It may be some 28 days until the Liberty Flames come to Carter-Finley on September 3, but energy and optimism are already burning bright.
This past Tuesday afternoon, Coach O’Brien and the Wolfpack headed out to Dail Practice Complex for the start of a highly-anticipated fall camp. In front of a massive horde of media, two hours of basic drills were conducted in temperatures approaching the upper 90s.
As expected, quarterback Mike Glennon’s presence continues to steal the majority of headlines surrounding Pack football. The 6-foot-6-inch Centreville , Va ., native arrived at camp with big shoes to fill and a full red beard that would make former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton, one of the few high profile redheaded college football players in recent memory, smile. However, the more direct focus was on the numerous question marks that surround State’s offense, minus Russell Wilson.
“That’s what I came here for,” Glennon said. “I came here to be the starting quarterback and now my time has come. I have two years to be the starting quarterback.”
While Glennon remained calm, direct and poised, one of his top receiving threats, T.J . Graham, offered more precise analysis of the third tallest quarterback in FBS college football.
“I see [the ball] release, so it gives me more time to react,” Graham said. “There’s a high velocity on his throws and he can throw the deep ball really well. He’s my type [of quarterback].”
One of the major question marks swirling around Wolfpack football is how the receiving core will respond to the loss of several key seniors. As for who could be catching some of those deep balls that Jarvis Williams and Owen Spencer used to snag, Graham didn’t hesitate to throw out a name that may surprise fans this fall.
“Bryan Underwood,” Graham said. “That’s my man in waiting right there. He just needs to get his butt together and we are good to go.”
Although Graham believes the speedy freshman from University Heights, Ohio, could have an immediate impact on State’s offense, most are putting their trust in preseason All-ACC tight end George Bryan. The senior was touted as a possible first round NFL draft pick last year, but decided on returning to Raleigh for 2011. Along with defensive tackle J.R . Sweezy , Bryan will share captain honors for the Pack.
“It’s just another dream come true at N.C . State,” Bryan said. “I never thought I would be a captain for the team, but I’m ready to take on that challenge and do the best I can.”
Bryan went on to say that despite only two players receiving a “leader” label, State is loaded with experienced veterans to guide the underclassmen.
“There’s a bunch of leaders on this team,” Bryan said. “You can’t just pinpoint two guys, we just happen to be the representatives of all the leaders.”
Of the Castle Hayne native’s 35 receptions this past season, none of them came from the powerful arm of Glennon . Nonetheless, Bryan has spoken openly about his faith in the redshirt junior.
“You probably notice it just as well I do after just one practice,” Bryan said. “He’s got a rocket for an arm and he’s a great player. He knows the game and he is going to be great.”
Coach Tom O’Brien fielded a number of questions concerning his redshirt junior quarterback. Although O’Brien says Glennon has been exuding confidence ever since spring ball, the focus remains on the cohesiveness of the offense.
“He’s just one of 11 that have to be out,” O’Brien said. “So 10 guys have to rally around him, and 11 guys have to play well if we are going to be any good on offense.”
In his fifth season as State’s head coach, O’Brien believes that this year’s team is the most mature group of players at this point in the season. However, his message to the team shortly after the first practice ended was to display as much patience as possible.
“I think today with the heat the goal was to have everyone survive,” O’Brien said. “It’s a much more mature team than in the past. We just have to realize that it’s one down and 28 to go. We have 28 days to get better. Camp is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
