North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Glennon To Make Most of Opportunity
3/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the last two years, Mike Glennon has been practicing to be NC State's quarterback. During his redshirt season, he guided the scout squad against the starting defense. As a redshirt freshman, he was a back-up quarterback.
But now, when the Wolfpack begins spring practice later today, Glennon is preparing to be the Pack's starting quarterback.
And that's a big difference.
He knows that there is no guarantee going into the fall, simply because the other guy, two-year starter Russell Wilson, could be back under center when drills begin in August, after he finishes his baseball-only spring and summer.
But for now, Glennon will be taking practically all of the snaps with the first-team offense, and he wants to make the most of his opportunity.
"This is a chance to prepare myself to be the starter, no matter what happens with him," said Glennon. "I just want to be comfortable with the guys so that I can be the starter of the team."
Neither Glennon nor head coach Tom O'Brien have any doubts about his physical capabilities. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound signal caller was a 2008 Parade All-America and he's only gotten better since he has been at NC State.
Last year, he saw action in seven games off the bench, completing 24 of his 39 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown. He got a good feel for the speed of the game and a taste of success on the college level.
"The transition from high school to college is big and I think redshirting for a season was a big help for me," Glennon said. "The transition from practice to games is big also. But, really, after I got a taste of it against South Carolina [in the season-opener], that just made me want it that much more.
"I want to be out there on every play. But I know there is a process. I just have to keep working hard and everything will work out for the best."
This spring, which will end on April 17 with the second-annual Kay Yow Spring Football Game at Carter-Finley Stadium, is the perfect opportunity to hone his skills and jump ahead in the process.
"We expect Mike to improve a great deal this spring," O'Brien said. "He got into games last season in situations that are critical for a quarterback, at the end of games when we were running our two-minute offense. He grew at the position because of that and we expect him to take an even bigger step this spring because he's going to get all the work.
"He will get a lot of reps, throw the ball a lot and take control of the football team."
Glennon, the native of Centreville, Va., also has good football genes: when his brother Sean played at Virginia Tech, he led the Hokies to the 2007 ACC Championship and was named the most valuable player in the title game against Boston College.
The younger Glennon says the advantage of his family lineage shows in his maturity at this level, something that helped him survive two years of standing on the sidelines.
"Really, I didn't learn that much on-the-field stuff from him, but what I did learn is all that it takes to be an ACC quarterback," Glennon said. "The highs, the lows, the pressure, the whole mental side of the game rather than the physical side of it."
So he has spent his first couple of years, watching, learning and getting bigger. He's added about 15 pounds since the end of last season and hopes to continue to get stronger between now and the start of fall drills.
But one of the primary things he hopes to show over the next month, as the Wolfpack goes through its 15 spring practices, that he can lead the offense on a fulltime basis, not just an occasional series during a game.
"I have been trying to do a better job of being a leader," Glennon said. "I am trying to be a little more vocal so the guys have more faith in me, so they know I can be the guy. If they believe that, then they are going to be better.
"[Offensive coordinator Dana] Bible always says the best compliment you can get is that you make the other 10 guys in the huddle better."
Glennon has plenty of faith in the people around him. He has one of the most talented receiving corps in the ACC, led by Owen Spencer, Jarvis Williams, Darrell Davis and T.J. Graham. There is depth at tight end behind first-team All-ACC performer George Bryan, who led the team with 40 catches last season.
Both the offensive line and the running back position are going through some transitions as they both have to replace starters and key reserves, but Glennon believes there will be no drop off in execution or productivity.
"We had guys who got some experience last year, I think they will be very good and as they get more experience, they will only get better," Glennon said. "We have good competition and good talent all around.
"I don't think anyone is nervous or concerned about any position. I don't think there is a weak link holding us back."
And having two quarterbacks prepared to step in as the starter can only make the offense stronger.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
