North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Football Prospectus: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
6/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 17, 2004
NC State ranked third nationally in passing offense last season, due in large part to the prowess of quarterback Philip Rivers and steady receiver Jerricho Cotchery. But the receiving corps for 2004 may be one of the most talented in the nation as a unit.
Next to Rivers, no other player on the 2003 squad touched the ball more than 'halfback' Tramain Hall (5-10, 185, *Jr.). His 69 receptions trailed only consensus All-American Torry Holt and Cotchery for the most in school history. Hall ranked eighth in the ACC in all-purpose yards, as he also returned punts and kickoffs and rushed the ball 36 times.
Sterling Hicks (6-2, 181, *Jr.) was the Wolfpack's top returning receiver behind Cotchery heading into last season before tearing his ACL in the Ohio State game. He missed spring practice but hopes to be close to full speed by the time camp begins. Hicks and Richard Washington (5-11, 171, Jr.) will man the flanker position. The speedy Washington was NC State's third-leading receiver last season with 44 catches for 500 yards and six touchdowns.
At split end, veteran Brian Clark (6-3, 205, Jr.) is a returning starter, after pulling down 33 grabs for 548 yards in 2003 and posting the squad's best average at 16.6 yards. LaMart Barrett (6-1, 190, So.) and Chris Hawkins (6-3, 188, So.) both saw limited action as rookies and have improved in the offseason program.
"Tramain was often overlooked last season because of some of the other players, but his contributions might have been as big as anybody's," Amato continued. "Brian Clark has been solid for us and Richard Washington continues to get stronger. Hopefully, we'll have Sterling Hicks back in there as well with some of those talented young guys. We should have a pretty strong group of receivers."
The tight end position has been vital to the Pack's passing success over the past couple of seasons and two experienced bruisers will compete for time there. T.J. Williams (6-3, 260, Jr.) looks like a lineman, but ranked second on the team by averaging 15.9 yards per catch in 2003. The honorable mention All-ACC performer pulled down 28 grabs in 2003. John Ritcher (6-3, 244, *Jr.) caught just seven passes as a sophomore, but has become a solid blocker for the Pack.
"T.J. Williams could be as good as there is in the country," Amato said. "John Richter is a tough player who has worked very hard. We've got some young guys here as well, so I think we'll be solid."
Tomorrow's breakdown previews the defensive line.
The NC State football prospectus has been prepared by Annabelle Vaughan, NC State's Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations.
