North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Depth Chart Takes Shape
8/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. NC State released its football depth chart on Thursday, but did so with one caveat: head coach Chuck Amato says the starting spots at certain positions are still up for grabs, and may not be completely settled until the Wolfpack gets into its normal game week preparation for Appalachian State, which visits Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, September 2 (6 p.m. kickoff).
Not that Amato is complaining. He figures players that are still fighting for starting jobs will only be hungrier over the next few days.
“There’s competition,” Amato said. “That competition helps them to go out and practice harder every day, and it’s not easy to. Some kids have it and some kids don’t.”
On a defense that had to replace a total of five starters in its front seven, some of the most intriguing battles for playing time have been taking place in what appears to be a deep and experienced secondary.
Rover Garland Heath, a senior who led the Pack in interceptions with five last season, is currently running neck and neck with junior Miguel Scott at rover. Prior to the beginning of preseason camp, Heath appeared to be a lock for the No. 1 job.
Redshirt sophomore DaJuan Morgan is listed as the starter at free safety.
“The safeties are interchangeable,” said Amato. “Every day they’ve got to go out and compete or somebody else is going to get promoted. I don’t like to use the word demoted. Somebody else is going to get promoted if you don’t practice well today.”
Redshirt Jimmie Sutton has practiced well, and has wrestled away the starting corner spot that was occupied by All-ACC corner Marcus Hudson last season. Sutton will be backed up by either redshirt junior Philip Holloman or redshirt sophomore Jeremy Gray. On the other side, A.J. Davis, of course, will start, backed up by Levin Neal.
There may also be a surprise brewing at the strongside linebacker position where converted defensive end James Martin is listed ahead of last year’s starter, LeRue Rumph.
At the other outside linebacker position, referred to as “Will,” Reggie Davis, who spent his first three season as a running back, is listed No. 1.
At the two defensive end positions, NC State has the unenviable task of replacing Mario Williams, who was the first player taken in last April’s NFL Draft, and Manny Lawson, who went No. 22.
As expected, Ray Brooks has earned a start at left defensive end, a position he played in certain situations two years ago when he backed up Williams. The player listed behind Brooks is true freshman Audi Augustin who has turned some heads during fall drills. In picking a starter on the other side, Amato is going with experience right now. Redshirt junior Martrel Brown, who was named NC State’s most improved defensive lineman in the spring, is running ahead of redshirt freshman Willie Young at right defensive end.
“They changed from yesterday to today,” Amato said in describing the depth chart at defensive end. “I kind of like that right now because it makes them practice; it makes them accountable.”
But more than he has the last two years when he had two dominant defensive ends, line coach Todd Stroud will likely be shuttling players in and out quite frequently this season.
“We’ve got youthful people on defense,” Amato said. “Will their youth and ambition make up for their lack of age and experience? We’ll find out in a hurry.”
On the offensive side of the ball there really aren’t any surprises, other than the fact that the players holding down the center and left guard spots are different than what the Wolfpack had at those positions during the spring. Just ask the organization that makes out its preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, an award given each year to the nation’s top center.
Leroy Harris was on that watch list until he moved back to his old position of left guard during preseason drills. The move was precipitated by two factors: First, Kalani Heppe, a starter at left guard back in the spring, has missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. Second, redshirt junior Luke Lathan has proven himself to be more than competent at the center spot the last three weeks.
Overall, the alignment should better maximize Harris’s significant ability.
Listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Marcus Stone is redshirt sophomore Daniel Evans, who has been in a battle with true freshman Justin Burke.
Defending National Champs Come to
“The last time we played the defending national champions in that stadium, they took our pants down and spanked us.”
“They” were the Florida State Seminoles who whipped the Wolfpack 58-14 on
