2011-2012 Football Previews – Atlantic Coast Conference – NC State Wolfpack
Things came together quite nicely for the Wolfpack in 2010; the Atlantic division title in the ACC was within their sights until near the end of the regular season, and a victory over West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl had NC State finishing at #25 – the first time the team has finished ranked since 2002.
ACC 2011-12 Football Previews: North Carolina St. Wolfpack
Coach: Tom O’Brien
2010 Record: 9-4
NC State Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +10000
NC St. Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
One notable change this year, however, is the departure of QB Russell Wilson. Wilson has transferred to Wisconsin, though the talented multi-sport athlete may still pursue Major League Baseball, which really was his constant distraction while in Raleigh.
Coach Tom O’Brien should be in good shape with Mike Glennon under center, so he and the Wolfpack must put that distraction behind them and focus on a competitive Atlantic division, especially with Florida State and Clemson looking so talented.
Team Strengths
NC State has a firm two-pronged offense with TE George Bryan and RB Mustafa Greene. For his part, Bryan is an outstanding weapon who possesses NFL size and skill.
As a sophomore, Greene also looks the part and after gaining just under 600 yards as a frosh, he could really arrive on the scene in ’11.
The Wolfpack also feature a strong linebacker corps led by upperclassmen Terrell Manning and Audie Cole. Last year, MLB Nate Irving was first-team all-conference and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the NFL Draft, but this unit is still excellent even with the departure of Irving.
Elsewhere, the secondary returns all its starters, and DT J.R. Sweezy has an awesome name, if nothing else.
Team Weaknesses
Glennon is a highly-touted quarterback prospect, but Wilson led this club last year with a veteran’s poise and precision. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Glennon has the tools, but he must become comfortable in a hurry if NC State aims to compete in the ACC. Other than Bryan, the receiver corps is short on starting experience; it will need a new face to emerge as a threat.
NC State must also replace longtime starting kicker Josh Czajkowski, who set school records for field goals and PATs. It is always difficult and perhaps underrated to replace a veteran at this position, though the rest of the special teams unit should be in good shape.
Freshman Niklas Sade will have the first crack at filling Czajkowski’s shoes.
2011-12 NC State Football Prediction: 9-4
Head coach O’Brien is a respected presence and to me, it seems like he is turning around the Wolfpack program much like he did at Boston College earlier in the last decade.
With a soft schedule in the first half of the season, NC State should get off to a fast start and I credit this team with at least a decent fighting chance in all of its games except perhaps Oct. 29 at Florida State.
Bumps in the road inevitably happen – especially in a conference with so much parity – but I think this team has enough talent to match last year’s respectable win-loss record.
Particularly if Glennon can live up to his billing, this is certainly a good football team and it must be nice having the Wilson saga out of the way.
2011 NC State Wolfpack Schedule
9/3/11 6:00 PM ET LIB
9/10/11 3:30 PM ET @WFRST
9/17/11 6:00 PM ET SALB
9/22/11 8:00 PM ET @CIN
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET GATCH
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET CMICH
10/22/11 12:00 PM ET @VIRG
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET @FSU
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET NCAR
11/12/11 12:00 PM ET @BCOLL
11/19/11 12:00 PM ET CLEM
11/26/11 12:00 PM ET MD
