North Carolina State University Athletics
Big Earth Blows 'em Away
8/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
Some folks in west Raleigh probably thought they heard thunder on Wednesday afternoon. In actuality, what they heard--or felt-- was the sound of 6'8, 320 pound offensive tackle Jarvis Borum rumbling down the practice field in the NC State football team's preseason running test.
Not only did the man they call "Big Earth" run, he out-sprinted the Pack's other linemen in the 16th and final stage of a series of 110's in 95 degree heat. The exhibition was impressive, but not necessarily surprising to others in the program who have seen the massive Borum transform his body during the off-season.
"It didn't surprise me," said Pack coach Chuck Amato, "because every day they'd (the players) come in this summer they'd be talking about him. I don't know what he looked like the last time some of you saw him, but I bet you he didn't look the way he does now. What a great thing to happen to a good young man because it's going give him a chance to impress some people after our season."
Borum, a senior, was already considered a decent pro prospect even before going through strength coach Todd Stroud's off-season conditioning program. But now that he's slimmed down and muscled up, Borum will no doubt bring more than just a few scouts to Carter-Finley Stadium this fall.
"He is so pleasant," Amato said. "I don't know if I've ever been around a big person who had to change his body as much as he did in his fifth year and never complain about anything. He'd just say 'what should I do and how should I do it?'"
Overall, Amato was pleased with the conditioning of all of the upperclassmen, who reported on Tuesday.
"The way they've worked, we would have been disappointed if it would have been any different," Amato said. "We're proud for them."
Other Pack Preseason Notes: Amato says he and his coaching staff are considering position changes for several players, including freshman James Walker who worked out at tight end during the spring. "We're going to look at him on defense," said Amato. "He had 15 days of spring practice catching the ball. We'll look at him at the cornerback position to see how he reacts."
Walker, who like first-year quarterback Philip Rivers was allowed to participate in spring drills after enrolling at NC State last January, has been listed as a defensive back and wide receiver on the preseason roster.
Senior Tramayne Simmons is another player who may be asked to play a new position. A tight end last season, Simmons could be moving to fullback this year.
Redshirt freshman Lee Tornabene, who had been a defensive end, is also moving to fullback. Redshirt sophomore Mark Pelshak is making the switch to defensive end after working out at linebacker during the spring.
