2010 Rivals ACC Preview – #60 NC State

From RIVALS.

COACH: Tom O’Brien (16-21, fourth season; 91-66, 14th season overall)

LAST SEASON: 5-7, 2-6 (5th in ACC Atlantic)

FINAL 2009 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 78th

KEEP AN EYE ON: N.C. State’s chances of earning a bowl bid could depend on how well LB Nate Irving recovers from a 2009 car wreck that prevented him from playing last season. Irving was N.C. State’s top defensive player before he suffered a collapsed lung and a compound fracture in his left leg last June. The Wolfpack need a healthy Irving to lead a defense that lacks experience.

STRENGTHS: Russell Wilson gives NCSU one of the ACC’s top quarterbacks. Although an increase in interceptions last season prevented him from earning first-team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season, he still led the league with 31 touchdown passes. Owen Spencer (30 catches, 765 yards, six TDs) led the nation in yards per catch last season, while Jarvis Williams (45-547-11) and tight end George Bryan (40-422-6) also are capable targets. Josh Czajkowski heads into the season having made 24 of his past 27 field-goal attempts. T.J. Graham is an effective special-teams performer who returns kickoffs and punts.

WEAKNESSES: N.C. State ranked 92nd in the nation in rushing last season and must replace its top two rushers. The Wolfpack also have major question marks on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They return only two starters on the offensive line and don’t have any returning starters on the defensive line. The Wolfpack were 99th in the nation in scoring defense and 106th in pass efficiency defense last season. Inexperience could make it tough for the defense to improve much this season. The Wolfpack also need a better year from P Jeff Ruiz, who averaged just 37.9 yards per attempt last season.

BUZZ: N.C. State should be able to throw the ball effectively, but will the Wolfpack be able to stop anyone? Even if Irving regains his 2008 form, one of his teammates also must emerge as a playmaker on defense. The holes on defense and the weaknesses in the running game could make it difficult for North Carolina State to protect narrow leads in the fourth quarter. Don’t be surprised if the Wolfpack lose quite a few shootouts on their way to another 5-7 finish.

– STEVE MEGARGEE