doeren’s recruits develop? There was no shortage of newcomers playing last year, especially at wide receiver. Sophomores Jumichael Ramos and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and freshman Bo Hines have a solid chance to emerge as three of the Wolfpack’s top four wideouts. This isn’t confined solely to one position; N.C. State had nine early enrollees as Doeren attempts to rapidly stock the roster with players suited for his systems.
3. Can N.C. State slow anyone down? It’s all well and good to assume Brissett will make the offense better. He probably will. Nonetheless, the Wolfpack finished 12th in the 14-team league in total defense, next-to-last in scoring defense and at the bottom against the run (217.4 yards per game) last season, and all that was missing from the matador defense in November were red capes. After yielding 39.8 points per game over the last four contests, N.C. State needs vast improvement on defense to sniff the postseason.
RT @JShankerESPN: Phil Steele on NC State RT “@CollegeGameDay: They made my most improved list and look like a 7-9 win team this year.”
— N.C. State Shit (@NCSUShit) July 8, 2014
