Behind The Scenes With Tony Haynes: The Pack's Superman
8/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
What do you call a 6-2, 235 pound defensive end who bench presses well over 400 pounds and runs wide receiver-like times in the 40?
How about Superman?
It might behoove opposing quarterbacks to find a generous supply of Cryptonite because Shawn Price is planning on becoming a regular visitor to a backfield near you this season. The much-heralded defensive end, who transferred to the Pack from LA Valley Community College, could be one of the most physically gifted players this side of Julius Peppers.
In fact, Price plans on giving North Carolina's All-America defensive end a run for his money in the race for ACC sack supremacy this fall.
"I want to lead the nation in quarterback sacks," Price answered when asked what his personal goals were this season. "Ever since I was a sophomore in high school, I've led the nation in quarterback sacks. I also did that in junior college. I expect to do it now in division one. If you want it bad enough, there's nothing that will stop you."
Those are pretty lofty goals, but then again this is a guy who piled up a whopping total of 32 sacks in just two junior college seasons.
There are great athletes and then there are guys like Shawn Price. During the Day of Champions exhibition on Meet the Pack Day, the Haddon Heights, New Jersey native easily hoisted up 425 pounds in a bench press demonstration.
But make no mistake about it, Shawn Price's calling card is speed. How many players run 4.4 in the 40 and come away disappointed?
"I ran a 4.4 in junior college but that was right after it was raining and the grass was wet outside," Price said. "On a nice day like this, I think I could run at least a 4.3."
Did you catch that? Well, maybe you didn't because there aren't many folks who can catch up with that kind of speed.
When Price was in high school, he frequently welcomed eager college recruiters into his home. One of the coaches who stopped in for a visit was a Florida State assistant named Chuck Amato.
Not long after he was hired as the head coach at NC State, Amato started wondering whatever had happened to that speedy defensive end he once visited in Haddon Heights. Following months of research, Amato and his staff finally located their man. Price had migrated to the West Coast, where he had established himself as a man amongst boys in the junior college ranks.
"I knew about Shawn for a long time," Amato said. "I talked to one of the prep school coaches and he said `I have no idea where he is.' So we got on the phone and used every avenue we could until we found him in Los Angeles. And by finding him, we found two others. We recruited all three of them and got two of them."
As it turned out, Price and teammate Terrance Chapman became a `package deal' for the Pack as both decided to come to Raleigh from the left coast. Chapman, a 6-4, 240 pound defensive end from Fort Myers, Florida, was credited with 24 sacks in his two seasons at LA Valley.
After dominating inferior competition for two years, Price was recruited by some of the top football schools in the country. Coaches from places like Kansas State, Oregon, Oregon State and Southern California came calling, but in the end, NC State was where he wanted to be.
"I just felt more comfortable with Chuck Amato because he's been recruiting me ever since I was a sophomore in high school," Price said. "I feel like I can trust Chuck Amato. I know Chuck Amato is creating a dynasty, I know what type of guy he is and what he's about. I want to be with a team that works hard and is determined to get what it wants."
Shawn Price usually gets what he wants. After all, it's awfully hard to stop Superman.