North Carolina State is one of the more interesting programs nationally right now.
2012 Program Preview - North Carolina State
Since taking over in 2007, Tom O'Brien, and to a degree Russell Wilson, helped bring the program out of the depths of sub-.500 seasons and back to respectability. Just two years ago, the Wolfpack flirted around the edges of the bottom of the polls finishing 25th in both major polls. With Wilson having transferred to Wisconsin, the door was opened for Mike Glennon to ascend to the top of the depth chart at QB.
It wasn’t perfect, but for the former #3 QB prospect in the country (and giraffe neck transplant recipient) certainly wasn’t terrible. More importantly, it sets the team up for a strong 2012 run.
After the jump, the prospects worth noting as well as some games and matchups to pencil into your calendar.
References
Backing the Pack (SBN NC State community), SB Nation team page, official team site, Dane Brugler’s preview for CBS Sports
Notable offensive prospects
| Name | POS | Yr. | Early projected Rd (notes) |
| Mike Glennon | QB | RS Sr. | 4 |
| R.J. Mattes | OT | RS Sr. | 7 |
| Rob Crisp | OT | Jr. | 6 |
* Pete Thomas Transfer stuff
Notable defensive prospects
| Name | POS | Yr. | Early projected Rd (notes) |
| Brandan Bishop | FS | Sr. | 6 |
| Camden Wentz | CB | Sr. | UD |
| C.J. Wilson | CB | RS Sr. | UD |
| Brian Slay | DT | Sr. | UD |
| David Amerson | CB | Jr. | 1 |
| D.J. Green | OLB | Jr. | 7 |
| Art Norman | DE/3-4 OLB | RS Soph. | 5 |
Summary
Amerson is going to get the majority of draft love, at least initially, while Glennon will draw the focus of the collegentsia (I think I just made that up, but I might be stealing it via my subconscious).The problem on offense is that NC State just doesn’t have much natural talent at the skill positions. Since 2010, the last two classes just haven’t been very strong. That being the case, the window might be really small for O’Brien to grab some success.
Key games
Tennessee (home) - Week 1 (Fri., Aug. 31 - 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
Sure, the Vols have fallen off since Phil Fulmer passed the mic (I can say that about coaches, right?) to Lane Kiffin who did the ol’ “hot potato, hot potato!” for a year before Derek Dooley rode into Knoxville wearing those pants.
For an ACC-SEC matchup, this is very interesting and competitive. There’s the recruiting aspect (Tennessee has a commitment from a top-20 QB from North Carolina...), the conference overlap (Georgia/Georgia Tech, S. Carolina/Clemson, Miami & Florida St./Florida) as well as the competitiveness for a season opener. ESPN2 must have something good on the last day of August to push this to ESPNU.
North Carolina (away) - Week 9 (Sat., Oct. 27 - TBD)
As I said yesterday in the UNC preview -- yup.
Key matchups
CB David Amerson v. Tennessee WR Justin Hunter, Week 1 - Fri., Aug. 31
CB David Amerson v. Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, Week 12 - Sat., Nov. 17
I'll put both here since I'm honestly not sure who's the better prospect. Watkins was wonderful in his freshman year, but lest we forget the lessons of Alshon Jeffery, trajectories aren't always upwardly linear. Hunter was off to a nationally-relevant start before a disgusting knee injury in the Florida game ended his season. Given that he's already got his likeness plastered on billboards in Tennessee, I'd guess the knee's ok.
As for Amerson, as I said above he’ll get plenty of focus from scouts and draftniks alike. These two matchups are likely the most competitive he’ll be involved in all season, minus the possible ACC Championship and/or bowl game.
QB Mike Glennon v. North Carolina CBs Tre Boston & Tim Scott, Week 9 - Sat., Oct. 27
If there’s a game beyond the Florida State contest in which Glennon can really elevate his draft stock (again, and I only say this so some jerk doesn’t point out that I didn’t say it, -- ignoring a potential ACC Championship and/or bowl game) it’s likely the UNC game. Against the Tar Heels’ CB pairing, Glennon will face a difficult duo to work around. If the Pack is to come away from this game with a win, Glennon has to outduel this duo.
See More:
