Spring practices for football come to a close this weekend with the annual Red & White scrimmage.

With the Wolfpack opening the season at SEC-foe South Carolina, and a hotly contested quarterback battle on coach Tom O’Brien’s hands, there is much to look forward to next season and to check out at Saturday’s spring game.

Saturday, 1 p.m., Carter-Finley Stadium

Quarterback battleDaniel Evans, who finished the season as the starter, returns this year. But with a touchdown to interception ratio of 12 to 13 last year, many are looking at redshirt freshman Russell Wilson to steal the job. In the two spring scrimmages this year, Wilson has gone 26-of-39 passing for 349 yards. He’ll have another chance to show off Saturday, against redshirt junior Harrison Beck and redshirt sophomore Justin Burke, while the injured Evans waits on the sidelines.

Defensive line depthState’s traditional strong point will feature two of the Pack’s top players this year in redshirt juniors Alan-Michael Cash and Willie Young. A deep, but inexperienced, line will be looking to fill the other two holes. Keep an eye on sophomore Markus Kuhn, a freshman All-American last year who had four tackles for loss including two sacks in the team’s first scrimmage, and redshirt freshman Jeff Rieskamp, who had eight tackles in the last scrimmage.

Too many receivers?With junior Donald Bowens, who had 41 receptions last season, along with redshirt sophomores Jarvis Williams and Darrell Davis and sophomore Owen Spencer returning, the Pack has plenty of depth at the reciever position. Add Geron James, who is coming back after sitting out last season, along with highly touted freshman Jay Smith, State has the talent to be dangerous at wideout. True to form, O’Brien puts it bluntly: “I feel good about our depth at wide receiver.”

Countdown to South CarolinaState will open its season in Columbia, S.C., against Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks on Aug. 28. The Thursday night game will be ESPN’s primetime game on its first night of college football coverage, and it will be a chance for the Wolfpack to represent the ACC against the SEC. The eyes of the nation will be on the Pack.

132 days

How to entertain yourself at the spring gameFor casual observers, the spring game might not be all it’s cracked to be. Here are some other ways to keep yourself busy at the event:1. The NFL’s former number-one draft pick, Mario Williams, will likely be in town. See if you can spot one of his cars in the parking lot. Hint: It’s the ridiculous neon-colored Lamborghini.2. Work on spelling and pronouncing kicker Josh Czajkowski’s last name. It looks like he may take the job of starting kicker in the fall, so you better get used to it now. But look on the bright side, it’s easier than Mike Krzyzewski.3. Count the number of times Mike Glennon’s name is yelled. For those who don’t know, Glennon is the highly-touted freshman quarterback. He will probably be at the game, and Pack fans, after years of dismal quarterback play, are excited about his potential.

Injury listThese players will be inactive for Saturday’s spring game:HB Andre Brown (Senior) footHB Toney Baker (Junior) kneeQB Daniel Evans (Graduate) shoulderSS Bobby Floyd (Senior) shoulderOL Mike Golder (Freshman) kneeTE Anthony Hill (Senior) kneeWR Paul Horst (Sophomore) ribOL Ahmad Jaradat (Freshman) shoulderDL Josh Milinichik (Senior) kneeHB Curtis Underwood Jr. (Sophomore) ankleSS Javon Walker (Sophomore) knee